Buffalo River for Quince and Co.

Crochet week is back over at the lovely Quince and Co., and my contribution, Buffalo River, was released today. Buffalo River is a crocheted wrap filled with texture and warmth. I used Quince and Co.'s fingering wool yarn Finch in their beautiful heathers, Audouin and Caspian. Its rustic and cozy feel was inspired by the contentment felt while pouring yourself a cup of warm coffee in the comfort of your own home, enjoying a fire with loved ones on a crisp night, or overlooking a beautiful peaceful landscape. This wrap is meant to accompany you wherever your heart is full and content. I hope you enjoy the new design and give the other beautiful patterns from the Crochet 2017 Collection a look!

French Market Tote for Taproot Magazine

The summer issue for Taproot magazine, GROW, is out, and I am delighted to be part of it. In its pages, you will find my contribution, a summery linen market bag with French stripes. Most days, I am so grateful I was born, raised, and set my own roots down in southern Louisiana. I highly dislike the cold and prefer the sunshine and hot sticky climate of home. This hot sticky climate of ours also allows for a very long growing season with produce stands lining the highways almost year round. It's wonderful! What's even more wonderful is how generous our little southern community is. Friends and neighbors are quick to share bagfuls of satsumas, figs, tomatoes, eggplant, and even some fresh caught catfish or reds. Although we can grow most of the year, summertime gives not only the highest yield but the most delicious pickins in my opinion. Our pantry is filled with sweet corn, summer squash, watermelon, peaches, carrots, and so much more. One of the many reasons that summertime will always be my favorite. This special growing season and my sweet kind community inspired this design. I hope that your version is filled with all the love and goodness mine is filled with.


A few technical notes about the design: The tote is worked in pieces with the main panels having striped colorwork, and then seamed together with a visible seam.  I chose a bright red for my stripes, but I think blue or white would look just as lovely. I also added some leather straps for the handles, but a pair of crocheted i-chords would make beautiful and sturdy handles as well. You can find the pattern on Ravelry and buy your copy of GROW here.

Rosemound Scarf for Taproot Magazine

So excited/honored/thankful to be a contributor in Taproot Magazine's first issue of 2017, WEAVE. I've always had the notion that art is anything that makes you feel. Anything that moves you. I remember the first time I held this magazine, not that long ago, and it surely gave me all the feels. Every single article was genuine and filled with so much love and soul. This magazine has become one of my favorite, if not my favorite, publication, and one that each issue I can peruse over and over again. If you are a creative, gardener, wanderer, homebody, mother, father, dreamer, or anyone who has the urge to slow down and take in some lovely words and photos take a peek at this wonderful magazine. You can find the WEAVE issue here and my Rosemound Scarf pattern on Ravelry here.

A Gift in a Jar: Butterscotch Brownies

 

I hope you all are having a nice slow and cozy Advent and holiday season so far. I know these short days can be so hectic and not so cheery to many, and please know that I am thinking of you. I have learned over the past few years, this season, although filled with pretty lights, sweet gifts, and yummy treats, is most importantly a season of preparation and stillness. Remembering our sweet Savior's first coming into the world as a baby in a manger and preparing our souls for when He comes again. Thinking of Jesus' Earthly life is so comforting to me because it reminds me that he gets me. He fully understands the trials we are going through, and He is right by our sides, through every painful and every joyous moment.  I hope that thought comforts you too, and allows us all to be grateful for Him first, send extra love to others second, and soak in all the wonderful magical things this season brings third. 

In the spirit of Christmas and gift giving, I wanted to share a homemade project with you this year that you can cozy up indoors and make for your loved one.  It's a simple brownie mix that you could gift on it's own or pair it with an oven mitt for a little gift set that is sure to warm the heart and the belly. I paired my brownie mix with the oven mitt I designed for my crochet class on Skillshare. If you may be interested in making this little mitt, you can head over to my class to see how it's done. If you are already a crocheter, feel free to just download the pattern or skip over to the project videos.

I love using natural and simple materials when I create things whether it's gifts or just a little something for myself. I think it offers a peaceful and warm feel made with intention. I chose to use simple ingredients for the brownie mix that you most likely have on hand, and my oven mitt was made with pure American wool. For the wrapping, I used a natural linen fabric, a bit of twine, and a tree clipping. I very much hope you enjoy making this gift and gifting it! 

Brownie Mix:

1 1/4 cup flour

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder

pinch of salt

butterscotch morsels

Mix all brownie ingredients in a bowl with a handful of the butterscotch morsels. Slowly add the mix into a 1 quart mason jar pressing down the mix firmly into the jar as you go. I used the bottom of a small glass for this. Add another handful of morsels to top the jar off and close. Print out this label and add to the top of the jar. Place the oven mitt on top of the fabric, then the jar in the center of the oven mitt standing up. Gather the four corners of the fabric at the top of the jar and securing with the twine. Decorate with your tree clipping. 

Essential Crochet Basics Class for Skillshare

A few months back, I was contacted by Skillshare to see if I would be interested in creating a course for their platform. If you aren't familiar with Skillshare, they are an online learning community with tons of wonderful classes on a wide range of topics. I actually learned to knit by taking a Skillshare class in 2014, and talked about my experience in this post.  I was a bit hesitant at first, because I am quite a shy person. Throughout school, and even now, I would DREAD presentations, as I tended to sound as if I were running a marathon while giving my public speech. My husband, being the most incredibly supportive person he is, ended up convincing me to give it a try. Creating this class was no small feat for me. Not only am I camera shy, I am not so great with technology either, so the filming and editing portions of this class were a learning curve for me. That said, I LOVED designing this project and sharing my skills in this class. I don't know how people learned much of anything without the internet. The majority of my crochet skills were learned through kind people sharing their knowledge online. So although I feel uncouth as a teacher, I do hope this class can help others who are interested in this craft.

This class is brimming with basic crochet techniques including how to get started, basic stitches, and finishing techniques. You will learn how to crochet in rows and rounds. And you will walk away with the cutest oven-mitt to gift or keep for yourself. It is an intensive beginner class, but I wanted to teach all of the core crochet techniques that makeup most crochet patterns that students can come back to and reference as they work through other crochet projects.

So if you are interested in learning this craft, or if you are already a fellow crocheter and simply want to make the oven mitt class project, you can enroll in the class by following this link. The first 25 students can enroll at no cost. I really hope you enjoy the class!

Deveraux Tank

I had the best summers growing up, and I love to reminisce and think about those hot sticky days when the non-existent phrase of my current lifestyle "I'm bored" was so easily tossed around. How wonderful it would be to be bored again. To pass the time, we would fill up our super soaker water guns and the wars would commence! Truces would be declared at the first sound of the ice-cream truck on our street. We would hurry to beg Mawmaw for ice-cream money, and then run as fast as we could to catch him before the music faded. Mawmaw and I would always get the fudgsicles, and I would happily sit drenched from our water gun fights and eat my cool delicious treat. Some days, Mawmaw and Pawpaw would bring us to our aunt's house, and we would swim until dusk only breaking for sustenance and the reapplication of our sunscreen. Other days, we would go fishing at various ponds and rivers and lakes, and Pawpaw taught us how to properly bait a hook with crickets and worms. You have to do it just so, or the bait will squirm off or the fish will nibble it right off your hook before you get the chance to set it. We would have fish fries in the afternoon with our day's bounty, and if we happened to not catch enough to feed the family, Mawmaw would run to the local Winn-Dixie to buy more. We had many lazy wonderful summer days, and I have mainly my grandparents to thank for that. So this design is dedicated to them, and all the wonderful summer memories they gave me. 

The Deveraux Tank is a sweet airy top made with Purl Soho's Linen Quill yarn. Linen Quill is a new Purl yarn, and I must admit, I was infatuated as soon as I saw it. I hurriedly purchased three skeins to experiment with, and this tank is what resulted. It was such a pleasure to work with, and has a wonderful drape about it with an ever so slight halo. And OH THE COLORS. So many beautiful colors to pick from (which they just so happen to have restocked!). 

Deveraux is worked in single crochet stitches with a split ribbed hem. The bust and straps are worked first, then the yarn is reattached to the bottom, and the piece is finished working down to the ribbed hem. The tank is worked in the round, so the only seaming is a few stitches to connect the straps at the top. I love the fit of the tank and how the fiber gets softer and more comfortable with each wear.

The approximate size of this tank is a medium (36-38" bust), however if you need to make it larger or smaller, simply adjust the foundation chain row by about 20 chains per size. You can find this pattern on Ravelry here.  I really hope you enjoy making and wearing this piece often. As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions! Also, a huge thanks to my beautiful dear friend Elizabeth for modeling.  

DEVERAUX TANK
Designed by Ashlyn Holmes

YARN

Purl Soho Linen Quill

50% Fine Highland Wool, 35% Alpaca, and 15% Linen

439 yards / 410 meters per 100 gram skein

2-3 skeins

FINISHED GAUGE

28 stitches and 22 rows = 4” in single crochet stitch

HOOK

·         3.5 mm

NOTIONS

·         tapestry needle

·         scissors

FINISHING

Weave in ends, and wet block 

PATTERN                

Bust

Chain (ch) 200 and join your yarn to the first ch made with a slip stitch (ss) being careful not to twist. Single crochet (sc) in each ch around. Sc into the first sc made, do not join. Continue to sc around until piece measures 9.5 inches long.

Straps (worked in rows)

Row 1: With your yarn still attached to the bust piece, sc in the next 20 stitches. Turn and ch1.

Rows 2-9: Sc in each sc across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 10: sc decrease (dec) in next 2 sc. Sc across to last 2 sc. Sc dec in last 2 sc. Turn and ch 1. (18 stitches)

Rows 11-13: Sc in each sc aross. Turn and ch 1.

Row 14: Repeat row 10. (16 stitches)

Rows 15-17: Sc in each sc across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 18: Repeat row 10. (14 stitches)

Rows 19-21: Sc in each sc across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 22: Repeat row 10. (12 stitches)

Rows 23-25: Sc in each sc across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 26: Repeat row 10. (10 stitches)

Rows 27-39: Sc in each sc across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 40: Repeat row 10. (8 stitches)

Rows 41-54: Sc in each sc across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 55: Sc in each sc across. Fasten off and weave in end.

Attach yarn 34 stitches over from the end of the first strap and repeat rows 1-55.

Attach yarn 26 stitches over from the end of the second strap and repeat rows 1-55.

Attach yarn 34 stitches over from the third strap and repeat rows 1-55.

Line up the tops of your straps and seam together. 

Attach yarn to any stitch on the neckband of the tank top, and sc around 3 times, doing a sc dec at the corners of the neckband each round to round out the neckband.

Attach yarn to any stitch on one armhole and sc around 3 times, doing a sc dc at the corners where the straps and tank meet to round it out. Repeat on other armhole. 

Waist

Attach your yarn to any ch stitch at the bottom of your tank. Sc in first ch stitch and in each around. Do not join. sc around making two sc increases (inc) in each round until you have added 20 additional stitches to your tank.  

Once the increases have been completed, continue to sc in the round without joining until your tank top length measures 23 inches, or your desired length. 

Hem (worked in rows)

Row 1: With your yarn still attached, half-double crochet (hdc) in the next 110 stitches. Turn and ch 1.

Row 2: (Front-post hdc (fphdc) into the next hdc, back-post hdc (bphdc) into the next hdc) repeat across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 3: (bphdc into the next hdc, fphdc into the next hdc) repeat around. Turn and ch 1.

Rows 4-6: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Fasten off and weave in end.

Attach yarn to the sc stitch directly next to the end of the front hem row with the right side facing.

Row 1: Hdc in the next 110 stitches. Turn and ch 1.

Row 2: (Fphdc into the next hdc, bphdc into the next hdc) repeat across. Turn and ch 1.

Row 3: (Bphdc into the next hdc, fphdc into the next hdc) repeat around. Turn and ch 1.

Rows 4-10: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Fasten off and weave in end.

Linen Grand Isle

Another version of my Grand Isle Cowl in Quince and Co's Sparrow. This linen is BEAUTIFUL and the perfect fiber for summer. I used two skeins of Sparrow, and it was just enough to finish the cowl. This version has much more drape than it's silk/wool twin, and I love it. I've already worn it several times in the past week, and I know this will be a summer staple for me. 

Grand Isle

I am over the moon to share that the Grand Isle pattern I designed for Quince and Co. is now available! Quince yarns are some of my favorite, and I have peace of mind using their yarns knowing they were made ethically and with so much love. This week, they dedicated the whole week to just crochet designs, and I love them even more for that. Crochet doesn't get a lot of love in the fiber community, which makes me glum sometimes being that crochet is part of my soul. I think people don't see the beautiful and modern designs that can be created using crochet, and I am honored to be able to share one of my very own creations. This design is perfect for all levels of crocheters, even ones who have never picked up a hook before. If that's the case, I hope this can be your first, and that you get hooked, because crochet really is a wonderful, relevant, therapeutic, feel-good centuries old craft that is certainly not lost. Head over to the Quince Blog for more about Grand Isle and to see the other lovely patterns from Crochet Week!

All photos by Quince and Co.

Crochet Wall Hanging Tutorial

I found this amazing dishcloth pattern on Knit Picks' website, and wanted to make it for my sweet best friend for a housewarming gift. When I showed her the picture of the design, she kindly told me that I was crazy if I thought she would use it as a dishcloth. So I turned it into a wall hanging for her and am so delighted in how it turned out. This was my first tapestry crochet project, and I have no idea why I've never tried it before! I'm quite addicted now, and can't stop browsing patterns or dreaming up some of my own. So if you know of any good tapestry crochet resources, send them over please!

Materials

Some sort of stick (I used one out the yard, but you could purchase a dowel rod from a local craft store)
Worsted weight yarn in 2 colors of your choice
5mm crochet hook (or whichever hook works best for your yarn)
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Note that the weight of your yarn and size of your hook will determine the size of your hanging. The original dishcloth pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn and 4mm crochet hook and the final measurements were 8" x 11". I used a heavy worsted with a 5mm hook, and mine turned out slightly bigger.

Instructions

Follow the pattern as instructed, finish off, and weave in all ends. In order for your work to look correct on the Right Side, you will need to insert your hook from the back to the front on the Wrong Side row stitches.

Make about 12 4" tassels and attach them to every other stitch on the last row of your work.

Using a tapestry needle, attach the top of your work to your stick by inserting the tapestry needle into the first top stitch and around the stick and then working your way across the top row. Leave enough access yarn at the and to attach to the opposite side of the work so you can hang it.

Crochet Apron Tutorial

A few months ago, I bought some  vintage cotton yarn from an outdoor flea market in the city. It was an unexpected impulse buy that I am so happy I indulged in. At first, I had planned to make a cotton tote with the yarn and use a pair of beautiful camel handles I've been saving. Then I had this idea of a simple half apron, and I knew that was what this yarn was destined for. I love how this project turned out, and as soon as I was finished making it, I promptly put it on and went to the kitchen to bake. You know, the obvious thing to do to break in a new apron is powder it with puffs of flour and sugar. Have I mentioned I am a messy baker? Really if I'm honest, the messiest baker. Since I wouldn't really call this a pattern as all it consists of are rows of single stitch, I thought I'd write down the easy instructions if anyone was interested in making one. I hope you enjoy! And if you happen to wonder whether you should make this apron because you already have a zillion aprons, let me give a small bit of advice: You can never have too many aprons.

Materials:
Approximately 600 yards of heavy worsted cotton (linen would be lovely too!!)
5mm hook
twill tape
tapestry needle
scissors

1. ch 63 (or until your chain is about 20 inches wide)
2. sc in second ch from hook and in each across. turn ch 1.
3. sc across

Repeat row 3 until your apron measures approximately 18 inches long (or whatever length you prefer)

Finishing: Fasten off and weave in ends. Lay twill tape two rows down from one end, fold the top two rows over the tape and pin down. Using your yarn and tapestry needle, sew the apron together over the tape, so you can still adjust the apron strap once complete.

Finished measurements should be approximately 16x20 inches.

A Cosy Cotton Tunic

I've filled my bird feeders and planted vegetables. I've pounced around with the dogs until the sun faded. I've sat on the porch, iced coffee in hand soaking in the glorious longer days. I LOVE these longer days and having more sunshine after work to spend outside. It's my favorite time of year. Luckily for me, I am a southern gal, which means I don't have to ever endure too much winter. I know some frown upon Louisiana's lack of seasons, but I am partial to the sunshine and sticky heat of the south. With the warmer days upon us, I think I finished this Rebekka Jumper just in the nick of time using the most soft and chunky cotton you could imagine! It is so airy and cosy, and I have a feeling I will be living in this piece for awhile.

His & Hers Handmade Socks

I know that His & Hers things are quite cheesy, buuutt I can't help but love them. Especially because I love the His to my Hers so much. I see several of our newlywed friends wearing the Hubby and Wifey tees and many poke fun. I adore those sweet cheesy t-shirts so much, because it shows the love and excitement you have for each other and how proud you are of your His or Her. It's extremely endearing to me. As for the socks, I have never crocheted socks before and decided I NEEDED handmade wool socks in my wardrobe ASAP. I also thought I should make my husband a pair, because for as much as I knit and crochet, for myself and others, I never seem to make him anything. I think this is largely due to him being a man, and I feel a lot of crocheted items that I make are for the most part feminine. Wool socks are universally needed by everyone, so I set off to make both of us a pair. Then, I found this cable sock pattern and decided they would be matching, because like I said earlier, matching couples things are endearing and I love them.

A Summer Haiku

This pattern has been in my queue for about a year, and this summer I finally got around to making it. It was one of the most enjoyable patterns I've followed in quite some time. Not to mention, the end result is absolutely beautiful. It's so elegant, yet practical and humble. I'm also a bit obsessed with the color, HELLO beautiful blue/gray! This pattern is from Quince and Co., and the yarn is Tern, a fingering wool/silk blend. You can see where I Ravelried this project here. I've also been eyeing Tolt's Horn Shawl Pins, but I can't decide which one to get. Maybe all!? I think one would go lovely with this. Hope everyone is taking in the sticky summer heat while it lasts, because fall and lots of fiber workings are on their way!

Heron Shawl - Crochet Pattern

We are all moved into our new house! And even though the chaos of moving and getting acquainted  with a new place has only just begun to slow down (sort of), I had to make some time for crocheting. I've been enjoying cotton yarns a lot lately, since it's so much cooler than wool and our summer heat arrives in mid spring and lingers well into the fall. This shawl was made with a cotton wool blend, and it is so comfy! This pattern is a really relaxing project for an experienced crocheter and great for beginners using only the single crochet stitch, but the texture is so rich! I hope you enjoy, maybe on your porch while you drink coffee during a breezy morning or maybe while you're curled up with a good book in your cool air conditioned home;) 

Yarn: Austermann-Whisper (5 skeins in Light Grey)

Notions: 5mm crochet hook, tapestry needle, scissors

Abbreviations: chain (ch), single crochet (sc)

Row 1: ch 3, sc in second ch from hook and in next sc.

Row 2: ch 1, turn, 2 sc in next 2 sc (4).

Row 3: ch 1, turn, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in last sc (6). 

Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next 2 sc, repeat *sk 1, 2 sc in next sc* until last sc, sc in last sc. 

Repeat row 4 35 more times, increasing by two stitches in every row. 

At the end of the last row, sc in the side of the last row and in every side of each sc row until you reach the tip of the shawl. sc 3 sc into the tip and sc into every side of each sc until you reach the opposite side from where you started. 

Turn, ch 1, sc in each sc from previous round, but sc 3 sc in the second sc from the previous round's 3 sc at the tip. Repeat this 15 more times (this gives the ribbed edging around the shawl).

At the end of the last ribbed row, sc into the side of the last ribbed row and in every side and sc across the top of the shawl.

Turn, ch 1, sc in each sc across.  

Turn, ch 1, sc in each sc across once more. Fasten off, weave in ends, and block for a clean shape. 

P.S.

Thank you to my sweet husband for snapping these pictures ^_^

Comfiest Slipper Booties

These slipper booties are by far the most comfortable slippers I have ever made/owned/worn. It's true. And to top that off, they are so sweet and simple. Just lovely if you ask me. I have had Erika Knight's latest crochet book Simple Crocheting on my wishlist for awhile now, and when I saw a free pattern from the book on SMP craft, I was so so excited to get a little taste test. This pattern was easy to read and work up, and I can't wait to try the other beautiful patterns in her book. I do want to note that the pattern called for bulky yarn, and I instead  double stranded a light soft yarn.  I love these slippers, and I can't wait to lounge around the house in them in the chilly days ahead.

Source: Cozy Crocheted Slipper Boots Pattern