Necks and Noggins

I try to be an equal opportunity crafter but I am NOT a knitter.  I just do not have the patience. Oh the knitting is fine, it is the trying to correct it when I make a mistake, oh so many mistakes.  Yes. I make mistakes crocheting too but the fix for crochet is almost too easy, just grab the working end of the yarn and yank it out then do over.

However I do love my toys and have acquired many yarn crafting tools and gadgets over the years among them a set of round Knifty Knitter looms and I play with them from time to time.  Scarves are large this year or so I have been told and I made several for Christmas Gifts and one for a birthday yet to come (shhhhhh quiet on that item I'll try to post it later)

 

There are many types of patterns posted for the Knifty Knitters but I did not use a pattern, I just made a simple tube. Here it is, the model is one of my 5 gorgeous niece's.  Like any proud Auntie, I think she makes the set look too cute.  It is pretty, warm, fuzzy, washable, dryer friendly, and

very wearable so what is not to like?  

This is a list of the exact materials I used but there are several types of fun fur and many brands of yarn to chose from.   

You will need a Knitting Loom and the basic knowledge of how to use it.   Very easy to learn and "You Tube" has lots of knitting loom lessons.

I used the small blue Knifty Knitter.

3 (1.5 oz) skeins Lion Brand Fun Fur

I used Cotton Candy Stripes 

Article: #320-300 UPC: 023032323008

It also comes in solids (Wal-Mart is the least expensive place to get this)

Red Heart Super Saver 1 (7 oz skein) 706 - Perfect Pink or color of your choice for the scarf and the hat.

Ripple Hat and Scarf Crochet Pattern Project Number: LW1471  Designed By: Mary Jane Protus Skill Level: Easy. A Free Pattern on the Red Heart Website 

(I only used the hat pattern for this project.)

Holding 1 strand of the Fun Fur and 1 strand of the Super Saver Yarn together attach to loom. Wrap and knit each round to form a long tube. Tie on another skein of fun fur as each skein runs out making sure the loose ends are on the inside of the tube. Work to desired length or until the fun fur is used up. End off as per Knifty Knitter directions. Gather stitches and close both ends.  Make a pom-pom for each end and stitch in place.

Use the remainder of Super Saver yarn to create the hat portion of the Red Heart Pattern.  I did not use the fun fur on the hat for 2 reasons, because I was worried that what might feel cozy around my neck might feel itchy around my face. Also I wanted the hat to be a separate entity that could be used alone or with another scarf that had been worked with the coordinating colors.  

It is my habit to make every hat to match two different scarfs because I find, with the ladies, that scarfs seem to be worn more often than hats. 

I did not put a pom-pom on the hat but one could be added. Also a matter of personal choice.

This is the same style scarf paired with the Basic Earflap hat pattern that can be found on this site. 

http://idealdelusions.blogspot.com/p/basic-earflap-hat_30.html

Blanket Stitch ?

This "Retro" pattern has been around for so long I feel Certain that it must be in the public domain by now.

  

But this post is not a pattern for the infamous Granny Square Christmas Stocking.  This post is to show a pattern for a crochet stitch I use and consider to be the equivalent of the overcast or "blanket stitch in sewing.

   

I do not know if this is a "real" crochet stitch or not.  It is a process I worked out while trying to avoid a marked difference in appearance on the right and wrong side of a crochet joined seam.  

Since I am making "stockings" I am using them for demonstration purposes of this joining.  Starting with a standard 5 corner granny,  I do make one small change in the last round.  In one of the 5 corners I work 6 treble crochet instead of the normal 3 double crochet, ch 2, 3 dc.  This 6 treble corner will become the toe of the stocking. 

NOTE:  6 treble in bottom corner 

Positioning the square so the treble crochet point is downward,

1.  Join yarn in the right top corner, single crochet in the ch 2 space and each stitch across

2.  fold the piece in half,  with the wrong sides together, sl st in the first single crochet.  



1                       2                        3

From this point you will always be working through both thicknesses.

3.  Single crochet in the corner space, ch 10, single crochet in same space.  This forms the loop for hanging. 

4                          5                        6

4.  Insert hook from back to front through the next corresponding stitches.   

5.  Make sure your working yarn is under the bottom of your hook in the back 

     and crosses over the top of the piece to the front.  

6.  Pull a loop through to the back and complete the single crochet.

        Work down the side of the stocking in this same manner working 3 single crochet in the 2 chain corner space and continue across the bottom to the toe of the stocking. 

     End off and work in yarn tails.

6-B  Looking at the edge / top of the seam your stitch will look like this.

So what have we accomplished ?

With the blanket stitch worked as explained here both the front and back side appear almost the same.  There is a large difference between the front and back side of the standard single crochet.

7 FRONT SIDE  (SC)    8 FRONT SIDE  (blanket st)  9 Reverse of both STS

10  Closeup compare the difference

Yes it can be done in double crochet.

11. Front side double crochet blanket stitch on the left, 
single crochet blanket stitch on the right 

  12. Reverse side with single crochet blanket stitch on the left, double crochet blanket stitch on the right

**********
Since these stocking are small and light weight they can also double as a
Christmas Brooch.  In the "Jewelry Findings" of your favorite craft store
you can purchase packs of small brooch pins

which you can sew or glue to the top of  the back of your stocking
so it can me worn like a pin.   

How Many Stitches ?

 

In a forum I visited recently

I found a question that intrigued me. 

" How many stitches can you complete in 1 minute ? "

 

So I took the time to consider the

variables to really measure speed. 

 

Knit or Crochet,

Yarn: type / weight,

Stitch: Type  / Pattern,

Duration:  Time needed for accuracy

(“Remember the legend of "John Henry")

 

I have a friend who teaches the art of crochet and

she tells everyone I crochet with amazing speed. 

Faster than anyone she has ever known. 

But no matter how many projects I complete,

like the old Pennsylvania Dutch saying,

"The hurrier I go, the behinder I get".

I never checked my speed. 

I just check the need

I always see dozens of wants,

needs and special projects waiting for me.  

 

So I won't check my speed

I’ll just keep doing what I do. 

It is not how fast I crochet,

it is the fact that I can crochet at any speed

and I pray I will be able to crochet

and share the love till the end of my time.