It’s so easy to take the ones we love for granted. This autumn, my husband came home from the doctor’s with potentially scary news. All of a sudden, I realized that he might not always be there, healthy and energetic, my rock to rely on. Further medical investigations calmed our worries. But they did not suppress my urge to show him how much I love him. And how does a crocheter show her husband she loves him? By crocheting him something of course!

The result was this scarf in cashmere and wool. I crocheted in secret, and gave it to him for his birthday. And yes, he loves it.

• Yarn: Phildar Laine/Cachemire (65 yards/60 meters per 0.88 oz/25 grams), black 5 balls, grey 3 balls, red 2 balls (1 if you don’t make a fringe), off-white 1 ball.
• Hook: 5 mm (US H-8). A hook one size larger for the fringe.
• Notions: Piece of cardboard for fringe.

Excluding fringe: 9.5 x 52 inches / 24 x 132 cms

18 stitches and 23 rows = 4x4 inches/ 10x10 cm

This scarf is worked lengthwise. When crocheting the foundation chain, I suggest you place a marker in at least every 50th chain. This will save you time when counting.

In the pictures (and in real life), my husband wears the scarf folded double. Warm, comfortable and cozy! This is why you only see one of the two colour repeats that make up the width of the scarf.

The yarn I used can be hard to find in many countries. Please substitute at will, adapting number of stitches and number of rows. This stitch patterns lends itself to wonderful colourplay. Do experiment!

Stitch pattern: Granite stitch

This wrap was created specifically with breastfeeding mothers in mind. Created with 100% silk chenille, it is both airy and beautiful. The wider edges of the wrap provide enough coverage to give babies privacy while eating in public, and make the wrap easy and comfortable for moms to wear. It's surprisingly warm and would make a lovely shoulder wrap for mothers-to-be for those windy spring days.

I purchased the yarn for this wrap from Ebay originally, but any sport weight chenille yarn would do. The wrap was kool-aid dyed with blue and cherry after it was finished. I used a hook larger than recommended to create the lacy look.

• Approximately 16oz. of sport weight chenille yarn.
• 7mm hook (Size K hook is slightly smaller but should be acceptable)

It is assumed that each row begins with either a chain 1 for sc rows, ch 2 for hdc rows and ch 3 for dc rows. Personally I reduce the number to 1 chain for sc and hdc rows and 2 ch for dc rows. For my work, it keeps the edges neater and doesn't leave a large gap between the beginning stitch and rest of the work.

US pattern notations used
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
st = stitch

It has occurred to me that while we often play Santa or other generous holiday characters we rarely play Cupid to anyone but our most favorite person. I designed these ‘One and The Other’ scarves to be a quick and personal gift for a favorite couple. Now you may be thinking “But I’m in my favorite couple.” That’s just fine too, but I encourage you to share the love this Valentine’s Day by planning a surprise for a couple you admire or a pair of best friends.

These scarves are worked in a simple pattern of chains and single crochet: easy but substantial. They’re so distinctly non-lumpy that knitters will wonder what they’re missing. One is wider with four main colors and four accent colors. The Other is a bit thinner and reverses the color scheme. I was inspired by Japanese newlyweds who often wear harmonizing outfits to emphasize their new togetherness. So in celebration of people who aren’t afraid to color-coordinate with each other I give you Vice Versa!

• Eight skeins of worsted weight yarn of any soft kind. (92meters/50grams per skein) Choose four main colors for One and four main colors for The Other, making sure they coordinate for use as accents too. (Of course you can adapt the stripes to any combination/number of colors you choose.)
• Size F/5 (3.75mm) crochet hook
• Scissors

One: 17cm x 174cm, The Other: 13.5cm x 174cm

21st/10cm (4in), 17rows/10cm (4in) in pattern (sc1, ch1)

This pattern uses US notation
ch = chain
sc = single crochet

Edges

Changing Colors

The Very Simple Pattern:

One (shown on Peter)

It may still be Winter, but a stylish scarf can take you clear through the cool nights of long-awaited Spring. This one will take you no time at all to crochet in a stitch that mimics the ever-popular knitted drop-stitch you see everywhere. Work it up in a soft wool and you'll be cozy while you catch snowflakes on your tongue; use a ribbon yarn for those warmer days we know are coming soon. Really soon. Really.

• 3 balls of Lion Brand Incredible ribbon yarn
• K/6.5mm hook

This ribbon yarn looks the best when it is worked loosely. A very loose tension is recommended.

US Pattern Notations Used
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
yo = yarn over
st(s) = stitch(es)
sp = space

I’ve wanted to make snowflake-inspired crochet forever. When I met with Rowan’s “Soft Baby” in my local yarn shop, I knew that the season had finally arrived. Thanks to the various ‘circle shrug’ patterns that have been published in print and discussed online, I had a vision that a snowflake could be worn in similar fashion.  I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of styles that can be created by a simple circle. By poking your arms through the various holes, this cuddly snowflake can be worn as a capelet, scarf, wrap, or shrug.  You might find other ways too…

This project is pretty easy and only takes a few hours so it makes a wonderful quick winter gift. You can, of course, dress it up or make a homespun version depending on your yarn and closure choices.

• 3 balls of Rowan “Soft Baby” (150m per 50g) in Cloud. Another soft worsted weight yarn will work too.  
• 5.5mm (size I/9) hook
• brooch, clasp, or pin for a closure

This will fit a person with about a 16in (40cm) measurement across the upper back. For bigger or smaller sizes, substitute yarn weights and hook sizes until your first three rounds equal about 1/3 of your upper back measurement. The finished snowflake is pretty stretchy and can be worn multiple ways, so don’t worry too much!

First three rounds measure 5in (11cm) in diameter.

Special stitches:

Picot: ch 3, sl st into 3rd ch from hook.

Picot cluster:  ch 3, sl st into 3rd ch from hook (first picot made), ch 4, sl st into base ch of first picot, ch 3, sl st into base ch of first picot.

The Pattern&nbs

Its 2 days before Christmas and I haven’t started the scarf for my mother in-law.  Its 2 days before my niece’s birthday and I haven’t started her purse.  OR its 2 days before my best friend’s baby shower and I haven’t started the baby afghan.  Am I worried?  Not at all, because I have mastered the art of STASH DIVING.  Here’s how:

1. First things first, you have to realize that with only 2 days you have your limits on what you can create.  I always opt for small projects like scarves or purses. 
2. Second, you must accept the actual time you have to complete the project and choose a stitch pattern that you can complete fast.  For me, it’s always openwork lacy patterns.  The more holes the quicker it goes.  That is one huge advantage we have over knitters.  Crocheting openwork is so easy, and looks so gorgeous.  So at this point, I go to my 300 Crochet Stitches book, by the Harmony Guides.  Flip to the openwork, and choose a stitch pattern.  You can do this too, or use my example below.
3. Now comes the hard part.  Go to your stash pile and close your eyes.  Put out your hand.  And without peeking, choose a yarn.  Open your eyes, and start crocheting.   I know, I know it sounds risky, but trust me.  If you keep your eyes open, you are going to start thinking about the choice of yarn and the color and such for hours.  This is no good; you have got to just get moving. 
4. Crochet at least three pattern repeats with this yarn.  And if after that, it is not what you think will work, go back to step 3, and pick again.
5. After trying two or three yarns, you are going to have a lot of swatches, and know exactly what yarn you need to complete the project.  (You controlling types are just going to have to have faith in me that this really does take less time then planning out a yarn.)

And that’s it.  That is really that is all there is to mastering your stash.  It is all about trying different yarns (that you normally would not use) with the same pattern until you are so familiar you could rattle off the pattern.  At this Zen level, no thinking is needed, and your whole being just knows the exact yarn for your project.  What’s the great upside?  You now have 3 half way finished projects for your next last minute gift.  Below you will see my latest dive and the four very different and yet very gorgeous scarves it produced.  One is perfect to keep warm, one is perfect for dressing up, one is perfectly funky, and one is MINE!  Good luck and may the Zen be with you.

1. Light Pink Scarf (pictured at right): 2 Skeins, Sirdar Primavera Double Knitting #840, (65% Cotton, 35% Acrylic), 250 yards, F hook
2. Fuchsia Scarf: 2 Skeins, Berroco Mohair Classic Heather #9543, (78% Mohair, 13% Wool, 9% Nylon), 180 yards, I hook
3. Orange Scarf: 2 Skeins, Spectrum Cotton DK Classics Panache, Color: Manderin, (100% Cotton), 250 yards, E hook
4. Light Blue Scarf: 2 Skeins, Berroco Glace, Color: Work Shirt, (100% Rayon), 150 yards, I hook

Not critical. I would suggest a hook one size smaller then recommended on label.

CH 26.

I have a scarf that’s about ten feet long. I adore it. I can wrap it around my neck twelve times and it still hangs down to my knees. I like to wear it under my jacket when I’m outside in the cold, but stuffing the ends in my coat makes me look like Quasimodo. I like to wear it inside over my sweater, but when I lean over the ends slip over my shoulders and drag on the floor, or I shut them in the car door and the ends get soaked. Solution: get rid of the ends. Duh. The result is a cowl that is lacy enough to be worn with a nice sweater indoors, but bulky enough to keep your neck warm outside in the middle of winter.

• Opal Sock Yarn (425 meters/100 grams) in winter white, 1 skein (or any sock or fingering weight yarn)
• 3.25mm (size D) hook

One size.

Gauge is unimportant in this pattern.

Picot: Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.

Note: Ooh, it’s two looks in one pattern!  To make one of those popular mobius cowls, twist your starting chain 180 degrees before you connect the ends together.  It makes it look a little more interesting – a cowl with a twist!

Let's Begin!