Make it for Me! Free Pattern

ScannedImageI am so excited that I have been invited to join a vast array of talented designers to participate in the Elk Studios “Make it for Me” event. For the entire month of January, Elk Studios has been featuring a new design, from various designers, to encourage crocheters to make a little something for themselves. The rush of the holiday season creates hooks and yarn flying, but not usually in a project for the stitcher.

Today I am happy to share my Corkscrew Scarf. This is a fun project that can work up quickly in a wide variety of yarns, and is easily adjusted in length or width to make a scarf that fits just the way you want it.

The Corkscrew scarf was originally created as a project that “new to crochet” students could practice some stitches, while learning how to read patterns, in the crochet classes that I teach at my local yarn store, Lofty Lou’s. You can find me there most Tuesday mornings from 10-1:00, so if you happen to find yourself in the California Foothills, east of Sacramento, look us up and stop by.

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Corkscrew Scarf by Linda Dean

You will find the pattern below, if you prefer a printable version, you can download it here,  Beginner Project-Corkscrew Scarf. If you enjoy this pattern and want to explore more of my designs, check out more of my free and for sale patterns here. I hope you enjoy the Corkscrew Scarf, and take a little time to enjoy a time of Make it for Me.

Corkscrew Scarf

by: Linda Dean

Twist and Turn! This fun scarf works up quickly and is a whimsical addition to any wardrobe.

Skill level:  Beginner

Finished measurements: 2.5”x 72”

Gauge: is not critical for this project

Material List:

  • Size I/9/5.5mm hook
  • Approximately 200yrd of medium weight yarn, sample used: (multi color)Plymouth Yarn Encore Colorspun medium weight 75% acrylic, 25% wool yarn (3.5oz/100g/200yrd/183m), 1 skein color# 7512 or (solid) Berroco Ultra Alpaca medium weight 50% Super Fine Alpaca, 50% Peruvian Wool yarn (3.5 oz/100g/215yrd/189m) 1 skein color #62178
  • Tapestry Needle

 

Abbreviations:

ch: chain

dc: double crochet

rep: repeat

sc: single crochet

sk: skip

sl st: slip stitch

st(es): stitches

Row 1: Ch 182, dc in 4th ch from hook, 2dc in each ch across, turn.

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), dc in next s, *ch 1, dc in next st; rep from * across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, *ch 1, dc in ch-1 sp; rep from * across to last st, dc in last st, turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 1, sc in ch-1 sp; rep from * across to last 2 sts, ch 1, sc in last st, finish off.

Finishing    Weave in ends; twist scarf as desired.

© 2015 Linda Dean Crochet    #2015000T1   lindadeancrochet.com   Copying prohibited, intended for private use only

 

 

Taking a Look at the “Extras” that make Crochet

ScannedImageI usually find myself to be a very simple person. I have crocheted for more years then I care to count, and have never thought about much more then my hook and my yarn. However recently I have started to look at “accessories”.

It probably came about from a ceramics class. A group of former students/friends arranged a day out to a local studio called “Color Me Mine”. It is apparently a chain of studios that have ceramic pieces for purchase, that you can then glaze and they will fire in a kiln, resulting in a personalized project that has a professional feel. At our studio day it was arranged for us to create our own yarn bowls.DSCF0937

A yarn bowl is a newer concept to me; it is a bowl that holds yarn but has decorative edge that actually functions in reducing your yarn from tangling. So balls of yarn are contained and do not run wild in the house and the pull of the yarn is from the same place every time. I admit, in the past I managed unruly balls of yarn by placing them in a tennis shoe or hiking boot, but this bowl seems to be much more effective. Of the finished pieces I had the pleasure of seeing, they are all beautiful.

Funny how one open door to a new thought can open the door to many others. As this experience had me looking at travel holders for hooks, bags, hooks in general, even coffee cups. So when I was attempting to find a “thank you” gift for a friend, instead of looking at the usual yarn, I began thinking of other possibilities. One that I have decided to undertake and make myself, a hook/needle travel case.

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Small pouches for hooks/needles

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Wrong side of sewn fabric, 2 sets of pockets are created with folds. (hook/needle pouches sewn on the main pocket)

It has not been as difficult as I would have first thought. I found a fabric I liked in my stash, a velvet or velour type in a dark green; I cut a rectangle of 13”x 30” (33x76cm), and then began folding. I folded up 8” (20cm) from the short side, and then folded it in half back down (so that the velvet side of the fabric was facing outward, while at the same time lining the pocket). I then began to stitch creating a pocket and then slender pocket of ½” (1cm) width to hold hooks/needles. I then created a second set of pockets behind the hooks, by pulling up the recently sewn pocket about 2 ½” (6cm) and stitching the sides down. I also placed a couple of additional seams over the stitches created in the hooks sleeves to make about 3” (7.5cm) pouches.

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The crochet fabric is sewn to the velvet fabric, wrong sides together.

Now that the stitching was done, it was on to the crochet. I made a piece of crochet fabric from some rayon yarn I had, and utilized the Tunisian simple stitch to highlight the subtle color changes, in a size of a 9”x13” (23x33cm)rectangle. Matching the 13” (33cm) sides of the velvet and the crochet, with wrong sides together I stitches the seam, as well as at either end of the of the 9”(23cm) side of the crochet fabric to the velvet piece, and finally stitched the last side of the crochet fabric in place leaving the remaining velvet fabric unstitched (this is used to fold over the hooks/needles). Then sew on some ribbon ties and I think it looks good.

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Tied up and ready to go!

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Just needs to be filled!

Looking at accessories for the world of fiber, is opening up many new ideas….it seems like a whole new world!