Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Outlander - A Marriage of Passions

Now that I have your attention...I'm talking about my passions, not those in the book and I can hear the sigh of disappointment. No, this is about blending my passions for reading and for crochet.

Looking through my yarn, I saw I had two skeins of a mohair blend. The yarn is a mix of deep purple, reminding me of Scottish heather, greens of the hills and the gray of the mist with a gold metallic thread mixed in, which is hard to see in the photographs.  When I looked up the yarn on-line, not having bought it myself but having acquired it as part of a large stash I'd acquired, I found the colour name is...what else..."Scottish Meadows."

It immediately made me think of "Outlander," the first book in the series by Diana Gabaldon of which I am an admitted fan. Okay, maybe not so much the most recent book, "An Echo in the Bone," my issues with which would be separate subject entirely.

Only having two skeins, or 180 yards, I was limited as to what I could make but finally decided on a small moebius.  This seemed particularly appropriate as even Gabaldon talks about situations in her books wherein there is a "Moebius twist of fate" (See The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, p. 337 HC edition).   So here you are, my pattern for

SCOTTISH MEADOWS (OUTLANDER) MOEBIUS
(US Terminology)

Yarn:   Mohair blend, or yarn of your choice,  180 yds.
             I used 2 skeins of Trendsetter Yarns; Dune in Scottish Meadows (93), 90 yds/skein
Hook:  9 mm (N/M) hook,
Size:   4" wide x 36" circumference
Time:  4-5 hours

Base:   Ch an even number until you reach your desired length; I did 140.
Join chain together with a SS being very careful that the chain is flat and has not turned.

Row 1: Chain 3 in same stitch as join, DC in each Ch thereafter, leaving last Ch unworked.

Row 2: Turn the work and stitch DC on the other side of the base chain until you reach the first Ch 3 and the unworked Ch. Skip the unworked Ch and join to the top of the Ch 3 with a SS.

Because the turn creates a twist in your piece, it will look as though you've done two rows as you've working both sides of the base chain. The twist will be more pronounces as you work more rows.

Row 3 and each subsequent rows: Ch 3 and turn. DC in the open space between the DC of previous row. When you get back to the beginning Ch 3, join with SS and turn.

Continue until the piece is the width you desire. You may end with a row of SS, if desired.

My piece is 4" wide which is enough for a (1) draped accessory, (2) can be looped for a neck warmer, or (3) looped with one piece pulled up for an ear warmer.

Feel free to make your own version, but please, don't sell the pattern.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Harry Potter brings together reading and crocheting

Part I of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is due to release soon and I'll admit to being excited.  I knew I, and millions of others, have loved the books and go to the movies.  However, only since I've returned to crochet did I discover how obsessed are some fans. 

There is a book entitled "Charmed Knits" by Alison Hansel which is all patterns for items seen in the Harry Potter movies. There are patterns and forums on Ravelry dedicated to Harry Potter items, sites within the "Leaky Cauldron" website and, I'm certain, many other places of which I don't know.

I confess, I've caught the fever.  I love the idea of blending my love of reading with my love of crochet so I decided to make a scarf and make it BIG--sort of Harry Potter meets Doctor Who! 

LJ's Hogwart's School Unity Scarf

This is my adaptation based on the scarf Neville Longbottom wore in the 2nd movie.  I wanted it very long and didn't want a huge section of black in the center, so I added the middle sets of stripes.  It is done mainly in Tunisian Knit Stitch as I wanted the look and density of knitting but done in crochet.
Sizes:  Very Large (9" wide x 10'1" long) - mine
Large ( 6-7" wide x 9'4" long)
Materials:  Knit Picks Wool of the Andes:
Cranberry - 23425 (red) - 1.25 skeins (137.5 yds)
Caution - 24650 (yellow) - 1.25 skeins (137.5 yds)
Grass - 23439 (green) - 1.25 skeins (137.5 yds)
Winter Night - 23422 (blue) - 2.35 skeins (137.5 yds
Coal - 23420 (black) - 10.25 skeins (1,537.5 yds)
Hook:  Tunisian 8.8mm (I)
Gauge: Mine worked out to 1 row = ~.16" with
             688 rows x .16 / 12 = 9'4" plus 5" fringe on each end.
Abbreviations:
  CH - Chain
  TSS - Tunisian Simple Stitch
  TKS - Tunisian Knit Stitch
  SC - Single Crochet
  SS - Slip Stitch

Instructions:
Using the BLACK CH to desired width and turn
Beginning in 1st CH from hook, do 1 row of SC and turn
do a 2nd row of SC and turn so you are back on the right side

Once you've finished those first three rows, the remainder of the scarf, until the last three rows, is done in Tunisian. 

You now want 40 rows (not counting the three you've done):
Start working in Tunisian with one row of TSS
Beginning with next row, crochet 39 more rows in TKS
At the end of the 40th row, switch over to Cranberry.

1st set of stripes:
12 rows - Red
 4 rows - Black
12 rows - Yellow
 4 rows - Black
12 rows - Green
 4 rows - Black
12 rows - Blue
40 rows - Black

2nd set of stripes:
 9 rows - Red
18 rows - Black
 9 rows - Yellow
18 rows - Black
 9 rows - Green
18 rows - Yellow
 9 rows - Blue
60 rows - Black

Now, here's where you can leave out sections if you want a shorter scarf.  Do the 60 rows of Black and then move to the 5th set of stripes.  If you like a very long scarf, continue here.

3rd set of stripes:
 7 rows - Red
 2 rows - Black
 7 rows - Yellow
 2 rows - Black
 7 rows - Green
 2 rows - Black
 7 rows - Blue
60 rows - Black

We now invert the color pattern of the strips and begin working out:

4th set of stripes:
 7 rows - BLUE
 2 rows - Black
 7 rows - Green
 2 rows - Black
 7 rows - Yellow
 2 rows - Black
 7 rows - Red
40 rows - Black

5th set of stripes(pick up here for shorter scarf):
 9 rows - Blue
18 rows - Black
 9 rows - Green
18 rows - Black
 9 rows - Yellow
18 rows - Black
 9 rows - Red
40 rows - Black

6th (final) set of stripes:
12 rows - Blue
 4 rows - Black
12 rows - Green
 4 rows - Yellow
12 rows - Black
 4 rows - Red
40 rows - Black

END:
Here, I switched to a regular 8.8mm (I) hook and did
2 rows of SC
1 row of SS and tied off.

FRINGE:
Using a piece of 10" cardboard, wrap black yarn loosely and cut on one end.  I found three strands in each CH or SS gave me a nice, full finge.  For me, it came out to 216 pieces of fringe, or 36 fringe sets on each end.  I used the loop-through method.

HINTS:
For changing colors, when you come to the end of a row and have the last two loops on your hook, leaving a 3" end, loop the new color through your hook and draw through.  Then begin using the new color when you pick up the post.  I wove in my color change ends with a tapestry needle as I went, saving having to so do at the end.

For videos on TSS and TKS, I found the ones from Denise Interchangeable the most helpful: 

Please let me know if you find any errors or have any confusion about the pattern.  Please, do NOT sell the pattern.  The pattern is free or you to make your own scarf.  I have an Excel template of the pattern.  Just contact me if you'd like me to send it to you.