emily k(nits, watches, and writes)

Happy holidays to those that celebrate, and happy winter solstice to everyone. I’m home in Chicago and it is cooooold here. And snowy. Perfect conditions To wear my panda hat.

Panda Hat

This is from that same Short & Sweet Earflap Hat pattern, and is inspired by the designer. I crocheted the ears as follows:
1: ch4
2: turn, skip first ch, 2 sc in each ch to end.
3: ch1, turn, 2 sc in each sc to end.
4: ch1, turn, sc in each sc to end.

ears

I left a tail of about 18″ or so and sewed them on. And naturally there is a sc edging around the hat using the black yarn. I also used one strands of the black in the braids.

I’d write more but I’m of to get Thai food! Peace out!

Hey look, I’m being all creative and stuff!

I made this partly for the shop, and partly because I wanted to make a cute, easy crochet pattern. I’d like to get myself designing more stuff, particularly in the crochet department. I’d love to make more charted patterns, but I have NO idea how to make charts on the computer. :/ I’ll figure it out someday.

You can download the pattern on the pattern page linked on the left. Or you can find it on Ravelry.

I have been knitting and stuff. Really.

Proof:

Octopus Cephalopod Amigurumi

Cactus

They were made for the shop as samples. We started balling up Ella Rae Classic into mini balls of yarn (about 73 yds) to sell as our own little version of small balls. The yarn just wasn’t selling, as people tend to gravitate towards Cascade 220. So Suzanne asked if Brenda could crochet up something to help sell the yarn and generate more interest in crochet. I took over and made some amis. I think they’re pretty cute!

Now I’m back on a crocheting kick and want to make every ami pattern in my queue. And I may just do that, too. They are so quick and easy to make!

And if you couldn’t tell from the top of the page, I have re-embarked on a Season 12 scarf, this time around following the directions from WLK. It’s going swimmingly, and I have to admit, it’s getting to the point that its difficult to transport comfortably. Which is unfortunate because it has been my go-to bus ride project.

I’d say more but I’m pra tired. BYE.

Sometimes I feel like crochet is a lost art. I mean, people still crochet, but it has this unshakable association with Grandma’s 70s color preferences, brightly colored sweaters that get stuck on the corners of desks, and flowery afghans you hide away in your closet. I mean, granny squares are called granny squares for a reason.

But I’m determined to not give up on crochet. There are some incredibly beautiful and wonderful patterns out there for crocheters, and not just amigurumi toys. (Of which I’ve made my fair share.) I’ve found that the most intuitive and aesthetically pleasing crochet patterns are Japanese, which may be off-putting to some crafters out there because Japanese patterns are always charted and never written out word-for-word. But charts aren’t that bad! Really! I actually find they make a lot more sense than prose.

This doily is a pattern from the Pierrot yarn company in Japan. I found it randomly on Ravelry and decided to give it a whirl. I totally love it.

Anywhere Mat

Anywhere Mat, detail

Anywhere Mat, detail

I used Gedifra Korella, which is a 53% linen/47% acrylic blend in a light worsted weight, worked up with an E/3.5mm hook. The yarn was a bit splitty, but was the right choice for this doily. I wanted it to be sturdy but washable and pliable. After soaking in some Eucalan and pinning it out to dry it softened up quite a bit and now lays out nice and flat. My only modification was on the sc edging; I did the sc through the back loop instead of through both, which created a nice ridge around the edge. If I did this pattern again I would do the decreases of the petals in between the posts of the stitches rather than through the top like usual. It’s probably not noticeable to anyone other than me, but the petals seem a bit lopsided as they decrease. I’m a bit OCD about symmetry in increases and decreases.

Score: A
Yarn: B+

I may make another one in a different color so that the intended receiver will have a pair that match. We’ll see!

ek