Monday, September 18, 2017

Exodus 15: 2 Scripture Stock Photo

I have been working behind the scenes a lot this week. I have been finalizing my next crochet pattern that I have been hinting at on Instagram all month.I have been getting a couple of patterns ready to submit to some magazines. I have not submitting in a long time so it's kinda scary.

The church I go to asked me if I could make a stock photo for them to put on the cover of their quarterly magazine, so that was something else I had to do. I'm quite pleased with it so I wanted to share it with you.



Editing photos is getting to be one of my favorite things about blogging. It has been a huge learning experience for me. Computers ave never been my forte. In high school I barely passed typing class. My teacher had mercy on me because he was my track coach and he knew how much I was struggling. He said, "I'll pass you if you can get to 21 words a minute. I ended up with a D in the class with 26 words per minute.

Yikes. I'm still pretty slow, but I'm improving, and it helps having a husband who knows computers, and who spent his childhood taking them apart and back together again.

So if I can figure out this blogging thing, anything is possible. Have a great week, and keep on the lookout for the next pattern coming soon.  

Monday, September 11, 2017

Painted Sunflower

A free Crochet Pattern


Of all of my designs, I think this is one of my favorites. I made this sunflower to hang in my bathroom in 2012 and it is still in my bathroom, even after 4 moves. Yikes lets not talk about how I have moved 4 times in the last 5 years. This is one of the last patterns I am moving over from Crochetvotution . After this pattern there is only one left, and it is a Christmas pattern, so I might wait a little while to put that one up.
There it is hanging in my bathroom for proof.

This pattern is a little unconventional. You don't see crochet projects as stiff wall hangings that have been painted, and I think that's why I like it so much. It is different and it showcases crochet and fiber art in a different way.

This sunflower is easy and fast to work up since you are using 2 strands of cotton thread at the same time. What takes this project time is the drying time for the starch and paint, so don't let the amount of time scare you; it mostly takes that long because it is sitting there drying.




Designer: Julia Schwartz
Time to complete: one week, (3 to 6 hours for the crochet, 48 to 36 hours of drying time, 1 hour of painting, and another 24 hours of drying.)
Hook: size 4/2.00mm steel crochet hook,
Yarn: Size 10 crochet thread (two balls),
Materials used:
  • sugar,
  • water, 
  • wax paper, 
  • Folk art acrylic paint Sunny yellow, and burnt sienna), 
  • Apple Barrel colors craft paint ( apricot, and goose feather), 
  • 2 ½ paint brush 
Finished Size:  11 in. circumference
Crocheting Note: Two strands of string will be used at the same time.
Special stitches:
picot: Chain 4 slip stitch in forth chain from hook.

Copyright: 
Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact me through e-mail.

Where Can I Get This Pattern?

This is a Free Crochet Pattern. So just keep scrolling down to find this pattern. I also have this pattern available for a PDF download through my Ravelry Store. For $3.00 you can have this Pattern that is printer friendly and ads free.
<---------------> buy now <------------>
You can purchase through this link or you can start at my Ravelry store.


Painted Sunflower Pattern

Flower center 

Round one: Chain 8, slip stitch into beginning chain to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 11 double crochet around ring, slip stitch in beginning chain 3. (12 double crochet made).

Round two: Chain 8, slip stitch in 4th chain from hook (picot made), chain 1, double crochet in starting stitch, {Double crochet, chain 1, picot, chain 1 double crochet in next stitch} repeat {to}until end of round, slip stitch in 3rd chain of beginning stitch. (12 picots)

Round three: Chain 9 slip stitch in 4th chain from hook (picot made), chain 1, 2 treble crochet in next double crochet, picot, treble crochet in next stitch, {chain 1, picot, chain 1, 2 treble crochet in next stitch, picot 1 treble crochet in next stitch} repeat {to} to end of round. End with picot, chain 1, slip stitch in beginning chain 4. (24 picots)

Round four: Chain 6, 1 treble crochet, picot, 1 treble crochet in same stitch, chain 2, skip one treble crochet and one picot, {1 treble crochet, picot, 1 treble crochet in next treble crochet} Repeat {to}to end. End with skip one treble crochet, picot, treble crochet in next treble crochet, slip stitch in 4th chain at beginning. (24 picots)

Round five: Chain 4, 2 treble crochet in chain two, (chain 2, 3treble crochet in next chain two space) repeat around, end with chain two, slip stitch in beginning treble crochet. (24 3 tr groups)

Round six: Chain 1, 1 single crochet in beginning stitch 2 single crochet in next stitch, 1 single crochet in next, 4 single crochet in chain two space, ( 1 single crochet, 2 single crochet in one stitch, 1 single crochet, 4 single crochet in chain two space) Repeat to end slip stitch in beginning stitch.
Do not finish off.

Petals 

First petal
Row one through twelve: Chain 1, 1 single crochet in same stitch, (chain 3 skip one stitch 1 single crochet) Repeat 10 times, chain 1 skip one stitch, 1 half double crochet. You should have twelve loops {chain 3, turn, 1 single crochet in next loop, (chain 3, 1 single crochet in next loop) Repeat (to) 9 times, chain 1, 1 half double crochet in last loop} keep repeating till one loop is left, decreasing one loop each row up,
Finish off.

Second petal through eighth petal:
Insert thread with a slip stitch into last single crochet used in flower center. Follow the directions in petal one.

Edging 

Insert thread with a slip stitch into any chain 2 space on petals, 2 single crochet in each loop around, when you come to the tip 3 single crochet, chain 1, 3 single crochet. When you have gone all the way around, slip stitch into beginning round, finish off.
Weave in all ends.

Starching
 I like using sugar starch.
You will need handy some cardboard covered with wax paper.
Mix 1 cup of sugar with ½ a cup of water, put it over medium heat, and stir it until the sugar melts and becomes translucent, this will happen right before boiling.
Take the starch off of the heat.
Soak your sunflower in the starch, making sure all parts of it is saturated. It will be hot and sticky so take caution when taking it out, ring out or let it drip off all excess starch.
 Place it on the wax paper covered cardboard stretch and pin the center of the flower into a tight circle, Arrange the petals to your liking and make sure all of the picots are standing up.
Depending on the weather it should dry and harden in 48 to 72 hours.

Painting
Starting with the burnt sienna and a ½ brush, paint the center of the flower. When that is dry paint the picots with goose feather, go back with a dry brush and brush on the wet goose feather onto the burnt sienna. Next paint the petals with the apricot, then highlight with the sunny yellow. Allow another 24 hours to dry.


 More Crochet Patterns You will Love:

Crafty Containers

Messenger Envelope tablet Case


Monday, September 4, 2017

Baby Helix Hat

A Free Knitting Pattern 



I have been playing with Right and Left Twist Stitches again. I really love these stitches. They are so versatile, and they make texture so much easier than remembering to yarn over and decrease when needed. If you don't know the right and left twist I would encourage you to lookup some Youtube videos and watch how they are made.

You can also look at a couple of my patterns that include them. The Swift Swirl Hat is a great introduction to the Right Twist Stitch and it is a free pattern. Its companion pattern The Swift Chevron Hat is a paid pattern that takes the swirl to another level by making a chevron instead with Right and Left Twist.

The Baby helix Hat is an easy pattern to follow.  It is a 5 round repeat, that gives the allusion of twisting cables almost like a double helix. For the yarn I used two different yarns so you could see how it worked up in different options. The blue hat is Lion brand Yarn: Woolease, and the pink hat is Red Heart:With Love Metalic.

Where Can I Get This Pattern?


This is a free knitting pattern that you can read and follow along below. The pattern is made for a baby or a 14 in circumference. There is a lot of stretch in this pattern so it will fit and grow with baby for a long time. My 2 year old even stretched it over her head, but it was a bit to short for her, but that gives you an idea of how much stretch there is.
<-------------->buy now<--------------->
 If you would like to purchase this pattern you can. When you purchase this pattern you will get an instant download that is ads free and  you can print it off and keep.
You can buy now, Or you can start at my Ravelry Store first. 

The pattern includes what you see below plus the instructions for 3 more sizes; toddler, child and adult.

  

Designer Julia Schwartz

Yarn: Red Heart: With Love Metallic, 4.5 oz/127g 200 yrds/183m Fuisha

Needle: 9 US 5.5mm 16 in circulars and double points to finish

Notions: Yarn Needle to weave in your ends

Size: Baby (15 in), (Find these sizes in the paid pattern, toddler (18), child (20), adult (21))

Gauge: 16 st 22 rows is 4 inches

Stitches Used: k, LT, RT, k through back loop, k2tog through back loop, sl st, psso

Special Stitches:
Right Twist (RT): Knit 2 together keeping both stitches on the left needle, knit into the first stitch, then pull both stitches onto the right needle, stitch complete.
Left Twist (LT): Knit through the back loop of the 2nd st, keep the stitch on the left needle, knit in the first stitch, then pull both stitches onto the right needle, stitch complete.

Copyright:
Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact Julia.diligence@gmail.com.


Pattern:
Pattern is based on multiples of 6.
Cast on 60 st. (I used a long tail version)
Rounds 1-3: (k, p), Repeat (to) around for ribbing
Round 4: (k 5 , p) Repeat (to) 9 times.
Round 5: (LT, k, RT, p) Repeat (to) 9 times.
Round 6: (k, LT, k, k, p) Repeat (to) 9 times.
Round 7: (k, k, LT, k, p) Repeat (to) 9 times.
Round 8: (k, k, k, LT, p) Repeat (to) 9 times. Repeat Rounds 4- 8, 5 times.  

Decreasing Rounds 

Round 1: (LT, k, K2tog through the back, p) Repeat (to) 9 times.
Round 2: (k, k2tog through the back, k, p) Repeat (to) 9 times.
Round 3: (sl st, k2tog through the back, psso, p) Repeat (to) 9 times.
Round 4: (k2tog) Repeat (to) 9 times.

Finish off by pulling the tail through the remaining stitches on the needles, pull tight and slip knot closed. Weave in your ends.

More Knitting Patterns You Will Love


Learner's Curve Clutch

Swift Chevron Hat