Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Fit for a Prince or Princess

At long last, I have the directions and picture for a crown.  The crown can be embellished as you see fit.


A Wendyteaches Original

By Wendy Stumpf



Materials Needed:
Any yarn you choose

Hook 2 sizes smaller than you normally use for your yarn choice

Gauge: dependent on your choices

Finished Size: Newborn 15”, Infant 17”, 1 ½ years – 4 years 19”, 4 years – Adult small 20”, Adult M – L 22”

Notes:  Measure the head you want to fit.  Make the crown 1 – 1 ½ “ smaller than that size.  This is a multiple of 8 sts.

Stitches Used: Chain - ch, Single Crochet - sc, Half Double Crochet - hdc, Double Crochet - dc, Slip Stitch – sl st, Foundation Single Crochet - fsc, picot - p

R1:  FSC to the desired size, making sure to have a multiple of 8.  Join with a sl st to first fsc being careful to not twist.

R2: Ch 3, dc in next 2 fsc, *sk 2 fsc [(dc, ch 5, dc) shell] in next fsc, sk 2 fsc, 3 dc in next 3 fsc.  Rep from * around.  Join in top of ch 3.

R3: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 2, sc in 3rd ch of shell, ch 2, dc in next 3 dc.  Rep from * around.  Join in top of ch 3.

R4: Ch 2, hdc in next 2 dc, hdc in ch 2 sp, ch 4, join in first ch (p made), hdc in same ch 2 sp, hdc in sc, 2 hdc in ch 2 sp,  ch 10, turn, sl st in top of ch 2, turn (ch 2, 6 hdc, 3 p, 7 hdc) in ch 10 loop, * hdc in 3 dc and once in ch 2 sp, p, hdc in same ch 2 sp, hdc in sc, 2 hdc in ch 2 sp, turn, ch 10, sl st in first dc of rep, turn, (ch 2, 6 hdc 3 p, 7 hdc) in ch 10 loop.  Rep from * around.  Sl st in top of ch 2 of first rep.






Tuesday, March 14, 2017

My Local Yarn Shop (lys)

My Local Yarn Shop.  Those words should invoke a warm wooly feeling with sure knowledge that help can be a few short miles away. Sadly not everyone can have such a rich resource near them.  Even more sad, shops are closing due to online sales and poor economy.  Online sales can give us access to a plethora of choices in fiber and color.

I am lucky enough to have wonderful shops to the North, South,  East and West  of my home within two hours or less.  These, coupled with the big box stores, give me access to many fibers and colors, as well as a wide variety of price points. 

Allow me to give a glimpse into the shops.  Most have a selection of acrylic yarns in weights,  colors and prices.  There are wools again in a selection of weight,  colors and prices.   There are blends, wool/acrylic,  cotton/acrylic, wool/cotton,  cotton/linen,  wool/alpaca,  you name it,  I can point you to a shop where it can be found.

Classes, books, magazines are available in a variety of levels of experience.  The teachers are knowledgeable and sometimes nationally recognized.   Class needs are just an arm's length away if something was forgotten.   Help can always be found for small questions or problems, although the shop owners usually prefer that the project components were purchased at the shop.

Some of the big box craft stores also have teachers from the local area.  Many of these people are wonderful help with problems,  questions and choices about projects.   Check your big box craft store and lys.  You will be amazed at the variety found.