Happenings (blog)

Get Hooked

Posted on May 15, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

A crochet hook overview

If I’ve learned anything about crochet hooks after 10 years of crocheting, it’s that they are deeply personal. I don’t know a single hooker who can use just any ol’ hook. We all have our “perfect hooks” and that tends to be what we stick with.

But what type of hooks are there? What makes hooks so different from each other? In today’s Get Hooked post, we’ll learn a little about hook anatomy, types, brands, and we’ll even talk to other crafters about what hooks they prefer, and why.

Tapered or inline

Before you can Get Hooked, you have to FIND a hook. Right? Also, the hook you find needs to work for you. So what if it doesn’t? What if you’re dropping your yarn off the hook with each stitch, or splitting the yarn each time you grab it?

There are two main types of hooks: tapered (such as Boye,) and inline (such as Susan Bates.) The tapered hooks have much narrower throats and rounder heads. The biggest concern with tapered hooks seems to be having the yarn slipping off the side of the head, meaning you’re having to re-grab the yarn, essentially making the stitch twice (or more.) This slows you down, as I’m sure you can see.

Inline hooks are straight all the way down from the head to the end of the shaft. The head is “in line” with the rest of the hook. They also tend to have a deeper throat, which I love because I feel it securely grabs the yarn the first time, and leaves nowhere for the yarn to slip off. The thing that most tapered fans have against inline hooks is they say it splits the yarn too often, due to the sharper edge.

I personally am an inline hook user all the way. I’ve never had any issues with splitting yarn (beyond what’s reasonable in the craft of crochet in general.) In fact, I can’t use a tapered hook at all anymore! Every stitch I make slips right off and I have to do it again. Inline hooks have greatly increased my speed and accuracy.

Let's hear what some other crafters have to say...

I have realized for me that I love lightweight, tapered hooks and I do not like big handles. For regular crochet, Furls streamlines are perfect for me bc of their shape, they are extremely lightweight and yarn glides over them wonderfully. For Amigurumi I love clovers crochet hooks. They are lightweight and I feel more comfortable using them to make cute Amigurumi with small, tight stitches. I also love their Tunisian interchangeable set because they are wooden, lightweight, easy to use and the interchangeable cords are awesome to have.

~ Alexandra Halsey from With Alex

When I first started crocheting, I tried both tapered and in-line to see what worked best for me, with a Bates vs Boye comparison. I found that I preferred the tapered Boye hook over the in-line Bates, but wished the tip of the Boye hook had a similar point to the Bates hook. I started using Clover Amour hooks, which I absolutely loved and are still my go to, though I have recently discovered Furls Odyssey, which to me is a blend of both styles, making me fly through my stitches, with their slightly tapered, slightly in-line, still smooth head with more point than Boye but maybe not as much as Bates. It’s the Goldilocks hook!
~ Kristen Caldwell, from Hooks Books and Wanderlust

My current favorite is the Clover soft touch. I like that its handle is shorter so it doesn’t start to hurt the right side of my hand (by my pinky) if I crochet for too long, which happens pretty often hah! I’m dying to try a furls, too, but I haven’t yet.

~ Mary from Kickin’ Crochet

After years of sore hands from crocheting to much, if there is such a thing, I tried Clover Soft Touch Hooks and fell in love with them. The thicker (and softer) handles relieved my sore and achy hands immediately. I love all the pretty handles and hooks on the market today, but I am too loyal to my Clovers to give them a try. Happy Crocheting!
~ Christine from Sweet Potato 3

I learned to crochet using Boye hooks, and used them for over a decade until I was forced to use a Bates hook for a contract project. It was then that I discovered not only that the sizing is actually different between Boye and Bates, but the neck and hook are completely different as well. It took a little while to get used to the Bates hook, but once I did, I found it very difficult to go back to using my Boye hooks. I now have 3 sets of Bates hooks, and my poor Boyes are collecting dust.
~ Malena from Straight Hooked

My personal favorites are inline hooks. There is a slightly different movement when crocheting with inline hooks compared to tapered hooks that doesn’t bother my wrists as much. I love the deeper throat as well since it grabs the yarn better–I can actually crochet faster! My favorite hooks are the classic Susan Bates hooks, and Furls hooks when my wrists and hands need a little more TLC.

~ Kirsten from Kirsten Holloway Designs

I’ve always preferred tapered hooks for most projects. With inline hooks, I find I split the yarn more often. My current favorite “everyday” hooks are Clover Amour. The soft, ergonomic grip is very comfortable, the weight feels just right to me, and of course they’ve got tapered ends. I also like that they list the size in mm on the hook.
~ Pia Thadani of Stitches n Scraps

I love Furls hooks. I recently switched (around November of last year) and can’t use anything else now. I switch between their streamline swirls, odysseys, and alphas depending on the project.
~ Pamela Stark of Sincerely Pam

Let's talk brands!

So now that you know all about different types, are you ready to get hooked? Which would you like to try and where can you find them? Here are a few different brands, along with my personal thoughts, as well as links for purchasing.

Radiant Hooks by WeCrochet

These are my very favorite wooden hooks ever, and that’s my real professional opinion, not my Ambassador’s opinion 😀 These hooks are inline, with a rounded head, and a satin-like finish. I’ve never had issues with splitting yarn with these, and I especially love the slight grip the wood offers to slippery yarns, like the Upcycle I used in SUNday.

Susan Bates at Hobby Lobby

These are my favorite aluminum hooks, as well as my first set of inlines. Since finding these, I’ll never again use a tapered hook. Susan Bates Silvalume hooks are light-weight aluminum and beautifully colored, with a deep throat and pointy tip. For me, they are the most perfect hooks I’ve ever used for any and all types of wool.

Clover Amour at WeCrochet

These Clover hooks are so pretty! Ergonomic handles make for comfortable stitching for those whole hold their hook like a knife (as opposed to the pencil hold,) and the bright colors are so lovely. These are tapered aluminum hooks in plastic handles.

Go hook yourself

There you have it, friends and neighbors. Tapered or inline, straight or ergonomic shafts, wood or metal or plastic, there are so many different types of hooks! Why not try out a few and see what you like? After talking with these other amazing crochet artists, I’m really excited to try some Furls hooks now, although I just don’t know if anything can take the place of my WeCrochet wooden or Susan Bates aluminum inline hooks.

If you have found value in this post, please share it, pin it, tweet it, or leave a comment. Thanks so much for all that you do to help Rows and Roses offer great content and get it out to the masses. You are loved and appreciated ♥

Blooming Hand Towel

Posted on May 6, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

FREE Crochet pattern

Every now and then, I have an idea that doesn’t go as planned. Blooming Hand Towel is a great example! I wanted a kitchen towel for Mother’s Day to go with a Best Potholder and a Trivet in Bloom. I love making matching sets for my mom and she loves getting them! When I sat down with my yarn to design a kitchen towel, I don’t know what happened but I started making flowers. Then THIS happened, and it was even better than any of the ideas I had thought of before. I love it when that happens 🙂 Blooming Hand Towel includes some lovely little join-as-you-go flowers that are a cinch to make, with a solid body that is both absorbent and beautiful. And with all of the colors of Coastal Cotton and Ocean Mist (speckles!!) available, you can make it to match any decor!

Want a printable .pdf of this pattern? Grab it here.

A little info

Stitches: Ch, sl st, SC, DC, TC

Yarn: Approx. 210 yards of worsted weight cotton
Coastal Cotton and Coastal Cotton Ocean Mist work great!

Hook: J/10

Sizes: Approx. 23” long x 11” wide

Gauge: First two rounds of flower = 2” across from petal to petal

Blooming Hand Towel- let's get started!

Pattern:

First, we make three flowers and join them as we go.

First flower:

Ch 4. Join to form loop.

1) 12 DC in loop. Join. = 12 DC (I always use a standing DC for my first, but if you want to use a ch 2 + DC, or a ch 3, you totally can. Personal preference here 🙂 )

2) Sl st into sp between first two DCs, 2 DC into each sp around. Join. = 24 DC

3) Sk first DC, (3 DC, TC, 3 DC) into next st, sk 1 st, sl st into next st. This is petal #1. Now *sk next st, (3 DC, TC, 3DC) into next st, sk 1 st, sl st into next st; rep from * around to make petals #2-6. Join with a sl st into st we started in. Cut yarn. Weave in ends. = 6 petals

Great! Your first flower is finished! Now we’re going to make a second, and then a third, and join them as we go. Ready?

Second flower:

Work rounds 1 and 2 just the same as the first flower.

3) *Sk first DC, (3 DC, TC) into next st, join with sl st into TC of petal #1 on first flower by holding the flowers wrong sides together and inserting the hook from back to front, 3 DC into that same stitch, sk 1 st, sl st into next st. This is petal #1. Rep from * once more for petal #2, joining in petal #2 of first flower. **Sk next st, (3 DC, TC, 3 DC) into next st, sk next st, sl st into next st. This is petal #3. Rep from ** for petals #4-6. Join with sl st into st we started in. Cut yarn. Weave in ends.

Excellent! We’re nearly there. Now for the final flower.

Third flower:

Repeat second flower, but make sure to use petals #4 and #5 of second flower for joining, instead of #1 and #2.

Now you should have a nice little row of flowers connected to each other, just like this:

Now to add the towel

Lay your row of flowers in front of you, right side up. Assuming you are right-handed, as this pattern is written right-handed, locate the two petals alllllll the way to the right. See that top one, the one pointing at about two o’clock? Now find the TC in that petal. That’s where we’re going to join our towel yarn. I like to use a different color for the towel, but if you want to use the same as your flowers, I’m not gonna try to talk you out of it. Life is short, do what makes you happy <3

Now join your towel yarn with a sl st into that TC.

Ch 8, SC into the TC of the petal just to the left of our starting petal, ch 12, SC into the topmost petal of the next flower, ch 12, SC into the TC of the topmost petal on the final flower, ch 8, sl st into the TC of the petal just to the left of the previous petal.

Now our towel is ready to go! Here’s what you have so far:

You're doing great!

Towel:

1) Sl st into the first 4 chs, SC into each of the next 4 chs, *SC into the next SC, SC into each of the next 12 chs* twice, SC into the next SC, SC into the next 4 chs leaving the last 4 chs unworked. Ch 1, turn. = 35 SC

2) DC in each st to end. Ch 1, turn. = 35 DC

3) SC in each st to end. Turn. = 35 SC

Repeat rows 2-3 (21) times. Cut yarn.

Now go back to the chs we made when we first started the towel. With right side facing, join with sl st into the very first ch on the very first petal (remember the 4 chs that we left unworked on row 1? That first ch is what we’re looking for, joined to the TC of the first petal.)

Ch 1, SC in each ch, up the side of the towel (I usually put one SC into each SC row and two SCs into each DC row) across the top, down the other side, and into each of the 4 sl sts there at the end. Cut yarn. Weave in ends.

You're a stitching rockstar!

Thanks so much for purchasing my Blooming Handtowel pattern! I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do. Show us your towels! Share your finished towel on social media with the hashtag #RowsAndRosesBloomingHandtowel. Also, check out my Blooming Handtowel, Best Potholder, and Trivet for a great Mother’s Day gift set!

Want more free patterns? Check these out!
Don’t forget my shop for pre-orders and ready to ship items!

As always, if you ever need me, I’m only a click or two away:
Sati Glenn, owner and operator of Rows and Roses Fiberworks.
Email: sati@rowsandroses.com
Website: www.rowsandroses.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/rowsandrosescrochet
Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/stores/rows-and-roses

April RoundUp

Posted on April 29, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

Looking good, April!

Well now. April definitely treated me better than March did. What do you think? Are we starting to hit our stride with being homebound? Is the weather maybe, just maybe, starting to improve into a true and glorious spring? We all know that Mother’s Day is just around the corner, my Ambassadorship with WeCrochet is off to an amazing start, and I’m starting to feel really good about this. Please allow me to offer you an April RoundUp. We finished some items, wrote some patterns, became a Brand Ambassador and affiliate for WeCrochet, got two patterns accepted by Interweave, and man oh man, things are feeling GOOD just now!

Crossing the finish line

I had some pretty fun stuff falling off my hook and needles this month. Mittens for Alice, ear savers donations made from leftover Brava for our medical staff who are fighting so hard for all of us right now, a cat barf scarf, another Peaceful Poncho for the lovely Hattie, a Geodesic Cowl for Miss Sarah Ashley, and the Mother’s Day sets are still coming. Phew! Add to that the Blooming Hand Towel pattern I’m almost ready to release, the lace-weight shawl pattern I’m having a time with, the two patterns I’m getting ready to send to Interweave Crochet, and the sweater for EFA…. y’all. It’s been a busy month.

Patterns, you say?

The sweater I’ve been designing for Expression Fiber Arts is finished! Now I’m looking for testers. Let me know if you want more info on testing this textured beauty!

My very first garment pattern, Carnival Glass, went live in April. Crocheted in WeCrochet’s Muse Sock Yarn, this top is super stretchy and forgiving. The smaller size only takes a single skein!

Trivet In Bloom is the free pattern for April, and it has exploded! So many of you loved it, and are making your own. In fact, it’s so popular, it’s been voted in for our May crochet-along! Jump into the Ravelry group and join us for some trivets!

Changing and growing...

If I can break from this April roundup and get serious for a moment here, I just want to let you all know some things. It’s pretty clear that Rows and Roses is growing rather quickly. Affiliation, Ambassadorship, patterns accepted by Interweave (!!!), working with Expression Fiber Arts, a new YouTube channel… a whole lotta blessings being crammed into such a small package! It’s exciting, and scary, and sometimes really frustrating.

I want you all to know that Rows and Roses will always stay committed to the roots of this little business. I will always be here to provide you with specials and customs, as well as FLASH’s for the holidays (most of them, at least.) We may reach a point where events are closed up sooner than you’re used to, and turnaround times will probably, eventually, be extended. I intend to release two patterns per month for the foreseeable future, one for free on my blog and one for sale in my Ravelry shop, so that we can stitch together, those of you who are also crocheters.

You are all my people, and I won’t take off from here with starry eyes. I’ve seen it happen and that’s not me! You are all so important to me, and I appreciate your continued patronage more than I could ever put into words. You all are the life blood of R&R and I would never have gotten to where I am today without you. So thank you all for sticking around and cheering me on. My adoration for you all knows no bounds ♥

R&R and WeCrochet

Posted on April 17, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

A match made in yarny Heaven <3

I am maybe the most excited person ever right now. Allow me to share my big news. Drumroll………………..

Rows and Roses has forged a partnership with WeCrochet! That’s right, Rows and Roses is now not only a proud affiliate, but also a brand ambassador. I could not be more thrilled! I have long been a huge fan of Knit Pick’s yarn, so of course when they launched their sister site WeCrochet, dedicated to everything crochet, I had to jump on in and check it out.

I am bouncing up and down at all the opportunities they have given me, and I want to share them all with you now so you know what’s going on in my little business. Most of you have been with me for the whole 9 years Rows and Roses has been open, and I know you’re all ready to celebrate with me, so here’s all of the amazingness in one neat little blog post.

Affiliate

Rows and Roses just became an affiliate for WeC last week. For those of you who may not know what that means, here’s the rundown:

I have a whole little clutch of trackable links to their website that I will be using from now on instead of the standard links. When someone clicks one of these links and makes a purchase, I get a small cut. That’s it. You don’t have to do anything different, and you are not being charged any more. You’re just helping R&R pay the bills each time you make a WeC purchase through one of my links 🙂

Brand Ambassador

Brand Ambassador is maybe my very FAVORITE title, and makes me sound super important, yeah?

As a WeCrochet Brand Ambassador, I will be designing patterns each month using WeCrochet’s yarns and posting them all over! In return, WeC will be posting my patterns for me in their various channels. More exposure for their yarns, more exposure for my patterns!

They’ll provide the yarn I need to be creative, and I will be networking with other Ambassadors while we help get each other’s patterns out there.

Pictured here is my lovely friend, fellow hooker, and rockstar tester Sarah M. of the Carolina Hooker. She’s modelling my very first ever Ambassador pattern, Carnival Glass! I’m hoping this pattern does really well, so please go check it out and share share share! Help me prove to WeCrochet that I’m a great Ambassador for their brand.

Tester

As many of you already know, I’ve been an independent contractor for WeCrochet for a little while now, testing out crochet patterns for them and stitching up samples. To the right here is the Sweet and Simple Table Runner, written by Kristen Clay. I made that sample there in the picture! This runner, as well as many other amazing patterns, is featured in WeCrochet’s magazine, issue 2. I have a HUGE amazing test I’m working at the moment, and I can’t wait to show you all once it’s released! Go grab that magazine, you’ll thank me.

Independent Designer

And of course, I’ve been in the Independent Designers Program (IDP) with Knit Picks for a long time now, so my patterns have been moved over to WeCrochet! Here you can purchase my Felici On The Double cowl pattern, as well as many others. I’m adding more all the time, so be sure to check back often!

That's a wrap!

So as you can see, I’m pretty smitten with WeCrochet, and I think we’re meant to be. I plan to work with them for as long as they’ll let me. For those of you who are just starting out your business, and may be struggling for exposure, listen to me and listen well: work hard and do your best, let your products and customer service speak for themselves, be active on Ravelry and Instagram and Facebook, make friends with other artists, and always remember to shout out others when you get the opportunity. Stay at it, keep going, and great things will happen for you. I’ve been in business over nine years, and I’m just now starting to get a foothold to where I want to be in the yarn community. Don’t give up, remember that everything takes time, and you will make it ♥

If you found value in this post, pleas share it! Post to facebook, instagram, pin it, tweet it, leave me a comment, and thank you so much for all you do!

Trivet In Bloom

Posted on April 8, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

FREE crochet pattern!

How about a FREE crochet pattern for Mother’s Day? I present to you, Trivet in Bloom! While I was running a CAL for my Best Potholder You’ll Ever Own, I got the idea that maybe for Mother’s Day this year, I could create a matching trivet and kitchen towel to make a set. I knew that flowers would be great, but I just wasn’t exactly sure how I could make that work for a trivet. It came to me while in bed one night trying to get to sleep (isn’t that always the way??) The next morning I gave it a shot, and the most lovely little flower just fell off my hook. This is what I give you today, a Trivet in Bloom for the special lady in your life (and yes, that could totally be YOU!)

If you want a printable .pdf version of this pattern, find it here.

Stitches: Ch, sl st, SC, DC

Yarn: 2 colors of worsted weight cotton, approx. 50 yards each

I love Queensland Coastal Cotton and Coastal Cotton Ocean Mist (speckles!)

Hook: J/10

Sizes: 8” across from tip to tip

Gauge: 6 DC x 4 rows = 2”

Trivet In Bloom. Let's do it!

Pattern:

Flower

Ch 4, join with sl st to form a circle.

1) DC 12 inside the circle. Join. = 12 DC

2) 2 DC in each st around. Join. = 24 DC

3) *(DC, ch 1, DC) in next st, sk next st* around. Join. = 24 DC, 12 ch-1 sps

4) *(2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC) in next ch-1 sp, 2 SC in next ch-1 sp* around. Join. = 24 DC, 6 ch-2 sps, 12 SC

5) *8 DC in ch-2 sp, ch 2* around. Join. = 48 DC, 6 ch-2 sps

6) Sl st your way to the middle of the 8 DCs so that you are starting this round BETWEEN the 4th and 5th DC. *(DC, ch 1, DC) in sp between 4th and 5th st, ch 4, DC in each ch of the ch-2 sp, ch 4* around. Join. = 24 DC, 6 ch-1 sps, 12 ch-4 sps

7) *SC in DC, 3 SC in ch-1 sp, SC in next DC, 4 SC in ch-4 sp, SC2tog in the next two DC, 4 SC in ch-4 sp* around. Join. = 84 SC

Cut yarn. Weave in ends.

Now for the backing hexagon

Ch 4. Join to form a circle.

1) DC 12 inside the circle. Join. = 12 DC

2) 2 DC in each st around. Join. = 24 DC

3) *DC in next st, 2 DC in next st* around. Join. = 36 DC

4) 2 DC in first st, (DC in each of the next 5 sts, 3 DC in next st) 5 times, DC in each of the next 5 st, DC one more time in the same stitch as your first two DCs of this round. This puts 3 DC in that very first st. Join. = 48 DC

5) 2 DC in first st, (DC in each of the next 7 sts, 3 DC in next st) 5 times, DC in each of the next 7 st, DC one more time in the same stitch as your first two DCs of this round. This puts 3 DC in that very first st. Join. = 60 DC

6) 2 DC in first st, (DC in each of the next 9 sts, 3 DC in next st) 5 times, DC in each of the next 9 st, DC one more time in the same stitch as your first two DCs of this round. This puts 3 DC in that very first st. Join. = 72 DC

7) 2 SC in first st, (SC in each of the next 11 sts, 3 SC in next st) 5 times, SC in each of the next 11 st, SC one more time in the same stitch as your first two SC of this round. This puts 3 SC in that very first st. Join. = 84 SC

DO NOT CUT YARN!

Time to assemble

Now you’re going to stack your flower piece on top of your backing piece, with both right sides facing up, NOT facing together. Line up the first st on each of these pieces. Remove your hook from the loop on the backing piece, insert it through the first st on the flower piece, grab that loop, and pull it through.

Ch 1, SC through both pieces at the same time, all the way around, joining them together. Cut yarn, weave in ends.

Now for a little surface crochet, but only if you want!

Taking a new strand of the same color you used for your backing piece and holding it in back of your trivet, stick your hook through both trivet pieces together in the top of the VERY FIRST stitches you made, in the first round, and pull up a loop of yarn. Slip stitch around through the tops of all of your round 1 stitches, through both pieces, joining the centers together. When you get back around to your first stitch where you started, slip stitch into that one one more time, cut your yarn, and use a tapestry needle to pull the yarn through the first stitch to the back. Weave in ends.

And do it again if you want to, through the stitches in the second round! Do it all the same way, weave in your ends, and now the center of your trivet is connected together. This surface crochet used to join isn’t absolutely necessary, but it keeps the two pieces from flopping apart in the center.

All finished!

I hope you love this pattern as much as I do! If you want to make a matching set, check out my Best Potholder pattern and keep an eye out for a hand towel pattern that I’m working on, as well.
I’d love to see your trivets. Post yours on social media with the hashtag #RowsAndRosesTrivet so we can all see what you’ve made!

If you’ve found value in this post, please considering sharing it. Forward the link, post on facebook, instagram, pinterest, twitter, and anywhere else you hang out. Check out my shop (there are Best Potholders!) join my facebook group, and crochet along with us in the Ravelry group. Every little thing you do to support my little business is so appreciated ♥

March Round Up

Posted on March 25, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

Spring Crocheting at it’s finest

I’m not even friends with March anymore. What a month and a half! Perhaps one day I’ll forgive her, but not any time soon. This has been the most stressful, terrifying, saddest, “holy shit!” of a month I’ve had in a long time. I bet I’m not the only one who feels this way, either.

At least the yarn was good. Yarn tends to make the bad not quite as bad as it could be. Allow me to try to brighten your day a little with these lovely pictures for our March Round Up. Keep your chin up. We’re not finished yet.

This Dazzle Hat really, well, dazzled me. I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off; I’m not half the knitter I am crocheter and I had never done German short rows before. But behold! It worked. Awesome 🙂

Sweet Batilda is the second bat I’ve crocheted from this pattern, and I love her. So does everyone else, it seems. I highly recommend this pattern!

The Prismatic Hat has been in my favorites for a good long time. I do have a weakness for Chroma, especially in fingering weight. See those colors? Crocheting this hat was so soothing, like crocheting little pieces of the ocean, which is fitting as the colorway is called “Fathoms.”

I updated both Leyla’s Hat and Leyla’s Mitts. The patterns have the new stylesheet, better pictures, more info, and are easier to read and follow. If you grab yourself a copy, tell me what you think!

Y’all. I crocheted bunnies for Easter and then turned right around and crocheted some dicks. I’m not even sorry.

Becoming an independent contractor for WeCrochet has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. They send me FREE YARN!! And I write patterns, and test patterns, which is like a dream come true. Every time I open a box, it’s the best day ever

I finished this set of Maracas Bowls for the CAL in the Ravelry group, and have another almost finished. I will never ever ever get tired of playing with Dishie and making new bowls in new styles.

I sent out all the St. Patrick’s Day stuff earlier this month. This was before we all knew March 2020 was going to crash and burn. They were well received though, and I sure had a great time making them. Maybe next year we’ll all be able to congregate again and have a St. Pat’s party!

Besides all this...

I guess it’s been okay, really. Social distancing means we actually DON’T have somewhere to rush off to each day, so that’s really nice. The kids are staying in touch with their friends through Messenger for Kids, Zoom rooms, and Minecraft. I’m drinking a lot of coffee and playing with a LOT of yarn! I put up a blog post on blocking, we’ve got a CAL for Maracas Bowls on Ravelry that’s closing up and new CAL about to begin, and I released a new FREE pattern, SUNday.

If you’re crafty, I’d love to see what you’re doing! Are you crocheting, knitting, dyeing, spinning, weaving, painting, beading, sewing? How are you handling staying in for the time being? Comment and let us know! You can even link us to your blog or social media so we can all support each other. As always, if you’ve found value in this post, please tweet, pin, share. Every little action from you helps me out tremendously ♥

SUNday FREE PATTERN!

Posted on March 14, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

FREE crochet pattern

SUNday is a cheerful sunny scarf, and just what we all need to hurry Spring on her way. Crocheted lace is one of my favorite springtime indulgences. This stitch pattern, worked on the bias, offers interest during crocheting and produces a naturally scalloped edge. Worked in WeCrochet’s Upcycle Alpaca, a drapey DK weight, the alpaca makes it nice and soft, while the silk and Tencel give it a gorgeous sheen. This one-skein scarf is a quick project, so why not make two and gift the second to a very special person in your life!

You can get a .pdf version of this pattern for just $1.99 on Ravelry. This makes it easily printable so you can take it with you, and it helps support me in the writing of even more patterns. Even if you don’t purchase the .pdf, please go rate it for me!

If you love this pattern, check out some of my other FREE patterns, as well as my Ravelry shop.

A little info

Stitches: Ch, sl st, beg V-st (ch 4, DC) V-st (DC, ch 1, DC) W-st (DC, ch 1, DC ch 1, DC)

Yarn: 200 yards DK (WeCrochet’s Upcycle Alpaca, alpaca/silk/Tencel, 1 skein)

Hook: H

Sizes: Approx. 5” wide x 62” long, unblocked (if you use a whole skein of Upcycle Aplaca)

Gauge: 3 V-sts x 3 rows = 2” approx.

Notes: Ch 4 in beg V-st counts as (DC, ch1) and ch 3 at the beginning for row 3 counts as a DC.

Let's get hookin'!

Pattern:

Ch 32

Row 1) V-st in 5th ch from hook, *sk 2 chs, V-st in next ch* eight times, sk 2 chs, W-st in last ch. Ch 1. Turn. = 9 V-sts

Row 2) Sl in 1st ch-1 sp, beg V-st in same ch-1 sp, V-st in each ch-1 sp to end. Ch 1. Turn. = 11 V-sts

Row 3) Sl in 1st ch-1 sp, ch 3, *V-st in next ch-1 sp* to last ch-1 sp, W-st in last ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Turn. = 9 V-sts

Repeat rows 2-3 until desired length or until you run out of yarn. Finish off. Weave in ends.

Yup, that’s literally the whole entire thing. Wasn’t that the most enjoyable and stress-free little piece of crochet you’ve ever done? Now you’re ready to spring in style! I hope you’ve enjoyed this pattern. I’d love to see your finished scarf! Share your project on social media with the hashtag #RowsAndRosesSUNday so we can all see how you’ve made it your own! As always, if you have any questions, just ask. I’m easy to find 🙂

Blocking Finished Items

Posted on March 5, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

The whys and the hows

I’m sure that we’ve all seen some handmade items that, well… left much to be desired. It’s not the yarn. The yarn is gorgeous! And it’s not the pattern. We can see pictures of other items made by different people using the same pattern, and they are remarkable. However, perhaps the one in front of us just doesn’t seem right. Sloppy? Is that the right word? Could it be that the gauge is off? Or maybe it looks more like what you would consider a “rough draft” would look like.

I bet I know why this beautiful item, knitted or crocheted by a talented fiberartist who knows what they’re doing, in the most scrumptious yarn, fails to impress. I bet it’s due to a shoddy blocking job, or perhaps it hasn’t been blocked at all! So we’re going to talk about blocking today. See that picture above, with the colorful top next to the black top? That is the exact same top. Same yarn, same size. The colorful one has been blocked, and the black one has not (yet.)

A Big Difference

Take a look at the picture on the left. This gorgeous doily was crocheted by a very talented fiber artist on Ravelry (click the pic to see her project.) She did an amazing job crocheting it, and then lovingly and painstakingly blocked it, pinning all the little points and scallops. Isn’t it amazing?!

But look at the difference between the top slice and the bottom slice. See how the top slice looks bunched up? That’s before blocking. And the lacy and open bottom slice is after.

Just imagine if they had left this gorgeous doily unblocked. Would it ever have laid flat? Could you even see all the special stitches and lacy spaces there toward the center? The points and loops on the outer edge wouldn’t even be noticeable! The stitches for them are, but you can’t see them. THIS is why we block. Maybe not so much for things like dish cloths or mittens, but for anything with a stitch pattern, yes, you really should block it.

Getting your Block On

Just so that you are aware, blocking is not a difficult thing to do. It does, however, take some supplies, and usually a good bit of time if you’re going to do it right. See these three pictures on the right? They show the transition from a bunched up swatch of yarn, to the blocking mat, and finally to the absolutely stunning shawl that this artist knew they were making all along. I’m sure it took a lot of faith in the magic of blocking to continue on knitting this lace shawl when the whole time it was looking like the top picture!

So let’s get ready to do some blocking!

Then first thing you’ll need is something to block your item on. Some people, like me, have special blocking mats we like to use. They are made of dense foam, and they interlock to form a surface as big as you need. The middle picture here shows interlocking blocking mats. The ones I have are smaller, and I have two sets so that I can put together a mat for unusual designs, such as crescent or asymmetrical shawls

You’ll also need some rust-resistant pins, and if you’re blocking lace, some blocking wires. I just use guitar strings.

You’re going to soak your item in a warm bath for a little while, then squeeze or spin as much of the water out of it as you can. Block damp, not saturated! Lay your item out on the blocking mat in the form it should be when it dries. Pin it liberally, taking care to get all the little points. There are never too many pins when you’re blocking a piece! Once you’ve pulled it out into the correct shape and pinned it, let it dry and you’re good to go!

It's Not Just for Lace!

While blocking is, of course, necessary for lace projects in order to open them up, I am a firm believer that a good blocking equals a better finished, more polished piece of knitting or crochet. This before/after of a sweater shows how even cables can benefit from a good blocking.

Blocking helps any item go from “homemade” to “handmade” and is the final touch that I would encourage you to add to all of your projects.

Are you first time blocker, looking to give it a try? Show us! I’m dying to see how it goes for you. I bet you’ll love it, and will block from now on. Share your before/after pics on social media and hashtag them #RowsAndRosesBlocking so we can all see your masterpiece! And as always, if you have found value in anything set forth in this blog post, please consider sharing, pinning, tweeting, or otherwise helping to get it out there for others to use ♥

February RoundUp

Posted on February 26, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

FOs, Patterns, and other news

Well February came in like a storm here at R&R, and left almost the same. It has been one thing after another, with every single one of us getting sick at one point. We all got some much-needed haircuts by the fabulous Brittni at Holmes Hair Studio (if you’re in the area, go to her and tell her I sent you!) and I discovered that Ulta is both my new favorite store and my wallet’s worst enemy. Meanwhile, the weather lost its mind in SC, and decided to go from 70°F to FREAKING SNOW overnight. I just can’t figure out what to wear, but it’ll be okay. Spring is marching in! ( <– See what I did there? Marching? I’m hilarious.)

What have we got to show for the shortest month of the year? More than we bargained for, I can tell you that. Allow me to share this February RoundUp with you….

Finished Objects

Pattern

This month I released a new crocheted hat pattern called Flatter. This springtime hat is made using only ONE BALL of WeCrochet’s Cotlin, a DK weight cotton/linen blend. I have long loved this yarn for things like kitchen towels and market bags, but it makes excellent warm weather garments and accessories, too!

I designed this hat as a base for your own artistic inspiration. Wanna cover it in flowers? Or maybe weave a ribbon through it? Perhaps you’d like to add some beads or feathers or something super unique. DO IT! And tag your hat #RowsAndRosesFlatter to inspire the rest of us.

Wrappin' it up

All in all, I’d say it’s been a pretty stellar month, wouldn’t you? We’re wrapping up a Headband With A Twist KAL and a Felici On The Double Hat CAL in the Ravelry group in order to make way for the March -alongs. Maracas Bowls and “something knitted with cables” are both coming up on March 1st so please come join us! And if you haven’t checked out the latest info post on the blog about spinning yarn, be sure to give it a lookover, too.

We’ve got a St. Pat’s FLASH opening in the facebook group tomorrow, and the Spring/Easter Specials & Customs opening on March 5th. I’ve got three new patterns mostly written and another half dozen in various stages of completion, so be sure to keep an eye out for those. If you haven’t signed up for the newsletter yet, please do. I have so much fun putting this together every month, and sometimes I even include a fun surprise gift.

Thanks for hanging with me. Your friendship makes me feel cool and loved and included ♥ If you’ve enjoyed this February RoundUp, please consider tweeting, pinning, commenting, or otherwise sharing. Every little action you take helps my little business to grow!

Flatter

Posted on February 19, 2020January 18, 2024 by Sati <3

FREE Crochet Pattern!

The free Felici on the Double cowl pattern was such a big hit! So how about a new free crochet pattern to welcome in the Spring that surely MUST be coming! Free is good, yeah? Yeah.

This youth summer hat is the perfect canvas to show off your style! Gorgeous left as-is, it can also hold all the flowers, feathers, ribbons, and accoutrements you want. The sky’s the limit! I’ve been able to wear this hat myself, no problem, but I realize that not everyone has the same sized head. Therefore, I have named it a youth hat. Should you choose to add more increases, I fully support you!

If you love this pattern- or even just kinda like it- you can get a printable .pdf here.

If you want to check out my other patterns, I think you’ll like them!

Flatter: free crochet pattern for you!

Free crochet pattern

Stitches: ch, sl, SC, SCblo, DC

Yarn: DK weight, 100 yards (I used one ball of WeCrochet’s Cotlin, and had some left over)

Hook: I/9, or size needed to obtain gauge

Sizes: Youth 18”

Gauge: After round 2, your circle should be 2.5” across

**NOTES: Always start your round in the very first stitch, which is the same stitch you joined in. Also, I always use a Standing DC as my first stitch, but you can use a ch 3 or whatever you prefer.**

Here we go!

Pattern:

Start with a magic ring, or ch 4 and sl st in first ch to join into a ring.

Round 1) 12 DC in ring. Join. = 12 DC

Round 2) 2 DC in each st around. Join. = 24 DC

Round 3) *DC in next st, 2DC in next st* around. Join. = 36 DC

Round 4) *DC in next 2 sts, 2DC in next st* around. Join. = 48 DC

Round 5) *DC in next 3 sts, 2DC in next st* around. Join. = 60 DC

Round 6) *DC in next 5 sts, ch 1, sk 1* around. Join. = 50 DC, 10 ch-1 sps

Round 7) *DC in next 4 sts, ch 1, sk 1 st, DC in ch-1 sp* around. Join.

Round 8) *DC in next 3 sts, ch 1, sk 1 st, DC in ch-1 sp, DC in next st* around. Join.

Round 9) *DC in next 2 sts, ch 1, sk 1 st, DC in ch-1 sp, DC in next 2 sts* around. Join.

Round 10) *DC in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st, DC in ch-1 sp, DC in next 3 sts* around. Join.

Round 11) Sl into ch-1 sp, *DC in ch-1 sp, DC into next 4 sts, ch 1, sk 1 st* around.

Round 12) Repeat round 7

Round 13) Repeat round 8

Round 14) SC in each st and ch-1 sp around. Join. = 60 SC

Round 15) *SCblo in next 3 sts, 2 SCblo in next st* around. Join. = 75 SC

Round 16) SC around. Join. = 75 SC

Rounds 17-20) Repeat Round 16

Cut yarn. Weave in ends. Embellish as you wish, or leave as is. Enjoy your hat!

Sati Glenn, owner and operator of Rows and Roses Fiberworks.

Email: sati@rowsandroses.com

Website: www.rowsandroses.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/rowsandrosescrochet

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/stores/rows-and-roses