As promised, here’s a photo of a sweater I made in high school (and I will not tell you how long ago that was…). As you can see with classic Aran designs, they’re wearable nearly any time, any where and any year. They’re even good belted with the layered look. (And, sorry, I don’t have the pattern any more, but it was probably Bear Brand or Columbia Minerva – where are those guys today??)
So what retro (or classic) sweaters do you have in your closet, whether you wear them yourself or one of your kids (or grandkids) wears?
Since last week’s blog was a bit longer than I’d expected (bet you’re still reading it…), this week’s will be short and, hopefully, sweet.
NaturallyCaron.com is a Murder Mystery Player
If you get a chance, be sure to pick up the long-awaited crochet mystery, Dying to Crochet, by Bendy Carter. One of the characters shops for yarn and picks a ball or two of Spa. Here’s a synopsis of the book, from the back cover:
Veronica, who recently experienced a tragic loss, begins crocheting for its therapeutic benefits. When she accidentally invents a new stitch, her whole life changes; she now eats, sleeps and thinks crochet. The budding designer is quickly swept into the fascinating world of crochet fashion and design.
When the unthinkable happens at a fiber convention, it is up to Veronica, her friends, and their knowledge of yarn and stitches to find the killer before the killer finds them.
Written in a “Crochet-Along-with-the-Character” style, the book includes ten original designs plus directions for two additional pattern stitches.
You can purchase the book here.
More New NaturallyCaron.com Free Patterns
Take a look at these two summer dazzlers…Athens, a short tie-front jacket with an eyelet lace pattern and Sandals, a beautiful crocheted wrap in three complimentary colors of Spa.
And now, here’s Liz:
Lizzie’s Sunflower Crochet-Along: Week 3 — The Petals
So I was surfing the web trying to find some fun facts about sunflowers to include this week and I came upon The National Sunflower Association. They even put out a magazine The Sunflower. If you’re into this bright beauty, take few minutes and check out their site. Here’s a couple of amazing facts from their website.
What is the height of the tallest sunflower?
A sunflower grown in the Netherlands holds the record for being the tallest sunflower in the world. It measured 25 feet, 5.4 inches. (Source: 2004 Guinness World Records)
What size is the largest sunflower head on record?
That honor belongs to a 32 inch (82 cm) sunflower head that grew in British Columbia. (Source: 2004 Guinness World Records)
This week we will create the petals of our flowers. Because I’m a visual learner, I’m finding that drawing the diagrams is much easier then writing the pattern in words. Reading through all those abbreviations still makes my head spin. This week try just using the diagrams. Next week, we’ll assemble the heads, and create the leaves and stem, so Stay Tuned.
The Petals
There are 4 rows of petals, alternating in colour. Petals 1 & 3 are stitched in Vicuna, 2 & 4 in Gilded Age.
(Pattern continues, scroll down for weeks 1 & 2)
Stitches Used
Chain (ch)
Double crochet (dc)
Single crochet (sc)
Slip stitch (slip st)
Treble crochet (tr)
First Row of Petals
Work with C.
Row 1: Ch 8, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, dc in next 3 ch; leave remaining 2 ch unworked; do not turn—1 petal made. Do not fasten off.
Repeat Row 1 eight more times—9 petals made. Fasten off leaving an 18″/45.5cm tail.
Second Row of Petals
Work with B.
Row 1: Ch 11, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, dc in next 5 ch, tr in next ch; leave remaining 2 ch unworked; do not turn—1 petal made. Do not fasten off.
Repeat Row 1 eight more times—9 petals made. Fasten off leaving an 18″/45.5cm tail.
Third Row of Petals
Work with C.
Row 1: Ch 16, sc in third ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, dc in next 10 ch; leave remaining ch unworked, turn—13 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in next 12 sts, slip st in last st, turn—12 sc.
Row 3: Ch 1, skip slip st, sc in next 3 sc, dc in next 9 sc; do not turn—12 sts (1 petal completed). Do not fasten off.
Repeat Rows 1¬–3 five more times—6 petals completed. Fasten off leaving an 18″/45.5cm tail.
Fourth Row of Petals
Work with B.
Row 1: Ch 17, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, dc in next 12 ch; leave remaining ch unworked, turn—15 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, dc in next 9 sts, sc in next 2 sts, slip st in last st, turn—14 sts (excluding slip st).
Row 3: Skip slip st, sc in next 3 sts, dc in next 11 sts; do not turn—14 sts (1 petal completed). Do not fasten off.
Repeat Rows 1¬–3 five more times—6 petals completed. Fasten off leaving an 18″/45.5cm tail.
