Sweet Nothings Crochet: June 2021

SHELLED COWL

I have been given a second bag of yarn and requested to make beanies & / or scarves for the homeless. I'm hoping that there's going to be even more yarn - which also means there will be more patterns discovered and written.

This project has a matching beanie at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/shelled-beanie.html

Using this same pattern,I've made a taped lace for a top, which is at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/05/shelled-tape-lace.html

Today's project is completely reversible - so yaay!

Thanks for joining me. Come along, let’s create something beautiful

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 150 gms unbranded 8-ply acrylic yarn with a 5 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers

For Indians : The yarn I’ve used is similar in thickness to our Vardhaman / Oswal acrylic yarns or Laura knitting cotton .

You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.

but I think you could also use Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn

You may just have to tweak the gauge a bit.

Difficulty level : Easy to Intermediate.

Size made : 45" x 8.25"

Size only given for yarn estimation.

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch : https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY

Abbreviations used :

sc : single crochet hdc : Half Double crochet

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

hk : hook lp (s) : loop(s)

yo : yarn over sl-st : slip stitch

Instructions using U.S terminology

Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for video tutorials of all the stitches used in today’s pattern.

Please note that I take a lot of trouble to give loads of tips through my pattern sheet, so please read through the full sheet before you pick up your hook n yarn.

Our stitch count for the pattern is in multiples of 8 +1.

I started with 25 fsc = 8.25"

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches. Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k

Start Row 1 : with fsc in multiples of 8 + 1 for the length you need for your cowl or cowl ; OR

with fdc in multiples of 8 + 1 for the length you need for your scarf or cowl.

Keep a count (write it down) of the number of stitches you start with.

You will need to finish with these same number of stitches on your last row of your scarf.

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Row 2 : sc in the 1st st ;

(sk next 3 sts, 5 dc in the next st ;

sk next 3 sts ; sc in the next st) ;

rep (to) till the last st. Turn.

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Row 3 : 3 dc in the 1st st ;

(sk next 2 dc, sc in the next dc ;

sk next 2 dc, 5 dc in the next sc) ;

rep (to) till the last sc ;

3 dc in that last sc. Turn

Row 4 : sc in the 1st dc ;

(sk next 2 dc, 5 dc in the next sc ;

sk next 2 dc ; sc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) till the end. Turn.

Rep Rows 3 and 4, finishing with a Row 4 till you get the length you want for your scarf or cowl

If you are making a cowl, use one of the joining methods to join the two ends of your cowl

If you are making a scarf, then you need to finish this end to match the start

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Last Row : dc in the 1st sc ;

(hdc in the next dc ; 2 hdc in the next dc ;

sc in the next dc ; 2 hdc in the next dc ;

hdc in the next dc ; dc in the next sc) ;

rep (to) till end.

Ensure that you have the same number of stitches that you started with.

I worked till I had about 48" in length. I then joined the two ends to make a cowl.

Use one of these

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

You could attach tassels to the end of your scarf.

Check out the two videos below for tassels

In case this video does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/Ct84H8iBa9s

In case this video does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/Pt5BMW_OlAg

As I told you at the start, this cowl has a matching beanie at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/shelled-beanie.html

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Tuesday, 29 June 2021

SHELLED COWL