Under The Bridge: Off da Hook

The Name

Under The Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

This is my homeless series of bags: the other two are called Gypsy Woman and Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

The Bag

Dimensions: 29 inches squared; 16-inch depth from point of intersection

I should’ve followed the pattern, but wanted a bigger bag, as I am a big guy, homeless people have a lot of stuff to carry, and the other guild members could use this bag considering the amount of yarn I see them lugging around the meeting.

Destination still to be determined.

The Yarn

Rug Crafters Heavy Polyester Rug Yarn
Color: 503 Tangerine Orange; Content: Polyester; Weight: Unknown

Universal Classic Chunky
Color: 60639 Petrol Blue; Content: 75% Acrylic, 25% Wool; Weight: Bulky

Teddy Bear
Color: 001 White; Content: 95% Acrylic, 5% Polyester; Weight: Unknown

Spinnerin Chenille Cherie
Color: 11; Content: 45% Virgin Wool, 45% Rayon, 10% Nylon; Weight: Aran+

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky
Color: 152 Charcoal; Content: 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool; Weight: Bulky+

Other yarns included

Black Chenille

Purple natural fiber roving yarn, per burn test

Purple man-made roving yarn, per burn test

Lion Brand Homespun?
Color: Unknown Blue; Content: 98% Acrylic, 2% Polyester; Weight: Bulky

+ yarn weight per Ravelry

 

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Deep Ending

The Name

Deep Ending by Deee-Lite

This scarf marks the end of the red natural fiber yarn that I had been trying to end.

The Scarf

Dimensions: 4 x 104 inches

This scarf is a mix of back look single crochet and filet crochet. The single crochet portions present similar to brioche: one color dominant on one side, a second color dominant on the other.

The Yarn

Peter Pan Germantown Zephyr Color: Maroon* Content: Natural Fiber, per burn test Weight: Fingering	Unknown Color: Red Content: Natural Fiber, per burn test
madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light Color: 290 Medieval Content: 100% Merino Wool	Classic Elite Imagine Color: 9268 Content: 53% Cotton, 47% Rayon Weight: 3, DK
Unknown Color: Purple Panic* Content: Natural Fiber, per burn test	Unknown Color: Carmine* Content: Natural Fiber, per burn test
Patons Lace Color: Porcelain Content: 80% Manufactured Fibers – Acrylic, 10% Wool, 10% Goat – Mohair Weight: 2, Sport	Unknown Color: Salmon* Content: Natural Fiber, per burn test
Universal Merino XF Superwash Color: Grey* Content: 100% Superwash Extra Fine Merino Weight: 3, DK
Cascade Heritage Silk Paints Color: 9942 Misty Blue Content: 85% Merino Wool, 15% Silk Weight: 1, Fingering

Damn! My aim was to use all natural fibers. I completely brain-farted on the Patons, but those mohair guard-hairs misled me.

The Cascade Heritage Silk Paints was double-twined with the Patons Lace and made for great coloration.

The Unknown Red is the yarn I have been trying so hard to rid myself of because of it’s crinkle / boucle texture.

Designer Notes

I started in back loop single crochet, but thought the scarf might be too dense. I have this irrational fear that crochet is heavier than knitting; so much so that I feel the item I am crocheting may be cumbersome at times. So, I added sections of filet crochet to lighten it up.

I am amazed at some of the colorations in this scarf: the grey against the bright red and the blues/purples against the lighter reds of carmine and salmon.

I based my pattern repeat on nineteen rows; unfortunately, I ran out of red yarns and just ended it.

* All color designations assigned by Hooker Leo, absent yarn label

Little Red Corvette

The Name

Little Red Corvette by Prince

Red!

The Scarf

I am trying to rid myself of all my scraps and odd balls, so I got all my DK and sport weight yarns and started crocheting. Nothing was working. Restarted about three times and got frustrated working with the beginning yarns. Then I had the idea of double-stranding.

Pretty challenging crochet, as the Unknown Red 1 yarn was bumpy and so was the pink. However, the red ran the entire length.

The Yarn

Unknown Pink: Man-made fiber
Unknown Magenta: Natural fiber
Unknown Red 1: Natural fiber
Unknown Red 2: Natural fiber
Unknown Carmine: Natural fiber

All yarns burn tested.

If memory serves, the Unknown Red 2 yarn is rayon from Netwon’s Yarn Country; I had used it previously on Holly Golightly (2011-2012), a shawl I gifted to Kathleen. Jeez! six years that scrap has been in my stash; well, it’s gone now!

Designer Notes

I was going to construct in single crochet only, but I notice my single crochet was creating a bias on the fabric. So I added double crochets and did not notice any change. Lightbulb! Do a second row of single crochet to counter act the first. As you can see the natural tendency is to twist. I think it’s related to the width.

The double crochets created lightness to a scarf whose heft is substantial.

Domino Dancing Shawl

The Name

Domino Dancing by Pet Shop Boys

Explanation can be found here.

The Shawl

Dimensions: 55-inch wingspan x 24-inch depth

The Yarn

Unknown

Care: Wash warm. Hang dry.+
Color: White with a Blue, Red, Yellow, Orange, Green thread
Content: Man-made fiber, per burn test
Weight: 2, Sport/Baby

Classic Elite Imagine

Care: Dry clean only.
Color: 9258
Content: 53% Cotton, 47% Rayon
Weight: 3, DK

Lion Brand Fun Fur

Care: Machine washable and dryable.
Color: 109 Sapphire
Content: 100% Polyester
Weight: 5, Bulky

Designer Notes

Another surprise in crescent shawl shape development. I had started with my basic crochet circle pattern, this time in double crochet versus single crochet, but the horizon was not meeting my standards. By chance I discovered by starting my shape with twice as many stitches, I was achieving a better horizon. Finally, I inserted enough stitches for seven sections versus six and I was on my way.

The hard part was inserting the eyelets because I was dealing with an odd number of sections which forced one-sided increases per section. I worked in pattern as long as I could, changing it up at the end with increased half double crochet rows.

The addition of the red Classic Elite Imagine and the sapphire Lion Brand Fun Fur, was an after-thought and impulsive move because they just happened into my line of sight. The Classic Elite was actually a size bigger, but I thought the eyelet row would cover up the change in yarn weight. Knowing I was going to end with the fun fur, I felt doubly assured. In the end, there is slight puckering, but I think with wear it will wear out.

+ Suggested/recommended care

Deep Sleep Afghan

Name

Deep Sleep by The B-52’s

Sleep > afghan…get it? Did I mention I am going to see The B-52’s in October at The Greek Theater with Diane?

Deep Sleep Afghan

Constructed in single crochet with an E hook, I was going to donate to charity as I had received the yarn for free from CSNanaCat. However, as I know of a baby coming into this world, and having completed the afghan way ahead of delivery date, I am going to send to my friend and his wife as a gift for their infant.

I was going to add a solid white border in chenille, as well, but my fellow fiber artists thought white me too much of a contrast. They finally got me to agree on a light/silver grey. However, I don’t know now. I am done and should leave well enough alone.

Dimensions: approximately 25.5 inches square

Yarn

Newton’s Yarn Country Chenille

Content: 10% Rayon
Care: Dry-clean or hand wash in cold with mild detergent. Air-dry.+

Having received this from CSNanaCat, I didn’t pay particular attention while cake-winding, but when I finally started the second hank, I noticed a difference in dye lots. Close up it’s less noticeable for all the colors, but in the picture a distinction is noticeable. Oh well!

+ Care is suggested care; laundry care not on yarn label.

Strange Magic Cowl

About The Name

Strange Magic by Electric Light Orchestra

The way the gradient is hidden, but it is there equals strange magic.

Strange Magic Cowl

About Strange Magic

I had started a previous item in a similar manner, but decided to 🐸 it and use that yarn in a project in hibernation. The technique I am using is similar to brioche, but horizontal. The first experiment began with knit cast on. Row 2 is worked knit in the same direction as the cast on, by sliding the fabric to the other side of a set of circular needles. Fabric is then turned and worked in the same manner. In short Knit/Knit.

For Strange Magic, I once again used two colors, but this time it did a Knit/Purl. Guess what? They look the same to me. I think I am in the area of illusion knitting because the gradient on yarn 1 is kinda hidden between the rows, yet still shows itself, depending on which angle you are viewing Strange Magic from.

The fabric is very slinky. If I wasn’t so lazy, I’d add a pink fur border on both sides. Oh stop! :D

Dimensions: 15-inch Diameter x 6-inch Width

Strange Magic Cowl

About The Yarn

Unknown Natural Fiber*

Color: Multicolor: Pink, Orange, Blue
Content: Natural Fiber
Weight: 4, Worsted+

Berroco Glacé

Care: Handwash. Lay flat to dry. Dry clean when mixing colors.
Color: 2574 Ligonberry
Content: 100% Rayon • Viscose
Weight: 4, Worsted+

Strange Magic Cowl

Strange Magic: Inception

After winding five hanks up, I am using the two hanks that appear similar in yardage: Berroco Glace and Unknown Rayon?

They are working well together on a size US 7 needle.