Oak Wood Hooded Cowl

Isn't it funny - when your working on a new project, that you plan on keeping for yourself - how somebody will swoop in and ask if they can have it? I'm quite certain, I am not the only yarn artist with this happenstance. I have an entire tribe, just in my family unit, constantly eyeballing my wares!

It matters not, as the item was a prototype - a concept. An idea I'm working out in my head - that's almost there - but no quite. I really was happy to oblige my youngest daughter, in truth. It was a good exercise in specifying the cowl into exactly what she wanted. She explains how she wants the hood, and asked that I add some beads.The result looks absolutely enchanting! There is nothing like that sense of accomplishment. 

Oak Wood Hooded Cowl

Designed by Melonie Zarko

I used Panda Soft Yarn, that can be found at Smiley's Yarn online, for a very affordable price. The yarn is a pleasure to the touch, once it's worked up. It's machine washable, dry flat - and super warm and cuddly. 

When working with Panda Soft Yarn, I have found that time and patience is your best friend. You will have less difficulties using the knitting needles with this yarn. However, if your favored weaving instrument is the hook. then just use repeat cluster patterns, to help find your way with the stitching, when working up this yarn. It's easy to increase and decrease where you shouldn't; so be sure to take your time when crocheting with this yarn.

Pine Bark Hunter's Cowl

The first thing I do, when I get new yarn is, pull out a hook and see how it works up! So I was really excited to get some Poems Chunky Yarn, which is 100% wool. It was a bumpy ride ordering this yarn from Herscherrner's . I also, failed to receive two different kinds of yarn from my order. I would appear, when my order was received by shipping and handling, the yarn was already sold out. I was happy with yarn I did receive though, Poems Chunky: Autumn Harvest and some variegated fingering yarn from Bernat.

As soon as my husband saw these colors, he requested a cowl for hunting. I of course was more than happy to oblige him, as I wanted to get my hands on that yarn! When your a gal on a budget, you simply learn to accept working with worsted weight (4) yarn. It's always wonderful to get a new yarn  you've never worked with before. This 100% wool, imported yarn from Turkey is thick and warm, and easy to work up. But it is Hell to take apart. If you need to take any of your work apart, that you have created using 100% wool yarn - be prepared to break it. You should also have some moisturizing lotion ready for those hands. My cuticles are killing me.

I used a combination stitch to give one side a textured looked - and the other side a smooth, flat surface - while working in the round. What resulted, with just one 3.5 oz skein of yarn, was a nice cowl, a neck warmer. However, this wasn't what my husband was looking for. So I plunged ahead, and added another skein to the project. 

What has resulted, is the Pine Bark Hunter's Cowl, designed - by yours truly. It begets it's name from the owner of this wonderful piece. He say's the texture and colors remind him of bark on pine trees in the fall.

In the end, I ended up using two skeins of Poems Chunky: Autumn Haze and I would get it again and again! I'll give Herrscherner's another shot too, and see how it goes. Keep a look out for the Pine Bark Hunter's Cowl in our Etsy Store: HearthFire Handmades, The Grand Opening will be in the fall! 

Thunderbird Panel

After pulling it apart, and redoing my pattern several times, I finally finished my Thunderbird Panel.

Thunder Bird Panel by Melonie Zarko

I still need to slip stitch around the bird, and give it that finished touch, but I'm excited to start designing the rest of the blanket. 

I used a forked half double crochet to give the panel it's woven look. 

Jumping Into Spring

I tend to have two or three projects in the wings, when it comes to crocheting. With Spring in the air, I thought it was time to pull out my flower squares and finish my Daisy Baby Bed Blanket. I used Lion's Brand: Pound of Love yarn, which is on the light end of a worsted weight (4) yarn. It's a soft, light yarn that works up nicely with a smaller hook. However, it doesn't work well with other heavier worsted weight yarns, except in very small amounts in motifs. I rarely work a blanket that has less than 4 colors in it; unless I'm making something upon request. It's a joy when I find two different brands of yarn I can mix and match, as my color palette widens.

I don't follow the "rules" of crochet very well. Sometimes I knot, instead of just tie down. I like to use a heavy worsted yarn, with a medium worsted yarn - for texture. Particularly if I'm designing an image into the blanket. I don't care if your "suppose" to use all the same "kind" of yarn, in a single project. Poppycock! Don't interrupt my art - with your domineering and misguided "rules". I write up the Care Card to the most delicate yarn in the project!

                                   











But for this project, I did follow the rules and used the same yarn throughout the project. I loved how it turned out. I used a slip stitch to connect the squares and strips, as a whip stitch always has a greater danger of coming undone. This resulted in one very textured side that babies will love to touch; and a soft, smooth side to keep baby all comfy and warm. A whip stitch would have given both sides a flat, smooth finish - but be less sturdy to stand up to the toddler years of tent making, cape wearing, and make believe.

The leaf border finishes up the blanket with a slight ruffle, and just the right touch.

So, the fun part is over. Now on to the tedious part.... blocking it, and truly giving it that finished touch! Ugghhhh....

Book Review: Crochet Stitches; Visual Encyclopedia by Robyn Chachula

I was so excited when this book finally came in the mail. Like so many other crocheter's, I lived out of pattern books. I worked other peoples designs, for many years, creating beautiful handmade items. There are a few favorites I'll always make, that I find exceptional. It takes a lot of work, to write out a  readable pattern, graph patchwork if necessary, and working out the kinks of one's own design. 

My mother, Diane can do it. All one has to do is hand her yarn, and out of her creative noggin', she will produce a stunning design! Without the aid of a pattern. It kills me that she never writes down a working pattern, for these designs she creates. Oh she makes graphs, and notes here and there, but only in Diane's world are they decipherable.

So she suggested that I get an encyclopedia of stitches, when I expressed my desire to create my own designs from the ground up. "Just get a book, you already have hundreds on Hocus Pocus", Diane told me. 

Robyn Chachula's book of Crochet Stitches, Visual Encyclopedia  is the book I selected, and it took me from working from pattern books and free patterns found on the internet - to this.

Thunderbird Panel by Melonie Zarko

Keep and eye out for the finished design. The possibilities are endless....

I highly recommend the book,

Panda Soft Yarn: Delightful

I was hesitant to venture out of my comfort zone of shopping for yarn from the usual places. Walmart always has a good selection of Redheart at excellent prices, particularly on hand in store - but also online. I scope out Michael's and the Hobby Lobby for sales, whenever I'm out and about in town. However, I'd yet to try one of the online stores - apart from Walmart - that I had heard had very good deals on yarn. It was certainly time to wander out of my comfort zone, so I thought I'd give it a go.

My six year old nephew has been asking for a "Tiger Blanket" and I was really burned out on the striped and ripple patterns, having done quite a few blankets in those styles these past few years. With quite a few projects already on the roster, I needed a blanket I could quickly whip up.  It just so happens that SmileyYarns had a yarn, at a superb price, and the colors reminded me of a tiger.

The yarn is so soft that I fell in love with it! It's a pleasure to work with. I'm really glad I bought extra in a few different colors! The yarn was ordered over the weekend. Smiley's had it shipped out on Monday and I received my order on Wednesday. Overall, the process was painless, delivery was fast, and I love the yarn. I'll definitely be a routine customer, checking out their sales whenever I can.

So new yarn - happy dance - I do what every designer does, I whip up a swatch to see how it handles and looks. I'd never worked yarn before with quite this texture before. Panda Soft Yarn is a microfiber; fine denier 8 ply acrylic. It works up like a dream, but if using a hook, rather than needles, I'd use a large hook: I used a size K (10.5) The larger stitches makes for easier work.

I decided to use a cluster pattern, while working this yarn into a blanket. This way I could find my way along the stitches easily, as the yarn is very fuzzy. I think it's going to shape up into a nice blanket that can be converted into a throw when he is older. I can't wait to try this yarn in a few more projects and with the knitting needles too! 

Our Beginnings

Dynamic Design Duo

I grew up in a household that was filled with creativity. Macrame, crochet, and sewing filled my earliest memories. As a toddler, I had my own fashion line! Later in my childhood, my mother Diane acquired a kiln, and ceramics became a big part of our life. I still have nightmares about those creepy garden gnomes! As a teenager, my mother could drive us all mad, with the incessant buzz of the sewing machine: as she made her quilts, dresses, and equestrian jackets.

Diane, my mother, never stops creating or designing!

I guess some of it had to rub off on me. Though, if not writing or reading, I'd always pick up the yarn and hook. My Grandmother, Aunt Tony, and Thelma - always had a hook and ball a yarn handy for me - if I ever complained that I was bored!

It wasn't until the Christmas of 2012, when my mother gifted me with this beautiful Tunisian Stitch Afghan Throw she designed - that my own creative fires were lit - and I picked up my crochet hooks once again.

Designed by Diane 

I immediately hit my local area stores, and acquired some yarn. Now, three years later, I have created several of my own blankets - to gift to loved ones for special occasions. Along the way I picked up a knack for knitting too! 

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Created By Melonie Zarko

I made these afghans for my children. The second design is created from a free pattern at Lionbrand.com, You will need to register an account (don't worry it's free), in order to view the pattern. I have made several more blankets of various sizes, for nieces and nephews. It was then that Diane and I decided, we needed to open up an Etsy Shop. With already two request from loved ones for Christmas, it would be nice to share our passion with others and be able to afford more yarn! 

Look for our grand debut opening Fall of 2015!