Saturday, June 14, 2008

Scalloped Bracelet


Button view
Originally uploaded by Dawning Dreams
Finished size: 7.25 inches long X 1 inch wide

Materials
Yarn: DMC Petra Crochet Cotton 5, (scrap)
Hook: size D/3-3.25 MM or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: sewing needle, button






Special Stitches:
Puff st: Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch, pull through loop until it is as tall as a dc. Now with three loops on your hook, yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch and pull through until it is as tall as the last pulled. Now you have 5 loops on your hook. Repeat three more times until there are 11 loops on your hook. Yarn over and draw strand through all 11 stitches. Close with chain stitch by yarning over and pulling through.

Shell st: Single crochet (sc), then skip two chains and double crochet (dc) into third st 12 times (fan made). Skip the next 2 st, and sc into third st.


Ch 58
Ch 1, (counts as first sc) 2nd chain from hook sc 57 across, turn. (58 total)
Ch 1, sc across, turn. (58 total), turn 
Ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc 1, ch1, *skip st, puff st* repeat from * across to last 2, dc 2, turn.
Ch 1, sc across, turn. (58 total)
Ch 1, sc across, turn. (58 total)
Ch2, 2 sc, skip 2, shell, skip 2, *shell* repeat from * across until last two st, 2 sc. (9 shells total)
Bind off.
copyright 2008 Dawn L.E. Riden, all rights reserved

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Chevette Choker



Well, I originally meant to finish knitting other projects before starting a new one, but you know how that goes. I saw on a board that a knitter from Oklahoma had gotten one of her patterns published on Knitty.com. So, I went and started looking for her stuff and came across this beauty.

Ever since Jr. High, when chokers were popular, I had loved this style. For many years I didn't wear anything on my neck because of how short it is. However, I couldn't deny the beauty of this piece. I spent two days knitting this girl until it's now finally finished! I love it! I want to knit a million more now! Maybe I can open an Etsy.com store and sell stuff that I like there. Hmmm. . .

Monday, June 2, 2008

Vintage Shells Bonnet Pattern

ETA 9/2009:
Let me just say that the original pattern written here was completely backwards engineered from an existing bonnet that is more than 60 years old. It is beautiful, but some of the techniques, I've come to realize, are outdated. I meticulously went through the entire thing writing it down as I crocheted a copy too. After reading the following pattern, look to the bottom for my updated take on the bonnet. It should help clear up the confusion.

It's my first time writing a pattern so if there is a discrepancy, please let me know! To make a 0-3 mo, I used a D/3-3.25 size hook. So gauge can be very important.


Crochet thread size 20
Crochet hook D for 0-3 month


Vintage Shells Bonnet pattern:

Ch9 join into ring

Rnd 1: Sc 18 in ring (slip stitch to close all following rings)

Rnd 2: Ch3 (counts as fist dc), dc 17 (18 total)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc 17

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc sp, *2 Dc in sp* repeat around (36 total)

Rnd 5: Ch 3, Dc 35

Rnd 6:Ch 3, dc in sp. *2 Dc each sp* repeat from * (72 total)

Rnd 7: Ch 3, Dc 71

Rnd 8: Ch 3, Dc 71

Rnd 9: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) Dc 2 Ch 1 Dc 3 in same stitch (makes first fan)

*Skip 5 Dc 3 Ch 1 Dc 3 in same stitch* repeat * Join ends of first fan with second fan. (12 fans total)

slst over to ch1 space in first fan

Rnd 10: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) Dc 5 in same stitch (makes fan)

*Skip to next fan ch1 space. Make 6 dc in sp* and repeat between *'s around. Join ends of first fan with second fan.

Rnd 11: Ch 1, Sc around and join

Rnd 12: Ch 1, Sc around and join

Rnd 13-16: repeat Rnds 9 – 12

Now, we begin the bill of the hat, which will be worked back and forth rather than around.

Slst over 2 spaces above the center of the fan below it.

Row 17: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) Dc 2 Ch 1 Dc 3 in same stitch (makes first fan)

*Skip 5 Dc 3 Ch 1 Dc 3 in same stitch* Turn. (10 fans)

Slst over to ch1 space in fan.

Row 18: Ch 3 (counts as first dc) Dc 5 in same stitch (makes fan) *skip over to ch1 sp in next fan. Dc 6 in sp. Skip to next fan ch1 space and repeat *. Turn.

Row 19: Ch 2. Sc across. Turn.

Row 20: Ch 2. Sc across. Turn.

Row 21 & 22: Repeat Row 17 & 18

Row 23: Ch 3 (counts as first Dc) Dc across. Turn.

Row 24: Ch 2 (counts as first sc) Sc across. Turn.

Slst over 2 spaces above the center of the fan below it.

Row 25-32: Repeat rows 17-20 twice more.

Now to put on the edging.

Rnd 33: Sc around complete perimeter of bonnet.

Rnd 34: Beginning on middle of fan on the front corner. Ch 3. Dc 9 in same space. Skip sp. Sc. Skip sp. *Dc 10 in sp. Skip sp. Sc. Skip sp.* Repeat * across Join ends of last fan with first fan.

Rnd 35: *Dc, ch2 in sp.* Repeat around and bind off. Done!

You can thread any color ribbon you want in the Dc in the middle of the brim and through the bottom and front brim shells to secure it the head. Enjoy it as much as I have!



ETA: I've made several bonnets based on this pattern out of various weights of yarn and even different hook sizes, but here are the updated notes on it.

First off, I do not make a circle using rounds 1-16 above. That is the old fashioned way of doing it. I use the current system in which I do the following:

To Begin: Chain 4. Slst join.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, 5 dc in center of circle. Sl st in 3rd ch of ch 3, to join.
Rnd 2: ch 3, 2 dc in ea dc around. Sl st in first dc, to join.
Rnd 3: ch 3, (dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc) around. Sl st in first dc, to join.
Rnd 4: ch 3, (dc in ea of next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc) around. Sl st in first dc, to join.

Additional Rnds: For each new round, add 1 extra dc stitch to the number of dc stitches between increases (an increase is done by making 2 dc in one stitch). For example, round 5 would have 3 dc between increases then round 6 would have 4 dc between increases and so on.


After I make the circle large enough to cover the back of the babies head, I start making the fans. My system is to ch3, 2dc, ch, 3dc in the same st, *skip 5, dc3, ch2, dc3 in same st*, and repeat between *'s until there is enough space for two more fans. ch3, turn.

On the way back make a 6dc fan in each ch2 space across making sure to connect the last dc with with the fan tip below it. Ch2, turn.

Crochet two rows of sc.

Repeat the two rows of fans and two rows of sc until it reaches the forehead of the baby.

Now, it's time for the border. Working along the outer edge of the entire bonnet including the front sides and back where there are no fans. I crochet 8 dc fans after every 5 sts. This insures a very ruffly border. Finally, I dc in every stitch around one more time to add more fullness.

Cut tail and weave in.