Photo Tutorial: How to Make a Magic Ring

Hey, y'all!

Many times, a Magic Ring can work to your advantage when you’re starting a work in the round.  Since you can adjust the tension of the original round, it can be as loose or tight as you like.  I’ve found this to be a flawless substitution – even an improvement in many cases – over the “ch 2, work X sc in 2^nd ch from hook” method.

The problem?  It’s kind of a visual thing to learn.  No matter how many times I was told how to do this (verbally or in writing), it never really stuck until I saw it done. 

How to Make a Magic Ring

1. Hold the end of the yarn between the first and middle fingers of your left hand.

2. Wrap yarn down in front of your middle and ring fingers.

3. Loop yarn under ring finger and bring back up to rest between your first and middle fingers (now you’re holding both the end and the working yarn here).

4. Catch the working yarn with your thumb to control the tension. 

5. Insert hook under the yarn in front of your fingers and draw up a loop, yo and draw through that loop.  MR made.

6. Work the specified amount of sc stitches in the Magic Ring (most of my patterns will use 6).

7.  Insert your hook in the first stitch, getting ready for your next round.

8. Pull firmly on the end of the yarn to tighten the Magic Ring.

9. At this point, I usually carry the long end through my next round of stitches to secure it before trimming it off.

10. Continue with your pattern.

Hope you find this helpful!  

'Til next time,

OCB

E's Sunday Swing Coat Revisited

Hey, y'all!

Remember E's Sunday Swing Coat?  I'm happy to report that the birthday girl herself recently posed for a special photo shoot.

Check out those eyes!  Oh, yeah...and the coat.

 

'Til next time,
OCB

Joni Flower Tunic from Vintage Crochet

Hey, y'all!

I'm getting a bit more adventurous in the patterns I'm trying these days.  There are so many sweaters and other things I've wanted to make for years, but I've been too scared to commit the time to make them.

This one is from a book I love, called Vintage Crochet.  The pattern is called the Joni Flower Tunic, and I've been drooling over it for about three years now.

I chose to stay with the ecru color that's featured in the pattern, because it's one of my favorite colors to work with.  Unfortunately, the pattern is written for DK weight cotton, which I just can't seem to find around here...at least not at a decent price or in as many colors as I'd like.  And, a problem I run into frequently, all the cute stuff is written for skinny gals...no plus sizes here.

So I modified things, but only a bit.  I used worsted weight cotton from Lily Sugar 'n' Cream and followed the instructions for a size M.  Using the larger yarn and the same hook, I was able to successfully make this for myself, typically a size18-20.

A word of warning if you decide to purchase this pattern or use it from the book: watch the repeats.  The pattern is written a little wonky, getting out of sync with the total number of repeats in quite a few places...especially in the flower mesh pattern.  If you count your stitches and use markers, you'll be fine.  Just don't skip the double-checking on this one, guys.  If you do, you'll be sorry.


'Til next time,
OCB

Short-sleeved Summer Sweater

Hey, y'all!

Well, I've officially broken my New Year's resolution to post here once a week.  I was out of town for work all of last week, and I left the memory card with all of my pictures at home.  I'll try to be better, I swear!

As my first attempt to make it up to you, I'd like to share my recently completed short-sleeved summer sweater:

 

I based this on a pattern I found for the Jetsetter Sweater in Crochet Today's May/June 2012 issue.  I lengthened the body, removed the neckline trim, shortened the sleeves and modified it to make a larger size.  The whole thing was crocheted using Lily Sugar 'n' Cream worsted weight cotton yarn and an H hook.

I really love how the variegated yarn patterned itself across the piece.  What do you think?


'Til next time,
OCB

E's Sunday Swing Coat

Hey, y'all!

My super-sweet little goddaughter recently turned one, and we had a fabulous time at her birthday party.  I wrestled with myself about what to make her...she has so many toys to play with, and I really wanted to do something special.

Enter the Sunday Swing Coat from the March/April 2013 issue of Crochet Today.  It's a super-cute little number that works up quickly.  I finished the whole thing in two evenings after work.

Here's my version of the coat, worked in Red Heart Fiesta yarn.

I absolutely love Crochet Today.  Out of the three major US crochet periodicals, it is far and away the most relevant to younger crochet artists who like to add a modern twist to their work.  I'd totally recommend it to any of you who are considering a print subscription.

And here's hopin' my sis-in-law sees this post and remembers to take a pic of lovely E wearing her Swing Coat.  With her permission, I'd love to share that with all of you.  ;)


'Til next time,
OCB

Reunited and It Feels So Good

Hey, y'all!

This should be my last Christmas post, as far as I know.  I make no guarantees that I won't find something else down the line that was never documented.  :)

You all remember Sam the Dragon and Corny the Unicorn, right?  Well, this Christmas, they were reunited.  They now reside - together - with my lovely four-year-old niece, K.

K, kissing the new addition to her play-time family

The Hubbs, creator of the comic strip, hangin' with the boys.

And that would be me, showing off my handiwork.

Reunited and it feels so good!

Little does she know that she'll be receiving the last two pieces to this plush set during 2013.  I'm working on prototypes for Ms. Flutterby and Zen the goldfish so I can give them to her later this year.

Oh, and in case you've been living under a rock, these are all the characters from The Hubbs' comic strip.  Check it out, won't you?  Giggles are good for the soul.


'Til next time,
OCB

Striped Ear Flap Hats

Hey, y'all!

Back to the Christmas presents!  You didn't think I was done, did you???

Pop, Hambone and The Hubbs aren't exactly the wear-a-fuzzy-creature-on-your-head kind of guys, but I wanted to make hats for them just like I did for JAKE.  My solution: make the same basic pattern in a two-tone stripe without all of the extra doodads.

They loved 'em.  I'm super-entertained by the fact that they all made goofy faces and played around with the ear flaps.  The Hubbs was the only one who left 'em down for his picture, and I'm glad someone did...it's nice to have shots of them both ways.  :)

Pop

Hambone

The Hubbs

Each hat has been crocheted by hand using acrylic yarn and an I hook.  These, too, were made using scraps from previous projects, and I'm always excited to use up leftover yarn.

I also made one for The Hubbs' best friend, but - alas - I didn't get a chance to snap a photo of him before he left.  Rest assured, good ol' Uncle D knows how to make goofy faces just like the rest of the boys.


'Til next time,
OCB

Repeat Crafter Me's Owl Ear Flap Hats

Hey, y'all!

If you couldn't tell, it was a bit of a hand-made Christmas around here...just the way I like it!  One of my favorite gifts to give was this set of owl ear flap hats, which went to JAKE - my sis-in-law and her brood.

I found the pattern through Repeat Crafter Me, another blog I've recently discovered and come to love.

Each hat is hand-crocheted using acrylic yarn and an I hook.  All components are made from yarn, so there's nothing to it if you've got scraps in your stash like I do.

I'm looking forward to doctoring up this process to make different animals in the future.


'Til next time,
OCB

Bulky Fiber Necklace: Moss

Hey, y'all!

Here's something I didn't make as a Christmas gift, just to give you a change of pace.  One of my gifts is in the photos, though...how do you like my new model?

This necklace has been crocheted by hand using a P hook and super-bulky acrylic yarn.  It's available in a wide variety of colors, and it makes a perfect accessory for those chilly months when the HVAC systems in our homes and offices can't quite keep up with our needs.

One of the next things on my list is to update my Etsy shop, which has been empty for the last few months.  If you're interested in one of these necklaces, feel free to contact me directly for pricing and options.


'Til next time,
OCB