September « 2011 « GOODKNITS // a knitting & crochet blog

Goodknits Giveaway on The Dainty Squid!

By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/29/2011

Hello, friends!
I wanted to make sure you all know there’s a Goodknits giveaway for a DOILY BLANKET going on riiiight now, on The Dainty Squid blog! There are many way to enter, so go check out the post and try to win.

Crochet: Fall Lace Garland

By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/26/2011

Fall Lace Garland

The doily love branches off.

Last week, I was pattern drafting and after crocheting a pineapple, I realized it really resembled a leaf. Since it IS Autumn (despite the wicked hot weather in my part of Texas), I thought stringing a few fall-colored pineapples together would make a lovely garland. I liked it so much, I want to share this pineapple pattern with you. It’s varies from my pattern-pineapple simply in size and stitch count.

You’ll need: 6.00mm (J) hook and small amounts of worsted weight yarn (I used some Vanna’s Choice and some scraps of wool) in various colors. You can adjust the size of each “leaf” by changing hook sizes and yarn weights. Using a smaller hook and the same yarn will produce a stiffer leaf. This would be helpful if you are hanging the garland across an open space, so they won’t flop on themselves. You’ll also need a yarn needle to weave in your ends and a smaller hook (I used C) to make your chain to hook them together.

Abbreviations (US terminology): Ch- chain, DC- double crochet, SC- single crochet, TR- triple crochet, slst- slip stitch, sk- skip, sp- space
Note: the Ch 4 at the end of each row does NOT count as the first stitch of the next row! Crochet the final DC of each row into the DC of the previous row.

Pattern:
Ch 13
Row 1: DC in 5th Ch from hook, Ch 3, sk 3 chains, (2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC) in next chain, Ch 3, sk 3 chains, DC in last chain. Ch 4, turn.

Row 2: DC in first st, Ch 3, 8 TR in ch-2 sp, Ch 3, DC in final st. Ch 4, turn.

Row 3: DC in first st, Ch 3, TR in first TR, *Ch 1, TR; Rep from * across all TR sts, Ch 3, DC in last st. Ch 4, turn.

Row 4: DC in first st, Ch 3, SK ch-3 sp, SC in first ch-1 sp, *Ch 3, SC in next ch-1 sp; Rep from * across ch-1 spaces, Ch 3, DC in final st. Ch 4, turn.

Row 5: DC in first st, Ch 3, SK ch-3 sp, SC in next ch-3 sp, *Ch 3, SC in next sp; Rep from * across pineapple, Ch 3, DC in final st. Ch 4, turn.

Row 6-8: Repeat Row 5.

Row 9: DC in first st, Ch 3, SK ch-3 sp, *SC in next ch-3 sp, Ch 3* twice, DC in final st. Ch 4, turn.

Row 10: DC in first st, Ch 3, Sk ch-3 sp, SC in next ch-3 sp, Ch 3, DC in final st. Ch 4, turn.

Row 11: 3 stitch DC-decrease over the first DC, center SC, and last DC.
[YO, insert hook into first DC and pull loop through, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook.
YO insert hook into SC and pull loop through, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook.
YO insert hook into DC and pull loop through, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook.
YO, pull through remaining 4 loops on hook.]
Ch 4, slst into DC of Row 10.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

For the visual crocheters, I made a diagram. This is my first, so don’t laugh at its unevenness!

NOTE: There was a mistake in the diagram. The ch-1 spaces between the single crochet stitches should really be CH-3 spaces. The diagram has been changed to reflect the corrections. The filled in RED chains = chain 3.

I attached them together using a basic chain. My chain went like this:
Ch 15, slst through center of pineapple, *Ch 30, slst through center of next pineapple; Rep from * until all pineapples are attached. Ch 15, fasten off.

If you make one of these, please consider sharing it with the brand new goodknits flickr group! Feel free to share any photos of projects you have created using my tutorials or patterns. I would love to browse!

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Pumpkin time!

By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/23/2011

As soon as Christmas is over, pumpkin leaves my life until Autumn. On this first weekend of said season, you can bet I’ll be roasting a pumpkin or two. I LOVE baking with pumpkin, so I am way familiar with roasting my own to get that amazing puree.

If you’ve never done it, you’re missing out! It’s so easy and so delicious. This is my method–

1. Chop off the top, then cut pumpkin in half from top to bottom & scoop out innards (save the seeds!)
2. Put face down in a baking dish with a bit of water to steam up & place in 350F oven for 45 minutes to an hour OR until you can pierce the skin easily with a fork.
3. Let it cool a bit, then peel off the outside skin and place in food processor or blender to puree.
4. Place in a strainer lined with cheesecloth over a bowl. This dries it up a bit–it can be super watery!
5. Use immediately, or place in storage bags to put in your freezer for later use. I suggest storing in 1 cup increments, as that’s usually how much you need in recipes.

Here are a few of my favorite pumpkin recipes and some that I plan on trying this Fall.

—The BEST Pumpkin Cupcake, posted here last year.
—Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
—Gluten Free Pumpkin Whoppie Pies
—Pumpkin Pie

Do you have any favorite pumpkin recipes? Sweet or savory, I’m interested!

It’s a doily! It’s a blanket! It’s a doily blanket!

By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/21/2011

And now you can own one. I listed a few doily blankets in the shop, today! Could you believe I’ve crocheted 2 others that aren’t listed? The pattern has reached TV-crochet stage, so I can look up every few seconds and I don’t mess up catastrophically! HOORAY! Now, if only I could make my hands hook those stitches faster. I need robot hands. And maybe a robot brain.

I’m currently pattern-drafting again. I got doily blanket pattern #2 typed up and now I’m developing a different sort of doily-inspired project. Hello, evasive description! I promise to share when I get it just right. I think I want to combine all three of these patterns with a few smaller ones and create a little e-book. Doily Love. How does THAT sound?

I’ve got doilies on the brain so much I spelled the word “doily” TWICE in a single game of Words With Friends, the other day. Gah.

Let’s celebrate the entrance of the doily blankets to the world and the beginning of Fall with a special offer. Enter coupon code FALLTASTIC at checkout for 15% off your entire order! There’s some new hats in the shop, as well. I’ll be adding more in the coming days.:)

Crochet: Simple Statement Wreath

By Lisa Gutierrez on 09/16/2011

crochet wreath diy

Autumn officially begins in ONE WEEK, folks! Are you ready? Is the weather getting cooler where you are? Are the leaves changing? Do you have your wreaths prepped and ready for hanging??

If you find yourself needing just one more wreath, look no further. I have a bold, but simple, wreath project for you.

All you need is: a wreath form (mine is foam & 10″), some thick yarn (I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick), and a 10.00mm (N) hook.

Step 1: Put a slipknot on your hook and bring through the center of the wreath from back to front.

Step 2: Bring your hook to the top of the wreath and grab a loop of yarn from the back.

Step 3: Pull that loop through the loop on your hook. The position the hook is in now is pretty much how it stays the rest of the project.

Step 4: Grab the yarn through the center from the back to the front and wrap around the hook (from the back of the hook draped over the front. See image). Two loops on hook.

Step 5: Grab the yarn from the top of the wreath (you’re pulling it back through the center from the front to back) and wrap it around the hook. Three loops on hook.

Step 6: Pull the third loop through the other two. Stitch complete!

Continue as such until you wrap all around the wreath. You are essentially making HUGE single crochets. You may have to fiddle with them a bit to straighten, but they should all line up perfectly and the thick yarn should ensure your wreath is completely covered. Make sure your stitch count at the end is a multiple of 3. I made 96. Slip stitch into first stitch.

Border Round 1: Ch 1 and SC into same stitch, ch 5, *skip 2 stitches, sc into next stitch, ch 5; repeat from * until 2 stitches remain. Ch 2, DC into first SC. (32 loops)

Border Round 2: Ch 5, SC into first ch-5 loop, ch 5, *sc into next ch-5 loop, ch 5; repeat from * around, ending with a slip stitch into top of DC of last round. (31 loops)