Marly Bird's Blog, page 176

Yarn Thing sponsors XRX, Stitches and Knitters Magazine CEO Benjamin Levisay

Yarn Thing sponsors XRX, Stitches and Knitters Magazine CEO Benjamin Levisay has BIG NEWS break on our Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird!

Benjamin Levisay is a second-generation partner in this 29-year-old company originally started by his uncle, Alexis Xenakis, his father, David Xenakis, and their partner Elaine Rowley. Benjamin has been a part of the fiber industry since his family opened a yarn shop in Sioux Falls, SD when he was a small boy, an enterprise that later evolved into XRX. After a career in the software industry, Benjamin rejoined the company nine years ago as CEO and Director of Marketing & Sales. He is more commonly known as one of the hosts of STITCHES and board member of Halos of Hope. It is his intention to carry on the legacy of passion and commitment that characterized his family’s contributions to the fiber world.

Follow all that the Knitting Universe offers at their website, www.KnittingUniverse.com, check out the tabs for the magazines and books (also offered in e-form in case you’re shopping for last minute gifts!), and the tab to the various Events and Camps! They are also in Facebook, and several groups in Ravelry, one for each of the events.

Previously, Benjamin has visited a few times, if you wish to listen to more of him, check out his visit from March 2011, June 2011, and January 2015. If you noticed a big gap, that can be filled with the episodes of his own podcast, Fiber Hooligans.

In case you missed hearing this live it’s still available as an archived episode: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/12/20/yarn-thing-sponsors-xrx-stitches-and-knitters-magazine-ceo-benjamin-levisay or with your favorite podcast catcher like iTunes or Stitcher Radio. OR you can view Marly’s behind-the-scenes video from the Birds of a Feather Studio that aired on her Facebook page. (will fix the link to the actual video after the show).

The post Yarn Thing sponsors XRX, Stitches and Knitters Magazine CEO Benjamin Levisay appeared first on Marly Bird.

How to Foundation Single Crochet

Many times I hear that the starting chain of a project is slightly tighter than the rest of the gauge, making the project more narrow at the start. I will hear that the starting edge is not as stretchy as it should be for a project. One of the ways to avoid these issues is to use a foundation single crochet. Let me show you how to foundation single crochet in one of the new Red Heart Yarn’s FREE patterns.

Another bonus of using the the foundation single crochet start is that you will have a beautiful V stitch edge. This is a very useful way to start when you want to crochet into the bottom of your work and for getting a stretch starting edge.

To start the Simone’s Open Wave Shawl, made with Red Heart Gleam, we are asked to use the foundation single crochet. When using this method to start you are creating not only the starting chain but the first row of your pattern. While using this method you are keeping the stitches loose allowing you to have that stretchy edge.

Crocheters can use the video I have below to help them learn how to do the foundation single crochet.

YouTube Tutorials:

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel for more tutorials.

 

 

The post How to Foundation Single Crochet appeared first on Marly Bird.

Free Bulky Crochet Messy Bun Hat

Get a Free Bulky Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern that is quick to make, fun to wear, and a perfect last minute gift! The Chunky Monkey Bulky Hat pattern is the newest accessory off my hook (my daughter named the pattern).

Super Bulky yarn isn’t always my go to for hats but as time is speeding by as I make last minute gifts I reached for the Red Heart Grande yarn and decided it was going to be a hat. The crazy thing is, today I went to a department store and saw a lot of super bulky hats for sale. As I was eyeing the hats a group of teenage girls began to ooh and ahhh all about the hats and three of them walked away to purchase one each. So, I guess there must be a market

Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern

Get a Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern that is for Him and Her! The Ribbed For Him and Her hat pattern is a fun project to crochet. It does take a bit more time than a simple double crochet messy bun hat but it is worth it!

First question everybody has is, “what did you add to the brim to make it an actual brim?” The answer to that is NOTHING! The unique construction of the brim allows it to extend from the forehead as one is intended to do.

Learn how to make this wonderful hat that only uses 1 ball of yarn. Making this project is not only cute but cheap to make! And it’s a great gift for your loved one, a  great addition to your craft fair wares, and a great addition to your own wardrobe.

Add to favorites and Queue the Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern, “Ribbed for Him and Her” pattern on Ravlery

**this post includes affiliate links**

Ribbed for Him and Her Hat Pattern
Pattern Details

Finished Circumference: 20” around at base of hat.

Gauge

16 sts and 12 rows = 4″ [10 cm]

Yarn

[4 Medium] RED HEART® With Love™, Art. E400, available in solid color 7 oz (198 g), 370 yd (338 m); multicolor 5 oz (141 g), 230 yd (211 m), skeins

Hook

Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 5 mm [US H-8]

Notions

Removable Stitch Markers (Marly uses these)

Bent Tip Tapestry Needle

Notes:

Make all slip stitches on BRIM through back loop only (TBLO).
When going to the body of the hat work through both loops.

Stitches Used (and YouTube Video links to help you learn)

Chain Stitch (ch)
Slip Stitch (Sl St)
Through Back Loop Only (TBLO)
Through Front Loop Only (TFLO)
Foundation Double Crochet
Double Crochet
Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC)
Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC)
Front Post Double Crochet Two Together (FPDC2Tog)

Pattern Stitch

Foundation Double Crochet: Ch 3, yarn over (yo) hook, insert hook into 3rd loop from hook, yo and pull up a loop, yo draw through one (this is the chain of the foundation chain), three loops remain on hook, (yo, draw through 2) twice. One Foundation Double Crochet completed.

1×1 Double Crochet Ribbing Pattern (in the round)

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 2 (does not counts as a stitch), * fpdc around next st, bpdc around next st; rep from * to end, join with a slip stitch into the first fpdc. Do not turn.

Repeat round 1 for 1 x 1 Double Crochet Ribbing Pattern

Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern
Brim of hat

Chain 6, slip stitch (sl st) in the 2nd chain from hook through back loop only (TBLO) and in each chain to end, ch 1, turn –5 slip stitches.

Place a marker in the middle stitch

Row 2 (increase row): Slip stitch in each stitch TBLO to 1 stitch BEFORE the marker, sl st TBLO TWICE in next stitch (this is the stitch before marker), sl st TBLO in marked stitch, move marker to newly made middle stitch, sl st TBLO TWICE in next stitch, sl st TBLO to end of row, ch 1, turn–2 stitches increased.

Row 3: Slip stitch in each stitch TBLO to marked stitch, sl st in marked stitch, move marker to newly made middle stitch, sl st in each stitch TBLO to end of row, ch 1, turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until there are 21 stitches. Continue to move middle stitch marker up each row.

Use a second marker, place it at the end of the last row 2 you completed. This will help you know where you need to measure from for the next part.

Work row 3 only until the piece measures 5” from the 2nd marker then remove the 2nd marker.

Row 1 (decrease): Slip stitch in each stitch TBLO to 1 stitch before center marked stitch, skip stitch, sl st in center marked stitch, move marker to newly made middle stitch, skip next stitch, sl st in each stitch TBLO to end of row, ch 1, turn–2 stitches decreased.

Row 2: Slip stitch in each stitch TBLO to marked stitch, sl st in marked stitch, move marker to newly made middle stitch, sl st in each stitch TBLO to end of row, ch 1, turn.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 5 stitches remain ending after a row 2. Do NOT fasten off.

1st Finishing

Fold piece in half, working only into edge of every other row, sl st to close piece. You need an even number at the end of the row. I had a total of 34 total stitches.

Body of Hat

Rnd 1: Continue working from the slip stitches used to fold brim, work 46 foundation double crochet, then, working into the first slip stitch of the brim, join to work in the round by doing a double crochet through front loop only (TFLO) of the sl sts that closed the brim to the end, join with a slip stitch into the first foundation double crochet. Do Not Turn—You need a total of 80 dc at the end of this round. If the number of slip stitches after the 1st finishing is not 34 then you should alter the number of foundation double crochet you do to get to the 80 total dc needed.

Yes, at the point where the foundation double crochet joins the slip stitches on brim it will be separated; that will be seamed closed later.

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), front post double crochet (FPDC) into the first stitch (this is the stitch you just joined to with a slip stitch), back post double crochet (BPDC) into the next stitch, * FPDC, BPDC; repeat from * to end of the rnd, join with a slip stitch into the first FPDC. Do Not Turn.

Repeat rnd 2 until body of hat measures 6″ from rnd 1 of the body of hat.

Crown of Hat

Rnd 1: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), * FPDC into the first stitch (this is the stitch you just joined to with a slip stitch), skip the next BPDC; repeat from * to end of the rnd, join with a slip stitch into the first FPDC. Do Not Turn. –40 FPDC remaining.

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), FPDC into the first stitch, and in each stitch around. Do Not Turn.

Rnd 3: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), FPDC2tog over two stitches; rep from * to end of rnd, join with a slip stitch into the first FPDC2tog. Do Not Join. –20 FPDC2Tog

Rnd 4: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), FPDC into the first stitch, and in each stitch around. Do Not Turn.

—For Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern — Messy Bun Only– Fasten off leaving long tail. Continue to the 2nd Finishing. 

Rnd 5: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), FPDC2tog over two stitches; rep from * to end of rnd, join with a slip stitch into the first FPDC2tog. Fasten off leaving long tail. –10 FPDC2Tog.

2nd Finishing

Closed Hat: Thread the tail of the yarn in a Bent Tip Tapestry Needle. Thread the needle through the FRONT LOOP ONLY of all stitches on the last row completed, pull together like a drawstring. Push needle to the inside of hat weave the tail in on the wrong side of the crochet hat to secure.

Messy Bun Hat: Thread the tail of the yarn in a Bent Tip Tapestry Needle and weave the tail in on the wrong side of the crochet hat to secure.

Use another length of yarn to seam the edges of the brim to the base of the hat. Weave in any remaining tails on wrong side of crochet hat.

 

 

There you have it. A fun and Free Crochet Messy Bun Hat Pattern that can also be made into a basic hat! Perfect for both men and women. Here are a couple more graphics for you to use either on your Ravelry Project Page, Facebook Post, Pinterest Link or your blog. Please feel free to use these images but please link back to this page

Let’s Meet Mary Scott Huff

Let’s Meet Mary Scott Huff on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird today.

Mary Scott Huff is the author of six knitting books: The New Stranded Colorwork, Teach Yourself Visually Color Knitting, Fun and Fantastical Hats to Knit, Fun and Fantastical Slippers to Knit,The Creative Kids Photo Guide to Knitting, and The Mitten Handbook. An Information Technology refugee, Mary now leads a yarn-centered life. The many friends she’s found along the way have helped her become an internationally-recognized designer, teacher and author. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Mary shares a wee little house there with her husband, two children, some Scottish Terriers, and more yarn than is strictly necessary.

You can join Mary on her adventures playing with string at MaryScottHuff.com, and her Ravelry Designer page. She keeps a very low profile online so if you like what she spoke about, I would recommend you sign up for her updates on the front page of her website.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/12/13/lets-meet-mary-scott-huff

 

 

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The Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern

I have just added a NEW pattern to my Ravelry store, Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern! This pattern was originally featured in Love of Crochet, in their Winter 2014 issue. I just got the rights back to this pattern and have added it to my Ravelry store so that everyone can enjoy it. My NEW patten: The Mountain Mist Poncho is the perfect layering piece. (Make sure you read to the end for a limited time special offer) *affiliate links in post*

One of the great things about the Mountain Mist Poncho is that it can be worn as a poncho or as a wrap. The Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern is a great pattern for those that want to expand their skills. The familiar part of this pattern is that it is a long rectangle, there is no shaping in this pattern, so you can think of it as an oversized scarf. The skill building comes from working on the cables and lace sections. This is a one size fits most pattern. If you look at the two images you will see how the poncho fits differently depending on your size.

Sometimes I hear that cables are scary but I have both a written and charted pattern for you to help you get through the cable section. Although I don’t have a video tutorial for this pattern you can check out my video with Creativebug about crochet cables. In this video you can practice on a small swatch to understand the concept of crochet cables and then apply it to the Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern.

Unfortunately the yarn that I used in the original pattern is no longer available. Since you can’t get the exactly yarn let’s talk a little bit about what you should be looking for. When selecting the yarn to use for this pattern please consider that the cable will give the fabric some weight. This doesn’t mean that it will be heavy to wear but you must take into account that you need a yarn that can support the cables when you wash it. In my opinion the best type of yarn for this project is something that contains wool. Using a heavy weight wool yarn will also allow the cables to POP off the fabric, giving a contrast between the cables and the lace.

I know that there are many out there that don’t like wool but this doesn’t need to be made with 100% wool. I find that a marino/wool combination works great and is nice and soft. Although I haven’t made the project in another yarn here are some of my suggestions on what could make some good substitutions. All of these yarns are from KnitPicks but you could use anything you like, make sure to swatch first to see how the cables act after being washed.

KnitPick Yarn Substitutions for The Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern:

Swish Worsted-100% Superwash Merino Wool
Preciosa Worsted-100% Merino
City Tweed-55% Merino wool, 25% Superfine alpaca, 20% Donegal tweed
Shine Worsted-60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal® natural beech wood fiber

Learning about Yarn:

Yarn substitution can be something that holds people back from making a pattern. When you see the finished project most people want to make something that is similar when they are finished. If you want to learn more about substituting your yarn Clara Parks is a great teacher. She has a selection on Amazon of yarn substitution books. Please note that her books are written for the knitters out there but everything that she talks about can be applied to crochet. You can also head over to Craftsy and check out Clara’s class on picking yarns.

Special Offer:

I hope that you all love my New Pattern: The Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern. As a special thank you to my blog readers I am offering $2 off The Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern through December 16th, 2016. If you use  THIS LINK The Mountain Mist Poncho will be added directly to your basket. This offer is only valid in my Ravelry Store. You must use the CODE: mountainmist for the offer to be applied. I will NOT be extending this promotion.

For our Knitting Lovers:

If you love this but don’t crochet come back later this week to hear all about my Great Falls Poncho. The Great Falls Poncho is the knit sister to the Mountain Mist Poncho Knit Pattern.

Don’t forget to check out more patterns from Marly Bird.

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the One Skein or Less book by Marly Bird. 

Look at more patterns by Marly Bird

Check out Marly Bird Designs

The post The Mountain Mist Poncho Crochet Pattern appeared first on Marly Bird.

Learn about Harrison Richards Furls Crochet

Learn about Harrison Richards Furls Crochet. The man behind the sexy and sleek hooks was the guest on the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird today and told us the story about his amazing crochet hook. Harrison’s first visit of what we hope will be many more.

Harrison Richards
(image from @Crochet Savvy Magazine)

We don’t often visit with folks who have British accents (Northampton, England), so listening to his background story was lovely to hear. He attended St Andrews in Austin, Texas, which teaches K-12. While there he decided he wanted have a creative business where he would travel worldwide and provide a really cool product. He crocheted and knit, and in high school he made crochet hooks for his high school sweetheart, and sold a few to other friends. In college, he began tons of crochet hooks and sold them on Etsy. In two days he had a LARGE order for Loop (shop in the UK) and Furls Crochet was born.

@Furls Crochet, Candy Shop

At first, he made all kinds of shapes and dimensions, to explore what was effective, about 1,500 were made by hand. After about 8 months, he needed help with customer service among other things, which was hard to do, because he feels very strongly about the quality of his product. He brought on Chris Baker as a wood worker, later others to continue the Alpha Wood series (see also the Limited Edition) then Harrison began explore other materials, like the Candy Shop line.

Harrison studied how we use our hands, the MCP joint and it’s function when we crochet. Preventing arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel and the damage that is very hard to heal or repair, many times irreparable, leading to having to give up handcrafts. Using a bigger hook or the ergonomic hooks can help. Harrison strives to make his hooks more comfortable for our hands as well as beautifully unique shapes!

The Furls Odyssey line is a nickel plated hook, heavier at that end for productivity, and, as the website says: unique center of balance creates a weight differential, driving hand energy into crocheting momentum rather than hand strain, with streamlined shape is extremely comfortable and relieves acute tension in knuckles, hands, and wrists.

Harrison says his someday have his hooks as easy to find and as affordable as what we might find at the big box stores. Plus he is working toward organizing our tools and streamlining our process. In the meantime, he has teamed up with friends in the crochet world for projects like Crochet-Alongs, which is where Lorene Eppolite of Cre8tion Crochet comes into the story. Each month on the Furls Blog, a pattern will be released and the designer will guide the Crochet-Along, last month was Crocodile-stitch fingerless gloves that friends of the participants noticed and asked for!

I love when he said ‘Life is too short, to work with ugly crochet Hooks’, and I believe I heard you cheering!

Furls Crochet can be found at the website: www.FurlsCrochet.com (look for wholesale if you are a LYS owners) and followed in social media at their Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube (or Vimeo), Pinterest and Tumbler.

If you missed getting to hear this LIVE, you can listen to the archived episode http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/12/08/harrison-richards-of-furls-crochet-with-lorene-eppolite or you can watch the behind-the-scenes video from her Facebook page.

The post Learn about Harrison Richards Furls Crochet appeared first on Marly Bird.

Harrison Richards of Furls Crochet with Lorene Eppolite

Harrison Richards of Furls Crochet with Lorene Eppolite (- who we didn’t hear from, but she’s been on before, link below) was the wonderful visit on the Yarn Thing podcast today, Harrison’s first visit of what we hope will be many more.

Harrison Richards
(image from @Crochet Savvy Magazine)

We don’t often visit with folks who have British accents (Northampton, England), so listening to his background story was lovely to hear. He attended St Andrews in Austin, Texas, which teaches K-12. While there he decided he wanted have a creative business where he would travel worldwide and provide a really cool product. He crocheted and knit, and in high school he made crochet hooks for his high school sweetheart, and sold a few to other friends. In college, he began tons of crochet hooks and sold them on Etsy. In two days he had a LARGE order for Loop (shop in the UK) and Furls Crochet was born.

@Furls Crochet, Candy Shop

At first, he made all kinds of shapes and dimensions, to explore what was effective, about 1,500 were made by hand. After about 8 months, he needed help with customer service among other things, which was hard to do, because he feels very strongly about the quality of his product. He brought on Chris Baker as a wood worker, later others to continue the Alpha Wood series (see also the Limited Edition) then Harrison began explore other materials, like the Candy Shop line.

Harrison studied how we use our hands, the MCP joint and it’s function when we crochet. Preventing arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel and the damage that is very hard to heal or repair, many times irreparable, leading to having to give up handcrafts. Using a bigger hook or the ergonomic hooks can help. Harrison strives to make his hooks more comfortable for our hands as well as beautifully unique shapes!

The Furls Odyssey line is a nickel plated hook, heavier at that end for productivity, and, as the website says: unique center of balance creates a weight differential, driving hand energy into crocheting momentum rather than hand strain, with streamlined shape is extremely comfortable and relieves acute tension in knuckles, hands, and wrists.

Harrison says his someday have his hooks as easy to find and as affordable as what we might find at the big box stores. Plus he is working toward organizing our tools and streamlining our process. In the meantime, he has teamed up with friends in the crochet world for projects like Crochet-Alongs, which is where Lorene Eppolite of Cre8tion Crochet comes into the story. Each month on the Furls Blog, a pattern will be released and the designer will guide the Crochet-Along, last month was Crocodile-stitch fingerless gloves that friends of the participants noticed and asked for!

I love when he said ‘Life is too short, to work with ugly crochet Hooks’, and I believe I heard you cheering!

Furls Crochet can be found at the website: www.FurlsCrochet.com (look for wholesale if you are a LYS owners) and followed in social media at their Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube (or Vimeo), Pinterest and Tumbler.

If you missed getting to hear this LIVE, you can listen to the archived episode http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/12/08/harrison-richards-of-furls-crochet-with-lorene-eppolite or you can watch the behind-the-scenes video from her Facebook page.

The post Harrison Richards of Furls Crochet with Lorene Eppolite appeared first on Marly Bird.

Yarn Review-Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle

Today on my Facebook page I will be having a Facebook Live to yarn review Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle. Be sure to like my Facebook page and turn on the live notifications. If you turn on notifications you will never miss when I am live. See you this afternoon!!!

The post Yarn Review-Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle appeared first on Marly Bird.

Carol Feller Knitting with Rainbows

Carol Feller Knitting with Rainbows, a book of knitting ideas with gradient sets and gradient yarns, was the feature of today’s Yarn Thing with Marly Bird.

Carol called into the podcast from her home in Ireland. Most kids learn to knit in primary school. She remembers making fingerless gloves as part of her schooling. Her aunt also used to run a yarn shop, and imported all kinds of yarns. Carol experimented with thing for herself and her dolls. As a teenager the needles were set aside, studied art and flipped back and forth to engineering. When her son was a few months old, she heard of a new yarn shop in Dublin and she picked it up again, with learning to read patterns. Like so many she began tweaking patterns and had a pattern published after a year in Interweave Knits.

Carol found that unless she was knitting/designing she was unhappy. She tends to work on garments, personally, often with cables but she’s strongly attracted to color now. Her first book, Contemporary Irish Knits, was the result of questions about what was happening in knitting in Ireland. Short Row Knits was her re-engineering how to accomplish short-rows when she was so unhappy with the wrap-and-turn method. Carol has also done some self-publishing and finds benefits with both working with a publisher and publishing things on her own. Her newest book, Knitting with Rainbows is her fascination with gradient yarns. She says Laura Nelkin began her in this direction with a set of mini skeins that was 15 colors of just 40 yards a piece that she stared at for eighteen months. In her study of the types, she found that some blended so subtly, and some were very striking. In garments, it requires a bit more work. Carol has carefully designed each piece in the book to really make the yarns stand out.

Knitting with Rainbows (link to Ravelry collection) can be purchased digitally through the Ravelry page, many of Carol’s books listed in Amazon can be purchased with Marly’s affiliate link.

You can follow Carol Feller through her website: www.StolenStitches.com also Facebook and Twitter, and she has a Ravelry Designer page and a Fan Group. Carol has visited Yarn Thing podcast before, in 2011, here is the link. An e-book of Knitting with Rainbows can be purchased through Ravelry, you can purchase other books of Carol’s through Amazon with Marly’s affiliate code, CLICK HERE.

If you missed getting to hear this LIVE it is still available as an archived episode where it aired: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/12/06/carol-feller-knitting-with-rainbows or with your favorite podcast catcher like iTunes or Stitcher Radio. There is also Video from Marly’s Facebook page CLICK HERE to watch.

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