Merry Christmas 2019

Merry Christmas!  I love handmade Christmas Decorations.  I made this Santa wallhanging and the two Christmas stockings years ago.

 Handknit Christmas stockings are hanging on the mantle.

Three handmade teddy bears look adorable under the Christmas tree.  I made them years ago, along with the Christmas tree skirt.

 

 

Christmas Bracelets

I made my granddaughters each a Christmas chain maille bracelet.  A's bracelet is a Byzantine Rose bracelet.  I made it Christmassy by making the "rose" segments red and green.  The rings are bright aluminum and colored aluminum. 

I made it adjustable since I wasn't sure exactly how long to make it.  I'm really happy with the finished bracelet.

I made Jingle Bell Bracelets for my other 2 granddaughters.  The pattern is available from Weave Got Maille.  The chain maille pattern is called sweet pea, and I like the tutorial by Aussie Maille on YouTube.  It's easier to make if you make the chain first, and then work on each segment.  The chain has 2 rings of a color for each sweet pea segment. Each segment has 6 rings of the same color.

 The Jingle Bell Bracelet turned out so cute!  

My notes:  K's, 6 3/4" + 4 rings, adjustable. A's 6 complete segments of Byzantine with 5 roses.  End with 4 rings = 7 1/2" finished to last ring.  Each Byzantine segment is about 3/4" and each rose is about 1/4" .  N's 6 1/4" (1st ring) to almost 7" last ring (4 rings to make it adjustable).  These bracelets are bulky, so you need a little more length. K's wrist is 6 1/4".  Byzantine almost 7" and added a ring or two.
Sweet Pea: 16 g. 4.75 mm ID rings.  Byzantine Rose: 16 g 4.5 mm ID and 16 g 7.0 mm ID for rose. Can use 18 g  3.5 mm ID and 18 g  6.0 mm ID for rose.  I used awg size rings.
I like to make the byzantine section, then add a ring for the rose through the 2 end rings.  Add a ring through the 2 end rings and through the first ring and repeat with a 3rd ring.  It seems easier than making the rose unit and attaching it to the end of the byzantine section.

Reindeer Christmas Stocking

I really enjoyed knitting this Reindeer Christmas stocking.

It turned out pretty huge, but I used worsted weight Paton's yarn instead of the DK yarn recommended in the pattern.

The pattern, Nisse Christmas Stocking 2016,  is by Arne & Carlos, Norwegian designers.  I changed the reindeer in the pattern, though. The designers had 5 reindeer around the top part of the stocking, but when the stocking is hanging, half a reindeer shows on the front side of the stocking.  I didn't like having 2 and a half reindeer when the stocking is displayed, so I chose a different reindeer graph for my stocking.

The designers had the beginning of the rounds at the beginning of the heel, and I changed it to the center back of the heel.  This hides the "jog" of the colorwork along the edge of the stocking where it's not seen when hanging up. 

I changed the heel to a German short row heel because I wanted to try out that heel style.  I'm happy with it.  I also made the toe a little more rounded than the pattern by removing the knit rounds at the end of the decreases of the toe when I got down to 24 stitches. 

My notes:  German Twisted Cast on and US size 3 needles for ribbing.  I changed to size US 5 needles for the stocking.  Paton's wool yarn.  Loop:  Pick up and knit 4 stitches and knit ICord for about 2.5".  Sew to inside of stocking and reinforce it well. 

Tape Loom Weaving

My Video of Weaving with a Tape Loom

I was demonstrating tape loom weaving recently for our guild meeting. 

A Tape Loom was also called a Box Loom, and it was used in the early days of America to make "tape" which were bands, straps, ribbons, or ties. 

The tapes were used to tie clothing, to tie grain bags shut, to lift things, to haul things, and as a decorative ribbon for clothing.  During the 1700's and into the 1800's most households would have a tape loom.  The man of the family would make a tape loom for his wife and children to use.  Every spare minute was spent working and making things for the family use.

Tapes were woven and often stored rolled up in baskets.  When a strap was needed, a length could be cut off of the tape.

My loom was made by Paul Parish, who makes tape looms like those used in the early American colonies.

Victorian Lattice Square Afghan for Ally

Ally's loves her soft, comfy afghan.  I used the crochet square pattern, Victorian Lattice Square, in mushroom and lapis using Stylecraft DK and a size 4.0 mm F hook.

                                                                     Ally's Afghan

The squares are joined using a continuous join called Flat Braid Join. Each square is edged with SC in mushroom first with (2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc) in the corners.

Flat Braid Join Tutorial: https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/happily-ever-afghan-cro... and also at The Patchwork Heart. 

I love the decorative join.  You start crocheting 2 squares together, and keep adding squares and rows.  It's a beautiful join.

                                                                  Afghan Border


For the border,
Round 1:  2 sc in each loop of squares, 5 scs in corners, and 5 sc in joins (2 sc in first loop, 3 sc in second loop).
Round 2: Ch 2, 9 DC in first corner, skip 2 scs, sc in the next sc, skip 2 sc, 5 DC shell in next sc, and repeat to next corner. 

The border is crocheted in the Lapis Color.  I love this afghan--it turned out really pretty.

Chain Maille Bracelets

The Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival has lots of fun and unusual classes each September.  I really enjoyed the Chain Maille Bracelet class I took there.

The first bracelet I made was a Captured Bead Bracelet out of copper and Swarovski crystals.  It's an easy bracelet to make.

                                                     Captured Bead Copper Bracelet

The second bracelet was a Byzantine bracelet, which I've made before, and it is a fun pattern to weave.  I really love it in silver. It is also very pretty in bright aluminum.

                                                                    Byzantine Bracelet

My granddaughters love their bracelets in their School Colors. 

                                                              School Spirit Bracelets

My granddaughter loves the color purple, so I made a silver and purple bracelet for her, also in the Byzantine pattern.

There are lots of chain maille ring vendors online, and the colorful anodized aluminum rings and bright aluminum rings make beautiful fun bracelets.  I'm really enjoying making these beautiful gifts.

My notes:  16 gauge, 4.5 mm ID for some bracelets; 18 g. 3.5 mm ID for purple and silver bracelet, 65 color A, 128 color B.  K's wrist 6 1/4", her bracelet almost 7" then added two or three to make it adjustable and more room.  N's:  6 1/2" -7 1/4" finished.  A's: 7 1/4" to 7 3/4" finished.   Adjustable--use 3 to 5 extra rings.  Lobster clasp.  

Silver:  16 gauge,  4.5 mm ID, 2" = 3 full and 1/2 Byzantine sections.  2 color Byzantine:  connector rings are in one color, Byzantine 4 rings are in other color.

Phoenix Afghan Crochet Along

I am having fun crocheting the Phoenix afghan pattern by Hooked on Sunshine, which was a Crochet Along (CAL) but is now over.  My daughter and I started the CAL late--we had just found the pattern and decided to take part close to the end date.  It was fun seeing other crocheter's afghans in progress and finished--so inspirational.

The CAL was organized into 11 parts.  I probably won't crochet all 11 parts, because I want only a mid-sized afghan.

                                                            Phoenix through Round 12


The pattern is a challenge because each round is usually different from previous rounds, and you have to really pay attention to make sure you have the correct count of stitches on each side before progressing.  Each round builds upon the previous, so correct stitch count is imperative.  Since each round is different, it's fun to see how it looks as you go.  It's fun to pick out the colors, too--it's not easy to always know how the color will look next to the previous rounds and future rounds.

                                                                      Phoenix thru Part 2.


The stitches are fun, too--the pattern has popcorns, clusters, back loop stitches, front loop stitches, etc., so it's a challenge and a fun learning experience.

We decided to crochet our afghans on the spur of the moment, so I picked out some Red Heart yarns from our local Joann's store:  Super Saver and Red Heart with Love.  I'm using a size H Clover Amour Hook.

                                                                   Phoenix into Part 4.

I'm really enjoying crocheting this afghan!  It will be fun to see how it looks when it's finished.

My notes:
Size H hook Crochet Amour, blue hook. Red Heart with Love Yarns and super saver red
Baby Pink super saver
Pink: Bubble Gum with love
Hot Pink: with Love
Bright Yellow: Daffodil with love
Dark purple: Aubergine with love
Light purple: Lilac with love
Medium blue: Bluebell with love
White: with love
Pale plum: super saver light purple
Medium purple: super saver
dusty grape with love
Peacock with love: blue
Boysenberry (wine color) with love
Lemon: light yellow super saver
Gold: Red Heart super saver
yellow/gold: cornsilk with love
July 13--through round 19 with rose.
July 23, through part 2.
Round 84 correction: (3dc-cl into the ch2-sp, ch1) 3 times. (last 3dc cluster in the instructions before the corner.)
July 30: Finished Part 3

Ally's Afghan: Victorian Lattice Squares

I'm finally getting back to finishing Ally's afghan; life gets so busy. 

I love the pattern, Victorian Lattice Squares by Destany Wymore.  I'm using Stylecraft Special DK acrylic yarn in mushroom and lapis.  The yarns are slightly different in thickness, which makes it a challenge to crochet the squares to the same size, so I blocked them to about 7" and changed to a size F 4.0 hook.  The yarn is so soft.

                                                              Victorian Lattice Squares


It's always hard to decide how to sew or crochet squares together.  I decided to try the Flat Braid Join, and I really love the look.  It's pretty easy to do, and it is a continuous join, which reduces ends to weave in.  So, you can start with joining two squares and keep adding squares without cutting the yarn.

I followed a wonderful tutorial by Crochet 365 Knit Too, available here:  https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/happily-ever-afghan-crochet-flat-braid-join/ .  

                                                                    Flat Braid Join


It's helpful to single crochet around each square before joining.  So, I ended up using Round 9 in the mushroom color around each square as my Single Crochet round, and crocheted the flat braid join using Lapis.  The reason I crocheted around each square in mushroom is so the join would show up more--if some squares were finished in Lapis, the join would blend in too much with the blue squares. 

                                                Victorian Lattice Squares and Flat Braid Join

I think I'll do a shell border around the afghan.  My granddaughter loves the blue color, but I think the shell edging would look really pretty in the mushroom color because it would stand out a bit more.  Ally loves her afghan and can't wait for it to be finished! 

                                                              Ally's Afghan in Progress

My notes: 
 

I’m using Stylecraft DK yarn in Lapis blue and Mushroom and a size 4.0 mm F hook. The squares are about 7” before borders and joining.
I am using the sc, ch1 as the first DC where the pattern says it. It makes a smaller DC which blends in well with the join each round. Round 9 is SC around in mushroom. This is 14 sc, ch1 in space, 14 sc, then the corner of (2sc, ch3, 2 sc).   I’m going to join with the blue with the flat braid join.

I am blocking each square before joining. For the flat braid join, always go into the stitch for the sc from the right side of the block. Always go into the chains from the right side of the block, so go down into the chain to join. Make sure the blocks are facing the right side when joining. 17 chains along each side of each block.
Each join is SC in new block, chain 1, take loop off, go into chain 3 of opposite square and pull thru, chain 2, then skip one sc on new block and sc in next sc.
Corners: SC in corner space, ch 2, take off hook, pull through diagonal corner, chain 3, sc in corner of new square again.
Starting a square: chain 5 from last corner of last square, sc into corner space of new square.

Ideas for border: there will be loops along each side of the blanket from the flat braid join.
I could do a shell into each: sc, hdc, 2 or 3 dc, hdc, sc into each loop.  I will sc in each loop first to add some structure.
I could do 3 sc into each loop with 5 in the corners. Then do the basic shell border: sc, skip one or two sc, 5 double crochets in the next stitch, skip one or 2 sc.. repeat.
Or a wave shell border is pretty. Or round of sc. 2nd round, sc skip one or two sc, then a shell of dc, ch1 (5 dcs with chain 1 between) or can use TC instead of dc.

 

Tape Loom: Getting Ready for Colonial Day

I'm getting my tape loom ready for Colonial Day, which is a once-a year-event for 2nd graders at my grandkids' school.  The kids learn about living in Colonial times.

They learn to weave on a 4 shaft loom and a tape loom.  They also learn about quilting, making a cloth doll or wooden toy, making butter, cornbread, and lemonade, and using an ink well and a slate and more.  They also have a Colonial school session and learn about manners in Colonial times.

They all dress up in Colonial outfits for the school day, and the teachers and many of the helpers also dress up.

I bring my reproduction tape loom by Jonathan Siedel for the kids to each weave on.  They learn that people in Colonial times use the tapes (or bands or straps) in many ways.  The Colonists used tapes to tie something closed, such as a cloth feed or seed sack.  They were used to tie aprons and bonnets.  They could be used to hold up stockings or pants.  They could be used as a strap for a powder horn or a leather bag.  They could be used as trim for clothing.  They had many uses.

I wove a bookmark for each 2nd grader using my inkle loom so they would have a piece of weaving to take home.

I designed this inkle loom pattern for the flag design.  Feel free to use it if you'd like to make one.  I also made a guitar strap using my flag design, and it is in an earlier post.

Colonial Day is such a fun experience for the kids.  We helpers and the teachers really enjoy it, too.