Crochet New Project

I got another crocheted shawl in the making. Another triangle shawl that worked from the top down. This shawl really make me happy because it turned out exactly like the way I imagined it to be. The lacy and the solid sections worked like the way I planned it. It will become a stunning shawl.



If you want to be notified when I published any new pattern, please join my mailing list below.

Join the Mailing List

Enter your name and email address below:

Name:

Email:

Subscribe
Unsubscribe

Get your Free Mailing List
by Bravenet.com

Tutorial: easier way to make p2tog tbl for tight knitter

When I made Narnia, one of the stitch that is difficult for me to make was p2tog tbl (purl 2 together through the back loops). It was because I am a tight knitter. After some failed attemps to do this stitch repeatedly, in the end I used the 2 steps method. If you are a tight knitter like me, you might want to try this method:

1. Slip 2 stitches purlwise from left needle to right needle.

2. Reinsert the left needle along side the right one so both needles come out side by side, points together. Remove the right needle.

3. You have twisted the stitches just like below picture. All you have to do is just purl them off like normal p2tog.




See, easier to do, just takes longer because there are two steps. Try it yourself!

Another Narnia Shawl

Yup, I made another Narnia. This time I used DK weight yarn to knit Narnia. Since I got total 400 m and didn’t want to waste the yarn, I took a risk to add one more repeat to make the shawl bigger. Guess what? I run out of yarn! I didn’t have enough yarn to do the bind-off. I didn’t want to waste money to buy another skein just so I could use a few meter from it. So, I did some adjustment for the bind-off. Instead using 5-chain, I used only 4-chain, and during blocking, instead of putting the needles on the 2 middle loops, I only put 1 needle in 1 of those middle loops. I think I like the slightly curvy effect.

This time, I managed to get the beauty of this shawl perfectly.












Pattern: Narnia ShawlMaterials: DK weight yarn 100% merino (2290 961 70616), 100g/200 m per skein in gray colorway.
Qty: 2 x 100 gram (200 m/100 gram, 320 m total).
Needles: Addi lace 3.50 mm
Start Date: 27 Feb 2011
Finish Date: 9 Mar 2011
Finished size: About 52” wide by 24” deep

Gathering Leaves Shawl in Action

Finally I managed to take photo of Gathering Shawl on me. When I wanted to published this shawl last year, I never had opportunity to take a modeled picture. In the end I asked Lauri to model it for me. Although she did a good job, I always wanted to take model it myself as this is my favorite shawl. I love the process of crocheting it, love the yarn and love the result.

I managed to take many nice photos, but these two are my favorite. I really like the bottom photo.

Cassandra as A Featured Pattern in Ravelry

Oh look, my Cassandra shawl pattern was picked as a featured pattern in Ravelry. As the result she was rank 5 of "The most active recently published designs" category in Ravelry (see the circle). No 1 - 4 are free patterns. So, it's quite an accomplishment as a paid pattern to be able to sit in no 5.



Actually this is the second time my pattern was selected as featured pattern. The first time was 2 year ago, they picked my Dahlia Top Pattern.

Narnia Knitting Shawl Pattern for Sale

Narnia is a triangular shawl worked from the top down. This shawl was quite challenging for me as I learnt some new stitches that are quite a handful to do. This shawl is all about texture. It reminds me of the wood carving in my grandparents’ wardrobe, and I always imagine that wardrobe was the same wardrobe in the The Chronicles of Narnia story.

I used worsted weight yarn for this pattern to make the texture pop out. As a result, not only is this shawl beautiful to look but it is very functional.

As usual pattern includes charts and written directions. I also include a picture tutorial of how to make the crochet bind-off, and tips on how to make a larger shawl and calculate the yardage needed.







Technical Editor: Chaitanya Muralidhara

Yardage:
Fingering weight: 290 m (319 yards)
DK weight: 300 m (330 yards)
Worsted weight: 310 m (341 yards). The sample was made using worsted weight yarn.

Needle: Fingering weight: 3.25 mm (US 3)
DK weight: 3.50 mm (US 4)
Worsted weight: 3.75 mm (US 5)

Hook (optional):
For BO 3.5 mm (E)
For making nupp 3.0 mm (D)

Notions: Waste yarn for provisional cast-on, stitch markers.

Finished Size (aggressive blocking):
Fingering weight: 48” wide by 22” deep
DK weight: 50” wide by 23” deep
Worsted weight: 52” wide by 24” deep

Level: Advanced

All posts about this projects: click here.

How to Buy: Pattern is 11 pages in PDF includes charts and written directions. Payment by Paypal and delivery by Ravelry, no accounts required. Credit cards accepted.

USD 6.00,-

add to cart

Or you can buy the e-book. Consist of 4 patterns: Bella, Metropolitan, Poison Ivy and Narnia Shawls.

USD 15.00,-

add to cart

Correction:

Row 12 of chart shows “p2togtbl” symbol following a ptbl. There shouldn’t be a p2togtbl, it should just be a purl stitch. The written direction is correct

Row 37: there is missing cross 2 L on the chart. The written direction is correct.

Row 79: it should said lcd not special sts

FO: Narnia Shawl

After showing a sneak peak of my new shawl in my last post, here is the finished shawl!



This was my first experience using worsted weight yarn to knit a shawl. I must say that I really like the result. Too bad that I don’t have enough yarn to make it bigger. I learned a few new stitches that I never did before, such as p tbl and p2tog tbl. These stitches are quite handful to do, esspecially for tight knitter like me. Luckily I used Addi lace needle with its pointed tip. Eventhough I used Addi Lace, in order to make p2tog tbl, I still needed to use the 2 steps method. The one that have to move the stitches to the right needle first and twisting it back to the left needle before p2tog.



Anyway, here are the important details:

Pattern: Narnia Shawl
Source: here
Materials: Worsted weight yarn 100% merino (2078224A18069), 100g/160 m per skein in orange colorway.
Qty: 2 x 100 gram (160 m/100 gram, 320 m total). I had about 10 m leftover.
Needles: Addi lace 4.0 mm (but I knit very tightly until my finger hurt)
Start Date: 19 Feb 2011
Finish Date: 24 Feb 2011
Finished size: About 52" wide by 24" deep

New Project

I still remember the first time I tried to knit lace shawl. My first shawl was Kiri. I didn’t like the process at all. I guess it because I used the wrong yarn and wrong needle. Now, since I use addi lace needle and hand-dyed yarn, knitting lace shawl is much more enjoyable.

I got another new shawl project on my needle. I love the result so far. This time I use worsted yarn, although I think it will also looks good in DK or sock yarn. I am still testing it now, I hope I can publish it next week.

Here is the sneak peek:

Cassandra Crocheted Shawl Pattern for Sale

Cassandra Shawl is a somewhat circular shawl. Because of the shape, this shawl can be worn in many ways. You can wrap it around your neck and shoulder easily, and will stay put without a pin.Cassandra Shawlis crocheted from the top down. I recommend making this shawl using fingering weight yarn. However, you can substitute DK or even worsted weight yarn for a bigger shawl. As usual, this pattern comes with row-by-row written direction in US crochet term and charts.





Technical Editor: Chaitanya Muralidhara

Yarn: Fingering weight yarn. Around 800 yards. I used 2 skeins of Madelinetosh Sock (Fingering/4ply 100% merino, 114g/395 yards per skein) in Dahlia colorway, and had about 33 yards yards leftover. I am a tight crocheter, please prepare another skein if you are not.

Hook: 4.5 mm (G) (adjust hook size accordingly if you use thicker yarn)

Notion: Removable stitch markers for crochet

Gauge (for sock or fingering weight yarn): See Instruction on the pattern

Finished Size (for sock or fingering weight yarn): About 95 cm or 37.5" in diameter.
I blocked the shawl loosely.

All posts about this projects: click here.

How to Buy: Pattern is 8 pages in PDF includes charts and written directions. Payment by Paypal and delivery by Ravelry, no accounts required. Credit cards accepted.

Errata: Here

USD 6.00,-

add to cart

Or you can buy the e-book: Shawl Collection to Crochet. Consist of 4 patterns: Garden Path, Gathering Leaves, Cassandra, and Remember Me.


USD 18.00,-

add to cart

FO: Cassandra Crocheted Shawl

I am super lazy to blog about my knitting or crochet projects lately. Most of the time, I only blog about it when it is already become a FO (Finished Object). I know I should post the progress or the process of the making here as this is my craft journal. The problem was, I had to start and frog this project many times, in the end I gave up documenting it. As you see that it took me more than a month to finish this shawl and I only did this shawl exclusively. No other projects ongoing.

The reason why I wanted to make this shawl crescent or semi circular was because I know some people doesn't like triangle shape, as they don't like the way the tip of the triangular pointing to certain place of their body (read: butt). Another reason is that crescent shape will stay put in the shoulder without a pin.

Although, I personally like triangle shawl (that is the only shape that I have so far), I was curious about how do I feel about other shawl shapes.

My choice of yarn to make this shawl is Madelintosh Sock yarn. I only have 2 skeins of yarn, so I made sure that I maximize the usage of this yarn but not run out of yarn. Before blocking, the shawl looks small. However, it grew substantially after touching water. I only lightly blocked this shawl.



This is my first using Madelintosh. I bought the yarn from detash in Ravelry in a bargain price (I only paid USD40.20 for both skeins including international shipping!!!). The color is deep, vivid and glowing. The yarn itself is a pleasure to crochet. I definitely will use this yarn again.



Anyway, here are the important details about this project:

Pattern: Cassandra Shawl
Source: here
Materials: Madelinetosh Sock, fingering/4ply 100% merino, 114g/395 yards per skein in Dahlia colorway, and had about 33 yards yards leftover.
Qty: 2 x 114 gram (395 yards/100 gram, 790 yards total). I had about 33 yards yards leftover.
Needles: Clover Hook 4.5 mm (G)
Cost: USD 40.20 (including shipping)
Start Date: 1 Oct 2010
Finish Date: 4 Nov 2010
Finishe size: About 95 cm or 37.5" in diameter

Special thanks for my technical editor: Chaitanya Muralidhara.

Poison Ivy Shawl Pattern For Sale

Poison Ivy is a triangular shawl worked from top down. This is the first shawl that I designed using top down construction as I was curious how I like it compared to the bottom up construction.

Pattern includes charts and written directions, and stitch count totals for every row.

I also include picture tutorial of how to make the crochet bind-off and tips on how to make a larger or smaller shawl and calculate the yardage needed.







Suggested yarn: Any sock yarn. I am using Sundara Sock Yarn 100% Merino Wool 350 yards (still have leftover 20 yards). Color: Grape over Grey Violet

Needle: 4.00 mm (US 6) circular needle
Hook for BO (optional): 3.5 mm (E)
Notions: Waste yarn for provisional cast-on, stitch markers.

Gauge: Follow instruction in the pattern.

Finished Size: 42" across top edge, 23" long from centre top to point

All posts about this projects: click here.

How to Buy: Pattern is 12 pages in PDF includes charts and written directions, and stitch count totals for every rows. I also include the tips how to make larger shawl and the yardage needed.
Payment by Paypal and delivery by Ravelry, no accounts required. Credit cards accepted.

USD 5.00,-

add to cart

Or you can buy the e-book. Consist of 4 patterns: Bella, Metropolitan, Poison Ivy and Narnia Shawls.

USD 15.00,-

add to cart

FO: Poison Ivy Shawl

I make this shawl in October 2010, but never got opportunity to snap a nice modeled photo, so it has to wait until now. This is my first experienced to work with Sundara yarn. I must admit that I enjoy working it and as you can see here the color is amazing.

Pattern: Poison Ivy
Source: Here
Materials: Sundara Sock Yarn 100% Merino Wool, color: Grape over Grey Violet
Qty: 350 yards (still have leftover 20 yards).
Needles: 4.00 mm (US 6) circular needle
Cost: USD 28 (including shipping fee, bought from eressea’s detash in Ravelry
Start Date: 1 October 2010
Finish Date: 18 October 2010
Finishe size: 42" across top edge, 23" long from centre top to point

Anyway, this is my third knitting shawl design, after Bella and Metropolitan Shawl. This time I tried different construction. Instead bottom-up construction, I used top-down. I must say that I prefer top-down. I also tried to use more complicated side edging.

And….. I got technical editor checking out this pattern. Isn’t it cool!

Free Pattern: Rings Afgan

Look Here! I found an inresting afgan. I don't think I have the time to make this, but probably you have and if you are interested to make, here is the link for the free pattern.

What's New in 2011?

WoW! It's 2011 already.
Year 2010 was quite productive year for me. I managed to design and publish total of 5 designs:
1. Garden Path Shawl (crochet)
2. Bella Shawl (knit)
3. Sage Cardigan New version (knit)
4. Gathering Leaves Shawl (crochet)
5. Metropolitan Shawl (knit)

Thus, its more than my target, which is only 3 designs a year.

I got several designs that I started in year 2010 and never make it to final yet. If you remember my old posts, I mention about designing crocheted bolero. I had already started drawing the diagram, but somehow I never able to finish it.
Beside this bolero, I also have 2 knit shawls (Poison Ivy and Something Grey) and 3 crochet shawls (Cassandra, Blue Lagoon, and Almost Pinnaples) that are still in process of writing. I hope I can publish them all this year.

Thank you so much for all your support by buying my patterns all these years.

2011: Ready....Set......Go!!

This below photo is how Fiori position when I said: Ready....Set......

She will lift her both arms to the back of her body like a pair of wings. It's her own idea and no body taught her to do that.

Cotton or Wool Blanket?

I have the obession to make crochet blanket these days. I plan to make granny square with lots of color with white border.
Something like this:

Or this:



The problem is I don't have the yarn and I need to buy them. The idea of yarn shopping spree make me excited. However, before buying the yarn, I need to decide first whether I want a cotton blanket or wool blanket. I still can not decide until now. What do you think?

Lauri's Birthday Photo

Lauri birthday was on October. We celebrated it, but I forgot to blog about it. But, it's beter late than never, right?

I took a lot of photos, but here is my favorite: Lauri blowing the candle with a bit of help from Fiori.

Free Pattern: Gift Bag Doily

Nowadays, not so many people like to make crocheted doily anymore and think that doily is passtime hobby for grandma. However, I used to like to make doilies and even now, once in the blue moon I got a urge to design one. I don't display my doily and I don't know what to do with them, until I come across this picture:



I think this is a good idea to personalize your gift bag. Here is the link to the free pattern.

It's my fault that she was crying.......

She was happy with her red ballon on her head, then suddenly her mother (read: ME) realized that the color of the baloon didn't match her yellow dress.

She was not happy when I changed the red baloon with the yellow one



She was trying to remove the yellow but couldn't.

The result: Waaaaa.......