Who enjoys KAL or CAL?

Do you enjoy knit alongs or crochet alongs?  Do you like the suspense of it?  Do you like knowing you are working alongside others doing the same thing but different?

I used to think I would like it.  I even tried some online over the years.  I could never keep up though.  It seemed that when my sons were younger they ate up time, either because they truly needed me to do things for them or during school years, they needed me there to taxi.  As they got older and left home, things never seemed to slow down.  I seem to do better with an in person KAL or CAL.

This says I can commit to those I have to face in person rather than put off and play catch up when I feel like it or when I have time as I see fit.

I have been considering running a KAL/CAL in 2018.  Perhaps on a semi-monthly or monthly basis with clues coming out on the first or last day of the month or the first and 15th.  I'm unsure what type of project to do.  I do know, I would offer a YouTube video of an unfamiliar technique.  Options being considered are an afghan, a cowl/scarf, a shawl, a sweater.

Whatever is chosen will be in worsted weight.  That seems to be universally available.  Color options would be totally up to you.  The only advice I would offer is when a variegated or dark color might be inappropriate.  It's very hard to see things like lace or cables in dark or variegated yarns.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!  Many celebrate some form of this holiday.

a Year of Stitches Week 52

Well, we made it to the end of the year.  Here is our last post in 2017 for a year of stitches.  Let's use these.  There should be something fabulous to meet your fancy here.  Enjoy these.  They offer a variety of looks.  The traditional winter and Christmas specific motifs and then things that can stand the test of time for the whole year.  Done in heavier yarns, there are afghans and pillows.  Done in finer yarns, sweaters or accessories.

This is only a quarter of the pattern.  Mirror image in each direction to form the whole.  This would be stunning worked in silver or gold thread in filet crochet or as a pillow.  For the pillow, sew the pocket for the stuffing in line with the points where the two scallops meet.

Review :: aprendercrochet

The top 4 choices on the front menu take you to the google play store to download more apps.  The rest of the menu choices are taking you to YouTube videos.  The videos are from all over YouTube, not just one specific teacher/designer.  The teachers and designers are good at their video.  However, it is inconsistent.  The same teacher throughout would have kept the same quality for all the videos.

Like the other directory type apps, I won't keep this.  I prefer to search YouTube for various crochet videos myself.

A Year of Stitches Week 51

Let's try something easy this week.  You see the charts to make a vest.  Instead, let's use the deer to make a pillow.  Use knit or crochet.  Use color or texture.  As a joke, present this to a hunter who didn't get his deer during hunting season.

Review :: Crochet Flowers

This app is for ideas only.  It is similar to Crochet Bags Ideas.  There are no links.  No photo tutorials.  No video tutorials.

There are many pictures of flowers that are swirls, overlays, Irish crochet, petal by petal construction.  There are ideas for layout, arrangements, and uses for embellishments.

If I needed ideas for flowers, I might check this out or more than likely I’d visit www.lionbrand.com and search flowers as well as checking www.ravelry.com for flower patterns and embellishment ideas. 

Review :: AllFreeCrochet

This app is almost too small.  There are links to 10 patterns.  There is also a drop down menu that leads you to more patterns on the all free crochet website.  The drop down menu has a bunch of different topics.  It also has sections for tutorials, tips for crochet, reviews, product reviews, book reviews, and basics.  These are all on the all free crochet website.  It has ads, requires no permissions, and takes up 2.26MB.  It does require internet access or will use your data plan on your phone.

I might think twice before downloading this.  There are not enough ideas or actual patterns in the app.

A Year of Stitches Week 50

Holidays are coming.  What do you do to get ready?  Share your family traditions.

Here is a chart for your pleasure.  This can encompass the year if you choose or you can make them all be autumn/winter related.  Notes about this chart:  Each block shown by a dark grey line is really 10 small blocks.by 10 small blocks.  I have enlarged it as far as possible.  The background of some charts are not white.  You can choose to change them as you desire.

A Year of Stitches Week 49

At this point we are headed into December with a vengeance.  For those who celebrate Advent before Christmas, you will find this year a very short 3 week Advent because of where Christmas falls in the week, Monday.  For those who celebrate other holidays in December, tell us about your traditions.  The days are getting shorter with a culmination on December 21 with winter solstice, at least here in the Northern Hemisphere.  Those of you down under let us know about your summer and holiday traditions.

For this week let's delve into some more complex charts

Here is a flower that can be transformed into a doily, a scarf, a blanket, a poncho, a sweater, the sky is the limit.

ch 5, join with a sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rd 1:  ch 3, dc in ring, ch 2, * 2 dc in ring, ch 2.  Rep from * 4 times more.  Join in top of ch 3.
Rd 2: sl st to ch 2 sp, ch 3, dc in ch 2 sp,* ch 7, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 2 sp.  Rep from * around 5 more times.  Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.
Rd 3: * 6 dc, ch 2, 6 dc in ch 4 loop.  Rep from * around.  Join with sl st.  Fasten off.

They can be joined by a sl st in the final round by working a ch 1, sl st in next flower, ch 1 before finishing petal.

The finer the yarn, the more delicate.  Use a slightly smaller hook than usual to keep this compact.  Work rd 1 in yellow and the rest in red to resemble a poinsettia.

For the knit stich let's try this Japanese lace stitch.  Make a note.  The chart only shows the right side stitches.  All return rows are purled and not shown.