Mesh problem

I have a slight mesh problem ... 😂

Autumn Mists vest pour moi

I crocheted a warm, button-front vest pour moi back in 2015, and it’s awesome, if I do say so myself. I didn't use a pattern, just kind of winged it and figured it out as I went along.

But it didn't take long for me to decide after wearing this that the vest really, REALLY needed pockets. It took me two years to finally get around to adding them, but at last it now has two patch pockets on the front. 

To make the pockets I modeled them on the patch pockets of my husband's Carhartt vest. Using the same double crochet mesh stitch as the vest itself, I did a fdc of 24 stitches wide and then worked the pockets from the bottom up. 

But I also wanted these pockets to be able to hold anything I put in there, so I knew it would be important to line them with fabric. That way even tiny coins and the like would not be able to fall out from between the crocheted stitches. I used a remnant of this adorable penguin fabric to make the pocket liners. I tacked the liners to the front of the vest and then sewed the crocheted pockets over the liners. I sewed around the pocket opening to secure all the layers together there, and that's all there was to it. I'm a lot happier with the vest now that it has pockets.

Living in California, this vest is the perfect thing to wear outdoors on just about any winter day, so I'm sure I'll get lots and lots of use out of it.

A vest pour moi

I crocheted a warm vest for myself, and I'm pleased with how it turned out. It only took me about five years to settle down and get it done. I've started then ripped out this same yarn over and over again, trying to get it right and/or achieve a style that I was happy with. But finally it all came together, although there are still a few places where the design can be improved.

Lunch with friends

Today we had lunch with Tony, Annie, and Rose. It was great to spend some time together!

Howarts Houses scarves free pattern

This Slytherin House scarf is Rose Love's Christmas present. (Shhh!!)

Made with Caron Simply Soft yarn (6 ounce skeins) in Dark Sage (green) and Grey Heather (silver), because Slytherin House colors are green and silver. (Rose Love adores Slytherin.)

Knitted School Scarf based on Harry Potter Hogwarts House Colors

Knit pattern by Susan Benitez. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Pattern may not be sold or duplicated in any form. The written instructions, templates and illustrations are intended for personal, non-commercial use only. PATTERN UPDATED 5/4/2013 to correct errata.

Gauge

Gauge is not critical to this project.

Abbreviations used

k – knit
p – purl
st – stitch

Materials list

Knitting needles size 5 (3.75 mm).
Worsted weight yarn: 2 skeins for primary color A, 1 skein for contrast stripe B); samples were made using Caron Simply Soft solids in 6-ounce skeins.
For Gryffindor House: Autumn Red 9730 (A) and Sunshine 9755 (B)
For Hufflepuff House: Sunshine 9755 (A) and Black 9727 (B)
For Ravenclaw House: Dark Country Blue 9711 (A) and Gray Heather 9742 (B)
For Slytherin House: Dark Sage 9707 (A) and Gray Heather 9742 (B)

Notes

Scarf finished size is approximately 7 inches wide by 66 inches long, not including the 6-inch fringe on each end. The fabric is knitted in a 2-by-2 rib. Gauge isn't terribly important when you're making a scarf, but this ribbed fabric came out to about 6 stitches per inch for me. You can make your scarf narrower or wider, according to your preference, but the total number of stitches cast on must be divisible by 4 for a 2-by-2 rib knit.

Instructions

For scarf: In A, cast on 48 st.

1. Work one of each of the following sections in order (*, **, ***).

* Half-height block in primary color: In A, work 24 rows in 2-by-2 rib (k2, p2).

** Stripes section: In B, work in 2-by-2 rib (k2, p2) for 3 rows. In A, work in 2-by-2 rib (k2, p2) for 6 rows. In B, work in 2-by-2 rib for 3 rows.

*** Full-height block in primary color: In A, work 48 rows in 2-by-2 rib (k2, p2).

2. Repeat ** and *** sections in alternating order 5 times. At this point, your scarf will have 6 full-height block sections and 6 stripes sections (plus one half-height block * at the beginning).

3. Work one more stripes section **, followed by a final half-height block *. Cast off.

For fringe: Cut 52 12-inch lengths of yarn in each color A and B. Hold together 2 strands (1 of each color). Using a small crochet hook, partially pull the strands through at one end of the scarf, just above the casted row. Pull the loose ends through the loop, making sure strand ends are even, and pull to tighten. I like lots of fringe on my scarves, so I tied 26 fringe knots across each end (which was a snug fit all the way across), but you may use fewer (spacing them a bit further apart) if you wish.

Enjoy your new scarf. Now you can show the world into which Hogwarts house YOU have been sorted!


Update: Here's a scarf I made for Silver using Gryffindor House colors.

And a scarf I made for Mika using Ravenclaw House colors.

And here's a scarf I knitted for Montie using Patriot Guard Riders colors. (I actually ended up stealing this one for myself!)

 

And another scarf for Montie following a special alternate stripes configuration that he requested.

Lanyards

For a while now, I've been wanting to craft some hand-knotted/beaded lanyards on which to wear my credentials to work. There's a great site called BooJee Beads where I could buy some really cool handmade lanyards, but I think it would be a lot more satisfying (and a lot less expensive) to make them myself.

So I finally got my thoughts organized and found a great site - Free-Macrame-Patterns.com - with free macramé instructions and patterns, including detailed instructions for how to craft jewelry and related items out of small cords (like 1 mm hemp or embroidery floss), which is the size I had in mind for making my lanyards.

I first wanted to make a lanyard with a spiral pattern. This page at Free-Macrame-Patterns has simple, detailed instructions for how to create the spiral effect. I wasn't able to find embroidery floss at Walmart to begin my project, so I settled for 1 mm hemp, which is probably a lot easier to work with because it's less slippery than the floss, so it holds the knots much better.

Step 1: Mount two cords to a ring or holding cord. This will give you four strands to work with. Using the two outside cords as your working cords, tie the first half of a square knot (i.e., a half knot).

Step 2: Repeat the half knot over and over. Make sure you tie each of the knots exactly the same way. The cords will twist to form an attractive spiral chain.

 

 

Here's a photo of my first work in progress. I started with blue and yellow strands.

And here's the finished lanyard:

 

Here's the second lanyard: