Puff Stitch Scarf

Puff Stitch Scarf

Not long ago, my lovely sister posted a picture of a knitting needle carrier she made. I let her know how much I liked it, and lo and behold, she sent me one for Christmas for my crochet hooks and she included two new tiny hooks. So talented!

My Lovely Sister sewed me a Crochet Hook Carrier

Here it is again, closed, next to the original packaging that I used to carry my needles in. My original store packaging made me sad because I had two extra needles that it wouldn't hold that just rolled around loose in my crochet container. Yes, I have a crochet container.  Now I have room for two more hooks! Yea me! Yea Sis ~ and THANK YOU! I am loved! I'll have to see if she will send me a pattern to post for you all to make your own! I don't sew, so I would never figure this out.

As promised, here is the scarf I made my Lovely Daughter to complete the trifecta of Puff Stitch Slouch Hat and Gloves. It took a couple of attempts, starting with how wide to make it, then making a complete puff stitch scarf and then changing my mind and combining the puff stitch with a DC. I am happy with how it turned out. So was she. :) <3

After it was finished, I knew I wanted to put a nice fringe on it to add to the length. Here is what I came up with. The puff at the top of the fringe compliments the puff stitch in the scarf very nicely.

Here is what I came up with. Hope you like it!


     Row       Scarf
       R1        CH 18. Puff 7 into the 16th ST (top loop only), CH 1, Skip (SK) 1,
                    Puff 7 across until you have 7 puffs. You should be left with two ST
                    left. SK 1 and DC in last ST. CH 2. Turn.
     R2-6       DC into each ST across, ending with a DC into the top of the first
                    DC in row 1 for 15 DCs across. CH 2. Turn.
       R7        SK 1; Puff 7; CH 1; across for 7 puffs. SK 1, DC into last ST. CH 2.
                    Turn.
    R8-end    Repeat, alternating DC row and Puff row, ending on a Puff row
                    until you reach your desired length. Finish off and weave in ends.


     Steps      Fringe
        1          Cut 11 lengths of yarn, approximately 10" - 12" long for each fringe
                    you want to make. I made five on each side of the scarf, but you
                    can make more if you'd like.
        2          Take 10 lengths of yarn, even out and fold over your hook. Pull
                    through the first space between the DC and Puff stitch. Even out.
        3          Take remaining length of yarn and place strands on top in middle.
                    Tie right over left then flip up so you are looking at the back of the
                    strands, tie right over left, then left over right.
        4          Repeat at the opposite end, between the last DC and Puff stitch.
        5          Find the center and repeat.
        6          Find the center between the beginning and middle fringe. Repeat.
        7          Find the center between the end and middle fringe. Repeat.
        8          Repeat on the other end of the scarf.
        9          Fold scarf in half so fringe is lying atop each side. Trim.


I hope you enjoy it enough to make your own Puff Stitch Trio or at least find inspiration to make your own lovely creation! Happy Crocheting!


XO ~
Rolly  <3

Puff Stitch Fingerless Gloves

Happy New Year!

In our family, New Year's Day means good food all day.  Traditional Japanese cuisine is the reason this holiday might be my family's favorite. Mom is a rock star. I hope to learn some recipes from her, but alas, she is busily making dishes while we labor at work. Plus, she has no written recipes. A handful of this. A pinch of that. This is the reason my kids don't have most of my recipes. I am an apple that didn't fall far from my Mother's tree.

Still, she brought over everything but her kitchen sink and we were able to help with some of the prep. She made the Nishime before she came over. Nishime is a lovely vegetable dish, and a New Year's staple. I love this dish. It is one of the reasons that I look forward to New Year's. The only thing I don't love is yama-imo which translated verbatim means "mountain potato". IMHO it is mushy and slimy and icky. Speaking of IMHO, please check out blogger and author Jen. Here is a link to her year in review:  http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/2013/12/2013-year-in-review.html#more. One of my favorites was her 8 Ways to Say FU - I laughed my butt off because I've used quite a few of them. Those that I don't use (IMHO is one I don't use until I read her blog), many of my friends have. I will warn you that she has a potty mouth, but I'm okay with that because so do I. And she makes me laugh. And let's face it, everyone can use a little more laughter in their lives. Let us all make that one of our New Year's Resolutions - to laugh more. It cleanses your soul. But I digress... again. Inari Sushi is a great starter for the sushi-squimish. It has no rawness in it. It is sushi rice stuffed in a deep fried tofu shell, which has been seasoned with a sweet sauce. Even kids like this one.  I stuffed these with my lovely sister from another mister. Although we were careful not to overstuff, so not to burst the pouch at the seams, we still did, laughing and hiding them from Mom. My lovely sister rolled the assorted sushi and did a magnificent job. More food was had, not pictured. The best of which (IMHO) is Omochi, another ONLY-ON-NEW-YEAR'S-DAY-DISH that makes you look forward to the day. Omochi is rice that has been pounded down into a patty - looking somewhat akin to a flat river rock. Grilled on a fish fryer then served a multitude of ways. Good food. Family. Food. Love. We are blessed. Thank you God. <3 <3 <3

Nishime

Assorted Sushi

Inari Sushi

And I finally managed to get my daughter's gloves and scarf done! Too late for Christmas, but she didn't mind, even though she's been waiting since her birthday. That's when she got her puff slouch beanie. She didn't want to be in the picture, but I think this is a great one, so pffffft. Anyway, YEEHA I'm done! So here goes with the gloves. Scarf to follow.

My beautiful daughter

The gloves are inspired by the Lovely Olivia at Hopeful Honey. Please visit her blog at http://www.hopefulhoney.com/2012/04/perfect-solutions.html. Her gloves included a pretty button embellishment. Alas, I didn't have enough cute buttons, and in an effort to only use what I have in stock (with the exception of yarn) I skipped that part. So again, a modification was in order. Here is the pattern.

Puff Stitch Fingerless Gloves

Rows	Double Crochet Rows
1	CH 25, slip stitch (SL) into first CH to form a ring. 26 SC
2-3	CH 2, DC into next ST around, SL join into top of 1st CH; 26 DC; finish off leaving tail to weave in ends.
Rows	Puff Stitch Rows
1	Puff 7 into same ST, CH 1, SKIP ST (SK ST) around. Join w/SL to top of 1st Puff; 13 Puffs
2-4	SL into 1st SKIPPED HOLE (SH). Puff 7 into same, CH1 repeat around. SL join into 1st puff. 13 Puffs in alternating spaces
6	SL into 1st SH, Puff 7, CH 4, SK ST, Puff 7 pull through then in last 2 SC - this is your thumb. SK ST, Puff 7, CH 1 around. Join w/SL to top of 1st Puff; 13 Puffs.
7-10	SL into thumb hole. Puff 7, CH1, SK around; 13 Puffs
11-12	CH 1, SC around; finish off leaving tail to weave in ends.

I love that Olivia is a free-sharer. I love that she came up with such a beautiful creation. I hope you will visit her page and bookmark her like I have. My daughter gets complimented all the time, and not just from people she knows. These beautiful gloves are incredibly warm. Takes a lot of yarn to make those Puffies, but so worth it. The end result is quite stunning.

Hope you are able to follow the instructions. If not, write me a comment and I will try to help you work it out! Happy crocheting! And HAPPY NEW YEAR! Blessing to you all!

<3 XO <3
~Rolly