Fruit Garden - Waiting Patiently?

 In 2020, an online Craft store called Dreamores (in the US and the UK) sponsored a crochet along for an afghan pattern called Fruit Garden designed by Jane Crowfoot.  She is an amazing designer has created some very exciting patterns.  Just looking at her afghan designs, there are several that would have be happily pulling out my hook right this minute. 

Lighter Color Scheme

Darker Color Scheme

Unfortunately, due to work demands, I did not think my schedule would allow me to keep up with the pace of the crochet along.  I did not buy the yarn kit that went with the project because I figured I could buy the yarn later when I know my schedule would allow.  Big mistake.  Dreamores has been sold out of the yarn kit for months in both color ways.  At first, I wanted to work up the darker version but now I will be happy with either color scheme.  I’ve tried to put together my own kit by buying the yarns separately, but they are always out of stock on some of the colors.  I’m worried that if I buy only some of the colors, either the colors I need or the entire line of yarn will be discontinued.  The darker version used a yarn called Naturals Bamboo-Cotton that I don’t see on their website anymore.  I have signed up for a notification of when the yarn kits are back in stock, but I am afraid I missed the boat. 

This pattern is so unique, using squares unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.  I love the Arts & Crafts period influence.  The pattern is based on The Melsetter Hangings, embroideries that were designed by May Morris, the second daughter of the famous William Morris.  To be perfectly honest, I’m afraid of this pattern, worried that I won’t be able successfully stitch it.  It is rated as an intermediate project, but it looks much harder to me.  The finished blanket is rather small; the lighter one coming in at 50.5” square and the darker one at only 44” square.  Even so, I love it so much that I’m willing to take the risk. 

I am also toying with the idea of buying another brand of DK yarn and making it bigger by about 50%.  I need to do some math to figure out how many more blocks I can add to the center to make the border blocks line up correctly (or close to it).  If the yarn kits don’t become available within the next few months, I will probably go this route.  Updates to come! 

Exciting Discovery

While preparing my earlier post about my Mon Tricot 800 Stitch Dictionary (published 1963), I discovered that they had a 1300 Stitch Dictionary (published 1979).  I tracked down a used copy on Amazon and ordered that bad boy.  The 800 version has stitches that I have never seen anywhere else.  Although I know there will be a lot of repeats with the new book, the potential for up to 500 unique stitches was impossible to resist. 

I did some research trying to find out more about Mon Tricot.  It was a french knitting magazine that does not seem to be in business anymore.  They started coming out with stitch books translated into English.  There are several versions with varying numbers of stitches.  I’ve heard rumors about a 1,500 stitch version but it does not have a crochet section, so I’m not interested in that one.

One word of caution.  These books were translated in the UK and use terms like wool instead of yarn.  The terminology is very different with crochet (sc is the US is a dc in the UK).  If you buy one of these books, make sure you know if it uses US or UK terminology.  I keep a piece of paper in my books with a guide to the US vs. UK terminology – problem solved. 

 

 Scarf Fail

Over the past couple of years, I have been working on using up my stash.  I have some aqua DK acrylic yarn that would make decent sized scarf, so I started a reversible cable pattern.  This project has been in progress for over a year because I only work on it when I am traveling or need a on-the-go project.  I got about 75% done when I decided it was a fail last week.  Why?

Weight – the scarf looks lovely but is much too warm for someone living in Georgia.  Many years, winter is more of a suggestion that an actual season.  I might wear it once every 6 years. 

2.   Comfort – the scarf is made of 3 16-stitch wide cables.  The resulting fabric was too stiff for my liking.  I prefer my scarfs to drape more.

3.   Yarn – I think a fingering weight yarn might have produced a fabric I like better. 

This project was an interesting fail because I did do a test swatch.  The weight and body of the swatch was good so I felt confident that I would be pleased with the finished product.  I’m trying to figure out how to spot a fail much sooner in the process.  I ripped out the entire scarf, making sure my husband was not around.  It makes him crazy when I frog huge sections of stitching.  I am using the yarn to design an afghan pattern (more about that in a future post).  This might just be a pattern that I love but never actually make.  Nordic sweaters fall into the same category.  I love them but I would rarely ever have a chance to wear it.

RIP Elann Yarn (Retire in Peace)

 

Back in May 2014, I created the post below praising Elann Yarn.  A few years later, they started selling their yarn exclusively through Amazon.  About a month ago, they announced their retirement and put their remaining inventory on sale.  Although there were an online retailer, I felt like another LYS was lost.  The yarn still sits my my stash with the pattern, waiting to make it to the top of my project list.  With Elann's demise, this project is on my mind.  I know that when I do start it, there will be a tinge of sadness as I stich.  

 The Kimberly Scarf pattern was designed by Maggie Tietjen and is available on Ravelry.  She designed several of Elann's knitting patterns.  It's nice to know her work is still available.  

  

Kimberly Scarf Pattern

Originally Posted May, 2014  If you are looking for quality yarn at good prices, check out Elann, based in Canada (they have US pricing on the site).  I recently ordered their Silken Kydd in the cranberry color.  Absolutely beautiful.  I can't wait to get started on the Kimberly Scarf pattern (knitting) I found on their website.  They have tons of wonderful free patterns.

Shibui Knits Medley Stole - My Big 2020 Project

 

One of my big projects in 2020 was a stole using the ShibuiKnits Medley pattern from a kit I purchased from Modern Daily Knitting.  Honestly, I don't think the pictures on the Shibui site do this pattern justice.

Modern Daily Knitting Picture 

 I did make a few changes to the pattern.  I added one more color to my project, Shibui Tweed Silk Cloud in Twilight purchased from WEBS site.  I put it between the dark grey and the cream stripes.  I also added a slipped stitch edge despite the pattern saying not to.  I prefer very straight, neat edges and I like the bit of structure added by the slipped edge.  I also saved the small bits of yarn left and added a circular crochet medallion to the bottom edge of the dark grey band.  I couldn’t bear to not use every bit of such a luscious (and expensive) yarn.  This project was my first using luxury yarn.  It made a simple stockinette stich very beautiful.

 

My Finished Project

The stole took me about 10 months to complete.  I am a slow knitter and Tweed Silk Cloud is a lace weight yarn.  I had to almost completely redo 3 sections because of dropped stitches.  I tried to fix them using a crochet hook but no matter what I did, I could always spot the repaired area.  If I had left them, I would have never been happy with the finished product.  I still have not blocked it (as you can tell from the picture) but I have been wearing it anyway.  It is light and warm with a beautiful drape. 

The colors were not ones I would usually combine but I love the result.  I need to rethink my color strategy on future projects.

I've had a lot of questions about the medallion.  It has a magic loop center and is a mixture of double crochet and single crochet rounds.  For pops of color, I added some surface chains to the top so I could use up a much yarn as possible.  When it is feasible, I like to add small, unique touches to my projects.  

I was happy with the end result.  I want to design a crochet square based on the basic principles used here.  I see the potential for eye-catching accessories and afghans.  

Stitching for Mental Health

 

Since COVID hit last year, I have been spending a lot more time knitting and crocheting.  Always having a project or two (three, four) kept boredom at bay during lockdowns.  More importantly, the rhythm of stitching and seeing fabric coming off my needles helped me deal the anxiety, sadness and other negative emotions that were part of everyday life in 2020.  I have read many articles saying creative crafting is good for your mental health.  Check out this article by The Kim Foundation.  It’s a very quick read and has links to a couple of other articles.

I also spent a good deal of time reading other peoples blogs or seeing their work on various Facebook/Instagram posts.  It made me realize I needed to get back to my own blog.  When I opened it up, I was horrified to discover that I had not posted anything since 2015!  Back then, I thought that my posts needed to be informative and very polished.  I no longer think that is true.  For me, the enjoyment is in learning new things, helping when I can and seeing other people’s accomplishments.  I don't care what the web pages look like.  I need to post more regularly and share my stitching journeys.  I'm working on my first update already.

Dear Online Yarn Retailer – Stop Pestering Me!!!

Where to buy yarn and patterns these days?  If you are fortunate, you will have access to a great local yarn shop with unique yarns and fabulous patterns.  Unfortunately, these types of shops are disappearing and being replaced by the big crafting department stores.  Although these stores do have yarn and supplies, the selection is usually limited with the focus on the cheaper yarn lines.  More and more, avid knitters and crocheters are looking to online retailers to fill the gap left by the demise of the local yarn shop.  Personally, I love online shopping and love the large selection available but some of these retailers are about to permanently lose me as a customer.

There are 3 big online crafting companies and I have done business with all of them from time to time.  The most famous one lost me as a customer years ago due to their poor order fulfillment and rude customer service.  Despite my repeated requests, they still send me catalogs.  They go directly into the trash.  Another one has unique patterns but a more limited yarn selection.  They have a bad habit of marketing their newest book like it’s a brand new technique that they invented.  The few times I’ve fallen for this gimmick, I’ve been disappointed to discover that it was a new name for an old technique and that better books were available for a lower price.  To add insult to injury, this company sends me at least 2 marketing emails a day, often many more.  I do not want the kit of the month club, the magazine offers, the online training, etc.  Stop bothering me!  They are also very close to losing me as a customer.  The third company sends me an email about once a week which is fine.  They are offering more innovative patterns and I love that they have thousands of vintage patterns available for download.  Their yarn selection is perfectly adequate.  Since they do not make a nuisance of themselves, they are about to gain all my business that formerly went to retailer two. 

When looking for that special yarn or pattern, I have a few online stores I really like.  Check out the companies I have listed below.  The only relationship I have with them is as a happy customer.   And none of them pester me to death with emails!

Elann Yarns – Now available on Amazon.  Love, love, love their yarns.

Halcyon Yarn - https://halcyonyarn.com/

KnitPicks.com - http://www.knitpicks.com/

Happy shopping!