My Creative Space

I'm still working on scarfs for the Great Scottish Winter. I'm pretty sure there will be a big demand as we are expecting snow in September. It is possible that the weather forecasters have got it wrong, but it's always good to be prepared. This is where my crochet obsession is proving invaluable. Who would have thought there could be so many different ways to loop wool around a little hook?

Today's scarf features a 'V-stitch'

Feel free to join in.....

Start with a chain which is a multiple of 3 chains plus 4 (e.g.19 = 15 +4 or 22=18+4)

For the foundation row work one treble into the fifth chain ( we are on UK terms here. I think UK trebles are US double crochets) do one chain then one treble into the same chain as the first one.

It should look a bit like this.

Miss two chains then 1tr, 1ch, 1tr into next chain.

Repeat this to the last 2chains. Miss 1ch then 1tr into last ch.

Turn the work and do a 3ch turning chain.

Do 1tr, 1ch, 1tr into the chain space of each V shape.

Repeat to the end of the row then make 1tr into the top of the turning chain from the row below.

Turn and do the same again as often as you like until your work is the required length.

I usually use a hook one size bigger than that recommended for the yarn so that I get a more open lacy texture. It's good to play around with different sizes though and see what happens.

Hope you enjoy.

Maybe another stitch next week ?

Have a visit to kootoyoo for more creative spaces. There are soo many clever people out there.

Fiona x

How to pass an hour....or so

I've been thinking about tutorials recently. I love when I come across a 'how to' post on the blogs that I visit and I reckon it's only fair that I share a little something in appreciation of all the lovely tutorials that I have enjoyed. Now taking into account my dubious photography, and having realised just how tricky it is to point, shoot and knit at the same time.... Here is something simple that my friend Cathy showed me. 

If you are anything like me, it's quite possible that you will have some fancy/fashion yarn at the back of the cupboard. Something which caught your eye, which you just had to buy and which you still haven't found a purpose for. I think the pink one was called Firefly but I'm not sure about the other one. They usually come in 25 or 50 gram balls and 25 should be enough for one scarf.  Recommended needle size for these yarns is 3.5 / 4mm but this little pattern uses 10mm needles and knits up really quickly.

There are no fancy stitches, just knit.

Here is one I made earlier.

Start by casting on one stitch.

Knit one

Increase one stitch

Increase in both stitches

Then increase one stitch in the first and last stitch of every row.

Keep going until you have around 80 stitches, making sure that you have about 3-4 meters of yarn left for casting off. I usually aim for 86 stitches, but if you are running short of yarn you can get away with 70 stitches and still have a nice wee scarf.

Cast off loosely then weave in the ends.

 The only problem is that every time I make one I sell two and now I'm needing to replenish that empty corner at the back of my wool cupboard...

Hope you enjoy, and thanks for all your tutorials.

Fiona x