Crochet Mother Bear With No Seams!

I modified the original crochet pattern of the Mother Bear Project for seamless construction, and a little neck shaping, too. The "seam" runs up the center of the back.

I kindly donated my seamless pattern modification to the Mother Bear Project. Please go to their website to purchase the Seamless Crochet Pattern. $5 gets you the pattern, a brochure, the wrist tag, and your first bear's airfare. Additional bears should include $3 each. All proceeds go to the distribution of many more bears to the children who love them.

ERRATA & CORRECTIONS:

(In the first batch printed Jan. 2012.)

Feet start with **Ch7**.
Arms start with **Ch6**.
Rnd 2 of arm/body join ends with **...sc2tog, 6 sc. 52 sc**.
Rnd 1 of head starts with **Ch 1. Turn work**.
And I didn't specify whether you're working on the outside or wrong side. First round of each section and each odd numbered round is worked with outside facing. Even rounds are worked with wrong side facing.

Bon Voyage, Bears!

I adore the Mother Bear Project. I can't stop making them! I've sent them off, with a little prayer that each one will bring joy to an orphaned child. I've also included some extras for the organization: yarn, stuffing, needles, and hooks. Check their website for info about the contributions they need, and how they are used. And if you can't knit or crochet, you can always sponsor a bear!

Crochet Coasters

I love simple circles, especially when made with cotton yarn.

One 2.5 oz ball of solid Peach'n Creme will make at least six circles,
approx. 4" (10cm) in diameter.

Use a 4.0mm hook, or whatever size suits your gauge.

(Beg ch3 always counts as a dc st.)

Start with an adjustable ring.

1st Rnd: Ch3, 11dc in ring, ss into beg 3rd ch - 12 sts total.

2nd Rnd: Ch3, 1dc in same 3rd ch as last ss, 2dc in next and each st all around, ss into beg 3rd ch - 24 sts total.

3rd Rnd: Ch3, 1dc in same 3rd ch as last ss, *1dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, rep from * to last st, 1dc in next st, ss into beg 3rd ch - 36 sts total.

4th Rnd: Ch3, 1dc in same 3rd ch as last ss, *1dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, rep from * to last 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, ss into beg 3rd ch - 48 sts total.

Fasten off, weave ends, pour an icy beverage, and enjoy your new coasters!


If you want a near-perfect edge, after the last dc, don't ss, instead cut the yarn about 4 inches or so, then pull it all the way through the top of the last dc. Next, thread the yarn on a needle, and run it under & through the top of the beg ch3, then back down into the center of the last dc. Adjust the tension to make it look like the top of a st, then weave in ends.

Christmas Oven Mitts

I crocheted these in double-stranded kitchen cotton for my future Mother-in-Law.

One Skein Quick Crochet Scarves

Since the beginning of October, I've taught a few knitting and crochet classes. To the dozen or so new yarnies out there: Hello! I hope you're all enjoying winter's lure to stitch up warm things.

Also in October, I hooked up a couple of beginner scarves - the staple first project for my crochet classes. They also make nice quick gifts, under an hour if you're fast, and if you're a coupon-slinging shopper, it costs less than $5.

ONE SKEIN QUICK CROCHET SCARVES

Long & Skinny: 4" x 76" (10 x 190 cm)
Thick & Warm: 5" x 60" (13 x 152 cm)

You'll need:
1 Ball of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick-n-Quick for each scarf
Size P/16 (11.5mm) crochet hook, or size needed for gauge

Gauge: 5 DC x 4 Rows 4 x 4" (10 x 10 cm).

CH 98(78) very loosely, leaving tail as long as desired fringe.
Working into the back loop of each CH,
DC in 4th CH from the hook and in each CH across.
Including turning (skipped) CH's, you will have 96(76) DC's.

Turn. CH 3 (counts as 1st DC). Skipping first DC, DC in next and in each DC across, 96(76) DC's. Repeat this row 2(3) times more, for a total of 4(5) rows, then fasten off, leaving tail as long as fringe.

To make fringe, cut yarn into 20(24) equal strands, twice the length of desired fringe. Use 2 strands for each fringe point - at the beginning and end of the first and last rows, and in between each middle row.

Knitting and Crochet

Here's a few things I've finished here and there: An Easter-like basket, a bath mitt & cloth set for my dishcloth exchange partner, another of my ubiquitous bath mitts again, and the baby blanket us Knit Niters finally finished for Laura's baby boy. All projects are in some form on Lily Sugar'n Cream - perfect for lazy summer knitting.

     


My favorite WIP of all, is this Master Upstream Socks from Cat Bordhi's book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I'm loosely following the Dove pattern, just for the decorative increases. Since my socks are at a tighter gauge (36 sts = 10cm on 2.0mm) the diamond pattern stops just a few inches after the heel, so I'm mirroring the pattern all the way up the leg.

The socks began on the magic loop, both at once, but after the heel, I put them onto DPN's. For one, I got tired of untangling the yarn, and two, I knit faster on DPN's. Still, the magic loop is great for insuring that both socks will be identical without too much counting and measuring.

Unlike the feet, I can easily work the legs identically without measuring, because one, the stitch pattern itself creates a built-in self-measuring feature, and two, I'm using the identical balls of yarn from the same sock blank, and will knit until I run out.

Once I got a few inches into the leg, I switched to 2.25mm DPN's so the socks won't cut off my circulation. So far, then fit perfectly. I look forward to happy, warm, and cheerfully bright feet this winter.

Another Crochet Oven Mitt

This time, I worked the one one the right in the round from the top, much like the format for my mittens-from-the-top pattern.

Since I didn't add extra stitches to account for the seams, the seamless version ended up larger, but still very wearable, even for a man's hands. Pattern will soon follow....

Revised Oven Mitt

This time, instead of working them flat from the bottom, I'm crocheting them in the round starting from the top. Using the principles from my mittens-from-the-top, I hope I can get past the thumb join sucessfully. If so, I will write a pattern for all to enjoy, and hopefully can be easily converted into mittens with some appropriate yarn.

Crocheted Oven Mitt

I followed the schematics for the bath mitt, and tried to make a crocheted one, but in single crochet stitches, the fabric was so stiff and dense that I deemed it an oven mitt before it was all said and done. In retrospect, I should've either used double crochet stitches or a bigger hook. Also I wish I'd crocheted this in the round, but still, I enjoyed the practice of seaming crochet. At first, I tried the whipstitch, but didn't really like that look, so then I used the equivalent of the mattress stitch in knitting (is it called the same thing in crochet?) and was very pleased with the seamless look. It took exactly one ball of Peaches-n-Creme, and with the other ball left over, I may just make a twin.

Snowflakes in March

Old man winter just won't let up. Look what he did to my daffodils! Still, it's a great excuse to stay in and play with yarn. Although I crocheted these snowflakes around Christmastime, in all the retail holiday chaos, I never got around to blocking them nor hanging them on my tree.

I finally got around to soaking them in a little fabric stiffener, then pinned them to styrofoam. They dried as hard as a rock. It's rare for a southern gal to have snowflakes on her mind in March.

If you want to try your hand at delicate thread crochet, this is a great little sample, as none of the snowflakes take more than four rounds, and you can make several with less than $5 in materials, and the patterns are free.

Flower Pattern, Yarn Dyeing, and Knitting Machine Love

It's been a great day! I've been playing with DD, playing with yarn, and even doing a little housework. Now we're about to bake some chocolate brownies, and while we're waiting, try the new Latin flavor Kool-Aids on wool.



FELTED CROCHET FLOWER PATTERN UPDATE!

You'll need worsted or aran weight 100% wool yarn, size J (6.0mm) crochet hook
(or yarn weight of choice, using a hook 1 size larger than recommended), and a yarn needle

To yarn as in photo (enough for 3 flowers): For each color, wind off 36 yards of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool, tie each in a loose hank, place each in its own microwavable coffee cup, fill with water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, then let soak for 30 mins. Next dissolve 1 packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid in Cherry, Orange, and Pineapple respectively. *Microwave until it starts to boil, rest for a few minutes, repeat from * until water is colorless. Let cool completely, rinse carfully, hang dry out of the sun, and....

pop = popcorn (sc 4 times in same st, remove hook from loop, insert hook into 1st sc, then into loop, yo, and pull through both

Start with an adjustable ring. With this tutorial link, end with step 6.

Rnd 1: ch-1, sc 10 times into ring, ss to 1st sc, tighten ring

Rnd 2: ch-1, (sc, pop) 5 times, ss to 1st sc (10 sts)

Rnd 3: ch-1, 2 sc in each st around, ss to 1st sc (20 sts),
fasten off yarn

Rnd 4: (work entire rnd in front loops only) join new yarn with ss in any st of rnd 3, (ch-2, 2 dc in next st, 2 tc in next st, 2 dc in next st, ch-2, ss in next st) 5 times (5 petals made), fasten off yarn

Rnd 5: (working behind rnd 4, work entire rnd in back loops of rnd 3) join new yarn with ss at same st as the join of rnd 4, (ch-4, 2 dtc in next st, 2 ttc in next st, 2 dtc in next st, ch-4, ss in next st) 5 times (5 petals made), fasten off yarn and weave in ends

These are easily felted by hand. Fill 1 bowl with the hottest water you can stand with gloved hands plus a squirt of liquid dishsoap, and 1 bowl of ice water. *Immerse flower in hot water, rubbing it vigorously for a few minutes, then immerse and rub in ice water for a minute.* Repeat from * to * until felted as desired. Keep the hot water as hot as possible for fastest felting. Press in a towel to remove excess water, and lay flat to dry.

Single color option: Omit "fasten off yarn" and "join new yarn with ss" steps. At beg of rnd 5, begin w/ ss in the back loop of rnd 3

Popcornless option: These can be difficult, so just replace "pop" with "sc" to simplify!

Abbreviations: rnd=round; ch=chain; st=stitch; yo=yarn over; ss=slip stitch; sc=single crochet; dc=double crochet; tc=treble crochet; dtc=double treble crochet; ttc=triple treble crochet

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Here DD and I dyed some kitchen cotton in the colors of my kitchen: cranberry, pine, & mahogany. I'll make some dishcloths from this, and if they're too pretty, I hope I'll have the nerve to use them.


Here's a little experiment with a lace pattern I slightly modified from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Embellishments. Also, I finally tried a picot bind-off, and I can see great potential! I was thinking about making a shawl from this prototype, perhaps in a Valentine color, but would a heart lace shawl look corny?


You know your man loves you when he buys you yarn and knitting books, but THIS???



My man took a brand-new tool cart (toolheads swear by Mac), modified it by adding a tabletop, and voila, I have a knitting machine worktable. This man doesn't just love me, this man is obsessed with my obsessions. I'm marrying him!

Dyeing for Yarn

Apparently dyeing yarn is all the rage now, so I ventured into my first wool dyeing project.

I measured the yardage on my homemade hank maker, then gently washed the yarn with dish soap. For each color, I mixed 1 tsp. of gel food color, ¼ c. vinegar, ¾ c. water. I dipped 150 yards of wool in 4 sections, microwaved it in a covered glass casserole dish for a few minutes until boiling, rested for a few minutes, brought it to boiling again, then kept it covered until it completely cooled. After a final rinsing and air-drying, Raven and I ooh'ed and aah'ed the rainbow yarn, but there were a few brown spots where I slipped and all the colors blended together, so I dunked the whole thing in the blue dye and started over. This peacock mix is much prettier!

Then we tried dyeing with Kool-Aid. Since it's acidic, I didn't have to use vinegar, so my kitchen smelled like artificial fruit instead of a pickle factory! I mixed 1 packet of each in ½ c. of water, but I was disappointed in the pale yellow of the lemonade, so I added a generous squirt of food color to liven it up. I wound five 32 yd hanks, painted 1 rainbow, and fully dipped the rest in each color Using the same microwave technique, I produced much of the same vibrant colors. If you're interested in trying this too....

www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/FEATdyedwool.html

www.woolworks.org/dyeing.html

After reading a few labels, I've learned that all these methods utilize only four dyes - Red 40, Red 3, Blue 1, and Yellow 5. Every Kool-Aid color is just different ratios of these dyes. I was disappointed in the grayish-purple product of blue and red, so I'm hoping I can find a better purple with egg dyes. When Easter is over, my friend Gina suggested stocking up the kits if they work. She is always full of good ideas!

Now I have even more yarn, yikes, but I've never tried knitting with 100% wool before. I plan on making some thick colorful socks, learning the double-circular toe-up method. I'm also daydream-designing a rainbow scarf or shawl. Eventually, I will attempt intarsia or fair isle, since colorful patterns make me very happy! Sigh... so much to learn, so much to knit, so little time.



The other day, I was digging through boxes, looking for my sewing gear (in moving over the years, I have yet to fully unpack) and found my first skein of yarn, bought for Raven's craft projects. I considered saving it as a souvenir, but it's only Red Heart, so I'm crocheting as many granny squares as possible, to make a poncho for her. When will I ever make something for ME besides a scarf? I had no idea I was this generous! As they say, it's better to give....

Crochet Flowers and Sweater Recycling

My Mom recently came to Arkansas for my sister's & my dad's birthdays, and we all had a great time. She's an ex-crochet-junkie, and was delighted that I'm now just as crazy about yarn. Now she's a workaholic, so has no time to make those beautiful huge afghans, but I got her crocheting again for just a few days. In less than 2 hours, she hooked up a cute little hat for Raven, and I applied my flowers to it. What a team! I have a new passion for crocheting flowers. This spring, you'll will see them on everything of mine.


Already comfortable with yarn, my Mom learned how to both knit and purl in about 10 minutes! I guided Raven through the knit stitch a couple weeks ago, and she's got little garter stitch project going, though she only has patience for a row a day. My next challenge is to teach a guy how to knit. So far, I haven't found a willing candidate.


I bought my first big yarn cone. It's 3 pounds of red & burgundy worsted chenille, a bargain for $12. It beckons a nice fall or Christmas sweater, so for now, I'll just let it sit, and let the inspiration come later.


As if I need more yarn, I've gained interest in sweater recycling. I've want to unravel this green cabled tent for a St. Paddy's day project, but I fear time is running out. I also have some huge men's wool sweaters, which may become something felted, like mittens or slippers.


I haven't been to any SnB club meetings recently, due to busy family schedules, and I've yet to meet my knit-buddy Gina in person. It all my fault, because when I finally have free time, the last thing I want to do is get off my ass and do something productive besides knit while watching TV (not always a wise combo), or reading the endless knitting and crochet info on the web, or thumbing through my growing magazine and book collection while fantasizing about that first perfect sweater I'll make for myself....

I Knit, Therefore I Crochet

I've been modestly productive on the creative front. I frogged my sister's birthday tank top and made her a purse instead, 2 weeks late. This is my very own pattern, which includes a basketweave stitch body, garter stitch handles, wooden sticks whip-stitched on top. I like it so much, I just might one for myself.


I've just completed 1 panel of her yellow poncho on a Bond knitting machine, though it's an inch smaller than the pattern, it's the exact dimensions of a similar pattern, and since my sister is petite, I'll go with it. I'm making 2 big rectangles, then I'll sew them together and fringe and bead the edges.


Raven pulled 3 yarns from my stash and asked me to make a Valentine's sweater, so here it is March, and it's almost finished. I made this on the knitting machine too. I tried to seam the shoulders with the Kitchener's stitch, and I think I did it wrong, because doesn't look seamless. Still, it looks okay, so I'm leaving it, and hopefully it will be my first seaming-success-story.


For Raven's Val-Day gift, I freehanded a crocheted poncho in 3 days, and everybody loves it. It's just a big red rectangle, then I joined the ends with a decreasing band, then added a picot trim. I can't decide which I like better - knitting or crochet? Crocheting is faster, but knitting creates a flatter fabric. They both make me happy, so away I stitch....