Curmudgeon on the Case!

Good morning, dear friends!

Those of you who know me know that I can sometimes be a real curmudgeon (cantankerous, difficult person) about all things English! :-) I've spent my life writing, editing, and proofreading, and I can get a little testy. Now that doesn't mean I'm perfect - far from it! It simply means that I choose to attempt my best work at all times. I know many of you do, too.

One of my pet peeves is when people hijack the word "utilize" when they're really just trying to sound intelligent, but don't have a real reason to use the word. Or is that "utilize" the word?!?  :-/

Let's clear that up so that we can do the right thing. I found an excellent explanation of the differences between "use" and "utilize" at this link: https://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/there-is-a-difference-between-the-words-use-and-utilize-and-you-really-should-know-it/. Yes, I know I could have hidden this long URL under the word "link," but I want it visible, just in case. Vappingo is a professional service for those needing help with documents. I am not affiliated with them and receive no compensation for using their site.  I just think it's a good example.

So, now that you know, consider how you will use these two words in the future. People will love you for getting it right! Well...I will love you anyway.

On a crafty note, today I'm making my very first project in Tunisian crochet. More on that later! Keep calm and craft on.

Work in Progress - Headband in Tunisian Crochet

Enjoy a lovely Sabbath! May God bless you richly.

Wrist Warmers Using Front Post and Back Post Double Crochet

Hello.  Welcome to Karen's Creative.

Today, I want to share a fun crochet project making Lacy Wrist Warmers. You can find the pattern for these particular ones here at FaveCrafts. (This web address was active as of today's post, but if the link ever breaks, contact me through this blog, and I'll try to get it for you. You may be asked to submit your e-mail for free access to patterns at FaveCrafts. Not certain.)

This pattern calls for two yarn colors, but they can easily be made from a single color. I've done both, and it's really not difficult either way.

You may also wish to make some additional adjustments to this pattern. For example, I left out the next-to-last row, as the wrist warmers were already long enough, and I don't like them too close to my fingers. Second, be sure to check your gauge, and change your crochet hook size up or down, depending on your recipient's hand size.

I've made several pairs of these for myself, family, and friends, and everyone just loves them!  I use them at home when my office gets cold and I'm working on the computer. I can also use them in my office at work. Warmth never goes out of style. :-)  But who needs a reason to wear them?  If your

hands are cold, grab a pair and make yourself comfy!

This pattern features front post double crochet and back post double crochet. This is much simpler than it sounds, but for those who may not have tried it, here's a short video to take you through it step-by-step.

I hope this has given you the confidence you need to tackle this quick, fun project. No need for cold hands any more! Advanced level crocheters can finish these in a few hours.  I can easily do 1 to 1 1/2 pieces per night after work.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll join me again soon for a couple of new card projects. May God bless!

My All-Time Favorite Crochet Afghan Pattern

Hi, everybody.

As we wrap up another year, I wanted to share with you a favorite crochet pattern over the years. There's such a variety of patterns in the world that it seems almost inconceivable to me that I've used this one over and over. Nevertheless, I've made four afghans with Granny's Garden in a variety of colors. It just comes out so pretty that I can't quite help myself. I highly recommend it.  (NOTE: If you want to print the pattern, I also recommend that you print directly from the web page. If not, you may be asked to load several applications onto your computer. I make no statement as to the wisdom of that.)

So, what do I love about the Granny's Garden pattern?

First, I love the pattern, which you'll find in the link above, in case you haven't already clicked it. I had an original printed copy of the pattern, but now that I have a physical piece to go by, I don't really need the printed pattern any more. (I may find it again one day, but if I don't, that's okay.) 

Second, if you're the type of person who gets bored making granny square after granny square, this pattern offers a lot of variety in that you get to make two different (solid) color squares, and then you work in rounds for a time with a third color.  And just when you're finishing up a set of those long rounds around your squares, you get to make squares again!  Perfect!  :-)

Third, I love the way the squares and rows are joined.  I posted a video earlier about how I crochet squares together, with no sewing! Although I can't remember precisely, this is probably the pattern that taught me to do that.

Fourth, I love the potential for variation in this pattern. The fourth afghan I made used a multitude of colors instead of just three. I consider it my best afghan ever!  Here are a few pictures of the last and best of the four.  

 

To hear more about how I altered this pattern to make it my own, here's a short video.

I hope you've enjoyed this bit of crochet fun. I'll post another video soon on how to work front post double crochet (fpdc) and back post double crochet (bpdc), which makes a really interesting piece.  For paper crafting fans, I'll also be putting up some new card and scrapbook creations soon.

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy New Year 2014!

Beginner: Single Crochet - Take One, Two, Three

Welcome.

My mom taught me to crochet when I was ten years old, and it's been a lifelong passion. So, I found it funny (in a strange sort of way) a few years ago when I discovered that I had been doing the simplest stitch "wrong" all these many years!

Now, I wasn't really doing anything so terrible, but what I was doing was making the final look of my crocheted pieces something they weren't intended to be. You may be doing this, too!

So, today I want to focus on the single crochet stitch. First, let me say that the final look of your piece is entirely your choice, so if you've been doing the same thing I did, it probably doesn't matter. Most of my crocheted items are afghans - where only the right side of the piece is going to show most of the time. Now, my husband has trouble with this. He says the "wrong" side, a.k.a. the back side, is prettier than the front. I'm always telling him to turn the afghan over on the bed. Fact is, if I had been doing the stitch the standard way all these years, it might not make any difference at all.

Here's what I mean. Let's compare three different treatments for the single crochet.

Take 1
This single crochet sampler uses the "correct" method. When I work on the next stitch, I put my hook through both loops of the single crochet stitch. This is the stitch most patterns are talking about when they call for a single crochet.

Take 2
This single crochet stitch features placement of the hook through the front loop of the stitch only. Now, this is what I've been doing for years in error. While the stitch works up just fine, every other row has a noticeable ridge line running through the work. The line is made from the back loop that wasn't used when working each row. 



Take 3
Now for my final method. This method uses the back loop of the single crochet only. When this is done, the finished piece appears to have hills and valleys in the rows.





This has a very different look and feel from either of the other two methods, and it will significantly change the gauge (height) of your work. For example, 12 crocheted rows using this method is about the same height as 10 rows in sample 1 (yellow) above.

Now that you've seen how the work looks using these three variations, here's a short video on how I achieved each look. You may watch on YouTube if you prefer.

 

 

If you're a beginning crocheter, I hope you find this video helpful. Perhaps it will start you on the right path to many lovely handmade pieces in the years ahead.

Thanks for joining me today, and please come back soon. May God's blessings be plentiful!