Hey all! I’m so excited to jump right on in and get stitching this gorgeous mandala! A quick reminder, this is the free version of the pattern and DOES NOT INCLUDE the PDF pattern. You can purchase the PDF pattern HERE or the Yarn Kit from Lion Brand Yarn HERE, both of which include the pdf pattern.
Rnd 8: Join Color C in same st as last sl st, sl st in next fptr, ch 3, 6dc in same fptr, *sk next sc, sc in next st, sk next sc and bpdc, 7dc in next bpdc, sk next bpdc and sc, sc in next sc**, 7dc in next fptr; rep from * around ending last rep at **, join to beg ch-3 with a sl st. Fasten off. (112 dc, 16 sc)
Rnd 9: Join Color E in any sc, ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Fasten off. (128 sc)
Rnd 10: Join Color B in same st as join, ch 3, 2dc in same st, *sk next sc, sc in each of the next 5 sc, sk next sc, 3dc in next sc; rep from * around, join to beg ch-3 with a sl st. Fasten off. (48 dc, 80 sc)
Rnd 11: Join Color D in center dc of any 3dc group, ch 3, 4dc in same st, *sk next dc and 2 sc, sc in next sc, sk next 2 sc and dc**, 5dc in next dc; rep from * around ending last rep at **, join to beg ch-3 with a sl st. Fasten off. (80dc, 16 sc)
Rnd 12: Join Color A in any sc around, ch 1, *fptr around post of first dc of 3dc group two rows below, sc in each of the next 5dc, fptr around third dc of same 3dc group as previous fptr, sc in next sc; repf rom * around, join to first st. Fasten off. (32 fptr, 96 sc)
Rnd 13: Join Color E in any sc between two fptr around, ch 2 (does not count as a st), *Bobble (see special stitches), fpdc around post of next fptr, hdc in each of the next 5 sc, fpdc around post of next fptr, rep from * around, join to first st with a sl st. Fasten off. (32 Fpdc, 16 Bobble, 80 hdc)
Rnd 14: Join Color B with a hdc in 3rd loop of first hdc of any 5hdc group, hdc in 3rd loop of next four hdc, fpdc around post of next fpdc, ch 3, fpdc around post of next fpdc, hdc in 3rd loop of next five hdc; rep from * around, join to first hdc with a sl st. Fasten off. (80 hdc, 32f pdc, 16 ch-3 sps)
The response to my Summer Blossom Mandala Crochet Along announcement has been tremendous! So much so, that we’ve officially bought up all the Wool Ease our friends at Lion Brand Yarn had on their shelves.
Because of that two of the colors in the kit will be out until August! DANG IT! The light blueish color (Stillwater) and maroon color (Rose Heather) will be out until August. So, with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to put together a few different color stories that would look amazing!
A lot of people think that I just have this magical skill of putting colors together but…I don’t. Haha! It’s all pinterest. Have you ever searched, “Color Palette”? It’s so fun to see photos and colors inspired by those photos. It takes all the guess work out of it. So, let’s take a look at some awesome palette’s and the yarn colors associated with them!
If any of these suit your fancy, just click this link here, and adjust the colors listed on that page. Lion Brand will ship the colors right out to you! How cool is that?! Check out the video below:
Take monochromatic to the extreme and work the entire mandala in one color. This will allow the texture to SING!
Fisherman
I know it can be really stressful to choose the right colors and put together different colors if you’re not used to it. BUT, I hope the few colorways that I offered give you that bit of excitement you need to crochet this amazing mandala up!
Remember, you can click HERE to grab the pattern or HERE to grab the kit. Just make sure to adjust the colors as in the video above!
Opening presents just got a whole lot cozier with my Cozy Christmas Morning Slippers, these easy to crochet slippers are made with faux fur yarn!
YEP! You read that RIGHT!
Faux. Fur. Slippers.
Okay. So, here’s the thing. I love Thanksgiving but this year I kinda ignored it because for the last few weeks I’ve been working on my 2019 Christmas Collection. I’m too excited to start sharing all these patterns with you, so. Let’s just give thanks for Thanksgiving and move onto the Christmas Crafting…okay?
K.
Today, I’m literally the most excited I’ve been all year about a pattern release. That’s because my Cozy Christmas Morning Slippers are here! They’re the perfect way to add a little warmth to those chilly winter mornings. To be honest, I haven’t taken mine off since I wove in the ends.
Heck, who am I kidding, we’re friends here. I didn’t even weave in the ends before slipping them on.
Find a printer-friendly, PDF version of the Cozy Christmas Morning Slippers in my Ravelry Shop HERE! The PDF version includes full-color, 6-page instructions with plenty of photos and a link to a supporting video tutorial.
Favorite this pattern and share your projects with friends on Ravelry-click here!
Faux fur yarns are quite the trend right now in the yarn industry. I think we all just want as much cozy as we can get right now and, I’m not hating it. As soon as I put my hands on this yarn I knew what I wanted to design. Socks. Slippers. Whatever.
A fur sweater for my feet.
My feet are always cold. Always. I wear crochet socks year round and in the winter they barely leave my feet. Another furry layer of warmth? Yes. Please.
The design was…a haul. I knew I wanted it to be easy to crochet but not too simple because I’d get bored. No one likes a boring slipper. Then again, I immediately thought how perfect these would be for last minute gifts and that meant they needed to be quick to stitch. So. I went to work.
Well, a few samples later and I was in business! The slippers are so easy to stitch you’ll be surprised. Just single crochet stitches! They’re completely seamless and you’ll only have a few ends to weave in.
This pattern is special too. It’s the first time I’ve written a pattern and filmed a full video tutorial! So, when you purchase the pattern you’ll receive a link to a private Youtube video that explains everything along the way. Even how to crochet with Faux Fur yarn!
So…who is ready to stitch up the Cozy Christmas Morning Slippers? These beginner-level slippers are made seamlessly from the sole to the ankle using basic crochet stitches! Click here to get the Cozy Christmas Morning Slippers pattern now.
Give the gift of warmth when you stitch up the Gift of Love Throw, a FREE crochet pattern from Rohn Strong, JOANN &Susan G Komen®. Check out my inspiration, design process, and find the FREE pattern below!
Before we jump in, I want to remind you all that from October 6, 2019, to November 2, 2019, Jo-Ann Stores, LLC will donate to Susan G. Komen® $0.50 for each skein of select pink loop yarns purchased, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $5,000.
I often find inspiration in the strangest of places. When researching the kind of project I wanted to make with this awesome yarn, Big Twist Yarns Loopity Loops, I was streaming a television show. In it, one of the characters mentions a quote that I found fitting and it helped guide my hand through this design.
It was from Julian of Norwich, a nun who is widely credited with having been the first woman to write a book in English that has survived. She said, “He said not ‘Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be dis-eased’; but he said, ‘Thou shalt not be overcome.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Susan G. Komen has teamed up with my friends at JOANN to benefit cancer research. In 2019, it’s estimated that among U.S. women and men there will be about 270,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 42,000 breast cancer-related deaths.
Between 1989 and 2015 the breast cancer mortality rate declined 39% here in the U.S. in large part because of awareness of the disease and cancer research.
I’ve always felt that we crafters have this innate ability to come together and make change happen when it’s needed. This is why I’m so proud to work with Susan G. Komen and JOANN on this project.
So, here’s the deal. For every single skein of Big Twist Loopity Loops Yarn in PINK or PINK OMBRE that is sold, JOANN will donate $0.50, with a minimum donation amount of $5,000.
That means, if you make the throw blanket below you’ll effectively be helping donate $3.00 toward cancer research. Amazing right? Even more amazing? You can then donate the blanket to your local hospital or give it as a gift to a member of your family courageously undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
The Design Process
I knew right off the bat I wanted to create a nice large cuddly soft blanket. Why?
Many cancer patients fighting the fight, have said that soft blankets are the perfect option when going through chemo as they often are cold and hospital blankets just aren’t the same. So, how amazing would it be to stitch up a blanket for a man or woman fighting breast cancer out of this soft loopy yarn?
Big Twist Loopity Loops is, as it’s name implies, a loop yarn. This mean you don’t need a crochet hook or knitting needle to stitch it up! You just need your two hands. There are a ton of tutorials on how to use this yarn out there but I just couldn’t make it work for me.
Then I grabbed my crochet hook.
Crocheting with loop yarn is quick and easy. It’s basically like doing a slip stitch over and over again. It’s fun, easy, and works up much faster than just using my fingers, at least in my experience.
I know most of you out there are crocheters and kntters wondering, “Why the heck would I use this yarn? I can just get some thick yarn and crochet with it!”
So, here are my top three reasons you should give loop yarn a shot:
It’s soft. Like, soft soft. I was legit cuddling this blanket as I was stitching it. You can’t get this kind of softness anywhere else.
Its economical. Big chunky yarn like this costs a ton of money. Have you seen those arm knit blankets? They can cost a pretty penny. Buying Big Twist Loopity Loop yarn isn’t only affordable, for every single skein of Big Twist Loopity Loop Yarn in PINK or PINK OMBRE that is sold, JOANN will donate $0.50, with a minimum donation amount of $5,000 to Susan G. Komen.
It’s fast. This blanket worked up in a day. From start to finish. I worked on it on my front porch. I even stopped to play with the dogs a few times. And it’s even easier to sit down a pick back up!
This throw blanket is easy as pie and even if you’ve never knit or crocheted a stitch in your life, you could work this up in no time flat.
When beginning project, you can begin at either the right or left. Instructions are written with yarn beginning at the far right. Reverse directions if it is more comfortable.
Right Side of project is facing at all times.
Working Yarn is held behind stitches throughout.
Loops from working yarn are always pulled through the stitches from back to front of work.
PATTERN:
Count 60 loops for the foundation row.
Row 1: Work from left to right, pull the 61st loop up through the 60th loop from behind to create a knit stitch. Pull next loop from working yarn up through next loop of foundation row. Continue in this manner across to end of row. DO NOT TURN.
Row 2: Working from right to left, work as for row 1.
Row 3: Working form left to right, work as for row 2.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until all 5 skeins of yarn have been used.
Bind off row: Working in same direction as last row, pull 2nd stitch through first stitch. Then pull 3rd stitch through 2nd stitch. Pull 4th stitch through 3rd stitch. Continue in this manner to end of row. Cut last loop to create a yarn tail. Tie to secure and weave in ends.
I really hope you enjoyed stitch up the Gift of Love Throw with me. I can’t wait to donate mine to my local hospital! Share your blanket with me on Instagram using the hashtags #giftoflovethrow and #rohnstrong. Oh! And don’t forget to show off your project in the Rohn Strong Maker Community Facebook group too!
Fall is right around the corner and I’ve got the perfect scarf for you! The Waterrock Scarf is easier to make than it looks, and takes just three skeins of yarn!
Get this FREE Tunisian crochet pattern from Rohn Strong and JOANN below!
The Inspiration
I’m one of those people that feels the slightest nip in the air and I’m throwing on a scarf, breaking out the autumn leaf scented candles, and spraying strangers with Pumpkin Spice…
I might be exaggerating a bit…maybe.
The Waterrock Scarf gets its name from the mountain, Waterrock Knob, which is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States – and the 15th highest of the 40 mountains in North Carolina over 6,000 feet. And Waterrock Knob in fall? GORGEOUS!
The Design
Waterrock is worked in one long rectangle from end to end with increases and decreases to give it that slanted stripe look. We begin by casting on a few stitches, increase to the total width, then work back and forth in rows (with those increases and decreases) until the scarf is the desired length. Lastly, we work decreases on both sides which will give us the finished rectangle.
This method is often referred to in knitting as “bias knitting’. That’s primarily because we are working on the bias the whole time. In tunisian crochet, the concept is the same, we just work back and forth with the right side of our work facing us the whole time.
We maintain the bias look by working an increase at the beginning of each row and a decrease at the end of each row. Changing colors at different points is what really shows off the resulting slanting stitches. While working this in one color would be equally cool, working it in multiple colors really shows off the bias look.
The Yarn
I knew I needed a great yarn that carried a hefty amount of yardage when I started the scarf. Yarn choice is often make it or break it for me. This scarf was designed for this kind of yarn. A 100% acrylic worsted weight yarn that has a tight twist.
Why?
Yarn can have a huge impact on your finished piece. Whether it’s knit or crochet. Tunisian crochet produces a fabric that shifts all the stitches to the back and creates an imbalance. That’s why you get the curl when working tunisian crochet. When designers recommend a few rows at the beginning of a project to help combat curl, this is to help cure that imbalance.
Tunisian also uses a great deal of yarn. Which can create a heavy project. A tight twist, which Big Twist Soft has, will make sure the scarf holds up for years to come and doesn’t stretch out. Acrylic yarn will also help the design keep its luster, as it tends to hold up better than wool. Definitely stay away from cotton or any kind of cotton blend.
Big Twist Soft is definitely one of my go-to yarns. It’s a soft acrylic with a tight twist and just the right amount of yardage. With a 6oz ball bringing in nearly 320 yards. How amazing is that? There are also a number of colors to choose from and for about $4 a yard (before a coupon of course) you can’t really beat it.
Wanderrock Scarf
MATERIALS:
3 Balls of Big Twist Soft (1 each in colorways Taupe, Denim, and Orange)
US K/10 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 12: cord or hook needed to obtain gauge
12 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches before blocking
ABBREVIATIONS:
Ch – Chain
YO – Yarn Over
Tks – Tunisian knit stitch
Sl st – Slip Stitch
St – Stitch
Tks2tog – Tunisian Knit Stitch 2 Together
RetP – Return Pass
NOTES:
Tunisian Knit Stitch (Tks): Beginning in the second vertical bar, insert the hook from front to back between the front and back vertical pars and draw up a loop. Repeat this in each pair of vertical bars across, working under both bars on the last stitch.
Loop already on hook at beginning of the forward pass counts as first stitch.
SCARF
This scarf is completed using three different colors. Here we’ll refer to them as A (Taupe), B (Orange), and C (Blue).
For the stripe sequence as shown in the photo, you’ll change the colors at the beginning of every forward pass after completing the number of rows outlined below:
A – 1 row B – 1 row C – 2 rows A – 3 rows B – 5 rows C – 8 rows A – 13 rows B – 21 rows C – 34 rows A – 55 rows B – 14 rows
Here is an up-close photo of the beginning stripe sequence.
Ch 3
Row 1: Yo, tks in each st across to last st, yo, tks in last st. RetP.
Rep Row 1 until there are a total of 41 stitches or desired width of scarf.
Next Row: Yo, tks in each st across to last 3 sts, tks2tog, tks in last st. RetP.
Rep last row until scarf measures 72″ when measured along the longest end, or desired length.
Next Row: Tks2tog, tks in each st across to last 3 sts, tks2tog, tks in last st. RetP.
