Diagonal Puffy Striped Cowl: Pattern

This cowl is worked in rounds. So placing the bobble stitches become a bit tricky to create the diagonal pattern. I have included pictures for clarification. The blue arrows represent the bobble stitch and the black ones single crochet. Also, note that the cowl is made while facing the right side and never turning. The made bobbles will puff up on the wrong side of the work. Using your fingertip or the eraser side of a pencil, push the bobbles to puff them up on the right side. Do this every time you finish an odd numbered round. This will make it easier to work the even numbered rounds. If you run into problems while creating this, please let me know. I will be more than happy to help.

The Material

• 2 skeins (102 yd each) light weight yarn (wt #3) - I used Patons® Silk Bamboo in Orchid
• a size 7 (4.50 mm) crochet hook (you could also use a size 'G' - 4.25 mm hook; the finished size will be a little bit smaller and narrower)
• tapestry needle

Finished size
Approximately 28 inch in circumference and 5.5 inch in width
Gauge
1 bobble & 4 sc = 1.25 inch

Bobble Stitch
[Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through first 2 lops on hook] 4 times all in same stitch, yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on hook

Begin
Loosely chain 110 ( or any multiple of 5). Carefully join by making a slip stitch into the first chain; make sure the chain is not twisted.
Foundation / Edge Round: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), * 1 dc into next st; repeat from * to the end. sl st in the 3rd ch to join. (110 dc)
Round 1: ch 1, * work bobble st on the first st, 1 sc in each of next 4 sts; repeat from * to the end. sl st to the top of the first bobble or ch 1 to join. (22 bobble sts)
The first bobble stitch will be on the same stitch, 3rd ch, you joined the previous round at.

Round 2: ch 1, * 1 sc into next st; repeat from * to the end. sl st to the first sc to join. (110 sc)
Round 3: ch 1, 1 sc into next st, 1 bobble into next st, * 1 sc in each of next 4 sts, 1 bobble in the next st; repeat from * to the end. 1 sc in each of last 3 sts. sl st to the first sc to join.

Round 4: repeat Round 2.
Round 5: ch 1, 1 sc into each of next 2 sts, 1 bobble into next st, * 1 sc in each of next 4 sts, 1 bobble in the next st; repeat from * to the end. 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. sl st to the first sc to join.

Round 6: repeat Round 2.
Round 7: ch 1, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, 1 bobble into next st, * 1 sc in each of next 4 sts, 1 bobble in the next st; repeat from * to the end. 1 sc in the last st. sl st to the first sc to join.

Round 8: repeat Round 2.
Round 9: ch 1, * 1 sc in each of next 4 sts, 1 bobble in the next st; repeat from * to the end. 1 sc in the last st. sl st to the first sc to join.

Round 10: repeat Round 2.
Repeat rounds 1 - 10 until desired width is achieved.

Last round: Repeat foundation round once. Fasten off.

All done!!

Seed Stitch Knotted Headband: Pattern & Tutorial

Do you remember the knitted headband I made a while ago? I finally wrote down the pattern and tutorial for it. The pattern itself is pretty simple. I used seed stitch to make the whole thing. If you are into knitting, you know seed stitch is basically, alternating knit and purl stitch.  The tutorial is very similar to the one Stephanie shares on her blog.

Materials

• Some worsted weight yarn (wt #4) - I used Vanna's Choice® Yarn in Scarlet
• Knitting Needles- US 7 (4.50mm)
• Tapestry needle

Finished Size

Approximately 18.5 inch in circumference (or length) and 4 inch in width

Seed Stitch Pattern (for even numbered stitches)
Row 1 : *K1, P1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2:  *P1, K1; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 and Row 2 until the piece measures your desired length.

For the band, I cast on 14 sts. It ended up being 4 inch wide. Then I knitted the strip using the pattern until it goes around my head, about 18.5 inches in length.  You can shorten or lengthen at your desire. Bind off leaving a long tail.

Then fold it in half and sew the ends together.

For the ruched look of the bow, I pinched in the middle about 2.5 inch and sewed it tightly. Do it on the seam from the previous step, so the headband will look seamless later.

Next, I knitted another strip, again, in seed stitch. This time I cast on 10 sts. If you want a narrower or wider strip, reduce or increase stitches. Just remember to use even numbers for the above pattern to work. This smaller strip is our knot for the bow. You need this smaller strip to go around the ruched part; so knit until the piece measures around 4 inch.

After finishing off, wrap the smaller strip over the ruched part and sew the ends together. And, Ta-da! Your knotted headband is complete!

Now show off your creation to the world, while looking cute and being warm, simultaneously!

Flower & Braid Bookmark Tutorial

For this project, you will need a small amount of any yarn and any sized crochet hook (compatible with the yarn). Seriously. Depending on your yarn and hook size, the bookmark will be either bigger or smaller. There is no need to worry about gauge, since this is a free form project. I used a size E (3.25mm) hook and a little bit of Aunt Lydia's® Fashion Crochet Thread in size 3 (color: Maize). Here we go...

1. Start making a flower. Again, any flower will do. My choice was this: ch 6, join. In the ring, (ch 4, 3-treble cluster, ch 4, sl st) x 5.
2. Finish the flower and weave in ends.
3. Flip the flower. Take 3 yarn strands- 30 in. each. Using a yarn needle, attach them in between two petals.
4. Tie a knot in the middle of the yarns to secure them. Make sure the strands are of same length.
5. Divide the strands in three groups (2 in each) and braid. To make it easier, you can secure the flower to a soft surface (a pillow or something similar) with a pin.
6. Leave 3-4 in. at the end, and tie a knot on braid to secure it. Trim the tassel to make sure they are even. And you are done!!

If you have any queries or comments, let me know. I'll try my best to help.