Free Pattern - Knit Half Round Shawl

I use this pattern again and again. It's easy and there is no end to the different color combinations, stitch patterns and embellishments one can apply to this versatile accessory.

For instance, I've adorned this half circle with grilled delights...



And simple stripes...



Olives and pimentos...



Corndogs...



As well as these crazy crustaceans...



Despite the examples above, I feel as if I've only begun my exploration about the realm of the half-round. Oh yes, more iterations definitely to come.

Love to see your take on this one too...

Come on, give it a try!

Materials

• 800 yards (give or take) of worsted weight yarn
• US size 8, 9 or 10 circular needle (40")

Abbreviations

• BO - bind off
• CO - cast on
• K - knit
• KF&B - knit in front and back of stitch
• P - purl
• PF&B - purl in front and back of stitch
• PM - place marker
• st/sts - stitch/stitches

Directions
Shawl is worked from top down.
CO 8 sts.
R 1 - K 2, PM, K 2, PM, K 2, PM, K 2.
R 2 - PF&B of every st.
R 3 - K
R 4 - P
R 5 - KF&B first and last sts and before and after each marker. (two increases made per "section").
R 6 - P
R 7 - K
R 8 - P
Repeat rows 5 - 8 until desired length is achieved. (I usually work until I have at least 320 stitches on the needles.)
BO.

It just doesn't get much easier than that!

Copyright 2008 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Lobster Bake Shawl

I mentioned that I've been on a nautical kick as of late right?

Yeah well, here's the latest in this series of aquatic themed projects...



And it's a stash-buster to boot! Yep, I made a serious dent in my acrylic stores with this crustacean emblazoned wonder...



The shawl itself is knit from the top down. I've made this half-rounder numerous times, beginning with 8 stitches and working until I have between 300 to 400 stitches in total (give or take). The piping around the edge is crocheted as are the lobster appliques.

Why appliques?

Because silly, you don't see the intarsia mess on the backside of the shawl!

I don't like messy.

I've also tried knitted appliques, but the finished product tends to be too stretchy for me. So, crochet the appliques I do. No give means a solid applique.

Now, if I could just find a So Cal lobster bake at which to wear this red, white and blue diddy, I'd be in business!

Heading to NYC tomorrow!

Promise, promise, promise to blog from there this time peeps!

Copyright 2008 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Brain Embroidery
Originally uploaded by ladylinoleum

Not only does this adage apply to living a greener existence, but it can also be applied to living a more fully realized yarn-based existence. Oh, yes! You see my friends, intrepid exploration about the interstices of an idea, image or process oftentimes portends repetition of said idea, image or process, in an alternate iteration that is.

What the hell am I talking about, you ask?

Okay, remember the If I Only Had a Brain Shawl that I worked up several months ago? Yeah, well, that brain image? I just cannot let it go. In short, I feel that it has not outlived it shelf life. Nope, not in the least.

So, where has the gray matter turned up?

Inside the border of my embroidery hoop!

And looking quite fetching I might add…

Although this latest cerebrum inspired piece is quite satisfying to work on, I feel that this brain’s journey is far from complete.

Any ideas about where the brave and bold brain will show itself again? Do tell.

Anchor Tote

I've been on a stashbusting kick as of late. This latest project used up some of my Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece stores.

I give you the Anchor Tote...



The design of this tote is the progeny of a bag design I did for Crochet Today mag, which should be available this summer. Also, this seafaring baggy is crocheted in the round with an F hook, anchor is an applique that is crocheted separately and sewn onto the bag and the handles are made from braided crocheted strips.



Neato eh?

Oh, I almost forgot about this feature...the Tote is completely reversible!



Although this bag is quite simple to make, methinks it quite stylish. It was a great way to use up all of my cotton stash too! I may be making more of these. Different themes of course.

Happy Monday everyone!

Treking The Stars!

A few weeks ago the hubs and I traversed just south of us to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, in order to partake in a bit of LadyLinoleum sanctioned geekdom...The Star Trek Tour! 

 

Let me tell you all, it was awesome!  We were able to stand on the bridge from the original Star Trek set as well as the bridge from The Next Generation set (and yes, I did sit in Picard's chair...love that guy!) and view all of the props and costumes from the various Star Trek franchises, both television and film.  They even had a Tribble in one of the display cases!  In my humble opinion, Tribbles are THE finest examples of fun fur usage to be seen anywhere!

 

Ahem.

 

Anyway, I put a very short slide show together of the highlights of our visit which can be seen below.  We had a faboo time!  I highly recommend this event should it travel to a locale near you! 

Star Trek Tour

OUCH!

Yeah, if you are noticing some changes with my blog template, that would be because I accidentally erased most of it this evening!

What.

An.

Idiot.

Fortunately I had a slightly older version of my beloved green bloggy template saved on my computer.  Cleaning up this mess as I type...

Jeesh.

Marching into Spring...

...with a duel-handled blade!


My newest toy, the mezzaluna.

Yep, I spent my Saturday immersed in craft and the culinary arts as well as in search of the perfect materials suitable for both activities. After a mid a.m. Saturday morning coiffing, I was joined by my girl Jenna for some shopping just south of our usual stomping grounds.

First stop was Melt Down where grilled cheese is king, or queen, depending upon your preference. Ah yes, nothing like beginning a shopping binge tanked up on melty, cheesy goodness.

At any rate, upon first glance, the menu was pushing and prodding me toward ordering one of the sweet melts. I mean who doesn’t want a hot and delicious brie and apricot sandy on grilled walnut bread? (Note to self, have to order that one when next gracing the doorstep of cheesy pavilion.) However, upon full perusal of menu offerings, I ended up ordering this sodium enriched wonder, the Italian Deli melt. Yeah, yeah, I know! Not good for the chick with the lofty blood pressure. Whatever. It. Was. Good. Crunchy grilled focaccia, slathered with balsamic and olive oil, cradling layers of thinly sliced cured meats and spongy fresh mozzarella. Hot and savory. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, Jenna seemed to equally enjoy her appropriately named sandy, the L.A. Chick.

Tummies full, we were off to our first shop stop, Surfas, the “Chef’s Paradise”.

Oh. My. God.

I really had to restrain myself! I was walking around the place, glassy-eyed, wallet at the ready, feeling the overwhelming need to purchase huge vats of gold and silver sprinkles for the millions of disco ball sugar cookies I was planning to make upon my immediate return to my own humble kitchen. Really, it was scary. I don’t know what came over me while traversing the isles containing miles of culinary treasures. It was like a spell had overtaken me the minute I stepped foot inside the building. Literally, I was planning my graduation party from culinary school by the time I had made it to the register to purchase my wares. Oh yeah, it was THAT bad.

Needless to say, I showed a modicum of restraint and left the building with only one bag in tow containing a nifty mezzaluna (always wanted one), a glass condiment jar with flip-top lid for my stovetop stock of kosher salt, a small stack of flexible cutting boards, oh, and, um, a 1 lb. jar of gold sprinkles. Hey, I don’t see any reason to deprive my sugar cookies of their much deserved bling. So there.

Our final stop for the afternoon took me to my primary shopping danger zone…yarn AND roving. Culinary, schmulinary! This is my true downfall. However, I felt that Jenna really needed to be introduced to one of our most beloved Westside yarn haunts, A Mano Yarn Center. The fact that I have no self-control regarding stash acquisition should have no bearing upon the situation at all. Let’s just say I was providing a service, a charitable service, by acquainting a dear friend with a resource previously unknown to her. Yep, I’m a Good Samaritan through and through. A Good Samaritan who happened to leave the store loaded down by several balls o’ mohair and wads of roving. Jenna loved the store though, so the fact I dropped a little cash while simultaneously helping out a friend is quite acceptable. Quite acceptable indeed!

Ahem.

After Jenna and I parted ways that afternoon, I went straight home and occupied myself in a little nautical themed yarn play. Okay, “little nautical themed yarn play” is a euphemism for one large knitting project, two crochet projects and possibly a bit of embroidery too. Yeah, it’s all striped with anchors and such. I will probably want to burn all things navy and white when I’m done with this stuff, but well, right now I’m having a blast. You know, I tend to be a bit spirited with my efforts.

What brought on this sudden need to be at one with the sea? Well, I just came off three design projects for Crochet Today mag, which were as you might have guessed, notedly nautical! Oh yeah, there will be crocheted lobsters in your future, people!

I need to go back to Surfas and get some crustacean themed cookie cutters…oh, and some red sparkly sprinkles…