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.

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.

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 ^_^

Chunky Bum Flap Baby Pants

Can't get enough of these too sweet for words baby bum flap pants! The merino aran yarn from Camellia Fiber Co. used for the previous version of this pattern is no longer available, so Rebekka was kind enough to send over some of her new yarn for an updated pattern. The Alpaca Wool Handspun yarn from Camellia Fiber Co. was used for this version in the color natural, but it also comes in a variety of other colors including chocolate, charcoal and a beautiful charcoal and white marl (all would be delightful)! The alpaca and merino blend of this yarn give an earthy and fluffy texture, like working with a cloud. If you can see the detailing in the pictures, it gives a nice halo affect, as well. Both the alpaca and merino fibers that make up this yarn were grown and milled in the U.S. and I have to say, the quality is superb. I used a bit larger wooden buttons on these pants to balance with the chunkier fiber, and am so pleased with how the piece came together. I will be making many pairs of these pants for every tiny baby bum I know!

Materials

1 skein of Camellia Fiber Co.'s Alpaca Wool Handspun 

2 wooden buttons

6mm crochet hook

tapestry needle

brown thread and needle

scissors 

Ribbing

Row 1: ch 4. hdc in the second chain from the hook and in each ch across.

Row 2-32: turn and ch 1. hdc in each hdc across back loops only (this creates the ribbing effect).

After the last row is complete for the ribbing, fold the ribbing in half and align the first row of hdc to the last row of hdc. ss these rows together (still only using the back loops) to create the waistband of the pants. Once joined, the piece should measure approximately 6 1/2 inches across. 

Rise

Row 1: With your yarn still attached to the waistband you just created, ch 1. hdc into the side of the first hdc row and in each around. You should have a total of 32 hdc. ss into the first hdc you made on this row.

Row 2: ch 1. hdc around (including the hdc you ss into to join). ss into first hdc of the round.

Row 3: hdc in first 22 hdc of previous round leaving 10 hdc stitches open for the bum flap. turn and ch 1.

Row 4-6: hdc in each hdc from previous round (22 hdc). turn and ch 1. (this is creating the opening for the bum flap.)

Row 7: hdc in each hdc from previous round and do not turn. ch 10. ss into first hdc of current round (this will close the bum flap).

Row 8: ch 1. hdc in each hdc and ch of the previous round. You should have 32 hdc total at the end of this round. The measurement of the rise (from the top of the waistband to the where the legs start) should be 5 inches.

First Leg

Row 1: With your yarn still attached to the rise, ch 1 and hdc in first 8 hdc of the previous round. Join the back of your first leg to the front of the rise by aligning the stitches on the front of the rise with the stitches on the back of the rise. hdc into the 8th hdc from the first hdc on the front side of the pants. hdc in the remaining 8 hdc of the previous round and ss into the top of the first hdc of the round to create the first leg of the pants.

Row 2-7: ch 1. hdc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first hdc. (You should have 16 hdc for each leg. Remember to hdc into the hdc you join into on each round, this helps disguise where you join at.)

Row 8: ch 1. sc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first sc.

Row 9: ch 1. sc into each sc around. ss into the top of the first sc. fasten off.

Second Leg

Row 1: Line up the front and back sides of the rise for your second leg, and join your yarn by joining the first hdc stitches on the front and back nearest the first leg with a ss. ch 1 and hdc around including the hdc stitches you joined your yarn to.

Row 2-7: ch 1. hdc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first hdc.

Row 8: ch 1. sc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first sc.

Row 9: ch 1. sc into each sc around. ss into the top of the first sc. fasten off. The legs should measure 4 1/2 inches long.  

Bum Flap:

Row 1: ch 13. hdc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across.

Row 2-6: turn and ch 1. hdc in each hdc across.

Row 7: turn and ch 2. hdc in second hdc from previous round (skipping the first hdc of the previous round creates your first buttonhole) and in next 8 hdc. ch 1. skip 1 hdc  hdc in last hdc from previous round (this will create your second buttonhole). fasten off.

Assembly:

Attach the bum flap to the pants using your tapestry needle and remaining yarn by sewing the bottom of the bum flap to the bottom of the bum flap opening. I used the back stitch to secure the bottom of the bum flap to the top of the hdc stitches at the bottom of the bum flap opening. Use your needle and brown thread to sew on your wooden buttons to the top corners of your bum flap. Weave in any ends, and button the bum flap to the pants. 

Practicing Stockinette

After knitting up this simple little garter stitch scarf as my first knit project and then another in green for Trent, I debated for while what to make next. I'm still crocheting like there is no tomorrow. But then I'm also pretty much in love with knitting now as well, and sometimes I just get overwhelmed by all the things there are to make! A good sort of overwhelmed, that is. I finally decided on this hat. The pattern is from Erika Knight's book Simple Knitting which I bought as a companion to her Simple Crocheting book that I received for Christmas from my mother-in-law and absolutely adore. Simple Knitting is just as wonderful and resourceful as its sibling. This particular pattern is the plain pull on hat that is not knit in the round, but worked from the brim on up decreasing along the way with a mattress stitch to seam it together. The whole hat is worked in stockinette, so I was able to get a whole lot of practice on a basic stitch pattern. I used Quince and Co.'s Lark in Chantrelle for my hat, and it is so cozy!  The perfect project to make this last bit of winter  warm and sweet :)