Rayon – A Hooker's World

Domino Dancing Shawl

The Name

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.

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

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: 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.

Brass Monkey Scarf

About The Name

Brass Monkey by The Beastie Boys

At first it was going to be called Take That To The Bank, but when I saw that the color contained the word brass, combined with the photography, I had to change the name.

About Brass Monkey

I was going to combine this yarn with a orange/red and stripe them, but the orange/red was too bulky so I left it out.

This is a simple garter stitch on size thirteen needles over ten stitches.

In the pictures, it look furry, but in reality it is squishy and the gold fiber catches the light, reflections capturing the texture of the ribbon/tape yarn.

About The Yarn

Crystal Palace Glam

Care: Handwash or Dry Clean. Dry Flat
Color: 2138 Rich Brown Brass
Content: 36% Acrylic, 35% Rayon, 15% Wool, 14% Nylon
Weight: 5, Bulky

I found the yarn easy to work with, minus the minor snags of the ribbon catching on the needle tips. My biggest complaint is the twisting of the ribbon as it comes off the ball. So glad to be done.

No Strings (I’m Fancy Free) Shawl

No Strings (I’m Fancy Free) Shawl | USD $50.00

About The Project Name

No Strings (I’m Fancy Free) by Ella Fitzgerald, my most favorite vocalist in my lifetime – 54 years. The name correlates to the composition of this shawl: improvisation, no rules. This is the best way to design and, as such, this marks version one of my goal: a crochet crescent shawl.

Click any image for enlargement / slide show…

No Strings (I’m Fancy Free) Shawl | USD $50.00

About The Project

This represents the first in a series of my crochet crescent shawl development. This one worked out okay, but too angular. An additional problem I encountered was carrying yarn for entire rows and working with different yarn weights: fine to dk. The excessive yarn carrying has cause puckering, which is not noticeable on Mergatroid, my model. My last complaint is that the tips don’t meet in front; I suppose that because of the shape/neckline, which I do like because of the fitting to the neck.

Dimensions:

Width: 39 inches
Depth: 35 inches, tip to bottom; 15 inches, neck to bottom

Price: USD $50.00, less 25% Friends & Family Discount

Click any image for enlargement / slide show…

No Strings (I’m Fancy Free) Shawl | USD $50.00

About The Yarn

There are about four to five yarns that I was unable to identify; at least three of them are natural fibers, per a burn test, though I can’t identify the fibers. Labeled yarns included:

Netwon’s Yarn Country Softball Cotton

Fiber Content: 100% Cotton
Yarn Color: Mikonos
Yarn Weight: 2, Sport

New Hope Alpacas

Fiber Content: 100% Alpaca
Fleece of: Brickfielder
Yarn Weight: 1, Suri Fingering

New Hope Alpacas

Fiber Content: 100% Alpaca
Fleece of: Vanilla Chip
Yarn Weight: 1, Suri Fingering

Near Sawrey Farm Alpacas

Fiber Content: 100% Alpaca
Yarn Color: Yellow Onion w/Accents
Yarn Weight: 1, Fingering

Newton’s Yarn Country Nevada

Fiber Content: 100% Rayon
Yarn Weight: 3, DK

Patons Grace

Fiber Content: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Yarn Color: 60409 Ruby
Yarn Weight: 3, DK

When I Come Around Romper

When I Come Around by Green Day is the name of this project. Ironic because January 2018 is when my great nephew is expected to come around. The other thing I noticed is that the romper is green and the name of the band is Green Day. My romper measures 9 (W) x 14 (H) inches.

About The Pattern

Blue Orchid Baby Romper by Croby Patterns written by Doroteja

While I am not crazy about the trellis top I am glad to finally have found a infant romper for a boy. Either the pattern is written in shorthand or I did not read the entire pattern once again, experiencing difficulty starting each row. The larger sizes are available if you download the PDF, but I don’t trust their PDF method, which is more involved than necessary.

About The Yarn

Bernat Baby Coordinates (Fiber Content: 75.2% Acrylic, 22.2% Rayon, 2.6% Nylon; Yarn Color: 01012 Iced Mint; Yarn Weight: 3, DK)

I am not crazy about this yarn for the damn pile and that string that runs through the yarn. I have noticed it is easier to crochet with a Susan Bates versus Boye hook. I used a US F/3.75 mm hook. Otherwise, I am glad to have a baby to use this yarn up on.