Solstand Shawl

salstand shawl front

I picked up some Lion Brand Mandala yarn and immediately knew I wanted to make a shawl with it. The question was: which shawl? I searched for a while, but was unable to find any pattern that fit my specific vision, so I decided to design and make my own.

solstand shawl first draft pattern and shawl

Over the course of about ten days, I turned my 2 skeins of Lion Brand Mandala in Spirit into a shawl and wrote up a pattern for it! This shawl pattern requires knowledge of basic stitches, as well as front post and back post stitches. The shawl uses about 1000-1200 yards of DK yarn and a size 5 mm (H) crochet hook Instructions for bobble and puff stitches are included. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to purchase the pattern!

dog on solstand shawl
Jupiter would prefer if I didn’t put my crochet on his ottoman

For the most part I was super happy with the yarn I used. It didn’t become ‘fuzzy’ even after ripping out and crocheting repeatedly, and the colors were beautiful. Each skein had 1 complete repeat of the colors so they were easy to cut apart and match up when changing over.

color change solstand shawl

My only complaint is that inside the second skein, there was a tiny knot tying two completely different shades of blue together. I’m used to yarn having a small knot in it, but I am not pleased with the color change. I ended up cutting it apart and was able to match up the colors, but it’s not ideal.

solstand shawl back open

However, I’d still recommend using Lion Brand Mandala for this shawl. It has good drape and stitch definition. I also think that the length of each color in two skeins creates a very nice gradient.

solstand shawl back wrapped

Click here to purchase this pattern in UK and US terms for $4.99
Use code ‘autumn’ to get 20% off your total pattern purchase in my ravelry store from now until Halloween 2019!
Be sure to upload a picture to Ravelry and link it to the pattern! I love seeing everyone’s creations!

13th Doctor Striped Socks

These socks were super fun to make, so I wrote up the pattern and made a video tutorial! Let me know what you think, and be sure to let me know if you make a pair!

Materials:

Special Stylecraft Double Knit in Lapis
Special Stylecraft Double Knit in Duck Egg
3.25 mm Knitting Needles (US3/UK11)

Pattern:

Cast on 60 stitches in Dark Blue
K1P1 all the way around for 8 rows
K all the way around for 8 rows
*Switch to Light Blue, K all the way around for 4 rows
Switch to Dark Blue, K ass the way around for 4 rows
Repeat from * four times, making a total of 5 Dark Blue and 5 Light Blue stripes
Switch to Light Blue, K all the way around for one and a half rows
Shift needles so that you can start the heel from the center back of the work
HEEL & TOE
K 15 stitches, turn
Row 1: sl st, P29, turn
Row 2: sl st, K28, turn
Row 3: sl st, P27, turn
Row 4: sl st, K26, turn
Row 5: sl st, P25, turn
Row 6: sl st, K24, turn
Row 7: sl st, P23, turn
Row 8: sl st, K22, turn
Row 9: sl st, P21, turn
Row 10: sl st, K20, turn
Row 11: sl st, P19, turn
Row 12: sl st, K18, turn
Row 13: sl st, P17, turn
Row 14: sl st, K16, turn
Row 15: sl st, P15, turn
Row 16: sl st, K14, pick up stitch from between previous worked stitch and next stitch on left needle (denoted as m1), k2tog, turn
Row 17: P15, m1, p2tog, turn
Row 18: K16, m1, k2tog, turn
Row 19:  P17, m1, p2tog, turn
Row 20: K18, m1, k2tog, turn
Row 21: P19, m1, p2tog, turn
Row 22: K20, m1, k2tog, turn
Row 23: P21, m1, p2tog, turn
Row 24: K22, m1, k2tog, turn
Row 25: P23, m1, p2tog, turn
Row 26: K24, m1, k2tog, turn
Row 27: P25, m1, p2tog, turn
Row 28: K26, m1, k2tog, turn
Row 29: P27, m1, p2tog, turn
Row 30: K28, m1, k2tog, turn
Row 31: P29, m1, p2tog, turn
HEEL ONLY
Row 32: K 15
Adjust stitches so that you can continue working with your Light Blue yarn where you left off. Complete that row in knit stitch, and then do two more rows of knit stitch in Light Blue.
*Switch to Dark Blue, K all the way around for 4 rows
Switch to Light Blue, P all the way around for 4 rows
Repeat from * until your sock is the right length for your foot.
For reference, I had a total of 5 Dark Blue and 5 Light Blue stripes for my UK size 5 feet.
Refer back to the heel instructions and work the toe the same as the heel.
Complete the sock with kitchener stitch and weave in your ends.

13th Doctor SocksTada! You now have your own pair of 13th Doctor Socks!

Nardole from Doctor Who

On the second day of London MCM, I wore a cosplay of Nardole from the Doctor Who episode Eaters of Light. I’m starting with the second day because I neglected to get pictures of the costume I wore the first day, but hopefully I’ll get some soon.

I spent the entire day making this same expression

The Nardole costume consisted of a hand knit hat, a sweatshirt, pajama pants, and a kilt. The kilt was simply a huge piece of fabric with serged edges. Unlike how the kilt is worn in the show, I wore mine the same way that one would wear a great kilt.

Nardole full bodySince the sweatshirt was fairly simple in design, I opted to modify a blue zip up sweatshirt I already had instead of making one from scratch. I started by taking out the zipper and the hoodie cord. Then, I added buttonholes and large wooden buttons down the front of the hoodie. Even though I’d taken out the bright white hoodie cord, the eyelets in the hood were still visible in bright silver, so I buttonhole stitched all the way around them.

Phoebe dressed as Bill Potts

The hat I wore is one I’ve already posted about, and have actually written up a pattern for, so be sure to check that out!

This is, by far, one of the most comfortable cosplays I have ever worn. I basically got to walk around in pajamas all day, it was great!

New Fabric Designs!

If you have a Spoonflower account and follow my account, you’ve probably noticed some new designs. I’ve been working on a fabric collection based on paint.

fabric photo bllue and black splatters

The first fabric, called Black and Blue Mirrors, is a simple black and blue repeating pattern. I created this design using acrylic paint and paper. I then scanned the painting into my computer and cleaned it up as much as I could before I ordered a yard of fabric from Spoonflower.

Why did I order a yard of fabric, you ask?
13235751_1279093012118230_1632974195_nFor a swap with Alice the Insane, of course! I gave her a yard of my design printed on cotton poplin ultra in trade for a super cute bag that she made to match our Kylo Ren and General Hux cosplays that we wore to MCM London. 

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I really like the bag she made, and I’ve been using it so much! It’s a really good size for everything I need with me on a daily basis.

13250474_1279092878784910_492591044_n I love the dress she decided to make from the fabric, I think she did an amazing job keeping the pattern intact and that having the design off center was fresh and different.

13249616_1279092972118234_616445597_nShe added bias binding to the neck edge, and the dress opens at the side with a zipper. Isn’t it lovely?

painted stripes fabric sample

This is the other fabric that I designed, also made using acrylic paint, paper, and a scanner. It’s only the second fabric in my ‘Paint’ fabric collection, and I’m hoping to add at least two more painted fabric designs over the summer.

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Be sure to check out Alice the Insane’s facebook page!

If you’re interested in purchasing either of these fabrics, they are available here.

Hamburger and Fries

sweater collar

I started working on this sweater exactly two weeks ago, and I’m really proud of how much I’ve made so far, even if I’m not finished. Eventually, the sweater should be a replica of the Hamburger and Fries sweater that Mabel Pines wears in the television show Gravity Falls.

sweater third

I used the Laura Sweater pattern and also drew inspiration from this version of the sweater. (The second link is only visible to those with a Ravelry account.) I made the collar 9″ instead of 12″. I added six rows to the raglan part of the sweater in order to make the armholes fit my arms better.

sweater half

In the pattern, the body of the sweater is 12″ long before the bottom ribbing is worked, but I made mine about 16″ long.

sweater full torso

I’m only about halfway done with one sleeve and it’s a little tight, but still wearable. If I were to make this sweater again, I would modify it so that the sleeves would start out wider. The torso of the sweater fits perfectly, except for the very bottom edge where I cast off. I used the slip slip knit method, thinking that it would be super stretchy, but it is not. I might go back and redo my cast off row if I can find a stretchier cast off.

If anyone has any super stretchy cast off methods, please share them with me!

 

18″ Doll’s Earflap Hat

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This is a crochet hat pattern that I designed for my little sister’s American Girl Doll. The hat has two earflaps, and will fit nearly every 18″ doll.

Currently for sale on Ravelry for $0.85!

“Aqua” Inspired Garment

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"Aqua" Inspired Garment Front

This garment features a picture of the building “Aqua” located in downtown Chicago. This skyscraper was designed by Jeanne Gang, making “Aqua” the tallest building in the world to have a woman as the lead architect.