Instead of boring you with a blow by blow of paper mache layers on corpsy, I figured I would take a minute to go on about why I love October. Yes, Halloween is right up there at #1 on my list. If you've been reading this at all it's been painfully obvious how much I like Halloween. In the rapture of making Halloween props and decorating I don't do as much yarn crafting as I would like, though. And that makes me sad because the other thing I love about October is that I can finally start to wear my projects regularly because it's starting to get freaking cold. Don't get me wrong, I hate the cold and it isn't the cold that I'm enjoying. I hate the cod with a passion. I grew up in southern California, a child of the desert and the ocean. Anything below 75 degrees F is cold to me. But, because of yarn, I can tolerate temperatures down to maybe 68 degrees F. I love yarn and the myriad of things that can be done with it. Until recently I mostly made scarves and hats with the occasional blanket. They're stupidly easy to crochet, you don't even really need a pattern. Learning to knit started to add sweaters to my repertoire. Sweaters are good. All those little yarn loops make great insulation for under coats. For today, though, I thought I would share my own personal favorite scarf.
It's a pattern that I came up with about 2 years ago. Around this time, as it happens. I was watching The Crow (awesome movie, I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it) and fiddling with some bright green yarn. I wanted to make a scarf because it was starting to get cold out but scarves can be SOOOOO BORING! Long rectangles. Woo. Loads of fun there. Now, I knew my scarf couldn't be horribly boring as it was going to be bright green, but I was worried about how it would look. After a bit of playing I stated making it in a cluster motif. For you non-crocheters/knitters a "shell" or "cluster" is typically a group of a set number of stitches. A motif can refer to use of shells or clusters or also to any other pattern set. It makes pattern writing easier because you can say "do this, then make this many shells/clusters/motifs". I used one of the simplest clusters out there, a group of three double crochets. What made it fun was getting rid of that damnably straight edge. You see, in working my motif I decided to make clusters of the corners of the previous ones every other row and on the 'every' row I didn't go out that far. It's really super easy. There is no gauge, nor do you have to have anything specific to make it beyond yarn and a crochet hook. Check it out:
Lyssa's Signature Scarf
Pick a yarn, any yarn. If you use a box store yarn like Red Heart you'll use maybe half of a 7 or8 ounce skein. It really doesn't take much. You may also want a contrasting color of yarn for tassels.
Appropriate sized crochet hook for the yarn you picked.
For reference, the first time I made this I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a K hook.
Make the scarf as wide as you like. Chain in multiples of 4 plus 1 stitch at the end.
Row 1: Dc in the fourth chain from the hook and in the next ch st. *Skip 1 ch, dc in the next 3 sts.* Repeat from * to * across the piece, ending on the 3 dc cluster. Turn.
Row 2: Slip st in the tops of the 3 dc and between the third and fourth dc. Ch 2, 2 dc in same space. 3 dc in the space after every third dc across. When one 3 dc cluster remains ch 2 and turn.
Row 3: 2 dc in the bottom of the ch2. 3 dc in the space after every third dc on the previous row. When there are 3 dc left to work, make the last 3 dc cluster in the top of the ch 2 of the previous row.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until scarf is the desired length.
Optional tassels:
Choose a length for the tassels and double it. The tassel threads will be folded in half. Cut three threads for each tassel. Using a crochet hook, pull the center of your 3 strand tassel through the end of the scarf and then pull the ends through. Make sure the tassels are evenly spaced.
Lyssa's Signature Scarf
Pick a yarn, any yarn. If you use a box store yarn like Red Heart you'll use maybe half of a 7 or8 ounce skein. It really doesn't take much. You may also want a contrasting color of yarn for tassels.
Appropriate sized crochet hook for the yarn you picked.
For reference, the first time I made this I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a K hook.
Make the scarf as wide as you like. Chain in multiples of 4 plus 1 stitch at the end.
Row 1: Dc in the fourth chain from the hook and in the next ch st. *Skip 1 ch, dc in the next 3 sts.* Repeat from * to * across the piece, ending on the 3 dc cluster. Turn.
Row 2: Slip st in the tops of the 3 dc and between the third and fourth dc. Ch 2, 2 dc in same space. 3 dc in the space after every third dc across. When one 3 dc cluster remains ch 2 and turn.
Row 3: 2 dc in the bottom of the ch2. 3 dc in the space after every third dc on the previous row. When there are 3 dc left to work, make the last 3 dc cluster in the top of the ch 2 of the previous row.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until scarf is the desired length.
Optional tassels:
Choose a length for the tassels and double it. The tassel threads will be folded in half. Cut three threads for each tassel. Using a crochet hook, pull the center of your 3 strand tassel through the end of the scarf and then pull the ends through. Make sure the tassels are evenly spaced.
love this idea, Lyssa. I'm guessing you could use a variety of different crochet motifs with success?
ReplyDeletethat you can. some, like clusters and shells, work better than others, like popcorns and bobbles.
ReplyDeleteI tired this pattern and there seems to be a mistake in the 2nd row at the end. I think it is a wonderful piece and would love to make one for a Christmas gift. I think step by step instructions would help me so I know how many sts are in each row. Love it though!
ReplyDelete