Large Crocheted Afghans

I started two new big afghans, the one below is a gift, It should be twin bed size when I'm done.  It's an easy pattern. The first row is sc2, ch2, sk2, sc2 and the next row, is 4dc in each ch2 sp.  The colors are really a little darker than this, but the sun was shining on it when I took the photo.

This next is a sampler afgan, I'm making in twin bedspread size.  I didn't plan this, or set out to do it this way, I was going to make in either soft white altogether, or "white on cream", but I found a bunch of leftover brown yarn, when I made one before so I'm choosing colors as I go. I'd still like to do this in the one
color and see what happens.

Knitting Scarves

I love knitting and I'm discovering expensive yarns.  This particular one, I'm embarrassed to say how much it cost, and I had 20 % off.  It is a skein of yarn with different fiber types hand tied together. I made two scarves out of one skein, since the fibers repeat themselves, once. I fell in love with it, so I used it as my birthday present. 

This scarf is knitted long ways with the length of fiber making one and a half rows.  I wanted it a little wider and I thought it would be too long with one row per fiber length.  I wish it was a bit longer, but it works fine.  I ran out of yard about 10 inches from the end so I raided my stash for some pretty yarn that matched to finish. 

Here is a close up of the fiber changes.

The other half I made into a skinny triangular scarf.  It is about 6 feet long, which seems too long, but it worked really well to wrap up.  However, someone saw it, and I sold it, so I need to make another one for me.   This pattern was easy. Cast on, three stitches, Row 1 knit to end, cast on 4 stitches. Row 2, knit to end, cast on 4 stitches.  Continue until it's the size you like. I used size 11 circular needles.

This scarf is similar, using a double strand of fancy thick cotton thread. I think I only cast on three at the end of every row.  It is a little wider at the end, and shorter.  I knit one or two extra rows even at the last, to make the points wider, and finished with 5 double crochet shells all around. (sc in between each shell)

I'm really happy with the way this turned out.  I was using thread I tried to make several things out of and didn't finish.  It drapes really well.

I used the size 11 needles on this as well.

I used these same needles with some worsted wool, doubled to make a mobius scarf. They are easy and fast. I used Cat's video to help me cast on, it's a bit tricky.  I can't find the scarf at the moment to take a picture.

Felted Coasters

The only experience I've had with felting is felting knitted slippers in my old top loader washer.  My sister in law knitted the slippers, I just felted them.  So, after she gave me a bunch of wool.  I wanted to try a quick and easy project so I crocheted up a bunch of circles to make into coasters.  I started with a ring of four single crochets into which I put 10 double crochets, the first one being the ch 3 that starts a round.  I want to work up a decent pattern sometime.  The holes were not a success, and I need a better way to make the circle flat.

 

 

I didn't know how well a front loader washer would felt wool, so I googled it and found this website, and gave it a go.


Here are the results.  The original circles were about 7" across and the finished coasters about 4".

This was a fun project.  Most of them turned out well. A couple of my circles weren't flat enough so they didn't turn out at all. 

Dalsey's Afghan

I finished this June 6, 2010. One of the fastest afghans I've ever made.






The border around the whole thing is one pattern row in black and gray, one half crochet row in soft white and a three double crochet shell border.

May 28, 2010

As you may have noticed I have transported the posts below that were previously published on my home page about my knitting and crocheting into this new home so I can use it primarily as a resource for me so those people not interested in the knitty gritty (hee hee hee) of yarns and patterns and whatnot don't need to visit this page.

As published below, I started this black verigated afghan for a graduation gift with a time limit. I want it to be done before June 10th.

I started it May 25th.

Here is what it looked like on May 27th. I can do a stripe a day. I think I will need 7 stripes.


I found a neat book about crocheting, "The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet".

One of the features of this book, is a catalog of stitches. I want to try them all. I used this one below on the black/white afghan. It is quick and easy with the "K" hook and 4 ply red heart acrylic yarn I'm using.

Another Afghan

May 24, 2010
I started this afghan May 5. I wanted to finish it for another wedding gift. It was an easy pattern and worked up quickly.



Finished!



A close up of the pattern.



The next one! Started May 25th.

The Creation of an Afghan

March 28, 2010

I'm going to do something different with this posting. I had an idea for a new afghan and figured out the pattern and dimensions and then lost them. Since it is a ripple afghan, I don't really need a pattern, so I'm going on with with I do remember.

I'm going to post all photos and notes as I go under this one heading and change the date so that it is always near the top. That way the project will be together from start to finish and I can watch it grow myself.

When using up some scrap yarn to make a scrap afghan I thought an afghan in rainbow colors would be pretty, but I didn't want primary colors, so I chose these. It is just red heart, acrylic, 4 ply yarn. I would like to use nicer yarn, but as it is more expensive, I just use this. It wears well.



First I made a chain of quite a bit longer than I wanted. Then made the ripple pattern with 9 stitches on the incline and descent, with three stitches in the "top" stitch of the ripple and skipping two a the bottom, using an almost white, but not quite yarn.



I've started the edge with one row of each color separated by the soft white, working in the back stitch of each single crochet.



I'm not really sure which side should be considered the right side, since the above photo shows the colors more than this lower photo, in which the afghan is turned over.



Now working on the body of the afghan, with larger stripes of each color.



It is turning out narrower than I wanted, so I will have to pay attention to how long it is getting. I did a little figuring all ready to make sure I don't end up with something long and skinny.

May 5, 2010

So much for updating progress as I go along, since it is now finished.

Accessories not included.

After finishing the stripes, I thought the edges looked a little plain so I put a soft white single crochet edging on the sides.

The picture below shows the whole pattern better.

If you notice the stripes on the end are opposite, one is light and the other dark. I goofed by using an odd number of rows between the main body of the afghan and the top and bottom.

It is all packaged and ready for giving. And it isn't going to anyone that regularly reads my blog. (I don't' think, anyway.) I've already decided on the recipients.

And look, I've already started another one.