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I Love Yarn Day: New Pattern to Celebrate!

I Love Yarn Day

It’s October 15th which means, I Love Yarn Day! For the 6th year running knitters, crocheters, weavers, and crafters nationwide are celebrating our passion for fiber arts. Thanks to the Craft Yarn Council, awareness for craft is elevated by uniting hundreds of thousands of people with a material they love: yarn. Pick up some wool (or wool alternative) today and make a little something. Put something positive into the world — even it’s just a few stitches at a time.

Looking for something to make? The CYC has gathered professional bloggers and designers like myself to donate patterns to inspire you to make. My contribution is a chunky, crochet beanie made with gorgeous yarn from Knit Collage.

Free Crochet Hat Pattern to Celebrate!

The Gran Dame Hat is crocheted in granny stripes and on a large hook. It can be whipped up and made in the same day, so that it’s absolutely doable for even the busiest of people. You can nab the pattern here.

Gran Dame Hat: Crocheted using a Clover Jumbo Amour Hook and Knit Collage Spun Cloud yarn.

 

Why I Love Yarn

The CYC asked me to describe why I personally love yarn. Here’s what I said.

I love yarn because… it’s an object of possibility. There are very few limitations to what you can do with string, but add to it the softness, color and texture of today’s yarns and, well, it’s like a bit of magic in a ball band!

Read the rest of the interview here.

Why do you love yarn? Has working with it positively effected your life in any way? Share your story in the comments section!

Have a lovely, handmade day!

xx,

Vickie

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Crocheted Skull Coasters: Go Skull & Granny this Halloween!

The most morose month of the year is almost upon us, so let us celebrate with something sinister! This week we’re using a Clover Amour Hook and chunky yarn to make crocheted skull coasters for the dastardly drinkers among us. Granny crochet stripes take a terrifying turn when colors are changed mid-round to highlight the skeleton key that is a circle of scs and a cluster of dcs. Happy haunted hooking!

xx, Vickie

How to make: Crocheted Skull Coasters

Materials

Chunky-weight yarn in colors A.) White, B.) Black, C.) White

Size U.S. J (6 mm) Clover Amour Crochet Hook 

Clover Jumbo Tapestry Needle

 

 

Finished Size

4 3/4″ square/12 cm

 

Directions

With A, ch 4. Join rnd with a sl st.

Rnd 1: Ch 1 (does not count as sc), 6 sc in center ring. Join rnd with a sl st in beg ch-1. –6 sts

Rnd 2: Ch1, *2sc in next st; rep from * around. Join rnd with a sl st in beg ch-1. –12 sts.

 

Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in same st as ch. Join B; cut A. With B, ch 3 , *sk 2, 3dc in next st, ch 3; rep from * twice more. Join rnd with a sl st in top of beg ch-3.

 

 

Rnd 4: Ch 4 (counts as dc & ch 1), *[3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next ch-3 sp; rep from * twice more, [3 dc, ch 3, 2 dc] in last ch-3 sp, join with a sl si in 3rd ch of beg ch-4.

Join C; cut B.

Rnd 5: With C, ch 2 (counts as hdc), *hdc in next st, and every st until corner ch-sp , 3 hdc in corner st; rep from * 3 times, ending with hdc at end of rnd, join with a sl st in 2nd chain of beg ch-2.

 

Rnd 6: Ch 1 (doesn’t count as sc), sc in same space and in every st around. Join rnd with a sl st at beg ch.

 

Fasten off.

 

Finishing



With B and Jumbo Tapestry Needle, embroider skeleton face onto Color A center.

Weave in ends. Block, if necessary.

 

Hooked on Halloween crochet? Here’s some more stitch witchery to aim your (Clover ) Amour at: the Trick or Sweet Dress!

Trick or Sweet Dress: Crocheted Bodice + Fabric Skirt.

 

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Ask Me Monday #46: Big Knits, Macrame Fringe & Applied I-Cord Loops

This week’s Ask Me Monday was sponsored by the folks at Berroco Yarns. Their new yarn, Macro is perfect for big knits, chunky crochet projects, arm knitting, macrame fringe, and more! Check out their website to see the Macro color palette as well as all of their other, beautiful yarns!

Go Big: Macrame Fringe and Applied i-Cord Loop Edging

You’ve likely seen them in magazines, in stores, and on the runway — for the 3rd year running big knits are, well, BIG this season. With demand, brings all kinds of supply from yarn companies. There’s no longer a need to triple strand yarn to go thick with your knits. Now there are loads of category 7 (giant) yarns on the market, just waiting to be transformed almost instantaneously into a lush accessory!

With great yarn however comes, very little responsibility (see what I did there?) What I mean is, that more often than not, simple stitches work best with big fibers. Seed stitch, ribbing, and even plain ol’ garter stitch really pop on a grander scale, often making complicated stitch work seem unnecessary. Still, though…some of us are fancy, or at least like our projects to be. Enter this week’s tutorials.

Basic fringe gets a bold new look when it’s given a macrame make-over. I show how alternating square knots can bring the boho look to any scarf.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for i-cord! Ok, that didn’t really work. My point is that i-cord knit on size U.S. 19 needles — and attached in a loop-d-loop formation — is super fun. It’s very octopus chic, if you will. Will you, though?

Well, at least give the technique a try — I even show how to attache it as you knit so there’s not sewing later. Click below to watch both tutorials.

Watch & learn how to make bold embellishments!

Thanks for spending a little part of your week with me! Be sure to tune in again next Monday for a new episode LIVE on Facebook.

Breathe in. Craft out.,

Vickie

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Vickie Howell Color Collection for Valley Yarns Super Bulky!

Vickie Howell + Valley Yarns Super Bulky

I’m thrilled to have partnered with my longtime industry friends at WEBS, and couldn’t be more excited to share my color collection with our yarn-y community! As a designer, getting the opportunity to delve into the world of my own color story, then apply it to an existing, beloved line of wool is nothing short of a delight. I hope you enjoy my mid-century palette of sunshine and cool, along with the totally doable D.I.Y. projects I’ve designed to go with them.

I believe that knitting and crochet should be accessible for even the busiest people — we all deserve to stitch and smile. So grab some needles or a hook, and stitch yourself happy with the Vickie Howell for Valley Yarns Superwash Super Bulky Color Collection!

Ziggy Scarf in color: Aqua Oasis

 

Arrow Head Hat in colors: Castaway Coral, Aqua Oasis & Grey Gardens

Upward Spiral Beanie in colors: Grey Gardens and Moontower Mustard

Curvaceous Cowl in color: Boss Byzantium

If you’re looking for supplies and patterns for quick gifts for all of your friends this holiday season, then you’ve come to the right place. Nab ’em now and enjoy!

xx,

Vickie

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A Conversation with Knitty Magazine Founder, Amy Singer

Amy Singer: Knitty Magazine Editor and Publisher

This week I talked with Amy Singer — the editor and publisher of Knitty, the longest-living, online knitting magazine. Amy’s publication gave me my first break as a designer back in 2003, and our paths have crossed many, many times since then. We talked about her guest spot on a TV show I used to host, her allergy to a material some would consider crucial in the knitting and crochet industry, what the genisis was for her launching a web zine pre-mainstream blog and social media days, how crowd funding completely changed her business, and about how some somewhat common –although not often-enough discussed — women’s health issues can really harsh a gals’ creative mellow. Amy is smart, open, and always fun to chat with. 

Listeners can find CRAFT-ish on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher. Then go to the Show Notes page to see photos of some of the designs from the issue, and for info on Amy’s Patreon campaign.

A Special Deal for CRAFT*ish Listeners

Thanks to our sponsor, Makers’ Mercantile who would like to celebrate Amy Singer by offering CRAFT-ish listeners a great deal on HiKoo yarns. Buy 4 balls, get one FREE! Just use code VickieMakes at checkout.

Enjoy!

–Vickie

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Home Studio Tour

Inside Vickie’s Home Studio

I love seeing people’s workspaces. You can learn a lot about the way people create by getting a glimpse into where they do so. Franky, up until now, my space was mostly a hot mess. The time and effort hadn’t been made to create the light, open, and relatively organized home studio that I’ve always wanted. I think in the back of my mind I was holding out for a huge, warehouse space that made both geographic in fiscal sense for my life and business. You know the kind — with loads of natural light, exposed brick and overlooking the city, but was also close enough to walk to? (Note, I live in Texas. Most things aren’t close enough to walk to.) Alas, though handmade home is where the heart is, and thusly so is my workspace. Recently, we gave the room I use for an office a makeover including ditching carpet in favor of Pergo floors, bright white paint in lieu of dark teal (which is a color I love, but not so great for shooting photo and video around), and bringing in as much shelving as could fit in the space. The result: a great compromise. A cool space that looks a like a small, New York City apartment, but in the comfort of my own home located on 1.5 acres of land in Austin. Watch the video above for a peek, then head on over to Facebook to post a picture of your creative space — I’d love to see it!

Breathe in. Craft out.,

Vickie

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A Conversation with Alabama Chanin Founder, Natalie Chanin

Natalie Chanin: Sustainable Design Pioneer & Alabama Chanin Founder

This week I sat down with Natalie Chanin, a pioneer in the slow design movement and the creative force behind the sustainably-made goods lifestyle company, Alabama Chanin. I first learned about the company (and its design leader) during a visit to the Makers’ Mercantile shop in Kent, Washington. The latest Alabama Chanin fabrics had just been delivered and Education Manager, Rhonda Fargnoli gave me a sneak peak while we fawned over their beauty. I was fascinated by the artisanship of the product, but even more so, the feeling that the Alabama Chanin ethos seemed to evoke in entire Makers’ Mercantile staff. I wanted to know more. Thankfully, Natalie agreed to come on the podcast.

Due to a scheduling conflict our conversation was unfortunately cut short, so I was unable to squeeze in all of the questions I’d intended to ask her. During the time we did have, though Natalie filled me in on the slow-fashion philosophy, her signature, piece-work design style, and the importance of knowing where the origin materials for what you put in and on your body come from. Someday, I’d love to continue our conversation. Only, instead of talking over Skype, perhaps our chat can happen while sitting across from each other at a farmhouse table, eating organic tomatoes from her crops in her Alabama factory.

Listeners can find CRAFT-ish on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher. Then go to the Show Notes page to see photos of a few pieces from the latest, Alabama Chanin Collection and get links to all of their projects.

Thanks to our sponsor, Makers’ Mercantile who would like to celebrate Natalie Chanin by giving CRAFT-ish listeners who spend $75 or more on any Alabama Chanin products at Makers’ Mercantile, will receive an Alabama Chanin 100% Organic Cotton Zipper bag and pencil FREE. Just use code VickieMakes at checkout (while supplies last.)

Enjoy!

–Vickie

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Ask Me Monday: How to Crochet a Triangle Shawl + NEW KIT!

How to Crochet a Triangle Shawl from the Top-center Out

Episode 45 of Ask Me Monday was a fun one because not only did I teach a cool way to crochet a triangle shape shawl, but I also announced my latest collaboration with Interweave on a collection of Yarncraft kits. You can see the full collection here, but scroll down to see the first one available.

Watch the full episode of Ask Me Monday now!

First Vickie Howell Yarncraft Kit Available Now!

Once you’ve watched the  video for a tutorial on how to get started on the Torrance shawl you’ll be amazed at how a few stitches quickly form a triangle right before your eyes. Once you’re hooked, then nab a kit. Wear it as a layering piece for a perfect Fall addition to your wardrobe!

NEW KIT: The Torrance Triangle Shawl in Mrs. Crosby Satchel yarn. AS SEEN ON ASK ME MONDAY

As always, thanks for virtually hanging out with me. Be sure to tune in again next Monday for a new episode LIVE on Facebook.

Enjoy!

xx,

Vickie

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Super Size Your Scarf Knitting!

Knit Super Scarf



Today is the launch of the Craft Yarn Council‘s Super Scarf initiative, and I’m pleased as punch to be joining in on the festivities! Not only does it mean I had an excuse to knit-up one of the biggest (literally) trends for Fall/Winter, but for the first time I got to play with the new Size 17, Takumi Bamboo Circular needles. So. fun. But wait, there’s more! I’ve partnered up with the folks at WEBS to create a signature, Vickie Howell Color Collection in their new, Valley Yarns Super Bulky, and used it for this project — the first in this yarn yet, to be shown publicly! The collection is available for pre-order today!

Thanks to the magic of super bulky yarn and slick, comfortable circular needles, (Even though this project is knit straight, I highly recommend knitting it on Takumi Bamboo Circulars so that the cord can hold the bulk of the knit super scarf. Friends don’t let friends put too much strain on their knitting wrists!) this project offers huge results without a hefty time commitment. This means, pretty much anyone can join in on this fad.

(Psst…even if you don’t think you’ll wear one, a knit super scarf looks pretty amazing hanging on a wall as a work of art & craft!)

So go big. Go bold. Super-size your style by knitting a Super Scarf! Here’s how.

Super Size Scarf

Materials

Valley Yarns Super Bulky: Colors by Vickie Howell, in colors: (A) 8 balls Tiki Turquoise, and (B) 1 ball Moontower Mustard.

Size U.S. 17 Clover Takumi (any length) Circular Needle

Clover Amour Crochet Hook (for fringe)

Clover Jumbo Tapestry Needle

Takumi U.S. 17s in action!

Finished Measurements

10″/25.5 cm wide x 96″/244 cm long

Gauge

Approx 9 sts x 12 rows = 4″/10 cm in pattern stitch

Directions

With A, CO 23 sts.

Rows 1-2: Knit.

Row 3: K1, k to last stitch wrapping yarn twice around needle for each stitch, k1. (You’ll have almost double the loops on the needle at this point.)

Row 4: K1, * slip next 3 stitches knit-wise to right-hand needle dropping extra loops, pass these 3 stitches back to left-hand needle, [k1, p1, k1] through 3 stitches together; rep from * to last stitch, k1.

These 4 rows make the Little Crown Stitch pattern. Click below to watch a recording of this week’s Facebook Live stream, Ask Me Monday, to see how to knit the Little Crown stitch on Takumi Bamboo Size 17s to make a knit Super Scarf

Rep these 4 rows until piece measures 60″/152 cm

Cut A. Join B.

 

Stripe sequence:

With B, work two, 4 row repeats.

Cut B. Rejoin A.

With A, work one, 4 row repeat.

Cut A. Rejoin B.

Repeat last 12 rows, once more.

Cut A. Rejoin B.

With B, work two, 4 row repeats.

Cut B. Rejoin A.

With a, repeat 4 row stitch pattern until piece measures just short of 96″/244 cm long.

Knit last two rows.

BO.

Finishing

Make Braided Fringe: (Make 10)

Cut 3, 20′′/51 cm, strands of yarn. Holding strands together, fold in half. Insert crochet hook through RS of scarf edge; lay yarn at the folded point over the hook. Pull yarn through, from back to front, just enough to create loop. Set aside hook and use hands to fold the loop over the edge of the project, pulling the ends of the yarn through the loop. Pull tight-ish.

You’ll now have 6 strands hanging (3 stands folded). Separate into 3 groups of 2 strands; braid. Knot off. Trim and fray ends.

Repeat process, attaching 5 fringe bunches evenly across each end of scarf.

 

 

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Tuesday Morning Scarf Pattern

Tuesday Morning: Yarn Score Scarf Pattern

There’s nothing like a store score. You know what I’m talking about—that unexpected find that makes your heart race! These are gems that Tuesday Morning is known for, especially when it comes to home decor, housewares and toys. Did you know, though that those little bits of bliss aren’t only for the interior design enthusiasts amongst us? Oh no, my stitcher friends, there are also magical finds for those of the fiber-loving persuasion. That’s right, knitters, I’m talking yarn. And not just standard craft yarn—although they carry that, too—but higher end, super merino wools, cottons and novelty blends. This means that whether you’re planning on yarn wrapping a wreath or knitting a luxury accessory, the Craft Supplies section is a great place to visit before you start!

I recently teamed up with Tuesday Morning to play with some of the aforementioned, gorgeous yarn. The result: a head-turning scarf project that can be made as unique as you are by simply, subbing out yarns for the ones that speak to you.

Make it!

Read more and get the free pattern on the store Blog, then get thee to Tuesday Morning to score yarn for your scarf!

Enjoy!

xx,

Vickie

P.S. Don’t forget to tag @vickiehowell and @tuesdaymorning with photos of your finished, Yarn Score Scarf!

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