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Archive for February, 2012

New Sheep(ish) Pattern: My Guy Hat

Posted in Knitting, Vickie Howell, tagged , , , on February 15, 2012 | 3 Comments »

My Guy Hat
Shown in colors: Grey(ish), Gun Metal(ish) and Red(ish)
My Guy Hat
Slouchy Beanie

When designing for guys, I always say simple is best. That’s why I love plain ol’ beanies. They’re a great way for a dude to show a little style without really having to commit to anything crazy. If you go with a stockinette look, I can pretty much guarantee that your man will wear it. Use color and stripe placement to add or subtract his chosen level of funk. The My Guy hat is designed to be a bit longer than average to cover the ears and slouch a bit (a big trend right now), and includes spiral decreases at the crown for an added effect. Make this project now, or bookmark it for this year’s holiday gift ideas!
Materials
1 ball each of Stitch.Rock.Love for Caron Sheep(ish) in colors: (A) Grey(ish) and (B) Gun Metal(ish), plus scraps of (C) Red(ish).
Size US 8 (5mm), 16”/41cm circular needles
Size US 8 (5mm) dpns
Tapestry Needle
Sizes
Adult S/M(L/XL)
Finished Measurements
Stretches to fit up to: 23(24)”/58/61cm
Gauge
17 sts x 22 rows = 4”/10cm in Stockinette stitch
Directions
Hat Body:
With Color A, CO 80(84) sts. Join, taking care not to twist.
Rnds 1-8: *K2, p2; rep from * around.
Rnds 9-10: With Color B, knit.
Note: When working in-the-round, stockinette stitch is achieved by knitting every rnd.
Rnds 11-12: With Color A, knit.
Rnds 13-14: With Color B, knit.
Rnd 15: With Color C, knit.
Rnds 16-17: With Color A, knit.
Rnds 18-19: With Color B, knit.
Rnd 20: Rep Rnd 15.
Rnd 21-22: With Color A, knit.
Rnd 23-24: With Color B, knit.

Repeat the last four rounds, maintaing Color A & B stripe pattern and ending with Color B until piece measures 6 1/2(7)”/16(81)cm from edge.
Note: for less slouchy version, work body 1/2”-1”/1-2.5cm shorter.
L/XL size only:
Next Rnd: With Color A, knit around while dec 4 sts (using k2tog) evenly. (80)
Next Rnd: With Color A, knit.

My Guy Hat Side



Spiral Decrease for Crown
Both Sizes:
Change to dpns when necessary.
Dec. Round 1: *K8, k2tog* (rep. to end)
Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, & 16: K all sts.
Dec. rnd 3: *K7, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Dec. rnd 5: *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Dec. rnd 7: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Dec. rnd 9: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Dec. rnd 11: *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Dec. rnd 13: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Dec. rnd 15: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Dec. rnd 17: *K2tog; rep from * to end.  

My Guy Hat Back
Back view: spiral decreases.
Finishing
Thread tapestry needle through remaining sts.  Pull tight and secure.  Weave in ends.

Stitch.Rock.Love,
Vickie


Unless otherwise agreed upon, patterns on this site are for non-commercial use only. Copyright Craft.Rock.Love Media, LLC 2012. All rights reserved.

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New Pattern: Bestie Scarf–Just in Time for V-day!

Posted in Crochet, Vickie Howell, tagged , , , , on February 10, 2012 | 1 Comment »

Noelle, modeling her Bestie scarf in color: Hot Pink(ish)

Bestie
Triple-crochet infinity scarf for thrice the love!

My friend Noelle is new to crochet, so I was beyond thrilled when she showed up to our dinner date one night sporting a Sheep(ish) infinity scarf that she’d whipped after teaching herself the triple crochet stitch. It makes a bestie proud! I’d never seen her in hot pink before, and I loved the pop of color this little number brought to her outfit. So simple, but still such a statement piece. 

With Valentine’s Day upon us, I thought it’d be nice to write-up a pattern for Noelle’s scarf as a reminder that girlfriends + crafting = love. Enjoy! –Vickie

Materials
2 Balls Stitch.Rock.Love Sheep(ish) (30% wool/70% acrylic; 167 yds/153m), in color: Hot Pink(ish)
Size H-8 (5mm) Hook
Tapestry Needle
Abbreviations
st(s) = stitch(es)

Gauge for this project is not important.
Directions
Ch 28.
Row 1: tr in 4th ch from hook, and in ever ch to end. Turn. (25 sts)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first tr), tr in next tr and to end.
Repeat Row 2, until piece measures 42”/107cm. Tie off.
Finishing
Using a tapestry needle and yarn, seam together the top and bottom edges to create a loop.
Weave in ends.
Wear is as one long infinity scarf, or double it for a snugger cowl effect!


Don’t crochet, but would love to learn? Take my online workshop, Crochet Lab on Craftsy today! 



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Crafts & Hobbies Show Photo Recap + Facts!

Posted in Machine Knitting, Vickie Howell, tagged , , , on February 6, 2012 | 3 Comments »

The Tree
Well, we pulled it off.  Two-and-a-half weeks before the show, Spinrite (the new owner of Caron) marketing exec Sara Arblaster and I decided that I should yarn bomb a 10 ft’ fake tree, live from the show floor. Normally, plans like these take months of planning. We however, like to live on the edge.
Thanks to the powers that be for approving it, the design wizardry of artist (and art director on Knitty Gritty) Dave Lowe who built us a tree, and to the knitting machine that helped me whip out the pieces to cover it lickety-split–our zany idea came to yarn-y life!
“Yarn Bombing” (aka knit tagging, knit graffiti) is a phenomena that saw a rise 5-7 years ago in the indie scene and has since gained popularity in the mainstream. Its purpose can be anything from making a statement against the stereotypical purpose of knitting/crochet, to challenge the modern perception of art, to offering a fun way to make a bright (but harmless) mark on an otherwise ordinary object.
IMG_1983
Sheep(ish) tree, yarn bombed on the CHA floor.
My creation
I made most of the tree pieces on the Ultimate Sweater Machine. 

Here they are, finished and ready to be packed for the trip!
Ustreamvid1
Screenshot of live streaming from the show floor.
Now that I know how to do it, maybe I’ll do more live events (only that aren’t 4 hours long!)
IMG_1981
Be-cozying in progress.
IMG_1985
Final touch: fabric tree “carving”.
P1020272
Fabric hanging: hand embroidered and machine sewn.

CHA Floor

Much like every convention in any industry, the CHA convention is wall to wall carpeting and booths. What makes this one different though, is an unusual amount of glitter, paint and yarn. Oh, and these guys.

Random CHA launch show.
Every year before the show doors open, a bag pipe procession plays through the aisles. Random.
Whipped up a Sheep(ish) cast cozy for Andrea from A.C. Moore
Andrea from A.C. Moore, kindly let me cover her cast in Sheep(ish).
Quick chat with my friend Deborah Norville at the booth. #CHAshow
Quick chat with pal, Deborah Norville.
Hope live body painting.
My friend Hope Perkins, painting a live model from the I Love to Create booth.
Last Minute Knitted Shade
Last minute lampshade cover, made on the USM the night before the show to fill space. Most of our stuff didn’t make it, so we had to do a wee bit of scrambling.
CYC Reception
White at CHA,  I attended the annual Craft Yarn Council reception. This is the meeting where the council presents to industry types, the data obtained through researching customer’s yarn habits for the previous year.  I always walk away with some interesting facts so this time, I thought I’d share a few. All information is based on the results of surveying 5,175 knitters and crocheters found via the web.

Out of the stitchers surveyed:

  • 63% both knit and crochet (This was a happy surprise to me! I’m so glad to see that the majority are bi-craftual. That keeps things interesting for us in the the design world.)
  • In 2011, 87% of knitters/crocheters said that they’ve taught at least one other person to stitch. (Recruiters!)
  • Hats and scarves are the most made projects (70-77% respectively)
  • Knitters and crocheters each averaged 33.4 projects in 2011. (This number blew me away! I suppose this speaks to the popularity of small projects. I’d also wager that many of these are charity projects.)
  • 98% of the stitchers surveyed, said they plan to make at least as many projects in 2012 as they did in 2011. (This is great news for local yarn stores, big box retailers, independent designers, publishers, and anyone else who’s in the industry or simply, loves the craft!)
For more information, check out the CYC website.
Stitch.Rock.Love,
Vickie

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Baby Sweater in Knit Simple Magazine!

Posted in Knitting, Vickie Howell, tagged , , , , , on February 3, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Hey all! Just a quick post to let you know that I have a pattern for a stripey, baby sweater in the Winter issue of Knit Simple. It’s knit from the top down, and in one piece. That means NO SEAMING for you, busy mama! Get the pattern plus the KS team’s tutorial on making it in the issue on stands now.  Oh, and as always, Sheep(ish) is available at your local retailer or at Buy.Caron.com.

Shown in Teal(ish) & Robin’s Egg(ish)

 

 
Knit Simple Winter '11/'12

Stitch.Rock.Love,

Vickie

Facebook/vickiehowell

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