Hounds Tooth Scarf for Christmas

I am almost done with the hounds tooth scarf.  I just need to sew it together since it will be an infinity scarf.  I really liked this pattern because it is a classic design and it works up quickly.  It has been a while since I crocheted for my sisters-in-law for Christmas, so I think this is the pattern I will use.  I will make them in brown and beige, and burgundy and pink.  I think I will make one for myself in burgundy and gray.  If I have time, I might make matching hats.  The hats, I think will be mostly solid with just a bit of the hounds tooth pattern.  I got this pattern from Elk Studio.

Den-shin ésharp pou Krismis (kréyol Lalwizyan)
Mo prosh fini avèk ésharp den-shin-çila.  Mo jish bezwin pou koud o bout dipi çé un ésharp san bout.  Mo byin linmé patron paske çé shik é ça gin mòd.  É, louvraj o kroshé té vit, vit. Ça fé un bou'd tem mo pa fé kroshé pou mô bèl-sœr-yé pou Krismis. Mo pens m'alé sèrvi patron-çila.  M'alé fé ça dan brun fonsé é béj, épi bordo é ròz.  Mo pens m'alé fé un bordo é gris pou momèmm.  Si mo gin tem, mo pé fé shapo-yé pou jwenn avèk ésharp-layé.  Shapo-layé sé dèt unn koulær avèk un ti patron den-shin. Patron-çila çé par Elk Studio. (Aprenn kréyol Lalwizyan - Learn Louisiana Creole)

Kroshé é kréyol

So, I have not been able to do as much crocheting these past couple of years.  I had an injury to my arm which made crocheting (writing, typing, and just about everything) difficult.  My doctor said stop using your left arm… but I’m left handed. It was hard, but I followed his directions as much as possible. After learning to use my right hand for the mundane things we all take for granted, and some therapy, my arm is usable again. My first project here reflects what I was doing with my crochet time. 

I started to seriously research my family history.  My genealogy efforts led me to find people who teach Louisiana Creole. So, I began to learn/relearn Louisiana Creole.  I grew up hearing Louisiana Creole and Louisiana French spoken in our home and from some of our Chicago neighbors, but for reasons similar to those of many other Louisiana Creoles from Louisiana, from around the country, and from around the world, I was not encouraged to speak the language(s). Therefore, I learned very little as a young person. Now, though, I am learning lots and lots. In any case, when my physical therapist told me I can begin to slowly use my hand again, this was one of the first projects that came to mind. I guess you can say I have Creole on the brain… and I like it.

This hat says, Mo çé Kréyol – I am Creole. The colors are the colors of the Louisiana Creole Flag.  I made it with my niece in mind, but it is more of a statement piece. This particular pattern is not mine, but I put my own spin to it. (The pattern is Kool Rock Ski from Afya Ibomu.)

I think I may need to rename this blog Kroshé é kréyol – Crochet and Creole.  LOL

And the sad news, one of my wonderful dogs, Chaos (the one on the right in the picture), died since I last wrote here. We miss him tremendously.  Trouble, always my constant companion, is still with us. Golden doodles are the best dogs, truly.

Ça fé dé ou trò nan mo té pa kapab pou kroshé kom avan. Mo té fé dî mal mô brá gosh. Alòr çé té dir, dir, dir pou kroshé, ekri, é toukishòj.  Mô doktè, li té dí mò pou arété sèrvi mo bra gosh…mé mo lamin gosh. Çé té dir, mé mo swiví ça’k li té dí mò.  Apré aprenn pou servi mó lamin dròt é kèk trètmon pou tournyé ça, mo ka sèrvi mo brá enkò. Mô prémiyé shapo isi mònt kwa mo t’apé fé avèk mô tem kroshé.

Mo komensé pou trouvé mô listwá famiy.  Mô louvraj jiniòloji édé mò pou trouvé moun-yé ki mont kréyòl Lalwizyan.  Alòr, mo té komensé pou aprenn/aprenn bæk kréyol Lalwizyan.  Mo té éné dan Lalwizyan é mo tandé kréyol Lalwizyan é françé Lalwizyan dan nô lamézon é avèk kèk vwazin Shikagó-yé.  Pou rézon-yé mèmm kom moun Kréyol Lalwizyan tou partou, plin nou té pa donné kouraj pou parlé langaj-layé.  Mé astœr, mé astœr, m’apé aprenn un ta un ta.  Entouka, kan mô doktè té dí Mò pou sèrvi mô lamin enkò, ça isit té viní prémiyé dan mô latèt. Mo devinn to ka di mo gin kréyol dan/si gòl é mo linm ça!

Shapo-çila di Mo çé Kréyol! Koulær-yé mèmm kom koulær si Drapo Kréyol Lalwizyan.  Ça isit patron çé pa mokin, mé mo mèt mokin shanjé-yé. (Ça isit çé Kool Rock Ski par Afya Ibomu.)

Mo pens mo pé tournyé nom-la de mô blog a Kroshé é kréyòl. Kkkk

Mo tris pou di unn mo vayan shin, Folí (Chaos), té mourí dépi mo té ekri isit.  Nouzòt byin manké li. Traka (Trouble), toujou avèk mò, çé isit enkò.   Shin-yé mélanje avèk Shærshœr doré/tá gran kanish, yé byin vayan, vrémen! (Aprenn kréyol Lalwizyan - Learn Louisiana Creole)

Graphs - Kente/Adinkra Inspired Baby Blankets

Although I made these graphs for baby blankets, they can be used for other crafts.  The pink blanket was completed a few years ago and the blue blanket remains a WIP.  I originally posted the completed blanket on September 2009 and on January 2010.  I am only posting some of the adinkra symbols. Each graph is 28 by 36. I will post the kente inspired graphs at a later date.  By the way, the baby hat is the Squiggles and Grin pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

If you use the graphs, I would appreciate if you sent a picture of your finished product.

 

Welcome Back To Me...LOL

Okay, so, it has been forever since I posted.  I am back now and ready to resume.  I plan to post some of the graphs I have made...soooooo stay tuned!

Warrior

I was playing around with Fibonacci patterns when this hat was created.  It looks like a warrior's helmet.  I used some left over Sweet Delight Baby Yarn by Baby Bee that I purchased from Hobby Lobby joined together with Jojoland Melody Superwash Yarn that I purchased at a local yarn shop. I have not tested the pattern, so let me know if you find any glitches.

Warrior

Materials

DK yarn held together with a fingering weight yarn

Size I crochet hook


Hat

Chain 4. Join in a loop

Rnd 1 10 sc in loop. Do not join.

Rnd 2 10 sc in each sc around, do not join (mark beginning sc) (10 sc)

Rnds 3 – 7 Repeat row 2

Rnd 8 10 sc in each sc around. Join in first sc (10 sc)

Rnd 9 Ch 2 (counts as first dc) Dc in same stitch as joining. 2 dc in each remaining sc. Join in top of beginning chain. (20 dc)

Rnd 10 Ch 1. Sc in same as joining. Sc around. Do not join. (20 sc)

Rnd 11 Sc in each sc around. Do not join. (20 sc)

Rnds 12 – 13 Same as Rnd 11.

Rnd 14 Sc in each sc around. Join in first sc. (20 sc)

Rnd 15 Ch 2 (Counts as first dc). 2 dc in next sc. *1 dc. 2 dc.*  Repeat from * to * until end of round. Join to top of beginning ch 2. (30 dc)

Rnd 16 Ch 1. Sc in same as joining. Sc around. Do not join (30 sc)

Rnd 17 Sc in each sc around. Do not join. (30 sc)

Rnd 18 Sc in each sc around. Join to first sc. (30 sc)

Rnd 19 Ch 2 (Counts as first dc) 1 dc in next sc, then 2 dc in following sc. * Dc in next two sc. 2 dc in next sc.*  Repeat from * to * until end of round. Join to top of beginning chain 2. (40 dc)

Rnd 20 Ch 1. Sc in same as joining. Sc around. Do not join (40 sc)

Rnd 21 Sc in each sc around. Join to first sc. (40 sc)

Rnd 22 Ch 2 (Counts as first dc) 1dc in next 2 sc. 2 dc in next stitch. * Dc in next 3 sc. 2 dc in next stitch.*  Repeat from * to * around. Join to top of beginning ch2. (50 dc)

Rnd 23 Ch 1. Sc in same as joining. Sc around. Join to beginning sc. (50 sc)

Rnd 24 Ch 2 (Counts as first dc) 1 dc in next 3 sc. 2 dc in next stitch. *Dc in next 4 sc. 2 dc in next stitch. *  Repeat from * to * around. Join to top of beginning ch 2. (60 dc)

Rnd 25 Ch 1. Sc in same as joining. Sc around. Join to beginning sc. (60 sc)

Rnd 26 Ch 2. Dc in next 4 sc. 2 dc in next sc. *Dc in next 5 sc. 2 dc in next sc.*  Repeat from * to * around. Join to top of beginning ch 2. (70 dc)

Rnd 27 Ch 2. Dc in next 5 sc. 2 dc in next sc. *Dc in next 6 sc. 2 dc in next sc.*  Repeat from * to * around. Join to top of beginning ch 2. (80 dc)

Rnd 28 Ch 1. Sc in back loop only (blo) in same as joining. Sc in blo of next 14 dc. Skip next dc. *Sc in blo of next 15 dc. Skip next dc.*  Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Do not join. (75 sc)

Rnd 29 Ch 1. Sc in front loop only (flo) around. Do not join. (75 sc)

Rnd 30 Ch 1. Sc in blo around. Do not join. (75 sc)

Rnds 31 – 34 Repeat rounds 29 and 30, twice.

Rnd 35 Sc in flo around. Join to beginning sc. Finish. (75 sc)



Ear Flaps

First Ear Flap

Row 1 Join in the 11th stitch of the last round. Ch 2. Dc in same as joining. Dc in next 14 sc. Turn. (15 dc)

Row 2 Ch 1. Sc two together. Sc to last two sc. Sc two together. Turn. (13 sc)

Row 3 Repeat Row 2. (11sc)

Row 4 Repeat Row 2 (9 sc)

Row 5 Ch 2. Dc two together. Dc to last two sc. Dc two together. Turn. (7 dc)

Row 6 Repeat row 2. (5 sc)

Row 7 Repeat row 2. (3 sc)

Row 8 Ch 2. Dc in first sc. Skip next sc. Dc in last sc. Finish.

2nd Ear Flap

Row 1 Join in 51st stitch of hat. Ch 2. Dc in same as joining. Dc in next 14 sc. Turn. (15 dc)

Rows 2 – 8 Repeat rows 2 – 8 of first ear flap.

Finishing

Join in corner edge of ear flap. Ch 2. Dc around bottom of hat and sides of ear flaps all around. Join to beginning dc. Finish off. Shape top of hat to fit style wanted.

You may use this pattern for your personal use or to make gifts.  Please do not publish or post this pattern without permission.

Mediterranian Clapochet

I finally made the Clapochet scarf/shawl which is a pattern by Crochet Kitten.  I used Stitch Nation Full o' Sheep by Red Heart Yarn in the mediterranian color (the true color is more turquoise looking than the picture shows.  It took 3.2 skeins.  It is made on the diagonal and is about 6 feet long.  If I had shortened the length a little, I could have gotten away with just 3 skeins.  What to do with the extra yarn?  My favorite thing..make a hat, of course.  I found those cute buttons at Wal-Mart. 

The Clapochet is based on the knitted Clapotis pattern by Kate Gilbert. Since my knitting skills are not yet up to par, I opted for the crochet version. Both patterns are free. 

Hoot, Hoot, Hoot Knew? Owls!!!!

Who knew that there were owls hiding in those trees near my home? Headed out in the early morning with the local Audubon Society to see the owls in the area.  We had a great time.  Wish I had a telescopic camera.

The weather was decent.  It got somewhat cold trudging through the snow. (Got a good workout, yeah!)