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!