November 2019 - Rows And Roses

Month: November 2019

Felici On The Double Cowl

Posted on November 28, 2019January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

FREE crochet pattern!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am giving you all this Felici On The Double Cowl crochet pattern I wrote, for free. I am so thankful for you! If you don’t know about Felici, this is a Knit Picks Special Reserve yarn that only stocks twice a year, and is much loved and coveted by Felici lovers such as myself. In fact, we tend to be known for never using it, in fear that no pattern we choose will do it justice. In my humble opinion, this pattern does! If you decide to crochet this cowl, please hit the “favorite” button and create a project page on Ravelry. There are precious few crochet patterns written specifically for Felici, and I’m hoping to remedy that. On to the pattern!

Get your printable .pdf copy of this pattern for just $1.99 and help support my little business!

**Find the matching hat pattern HERE **

Felici On The Double Cowl

Crochet Cowl

Materials: Hook size I/5.5mm, 2 balls of Felici (can be same or different colorways)

Before you get started:

~ This pattern is written for two strands of yarn held together at the same time.

~ There is a strangeish stitch here where you work a DC2tog decrease over 3 sts instead of two. Basically you will skip the middle of the 3 sts completely, working your decrease into the 1st and 3rd sts.

~ The ch 2 at the beginning of each row does NOT count as a stitch.

Gauge is not important, just know that you may have to stop a row early if you use a bigger hook or get a bigger gauge. No big deal 🙂 For more on why gauge IS usually important, check out this post.

My finished cowl was 8″ wide by 28″ circumference. Your size may vary, and this is okay! This pattern is meant to be laid back and stress free, so don’t overthink it!

Time to get hookin'!

Instructions:

ch 33, with both strands held together
Foundation row: 2DC in 2nd ch from hook, *DC in next 3 chs, DC2tog over next 3 chs skipping middle one, DC in next 3 chs, 3DC in next ch** repeat * to ** to end, ending with only 2DC in last ch. Turn. = 31 sts
Ch 2, 2DC in first st, *DC in next 3 sts, DC2tog over next 3 sts skipping middle st, DC in next 3 sts, 3DC in next st** repeat * to ** to end, ending with only 2 DC in last st. Turn. = 33 sts

Repeat previous row until almost out of yarn (I got 48 rows.) Then, line up ends and sl st together to form the cowl. Weave in ends. Was this the easiest thing ever?

I can’t wait to see your color combos! Post your finished object on facebook or instagram with the hashtag #FeliciOnTheDouble so we can all be inspired!
I hope you enjoy this Felici On The Double Cowl FREE crochet pattern. Writing patterns is time-consuming and labor intensive, so I don’t often offer them for free. Please, if you love this pattern, share this post! Share on facebook, link from your blog, or share in Ravelry forums. We need more Felici crochet patterns, so let’s help get this one out there! ♥

I have uploaded a .pdf version of this pattern to Ravelry to make it easier to print and take with you. For the month of January (2020) you can get it free using the code CAL when you check out. Otherwise, it’s just $1.99 like all my patterns. Thanks for your support! Get it here.

Playing With Yarn

Posted on November 26, 2019January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

My annual explosion of creativity

Warm Fuzzies has come and gone. The customs list is closed for the year. All the stocking stuffers are finished and shipped, and there are a few things left in the shop. Do you hear that sound? That’s the sound of free yarn time… Indeed, playing with yarn has never felt so glorious as when there are no deadlines to meet, no parameters, no expectations. Just creativity. Just art.

Every year, I look forward to having free time to create for myself and my family. Rows and Roses always closes down for December, and this year, December came a week early! From now until the start of 2020, I will be spinning, dying, knitting, crocheting, and weaving all of things I’ve been thinking about all year long. In addition to all of these items that will hopefully be falling off my hook and needles and loom, I will also be writing a pattern or two, and making big plans for the Grand Reopen 2020. Wanna see some of the things I’m working on?

Playing with yarn, Felici style!

If you are familiar with Knit Pick’s Felici, then you know this yarn is not to be trifled with. A special reserve self-striping sock yarn, Felici is only stocked twice a year, and it FLIES off the shelves! Felici hoarders are known as a special breed of yarnie: we stalk the website when it’s supposed to stock, and then it’s a free for all, grabbing all we can. Once we receive our packages of the stripy string, we tend to be too afraid to use it, worrying that no pattern will do it justice. So we just take it out and pet it, impatiently waiting for the next stocking 6 months later.

Not this little hooker! I decided to dive deep into my Felici stash and came out with Soft Serve, to go with my more newly acquired Coffee Break. I’m holding the two together to create a crocheted marled scarf of my original design. Although, the yardage may actually turn this into a cowl instead. We shall see! So far, I am absolutely loving the way this looks.

The Neverending Sweater

Way back in….. June? Maybe? I bought a value pack of Hawthorne called Dark Mood. It came with 6 skeins of yarn in dark burgundy, red, greys, and black. All very pretty individually, but together… WOWZA! I had to have it. Of course, I had no idea what I was going to use it for. As I was browsing on Ravelry, I came across a knit sweater pattern called Ink. This sweater, as I recall, seemed to me to be an absolute marvel. A cabled monstrosity! Ink would be difficult, possibly a trial and tribulation, that would either send me home crying or greatly raise my skill level. You know me, I had to at least try. Furthermore, I had to put my own spin on it by making the fade sequence exactly what I wanted in a sweater. Here is my progress so far ——>

I’m not gonna lie, it’s tedious and tiresome at times. Boy I am really learning a lot from it though, and I can’t wait to wear it! So I’m trudging along, eating this elephant one bite at a time….. I sure hope it’s finished by next fall.

Weaverly Marsh is back at it!

Sometimes, I just have to get off the couch, drop the hook and needles, and do something else. Weaverly Marsh, my new(ish) rigid heddle loom, saves the day! After my Blue Willow kitchen set came off, Isaiah and I decided that playing with the new Dishie colors was the perfect thing to do next.

We settled on the new Flower Girl multi, along with Jalapeno and Swan. I am seriously loving how these colors are playing together. I am a slow weaver as all the standing hurts my back, so I have to do it in short bursts. Headway is being made, however! I’m convinced that Weaverly Marsh is just what R&R needed, and I can see weaving becoming a staple here at Rows and Roses for a long time to come.

And the playing with yarn continues...

Besides everything I’ve shared here, there are so many more things going on! Like my daughter’s crocheted blanket I’m trying to finish up for Christmas, and the crazy folded hat pattern I found. Not to mention my son’s socks that he asked for, and all of the planning for the coming year. And did I tell you about all the bare yarn and new dyes I got? Or the hand-dyed pencil roving that’s coming from Kim Dye’s Yarn? Hang out with me this winter, here and in the facebook group, and you’ll see it all! What are you working on this winter? Leave a comment and let me know! And as always, if you found value in this post, please share. Every action you take helps my little yarn business grow ♥

Handmade Holidays

Posted on November 20, 2019January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

Handmade Holidays = Happiness!

Why Handmade Holidays? That’s easy. Here at Rows and Roses, I hold to the belief that quality handmade items are the best items. Whether you’re stopping by the local boutique, or buying online from a friend’s shop, your dollar is helping support a family, and not just a corporation. Piano lessons, school supplies, birthday presents, and gas in the car, are all made possible for small business owners by their much-appreciated clientele.

Today, I’d like to round up a few small businesses for your handmade holidays shopping pleasure. No matter if you’re buying for a child, your mother, your best friend, or your boss, you can certainly find everything you’re looking for right here. Items of the highest quality, at prices you can afford. Furthermore, you can rest easy knowing you are helping a family make a better life, rather than helping a CEO buy another sports car.

Green Heart Awakening

First up, Green Heart Awakening. Located in the heart of Pendleton, SC, Green Heart Awakening offers nature-inspired wellness for mind, body, and spirit. In Melissa’s store, there are more than 100 organic bulk herbs, spices, and teas as well as a variety of goods for natural health and natural living, including essential oils, CBD oil, and incense. Items are sourced locally whenever possible. (SPOILER: Rows & Roses is sold here!)

In the studio, you’ll find yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, herbal education, plant-based cooking classes, and more. Free monthly gatherings include a La Leche League meeting, a family music night, and a women’s moon circle.

Tea pots, tumblers, and infusers make great gifts! And if you’re in the mood for something a little more personal, why not buy bulk herbs and build your own teas? You can gift them in a Mason jar tied with a bow. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive such a thoughtful present?

In addition to her website, you can also find her on facebook and instagram. If you’re in the Pendleton area, why not stop in for a cup of tea and chat?

Our Budding Life

Our Budding Life is the perfect candidate for our Handmade Holidays post! Owned and operated by herbalist Kristy, Our Budding Life offers classes, workshops & walks for those that want to learn more about wild plants that are edible & medicinal. The new herbal product line, Whimsical WhatsIts has offerings for whole body wellness with elderberry syrups, nourishing balms, first-aid kits & so much more.

As a wild plant enthusiast and herbalist, Kristy of Our Budding Life has a special love for teaching and sharing her knowledge about plants through classes & workshops. Her unique products make great additions to gift baskets for the natural, health-conscious loved one on your list!

You can find all of Kristy’s creations on the web, on facebook, and on Instagram.

Kim Dyes Yarn

I am so excited to introduce this next awesome business to you. You may remember her from a woolies coop we collaborated in a few years back in the facebook group. This is Kim Dyes Yarn, the most awesome indie dyer I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

Kim Dyes Yarn is a one woman indie dyer business from Virginia, in business since 2010, specializing in fantastic colorways on high quality yarns and fibers.

Kim says:
“I am a lifelong knitter and learner, and know the important roles dyeing techniques and color theory play in ensuring your finished projects turn out beautifully. My passion is gorgeous color, conceived of in my mind’s eye and translated into dye on wool. Inspirations are nature, art, favorite books, and movies.”

Be sure to check out her shop and pick up a very special gift or gift certificate for the yarny on your list. You can find her on facebook and Instagram, and if you’re lucky enough to be in the area, she will be at the Holiday Market event in Vienna, VA this year!

Rows & Roses

Y’all don’t forget about me! Rows and Roses has been in business since 2011. In the years between, it has morphed from just crochet, into a well-rounded yarn and fiberworks business. I now offer knitted items, hand-dyed yarns and fibers, and handspun yarn, in addition to crochet.

Besides my handmade items, you may also purchase a gift certificate from me, good for a one-on-one learn to crochet class! Just ask me how, and I’ll get you the details!

In my shop, you will find everything you need for all of your most gift-worthy people. From washable wool soap savers (kids love these for working up a great lather!) to catnip fishies for your sweet kitties, to a gorgeous skein of ice-dyed fingering weight yarn for your crafty friend, it’s all right here.

Holiday pre-orders close this Friday, so be sure to get your orders in before then!

Enjoy your Handmade Holidays!

I hope this post has been a great jumping-off point for all of your Handmade Holidays needs. Shopping small is so important, now more than ever, in a world run by major corporations. Therefore, make your dollar count this year, and every year! If you’ve found value in this post, please consider sharing. Let’s spread the word and help support families and communities ♥

Learning to Ice Dye Yarn

Posted on November 7, 2019January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

Learning to Ice Dye Yarn: Another adventure in fiber crafts

Today I’m learning to ice dye yarn. This is something I had heard about a while back, but never had the time to try to figure out. I’ve dyed yarn in the past, both hand-painted and kettle dyed, but ice dying is something new to me. Seeing as how I’m on day 2 of a five day streak of staying at home, it looks like today will be the perfect day! No time like the present, am I right?

Follow along with me here today if you’re interested in learning to ice dye yarn yourself. Not that my newbie self can probably teach you anything other than what NOT to do… but hey, it’ll be fun I bet. Let’s get started trying to figure this thing out.

What is ice dying?

From what I understand, dying yarn using the ice dye method is supposed to be super simple. Ice dying fabric is also a thing, and I’ve seen some gorgeous ice dyed bamboo velour, but since I’m into yarn and not fabric, let’s just stick with the yarn for now, mkay?

Apparently, the gist of it is that you mix up your dye and pour it into ice cube trays. You then freeze it, bust up the cubes (or leave them whole, but not us!) and sprinkle them onto your prepped yarn. Once you have the ice the way you want it, simply bake the yarn in the oven to set it. I’m excited to see if it’s really THAT easy!

The Process

(otherwise known as the adventure)

This is it! The start of our epic adventure. Picking out the dyes is always fun. Since I wanted to do a speckly green, so I went with Jacquard acid dyes in Emerald, Chartreuse, Turquoise, a diluted Sky Blue/Yellow Sun mix, and then as an afterthought, I added Jet Black. I used a 1/8 teaspoon to measure out some dyes into each jar, then added a splash of vinegar, along with some water. Craft sticks make perfect stirrers for something like this. Do you think I made a mess? I mean….. of course.

My yarn has been soaking in a tub of hot water with vinegar all morning, so it should be ready to go. After pouring dye into my one and only ice cube tray, I put it in the freezer to set up. Waiting is going to be the hardest part, for sure!

Adventuring, take 1

Patience: not my virtue

Ice takes a long time to freeze. Like, I was kinda aware of that, but not as aware as I am now. I waited all damn day for this dye to set up and let me tell you, it was the longest day of my life! Knitting happened while waiting. Hanging out with the kids. A friend came by and brought Isaiah his old drum kit, which was awesome. Lots of fun was had while waiting, but still……. waiting sucks.

Considering I was going to have to wait for as long as it decided to take for the dye to freeze anyway, I decided to go ahead and get ready for the pounding. Oh yeah. Demolition’s my THANG! Even if it’s just ice cubes.

And now, we dye

From here on, we’re really getting into our project. After squeezing out a good bit of the water, I spread out my skein of yarn into a roasting pan with parchment laid in it. I want to be able to continue to use this pan with food at some point, and I don’t want to take a chance that the metal may react with the dye. I preheated the oven to 250 degrees. You know I’m flying by the seat of my pants here, right? The ice cubes were dumped into thick freezer bags, after which I smashed them with a hammer. Lots of big pieces, small pieces, and tiny pieces seem just about perfect for what we’re doing, don’t you think?

Smashing is my favorite, so I savored that little task. Then, after making sure all the yarn was spread as thinly as possible without causing a tangled mess, I scattered the ice, one color at a time, in a random fashion over the yarn. Isn’t it so pretty??

Wakey Wakey, yarn gets bakey!

Into the oven it went, much like the witch from Hansel and Gretel. But not as roughly. I was careful. Baking at 250 for about 30 minutes seems right (remember I have no idea what I’m doing, k?) Back to waiting…

Ding!

Oh my very goodness. Looks like all that patience really paid off. This yarn is gorgeous! The greens and blues speckled with the black is exactly what I was thinking when I started on this today. This is my dream yarn, y’all! I can’t believe how amazing it looks. But… what is that? Is that ORANGE? Where did THAT come from?! I wonder if perhaps some of that Sun Yellow didn’t dissolve well. It’s actually quite nice. An unexpected surprise, yes, but I dig it!

Learning to ice dye yarn has been such a fun adventure! I’m so glad we decided to do this, aren’t you? This gorgeous yarn will be listed in my shop soon (if I don’t decide to use it first.) It’s a fingering weight, single-ply wool and will be absolutely perfect for a crocheted shawl. Wanna learn about fingering weight, and all the other weights of yarn? Check out my post here.

Thank you all so much for joining me today. Gorgeous yarn never gets old, does it? If you like what you see, or found value in this post, please share it! There’s lots more to come ♥

What’s UP Sunday…

Posted on November 3, 2019January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

Sharing our week, Fall Back edition.

Just look at that sky!

Sharing our week

Happy Sunday! I’m so glad to be sharing our week with you! Have you had a good week? This whole week has been filled with “things,” including gymnastics on Monday, Halloween, a baking day with a new friend, and an amazing concert where we took the kids to see Slayer, Pantera(ish) and Ministry! I’ve been taking my yarn along to most things, of course. Can’t do things without yarn…

THIS IS HALLOWEEN THIS IS HALLOWEEN

First of all, can I just say, Halloween is awesome. We always get so excited to dress up and be scary, eat candy, and just be festive. This year, Isaiah wanted to be Jason and Rose wanted to be Sumara (if you’ve never seen The Ring, don’t. You’ll never sleep well again!) We visited the grandparents, and then checked out an amazingly decorated house and got tons of candy there. After we came home, Brock and the kids decorated a cake to look like Jason’s mask, then we all piled on the bed and watched Hocus Pocus. Best Halloween ever!

Baking is my favorite!

Friday was a super fun day. A new friend invited us over to bake with her and play with her kids. The kids of course did the eating, but not the baking, haha. I made pumpkin cheesecake bars, and Stephanie wanted to make a cake and teach me how to decorate. Cake decorating has never been something for me (I make ugly cakes, y’all) so I was excited to learn. We picked out a cake that was supposed to look like a crocheted hat, but then….. well, let’s just say we had WAY too much fun (and coffee) and basically destroyed her kitchen with icing. The cake tasted amazing, but did not look much like a hat. Oh well, next time!

Maybe some yarn?

On a yarn note, I finished up a whole bunch of little things this week. I have two packages ready to go with two more really close. Look at that capelet, y’all! This was a project I really enjoyed. A dear friend and customer of mine sent me the link for this pattern and asked me to make it for her, and I am so glad she did. It calls for Loops and Threads Charisma in “Ashes” It was a lot of fun to see how the colors shift and change throughout, and I’m really digging some short rows right about now.

Finally...

The highlight of our week happened last night in Asheville. We went to see some of our favorite talent in the world, SLAYER!! Phil Anselmo was there with the Illegals, doing a Pantera set which was absolutely amazing since I never got a chance to see Pantera live. Ministry was there, as well, and they kicked all kinds of ass. Isaiah’s a seasoned veteran of metal shows by now, but this was Rose’s very first show ever. She was over the moon to get to see Slayer before they retire. Oddly enough, Isaiah’s first metal show was also Slayer, when they toured with Lamb of God. This means that now, both of my kids have fond first-show memories of SLAYER! That’s how you do that parenting thing, in case you didn’t know.

Now I leave you with some really crappy concert pics I took with my phone last night. Enjoy!

SLAYER (and Phil and Ministry)

As an aside, just so you know, I did put up a bunch of preorders in my shop for stocking-stuffer type things, such as soap savers and citrus scrubbies. The holidays are FAST approaching, so if you’re wanting to up your gift basket game, be sure to order as soon as you can!

I’d love to know how your week went. Drop a comment and tell us all what went on in your neck of the woods!