Scarves with repeating stitch patterns make great portable projects -- this pattern is available at Craftsy.com

Superbowl Sunday is tomorrow! Some people only celebrate when their team is in the running, but we celebrate every year no matter who’s playing. For years we’ve had an annual tradition where we go to our friends’ house for dinner and the game. It’s something I always look forward to.

My annual tradition is to bring a knit or crochet project with me. I like sports okay, but I’m not fanatical about it. I enjoy Superbowl parties for the social aspect mostly, since with busy work schedules it’s not always easy to get together with friends now we have school-age children. So Superbowl Sunday is a perfect time to not only catch up with my friends, but also with my knit or crochet projects, which might also have taken a back seat recently to more pressing matters of bills and groceries and after school activities.

I find it relaxing to sit in front of the game with a knit or crochet project on my lap, and my friend loves to watch me work. A non-crafter, she’s intrigued at what I can turn a little ball of yarn into. The best projects for Superbowl Sunday are those that don’t require you to keep looking at directions or counting stitches. That way you can still enjoy the party, have some conversations (and keep track of the score if you wish) all while you’re crafting away.

I find an afghan or rug works well for a Superbowl Sunday project, but sometimes can be bulky to travel with, depending on where you are in the design. So I usually travel with a baby blanket project, or a scarf in progress, or even a purse/bag pattern that doesn’t require too much shaping. I like a pattern that’s easy to memorize, so all I need to do is take out my yarn, my hook (or needles) and get to work.

So, if you’re the crafty type and planning to watch the game at home or at a friend’s, this might be the perfect opportunity to squeeze in a little crafting time as well.  Best of all, you may inspire others to join you!

Happy crafting! (oh, and Go Pats!)

Katelyn

Crochet Scarf pattern available at Craftsy.com

It seemed to me that if you get bored and lose enthusiasm after knitting one sock, the same probably happens after you knit one mitten. For myself, I could see that that would be true. I tend to like to move on to new projects quickly and don’t enjoy assembly line crafting where I’m making the same thing over and over. So, I thought why not give it a try? And you know what? It worked great!

The first pair of mittens, pictured in progress above, were a very simple pair where the fronts and back were identical so you didn’t have to worry about which was the left mitten and which was the right. I used two balls of yarn, one of each mitten and simply knit them on the same needle one next the other.

The next pair of mittens I tried were a little more complicated because the front of each has a cable and there is a definite difference in shaping between right and left. But the technique still works. I marked one mitten to I’d know it was the left one, and then simply did the specified stitches for the right mitten in the opposite order for the left mitten (except the cable, I left that as is).

You may notice in the photo that I used a circular needle for the cable mittens, but that was simply because I LOVE my new Harmony wood circular needles I got for Christmas and couldn’t wait to use them. I’m using the circular needle as straight needles here.

So, if you’re the type to get bored after that first mitten, give this technique try and you’ll have a pair of mittens done at the same time, in no time at all.

Until next time…

Happy crafting!

Knit or Crochet a Heart for Valentine's Day

In honor of Valentine’s this year I’ve drawn a simple heart chart to inspire your next knit or crochet project. The panel can be  a wash cloth, the start of a potholder/hot pad, or even a block for a blanket. I saved the chart as a PDF file you can download and print.

For our knitters out there, the edges are 5 rows/stitches in garter stitch (knit both sides). This not only adds a nice frame to the piece, but it also stops it from curling. If you’d like the final product to be a wash cloth, use 100% cotton worsted weight yarn. For my sample shown here, I used Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Dusty Green and Cranberry and size 8 needles. The interior of the square is stockinette stitch (knit right side, purl wrong side).

Stitching Chart

The graph can be knitted as shown, changing yarn colors for the heart. Or if you’re not comfortable yet with changing colors, knit the panel all in one color, then use Duplicate Stitch and a second color yarn, as I’ve done in the sample, to add the heart.

If you would rather crochet the heart, use the single crochet stitch throughout. You can single crochet in back loops only for the border stitches, to give the edges a slightly different texture than the main body, and single crochet in both loops for the interior. When you need to change colors for the heart, use the tapestry crochet technique of carrying the unused color along the tops of your stitches and crocheting over it as you go. This way you don’t need to worry about weaving in cut ends or attaching multiple balls of yarn as you move back and forth following the chart. It also gives you a firm fabric, which is nice if you plan to use the square as a pot holder or hot pad.

Just as with the knitted version, there is a stitching alternative if you don’t want to change colors while crocheting, and add the heart design after the piece is finished. With crochet, you can cross-stitch over the single crochet rows with your second color, following the blocks on the chart.

These links below provide additional information to help you with this project:

Sweaterscapes.com: Changing Yarn Colors While Knitting (Intarsia)

Squidoo.com: Intarsia Knitting Tutorial and Video

KarensVariety.com: Knit Duplicate Stitch

Videojug.com: Changing Yarn Colors while Crocheting (Video)

iWeb.tntech.edu: Tapestry Crochet Technique For Working With Two Colors

CraftStylish.com: Cross-stitch on Single Crochet

Additional inspiration for your crochet this Valentine’s Day–frame a heart shaped doily:

Valentine's Day Crochet Framed

There’s no entry fee and who knows, you could advance to the final round, where you send in your completed item for judging, and maybe even win a nice gift certificate to Michael’s or a cash prize. The grand prize winner receives a trip to meet Vanna herself!

The four categories (afghan and throws, hats and scarves, baby items, and gifts and crafts) give you a great deal of freedom to be creative. What project couldn’t fit into the gift category, right? The only requirement is that you use Vanna’s line of yarn from Lion Brand. It includes three different types: worsted weight Vanna’s Choice, which comes in a glorious rainbow of colors; Vanna’s Choice Baby, a worsted weight yarn in a selection of  colors popular for baby gifts; and Vanna’s Glamour, a sport weight yarn with metallic thread woven in for just the right amount of sparkle. I’m dying to make a fashion doll dress with this one!

So, what’s stopping you from entering? Even if you don’t win (and there’s always a chance you could), you will still have a handmade item ready for your next gift-giving occasion. Last year, I entered a child’s hat I’d crocheted in red, white and blue (see photo below). Even though I didn’t win the contest, my son loves this hat, and wears it to school every day now the weather’s cold. Maybe I didn’t get the cash prize, but I still feel like a winner.

And yes, I”ve entered Vanna’s contest again this year–twice so far!

Happy stitching!

Patriotic Hat in Vanna's Choice

It’s a new year and for me that means trying something new. Lately I’ve found myself practicing more knitting than crochet, but that’s probably because I’ve been crocheting for 35 and only recently taught myself to knit (after several false starts over the years), so right now knitting feels new and exciting. I’m eager to try knew things and stretch myself, see what else I can learn.

This year I’m going to try a new knitting technique: knitting two socks simultaneously on two circular needles. I received a great book for Christmas (Knitting Circles Around Socks by Antje Gillingham) that makes it look easy. First, however, I need to get two circular needles the same size. That I don’t have yet. I have one of every size, but to do this you need two, so that’s my first task.

As for crochet, this year I’d like to return to my first love: making gowns for fashion dolls, like you see in the Annie’s Attic bed doll society patterns and the Paradise Publications historical doll gowns. They’re gorgeous! For years I made these and love it. It feeds right into my doll collecting hobby that has slowed considerably over the years as I ran out of space! I took a break from fashion doll crochet when I had a baby and didn’t have the free time for spending hours in my craft room attending to detailed work like applying tiny crocheted roses to a doll’s perfectly coiled hair or sewing boa feathers around the hem of a dress. I have a doll in the Paradise Publication 1900 Century Celebration costume about 85% complete, waiting for my return. Maybe this will be the year I finish her.

So what’s on your New Year’s Craft Resolution list? A new technique? A new project? Let us know how we can help you succeed.

Welcome to the Knit and Crochet section of Creative Mind and Hands. I’m your host, Catherine Chant. I’m looking forward to sharing my love of these crafts with you. I’ve been crocheting for 35 years and it’s been my number one craft for as long as I can remember. In recent years, I’ve taught myself to knit and have come to enjoy it as much as I do crochet. Together we’ll explore these two crafts and try new things. So grab your hook, or your needles, or both, and get ready to get creative.