Scalloped Triangle Shawl (Crochet) Photo Tutorial

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/virus-shawl—virustuch

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzvapTN64Z4oT0M2QWhTeUN4WjhJc2VYVnMxSUtSb08yUjlZ/view?pli=1

(^See that link^ the English written version is there)

I found this wonderful crochet pattern on Ravelry.  It is easy and quick.  The pattern uses fingering/sock weight yarn and a small hook, but I used worsted weight yarn and an H hook.  I posted a photo of the completed shawl on Facebook and encouraged several of my friends to try the pattern.

I decided to do a photo tutorial in case they had questions on the instructions.   This is where I found the pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/schultertuch—dreieckstuch

Scroll down the page until you see “Click here for authorized English translation.” Click on the word “here”.

Or you can click on the first link provided above for a video presentation of  how to work the shawl.

Now for the photo tutorial:

Start:

Chain 10 and join with a slip stitch.

Chain  3, make 19 dc in chain 10 space, but do not join. (20 dc) Chain 3 counts as first dc.

Chain 3 and turn.  1 dc in EACH dc  for a total of 20 (chain 3 counts as 1 dc). Your last dc will go in the top of the chain 3.

Chain 4 and turn. 1 dc AND ch 1 in each dc for a total of 20 dc.

Chain 13 and skip 1 space and sc in next space. Chain 5, skip 1 space and sc in next space. repeat for a total of 3 chain 5 sections.

I wanted to add this graph for those of you who find following a graph easier:

This should get you started. Follow the photographs.

Row 1:

Row 2:

Row 3:

Row 4:

Row 5:

Row 6:

Row 7:

Row 8:

Rows 9 – 12 repeat previous rows. Hope these photos help you understand the this pattern and make it easier for you to do.

P.S.    If you have specific questions that this tutorial does not answer for you, please check out the link above.

Here are photos of my first one and the second one (in progress):

ETA: here are some sites that may help you on how to block a shawl either knitted or crocheted.

http://blog.expressionfiberarts.com/2012/09/10/how-to-block-a-knitted-or-crocheted-shawl/

http://www.fickleknitter.com/archives/2011/12/how-to-block-hand-knit-triangle-lace-shawls-a-quickie-tutorial.htm

Thank you for following my blog. I am glad you like this particular post. However, since all possible questions regarding the pattern are already answered in the body of this post or the comments, no further questions will be entertained on this post.

 

HANDMADE/HOMEMADE

I am a member of Ravelry, a knit and crochet community of over 4 million members worldwide.  One can keep track of their projects, find patterns, join a community forum of like minded folks.

I am seeing a lot of posts about handmade/homemade items given as gifts being unappreciated by others.

Folks, listen up.

First of all, that hand crocheted or hand knitted item took hours to make.  Evidently, the person who made it thought you were deserving of their time and skills.

Second, this is SKILLED labor.  Try getting your car repaired without paying for the labor.  You will be laughed out of there pretty darn quick.  And this person felt you were deserving of this skilled labor at no charge.

Third, it is NOT cheap.  It seems a lot of folks think others make gifts because it is cheaper than buying them.  That is so NOT the case.  The yarn for that hand crocheted or hand knitted item cost more than the same, mass produced item found in a local boutique.

Fourth, the item your received is unique.  Most likely it is one of a kind and you won’t see a kazillion others like it.

So the next time you receive a handmade/homemade crocheted or knitted gift,  ohhhhh and ahhhhh a lot!  And treat the gift as a priceless artifact and  I guarantee you will remain on the crochet/knit worthy list for a long time.

Dolls

I have been on a doll kick lately. Just making dolls. I enjoy it, especially the finished product. I could probably knit or crochet some dolls, but yarn tends to stretch way too much for my liking. I much prefer to sew them.

Anyway, thought I’d show you a few pictures of some dolls/animals I have made.

These are just a few I have made over time.

How to Care for Handknit Wool Items

Christmas is just a couple of days away. Perhaps your sister-in-law, or mother-in-law, granny, mom or aunt thought you were special enough to knit/crochet something for this year.

First, let me say handmade/homemade is NOT cheap. Your relatives/friends are not trying to slide by on the cheap side by knitting/crocheting gifts. A skein of yarn, whether it is acrylic or Merino wool, can cost from $6 to $50+++ per skein and it will take at least 2 skeins to make a gift. Now add in the time spent to create said items and multiply by at least minimum wage. There, got it? Not cheap, is it.

Now, that being said, lets get to the care of said knitted/crocheted item. If it is acrylic, more than likely it is machine washable and dryable. Great for kids’ items.

If it is wool, or any other natural fiber, care is a little more involved. Most will involve washing by hand. This does not mean you take the item and scrub it against an old washboard. That will just cause the item to felt and shrink enough to fit your youngest child. What that means is to SOAK the item in warm, soapy water. Then rinse in cool water. Gently squeeze the water out. Roll item in a towel to remove more water. Then lay the item on a flat surface, shaping as you go, and allow the item to dry. This will take a day or two.

Granted this is a little time consuming, especially in our society where most folks want instant gratification. But keep in mind your relative/friend felt that you were knit/crochet worthy and felt in their hearts that you would take care of the item that took them hours to create.

I can guarantee you if you don’t take care of said item, you will be OFF their knit/crochet worthy list.

Merry Christmas!

When the Apocolypse Comes….What Skill Sets Do You Have?

For the last few months I have been watching the TV series Revolution. It is an apocalyptic story line. It has got me to thinking…..what skill sets do I have that can be used for barter/trade? Because, you know money will be of no value, a CEO resume or salesman of the year status will be of no value. If you don’t have something, some skill set that can contribute to the survival of a small community, you may very well find yourself on the outside looking in.

Well, I did start tallying up my skills and here’s my list or at least some of it:

1. I am a nurse, although retired at this moment.
2. I can knit and crochet and sew. I understand garment construction and can produce something anyone would
be proud to wear.
3. I can make soap. Not just your melt and pour soap….the actual lye soap and I know how to get lye water from
potash.
4. I can grow vegetables. I’ve had many a small vegetable garden over the years.
5. I can also spin wool with a drop spindle.
6. I can cook from scratch (thanks Mom for your teachings)
7. I know how to make tallow candles.
8. I can fish and I can bait my own hook. Hell, I can even hunt for my own bait.
9. I can also shoot a rifle or a bow and I rarely miss my target.
10. I know how to can vegetables.

So what skill sets do you have?

hmmmm……don’t think I’d look good in buckskins and a coonskin hat. 🙂

Hard to Break Old Habits

I have worked night shift for 30+ years. So here I am wide awake at 2 in the morning on my birthday playing on the computer.

I thought after retiring it would take a couple of weeks and I would be sleeping all night in my own bed. But here it is almost 5 weeks after retiring and I’m still waking up in the middle of the night. Oh well, I’ll play on the computer, read, knit or crochet until I get tired again and then I’ll take a nap. Gotta love those naps!

Maybe I’ll watch a movie on the computer. Who knows when I’ll be sleeping all night. But it really doesn’t matter. It’s not like I have to go to work or anything. 🙂

Minions!

I was browsing through Ravelry’s pattern base and came across a pattern for a knitted minion. There were several for crocheted ones too. Anyway my youngest son saw it and wanted one.

Yesterday, I went through my stash and gathered my yellow wool yarn and denim blue wool yarn. Then I located my fiberfill, some buttons and glue. Then I pulled up the pattern and began knitting the little guy. It took very little yarn and only a few hours to complete.

I began thinking…not usually a good idea for me. But, wouldn’t it be great if we all had minions to do our housecleaning, grocery shopping, yard work etc. Now where is that Minions, Inc. so I can get me a few minions. I would certainly have more time to craft.

Dave the minion

Chroma Worsted Shawl

Well I wanted to make a shawl. An EASY shawl. So I searched You Tube (gotta love You Tube) and found how-to’s for a simple triangular shawl.

That was easy. I followed the instructions and knitted the triangular part with one ball of yarn. I just kept knitting until I ran out of yarn. Then I decided to add a crocheted edge. Don’t ask me for the pattern, because I made it up as I went along. I used what fit the shawl, improvising and setting my mouth right to get it to work.

Looking at it, I thought well it’s large enough for a scarf. So I had to block it to stretch the yarn and make it at least resemble a shawl. That was a little tricky. I used lace blocking wires and stretched that sucker tight. Then I let it sit until it dried. I’m pretty happy with the results.

Before blocking:

During blocking:

After blocking:

BTW, I used Knit Picks Chroma Worsted in New England colorway.

Multnomah Shawl

I’ve recently started a few new projects. One of which is the Multnomah Shawl. The pattern can be found on Ravelry. And it is a free download. This will be a first for me..a knitted shawl. I’ve crocheted a few, but never knitted one. I think I will be learning a few new things along the way.

Mittens and More Mittens

I love knitting mittens.  Quick and easy.  Makes a nice gift too.  Trying to work on a crochet mitten pattern, but it’s not comming out like I think it should.  Probably due to the fact that I usually knit them, and the crocheted one looks odd. 

Anyway here’s my latest knitted ones.