My version of the pinwheel sweater

So, I saw this amazing circle sweater, but alas, it's knitted. Although I've recently learned to knit, I am nowhere near ready for that sweater, or the amount of time it would take to complete said sweater! So, why not make one for myself. I mean, really, it's just a giant circle. Anyway, thought I would share with you all how I made it. Therefore, this isn't really a pattern so much as it is a tutorial. And because of the nature of this pattern, it can be altered to fit a child too.



Pinwheel Sweater

I used about 7 skeins of Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Serenity Garden in Gems colorway. The package says it's a fine weight yarn, other sources list it as sport weight. I think it's somewhere in between.

H hook

Fdc (foundation double crochet) - here is a link to an excellent video tutorial.
Body

Note: All stitches are made in dc, so always sk ch 1 sp, unless otherwise noted. Sl st to top of ch 3 to join each round.

Ch 4, 11 dc in 4th ch fr hk (12 dc)
Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), *dc, ch 1 in next dc*. Repeat from * to * to end. (12 dc, 12 ch 1)
Ch 3, dc in same st, ch 1, *2dc, ch 1 in next dc.* Repeat from * to * to end. (24 dc, 12 ch 1)
Ch 3, dc in same st, dc, ch 1, *2dc, dc, ch 1.* Repeat from * to * to end. (36 dc, 12 ch 1)
Ch 3, dc in same st, dc, dc, ch 1, *2dc, dc, dc, ch 1.* Repeat from * to * to end. (48 dc, 12 ch 1)
Ch 3, dc in same st, dc, dc, dc ch 1, *2dc, dc, dc, dc, ch 1.* Repeat from * to * to end. (60 dc, 12 ch 1)

Continue increasing as in pattern above until circle reaches diameter of the distance between the outer edges of your shoulders. For example, mine was 17".  If in doubt, add a little room.  You don't want it to be too tight!  Now you are going to make the holes for the sleeves.

Continue in pattern until first ch 1. Ch 1, then fdc number of stitches required and reattach at next set of increases by dcing into the first of the two dcs. To make that a bit simpler, let me give you my example. When I made my sleeves, I had 19 st between ch 1 spaces. So, I fdc 19 st and reattached with 2 dc in the next set. Continue as before for the next 7 sets. Ch 1, and fdc number required again and reattach as before. Continue pattern and sl st to join the round.

At this point, lay the circle out flat. The distinct pinwheel pattern has 12 sets or sections. There should be 3 sections between the armholes at the top, and there should be 7 sections between the armholes at the bottom. Also at this time, you should try it on to make sure there is enough room between the shoulders and to make sure the armholes are large enough.

Continue in pattern until you can put on the sweater and the fronts easily overlap each other, or until you like it. You may find a point where it gets too long in the back for your liking. Just stop there! No rhyme or reason, just make it until you are satisfied.

Here's what it should look like before attaching the sleeves.










Arms

Notes:
There will be no increases made in the sleeves or they will be way too big! Also, you will not be joining the rounds. Count the number of stitches around and divide by 2; this will be your halfway number.

At the point where the fdc joins the sweater, join the yarn and ch 3. Dc next stitch. Continue dc until you reach your halfway number, ch 1, sk 1. Continue with your second half, dcing in each st as you go, until the end. Ch 1, sk 1. Dc in second dc (skipping ch 3 from previous round) and across until you reach ch 1 sp. Dc in ch 1 sp, ch 1, sk 1. *Dc around until ch 1 sp, dc in ch 1 sp, ch 1, sk 1* Repeat from * until you reach the desired length. Try on regularly to make sure of fit.

Now, the very nature of this sweater means that it will just fall right off without some sort of closure device. I use a hairpin as a shawl pin, but any shawl pin will do.

Here is a pic of the front where you can kinda see my hair pin closure.












I hope I made this clear enough! Enjoy!

Charisma hat - free pattern!

I am obviously into the chunky weight yarn thing today because I have another free pattern I would like to share! I can't be the only person to have come up with something like this, so I apologize to everyone else out there who thinks like me. I really do. No one should think like me. It's not...normal.

Moving on...don't you love my son's face in this pic? He was irritated that I was using him as a head model for what he called a "chick's hat." I asked him if he would still feel that way if it were in a different color. He said he would wear it if it were black, grey, red or something other than stripes. LOL! Well, there you go. A guy's point of view...from an 11 year old.

Charisma

Materials:
Approx. 3 oz bulky weight yarn
N hook

Time needed: 1 - 2 hours, tops. Works great as a last minute gift for that friend that just told you this morning she is stopping by and you missed her birthday last month, and, come to think of it, last year.

Notes: although I used self-striping yarn (which is undoubtedly uber-cool), any smooth solid color yarn will work well too.

Notes 2: I named this scarf Charisma because that's the yarn I used. I used the self-striping version called Sunny Day. It was my first time with it, and I must say, I really liked it!

Notes 3: Join each round with a sl st to first st made.

Directions:

Ch 4, sl st to first ch to create ring
Round 1: ch 1, *sc in ring, dc in ring* Repeat from * to * 3 more times. (8 st)
Round 2: ch 3, (counts as dc from here out), sc in same sp made as join. (Dc, sc) in next st and in each st around. (16 st)
Round 3: ch 1, *(Sc, dc), sc, (dc, sc), dc* Repeat from * to *, to end. (24 st)
Round 4: ch 3, sc in same sp made as join, dc next, sc. *(dc, sc), dc, sc* Repeat from * to * to end. (32 st)
Round 5: ch 1, *(Sc, dc), sc, dc, sc (dc, sc), dc, sc, dc* Repeat from * to *, to end. (40 st)
Round 6: ch 3, sc in same sp made as join, dc next, sc, dc, sc. *(dc, sc), dc, sc, dc, sc* Repeat from * to * to end. (48 st)
Round 7: ch 1, sc same sp made as join, dc next. *Sc, dc* Repeat from * to * to end. (48 st)
Round 8: ch 3, sc next st. *Dc, sc* Repeat from * to * to end. (48 st)
Round 9 - desired length. Note that in Rounds 7 and 8, all sc should be made in dc stitches and all dc should be made in sc stitches.
Ch 1, reverse sc around hat, if desired. F/O, weave in the ends, and you are DONE!

One skein Tunisian scarf

So, if you are anything like me, you lurve the feel of Homespun yarn but hate actually crocheting with it. Maybe it's just me, but I have the hardest time seeing my stitches using this yarn, and I am constantly splitting it with the hook. So beautiful, so soft, so evil.

Anyway, for me, Tunisian crochet is the answer! Using this technique allows me to use this lovely yarn for good and not firepit kindling. And, like most fiber addicts, I bet you have a skein (or 8) of this torturous yarn laying about, without purpose, without future prospects. And, like most, you hate the notion of tossing out perfectly good yarn. Well, let me solve that for ya! This scarf pattern doesn't curl, has really nice drape and is very warm and soft. And on top of all that, it's washable! Yay!

One Skein Tunisian Scarf

Materials:
Bulky weight yarn - yep, you guessed it, one skein Homespun
9 mm afghan hook

Time needed: about 3 hours, more or less, depending on the number of children you have running about screaming that they want juice, are fighting with their siblings, just dropped a paint can on the floor...oh, I digress...

Notes: all return rows are done as normal - y/o, pull through one for the first stitch, y/o pull through two for the remaining stitches in the row.

Stitches used:
Tss - Tunisian simple stitch Slide hook from right to left under the post of the stitch and draw up a loop.
Tdc - Tunisian double crochet. Y/o, slide hook from right to left under the post of the stitch, draw up a loop, y/o and pull through 2.
Sc - single crochet. Um, I bet you know this one already. :)

Directions:
Ch 15
Row 1: with one loop on, tss across the chain, return row
Row 2: ch 2 (counts as first tdc), tdc across the row, return row
Row 3 - : repeat Rows 1 and 2, until you reach the desired length, or until you reach the end of the skein.
Bind off using sc.

There, couldn't be simpler. :)

Mini Rib Hat - free pattern!

1/17/2011 ETA: many have asked about how wavy this pattern is when starting out. Keep with it! I promise, after several rounds, it will take shape!

To celebrate my Adventures in Knitting, I thought I would share a free crochet pattern with you. Doesn't that sound like fun? Enjoy!

Here is my pattern for the Mini Rib Hat. Now there's nothing mini or ribbed about this hat, but the finished hat looks a bit ribbed, and I couldn't think of anything better to call it. It produces a dense weave so it's really warm, but is very stretchy because of the ch 1 sp throughout. This would make a great chemo cap for those of you out there who donate!

Mini-Rib hat

Materials Needed:
J hook
2.75 oz ww yarn (appx 140 yds)
Trace amount of contrast color
Stitch markers (optional but may be helpful with this pattern)


Note:
• V stitch – (sc, ch 1, sc) all in same st.
• Always sl st to first sc to join round.
• All V stitches made in ch 1 sp, unless otherwise indicated.

Pattern:
Round 1: Ch 2, 10 sc in 2nd ch from hk. (10 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, V st in first sc, and in ea sc around. (10 V st)
Round 3: Ch 1, 2 V st in first ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp. *2 V st in ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp.* Repeat from * to end. (15 V st)
Round 4: Ch 1, 2 V st in first ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (2 times). *2 V st in ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (2 times).* Repeat from * to end. (20 V st)
Round 5: Ch 1, 2 V st in first ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (3 times). *2 V st in ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (3 times).* Repeat from * to end. (25 V st)
Round 6: Ch 1, 2 V st in first ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (4 times). *2 V st in ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (4 times).* Repeat from * to end. (30 V st)
Round 7: Ch 1, 2 V st in first ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (5 times). *2 V st in ch 1 sp, V st next ch 1 sp (5 times).* Repeat from * to end. (35 V st)
Rounds 8 – 26: Ch 1, V st in ea ch 1 sp around. (35 V st)
Round 27: Join contrast color, Ch 1, V st in ea ch 1 sp around. (35 V st)
Round 28: Pick up main color, Ch 1, V st in ea ch 1 sp around. (35 V st)

Cut yarn, fasten off and weave in the ends!

Adventures in Knitting!

Well, I've gone and done it. I swore I was going to learn to knit one of these days and sure enough, I did! I checked out a couple of youtube videos, decided continental style suited this crocheter just fine and off I went. No kidding, by the next day I had made my first hat. Of course I knit it flat...circular needles and those double-pointed torture sticks are waaaay beyond me, at least for now. Anyway, thought I would share some pics with you of my first attempts. Please keep the laughter to a minimum. Or a maximum, who cares? It's not like I can hear you from here. :)

This is my first attempt. It's so bad, it's not even worthy of a mannequin shot...

Here is my second attempt. This time with ww yarn and size 11 needles. Umm I didn't realize that would be like using an N hook with fishing wire. Yikes! It's super loose and don't you just love that LARGE hole in the front where I obviously dropped a stitch. Yep. Pretty.

Here is my third attempt. It's actually pretty good. Even the seam in the back is decent. This time I used size 8 needles and the tension was much better. I would even wear this in public.