Crochet

CGOA Crochet Along: Diamond Trellis Strip

CGOA Diamond Trellis | Webster Fiber Arts
| Annie

Hi folks,

I’ve been working on the Crochet Guild of America’s Across the Board Crochet-Along. This project will eventually result in an afghan, with a strip made every two weeks. I was drawn to this one because it looks like there are some really cool stitches involved. I’m less concerned with finishing them in the official crochet-along timetable than I am with learning the stitches.

For example, I’m a little slow in getting photos of the first strip posted. This is the Diamond Trellis Strip.

Diamond Trellis Strip | Webster Fiber Arts

Isn’t it cool? I just love it! I’m usually eager to pick my own fibers and colors, but I really like the purples used in the pattern, so I went with it. I think this could also look pretty in a couple of different shades of gray for a scarf, but that’s a project for another time.

The second strip is called Skipping Stones.

Skipping Stones Strip - Mesh | Webster Fiber Arts

This is just the beginning of this strip. It turns into something pretty amazing with the addition of some more stitches. You’ll get to see it soon!

The pattern for this afghan is free for members of the Crochet Guild of America. Information about joining CGOA is available here.

Until next time,
Annie

Icy Blue Lacy Wrap

Icy Blue Wrap | Webster Fiber Arts
| Annie

Hi folks,

When I told you about my scarf struggles last week, I mentioned that in struggling with stitches, I had come up with a plan for some other yarn in my stash. Here’s what I’ve been working on with one of those discarded stitches:

Icy Blue Lacy Wrap | Webster Fiber Arts

I have three more skeins of this yarn, so I should get a decent sized wrap out of this piece. This stitch pattern is called “Openwork” and is from The Big Book of Crochet Stitches by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss. I’m going to keep chugging along with this lacy stitch, then add some kind of border—maybe something kind of fringy? I haven’t figured that part out yet.

I typically work with bulkier yarn—this Paton’s Lace Yarn is a nice change of pace for me.

Until next time,
Annie

Scarf Struggles

Scarf Struggles | Webster Fiber Arts
| Annie

Hi folks,

I have this yarn:

Red Heart Boutique Treasure in Watercolors | Webster Fiber Arts

This is Red Heart’s Boutique Treasure in Watercolors. I really like the colors in this—two variegated strands are plied together. It is soft and wonderful. I am having a terrible time with it.

The yarn itself is fine. I want that to be clear. This is a me problem. I can’t seem to settle on a stitch pattern I like, one that does justice to the pretty color changes. I have started and ripped out at least 10 different pieces. This is a little frustrating, though I do have a plan for some other yarn in my stash because of the stitches I have been playing with for this piece. Here are a couple that I started and just cut off because the yarn was starting to get a little fuzzy:

A Couple of Cast Offs | Webster Fiber Arts

And here is where I am now. This scarf uses a V stitch for a few rows, then a really long V stitch for a row. One of the things I really like about this yarn is the way long stitches look with it.

The Struggle Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts

When this piece was sitting in my “in progress” pile, I thought I was going to be frogging this one too, but when I laid it out for the photo above, I really started to like it. I think this might be the one. I’m not sure I have enough yarn to make a decent scarf at this width, so there may still be one more round of frogging, but this time it will only be to adjust the size, not to start all over again. Woo-hoo! I’m so glad I decided to write about this one. I might have continued to struggle with this piece had I not taken that photo.

Until next time,
Annie

New Piece: Metallic Mesh Wrap

Metallic Mesh Wrap | Webster Fiber Arts
| Annie

Hi folks,

I have a new wrap to show you today. This is the Metallic Mesh Wrap:

Metallic Mesh Handmade Wrap | Webster Fiber Arts | Etsy

There is just a little bit of gold mixed in with the fibers in this wrap, so it isn’t overwhelmingly shiny or glittery-just a hint of the good stuff mixed in with a lot of softness. I used a huge crochet hook to make this piece, which turns stiches that are normally small and close together into these large, loose stitches and creates the meshy pattern. This is a lightweight piece.

See more photos and purchase in my Etsy shop.

Until next time,
Annie

A Scarf for Me: Forever Summer

Forever Summer Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts
| Annie

Hi folks,

Let us take a trip back in time, to August of last year, when I started working on this brightly colored scarf:

WIP: A Brightly Colored Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts

I dyed all of this bright yarn for my donation for the Mandalas for Marinke Project.

#MandalasforMarinke Piece | Webster Fiber Arts

I finished the scarf sometime in early September, and wrapped it around the dress form I use for photos (her name is Bea, by the way). I was putting off blocking this piece because blocking is not super fun, and I put off blocking most of my pieces. So this scarf sat around Bea’s neck for a while, and it made me happy to look at it each day. These colors are just so…me. It didn’t take me very long to decide that this scarf was going to be living with me.

Forever Summer Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts

I will admit that when I went to block this piece, I discovered that the yellow dye was not staying in the yarn very well, so this scarf got a second bath in some vinegar and sat in the oven for a while. There was not nearly as much yellow run off when I rinsed it after this second attempt at setting the color, but it is still not as colorfast as my other hand dyed yarns. I must have left something out in the original dying process. No matter. It works for me.

Forever Summer Scarf Close-Up | Webster Fiber Arts

These colors remind me of the shelves of brightly colored plastic plates and cups you see at stores heading into the summer months. Since this scarf is something I would wear in the cold weather, I’m calling it “Forever Summer,” as a way to remember those summer shades when it is gray and cold outside.

Until next time,
Annie

New Piece: Cornucopia Scarf

Cornucopia Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts
| Annie

Hi folks,

New piece! This is the Cornucopia Scarf:

Cornucopia Handmade Scarf | Webster Fiber Arts | Etsy

This scarf is made with yarn I got on our trip to Silver Dollar City last fall. It is an awesome handspun yarn by Kathleen D. Brewer.

I’ve tried a little bit of drop spindle spinning in the past. It did not go well. I know it is just a matter of needing more practice. One of my sisters-in-law has a couple of alpacas on her farm, and she gave me a bag full of fiber at Christmas, so I have plenty of fluff to work with as I continue to learn about spinning. Knowing how much I am struggling with it makes me appreciate the work spinners do all the more.

See more photos and purchase on Etsy.

Until next time,
Annie

New Piece: Bit of Magenta Cowl

Bit of Magenta Cowl | Webster Fiber Arts
| Annie

Hi folks,

It is an unseasonably warm day here in Kansas City. Today I am going to head outside to take down the Christmas lights (no sense in doing that when it is very cold, I say) and fill up the bird feeders (I can almost hear little birdie tummy rumbles from inside the house). Before I start my outdoor chores, I want to show you my newest piece! This is the Bit of Magenta Cowl.

Bit of Magenta Handmade Cowl | Webster Fiber Arts | Etsy

I had a little bit of yarn left after making my mom’s Christmas scarf, and I just started crocheting with it. I went around and around the piece changing my stitches here and there, without much of a plan. I stopped when I was almost out of yarn—I saved enough to do the picot edgings on top and bottom. The result is a fun little cowl with lots of texture.

See more photos and purchase in my Etsy shop.

Until next time,
Annie