Sunday School!

Good Morning!  I hope your weekend has been wonderful so far!

I found a link to a book of 262 stitch patterns via Pinterest the other day.  It's all online and free and amazing:
http://issuu.com/talpa/docs/262_patrones_crochet

I found it completely inspiring!  I have been looking for something fun and different to work on, and I can see so many applications for these stitch patterns.  The only problem (not a problem!) with the book is that all of the patterns are charted.  I can read crochet charts, but I'm not an expert at it by any means.  But I know of someone who is!!!

Are you guys familliar with Dana at CraftyMinx?  She's got the absolute BEST crochet tutorial set that she calls "Crochet School".  It's flipping amazing and pretty much takes you from complete beginner to Crochet Rockstar in 23 awesome lessons!

Of course she had absolutely the best lesson on reading crochet charts:
http://www.craftyminx.com/2011/11/crochet-school-lesson-21-reading-crochet-charts.html
(squeee!  I love her so much!! Those of you who have bought my ebook know I mentioned her in it too!  She just rocks!)

So, using my awesome new stitch charts (that you can read now too!) I made you a scarf!  Isn't it Autumnal-ly fabulous?!  I named it in honor of the stitch chart number that I used to make it!

#48 Scarf
Approx 5 1/2" x 56"
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn (I used a whole skein of Loops and Threads Impeccable in Cherry)
Size G crochet hook
Yarn needle
Scissors

(the 3 ch at beginning of row count as 1st stitch)
ch 23
R1: dc in 4th ch from hook, 2 dc, skip 2 ch, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch space, skip 2 ch, 5 dc, skip 2 ch, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch space, skip 2 ch, 3 dc (21 st)
R2: ch 3, skip first st, 2 dc, skip next st, 5 dc in chain space, skip next st, 5 dc, skip next st, 5 dc in chain space, skip next st, 3 dc (21 st)
R3: ch 3, skip first st, 2 dc, skip next 2 st, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next st, skip 2 st, 5 dc, skip 2 st, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next st, skip 2 ch 3 dc (21 st)
R4: ch 3, skip first st, 2 dc, skip next st, 5 dc in chain space, skip next st, 5 dc, skip next st, 5 dc in chain space, skip next st, 3 dc (21 st)
Repeat R3-4 as many times as you need to get the length that you want.  I used 42 repeats, which took me almost to the end of my skein.
When you're ready to finish the scarf, end on a R4 row.
Scalloped Edge: ch 1, skip first st, sc in next st,*skip 2 st, 5 dc in next st, skip 2 st, sc in next st* 3 times, sc in last st (21 st)
Fasten off.
Attach yarn to the edge of starting edge and repeat Scalloped Edge on the other end of the scarf.
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Okay, so I know I'm a little late to this party (and it has nothing to do with crochet) but I am in love with this video this week!  I can't stop watching it!  Warning: this song will get stuck in your head for DAYS...

xoxo


Now, a quick word from today's free-pattern SPONSOR:

Hi Dynamos!  I've put out an ebook of 6 of my fanciest-schmanciest (wearable) patterns from this site!  It's in the Kindle store right now!  It's called Crochet Dynamite: Fancy-Schmancy.  If you have an e-reader, iPad, Smart Phone or other tech-y awesomeness (including Kindle on your laptop/PC) please click HERE to go and check it out.

Nyan's Scarf

It's been so hot and humid lately, that all I want to do is sit in my room with the air-conditioning blasting (intermittently, since it's on energy saver, yo) and crochet... and watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu.

I've been crocheting a lot!

Last week, my friend Nyan over at NyanPon's Knits and Crochet posted the cutest scarf pattern.  I absolutely had to make it!  She gives you the instructions for an average width scarf, but suggest that if you'd like a chunkier scarf you can double the foundation chain when you start.  Chunkier scarf?! I am all over that!  (Crossing my arms and nodding my head like I Dream of Jeannie) Done!

This was a perfect project for four reasons:
1. I already had the yarn (Bernat Handicrafter 100% cotton worsted weight yarn in Country Red) and hook (size H).
2. One of my friends has a birthday next month and I've been agonizing about what to make her.  She'll love this.
3. Chunky scarves look really good on those of us that don't wear size 4 jeans.  The proportions make us look good, especially if the scarf is a little long.
4. This pattern is fun and quick, even as large as I made mine.  It's also a little brainless (in a really good way) which means you can crochet and watch a movie at the same time without worrying that the pattern will get all messed up.

The finished measurements of my scarf ended up being 16" wide by 84" (that's 7 feet long, peeps!).  You, of course, wouldn't have to make yours this big.  Or, you could make it even larger!  I think I'm going to make a 2nd scarf this size for myself, and triple the foundation chain stitches (up to 60) and make a scarf/wrap.  Perfect for SoCal winters!

Okay, so I have to tell you a funny story about the 'photo shoot' for this scarf.  I don't look super happy in the picture, but I swear it's not the scarf (in fact, everyone who has seen the scarf 'in person' has wanted one)!  It's the fact that it was 102 degrees out.  Did you notice my dead lawn?  It's reverting back to desert, people!!!

Also, that shirt was too hot.  I had the perfect shirt on earlier, when I went to my oncology check-up (No sign of the lymphoma in my bloodwork! All my stats were normal. Yippee!), which was the one I wanted to wear for the picture.  But I did something dumb involving dry shampoo and couldn't wear it...

Has Pinterest suckered you in to making your own dry shampoo yet? No? Give it time...

My batch was approximately 2 cups cornstarch, with about 1/2 cup baking soda added in.  I use about a tablespoon on the days between washings (my hair is a little pretty damaged from switching back and forth between blue-black hair and blonde hair... twice...).  So I get the super bright idea today that I should 'refresh' my hair so it would look good in the picture.  It was so hot, and I was a little sweaty and my hair was looking a little flat, so I figure that it needed a little boost from the dry shampoo.  Uh, I'm going to blame the heat for this synaptic misfire...

So I get my hair loaded up in cornstarch and baking soda, not giving a single thought about my shirt, or my makeup or the fact that I had already done my hair this morning and used hairspray...  Epic fail.  I got it everywhere...  I had to change my clothes...  I had to wear a too-hot shirt...  I think that this would be really funny if it had happened to my sister... but since it's me, not so much.

The only redeeming thing is that I was right.  My hair did look really good afterwards, 'cause that stuff works really, really well...

Okay, Dynamos, go make some scarves and your own dry shampoo today!

xoxo

Ikea score!

I found a bin of wooden artist mannequin dolls for super cheap at Ikea (is there an official name for these things? I never took a figure drawing class, I liked sculpture and ceramics...).  I just couldn't leave this one behind.  It needed a scarf...

xoxo

I Love California Rolls!

When I was in elementary school, my mom worked at a preschool.  One day at lunchtime she realized that one of her students was choking on his lunch.  He wasn't able to breathe, and he started turning blue.  She quickly gave him the Heimlich Maneuver and out popped an un-chewed piece of sandwich.  The next day, the boy's mother brought my mom a present.  She had made California Rolls for my mom because she appreciated my mom's quick thinking that saved her son's life.  
I was not excited about the gift.  I couldn't get my mind around the blackness of the nori (which I associated with the stinky ropey strands of seaweed that washed up on the beaches nearby), and the raw fish in the middle (which I didn't realize wasn't actually raw at all).  But I liked rice, and I liked soy sauce, and my mom was reluctant to share her treasure, which made me determined to try one. One bite, and I was hooked.
Now, almost thirty (gasp! I'm not that old!)  years later, I adore sushi.  I adore raw fish.  I buy packages of seaweed in bulk at Costco for evening snacking.  Last summer I had an awesome opportunity to make some fresh salmon sashimi with some wild salmon that I caught myself in Alaska.  But my first love, and my truest love, will always be with the California Roll.  Filled with crab and avocado, rolled tightly and sliced in to single bite pieces, topped with pickled ginger and a smidgen of wasabi, I am hungry just thinking about it!  

So, this is my take on California Roll Coasters. I am really happy with how they turned out. In fact,  I loved them so much, I made myself a scarf as well.  What I think I like best about them is that they're not perfectly round. They're a little misshapen and more oval than perfectly round, which is exactly like how my homemade California Rolls always turn out. 


The California Roll Coasters
Each coaster is approximately 4" across
Make 4 for a set, or if you're really feeling generous 6 or 8 for a really cool gift.


Supplies:
Loops & Threads
Snuggly Wuggly baby sport
Color 01512 Perfect Peach

Red Heart Soft
Tangerine

Loops & Threads
Impeccable
Color 01223 Grass
Color 01243 Forest
Color 01005 White

Red Heart Soft
Dark Leaf

Size G hook

Instructions:

Crab
Using Perfect Peach chain 4.
R1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch, ch 1, turn. (3 st) 
R2-3: sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (3 st)
R4: sc in each st across, switch to Tangerine, ch 1. (3 st)
R5: 2 sc in corner, 2 sc down side, 3 sc in corner, 1 sc across bottom, 3 sc in corner, 2 sc along side,  3 sc in corner, 1 sc across top, 1 sc in first corner, sl st to first sc of round. (18 st) 
Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Avocado
R1: Using Grass, pick up and sc 5 st along side of crab piece, ch 1, turn. 
R2: 5 sc, switch to Forest, ch 1, turn.
R3: 5 sc. 
Fasten off, weave in ends.

Rice and Nori
R1: Using White, pick up and sc 31 st around edge of crab/avocado piece, making sure to put 3 sc in each corner, and sl st to join round. (31 st) 
R2: ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 2 sc) 10 times, sc,  sl st to first sc to join round. (41 st)
R3: ch 1, sc in each st,  sl st to first sc to join round, switch to Dark Leaf. (41 sc)
R4: ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 3 sc) 10 times, sc,  sl st to first sc to join round. (51 st) 
Fasten off. Weave in ends.


The California Roll Scarf
Approximate length 66" long
Follow instructions for The California Roll Coasters and make 16 coasters.  Using Dark Leaf yarn, sew coasters together right sides facing up, matching stitches along the edge.  I used a whip stitch, matching the edge of 8 stitches, to sew mine together.

xoxo