The Social Scarf

Ok, you asked for it! I've gotten enough questions and comments about this scarf, that i just have to post it! I made it while I was on a scarf and cowl kick awhile back. The yarn I used was Manos del Uruguay. It's a wool and silk blend, so softness and warmth form a perfect balance. The silk gives it a nice shine too! All thier yarns are kettle dyed and there are solids too! I especially love the depth of colors in this colorway called "Stellar". To make my scarf, I used a crochet stitch from my favorite reference book by Jane Davis, Crochet: The Complete Guide . It has a wonderful stitch library in it, as well as a couple of patterns in the back. I have used this book so much over the years, I would hightly recommend it to anyone!Follow the link above to purchase her book! I used her basic clustered shells pattern (aka: turtle, or scallop stitch) which uses a pultiple of 6 sts plus 1. Most beginning crochet books have similar stitches you can substitute.

For my scarf, I cast on 28sts. These include the extra 3 chains at the start of Row 1 ! These chains will allow your double crochet stitches to stand up straight.
Row 1 (GREEN): 5dc in 4th chain from hook, *skip 2 chains, single crochetinto next chain, skip 2 chains,5 double-crichet into next chain*.Repeat between**s until 3 chains remain. End row 1 with only 3 double crochets in last chain.--turn work--
Row 2 (BLUE): chain one,*5 double-crochets into single crochet from previous row, single crochet into middle stitch of shell from previous row*. Repeat between**s until last shell.3 double-crochet into top of chain 3. --turn work--and repeat rows 1 & 2 until desired length.

I used a size H(5mm) hook, but I tend to crochet on the loose/large side, and this hook is even larger than the yarn label calls for.This is what the stitch looks like when held up to the light. This photo shows the pattern on it's side. The top of the shells are facing to the right.

Working flat, I crocheted a total of 66 rows untill my rectangle was the desired length (35''). On the last stitch, I made twice as many double crochets to round the corner stitch. I continued around the outside boarder of the scarf to embelish my straight edges using the shell pattern over and over again. This is, of coarse, completly optional! To finish it off, after I wove in my ends, I sewed a couple of vintage buttons along one side.These buttons were just the right size to poke through th crochet shell work! Now it can be worn it a couple of ways!

Once around or twice around, it's classy and casual for everyday wear!
Later, Jess

Preserving Summer Apron.

Here's a sneak peek at what I have been working lately. I'm calling it Preserving Summer. It's an apron of mostly Amy Butler Fabric. If you haven't heard of her, click here and get ready to fall in love with this med-western designer! I was commisioned to make these aprons by the photography firm Buiscut 8. Check out their blog, it's pretty fantastic! They wanted to give some promotional gifts to Kerr (the canning company) and keep it local. Thus the name, Preserving Summer. I thought it only appropriate, and maybe a little funny. Here's my lovely tape mannequin modeling one of the first hot off the iron!
Later, Jess

Dwell Studio Curtains

Detail. Don't you just love how the sun comes through the weave?:

Funny story about this fabric. I showed my boyfriend a bunch of different fabrics I thought would be cool to use for curtains. This happened to be the one my boyfriend liked the most the Dwell Studio Bella Porte Citrine for Robert Allen @ Home. But, it was about $16/yd, so we were going to hold off on buying it. That day, my boyfriend and I decided to go to Hancock Fabric to look for faux fur for a rug. When we got there, we couldn't find what we wanted, but while we were browsing the remnant fabrics table we found a small section of this fabric, for FOUR DOLLARS A YARD! Can you believe it?! After a bit of digging, we found two more even larger sections. The way the pieces were cut we had to retrofit it to the curtains, but in the end they looked fantastic!

Later, Jess

Couch Pillows

In the living room:

Detail:

I'd been meaning to take a picture of these for a while, but I hadn't gotten around to it. But now that the living room is finally coming together, I thought it was about time. I started out with some wool suiting fabric for the base, and did some machine aplique on top with yellow and cream colored felt pieces. I thought the tessellation went well with the mid-century feel of our living space.

Also, the owl piece above the couch was a needle felting project of mine I did in college.

Later, Jess

Neckwarmer

I've been meaning to upload a picture of this for a while, but I kept forgetting. It's a neckwarmer. SUPER simple, and fun to make. I've been thinking I might make a some more to sell on Etsy if I can generate some interest.

Snowflake Mittens

I wanted a pair of fingerless gloves for myself, but my fingers get cold all the time. This was my solution. I've seen this idea before but I made the pattern myself. This is just a modified mitten pattern that has a little pocket that comes over your fingers. Fully knitted. A little loop on the end allows you to button back the finger cover when you aren't using it.

Later, Jess

Star Wars Hat

Here is an picture of Luke Skywalker for comparison. Work in progress

I would probably consider myself a geek. I grew up watching Star Trek and I love Star Wars, but I don't think I would have ever done this project on my own. I did this "hat" for my boyfriend as a Christmas present. He thought it would be cool to have a "Rebel Alliance Helmet" as a winter cap. So I crocheted him one. The entire hat is crocheted with the exception of some stitching I did on the detail, and some embroidery I did for the "V" symbols on the side and the design over the ear. It was a little late for Christmas, but it came with a neat little needle felted helmet Christmas ornament. (Maybe, I'll upload pictures of this later). If I would ever do it again to sell on Etsy or for anyone else, I would probably change a couple things, but I'm really happy with the way it came, out, and I think he is too.

Later, Jess