Sun Center Granny Square

It has been awhile since I’ve crocheted from a pattern written by someone else, actually a few years because I’ve been busy designing my own pieces, but when I saw this granny square, I just had to do it! I had the perfect yarn in my stash and an 8 hour car ride this weekend, and I had to choose a few small “portable” projects for the trip and this was one of them.

I also worked out the kinks to my Celtic cables but I’m not going to post the final pic because it is going into a special project that will remain a secret!

Back to this sunny little granny square pattern, which was written by Sandi Marshall at http://crochet.about.com/ and it is unique and bright and I just love it!! You can find the pattern here.

Yet another cable swatch

OK, ok, I bet this is getting boring, BUT I've made some progress with interlocking and overlapping cables. This swatch is the closest yet, but I'm going to change a few of the overlaps and shorten the length.

Somewhere in the middle I added a stitch, OPPS, it's got a little bulge! The more I practice, the better I get, so I'm going to rip this one and re-do it, minus the extra stitch!

I'm still overwhelmed by the response for the Hot Pink Bracelet Purse! I get about 100 visits a day, just for that free pattern! Visits from all over the world, it is amazing! Lots of really nice notes, comments, great yarn friends out there....knot on!!

Another Celtic Cable Panel

This panel is closer to what I'm thinking but I still want better intertwining knotwork ... so I'll continue to twist and knot my yarn.

I'm really surprised there isn't much out there for crocheters and cables; it's all so basic. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places; I've search pattern books, both on-line and at the bookstores, LYS to no avail.

My quest continues...

Celtic Cable Panel

If you are a regular reader of Knotty Generation, you know I love all things Celtic and have been working on creating the coolest crochet designs and patterns inspired by Celtic art and symbolism. I'm really happy with the way the Celtic Knot Granny Square came out. I've incorporated cable panels in a few cardigan patterns for my upcoming book, and now....

I'm working on a Celtic Cable Panel. I've played with a few ideas/designs and here is one of them. I'm mainly using FPtr (front post treble) stitch but I want the cables to intertwine more and I think I'm going to tweak the stitch and do a quad version of the FPtr.

Just curious, has anyone ever done that before? I've searched the net, all my pattern books, and haven't heard of this stitch, or type of stitch. I'll keep you 'posted' (no pun intended!)

Maude

I’m going to “age myself” here, but while I was designing this airy summer cardi, I kept saying, “I don’t want it to look like Maude” For those of you who don’t know Maude, it as was a mid-70’s TV show; the character Maude (Bea Arthur) wore semi-funky dusters, bell bottoms, and a lot of polyester. Now I still kinda want to be a Charlie’s Angel, not a Golden Girl, so design concept was crucial! I ended up calling it Maude only in reference, but now it’s official, I’ve named her Maude, in honor of, well, Maude! The character Maude on TV was gutsy, outspoken and funny. My Maude is retro 70’s for sure, that’s the look I was going for, with a bit of sass! (I’m copying Pyo at http://crocheted.blogspot.com/ she’s started my new favorite word – sassy!)

I’m not sure how I’ll distribute the pattern yet, but it’s so easy, it’s gotta be a “freebie”. This is definitely easy enough for beginners; super simple stitches, the shaping is not complicated at all, and gauge is not too important. The sleeves are ¾ length with a wide bell, totally funky in my book. The body is hip length (but could be made duster length) and the closure is a single tie around the bust, which also creates a keyhole neckline.

I’m just channeling my inner Maude…life is good.

Spiral Scarf Crochet Pattern

Measurements -4” wide and 64” long
Crochet Skill Level -Easy
Materials - Size K Crochet Hook and Paton’s Divine color Regal Red
or any of the other fabulous colors. I used approx. 213 yards,
that is 1 ½ skiens (each skien of Divine = 142 yards)

Foundation Chain = Ch 150
Row 1 - dc in 3rd ch from hook and dc each st to end, ch 3 and turn
Row 2 - *dc 1, then work 2 dc in next st* repeat * to * to end, ch 3 and turn
Rows 3 and 4 - Repeat Row 2
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Seriously, it’s that easy!

Circle of Yarn

Somtimes I just need to "create"
and what ever comes of it, I usually like.

In this case, I had an old wooden quilting hoop, I wrapped scrap yarn around the outer circle, weaved more scraps in and out and this came out! I love it! I can see other things (fringe, tassels, feathers or beads) dangling from it, but I'm going to absorb this view for awhile. I also did this technique with an old wooden picture frame. The glass broke, the picture was damaged, so I removed that and used the retangle frame the same way as this circle hoop. Someday I plan to hang them in a collage of sorts in my craft room. My Wall of Yarn Art. It's soft to touch and easy on the eyes!