MICROCKNIT CREATIONS: February 2014

how to crochet, scarf, free crochet patterns, scarves,

MOMENTS IN TIME

Winter Sunrises are amazing - the grey clouds of dawn, the pink glow of daylight. Some times more orange, other times more magenta, yet always beautiful!

MY FAVOURITE TIME OF DAY

I love being up to capture these moments, quite often they only last a short time and as soon as the sun starts to rise, either the clouds move in and all the glorious colours disappear or the glow of the sun eliminates the hues. So you have to be quick to capture the moment. When I am in a hurry to take the photo before the colours change and disappear I use my mobile instead of digging out my Fuji camera which then results in a mediocre photo.

The best time is when I have risen before the sun and the colours are just starting to appear, this is the time the Fuji is dug out of it's case and I delight in zooming in and out to capture segments of colour in the early morning skies.

Aren't they lovely colours?

YARN COLOUR INSPIRATION

So it is these beautiful winter sunrise colours which inspired my winter scarf design.

I purchased these AMAZING coloured hanks of yarn by Debbie Bliss known as Andes. It was July 2013 at a 50% OFF SALE, almost a whole eight (8) months ago and it's taken this long to do something with them, it seems that life just got in the way. Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to make from these delightful three (3) hanks of colour, and then later I found and added another hank, the colour is fuchsia and it is just gorgeous, too beautiful to resist.

SPECIAL CROCHET DESIGNS

As you can see I have managed to use up the beautiful coloured hanks to make a lovely pair of fingerless mittens, SEE BELOW, and you can read all about these French inspired mittens in my previous post PARIS Crochet Mittens.

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With the remainder of the yarn I crocheted a simple and easy scarf, I have called it ANDES after the name of the yarn. This is my special dress-up winter sunrise scarf and I am going to share the crochet pattern with you below.

YARN DETAILS

Debbie Bliss Andes yarn is pure luxury!

Baby alpaca wool makes it irresistibly soft and warm, while mulberry silk creates shine, drape and elegance.

This yarn is just one of those extra-indulgent treats for your most special projects.

Unfortunately ANDES yarn has now been discontinued which is a real shame, however you may still find ANDES or a similar yarn online via Ebay. If not go to this amazing website called YARNSUB where you can check which yarns you can use instead.

PATTERN DETAILS:

A simple striped crochet scarf using one stitch throughout and easy colour change. No hiding ends. No sew.

SKILL: Easy

YARN: Debbie Bliss Andes ● DK/8ply ● Baby Alpaca 65% Mulberry Silk 35% ● 50g 100m(109yd)

YARDAGE: 200g = 400m(436yd) 4 x 50g - 1 skein of each colour

SUBSTITUTE YARN: Rowan Alpaca Colour or any other similar DK yarn

HOOK: 7 (4.5mm)

MEASUREMENTS: Length 55in (140cm) without fringe, Width 6.5in (16.5cm)

TENSION: Not critical to this pattern.

ABBREVIATIONS: USA (American) Crochet Terms

ch = chain, hdc = half double crochet, sl st = slip stitch, st = stitch, CC = contrast colour, MC = main colour.

PATTERN NOTES: Beginning and end of each colour change, leave 3-4in tail, before cutting yarn. These yarn tails will be incorporated into the fringe.

With MC and 7 (4.5mm) hook

Row 1: Ch200, 1hdc in 3rd ch from hook, 1hdc in each ch to end. Turn.

Row 2: Ch2, 1hdc in each st to end. Turn.

Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC1

Row 4-6: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC2

Row 7-9: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC3

Row 10-12: Repeat Row 2.

Change to MC

Row 13-15: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC1

Row 16-18: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC2

Row 19-21: Repeat Row 2.

Change to CC3

Row 22-24: Repeat Row 2.

Change to MC

Row 25-26: Repeat Row 2.

Row 27: Sl st in each st to end.

Make fringe measuring 4-5ins in length. Use all 4 colours. 2 strands of each contrast colour and 1 strand of main colour per fringe group. 7 fringe groups on each end of scarf. Remember to incorporate the yarn tails into the fringe groups.