Resizing Patterns

There have been very few patterns I’ve used lately that went completed unaltered by me in some way.  Some were complete and utter fails like the granny square sweater (the arm holes were WAY too narrow) or the first mandala vest that was way WAY too long.  Those were a total loss.

In some cases I just had to modify the pattern slightly like making the arm holes smaller per my preference, using a smaller hook, but the No Drama Llama pattern was the first one I more or less rewrote.

See, the original llama while cute, was just TOO BIG, imo.  We’re talking like 15” long, 17” tall, and 7” wide.  I felt like it was far too large for a baby gift, which is essentially what it looks like it should be for.

So, I made some stitch revisions to the original head, neck and the body just fell into place, size-wise.  Modified the legs, ears and tails and I think it came out amazing! It’s now 11” long, 12” tall, and 5” wide

I also made the blanket in the virus blanket stitch because it’s pretty.

Finished red virus blanket

I haven’t decided what to do with this one yet, it was made using 6 skeins of old yarn my grandmother had, with a little Loops and Threads yarn for the border.

Copy Cats

I’ve been noticing when certain yarns come out, all the other manufacturers bring out something similar.  I’m really not clear on when who did what but some I just like better than others.

For instance, Red Heart’s Unforgettable yarn is STUNNING to look at.  Strong jewel tones, a little shiny, soft.  Only, I will not use it ever again because although it’s marked as a 4, it feels like a 3 and at times down to a 1, it’s practically if not flat out roving (not twisted at all!) .  It’s hard to frog because it catches on itself and it’s delicate and quite literally pulls apart.  I made my mom a coat making granny squares and one already came apart. Now, in the case of the coat, that was because the pattern called for a heavy stitch, against delicate yarn.  So disappointing.  When used in a scarf or something not attached to anything else, it should be fine.  I wish people accounted for yarn and stitch differences in a project.

Lion Brand Landscapes is very similar in everyway BUT it’s definitely a 4 and doesn’t vary in it’s thickness. I like this yarn a lot.

Now I just saw Facet Stones Yarn by Loops & Threads which pretty much looks like the Lion brand Landscapes but it’s BULKY.  oooooh.  At 10 dollars a pop it’s a bit much but I’m going to keep my eye on that.

Made LOTS of things!

I had to split my crochet folder into sub categories since the number of items I had was getting to be over well, 40! Hats, scarves, gloves, hoodie scarves, bags, blankets, sweaters, and starting with toys!  After making the scrap llama I tried a full size one with a smaller hood and Caron Simply Soft which is a little thinner than the other yarn.  It didn’t make much of a difference in the size, I would have to reduce the stitch count from the start, which I’ve actually started doing on another llama.  But this one is done!

I did my own variation on the blanket again, because the original seemed overly tedious and after doing something like 1,000 loopies, I wasn’t having it

. 

No Drama Llama!

I gave this pattern a shot and it was the first time I’ve ever read a pattern.  I made a major mistake but I was using all scrap yarn and decided to just run with it, and I think it still came out pretty good!

The pattern was confusing at the body and neck connection, I put the bigger back at the back and I think it was supposed to be at the front chest.  The instructions weren’t very clear but I powered through and finished it up!  I am going to try it again but with a much smaller hook (2.75) and Caron Simply Soft which is a 4 yarn that feels more like a 3, plus it’s incredibly soft.