Note: This is really Day 25, but I posted early and got my days mixed up. Pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain!
If you’ve been following “A Tour Through Crochet Country”, welcome to Day 24! If not, jump over to this link here and you’ll see all the links to all the wonderful posts in celebration of crochet during National Crochet Month. This event was organized by Amy and Donna of Crochetville and it’s been such a success. Next year’s event is already being planned.
All blog participants are Associate or Professional members of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). I am a member of the CGOA and I have been for a very long time. There are a lot of fun benefits to being a member of the guild, but I have to admit that I am a member mostly because I like the idea of there being a guild for my favorite activity. I like the idea of a guild devoted to the furtherance of crochet. I like that there are so many members who, like me, love all things crochet and there are opportunities to meet so many people of like minds, altogether in one place. And, just recently, I’ve been helping even more by becoming the editor of the member-only newsletter, Chain Link. CGOA means a lot to me and has done so much for so many. I wanted to give something back.
As a group, the participating designers selected a very special charity to support this month: Project Night Night, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides over 25,000 Night Night Packages each year to homeless children. Each package consists of a new sturdy tote bag with a new security blanket, an age-appropriate children’s book, and a stuffed animal. These comfort objects help to reduce the trauma of homelessness for the children served by Project Night Night. Both the handmade blankets and stuffed animals provide the children with objects of love and security. Please click here to find out how you can help.
Tunisian Mock Cable Scarf
In honor of this event, I am introducing a new project video. The project is a free pattern, originally seen in the third season of Knit and Crochet Now!, a PBS television program owned by Annie’s. The free pattern for the Tunisian Crochet Mock Cable Scarf is available on the website here. And, here is my own video to accompany this project. This scarf is made in two colors of Berroco Vintage Chunky, a wonderful yarn and I love all weights of Berroco Vintage. If you follow me on Facebook, you may already know about my love of this yarn.
This is a unique Tunisian crochet project. Because it is made in narrow Tunisian join-as-you-go strips, you won’t need a long Tunisian hook (afghan hook). You can use a standard hook throughout. This is your chance to learn to do Tunisian crochet with a fun project. Then once you are “hooked”, you’ll certainly want a copy of my latest book, Tunisian Crochet Stitch Guide.
And, here’s your chance for a signed copy of the book!
To be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of my book, please browse my Portfolio on Ravelry and post a comment below about the design you would like to try. That’s it. That’s the only rule. Just a comment about your favorite design.
On April 5, a name will be randomly drawn and I will email that person (so it would really be helpful if you included your email address). And, should your name be drawn, please do not take offense to my requesting your mailing address. If you don’t want to give me your address, please don’t enter, k?
ETA: Although I appreciate the lovely comments made on the Ravelry pattern database pages, in order to be entered into the drawing, please comment below. This is where the random generator will take the numbers for the drawing.
ETA2: Thank you to everyone participating! A name has been chosen by the random generator. Regina, I will send you an email for further information. Congratulations!
I receive a lot of emails asking me why I do so much Tunisian crochet. Why don’t I ever do regular crochet? While it’s true that I’ve been doing a lot of Tunisian crochet lately, it’s certainly not all that I do. I think that, because my name seems to be synonymous with Tunisian crochet, there is a misconception that ALL of my work is in the technique. But, it’s really not. It’s just that I do some unexpected things in regular crochet sometimes and there is an assumption that it is Tunisian, when it’s not.
Here are my most popular designs of all time. All in regular crochet.
Sweetheart Ripple Afghan from Reversible Ripple Afghans here. Truly an unexpected surprise because of the ripples on one side and the hearts on the other. The immediate assumption was that it was double-ended Tunisian crochet. I had to work very closely with the Annie’s catalog staff for awhile there in order to word the description in such a way that there was no question that it was regular crochet because many people emailed me about it being Tunisian.
Dreams Shawl, published at Kimane Designs here. Before you could find laceweight crochet shawls by the hundreds on Ravelry, this shawl was published. It shot up to many favorite lists. But, I’m still seeing it labeled as Tunisian crochet. Just yesterday, I saw it labeled as Tunisian crochet on Pinterest. But, it’s not.
Clarice, published at Kimane Designs here. So easy! So popular! And, it’s popular world-wide. While we’re thinking about making afghans during the winter here in the US, this pattern is popular in Australia because it’s their summer. (And, have you heard of the record-setting high temps in Australia this year? They had to add a new color to their weather maps because the heat got up to 129-degrees Faranheit!)
Of all my designs, the most favorited pattern on Ravelry is this pattern called Elegant Hat, a free pattern from Caron here. Although it’s never been confused for Tunisian crochet.
And, there you have it! Tunisian crochet isn’t all that I do. My most popular patterns of all time are actually regular crochet. It’s just that, here lately, Tunisian crochet has been coming into its own. You see it quite frequently. But, it’s not new to me. I’ve been publishing books in Tunisian crochet for almost 15 years. I was Tunisian before Tunisian was cool. But, now that it is cool, I’ve got a lot of books in it right now.
This post will be about the Cape Sleeved Cardi which is a free pattern available at Caron yarns here. I am very appreciative that someone likes my design well enough to spend hours and hours and hours demonstrating the entire crocheting of the garment on YouTube. The videos are separated into three parts so I know how much work went into them. Just watching them will take over 1-1/2 hours. That doesn’t take into account the extra time prepping and re-takes. However, it has caused me nothing but grief.
Someone has committed a lot of time to make three videos showing how to do the entire Cape Sleeved Cardi. That is a lot of work. And, wow! Potentially very helpful. However, she has made mistakes that have generated questions like this one that I received last night:
“I have some DK weight yarn in my stash. Can I use it instead of Super Saver?”
I was dumbfounded by the question because the pattern is written in DK weight yarn, not aran weight yarn (Super Saver). Through investigation, I finally discovered why I was getting such strange questions.
The videos aren’t just casual videos. She has a huge YouTube channel and 12,000 subscribers. That is a lot of “fall out” which is coming to me.
1) She has done the stitch incorrectly. I work into a different bar of the stitch. And, this is just like Tunisian, you can work in any old bar to produce the stitch. That part will only affect the stitch cosmetically. However, she has shown how to do a treble stitch, not a double treble. I don’t know. Maybe when the stitches get high enough, people think it doesn’t matter. You can just do any old stitch in there and call it a day. But, in truth, it is like telling people to replace a double crochet with a single crochet. Imagine the difference in gauge after 10 repeats of that. When she was asked in comments why she has only 4 loops on her hook when the pattern says 5 loops, she simply said that is how she learned it and it is correct. People are coming to me because they can’t get gauge, which isn’t unusual except now I’ve got all these people who can’t get gauge because they’re working the wrong stitch.
2) While I am mortified that someone has done the pattern in an aran weight yarn and then were confused that the finished item could practically stand up by itself, I could let that part go. Of course, it makes me look like an idiot who can’t design clothing. But, I can let that part go.
In the end, I already get a lot of emails from people about my designs. I am fielding questions constantly. I can’t keep up with the questions I am receiving due to this misinformation.
The last couple of weeks, I feel like I have answered some of the most bizarre questions about this design. I have stayed up all hours of the night responding to questions. I have spent hours and hours answering questions. And, while I don’t mind answering questions, the sheer numbers of emails I have received with questions that made no sense has been overwhelming. I can’t get any work done. I was literally up until 4 am dealing with this and got up 5 hours later and I’m still dealing with this. I don’t know what to do about it. I can’t go on this way. I can’t get any work done because I’m answering questions due to the misinformation given in these videos.
I’m sorry, guys. As much as I love the internet, it has also proven to be a curse. It is the bane of my existence right now. And, I am so ready to simply throw in the towel and admit defeat.
Yep, I did it! I designed my very first corset. Pretty fun to design Halloween costumes. Even more fun that they’re free from Red Heart! Halloween is just around the corner!
I especially love the hats I designed for these sets. Really cute. And, the stitch pattern I created for the corset and scarf/sash is made to mimic lacing. Enjoy!
ETA: This design has been selected for a crochet-along beginning September 15. See here for more information.
ETA2: Please see the end of this post for a small amount of errata.
WARNING: There are 3 videos on YouTube demo-ing this design. While I appreciate the enormous commitment the person has placed in my design, incorrect instructions are given in the videos. While you can certainly review the videos and I’m sure you’ll gain some answers to your questions, you should understand that they are incorrect. In addition to other mistakes, the demo of the linked stitch is incorrect. And, this wouldn’t be a huge issue. But, the person demo-ing is using Super Saver, at least a 2 size difference from the yarn used in the pattern. The videos would take me about 1-1/2 hours to review in depth. So, I gave up watching them in their entirety. I am not trying to “call out” someone for doing something incorrectly. We all make mistakes. I am solely trying to reduce the numbers of emails I am receiving because people are confused by the contradictory video instructions.
Welcome to my new free pattern from Caron International Yarns. Cape Sleeved Cardi in Caron Simply Soft Light. Same Caron Simply Soft, in a lighter weight version. (That link right there in this paragraph is the link to the free pattern. Just click on the words “Cape Sleeved Cardi.”)
If you subscribe to Caron Connections, you would have received this introduction of my design by email.
Delicate lace and broomstick stitch details come together with a flattering cape sleeve silhouette in designer Kim Guzman’s Cape Sleeved Cardi. Crocheted in Caron Simply Soft Light, this charming cardigan is a lightweight layering piece that you’ll want to wear all year.
I don’t want there to be any confusion. This design isn’t made in broomstick lace. I think that it may have reminded someone at Caron of something looking like a broomstick element. But, the design is actually made in linked stitches, not broomstick.
You may not have heard of linked stitches. But, they are certainly worth knowing. I like them because they produce a thinner fabric. And, since the stitches are linked, there aren’t big holes in between the stitches, even when working with the tall ones. Because the fabric is thinner, you use less yarn. Linked stitches don’t use yarn overs in the traditional fashion. You pick up loops on the side of the previous stitch and these serve as your yarn overs.
When working with linked stitches, you’ll just want to remember that you are working with the same number of loops as a traditional crochet stitch. A linked half double will involve three loops and you pull through all three loops at once to close. A linked double will involve the same three loops, but you’ll [pull through two loops] twice. A linked treble will involve four loops and you’ll [pull through two loops] three times. Here is a video I’ve done for a linked half double.
You see how you aren’t actually yarning over to make the stitch. You are using loops already available. The stitch is the same, though. You’re just joining them together so there isn’t a lot of bulk.
For this new design, Cape Sleeved Cardi, I’ve used linked double trebles. Usually a stitch this tall will have wide open spaces between the stitches. But, through the beauty of joining them, the stitch is more evenly distributed. And, really, I kid you not. When you don’t have yarn overs throughout, you literally use less yarn.
One other thing you may discover, especially when working with the taller linked stitches, is that they are hugely similar in mechanics to Tunisian crochet. However, please be aware that my linked stitches, that I use in all my projects with linked stitches, use the vertical bars on the side of the previous stitch, not the horizontal bars (making it exactly like Tunisian Simple Stitch).
For clarification, if you know Tunisian crochet already, I am not using the standard simple stitch bar. I am using the bar that is for the closing chain that runs up the middle. Neither method is incorrect. You can literally use any Tunisian crochet stitch to link the stitches. Linked stitches are nothing more than join-as-you-go Tunisian crochet. For me, I prefer the look of using the bar out on the side. All the current YouTube videos show the more typical Simple Stitch method. I’m not fond of the look of Simple Stitch, so I use a different spot for placement. Please review my linked half double crochet video to see which bar I mean.
And, for anyone who has not yet tried Tunisian crochet, don’t be scared! You will pick this up in no time! It’s just a linked stitch. A stitch made by picking up loops in the side of the previous stitch. Easy peasy!
In my next video shoot, I’ll try to get the other linked stitches so that you’ll have them for reference. But, in the meantime, I really think you’ll understand the concept through your knowledge of traditional crochet once you see the video for the linked half double.
Just a note: This design also includes a reverse single crochet. Stop being scared of it! See my video (and all my other videos) here. I used it only for embellishment, so it can be easily omitted. But, you should get over that fear. It’s only crochet. Nothing at all to be scared about!
Top-Down Construction
This design is worked in one piece, starting at the neck, splitting at the armholes, working from the armholes down, then joining to complete the sleeves. I’ve not worked in the round with the sleeves due to it changing the stitch pattern, so there is a very slight amount of seaming at the sleeves only.
For those of you craving that top-down construction, this design answers your call! But, if you’re looking for a fitted sleeve design, this isn’t it. I was requested to make a cape-sleeved design, which is basically a kimono style sleeve. It isn’t fitted.
This garment is one of those things that you’ll want to throw on for a chilly evening. Or, have available at the office when the air conditioner puts too much chill in the air. Nice, comfortable fit. Sleeves at 3/4 length so they don’t get in the way. Light-weight fabric, without a lot of bulk. Really tall stitches so that it works up quickly. Worked from top-down so that length is easy to adjust. What more could you want in a cardigan??!!
And, remember that my natural tension is a little on the loose side. If you tend to crochet tightly, you’re going to automatically want to go up in hook size in order to meet my gauge.
Even if you’ve never made a crocheted garment before, this one is a truly enjoyable starter project. Even if you don’t want to swatch, you can use your garment as your swatch. See this search on gauge for more information. You can start it and get through the yoke. Measure it against the schematic or on your body to see how it fits. If you have to take it out, the garment is so quick-to-stitch that it’s not going to be a life or death situation if you have to take it out and start again with a different size hook. And, besides, why not? You’ll be practicing and perfecting your tension on a new stitch and stitch pattern. It doesn’t hurt a thing to take it out and start again. The benefit of working in acrylic is that washing isn’t going to produce a lot of significant change in gauge. The fabric is light. It’s not going to be too weighted down. Lastly, it’s an easy fit cardigan. This is the perfect choice for a first garment! Don’t be scared! Jump in with both feet (and both hands).
Enjoy!
Errata: There appears to be a one-stitch difference in stitch count for the beginning of this project. Please use the following in order to maintain the stitch count:
Row 1 (RS): Sk first ch, *sc in next 4 ch, 2 sc in next ch; repeat from * to last 4 ch, sc in each of 3 ch, 2 sc in last ch, turn-83 (89, 95, 101, 107) sc.
Round 2 of the trim (the reverse single crochet round) is worked into the front loop only. Then, when you get to round 3, it is worked in the unused back loop of round 1.
