Monday, May 20, 2013

Quick Post about Knit and Crochet Pattern Chat Blog

AND it's future.  Knitting and crocheting isn't the only things that I do.  I've been sitting here thinking about what this blog means to me and what I really want it to be for you.

I have so many likes, dislikes, interests and real loves of so many different crafts and so many people don't understand how I can do so much and do it well.  It's not all that bad to do so much.  I was always told to stick to one thing and learn it well but I am not the type of person that can do that.  Nope, not me.


I find nothing wrong with loving to do more than one thing, hobby, or interest at one time.  Afterall, many women love their husband, their children, love to sew and cook........hey, that's more than one thing.  I've done a real close look at my loves..........


I started out with fiber arts, that a more professional way of saying knitting and crocheting.  My Mother was making a knitted afghan out of square blocks of knitted yarn in dark colors.  I remember purple and blues for sure.  I helped her knit them at the age of 10.  Lots of us started knitting and crocheting at a very young age. Many say, "I've been knitting all my life!"  And many many have been, just as I feel I have been.  I would love to hear from all of you who would like to share what age you were when you learned to knit or crochet.  Did your mother teach you?  Your grandmother?  Let me know in the comments.  


Do you want to know my likes in crafting, needlework, etc?


I started with knitting as I stated above.  I knew I loved art and did lots of drawing and painting as a child.  I remember using bottle caps, erasers, toys and drew geometric patterns coloring in all the areas with bright colors.  We only had crayons at that time.


We, my sister and I, as we got older would draw rooms or just one corner of a room and worked so hard at getting the perspective correct.  Of course, we didn't know it was perspective.......it was just the corners.  Art was my favorite subject in school.


Then I learned to sew in school; middle school and high school, as part of Home Ec. I always took on the hardest patterns I could find.  I once tried to make a plaid men's sport coat!  At age 15!  I didn't know how to match plaid and a sport jacket?!  What was I thinking!  My poor Mother just shook her head and said she couldn't help but I did finally get it done.  Amazing!


Then after I got married and became a stay at home Mom, I learned how to crochet and embroider and kept going with my painting.......this time pictures not geometric patterns.  I tried oils but didn't like the smell nor how long it took to dry.  I continued sewing and made all my own clothes and those of the kids. I used to create my own patterns by taking parts of one and combining it with another.   I also have always cut our hair.......even my husband's and I still do to this day.  The kids take care of their own now that they are in their 30s and 40s, but I still cut my own.


I really got into crafts when most everyone did.  Remember the big craft surge, craft sales, and shows?  Was that in the 90's.........early 90's, I think.  I made it my full time job while the kids were off to school everyday.  I had my own band saw and sander.  I designed and painted all my wood items to sell.  I did that for about 10 years till things just weren't selling anymore, the crowds got smaller and sales almost quit!  I was doing shows and was in about 3 consignment shops.  Remember them?


I continued to design and became a craft designer for that industry traveling about every 6 months to sell my designs.  I went to NYC, Dallas, Orlando, MPLS, Chicago, places in CA and also took the test to become a Professional Craft Designer and Professional Craft Demonstrator at the trade shows.  I worked for Plaid, Syndicate Sales, and a few others.  I loved every minute of it.


Here we are to today.  I continue to craft, knit, crochet, paint and create!  I have added crochet jewelry, beading, working with wire, I love Kumihimo, working on our family tree, acrylic painting, filet crochet design, watercolor painting, mixed media and love love love paper........I make albums, journals and paper beads.  I can't wait to add, polymer clay bead making and calligraphy.  Oh there's so much to do and so little time.  Have you heard of Viking knitting with wire!!??


I will be showing you all the things I've created.  It's going to take some time but I hope to be able to go back and show you what I have done.  If you've followed this blog or have gone into the archives, you can see some of the stuff or you can go to artsandcraftsdotcom.blogspot.com to see even more.


I have tons of filet crochet patterns I can share and some I can sell you, I have lots of jewelry to share, my crocheting, painting, on and on.  So stay tuned.........


Don't forget to tell my about your knitting and crocheting beginnings.  I'd love to hear from you!


Keep creating!

K












Saturday, May 18, 2013

Free Crochet Pattern for a Tea Cozy



As promised, I will post a new and improved crochet pattern for my tea cozy.  I love love tea, don't you?  A hot cup of tea on a drizzly chilly rainy morning........oh, so good.

I posted a not-real-good picture of my purple one a month ago or so.  Where does time go!?  At least a month ago but I'm too lazy to go find out the exact date.  


I finally finished what I think is a tea cozy that should fit most round pot belly type tea pots.  It doesn't hurt to continue to measure as you go.  You do want it to fit?  If you do not join at the end of the rounds, make sure you use a marker.


I made two cozies and put one inside the other.  I also made the inside one a bit longer with a different colored edge so it showed beneath the upper one. Please read through instructions first and test your hook and yarn for the gauge.


Here we go:


Crochet hook size H

cotton yarn such as Sugar and Cream
I used one really large skein of Bernat bought at JoAnns, must have been a pound or two.  I don't have the label anymore
GAUGE:  8 STS TO 1" AND 5 ROWS TO 1"


1.  Chain 2, 8sc in 2nd chain from hook, join


2.  2 sc in each sc around, join  (16 sts)


3.  1 sc in first sc, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc continue around in this manner) (24 sts)


4.  2 sc in first sc, (2 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, continue around in this manner) (32 sts)


5.  2 sc in first sc, (3 sc in next stitch, continue around in this manner)  (40 sts)


6.  2 sc in first sc, (4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, continue around in this manner) (50 sts)


7. sc around one row


8.  2 sc in first sc, (5 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, continue around in this manner) (60 sts)


9.  sc around one row


10.  2 sc in first sc, (6 sc , 2sc in next stitch continue around in this manner) (70 sts)


11.  sc around one row


12.  2 sc in first sc, (7 sc, 2 sc in next stitch continue around in this manner) ( 80 sts)


13.  sc around one row


14.  2 sc in first sc, (8 sc, 2 sc in next stitch continue around in this manner) ( 90 sts)


15. and 16.  sc around


17.  2 sc in first sc, (9 sc in next stitch continue around in this manner) (100 sts)


18.  Now the tea cozy will begin cupping, or it should (LOL not funny I know) so continue with as many sc rows you need to make the cozy the length you want minus about 1".


When you reach this point:


1.  DC in each sc around, join if you are doing so or just keep going around.  Make sure you have the beginning marked.  


2.  Dc around dc from previous row from front to back making a post, dc around dc of previous row from back to front making a post and continue around.


3. Repeat rows one and two till the desired length.


4.  Sc around to finish


5.  Crochet a loop and attach it to the top



NOTES

I made mine double thickness so made another one and slipped it over the top of the first one.  They fit snugly.   The top one can be shorter than the underneath one or can be the same length.

If it isn't cupping or might be too big for your tea pot, you can decrease evenly about 5 stitches every few rows so you need to think ahead.


I sometimes change colors during this section of the process to make stripes.  You can join at the end of every row or not.  That's up to you but it does make for a neater finish if you plan on changing colors.

If you find any errors, please let me know........I wrote this as I worked so it should be correct.


Happy crocheting!