Simple Spiral Cowl Pattern

At the beginning of the year I challenged myself to creating 52 things...equal to one per week.  That seemed simple enough since I'm usually always creating something.  It went well at the beginning of the year but I seemed to have lost my mojo a few months ago and got behind.  Now, with just days left in the year, I'm scrambling to achieve my challenge.  That's where this cowl pattern comes in. 

One evening last week I decided to go through my yarn stash to see if I could find some inspiration.  I pulled out a couple of almost full skeins of Caron Simply Soft yarn that were left over from another project.  I quickly got a pattern idea in my head, selected a crochet hook, and got started.  It turned out so well that I whipped up a second one and had two finished by the next evening.  I think each one only took a couple of hours.  I love how they look and fit.  And, the pattern is super simple and fun to make.

It was unusual to come up with an idea so quickly and for it to work out so well.  Maybe my mojo has been there all along...it just needed a deadline to get going!

I loved the results of this pattern so much that I decided to write a pattern to share.  It's a good thing I did because I quickly started getting requests for one when I posted pictures on Instagram and Facebook.  I hope you all enjoy it.  Please let me know if there are any questions, problems, or things that need to be clarified or changed.  And, let me know what you think.  Thanks!

Simple Spiral Cowl

For this project I used:

Crochet Hook:  Size "J" crochet hook

If you're using a different yarn, adjust the hook size accordingly to get the look and fit you like.

Yarn:  One skein of Caron Simply Soft yarn - 315 yards

You can use any yarn you like.  Just adjust the hook size to match.  The cowl can be made in various sizes from the one shown (using about four ounces of yarn) to a longer version (using the entire skein) which can double as a hood.

Stitches used in this pattern:  Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, and half double crochet

Difficulty: Easy/Beginner

Finished size:  approximately 12" wide by 13"+ long

This pattern is made in a spiral that doesn't have a beginning and end on each round.  It simply works up with two different stitches until it's the desired size or yarn runs out.

Instructions:

Chain 101 (adjust accordingly to the desired size if you use a different yarn).  To make it larger or smaller, add or subtract 10 chain stitches (to get a multiple of 10 plus one).

Being careful not to twist the chain, slip stitch into first chain (to create a circle).  Chain two, *skip the next stitch, half  double crochet in the next stitch, chain one*. Continue with pattern ** to first chain two.  Half double crochet into chain two space, *chain one, skip next stitch, half double crochet into next chain one space*. Continue in pattern ** until cowl is about 13" long or desired length.  Single crochet in next chain one space, chain one, slip stitch in next chain one space. Fasten off, tuck in the ends, and enjoy!

FO Friday - Artful Flower Cowl

Whew!  I finished a project for FO Friday just in the nick of time!

I started this project at the beginning of our trip and completed the cowl part pretty quickly.  I made the flower part yesterday and got it all sewn together and finished up this afternoon.

I used the "Artfully Simple Infinity Cowl" pattern for the cowl part.  It's a free pattern on Ravelry and the second one I've made.  It's simple, quick, fun and I love the results.  This one is made with a skein of Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton in the Buff colorway (#3719).  I used a size G hook to make it.

I made the flowers with an E hook and patterns from the "100 Lace Flowers to Crochet" book by Caitlin Sainio.  I love that book!  I sewed white buttons to the center of each flower and stitched the flowers together.  Then, I made a chain of about 125, tucked in the ends, and laced it through the back of the flower corsage.  Then, I tied it around the cowl with a bow.  It'll work this way or with the cowl doubled for more warmth.

I love how it makes a diagonal and open grid.  It has great texture, looks interesting, and makes it look a bit more complicated than it actually is.

I was surprised to find that I only needed one skein/220 yards.  Any more and it would have been too bulky for this cowl.  I had planned on two skeins and used a bit of the second one for the flowers.  I now have slightly less than a full skein to figure out what to do with.  So, if I were to do this again, I'd make the flowers first and then use the rest for the cowl.  I think it would work out just fine that way.  

I was a bit hesitant when I started on it because I was worried that this color looked a bit like a fishing net.  But, from the reaction I got when I posted a photo on Instagram last week, it seems to be great.  And, I like it.  It's not just a standard "natural".  The color is a bit richer and I think the sheen adds a lot to it.  I think the color and yarn are a perfect match for this open, summery cowl and it's a lot like what I had in mind when I bought it.  I'm not quite sure what I'd wear it with though.  Hmmm?

Oh...and, this makes one more skein that's been de-stashed!  Yay!

De-Stash / FO Challenge - FO Friday

I did it!  I got another project done...just in time for FO Friday!

I finished crocheting it during my trip and finally got it sewn together yesterday.

I got this yarn several years ago when I was in Sedona, Arizona.  It's Ella Rae Lace Merino and I love the color and texture of it.  I've been on a search all this time for the perfect pattern for it.  I finally decided to just go for it with a version of the Claudia Scarf.  I crocheted until my yarn was almost gone.  Then, I folded it in half, made a twist, and sewed it together to create a mobius.

I had planned to block it to open up the pattern/stitches a bit.  However, after I'd created a mobius, I realized that it would be difficult to impossible to get it blocked evenly.  Oh well.  It looks great anyway.

I'm SO in love with the colors in this yarn.  It's gorgeous!  Oranges and pinks...So pretty!  It reminds me of the orange rocks of Sedona and the beautiful sunsets there.  It even has a pretty twist to it.  And, it's super soft and squishy.  So nice!

I used a size "H" crochet hook.

And, I was able to use so much of the yarn that I only have about two yards left.

I wanted to use as much of this beautiful yarn as I could.

The length turned out perfect for wearing as a single loop.

And, it works perfectly to double around the neck for more warmth.

I can't wait to wear this beauty!

This is another de-stashing success!  It's the eighth skein I've de-stashed into an FO in the past few weeks.  It's the fifth FO.  I started two more projects from stash yarn this week.  This is fun!

How's it going with your de-stashing and FO's?  I'd love to hear about it and see your projects.
If you're joining in on this challenge, let me know.
I'd love to share photos of your successes and link them to your blogs.

Happy de-stashing and have a wonderful weekend!

UPDATE 8/10/2014 - I'm joining in on Linda's Crafty Corner, Stash-Buster Link Party.
If you'd like to join in on the fun, hop on over to her blog.

De-Stash / FO Challenge - FO #2

I started this cowl right after getting back from our road trip.  It worked up really fast but I've been putting off making the clasp for it.  This challenge encouraged me to finally get it done!  Yay!

I've had this yarn in my stash for years.  I won it in a yarn shop drawing.  I've started several projects with it and they either didn't work out or didn't seem like a good match for this yarn.  Then, I found the "Artfully Simple Infinity Cowl" pattern on Ravelry.  It was love at first sight and I knew this was the perfect match for this yarn!  I even had this turquoise bead thingy in my jewelry stash.  So, this might count as a double de-stash! 

I'm in love with this pattern and can't wait to make another one!

I love the open, airy stitch pattern and the versatility of ways it can be worn.

It's super simple and I like how it makes a slanted mesh grid.

I used one ball of Berroco Comfort Sock yarn in the colorway, Beach House.

I love all the colors in this yarn.  This turquoise bead is a great accent.

To make the clasp...I used a double strand and the same, size "G" crochet hook to make a chain long enough to go around the bead when looped (the button hole on the right) and slip stitched it closed.  Next, I continued to chain until I had enough length to loop through the bead, wrap around the cowl (when doubled) and reach back to where I slip stitched the button hole loop.  I wove in the ends, looped it through the center of the bead and back around itself and voila!  A custom clasp!  I simply wrap it around the doubled cowl and slip the loop over the bead.

Unfortunately, it's way too hot to wear it right now...111'!  Ugh!  But, Southern California has plenty of slightly chilly days that this would work great for.  It'll be a great pop of color and texture for an outfit too.  I can't wait for cooler days!

UPDATE 8/10/2014 - I'm joining in on Linda's Crafty Corner, Stash-Buster Link party.
If you'd like to join in on the fun, hop on over to her blog.

De-Stash and FO Challenge

I've decided that a challenge is in order.  A challenge to de-stash my yarn (and other materials) and finish as many projects as I can over the next month.  The challenge is for me...and anyone else who'd like to join in on the fun.  I'm going to start off by trying to complete and blog at least one item a day for the next few days.  I have several things that are almost finished....they only need to be blocked, have ends tucked in, or some other small thing to complete them.  This challenge should help me finally get to it!  Here's item number one....

I started this cowl before my road trip and finished it while I was gone.  This week, I finally got around to tucking in the ends.  It's made with yarn I spun myself.  It's the "Gaptastic" shawl...a free pattern on Ravelry.  I used size 11 circular needles and cast on 131 stitches.  The pattern says to knit for 15" but I only made mine 10" wide.  I felt like it was plenty wide with how thick it is.  My finished length is 27" (the loop laid flat).

I love this pattern and I've knitted it before.  It's comfy, warm, and versatile.

I like how it can be looped twice around my neck when it's really cold.

It can just be worn this way when it's not so cold...

The seed stitch texture is so pretty.

I think this pattern was a great match for this yarn.  It seems to really bring out the colors

It also works well with the unevenness of this yarn and the inconsistent twist.

It's a yarn spun up a few years ago and, even though I'm proud of it and love it, it's not as good as I could do now.  I'm so happy to have made something out of it that I love so much.

Here's a picture I posted when I started the project.

I love it because it shows the roving, the yarn, and the project.

If anyone else wants to join me in this challenge just let me know.  We can cheer each other on.  And, I'd love to provide links on my blog to the posts you create with your FO's.  Who knows....if enough of us get together to do this...we could even create something like FO Fridays or something!  :-D

UPDATE 8/10/2014 - I just found out about a stash-busting party at "Linda's Crafty Corner".  I've never done a link party but it sounds like fun.  So, I'm going to try to join in, starting with this stash-busting FO.  It's open to anyone.  So, if you'd like to join in on the fun, hop on over to her blog.

Road Trip, Day 5 and 6 - East Texas

The fifth day of our trip started in Austin, Texas with a short drive to East Texas to see family. The drive was gorgeous!  We went through rolling green hills with lots of trees, flowers and farms. It looked like a story book.  Perfect and beautiful!

We made a stop along the way to visit a yarn shop called, iPurl in The Woodlands, Texas.  I found it online when I started planning the trip.  I've been following them on Facebook and in May they posted some great tools they'd gotten in the shop.  I was hoping they'd still have some by the time I got there.

We received a warm and friendly greeting when we walked in and the entire visit was nothing but enjoyable!  The people were super nice, the selection of yarn and supplies was wonderful, and they had lots of inspirational projects displayed around the store.  And, yes...they had the tools I was hoping for.

I finally got a lucet!  I've been wanting one for a while but haven't found any in yarn shops until now.  This one is made with beautiful cherry wood and it comes with directions complete with photos.  I'm so excited to give it a try!

The other tool I was hoping they'd still have was one of these yarn ball holders.  It spins and keeps yarn easily available but doesn't let it tangle.  One of the sweet ladies in the shop said it's one of her all time favorite yarn tools.  They not only had some left, they also had a choice of finishes.  I chose this dark wood one.  I love it and I'm so excited to try it out too.

I looked up the company that made these wood tools and it turns out they came from California....where I'm from!  Funny how I never saw them in yarn shops at home and had to come all the way to Texas to find them!  I'm just happy to have them and happy they're handmade in America.

I'm so into crochet thread lately and always on the lookout for pretty colors.  iPurl had lots of it in a few different brands.  I had to get some!  I already have in mind what I want to make with it!

While my items were being added up, I noticed some cute purse handles hanging near the cash register.  Yes, I had to get some of those too!  Aren't they cute?!

They had them in several different colors but I had to have the red ones.

I think they'll look super cute on a black felted purse.  Or, who knows...maybe another color!

As she bagged up all my goodies, she put a little gift inside for me...

a set of cute little stitch markers...

My daughter even bought some yarn!  It's a beautiful sock weight yarn with pinks, oranges and (I think) some purple in it.  It's pretty!  She's planning to crochet a lacy cowl with it.

We enjoyed our visit to iPurl so much!  I think they enjoyed our visit too as we chatted a lot and before we left they took our photo and posted it on their Facebook page...

I wish we had a local yarn shop where we live.  And, I wish it was like iPurl!

Not only did they have great stuff and wonderful people but they also have lots of classes, stitch-alongs, charity project stitch-alongs, groups, etc.  It sounds like so much fun!

Back on the road...we headed north to visit my wonderful aunt and cousins.  We had a wonderful visit!  I love them so much!  I'm not posting any photos of them though as mine all turned out blurry (my daughter got good ones). It's always wonderful to see them and spend some time together.  Since we live so far apart, we don't get to see them very often.

We were excited to find out they have Cardinals and were quickly on the lookout for some.  It didn't take long.  My aunt re-filled her bird feeder and they were there in no time.  They were, however, quite hard to get pictures of.  In fact, they seemed camera shy.  We could walk near the window and they didn't always fly away.  But, as soon as we tried to take a photo, they'd fly away.  I did get a few from a distance though.  I just zoomed in with editing to get a closer look.

Here's a wider view to see her lovely yard.  It's so green!

Here's one of the Cardinals.

See...he's looking at me and about to fly away!

There were lots of other pretty birds there that we do don't have at home. I just wasn't able to get pictures of them either.  Oh...and my daughter saw her first firefly!

My aunt had Passion Flower vines on her fence .  I'm always fascinated by them.

I posted this one on Instagram.  I used an effect but it really was purple.

Isn't it amazing?!

Hopefully, Ladybug won't mind me posting her picture.

She's my aunt's dog and she's such a sweetheart.

I finished knitting my Gap-tastic cowl while I was there. It was perfect timing too!  It may be summer but people and businesses seem to keep things extra cool in the south with AC's turned up high.  I actually wore it for a while in my aunts house.  Ahhh...it felt so good!  I'm happy to report that my handspun Merino yarn is very soft and not itchy.  Yay!  I posted this on Instagram that day...

I had to get a photo of this before we left.  It's an antique child-sized desk that someone gave to my aunt when she was a child.  My mom played with it as a child too.  And, I got to have it for a while when I was little.  I have great memories of having this in my room.

Our visit was short but wonderful!  After a day and a half we had to hit the road again for our next destination...New Orleans, Lousiana!  I'll start posting about that as soon as I can.
The hotel we are at right now has bad wifi and I am finishing this on my cell phone.   It is quite challenging...to say the least!

Cozy Red Cowl

I finished up a cowl this last week with some cozy, squishy, soft, red yarn.

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

It's made with two skeins of Lion Brand Tweed Stripes yarn and size 13 needles.

The pattern was a freebie from the yarn shop I got the yarn from.

I cast on 145 stitches in the round and it's basically random width sections of purl or knit.

Simple and fun!

I absolutely love it doubled up.

Gorgeous!

And, oh so soft and warm!

The colors are close to accurate in the photos...reds, pinks, oranges.  Pretty!

I'll definitely be wearing it on Valentine's Day, if it's chilly enough.

It'll work great for chilly Fridays for R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed).

And, any other chilly days that I want a pop of red and squishy softness around my neck.

Claudia Cowl

Remember the yarn I got at the Christmas party exchange with my knit group?

I did finish the cowl I started on New Years.  And, I did get around to blocking it.

Finally found some time to photograph it to show you.

Here it is....ta da....

It's inspired by the Claudia Scarf that I made last Fall.

I chained 105 and crocheted a similar pattern in the round.

When I felt it was about half as long as I'd like (15 rows), I started crocheting with the other end of the skein from my base row, going the opposite direction.  That way, it has points on both ends.

I also weighed it before I started and checked periodically to be sure I'd have an equal amount for the other side.  I tried crocheting a fancy edge but I think it looks better without it.

I washed it and blocked it.  It's so small compared to the shawls I've made so blocking was easy!

The finished size is 10" wide (tube) by about 12 1/2" long.  It's perfect!  I love it!

This Inner Yarn Zen yarn is super soft and I absolutely love the blues in it.

I haven't had a chance to wear it yet.  Weather seems to be a lot more like Summer than Winter.

The weather forecasters are hopeful that a change is coming and that we might even get rain.

I'm doubtful though.  We haven't even had a whole inch of rain yet this season.  We're about 

seven inches short of normal for this time.  We're keeping our fingers crossed!

At the very least, temps are expected to drop and I might be able to wear my new cowl this weekend.

Yarning into the New Year

A lot of people like to go out for New Years Eve.  I used to.  And, I might again someday.

But, I love spending the evening at home, away from all the craziness.

We like to make an extra yummy and fun dinner and just relax.

We usually have the TV on and watch movies and stuff.  This year I had another monster

sinus headache (I've had way too many of those lately because of the extra dry weather).

So, we never turned the TV on.  But, I eventually felt good enough to 

play with some yarn.  Remember this yarn that I got at a gift exchange?...

Turns out that it's even prettier when it's worked up than it was in the skein.

I love it!  I only have about 300+- yards.  So, after researching patterns on Ravelry and 

playing around with some different ideas, I've landed on making a cowl with it.

There should be plenty of yarn for that.

I spent time on it yesterday morning too.  Such a great way to start the new year!

I'm about half way done with it.  I expect to have it finished very soon.

I'll be sure to post pictures of the finished cowl.

How did you spend your New Years Eve?

Stash to Style

While clothes shopping a couple of weeks ago, I ran across a Tommy Hilfiger outlet store.

They had a sale on some long sleeve, v-neck T's.  They were nice...not that tissue thin kind I normally see in stores.  The sleeves and body were plenty long.  And, they had some shaping instead of being baggy and boxy.  I was thrilled.  I tried some on to figure out my size and I was ready to buy a few in various colors.  Unfortunately, they only had my size in one of the colors I liked, pink.

As I was driving home, I realized that a ball of yarn in my stash might go with it perfectly.

It did!  Yay!  I love the color in this "Cottontots" yarn and have been waiting for just the right thing to use it for.  I finally found it!  So, I cast 105 stitches onto size 7, 16" circular needles and got started.

I knit 10 rows, *purled one row, knit one row (*three times), continued knitting 

and repeated it in reverse on the other side and loosely bound off.  

I love the colors in this yarn!

I have one big problem!  I washed the shirt in cold water, dried it on low and it shrunk at least 3 inches!  ARGH!  I can't believe that!  It's a name brand too!  So frustrating.  I didn't even get to wear it with my new cowl yet.  I'm going to wash it again and try the trick I've used on some shrunken sweaters...hold the top of the sleeve in one hand, the bottom in the other and S-T-R-E-T-C-H!

I'll do the same with the body.  Wish me luck!  I really want to be able to wear this shirt!

I'd take it back to see if I could exchange it but the store is about 45 minutes away.

And, since it's holiday shopping time, there probably aren't many left.