Pineapple Mesh Shawl-PDF Pattern Only

This pretty, lightweight, and airy shawl is great for those upcoming cool Spring days & Summer evenings.

Worked from the neck down, you can adjust the length to your desired size.

Can be made with either worsted or light weight yarns.

You can make this in just a couple of days!

A quick & easy Mother's day gift too!

Click title for the pattern



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Why Make Swatches?

Why Make Swatches?

I recently read this from a crochet Yahoo group called 'crochet wearables':

MAKING SWATCHES

  If you want your garment to fit properly after it is completed, it is important to take the time to make a swatch. Then treat it exactly as you will treat your finished garment.

  First, chain about 20 stitches (staying in pattern may require you to start with a few more than 20 chains).

  Work your pattern until it measures about 4 or 5 inches.

  Lay it flat and let it rest.

  Measure the length and width and write these measurements down.

  Wash and dry the swatch the same way you will be washing and drying your finished garment.

  Measure the length and width of the laundered swatch and write these measurements down.

  Determine how much (if any) your swatch has changed from before it was washed and dried. This will help you figure how to adjust your pattern to fit properly. You may need to make your garment much larger if your swatch shrank a lot. Or you may need to make your garment smaller if your swatch grew (stretched).

  Mark out a 4 inch square in the center of the swatch. You can do this by pinning the 4 outermost corner stitches of the square.

  Count how many stitches and rows are contained in those 4 inches. This will help you determine how many stitches and/or rows to add to or subtract from your pattern in order for your garment to equal the correct finished measurement.

  You should do this every time you begin a new (large) project, even if it is the same pattern with the same brand of yarn and the same hook size.

  ( Personally, I'd be more concerned about all this in regards to wearables.)

  Sometimes different colors of the same yarn brand will work up to different gauges. Sometimes the yarn companies change something in the fiber content or manufacturing process of their yarns. And sometimes your tension will be tighter or looser than it was before. A lot of things could make your tension change your gauge, such as whether you are happy, sad, angry, tired, rushed, very relaxed, etc.

 

  So, start a small piece with a seperate ball of yarn with the same hook for a few minutes, just to get your hands warmed up, and your muscles relaxed before going back to your main project. This is good when you plan to go back to a earlier project you haven't worked on in awhile. ;-) 

  If you do a gauge swatch before you start your project, there shouldn't be any unpleasant surprises.

 

So, get your 'Crochet On'!

National Crochet Month (YEAH, RIGHT!!)

OK, March is finally here, and it's the beginning of National Crochet Month.

For the last few years I've tried to see what's going on in the city (Philly)regarding anything crochet......and each year it's the same...


NOT A DAMN THING!!

Most people either don't know anything about it(some they get 'conveniently stupid'), or, they just don't care about it.

The only concern I might get if they hear that's something free to get!!

I try to go around the city, stopping the few places where crocheters gather, to see what people are doing, and it's pretty much the same thing. They're mostly beginners who mostly just sit around,chit chat and eat (oh yeah, gotta have some food!). And wait to see what everybody else is doing (mainly to see what patterns they can get free copies of.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't come out to gossip and feed my face. Sure, I like to see what everyone else is doing, but that doesn't mean I want or need to get a free copy of the pattern. I can get my own (I might want to know where they got it from, like if it's online).

I want to learn as well as to see what's new and what's going on with crochet. Trying to learn and see other people's perspective on what's important to them regarding crochet.

And as a former teacher, it's gratifying to show someone either something new (to them), or a different way to do a specific technique or stitch.

But as usual, I find myself being asked to teach the whole class(for free?), or constantly being bombarded with requests for 'free copies of patterns!! UGH!!

So, this year you can count me out for National Crochet Month here..!!!


I'll just deal with my online friends and groups. It seems to be more people of the same interests there.

Are your crochet skills are advancing over the years?

Recently, Dora Orhenstein, from 'The Crochet Insider', asked that question to a Crochet Yahoo group.


I've been crocheting for nearly forty years. Started as a teenager in college (PSU), eventually taught myself to read patterns (the girls on campus got sick of me asking how to do stuff!). I had a Saturday morning class for a little while teaching new stitches. Even the girl who first taught me came to the class!!

I've always been curious about different things about crochet. I try to challenge myself to find and do not only different new things, but find and do different ways to do some of the same things.

I became a CYCA Certified Crochet Teacher 10 yrs ago, but I was already teaching at different senior centers in the area, mostly volunteering.

Teaching brought out a different concept to my crocheting, improvisation.
Learning to adapt to different ideas to accommodate the different types of crocheters was a challenge in of itself.

Funny, most of my students think I'm obsessed with crocheting, but whenever they need help, who do they contact! ;-)

Finally, I have to acknowledge that with the introduction of the Internet, I've been more open with my crocheting. Only ever met one other male crocheter here locally, he was in his 70's, and was 'tickled pink' to finally met one himself!. But with the Internet, I've met dozens of guys, of different ages, races, and backgrounds.

I'm glad to see some of my work has inspired a few young guys.

Thank Goodness for Diagrams!!

I ran across this photo of a pretty pineapple shawl and realized that it's from a Japanese book.


OK, so you know I don't read Japanese, right? But, as luck would have it, I found ( don't ask me where), the diagram for it.

But there's a catch.... it's not the WHOLE pattern, but pretty much!! ;-)

Had to figure out the rest on my own, and since I've done a few pineapple patterns before, it wasn't too hard to figure out.

I find that diagrams help out a lot. Written (especially pineapples) patterns can sometimes be overwhelming, so wordy, it makes me dizzy!!

Now, here's the thing. I know the original pattern probably calls for some thin expensive, sport-weight type of yarn, but you know me......I'm a '4-ply kinda guy!!'

Hee, Hee!!

What are you doing this Winter?

So, what's going on with everyone?

I know most are still doing last minute things for the big day, but what are some of your plans for the coming year?

If the big snowstorm we just had on the East Coast is any indication, we're going to be stuck in the house a lot more next year, so they're be a lot of crocheting and knitting.

So, what are you planning to work on? Still trying to finish up those projects that you've putting aside?


Planning to start making things for the Spring season?

I really need to buckle down and finish some of the things I've started....they're beginning to pile up! ;-)

Philadelphia Male Crocheters?

Are there any male crocheters in Philly?

I've lived here all my life, and only met one male, who was a senior citizen originally from Texas. And he too, was surprised to have met another male crocheter.

I did see one young guy on the subway, tucked in a corner seat, working on a fashion doll dress, looking very nervous. I came up to him, asked if he was working in sc or dc, just to put him at ease, but he still was too nervous to talk, so I left him alone.

Whenever I go to our local Knit-Out, I might see one guy there, usually someone's young son,dragging around with their mom. Normally, I'm the only guy there (except maybe for the janitor)!!;- )

And you can forget seeing them at our LYS, (well, we only have one 1 crochet friendly LYS). I might see a male knitter (OK, that's a different group altogether...a subject for later!) ;-)

If it weren't for the Internet, I don't think I'd ever would of met another male crocheter.

I'm sure there others out there, maybe they were like me years ago, pretty much kept to themselves, doing it privately, still dealing with the public stigma attached to it.

It's frustrating sometimes being in a room full of just women, having them (unintentionally, of course), talk down to you, and treat you as one of the 'girls'.

So, where are you guys??

DC KEYHOLE NECK SCARF

DC KEYHOLE NECK SCARF

CrochetGuy Copyright © 2009







Materials: 4ozs of any 4-ply Soft or Sport yarn ‘I’ hook Yarn Needle

(If using worsted weight yarn, use ‘J’ hook)

Size: 5” x 33”

Gauge: 3dc & 2rows=1”

Abbreviations: Ch-chain sl st-slip stitch sc-single crochet dc-double crochet rev sc-reverse single crochet (sc, working from left to right)

Note: Ch2, does not count as a dc

Row 1: Ch 122, dc in the 3rd ch from the hook, and in each ch across, turn (120 dc)

Rows 2-4: Ch2, dc across, turn

Row 5: Ch2, dc across the next 86dc, ch13, skip 13dc, dc across remaining dc, turn

Row 6: Ch2, dc across each dc and ch, turn

Rows 7-9: Ch2, dc across, turn



Keyhole Edging:

With right side facing, join yarn to 1st dc of opening, sc around, join end off

Outer Edging:

Row 1: With right side facing, working along all sides, sc around, working 3sc at each corner, join

Row 2: For Women, (sc in the next st, sl st in the next st) around, join, end off

Row 2: For Men, rev sc around, join, end off



Weave ends

Copyright © 2009 That Crochet Guy



Please do not reproduce, sell or distribute this pattern by any means.



You may sell your finished work made from this pattern.

Shell Stitch Crazy!!

Just finished a few hats and some scarves as gifts for the upcoming holidays, and I'm about 'shelled' out!!! :-0

Cable Comfort

I recently purchased this book called 'Range of Fashion'from Amazon for the cover sweater:



I couldn't see all of it, due to the way the model was posing, but I was intrigued by the way the cable was made. It reminded me of a Lion Brand knitted pattern that I first saw in a fashion runway photo online.

Oh, by the way, the patterns are made by another 'male' crocheter, George Shaheen.





Well, I received it, and after getting over the fact the book only has 5 patterns for $15!!!!, (one is OK, but the other 3...not for me!) :-)

Got to see the whole sweater.....not bad!


So, after reviewing how the cable strip was made, I decided to make a smaller version, just to see. I decided to try it in a one color bag, then, another version as a hat, with 2 shades of gray(left over yarn),(wasn't too sure about this one, but, what the heck, right?)

Philadelphia Area 8th Knit/ Crochet Out Event

Well, it's that time again.

On Oct 4th, from Noon to 5p.m., the Philadelphia Convention Center (corner of 12th & Arch Sts) will be holding the 8th Annual Philadelphia Area Knit/Crochet Out Event

OK, OK, don't get so excited!!

It's not it used to be. It's main objective to still to promote knitting and crocheting(among other types of crafts)free to the public.

But the key word is 'free'....

Everything is 'free'...I mean that's everything's 'donated'. Volunteers, materials, even the hall is 'donated'.

Over time, like most things, free doesn't last forever. So after a while, the donations (and some volunteers)have dwindled.

So, if your salivating over what 'free' goodies you're going to get, think again.

The companies that used to donate materials aren't truly doing so out of the kindness of their hearts, they're hoping to generate some future business.

But if you don't shop in their stores, then why should they continue.

They say 'you can't get out what you don't put in'.

So c'mom people, if you want things like the Knit Out to continue, you need to do your part as well.

Smooth Cable Hat

Saw this hat on Etsy and wanted to figure out the stitch:

Visor Cap

Saw this FREE pattern online (click title for pattern) and thought I'd give it a try:

Pretty Pineapples Caplet

Here's my latest design:
Click here to purchase pattern:

Crochet Dad!!

I recently met Gene (aka Crochet Dad)from California here in Philly the other day. He and his wife were here to their youngest daughter's graduation from Drexel University.

We met up at a local Starbucks, and one of the first things that struck me was he greeted me with a great big hug....not your standard handshake... that was nice!!

He treated me to a cup of coffee, while I sat and talked with him and his wife, daughter and her boyfriend.

It was both nice and strange at the same time. Nice, because I rarely get to see and talk with another male crocheter, strange, because I've only done that online.

I once met a senior male crocheter(Ed) at a local senior center that wanted to meet me when he heard of me thru a mutual craft friend. She talked about me and he was so excited to hear of another male crocheter( a Black one too!!), that he asked me to come to his center.


So, whenever I came by, he'd always have something for me to see. after awhile I realized that in his funny way, he was 'testing me'. So, sometimes, I'd act as if I didn't know something, just so he could 'teach' me.

He was originaly from Texas, were he learned to crochet as a kid.

He was also glad to meet someone who understood crochet on the same level. Most of the ladies didn't, and he would get frustrated with them, so he figured it would just be better to flirt with them (hee, hee!!)

He since passed. But before he did, he gave me dozens of old patterns and a complete set of knitting needles (he was a knitter as well.


So, it was really nice to meet another male crocheter in person, especially one that gives'hugs'!!

Pineapple Wrap

Click title to purchase pattern

I Have a Life!!

Recently I was talking several ladies about something on the Internet, then one, who has a computer, but rarely uses it, says:

" I can't be bothered with all the computer stuff, I have a life!!"

I've heard several ladies say that, but it's funny how, if they need something, they're quick to ask you to find and get it for them.

Reminds me of people that always ask (even tell) me to crochet something for them, even ones that can crochet themselves. They usually try to butter me up with high praises before they go in for the kill!!!

People must think that, since I either crochet or be on the computer a lot, I have the time and will do whatever they want. Like I don't have anything else to do, and they're giving me something to do.


And they wonder why I get pissed!! HELLO!!!

Most times, I just don't say anything. I mean, what would be the point. If you tend to think in terms about people that they're "only as good as they're good for"....then they just won't get it.

I just smile, grit my teeth, and push it out of my mind.

But.....if they bring it up again....LOOK OUT!!

JANE'S YARN SHOPPE!!

I stopped in to my favorite LYS:
Jane's Yarn Shoppe
1707 E. Passyunk Ave (near the corner of 12th & Morris Sts)
Philadelphia, PA 19148
215-463-8181

The Crochet Friendliest LYS in Philly!!!

The 'Lustre Sheen' Queen!!

If you're looking a more crochet friendly place, there's none other than Jane's.

And,if you're coming, plan to stay awhile!!!

Make sure you bring something to snack on, 'cause you're gonna have a great time.

She's been a great friend for over 15 yrs. She carries all types of yarn at reasonable prices(and we need those more than ever, right?).

Looking for Lustre Sheen? Well, she has the best supply in town.

So, stop on by. Tell her I sent you!! ;-)

7 Point Round Shawl

Here's my latest pattern:

I wanted to come up with something quick & easy to make for Mother's Day, or just for the Summer.

Click Title for link.

Granny Square Market Bag

This is a nice pattern.

Quick, easy, and simple to make. Both practical and economic.

I've seen other market bags, and there OK, but they all looked like they're about to pop any second from all those chains!!

I plan to make another one, but it won't be as wide, longer straps, and have a stronger bottom base.