Irish Crochet

Hi there!  I've posted this project over on the Irish Crochet Together blog.  Have a look!

Cherry Blossom Stroller Blanket

I've got a new pattern to share!  It's the Cherry Blossom Stroller Blanket, and it's just in time for spring. I will be teaching a class on this blanket at Yarndogs in Los Gatos, at the end of March.  You can buy the pattern off of Ravelry:  HERE

Full Disclosure

An image from my latest photoshoot at Yarndogs.

I've just been commissioned to make a sweater for an LYS as a store sample.  It's not crocheted.  It's knitted.  Yes, I can knit and I enjoy knitting.  I realize that my "Modern Crochet Goddess" blog title may imply that I'm all-crochet, all-the-time, but that is not the case.  I learned to knit about 3 years ago, and until then, I just couldn't get it.  Knitting was so hard!  and so SCARY!  All those loose loops just waiting to spring free from the needles.  Ugh.  But I love the look of knitted fabric for many things, and trying to make crochet look like knitting is like ....trying to make knitting look like crochet.  So I tried again.  I took an actual class.  Thank goodness my teacher (thank you Candice!) had the suggestion of knitting continental or I would still be struggling along.  I'm still afraid of all those loops.  Still can't fix every mistake, but I really enjoy knitting and learning another craft has expanded my crochet knowledge.

Modifying Crochet Hooks

vintage steel hook, size 4

Sparked by a thread on Ravelry, in the Crochet Liberation Front group, I had an idea which prompted a  little shopping trip to the hardware store.  The group was talking about shapes of hooks, how you hold your hook, how much shaft there should be before the handle tapers, whether or not you want a larger handle, etc.  So many variables!  The original question was raised by Jimbo who is a super-crochet-hook-designer.  I mentioned that I like a particular vintage steel hook that has a flat head and is a little pointy.  I thought I would try to sand down one of my Boye aluminum hooks and see if I could get a more "Kim-friendly" hook.  I really like the Boyes, but I've also been using them practically my whole life so who knows if I'm just more adapted to them or if they really do fit my hand the best.

So, I was off to the hardware store!  I bought 0000 steel wool, a multi-pack of metal sanding paper and an 8 inch metal file with double and single cut sides to it.

I worked outside, and kept Jimbo's tips in mind.  (see Rav thread: post 28)  Using the file, I started sanding off the sides of a J hook, to get the flatter, more pointy shape of that vintage hook.  I also filed the back and the front of the head.  Not the top very much though.  After I got the shape I wanted, I used the fine grit paper to smooth everything.  I used the medium on a couple of spots where the file made some deep ridges, then went back to the fine.  Once I couldn't see any more file-ridges, I polished with the 0000 steel wool.  I tried out my "new" hook on some yarn and I honestly think I was faster!

Back, side, and front view of original J Boye hook (on left) and modified J Boye hook (on right)

I'm a knife holder, and I roll my hook as I work, using the pad of my middle finger on the thumb rest, but also using my pinky (which I did not realize until today).  I made a pinky-rest on the lower part of the handle of the hook below the thumb rest.  You can see the silver part where I filed the handle, on the right side of the picture below.  This little pinky-rest seemed to make a difference too.

Full view of modified hook

This was such a fun experiment and now I think I'll have to file down all my hooks!  I really want to try it on the steel hooks I use for Irish Crochet because that flat pointy head is awesome for working the thread!

Piecrust Scarf Pattern!!

I've published the Piecrust Scarf Pattern!  This is a textured scarf which is worked on the long side.  The ruffle runs along one edge and it was this ruffle that sparked the name.  When I was blocking the ruffle, I felt like I was making the fluted edge of a pie crust.   The scarf was inspired by the knit "Just Enough Ruffles" scarf from Laura Chau.  I loved the shape and thought a crocheted version was "necessary" haha!  I added the awesome texture to the body of the scarf, which will prompt folks to ask you, "are you sure that is crocheted?"

I teach this scarf (by arrangement) at Yarndogs, in Los Gatos.  You can get the pattern on Ravelry HERE, or by emailing me directly.

Golden Sweater--Third Time's a Charm!

Whew!  I finally have a sweater out of the Rowan Purelife Organic Wool I bought over two years ago!  I found 10 skeins on sale at Yarndogs in Los Gatos, in a pretty camel color--Alder Buckthorn, and I bought it with a pattern in mind.   This is the third attempt at making a sweater out of this yarn.  Nothing wrong with the yarn (a little separation of the strands but I still like it!), everything wrong with ME!

Concur by Berroco

My first attempt was this cute cardi, Concur by Berroco.  I even had some big vintage turquoise buttons which looked awesome with the camel yarn.  I was using a gold Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend for the cuffs and bottom hem.  I ran into trouble during the picking-up-stitches stage....I was an inexperienced knitter and did it incorrectly.  Too many stitches picked up.  Then I got lost at the button band.  So I put it away in a bag and found it again last year.

I frogged the whole thing and used most of the gold Manos for a crocheted version of the Just Enough Ruffles scarf, which turned out beautifully if I do say so myself.

I started making Irish Coffee by Thea Colman.  SO CUTE!  But, I got only so far into it, and realized my gauge wasn't right.   And, I wasn't loving the Purelife with this pattern.  (The pattern, by the way, is fabulous!)  So I'll choose a better yarn in the future--perhaps some MadTosh.  I frogged the Purelife again.







So here we are, two years later (at least), from the original purchase date.  I learned a new crochet stitch at the beginning of the summer and I love it!  It's a crossed half double crochet, and you cross it by making a second stitch around the post of the previous stitch of the same row.  Super cool!  I tried a swatch with the Purelife and it was gorgeous.

Crossed half-double crochet alternating with a row of single crochet (US)

So I made up my own pattern, using a basic drop-shoulder construction.  I did taper the sleeves, and I added that same gold Manos for some trim.  I love the result!   It's really soft and squishy, and I just love the color.  You may not see me in the sweater anytime soon, it's a little tight.  Sad, sad, sad.  It looks great on my sister-in-law, though!  We made a deal that if I didn't wear it by Christmas, it would be hers.  Read: if I don't start losing some weight, it's hers.  There's motivation for you!

Neckline detail (right) and hem detail (left)

Embellished Espadrilles

What to do with all those Irish Crochet motifs???  I had a little chat with some of the ladies on the Irish Crochet Lovers forum about the motifs we make on the CAL's.  Some of them have a sample book that they keep all the motifs in.  Melba is arranging hers on a thrift-store purse.  It looks great!  She's using all different shades of brown, and all different motifs.  I've been saving mine in a little ziplock, unsure of how to use them.  The ladies got me thinking, and I decided to sew some onto a pair of espadrilles and I love the result!