Happenings (blog)

Winterland

Winterland

Free Crochet Pattern

Winterland

How often do you wish for something soft, warm, and pillowy to get you through the drudge of the cold, harsh winter months? I know I’m always bundling up in a cowl or scarf or poncho, or if I’m spending the day at home, under a blanket. For this winter, I wanted a new little piece of warmth and comfort, and the Winterland ponchette is what I came up with for us. Winterland is like a bowl of steaming soup, with a warm slice of freshly baked and buttered bread on the side. Comfort yarn, if you will. The cables are simple enough to not cause trouble, and the bulky-weight yarn and large hook mean you’ll finish in no time. We all deserve a little comfort.  #HumansThatYarnWeC21

Want a printable .pdf for just $1.99? Click here.

Getting Started

Stitches:  Ch, sl st, fsc (foundation single crochet,) sc, sdc (standing double crochet,) dc, FpTreb (front post treble crochet)

Yarn:  Bulky (#5) 360 yards
Shown in WeCrochet’s Wonderfluff Ombre (248 yards/100g) “Wonderland Heather” and Wonderfluff (142 yards/50g) “Wonderland Heather”

Hook:  K10.5/ 6.5mm

Sizes:  One size fits most, easily adjustable

Winterland

Gauge:  10 st x 5 rows = 4” in patt, blocked

NOTES:
~ Joining at the end of each round is always done with a slip stitch in first stitch.
~ Stitch counts at the end of each row include ch-1 sp as a stitch.

~ I made mine a “shorty” style poncho, but you may add another ball of yarn and make yours as long as you want.

~ To increase circumference, simply add one (or two) more increase rounds before working Round 8.

Let's Do It!

Pattern:

Fsc 48. Join.

1) Sdc, dc, ch 1, *dc 3, ch 1; rep from * to last st, dc in last st. Join.  = 64 st

2) Sdc, dc in same st, *sk 1, fpTreb around next st, ch 1, fpTreb around skipped st, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around, omitting final 2 dc. Join.  = 80 st

3) Sdc, dc in same st, dc, *sk 1, fpTreb around next st, ch 1, fpTreb around skipped st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around, omitting final 3 dc. Join.  = 96 st

4) Sdc, dc, 2 dc, *sk 1, fpTreb around next st, ch 1, fpTreb around skipped st, dc 2, 2dc; rep from * around, omitting final 4 dc. Join.  = 112 st

5) Sdc, dc 2, 2dc, *sk 1, fpTreb around next st, ch 1, fpTreb around skipped st, dc 3, 2dc; rep from * around, omitting final 5 dc. Join.  = 128 st

6) Sdc, *sk 2, fpTreb around next st, ch 1, fpTreb around first skipped st, dc; rep from * around, omitting final dc. Join.  = 144 st

7) Sdc, dc in same st, *sk 2, fpTreb around next st, ch 1, fpTreb around skipped st, 2dc; rep from * around, omitting final 2 dc. Join.  = 160 st

Here is where you can adjust circumference by adding another round (or two) of increases. Continue in the same manner in which we have been increasing. No problem!

8) Sdc, dc, *sk 2, fpTreb around next st, ch 1, fpTreb around skipped st, dc 2; rep from * around, omitting final 2 dc. Join.

9-19) Rep Round 8

And here is where you can make it longer, if you want. Just add another ball of yarn and keep going until length desired. Super easy, right?

21) Ch 1, sc in each st and ch-1 sp around. Join.

Cut yarn, weave in ends. Block.

Well well, check you out! Don’t you look great in your warm winter hug? I bet you’re going to wear this so much this year. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done. Upload a pic to your favorite social media and tag @RowsAndRoses and #RowsAndRosesWinterland to show us all your lovely creation! As always, if you need me, I’m only a click or two away.

Winterland

Did you enjoy this free pattern? I have more free patterns here!

And, if you’re looking for yarn, please visit my online shop. I have so many wonderful yarns that are just waiting to go home with you.

My First eBook

My First eBook

“Drop & Swap” with Knotions Magazine

I can’t believe it. In fact, I’m still in shock. Today, Knotions Magazine released the first ever Rows & Roses eBook, Drop & Swap!

This eBook is filled with four amazing crochet designs that will take your hook to the next level. Each pattern is worked on the bias, and features a fun little color-changing method I like to call the Drop & Swap (D&S.)

In this book, you’ll learn how D&S can jazz up a pattern, making gorgeous stripes with minimal effort. There are way less ends to weave in when using D&S because you simply carry your non-working yarns up the sides. When you’re finished, you crochet around the edges so you’ll never know those strands are there. Brilliant!

25% off, this weekend only!

LYS Weekend

LYS Weekend

So much fun!

It isn’t often that I get to go off and do something fun. Last weekend, at the first LYS Weekend event in Charlotte, NC was so much more than fun; it was AMAZING!

Just to catch you up if hadn’t seen my posts about it, last weekend Universal Yarn teamed up with a bunch of other yarn and fiber companies to bring us the first ever LYS Weekend event. Erin and I were invited to attend, and it was not open to the public. While there, we got to meet so many wonderful people in the yarn and fiber industry, talk shop with other yarn store owners, and sample goods from various vendors. Sunday Social hour rounded out the first night, and on Monday I was able to place a couple of orders for the shop before heading back to SC.

ROAD TRIP!

As moms who feel like we rarely get to sit down, much less take time for ourselves, a simple one-night trip to NC felt like a real weekend getaway for Erin and me. We loaded the car full of snacks, picked out a bunch of great music, and made a couple of coffee stops along the way. We took our time and laughed so hard, about everything and nothing, that this trip felt like a true vacation.

Thankfully traffic worked out in our favor. There’s nothing I hate worse than sitting on the interstate, especially with all this coffee… that sometimes makes for an emergency situation! We did not take a wrong exit, and when we did want to stop for something, the places we chose were open. It was good luck all the way.

Erin and I heading out!

Once we got there, we discovered that the early check-in I asked for didn’t mean anything, so… even though we were there at noon, we had to wait til 4pm to get our room! Oh well, slightly unfortunate, but no big deal. We went on down to the LYS Weekend vendors area after a quick snack, and decided to go ahead with the show while we waited for our room.

So many amazing vendors

Gomitolo Felice Wrapped in Kisses shawl

I’ll be honest; neither of us had ever been to anything like this. We didn’t really know what to expect. How many people were going to be in there? Were there going to be presentations? Wait, is this going to be super salesy, where were locked in a conference room for 4 hours like a timeshare presentation but with yarn???

When we got through with registration (and got our super awesome wooden name tags, generously made for everyone by Katrinkles!) we looked at our map and got started visiting with the vendors. We needn’t have worried about anything because we soon discovered that this was just about the most fun you could have as a LYS!

We started with Bryson Distributing, where we met the lovely ladies Julie and Tammi. They made us feel right at home, answered all of our questions, and offered us a few free gifts. These ladies were so warm and eager to get to know us. As two newcomers to the LYS world, we were grateful to them for all of their help. 

From there, we visited with Yonca and Heather at Universal Yarn, then Leticia of Malabrigo. The sweet ladies at the Katrinkles table were so nice, and everyone at Tahki and Trendsetter Yarns were so knowledgeable and ready to help answer all of our questions. 

But the YARN!! I mean, let’s not forget why we came, yeah? My very favorite setup was Skacel. In fact, they so impressed me that, even though I did not currently carry any of their wares, I placed an order for a whole new yarn line! All of the vendors were set up beautifully, and every single one had gift bags of freebies to give to us to thank us for coming out. We made off with a huge haul, and thanks to these amazingly wonderful yarny folks, we now have two new yarn lines on the way to shop right now. Take a look at more pics below. Click on each for the caption.

Best Trip EVER!

In case you hadn’t gathered as much, this LYS Weekend trip was positively delightful. I can’t wait for next year! Erin and I will be better prepared to make the most out of it. 

If you haven’t been into the shop lately, you’ll want to come in sometime in the next week or two to check out the new yarns which are due to arrive any day now. Big plans, big growth, and a really big deal: that’s our Rows & Roses Yarn & Fiber. Swing by and see what’s happening!

Desert Hat

Desert Hat

Free crochet pattern

Desert Hat

Wanna quick hat that’s not boring, yet easy to make? With Desert Hat, it’s the little details that make all the difference. Crocheted in squishy worsted-weight wool, this hat uses simple stitches, put together in an interesting way and worked in the round, to create a hat that looks unique without being fussy. The button tab is everything, so be sure to choose a button that really speaks to you. It’ll be the focal point, framed by this super fun stitch pattern. #WeCILoveYarn21 

Want a printable .pdf for just $1.99? Click here.

Get Ready

Stitches:  Ch, sl st, sc, sc2tog, scblo, dc

Yarn:  Worsted (#4) Merino, 150 yards

Shown in Knit Picks’ High Desert in “Dusk“
Hook: I9/5.5mm

Sizes: Adult medium 20” circumference (to fit 19-22” circ.) 

Gauge:  8 st x 6 rows = 2” 

Also takes one (1) button: 3 /4.” Please take your time picking your button as this will be the little detail that really makes a big difference.

Desert Hat

Get to Stitchin'

Pattern:

Ch 4, Join w/ sl st. 

1) Ch 2 (does not count as st, here and throughout,) 12 dc in loop. Join.  = 12 st

2) Ch 2, 2dc in each st around. Join.  = 24 st

3) Ch 2, *dc, 2dc; rep from * around. Join.  = 36 st

4) Ch 2, *dc 2, 2dc; rep from * around. Join.  = 48 st

5) Ch 2, *dc 3, 2dc; rep from * around. Join.  = 60 st

6) Ch 2, *dc 4, 2dc; rep from * around. Join.  = 72

7) Ch 1, *sc, ch 1, sk 1; rep from * around. Join.

8) Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 2, *2dc in ch-1 sp; rep from * around. Join.  

9-18) Rep 7-8

19) Ch 1, sc around. Join.

Tab:

1) Ch 1, sc 9. Turn.  = 9 st

2) Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 5, sc2tog. Turn.  = 7 st

3) Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 3, sc2tog. Turn.  = 5 st

4) Ch 1, sc2tog, ch 1, sk 1, sc2tog. Turn.  = 2 st, 1 ch-1 sp

5) Ch 1, sc2tog in st + sp, sc2tog in same sp + last st. Turn.  = 2st

6) Ch 1, sc2tog. Turn.

7) Ch 1, sc evenly down side of tab, scblo around, sc evenly up side of tab. Join.

Cut yarn. Weave in ends. Add button.

Complete!

Hooray! You have a cool new hat. Do you like it? I bet you love it. I sure do love mine. I’d love to see what you’ve made (and especially what button you picked!) Share a pic to your favorite social media and tag @RowsAndRoses and #RowsAndRosesDesertHat so we can all be inspired by your awesome choices. As always, if you need me, I’m just a click or two away.

August Showcase 2021

August Showcase 2021

Our monthly wrap-up

August has not been very kind to me. This has been a month of almosts, not-quites, and OH-NO!!s at R&R Y&F, all the way down the line. I even worked right through a weekend, spending 12 days straight in the shop. Of course I’m exhausted and stressed, but very thankful for the light at the end of the tunnel. The hard work is finally- FINALLY!- done, and now I’m just about ready to put my feet up.

What saved me this month was all the fun stuff I got to make. Take a look at the latest commissions and patterns and you’ll see. I am so happy with how all of these things turned out!

Fun stuff this month!

Patterns and Such

Strawberry Toast

This little tank makes me so ridiculously happy. Don’t the little tan pieces look like toasties with jam on them?
I designed this summer top using WeCrochet’s Shine Sport, a decadent blend of cotton and Modal. Silky smooth to the touch and machine washable, I bet this top will make you just as happy as it makes me.

Ofrenda Cowl

Now here’s a fun design. Lauren of Treehouse Knits asked me to design something for her new Coco collection, and this one-skein cowl was just the thing!
Faux cables on a lace background put a new twist on the granny stitch, for a quick accessory that is just as much fun to make as it is to wear. You’ll even have enough yarn left over for a small matching coffee cozy or change purse.

Thanks for looking! Until next time, friends… I hope your August ends well and your September begins even better ♥

Brand New Web Store

Brand New Web Store

Shop online with us!

This is the most exciting news I’ve had in a long time, y’all. Drumroll…..

Rows & Roses Yarn & Fiber is now online for your shopping convenience!

This has been such a long time coming, but with the help of an amazing team of wonderful ladies, we have brought this to you and we hope you love it as much as we do. After countless hours of taking and uploading pictures, counting inventory, and adding descriptions and specs on hundreds upon hundreds of items, we now have an online yarn store that we can be proud of.

Of course there's a sale!

Let’s add a little more excitement to sweeten the pot, yeah?
From now until August 31, I’m offering you 15% off all summertime yarns.

Think cotton, linen, and bamboo yarns. All of your summer favorites are discounted through August to help us make room for new winter yarns and colors. Let’s look at some of our faves, such as this gorgeous Bamboo Pop Sock. This yarn is 50/50 cotton and bamboo, and makes great wool-free socks as well as shawls and tops. It’s so silky to the touch!

While we’re talking bamboo, the original Bamboo Pop is our #1 best-selling yarn in the shop! It’s easy to see why: this machine washable DK yarn, which is also 50/50 cotton and bamboo, is cool against your skin and won’t heat you up in the summer months. It makes amazing shawls (I should know, I’ve made a few!) and I especially love the top I knit from it.
Everyone who touches it loves it. Come try some if you haven’t yet. At this price, you’ll be so pleased.

Chai by Berroco is my personal favorite for summer tops. I am a HUGE fan of linen, as it never gets fuzzy, and only gets softer and stronger the more abuse it takes.
This yarn is extra special, however, as the linen is blended with silk to give it a subtle sheen. The silk also makes it a little easier to work with than pure linen as it cuts down on the “crunchy” feel.
My all-time favorite tank top is knit out of Chai and I just can’t get enough of it. This is another yarn that, if you haven’t used it yet, this sale is just what you need to discover a new love.

Be sure to come in or shop online to see the whole collection of sale yarn, as these are just the beginning!

Growing and Growing and Growing...

This new web store is only the latest addition to Rows & Roses Yarn & Fiber. We are growing all the time, adding new inventory, new classes, new kits and workshops, and I just *might* be working on another BIG DEAL that will hopefully be ready to announce in September.

Thank you so much for hanging around and supporting this little shop. Big things have happened in the past year, big things are in the works, and big things are planned.
Every time you share a blog post, share a facebook post, like an Instagram pic, make a purchase, or even just make a suggestion, you are investing your time and energy into helping us grow. You’ll never know how much I appreciate all that you do ♥

Punch Runner

Punch Runner

Free crochet pattern!

Punch Runner

Punch Runner came about as a quick project for instant gratification. This table runner is crocheted in worsted weight yarn with a largish hook, and the stitch pattern is simply a two-row repeat. You’ll get the hang of it in no time, and it looks so interesting without having to learn a bunch of new stuff. Sometimes we just need to play with yarn and be happy, yeah? Well here it is.

Want a printable .pdf of this pattern for just $1.99? Click here.

Getting Started

Stitches:  Ch, dc, dc3tog (double crochet 3 together)
Yarn:  Worsted (#4) approx. 380 yards
Shown in WeCrochet’s Chroma Twist worsted in “Tiki,” 2 balls
Hook:  J10/6mm
Sizes: 17″ wide, 48″ long (but please make it however you want!)

Gauge:  15 st x 5 rows = 4″, in patt

NOTES:
~ The dc3tog in row 3 will be worked in current sp (space,) next dc, and next sp. This means that each sp will contain both the last “leg” of the dc3tog you just finished, and the first “leg” of the dc3tog you are making now. This may not make much sense yet, just reading it, but once you’re making the pattern, you should see it 🙂

~This runner is meant to be made for any size table, I just wrote the pattern for *my* size table. You can add or subtract stitches in increments of 5 to make it wider or narrower, and you can work as many or as few rows as you want. Just remember that the yardage listed is for this particular size. If you make yours bigger, you’ll need more yarn.

Let's Do It!

Pattern:

Ch 64

Row 1) Dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, *dc3tog, ch 2; rep from * to last 4 ch, dc3tog, ch 1, dc. Turn.  = 20 dc3tog

Row 2) Ch 2 (does not count as st, here and throughout,) dc, ch 1, dc in top of dc3tog, *ch 2 dc in top of dc3tog; rep from * to last st, ch 1, dc.  Turn.

Row 3) Ch 2, dc, ch 1, dc3tog in sp/dc/sp, *ch 2, dc3tog in sp/dc/sp; rep from * to last st, ch 1, dc. Turn.

Row 4-61) Rep Rows 2-3

And now, my friend, you have a super cool table runner. Quick and painless, yes?  I’d love to see your creation! Share a pic to your favorite social media and tag @RowsAndRoses and #RowsAndRosesPunchRunner so we can all see your creation. As always, if you need me, I’m just a click or two away.

July Showcase

July Showcase

Monthly round up

Pineapple Skirt

Another month has come and almost gone. Where did it go? I swear it was just June a few days ago…
This month was challenging for me. So much to do in the shop, so many events, so many patterns to finalize. However, July was full of blessings and that’s the really important part. We kicked off Summer Specials & Customs, WeCrochet sent me a new test proposal, I put together a new blog post, and I’m one whole month ahead on pattern designing. I’m counting this month as a huge success, even if it did cause me to shed a few tears. The big picture looks bright, so let’s go with that!

Yarny Goodness

Patterns and Such

I released a free pattern this month for Dad’s Textured Scarf, and I bet you’re going to love making this! My dad has become a lover of yarn after spending so much time in my shop, and he always asks me to make him scarves. He will have a whole room full of them soon, haha. He picked this ball of Colorburst and I created a pattern for it, so now I am sharing it with you. I hope you enjoy it!

Y’all? Y’ALL!! This Knotions e-book is rolling along ahead of schedule and I am so happy about this!
If you haven’t been following along with this project, I was approached by Jody of Knotions to write four patterns for my VERY OWN E-BOOK! 
I wanted my e-book to be special, something to really knock your socks off, so I wrote all of the patterns for the “drop & swap” technique, and they are all worked on the bias.
I haven’t been this excited in a long time. We’re set for an October 2021 release, and I will keep you all posted as things progress ♥

Sari Scarf product review

Sari Scarf product review

This stuff is DARN good!

I am bursting at the seams to share this product review with all of you! As an affiliate, I recently had the opportunity to test out a gorgeous Sari silk scarf from Darn Good Yarn. I wasn’t even all the way sure what I was signing up for, I just knew I was intrigued (try a new product for free? Yes please!).

Oh. My. Goodness. I knew as soon as I opened the package that this was going to be great. They sent me a gorgeous teal-tending-toward-forest-green scarf, and the color all by itself made me giddy. I took it out, and it flowed like water in my hands. It is so silky against my skin, but that’s not the best part. I present to you: the many ways I found to wear this scarf. Check out the gallery below.

A little about the company

I’ve been purchasing yarn from DGY for years now. Their silk purses are one of the hottest items in my little yarn shop, and I even have a few of their gorgeous Sari skirts in my closet. This company is amazing for a lot of reasons. First, they are woman veteran owned. From their website:
“Darn Good Yarn was founded in 2008 by Nicole Snow. Our brand is built by special stories of hard work, love, and creativity. From the artisan to the person who packs our orders, we are inspired to deliver high-quality eco-friendly products.”
~ 600+ artisans employed around the globe ~ 1,200,000 pounds of waste materials saved from landfills ~ 4 partnered organizations ~ 400+ patterns designed by independent artists.
How could you not LOVE this company?! Be sure to click the affiliate links in the post to check them out. If you’re local, keep in mind that I have an account with them for my shop, so if there’s something you would like me to pick up for you in my next order, just ask!

Dad’s Textured Scarf

Dad’s Textured Scarf

Free Crochet Pattern

Dad's Textured Scarf

Sometimes it’s hard to crochet for a guy. My dad loves my work, and has become a lover of yarn as well (hanging out in a yarn shop will do that to ya, I hear.) He asks for scarves, but I don’t want to keep making the same one or two patterns over and over and over. So I’ve decided to write a few, just for him 🙂 This scarf turned out just right: textured for interest, but not lacy or full of shells or picots. Plain enough to be masculine, but still soft and beautiful, and fun to make! I hope you enjoy making it as much as I did, and wearing it as much as my dad does!

Want a printable .pdf of this pattern for just $1.99? Click here.

A little info first...

Stitches:  Ch, sc, dc, FpTreb (front post treble crochet)
Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) 640 yards
Shown in Universal Yarn’s Colorburst in Aurora Borealis 
Hook:  J10/6mm
Sizes:  10” wide, 60” long, blocked

Gauge:  8st x 6 rows = 2”

NOTES:
You can make this scarf narrower or wider by adding or subtracting chains. Just make sure you end up with an even number of chains so you’ll have an odd number of stitches.

Let's get textured!

Pattern:

Ch 36

1) Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn.  = 35 st

2) Ch 2 (does not count as a st, here and throughout,) dc across. Turn.

3) Ch 1, sc across. Turn.

4) Ch 2, *dc in next st, FpTreb in next st two rows below; rep from * across to last st, dc in last st. Turn.

5) Rep Row 3

6) Ch 2, dc in first st, *FpTreb in next st two rows below, dc in next st; rep from * across. Turn.

7) Rep Row 3

Repeat Rows 4-7 until scarf measures approx. 60” long.

Cut yarn, weave in ends. Block if desired.

Well now, wasn’t that fun? And not difficult, either! I’d love to see your Dad’s Textured Scarf. Just post on your favorite social media and tag @RowsAndRoses and #RowsAndRosesTexturedScarf so we can all see your creation! As always, if you need me, I’m only a click or two away.

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