Charity Blocks- Tunisian Honeycomb and Airy

Over the last several weeks I have been doing a lot of work creating new design blocks for charity. These blocks can be used as you see fit to benefit others.

Materials

  • Cascade Yarn Pacific medium weight yarn, 60% acrylic/40% superwash merino wool (100g/3.5oz/213 yrd/195 m)
  • 8 mm Tunisian crochet hook

Block measures 7″ x7″

Honeycomb Tunisian Block for Charity

Honeycomb Tunisian block for Charity

Row 1: Ch 22, starting in 2nd ch from hook, pull up a loop in each ch across. RP. –22 loops on hook

Row 2: [Tss, Tps] across, Tss in last st. RP.

Row 3: [Tps, Tss] across, Tss in last st. RP.

Rows 4-15: Rep Rows 2 & 3.

Row 16: Sc in each st across, inserting hook alternating as for Tss and Tps, ending with Tss. –22 sc

Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

Airy Tunisian Block for Charity

Row 1: Ch 22, starting in 2nd ch from hook, pull up a loop in each ch across. RP. –22 loops on hook

Row 2: [Tss, yo, sk 1 st] across, Tss in last st. RP.

Row 3: Tss in each st across, including yo sts. RP.

Row 4: [Yo, sk 1 st, Tss] across, Tss in last st. RP.

Row 5: Rep Row 3.

Rows 6-13: Rep Rows 2-5 twice.

Row 14: Rep Row 2.

Row 15: Sc in each st across inserting hook as for Tss. –22 sc

Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

A Dragonfly for Change in the New Year

ScannedImageBeing the end of the year, I usually find it as a time of reflection. This year is no different, however as I was taking a count of the number of designs I created in 2015 I realize I have been busy…and I am not done yet. In 2015 I completed 32 designs (you can see some of them here), some for magazines, some for yarn companies, and some for my personal pattern store, but I want to add one more.

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Dragonfly Shawl

I am happy to release my latest pattern, available in my pattern stores on-line, The Dragonfly Shawl. So, I gave it the name of Dragonfly, as to me I see the edge panels as rows of dragonflies flying outward. Now I have not always thought of this little ancient insect, but since my wedding, several years ago, it has become a bit a totem representing that day for me.

I had an outdoor wedding, having the ceremony next to a pond in an apple orchard, and as I walked down the aisle I was surrounded by dragonflies. They beautifully danced me down the lawn to my husband. At the time I had guest comment on the dragonflies as bringing luck and magic to my life, yet looking up a simple search I see that many believe the dragonfly means change. What a great symbol for a new chapter in my life, as well as a New Year, so I feel it is fitting for this new design.

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My wedding

This shawl was worked with only one skein of Blue Heron Cotton Rayon Twist Lace Yarn in the color of Bluegrass, and I actually had some left over. I love when a design works up this way, as it means that there is no extra ends to work in, no joining to worry about, I can just begin and finish in one complete clean piece. It is worked from the center of the top edge outward, ending with an airy scallop fans. The size is very generous, and the drape is fabulous.

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Dragonfly Shawl

If you are so inclined, please check out the pattern, or pass it along to friend (you can find it on Ravelry & Craftsy), and I will keep busy throughout 2016 creating more…now 33 complete means I was working up a new design every 11 days, and amazingly I did not feel that busy…guess I have room to complete even more next year.