Day 188 and Rosie

Some things take practice. I made a similar flower lariat with lace a few months ago, but this one looks WAY better. Last time, the vines went through the center of the flower. This time behind and it's such an improvement.

I have very little doubt, I'll try a similar thing at least once more because even now there are improvements that could be made.

Day 187 and Cities

I made this cowl to work with a Harry Potter ravelry game prompt about fairy tales. It represents a very stylized and simplistic skyline.

I used the story of the 2 frogs which summarizes as such:
Once there were two frogs. One lived in Osaka and one in Kyoto and at the same time they both decided that they'd like to see what was over the mountain that separated the cities. They met at the top of the mountain and each confided their desires to the other.

One frog said to his friend, "There's no need for us to wait to see what is over the mountain. Let's hold each other's arms and stand up on our legs and we'll be able to see farther." When they did, their bodies faced the wrong direction because frogs eyes are of course on top of their heads. Seeing an identical city to the one they left, both frogs disappointedly decided not to continue their journey. "If I had known the city over the mountain was so similar, I wouldn't have traveled on this journey," they each said not knowing they only saw their own city in reverse.

I suppose the moral of the story is that you don't really know what's over the mountain until you travel the entire way. What you see from afar is quite different than what you see firsthand. That's what I got out of it at least. I'm on the simple side, though, so if you have another interpretation, I'd love the insight! :)

Day 186 and Wiggles

I've used crochet chains as ladders before, but when the chains aren't all the same length an interesting thing happens. Even when every single row has an equal number of chains and single crochet stitches, they still wiggle side to side.

I used 11 chains, a single crochet, 1 chain, and another single crochet on my starting chain repeated over and over. For each following row, I subtracted 2 from one chain set and added 2 to the other chain set always making sure the single crochets lined up.

I suspect that there are lots of interesting effects that could be made by just changing the number of chains in each set and whether or not they lined up. I'll have to play with it some.

Day 185 and America

I hail from the United States of America. There's no hiding the fact that we are a very proud people (maybe a little too much). So Happy American Independence Day!

America
Size K crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn in three colors of your choice (about 1 oz each)
Tapestry needle

Part 1
Chain 147
DC into 4th chain from hook. DC 5. * Skip 3 ch, DC 7, (DC, Ch3, DC) all in next stitch, DC7* Repeat to the end of the row including the partial repeat at the end.

Part 2
Chain 147
DC into 4th chain from hook. DC3. *Skip 3 ch, DC 7, (DC, Ch3, DC) all in next stitch, DC7*
Repeat to the end of the row including the partial repeat at the end.

Part 3
Chain 147
DC into 4th chain from hook. DC 5. *(DC, ch3, DC) all in next stitch, DC7, Skip 3 ch, DC7*
Repeat to the end of the row including the partial repeat at the end.

You'll notice that all of the pieces have the exact same pattern, but with the repeat started at a different spot. The three strips will braid together and lay flat because of the built in bend.

Choose one fo the three colors for the slender border and attach it with a slip stitch to a point of the same color. Chain 4, SC into the next exposed corner. Repeat this all the way around including the ends of the scarf where instead of working the SC into a corner, you'll be working it around the End DC or the chain which represents a DC. Sew in all your ends and be proud.

Day 184 and Incognitowl

Inspired of course by the very popular pattern available on ravelry called Owls, I as well as many others have seen fit to use the single owl motif as a fun insert pattern! It's so amazing that a certain arrangement of cables can have so much personality.

Day 183 and Turkey

Happy Halfway Point!!!
Only 182 scarves to go!

It's strange to describe this stitch pattern because it's as easy as it is tricky! Experienced knitters will recognize it right away as either the Turkish stitch or the purse stitch. As best I understand, the two stitches are very subtly different, but perhaps that's a different scarf.

Cast on any multiple of two stitches (I used 16 stitches) using a sport weight yarn and size 15 needles. I highly recommend a plant material for this one. Cotton, bamboo, hemp, and linen will all make a very airy summer scarf that will be easy to clean and maintain the wide lace holes while it's being worn.

Every row is as follows: *K2tog, YO* repeat to the end of the row.

If you're wondering what makes this tricky, keep in mind that the very last stitch of every row is a yarn over. If you set this scarf down, it's entirely likely that the yarn over will have fallen off. Check your work before each row and wrap that yarn once more around the needle if the YO has gone missing. You'll know at a glace if you have the correct set up because the first stitch on the needle will NOT have a stitch below wrapped around it.

Day 182 and RicRac

I don't know if that's what it's called everywhere, but in America, ricrac (or rikrak) is a type of zigzag ribbon embellishment. Because the bends are exactly symmetrical you can take two pieces and swivel them around each other and still have a flat piece of now doubled ribbon.

I saw no reason why this couldn't be done with a chevron pattern in yarn. I used a size K crochet hook and worsted weight yarn. I didn't count my chain, but just made it very long and cut off whatever I didn't want when I was finished.

I hope to make this a little more specific after I do some serious counting, but for experienced crocheters, this is the recipe.

The pattern repeat is 5 DC, skip 3 ch, 5DC, ch3, 5DC (the first dc is in the same chain as the most recent stitch). Make this single row as long as you want your scarf and then make it once more with a contrasting yarn. Twist the two ribbons together so that they lie flat. For the outer edge, DC 4 into each corner as they present themselves as well as 5 DC in each color ribbon at the ends to turn the scarf corner.