Arm Knitting

I have FINALLY found a video that I could follow to learn to Arm Knit!

Since I am working SO HARD to get rid of all of the yarn I have lying around the living room, I made t his one out of Bernat's Blanket Yarn and two partial skeins of Vanna's Choice Tapestry yarn.

The colors look better in person. Plus, with all of the variegation the look changes with the colors that are showing

This is the video I used.

Stash Busting

It has been cold here since the New Years. Now, we have a wind chill of somewhere between - 13 (Buffalo) and -15 (Niagara Falls.) 

The last time the husband and I were out was Monday morning. I needed to mail some blankets home for the girl who cuts my hair. She was collecting blankets, food, collars, leashes, etc for the local Humane Society. Last year we had bought the softest, cutest blankets for dogs at one of the local stores, for about $5 each. This year we went back and they had two, each with a dog and Christmas decorations. So I sent her those two and a check to  help out.

Then, after Christmas I thought about the soft, fleece blankets that everyone sells . . you know, the ones that come rolled up and look like a small sleeping bag until you unroll them and they are the softest throws around?

We went to WalMart and found some for $2.88 . . . they weren't on sale for 50% off, but at that price I could afford them. So on Monday, I mailed 9 of these home for the Cass County Humane Society.

Then I had to do a yarn run. A friend from Indiana liked this braided cowl and wanted me to make her one in just red and black.

I bought one skein of red and one of black . . . should have bought two of each because each one makes one of the strips . . . so, today I am headed back, cold weather and all, so I can start on the third strip which will be variegated. Yes, you read it right, in two days I have used two skeins of yarn :(

PLUS, I have finished these cowls . . . 

This is what a "crap load full of cowls" looks like.

This may go to my oldest niece, once I get the hat finished.

Eye balls (buttons or circle) or sleepy, closed eyes.
Decisions, decisions :(

I do love the braided cowls . . .
this one is so soft it will look like a wreath around a neck.

This is the beginning of the "leftover" yarns.
Find two that are close in color and make something . . .
Do I hear the words STASH BUSTING out there?

For a "tie" to hold the loops together
I made a FSC chain with long tails on both ends.
Used the tails to attach the buttons
then loop the chain around the cowl and slip it over the button . . . VOILA

This cowl is between 5 and 6 feel long.
Sounds HUGE, but to wrap it twice around the neck
one needs some length.

This cowl is probably 36" around.
But, it is stretchy enough to wrap twice
AND
pull it over your head for a scarf.

This looks like the cowl above but it is different.
It is made form the same brand/type of yarn
but it is another 5-6 footer.

I started with left overs from the blue skein.
So the bottom of the cowl is one color scheme
while the top is form a similar skein
only with some brighter colors in it.
And the best of all . . .
It is SO SOFT!

Again, one of the simple ties done with a FSC chain and 1" button.

Another combination of yarns form the family shown above.

This looks similar to the one three pictures above.
but there are more grays and gray blues
and the top has some awesome variegated combinations.

Last, but I know not the least,
this one is made from Blanket Yarn.

If you haven't seen Bernat Blanket yarn
get ready for some fun.
It is a Super Bulky (#6) yarn
calling for an L/8MM hook.

I am using a K hook
since the L hook was being used in the variegated cowls
directly above. 

I was going to make a round of the brown tweed,

then go to a brown variegated Blanket Yarn
but I didn't gave enough of the plain brown tweed.

So I may do 3 rounds of the brown variegated
then add the tweed,
back to 3 rounds of brown variegated
 and finish with 3 rounds of the green variegated.

More to come when the last one gets finished.

Oh, by the way . . . we didn't get to the yarn shop today. Only made it to the grocery store . . 20 degrees outside. I ignored the wind chill since we were basically in the car.

Braided Cowls

I know, I know . . this is too early to be thinking of Christmas 2015, but having taught school for 34 years (and having gone to school for kindergarten, elementary, junior high and  high school for 13 more years and add in college for 4 more years) and regular schooling for 17 years for a total of 51 years. I don't think i will ever get  over the fact that I have more time than just evenings and vacations to work on Christmas projects.

For Y*E*A*R*S I would start my presents for the following year over Christmas vacation and normally have two or three finished before Christmas break was over. So, basically, I am on the same schedule as I have been for 38 years . . . before I went to college, I wasn't too crafty :(

I have noticed braided cowls have been popular this last year. "Please, Oh Please stay popular until Christmas 2015" I am thinking. Here is a photo of why.

I made the one on the left for my nephews' wife who teaches high school English. Their school colors are red and black. 

The one on the right is for my youngest niece. She likes greens and browns.

The COOLEST thing about them is not only are they buttoned together BUT they can be unbuttoned and two can be buttoned end to end to make a longer cowl! I love the fact that they will get more than one present in these cowls.

The pattern is available in my Ravelry Store for $2.00
Just click on the link below.

All proceeds from this pattern will be donated 

to a no-kill dog and cat maternity  shelter in Western New York 

or a no kill dog shelter in my home state of Indiana. 

The Fur~Babies and I thank you for your purchase

Braided Cowl Pattern

I just LOVE this cowl. The only thing I will do differently next time is ch 300 at the beginning so I will be able to wrap the cowl around my neck 3 times


Materials
Worsted Weight Yarn - 3 complimentary colors
Crochet Hook = K
Scissors
Yarn/Tapestry Needle

Stitches
ch = chain
dc - double crochet




Pattern
Row 1: Ch 200, dc in 3rd ch form hook and each chain to the beginning, ch 2, turn.

Rows 2 - 4: Dc in each st across, ch 2, turn.

Row 5: Dc in each st across, fasten off and weave in ends.

Repeat Rows 1 - 5 with two complimentary colors.

Finishing:

1. Braid three strips together. 
2. Join matching ends when braiding is complete. 
3. Slip stitch or whip stitch matching ends together.

1 Scarf and 4 Cowls

Wendy's Cowl 

With these 5 "neck warmers" completed, I only have 1 Christmas project left to complete.

Sally's Cowl

 I am SO PROUD of myself . . . all 4 nieces are finished and one SIL. . the one I am working on is for the other SIL, and it is what I am working on at the gym everyday . . . ride the bicycle and crochet a cowl!  LOLOL



All will be for sale in my Ravelry Store as soon as I get all of them added to my Project Page. Each pattern will cost $1.50 OR, you can buy the eBook "1 Scarf and 4 Cowls" (5 patterns in one book) for $ 4.99.

ALLISON'S SCARF

 

ANDREA'S COWL

LAUREN'S COWL

 

 

WENDY'S COWL

SALLY'S COWL

(this was a stash buster)

If you would like to buy all of these patterns,  for $4.99,
just click below.

 ***100% of the purchase price for the pattern goes to no-kill animal shelters in Western New York and in my home state of Indiana.***