Fall Crocheted Ponchos

Although I am still finishing up some  summer crocheting ‬ I am already thinking about new ponchos. I love them for the Fall, comfortable,light yet warm and stylish.

Getting some patterns together for them

Crocheted mesh stitch with yarn and ribbon yarn.

 

Super soft crocheted poncho with ribbon yarn accent. Fringe made of ribbon yarn.

Until Next time keep the faith and plenty of yarn,

~ Cheryl

Crochet Pattern Project Update

Crochet thread and vintage crochet hook

Crochet pattern

Finally had a chance to try out my vintage crochet hook (more about that in my next blog post). For the crochet head wrap pattern I wanted a very lightweight yarn for the summer months, yet one that would have a stiffness to hold my hair. 

I also wanted to use a stitch to allow comfort and finally worked that out well  too. Pattern and Youtube tutorial next post.

 I have two projects on the hooks. This yarn is my absolute favorite...silky,yet strong just enjoyable to work with. Of course I had to choose this color. This pattern should work up pretty quickly but being for a top, it is worked in a totally different manner. (More of that on the next blog post).

Crochet pattern for a top.

Birthday Crochet Hook Haul

Yes I am blessed to see another year and  very proud to say that I am 54! (I can see ladies clutching their chest right now - "How in the world is she saying her age out loud" For me it is simple it is my age.

Now of course I just had to get another excuse to get more crochet hooks..... SO got these particular hooks about 2 weeks ago.                    

                                              

There is an interesting story behind this set. (sharing that in my next post).

 

                               Isn't the carving on that handle in the center gorgeous?

                    Just before I go this one is bone (not sure though still researching)
                           
                            ~ Post on Thursday about the origins of these vintage hooks. ~

Until the Next Time Keep the Faith and Plenty of Yarn

~Cheryl

Crocheting Ponchos for the Spring Weather

Oh the Spring weather is the perfect time for crocheted ponchos. 

The weather is not cold enough for a coat (but if you count the last couple of cool Spring days you could even wear a mid length sweater underneath) but just to keep the chill off the poncho is just the right accessory.  Being a 60's child I remember wearing my crocheted ponchos a lot while I was in Junior and Senior high school even crocheting some ponchos for my classmates.

 This particular poncho is 100% wool including the edging. I got the inspiration for this poncho from a television commercial. Of course the favorite part for me was the cowl neck. I decided to give this crocheted poncho a different look in that it is not the hanging type cowl. Stiffer yet soft but can be worn up as a high collar. The cowl sits right on your shoulders. I placed a thin elastic inside right around the bottom of the cowl to keep it right on the shoulder or it can be worn off one shoulder as well. To be entirely crocheted in the rib stitch with 100% wool it is quite light yet warm. I had been dying to use this one skein of orange wool that I bought just to use as an accent. With the picot stitch I loved the way it added a uniqueness. To add even more flair I added two hand craved wood buttons done by the talents of  William of OruAka's Wooden Jewelry and Accessories. William's buttons caught my eye last year as I was searching for unique buttons. I have a shawl pin I'll be ordering soon for a new wrap. As a bonus  to the readers of my blog....... William is offering Free shipping for his items to ALL of my blog readers when they use  the coupon code "FREESHIP" . You are sure to find a lot of quality crafted wood items handcrafted by William in his shop.

Crocheted poncho accented with African wooden beads by Purple Butterfly Crochet Collection

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Now for part of me that celebrates me as unique, and proud of my heritage. My rendition of an crocheted "Earthy type" poncho accented with African wooden beads.  I had a lot of fun choosing the beads which came from crafter: Nia Yaa on Face Book. I used the single crochet stitch and accented at the bottom with a row of Block Net crochet stitch.....* Just a little note: as a crafter I purchase for myself handcrafted items. I try to buy my items from those small business persons like myself. The beads were so assorted I changed my mind about which ones to use several times before deciding on the arrangement you see here. For orders I can add the same beads or I can add completely different beads (various colors, shapes or all the same color). This particular poncho is not as thick as the crocheted poncho above but warm. Just the accessory for the chill in the movie theater, train or airplane trip or a night on the town.
Both of the poncho are very easy to wear. They are also quite easy to carry right in your tote bag. For care both need just cold or warm water washing, roll out the excess water and lay flat to dry. I always recommend that crocheted items never be hung for storage.



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Until the Next Time 
Keep the Faith and Plenty of Yarn

~ Cheryl

                                             

New Sandals and New Yarn

Nothing like the summer for me, especially when I can wear sandals. Went shopping with my Mom and couldn't pass these up. They may not look like it but they are very comfortable. They are in a pewter shade which I think goes with everything. I really like the looped design, almost looks like crochet ribbon doesn't it? 

Last but not least....I spotted yarn and on sale.

A crocheter in one of the Google groups listed that Walmart was having a yarn sale, so curious I went by and found one of my favorite yarns  ~ Caron yarn. I used this for many of my designs. The Caron yarn wears and washes well. Did you see the price?  So with those 3 skeins I added 20 other skeins from Lion Brand. I have  projects  in mind all of them of course.

Stay tuned.
Where are some of your favorite places to find yarn sales? 


Until Next Time ~ Keep the Faith and Plenty of Yarn ~

Cheryl

 

Crochet ribbon slip knot

 For this ribbon I used a size G crochet hook. In this photograph once I folded the ribbon it is pretty easy to begin crocheting the ribbon. (I had run out of purple ribbon so used the white ribbon for demonstration). Loved this ribbon because it had a slight sheen silver-like in it.

Crocheted ribbon fascinator - handband, bendable ribbon, beads and feathers

 I have to say that is was very comfortable to wear. With everything bending I was 

 able to move feathers out of the way from my eyes. I want to experiment with a different type of feather.

                          Side view of crocheted ribbon fascinator

 Have a lot of other ideas for some summer fascinators. I think I will try another crocheted fascinator soon, thinking of creating one in black.

Until the  next time ~ Keep  the Faith and lots of yarn.

Yours,
Cheryl B.

Crocheted Summer Fascinator

Crocheted Summer Fascinator

It has been quite awhile. 
Life changes but developing a better schedule. So on to one of my favorite activities. I attended a women's conference last week which I greatly enjoyed. We were asked to wear white. I not being one to wear summer hats (unless they are made of straw or a head wrap) decided I needed to wear something different. Just what could I crochet that would be in the "hat" category yet be comfortable in the summer heat?  

Crocheted fascinator to the rescue.  Yarn was going to be out of the question but ribbon was just to my liking: lightweight, sheer and bendable. 


                                                               


Of course my favorite color purple had to be included.  The ribbon pictured to the right was different but great to work with.

Crocheted fascinator materials

              

Crocheted ribbon fascinator -  The materials I used were the bendable ribbon, beads and feathers

crocheted ribbon chain stitch

Crocheted summer fascinator

I have to say that is was very comfortable to wear. With everything bending I was able to move feathers out of the way from my eyes. I want to experiment with a different feathers.

                                

                           Until the  next time ~ Keep  the Faith and lots of yarn.

                           Yours,
                            Cheryl B.

How To Block Crochet Pieces

                                                       
Surfing the internet,the Face Book,Twitter and other artisan/crafter social networks I hear the question: “Ok, Is it really necessary to block my crochet projects.

What is the difference if you do or don't block your crochet?

                       

                         

A little bit of background,When I first learned to crochet I knew nothing about blocking probably because I was concentrating on learning the various crochet stitches and because crochet was not associated with the computer it was a “Come sit by me, let me show you how to crochet. Of course from there you learned to single crochet,double crochet, how to make a circle, a square then stitch them together. I didn’t learn about blocking a crochet garment/accessory until about say six years ago. Before then I washed the item laid it out by hand and it looked pretty good. 

I have some pieces I still own that I crocheted in my twenties. I am now 54. When my mother shared the art of crochet with me she didn’t go into the whole process of blocking your pieces but she did know that if you had an item made of yarn you needed to smooth is out and lay it flat to dry in good shape.

Two crochet pieces that have not been blocked.

Let’s  fast forward to today. Yes I absolutely agree with blocking my crochet projects better yet each piece as I finish them. What a difference in seeing how the crocheting project will look and most importantly fits together. Basically for me the same thing that my mother taught me when washing sweaters, pulling them into shape (well not exactly pulling) and laying it flat to dry. Never hang crochet on hangers. Blocking relaxes the yarn and gives that neat finish.

My crochet blocking board

This is my handmade blocking board. I explain what is made of and how I made my blocking board in my crochet video.  Can you guess what it is made out of?







                    This is a piece of wool before it was blocked and after. Wool for me (because I crochet so tightly wrinkles). Does this happen to you?

Crochet side handbag pieces after they were blocked.

 This is a worsted wool piece for a new handbag. - the same 2 curled crocheted pieces in the photo above. The crochet is quite tight(thus the other need for blocking),  but because they will be the sides I will be reinforcing these sides with a type of interfacing.

  

Until next time Keep The Faith and Plenty of Yarn!

~ Cheryl