Three Cables

Here is a thin scarf I made in a grey Alpaca yarn I got from a yarn shop in Lake Tahoe.  I think the brand name was “Wings,”  but I’m not sure.  It’s soft to work with though.  I knit stitched each edge stitch to make the curved edge.  The cables are six stitches wide with Stockinette stitch three stitches wide inbetween and four on the sides.

It’s Thin,  but it’s warm

My Tools

I love paraphernalia of any kind.  I have the thing that goes with the thing for anything I do.  Not that I spend a lot of money getting these things,  but I do like to buy good quality things.  Things that will last and get more beautiful with age.  I think I got this from my grandfather who I inherited some of my household tools from.  That hammer I got from him is the best hammer I will ever use.  It must be years old by now.  It’s worn down and stained on it’s wood handle,  but it’s one of the most beautiful tools I own.

Part of the reason I Knit and/or Crochet is that I get some “me” time.  Part of that is putting on some good music,  lighting a scented candle and settling down with some soft fuzzy yarn.  Wooden tools blend right into this situation,  but the most important reason I use wood is so my hands do not hurt.  When my hands are hurting from working the yarn or computer use,  wood is warm and softer then metal.  The yarn won’t slip off as bad at plastic and metal.  Plus there is an amazing wood turner in Ohio that makes the most beautiful hooks and needles.  Go check him out!

Turn of the Century

The Hooks

The hooks come in so many different woods from around the world and sizes…even sizes that no one else has.  The smallest size is 3.75mm and the largest is 19mm.

The Needles

I use Clover bamboo knitting needles.  You can find them at any craft store that sells knitting supplies.  I got my double pointed needles from Bambooneedlegirl on Ebay.  She sells wonderful bamboo needles and Crochet hooks and I look forward to buying something from her for the third time.  Bamboo is so light that you hardly notice the needles in your hands sometimes.

The Cases

Both the Needle and Crochet cases are made by women in Vietnam so they can provide for their families.  Not only did I help them by buying both cases, but they help me out as well.  There is a place for everything and even a zippered pouch for everything else.  I am tough on my things sometimes so I added snaps to my cases,  but they do hold everything well.  Both cases are made of silk and are in the Jade/Chocolate color.  There are five other color combos and they are not expensive.  It was $25 for the Crochet case and $35 for the needle case.  Check them out below.

Lantern Moon

Crochet Case

Needle Case

The Four Days They Flew.

The first day was a shock.  No one knew they were coming and some even called the TV news channels to report fighter jets flying low and fast.  Something was happening,  they were starting to circle.  Flying side by side and following the same paths and after awhile,  doing flips.

Flips?

The Blue angels came to town and all of Sacramento got a free two day show as they practiced all over the valley.  The Air show was that weekend and It was beyond words.

Oh, so close!

Neat!

Are Stripes In? If Not, I’m Totally Out.

Yes another one,  but this time it’s not Homespun.  It’s James C. Brett Marble in shade “MT6.”  It is acrylic.  Like everything else I have posted.  I am hording the good Wool and Alpaca for the “right” project.  Someday…

Yes, I also make stitch markers out of cyrstal and small old hoop earings.

All This Extra Homespun, What to Do?

Change colors!  And change colors and change colors and…

Every 20 rows of Garter stitch,  I just changed the color of the self-striping Homespun yarn in two colors,  “Tudor” and “Sierra.”

I want to make one of these again, but in different colors that would blend better.

Cables! I Can Cable!

Yes,  Homespun AGAIN (It’s great to practice on and I am addicted to the self striping) and in my favorite color called “Baroque.”  With a cable AND ribs!  The cable was so easy…six stitches wide and I just used a double pointed needle to cross on the seventh row.

No Stripes, but I still like it.

Ribbed

Yes,  this was the next stage of my knitting.  First learning how to Purl,  next learning that Stockinette curls and I can’t do much with it as a scarf (until I learn something different, everyone is getting a scarf for Christmas!) so Knit 2,  Purl 2 was where I went.  And oh did I go there,  many times,  but here is my latest…again in self-striping Homespun in “Mediterranean.”

Bamboo needles are nice to my hands!

My Summer Blanket

I started this in Aug. 2005.  It’s about five feet long now and I’m going for six.  So far I have used two huge balls of Joann’s Rainbow Boucle Yarn in “Berry.”  I’m about to start on my third.  I would love my blanket to be in expencive Alpaca,  but this yarn is $4.99 a pop,  it’s soft and I can wash it in the washer!

The whole blanket is done in double Crochet and is 100 stitches wide.  I used a 10MM hook.

Oh, self striping purple!

Just Another Garter Scarf

Yes,  this is my first “Knit” scarf I did in November,  2005. Just a Garter scarf done in Lion Brand Homespun in “Quartz.”

I love the self-striping colors that Lion Brand puts out.

There’s Holes in My Scarf!

I came up with this scarf in August 2005 and it’s a pretty fast project if you understand how to do the chain stitch,  single and double Crochet.  They are simple and fast.  I have made this pattern simple to follow so that anyone just starting out (but who can do the three main stitches) can follow it.

Orange scarf done in Joanne’s Angelhair yarn

You can do this scarf in all types of yarn,  but you will have to make a sample to see how wide you want your scarf and how many holes you want to use.  The holes are just simple Filet crochet.  I also stitched in the back loop.  Doing this makes lines on the fabric as seen on the solid part of the scarves.  But back to those holes…

How many chain stitches should I make?

To know how many chain stitches to make for Filet Crochet,  you just have to keep adding three.  You start with four stitches and every three stitches equals another hole.

To explain this, I will simply give you the numbers.

4 Stitches=1 Hole, 7=2, 10=3, 13=4, 16=5, 19=6, 22=7, 25=8, 28=9, 31=10 and so on.

It looks sort of like this…double Crochet=”/” and 0=Chain Stitch.

/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/

On to the pattern…

1. Lets say we wanted to do a scarf with six holes.  Chain 19 plus one turning chain…and turn.
2. Now single Crochet and be sure that you have 19 stitches.  Do this for four or five rows (or longer if you wish) remembering to chain one before you turn.
3. Here comes the holes!  Instead of chaining one on your last row of single Crochet,  chain 5.  This will give you three chains for turning (double Crochet stitches are longer then single) and two for the top of your first hole.  Now make your first double Crochet in the third stitch,  this means you will skip two stitches.  Now do two chain stitches,  and a double crochet into the third stitch,  skipping two stitches again.  See how you are making a square?  That’s pretty much it.  At the end of this row,  chain one for turning.
4. Now back to single crochet!  Make sure you stitch 19 singles in this row.  I don’t know how many times I’ve had to pull out my stitches because of not doing enough or doing too many.  It can be hard to find the stitches when working with some yarn.  Don’t forget that last stitch (Part of the five chains to turn to do double Crochet) Three of those stitches need a single Crochet stitch in them so if you keep missing the count,  look there.
5. Repeat until you like how long it is.  Don’t know how long you want it?  Wrap it around your neck!

Green Scarf done in Joann’s Angelhair yarn with white shimmer Crochet thread

To crochet with two strands of yarn or yarn and thread,  just hold them together.