Quality Control on Patterns

When I find a pattern I like, which right now is strictly Youtube patterns, I write down the steps for myself and save it in my One Note.  I love One Note. Anyway often times that includes corrections one way or another for the next time I do it.

The Spring Sun Mandala vest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhn0YlqTUfE

She’s using a 4 yarn and a 6 hook, but when I tried it with a 4 yarn and a 5.5 hook it came out WAY TOO BIG.  Like so big it was dragging on the ground before I was even done with the rounds and sagging under it’s own weight.  I would absolutely do it again but with a 3 yarn and probably a 3.25 hook.

The Gentleman’s scarf  https://youtu.be/jAeBk3wriGI

Cute pattern, but if you use a 4 yarn and the 6 hook recommended, and the initial chain suggested, it will be 10 feet long and like 3 feet wide.  I might do it again with a 4 yarn but reduce the initial chain severely and only repeat the pattern twice.

Boho Romantic Fall Granny Coat https://youtu.be/U6PwfShifu8

One of my very very favorite patterns, but dear god Red Heart Unforgettable can die in a fire.  It’s practically roving and although it’s listed as a 4 it feels like a 2 and sometimes ends up with little fluffy parts around a 4 but it’s mostly super thin.  It’s thinner than Caron Simply Soft but nowhere near as sturdy.  If I did this again, which I’m in the middle of, I’d use all Caron Simply Soft or maybe Lion Brand Landscapes.  I actually had a few skeins of Unforgettable I’m hoping to give away in another Reddit Gifts Secret Santa rematcher because fuck using that crap again. I’d also maybe just DC instead of the front post DC everywhere because let’s be honest, all FPDC takes forever and then it curls in.  That isn’t a big deal because it makes the yarn ‘fabric’ feel thicker than it is and if you attach it to itself for the sleeve or the sides, it works out ok.  But if the inner border is just a DC, it doesn’t match that part nor does it match the thickness or your squares.  Something to think about.

In this specific example, you have the Unforgettable in a flat stitch, against a slightly thicker Caron in a thick stitch.  Not the best idea. Yarns really should match throughout the project.

Damn Novelty Yarn

Everyone seems drawn to novelty yarn but like the name says, it has rather limited use.  Bouclé yarn for example is neat looking but you can’t really see your stitches and it would be hard if not impossible to frog.  Ruffle yarn is borderline useless in additional to being not very soft, and sparkle yarn is scratchy.  I also don’t care for fuzzy yarn because no matter what stitch you use, it will look like a shapeless nothing.  But man, people love to buy it anyway.

The last sweater for a while

I really love this pattern but I think this will be my last one for the season.  I’ve been trying  a bit of variations on existing patterns but it doesn’t always quite work out.

For instance, on this one I did a front post double crochet inside border.  it’s the same I used on the sweater coat I made my mom.  The only problem though, all front post crochet, since the stitches are layered on top of each other, it likes to curl up.  That wasn’t a problem on the coat because it was sewn to each other and therefore had a counter balance to lay flat, or it bordered some double crochet which also pulled it straight.  This one curls because it doesn’t have either of that.  It looks very nice but, I personally don’t like the curl.

I do like the ‘ribbed’ cuffs though.  That uses front and back posts alternating so it stays nice and straight.

More Scarves

I got back into the wave pattern that I made my first decent sized blanket with recently and finished another scarf.

I had to delay taking pictures for a while since the house was such a mess, and in the meantime I am almost done making another cocoon sweater.  I forgot just how long those take!  I’m going on 3 days.  After that I think I’m going to take a shot at the crochet tank tops that Annoo has a pattern for, which looks so cute.  It’s still super cold out here, cold enough to snow, so I can’t seem to push out of blankets, sweaters and scarves!

I also made a neck warmer for my regift present for the reddit scarves and hats secret santa.  It was delivered 2 days ago, along with a store bought hat, but as of yet, no thank-you.  My original giftee also never said thanks.  If it happens again I’m going to be super disappointed.

Using smaller hooks

I bought a new hook set that has bigger handles, and so far it’s been working out well. I did this in a size 5 hook and I’m making my dress in a 3.25.  I’d still like to try those wood handles but at 35 dollars per hook that’s super expensive.

I like this Red Heart Ombre yarn though, the subtle changes work a lot better than the self striping for certain patterns.