Monday, January 20, 2020

Starburst Blanket

A Free Crochet Pattern


I have a new Scrapghan pattern for you today. If you have been around this blog for awhile you will know that I love a good scrap busting blanket. I have tried to make a new one every year. If you are on the lookout for more, I have a round-up of my favorite scrapghans here!   Some of the patterns are from my own collection and some are from my favorite designers. 

For this scrapghan I decided to visit the granny square and see how I could incorporate the use of scraps in a classic pattern. Have you worked with spike stitches before? They are a great way to add a pop of color to a project with a lot of extra effort. 

For my blanket I used 2 cakes of Lion brand Mandala yarn and 1 skein of Lion brand Pound of Love. With that amount I was able to get 60 granny squares and a good sized border.  Like with all good scrapghans you can swap out whatever yarn you would like to use for it. 

Get Ready there are a lot of pictures in this pattern so you can really see how this square comes together. 





Purchase this Pattern!


This is a free Pattern right here on the blog. Just keep scrolling down to find the pattern. If you would like an ads free, printer friendly PDF version I have them for sale in my Ravelry Shop for 3.00 and for sale in my LoveCrafts Shop 

<---->Buy Now<---->
(link takes you to Ravelry check out)

Starburst Blanket

Designer: Julia Schwartz
Yarn: 
  • Lion brand yarn Pound of Love 4 medium,100% acrylic, 1020 yards/ 932 m, color Oxford grey one skein needed
  • Lion brand yarn Mandala 3 light, 100% acrylic, 590 yards/540 m, color Pegasus 2 cakes needed 
Hook: G/ 7 4.5mm 
Notions: Tapestry needle
Size: 6 by 6 inches per square
Gauge: Each square is 6 by 6 inches. 

Stitches Used: Chain (ch), Slip Stitch (sl st), Double crochet stitch (dc), Single crochet stitch (sc), spike stitch (spike stitch) 
Special stitches:
  • Spike stitch: Insert hook into stitch indicated in the pattern, yo, pull back through the stitch stretching the loop up to your current row, yo and pull through both loops on the hook. 

Instructions for the spike stitch granny square


Round 1: Ch 4, sl st in to beginning ch to form a ring, ch 1, 12 sc around the ring, sl st into beginning sc (12 sc)



Round 2: Ch 3(counts as a dc here and throughout), dc in starting st, 2 dc in each of the next 11 sts, sl st into beginning dc. (24 dc)



Round 3: With new color, Ch 1, sc in starting st, sc in the next st, spike stitch in the first stitch of round 1, {Do Not Skip a Stitch, sc in each of the next 2 sts, spike stitch in the next st of round 1}, repeat to last stitch, sl st into first sc. (24 sc sts, 12 spike sts)



Round 4: With Color A, ch 3, dc in each of the next 8 sts, ch 3, {dc in the next 9 sts, ch 3} repeat {to} 2xs, sl st into starting dc. (36 dc)



Round 5: With Color B, ch 1, {sc in the first 2 dc, (spike st in corresponding st of round 3, sk 1 st, sc in next st), repeat (to) 2xs (for a total of 6 sts), sc in each of the next st, 3 sc in the 3 ch sp}, repeat {to} 3xs, sl st into beginning st. (12 spike sts, 36 sc)



Round 6: With color A, Ch 3, dc in each of the next 9 sts, {(2dc, ch 3, 2dc) in the next st, dc in the next 11 sts}, repeat {to} 2xs, (2dc, ch 3, 2dc) in the next st, dc in the last st, sl st into beginning dc. (60 dc)



Finish off both colors and weave in your ends.

Connecting the Squares

Arrange all the squares how you would like them. Take two squares together with their backsides facing each other and sl st through both the back loop of the square closest you and the front loop of square farthest to you. Continue to sl st the squares together until you have the two rows of squares stitched together.




When all the rows are stitched together, go back and sl st all the columns of squares together.

Blanket Border

Round 1: In any corner stitch, sl stitch, ch 1, 2 sc in corner sp, sc in each st and 2 sc in each ch sp down the sides (see picture for reference), and 3 sc in each of the corner spaces, sc in the last corner, sl st into the beginning st.



Round 2-3: Ch 3, dc in corner st, dc in each st and (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each of the corner sts, for the last corner st ( 2 dc, ch 2,) sl st into beginning st

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each st, and 3 sc in each corner sp, sl st into beginning st.

Finish off and weave in all your ends (find a good show to watch while weaving in all your ends.) 




Stay Connected!


If you like this pattern and you don't want to miss the next one be sure to subscribe to Designs by Diligence to get notified when new patterns come out. The only time you will get an email is when a new post happens on the blog, usually on Tuesday.

You can also follow me through my social media sites. I love sharing sneak peeks, wips, and fiber arts news and projects.

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More Patterns you will Love:

Camden Blanket 
Vintage Nursery Blanket

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Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Schuyler Hat

A Premium Crochet Pattern


I have some news that I am late in sharing. Last week I published a new paid Tunisian Crochet pattern. The Schuyler Hat is a companion pattern to the Schuyler Ear Warmer that was published in the All Free Crochet website. If you want to see that pattern follow the link here.

The Schuyler hat is full of texture but it works up quick for those last minute gift needs. The hat is worked flat and seamed together when it is all done. Any worsted weight yarn will work for this pattern, but for the model I used Caron Simply Soft yarn. Here are all the notes I have for the pattern.


Designer: Julia Schwartz
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft 100% acrylic, worsted weight 170 grams/ 6oz., 288 m/ 315 yrds (60 grams/ 100 yrds are needed for the project)
Hook: 5mm Tunisian hook
Notions: Tapestry needle
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 21 inch circumference
Gauge: 20 rows x 20 stitches = 4 inches using tks
Notes: First loop on the hook always counts as the first TKS
Special Stitches:
  • TPS (Tunisian Purl stitch): (forward pass) Place yarn in front of your work, insert your hook into the left vertical bar of the st below, yo and pull your yarn through. (Return pass): follow the instructions in the pattern.
  • TKS (Tunisian Knit stitch): (Forward pass)working with the yarn behind your work, insert your hook between the vertical bars below the horizontal bars in the st below, yo, pull the yarn through, keep your loop on the hook.(Return pass): follow the instructions in the pattern.
  • TK2tog (Tunisian knit 2 together): (forward pass): working with the yarn behind your work insert your hook through the left vertical loops of the next 2 stitches, yo, pull the yarn through , keep your loop on the hook. (return pass): follow the instructions in the pattern.
  • TK3tog (Tunisian knit 2 together): (forward pass): working with the yarn behind your work insert your hook through the left vertical loops of the next 3 stitches, yo, pull the yarn through , keep your loop on the hook. (return pass): follow the instructions in the pattern.
  • Yo (yarn over): (Forward pass) put the yarn over the hook from back to front, (Return pass): treat this as a loop on the return pass


Where to Purchase the Pattern


Now I know you want to know how to get the pattern. I have a secret, not really, I just haven't told you yet. I'm now selling my patterns on LoveCrafts and Ravelry. I have slowly been moving over my more popular patterns to Lovecrafts. So far there are about 25 of my patterns on the site. 

If you have never heard of Lovecrafts it is a site that supports indie-designers, sells fiber craft patterns, and yarn. 

So for the Ravelry link to purchase the Pattern use this one
<---->Buy Now<---->

For the LoveCrafts link you can use this link:

<---->Schuyler Hat<---->


Monday, November 4, 2019

Bethlehem Cowl

A premium Knitting Pattern




There is a long history of telling stories through our art. Through painting on cave walls, mosaics and stained glass in our places of worship, quilt making, and other forms we have been recounting our traditions and histories. I feel so special that I can share the traditions and histories of my family through the medium and knit and crochet.

Christianity is such and important part of my life it's a joy to be able to share a piece of that with you through the Bethlehem Cowl. This cowl takes you through the story of Jesus' birth told by Luke. You can find the story for yourself in Luke chapter 2. The story starts with Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem. Then Jesus is born in the stable. The final scene is of the shepherds right before the angels visit them giving glory to God.

For the neutral yarn color I used Knit Picks Stroll yarn and for the red and brown tone yarn I splurged and used some yarn from one of my favorite dyers; Mandy Pole from Spun Ware Over the Rainbow.  This cowl is truly something special that you can make and want to keep it forever.

And for those of you asking, "where are the free patterns?" I know it was time for a free pattern but I wanted to get this pattern out before the holiday rush and the free knitting pattern for November is coming soon.




Stay Connected!


If you like this pattern be sure to subscribe to Designs by Diligence to get notified when new patterns come out. The only time you will get an email is when a new post happens on the blog, usually on Tuesday.
You can also follow me through my social media sites. I love sharing sneak peeks, wips, and fiber arts news and projects.
Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest


Purchase the pattern!

This premium pattern comes with all the instructions and charts needed to make this stunning cowl. I have decided to make all of my stranded knitting patterns paid patterns for a number of reasons. some of those include: It helps offset the cost of the software used to make the charts. A lot more time is spent on coming up with the designs and by having it a paid pattern it is harder for people to just copy and paste my hard work and treat it as their own.

Thank you in your support of my Ravelry Pattern Store Where this pattern is for sale for $3.00 (USD).
<---->Buy Now<----->



More patterns you will love:
Watching Sparrows Cowl

Giles Table runner

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