Marly Bird's Blog, page 173
February 27, 2017
How to Crochet the Playful Penguin Blanket
[image error]Recently I posted about how to make the Playful Penguin Applique that is used in the Playful Penguin Blanket. Today I am going to show you how to make the blanket.
Red Heart offers the Playful Penguin Blanket as a FREE pattern on their website. It is the perfect choice for a baby blanket. Post Stitches in the pattern create texture that any baby will love to play with. As you work the pattern you will see that the stitches resemble what you would see in a basketweave. If you haven’t worked front post double crochet stitches before I will show you exactly how to do it in the pattern video (which you can see below).
One of the great things about this pattern is that you can customize it in color but also by the applique that you choose to use. If you go to my Pinterst page you will see a new board where you can see a wide array of applique options that you could use to adorn this blanket with. Another option would be to personalize the blanket with a monogram (also found on my Pinterest Board). [image error]
Materials for the Playful Penguin Blanket:
The yarn in this pattern is Baby Hugs, one of Red Heart’s newer yarns that is wonderful for baby items! [image error]Baby Hugs comes in two different weights, medium and sport, and each is available in 18 colors. For this pattern you will use the medium weight.
[image error]Baby Hugs is unique in that it is made in the USA and it has been tested for harmful substances. Red Heart Baby Hugs has been tested and certified according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification. This gives you the assurance that Baby Hugs is free of harmful levels of more than 300 substances.
The post How to Crochet the Playful Penguin Blanket appeared first on Marly Bird.
February 23, 2017
Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird
It’s time for Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns!
*This post may contain affiliate links*
What can you win in Thursday Trivia:
For you to have a chance to win a prize package of $25 from Red Heart Yarns you must answer this week’s trivia question correctly. Make sure you read to the bottom of the post to get your clue for where to find the answer. Rafflecopter will help us choose a correct answer randomly to win, be sure you enter your email address so we can verify the winner.
Giveaway Timeframe:
You have one week to answer the question.
Winner will be announced the following Thursday at the launch of next week’s question.
Be sure to come back and see if you were the winner.
[image error] This Week’s question:
Please comment on this blog post (and enter the Rafflecopter widget)–What yarn is used in Marly’s new creativebug class for her hat (part 3)?
Spread the word:
Help spread the word about #ThursdayTrivia. You can find each week’s question on the blog under Thursday Trivia.
[image error] FINE PRINT:
The Thursday Trivia Giveaway with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns is open to US and Canada addresses only. One winner will win a $25 prize package from Red Heart Yarns. This giveaway ends on 3/1/17 at 11:59 pm Mountain US time. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. You must enter a blog post comment on THIS post and click the Rafflecopter button to be eligible. Click the button below to enter your information to be entered to win.
Checkout my FREE Patterns with Red Heart Yarns:
See all FREE patterns from Red Heart on their website.
The post Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird appeared first on Marly Bird.
February 22, 2017
Shaped Entrelac-New creativebug Workshop
[image error]Part three of my NEW creativebug knitted entrelac workshop is now live. In this part of the workshop I should you how to work knitted shaped entrelac in a hat pattern.
Through the past two parts of my workshop you have learned the basics of knitted entrelac making a rectangular shawl. You have also learned how to do entrelac in the round with a cowl. In this section of the workshop you will learn how to shape your entrelac making a hat.
Now that you’re comfortable knitting entrelac in the round and working in tiers, learn how to shape entrelac to make a graphic hat. This project can be made in many sizes, and by playing with color, you can make your hat bright and bold or subtle and soft. No need to add a pompom to this hat – the shaping creates a beautiful mosaic-like pattern at the top.
I designed this hat using Red Heart Soft Yarn. With 43 colors to choose from you will be able to find three colors that match together to make this warm hat. Through these three workshops you will have three new winter accessories to keep you warm until spring.
We will start from the beginning learning how to work the first color and then how to add the others colors that you selected. You can make the hat in shades of the same color or in three different colors that match together.
You will cast on at the bottom of the hat and work your decreases at the crown. I will show you each step and you can watch each section over and over until you get the technique just right. At the end of the class when you see your finished hat you will be so proud of all that you have learned.
I hope that you join me in the workshop. If you sign up now with creativebug you can get your first two weeks for free. You can try out some of my classes for free to see if you like the platform. Not only do I have my new workshop, knitted entrelac, but I also have a select of other knit and crochet classes you can watch.
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The post Shaped Entrelac-New creativebug Workshop appeared first on Marly Bird.
February 20, 2017
Lisa Shroyer, It’s Been Awhile!
Lisa Shroyer, it’s been awhile! Thank you for coming back to share what you’ve been up to since your last visit in 2011 on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly [image error]Bird.
In her 10+ years at Interweave, Lisa Shroyer has served as editor of knitscene and Interweave Knits magazines, written 3 books and countless blog posts, launched new brands, starred on knitting TV shows, touched a lot of yarn, and served in every role on staff from editorial assistant to editorial director. Currently, she is Content Strategist for Yarn + Fiber, overseeing Interweave’s Knitting, Weaving, Crochet, Spinning, and Needlework content teams.
Follow Lisa Shroyer’s in Ravelry for new designs, she also posts in Instagram, and all the fun pins she finds in Pinterest. If you follow Interweave’s articles, on occasion you’ll find an article written by her, like this one with a list of places a yarny would like to visit. You can hear Lisa’s earlier visit to the Yarn Thing podcast at this link.
If you missed getting to hear this live, you can still find it where it aired originally as an archived episode: http://tobtr.com/9788591 or with video in Marly’s Facebook page.
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The post Lisa Shroyer, It’s Been Awhile! appeared first on Marly Bird.
Transformation Sweater-New FREE Pattern
One of my newest FREE patterns on the Red Heart Yarn website is the Transformation Sweater. This is one of those pieces that can be worn in so many different ways that you will be able to get a lot of use out of it. It also uses one of Red Hearts newer yarns, Fashion Soft.
Fashion Soft is another in the family of the Red Heart Soft yarn that you love already. The other week we talked about Soft Essentials that just came out, an exclusive yarn with Michaels, which was a bulky weight yarn. Now Red Heart has a DK weight (3) in Soft as well, Fashion Soft. This is the perfect yarn choice for making garments.[image error]
There are already a few FREE patterns on Red Heart’s website using this yarn and one of them is my NEW Transformation Sweater. Fashion soft comes in 8 beautiful solid colors. You can mix and match them to come up with the combination that fits you best.
[image error] The Transformation Sweater gets its name from the many different ways that you can style it. The construction is very simple, perfect for those wanting to try their first garment piece. Designed using blank stitches you will get a look that resembles Tunisian, but isn’t Tunisian.
From the photo you can see that the sweater is made up of two different rectangles that are connected with two openings for your arms. I told you it was an easy construction! There is no shaping in the project and it comes in size small to XXL.
Below you will see some of the ways that you can wear the sweater.
Wearing Options for the Transformation Sweater:
Cowl neck sweater (small or large cowl)
Boat neck sweater
Hooded cowl
Cowl
[image error] Transformation Sweater-Boat Neck
[image error] Transformation Sweater-Cowl Only
[image error] Transformation Sweater-Small Cowl
[image error] Transformation Sweater-Large Cowl
The post Transformation Sweater-New FREE Pattern appeared first on Marly Bird.
February 17, 2017
Playful Penguin Blanket Applique Pattern
The Playful Penguin Blanket Applique Pattern is a cute crochet little critter that can be added to just about any crochet project. This free crochet pattern is an excerpt from the Playful Penguin Blanket by Alessandra Hayden (I love her designs). This blanket and with the cute penguin applique will be a crowd favorite baby shower gift.
*this post contains affiliate links*
You can find the free pattern for the full blanket and applique and a full video tutorial for the blanket here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdR78hiFt30
Along with the video for the Playful Penguin Blanket Pattern, I did a separate video for the Playful Penguin Blanket Applique Pattern. While I was filming the applique video I realized how confusing the instructions could be for a beginner. It’s not that the instructions are bad, far from it. But with the number of repeats needed to complete an oval and the number of repeats needed in each round, a person can get lost.
So, I broke down the standard pattern written instructions and made a long format version. Each stitch is represented in this long format version. Instead of finding a “repeat from…”, I wrote out the full repeat so the crocheter doesn’t have to count how many repeats he/she has completed. This is something I will often do for my own patterns and for classes I teach. It is something you can do too for other patterns that you find difficult to follow.
With this long format version of the Playful Penguin Blanket Applique Pattern and the video tutorial I think you will find success making this penguin crochet applique.
Long Format Instructions
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Video Tutorial
The post Playful Penguin Blanket Applique Pattern appeared first on Marly Bird.
February 16, 2017
Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird
It’s time for Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns!
*This post may contain affiliate links*
What can you win in Thursday Trivia:
For you to have a chance to win a prize package of $25 from Red Heart Yarns you must answer this week’s trivia question correctly. Make sure you read to the bottom of the post to get your clue for where to find the answer. Rafflecopter will help us choose a correct answer randomly to win, be sure you enter your email address so we can verify the winner.
Giveaway Timeframe:
You have one week to answer the question.
Winner will be announced the following Thursday at the launch of next week’s question.
Be sure to come back and see if you were the winner.
[image error] This Week’s question:
Please comment on this blog post (and enter the Rafflecopter widget)–What yarn is used in Marly’s new creativebug class for her cowl (part 2)?
Spread the word:
Help spread the word about #ThursdayTrivia. You can find each week’s question on the blog under Thursday Trivia.
[image error] FINE PRINT:
The Thursday Trivia Giveaway with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns is open to US and Canada addresses only. One winner will win a $25 prize package from Red Heart Yarns. This giveaway ends on 2/22/17 at 11:59 pm Mountain US time. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. You must enter a blog post comment on THIS post and click the Rafflecopter button to be eligible. Click the button below to enter your information to be entered to win.
[image error]
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Checkout my FREE Patterns with Red Heart Yarns:
See all FREE patterns from Red Heart on their website.
[image error]Marly Bird.
February 15, 2017
In-the-Round Entrelac Cowl-New creativebug Workshop
This week Part 2 of my NEW creativebug workshop went live. In this section of the workshop you will learn how to do in-the-round entrelac with a cowl.
Now that you know how to knit entrelac flat, you’re ready to work it in the round. In this lesson I will teach you this circular technique with a vibrant color-changing cowl.[image error]
You’ll begin by working a tier of triangles, then switch to the rectangles you know so well by now. As you continue building shapes tier-by- tier, the color-changing yarn creates a subtle and painterly effect throughout the cowl.
Bonus knitting party trick: In this class, I show you how to knit backwards, so you don’t have to turn your work when you do purl rows. How cool is that?
Be sure to check out my new class. If you sign up today you will get a two week FREE trial from creativebug. I hope you enjoy it.
In-the-round Entrelac Cowl: [image error]
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The post In-the-Round Entrelac Cowl-New creativebug Workshop appeared first on Marly Bird.
February 14, 2017
Valentine Pattern Roundup
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There are so many cute patterns out there that relate to Valentine’s day. I wanted to put together a few of my patterns that would be able to fit the bill if you are looking for something new this year. Below you will find my Valentine Pattern Roundup.
Valentine Pattern Roundup-with Hearts:
[image error]My Heart Throb blanket is a perfect start for your Valentine’s day. This is a FREE pattern from Red Heart Yarn made in Red Heart Super Saver.
Super Saver is an affordable yarn that comes in 132 colors allowing you to customize this blanket anyway you want. Although it was made in pinks you could make it in any color that makes your heart happy.
This pattern is different from the other C2C(corner to corner) patterns that you have seen. Rather than using double crochet, I prefer the half double for my patterns. If you haven’t tried the C2C technique before, you can take a look at my post about how to make a corner to corner blanket.
If you would like something for your kids with hearts I have the perfect hat for you to make. The Cherish Baby Hat was realized in Crochet Today! in the Jan/Feb 2013 issue.[image error]
The hearts around the crown of the hat make it the perfect choice for your project this Valentine’s Day. If you have the magazine be sure to dig out this issue and make this cute hat for your little one today.
[image error]Also with a heart theme you can make my First Crush Bath Mat, also a Crochet Today! pattern. The bath mat was in the May/June 2013 issue. Made out of Red Heart Super Saver you again have so many choices in colors to fit the room that you make it for.
To create the heart image you will create small square motifs and then join them together to make the heart and surrounding boarder. Since it is made of small motifs this is a great travel project that you can pack up one color to work on while you travel.
[image error]Another Crochet Today! Valentine’s pattern is my Sweetheart Mittens. The heart on the inside add just a little touch of love to this project. In the photo you see the heart on the palm of the hand but you could put the heart on the outside if you like that better.
You can find this pattern in the Sep/Oct 2012 issue of Crochet Today! Many are still experiencing some winter weather and these would be a cute way to keep your hands warm until we get into Spring.[image error]
Valentine Pattern Roundup-Shawls:
The next few patterns in my Valentine Pattern Roundup do not have hearts but are perfect for your date night. Another FREE pattern from [image error]Red Heart Yarns is my Cherry Blossom Shawl.
This crochet project has climbing vine lace through the middle and included some crocodile stitches to start the pattern. Designed in Red Heart Heart and Sole this lace weight shawl is the perfect accessory to keep you warm now and through the spring. Not only can you use it as a shawl but you can scrunch it up and use it as a scarf during these cold winter months.
[image error]Most of the patterns that I have shared are crochet but I do have a special shawl for the knitters out there. The Cherry Shawl is the perfect option for knitters to make for their special date night. This pattern was first released in Your Knitting Life June/July 2012.
Valentine Pattern Roundup-Purse:
To wrap up my Valentine Pattern Roundup I wanted to give you another accessory to take with you on date night. My Red Hot Purse is a great little purse that you could put your essentials in to take with you. This [image error]is a quick pattern that you could make for this weekend.
The Red Hot Purse gives you the opportunity to learn something new as well. I designed the pattern to have beads on the front flap. If you haven’t crochet with beads before you can check out my creativebug tutorial.[image error]
The post Valentine Pattern Roundup appeared first on Marly Bird.
February 9, 2017
creativebug Knitting Entrelac Class with Marly Bird
On Wednesday February 8th my newest workshop with creativebug was launched. This is a three part series with a new project released each week.
[image error]In the first week you will learn how to make an knitted entrelac shawl. This pattern uses Red Heart Yarns Boutique Unforgettable Yarn. With 20 colors to choose from you will be sure to find the perfect color for your project.
This cozy shawl is the perfect place to start your knitting entrelac adventure. Working in two colors, I demonstrate how to knit a single rectangle, then how to join and build rectangles to create the eye-catching checkerboard pattern. Hone your skills through repetition to create the shawl body, and at the end, add some quick and easy tassels for the finishing touch.
[image error] What you will learn in the knitted entrelac workshop:
knitted entrelac flat (shawl)
knitted entrelac in the round (cowl)
how to shape your knitted entrelac (hat)
If you sign up now you will get a two week free trial with creativebug. That means you could take the first two weeks of my knitting entrelac class.
If you love it you can stay a member for only $4.95 a month. What a steal for all of the different classes you can take! I currently have NINE classes on their platform.
creativebug has so many topics to choose from you won’t get bored with their selection. Be sure to check it out today.
Check out some of my other creativebug classes:
The post creativebug Knitting Entrelac Class with Marly Bird appeared first on Marly Bird.
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