A Long Time Gone

...




Please forgive me.


I have an excuse! I graduated high school a year early and am now in college.


Yay?


Anyway, I have some wonderful stuff going on!

I have been working on some colorwork charts for knitting, as well as hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters, and socks. As for crochet? Well, it's about the same, minus the socks, and the colorwork. Please look forward to that!

As a special treat, I plan on sharing some more tips on getting started with things like double pointed needles, circular needles, and the like. Also, I have been working on some videos of my projects. Anyway, lots of good things are coming!


So, please forgive me for being a typical first time blogger. I do want to help spread the magic of yarn to everyone!

Hooks and Needles and Yarn, Oh My!

As I am shifting through my patterns, trying and testing them to make sure I don't need to make corrections, I realized that I use some similar types of yarn and some similar hook and needle sizes. So I decided to compile a list of what I commonly use, to help some of you newer crafters when shopping, and to help some people interested in my designs know what they will most likely need for my next project.

As far as yarn goes, I have two favorites. They are the Lion Brand Homespun yarn,
6.00 oz./170 g (185 yd/169 m)
98% acrylic, 2% polyester
Weight Category 5 (Bulky)
This one is for more experienced crafters, because it can be more dificult to work with. It does, however, work up quickly in both knit and crochet. It is very silky and soft, with pretty color variations. It is also very warm, which makes it perfect for hats and scarves.
The other favorite is Caron Brand Simply Soft.
It is 100% acrylic
Weight Category 4 (Medium)
The yardage and what not varies depending on the kind you get.
This yarn is perfect for beginners and experts alike. It is relatively inexpensive, yet looks and feels more high quality than most yarns. It comes in tons of colors ranging from white to neon, so you're sure to find what you want. The projects made from this will tend to be smaller and not work up as quickly, but it is easier to count your stitches and what not.

There are other kinds of yarn I like, some that you need to find a specialty yarn store to buy even, but those are the two I use most often. You can find both at stores like Hobby lobby, Joann Fabrics, and Michael's.

Hooks and Needles
As far as these go, the kind of yarn you are using will determine what size you need in needle and hooks. But I'll tell you what size you'll need for the two yarns above.
For the Homespun yarn, I use a K/10.5 crochet hook and a size 10 knitting needle.
For the Caron, I use an I/9 hook and size 8 needles.
What needles you use also depends on how tight or loose your stitches are. If they turn out too tight, you a larger size hook/needle. If they are too loose, use a smaller size. This is especially important on things like hats and mittens and sweaters, because if you do it too big or too loose, they won't fit right. But in projects like scarves and my little iPod cozy, it doesn't really matter so long as it works.

I hope these descriptions were helpful to you. When I first started to crochet, I had no clue what yarn to use and I was often too shy to ask for help, so I know I would have loved something like this. My first yarn shopping trip was a disaster, I got a boucle yarn and its texture made it hard for me to count the stitches, the rows, everything. My final project looked like something had eaten the edges off. So I recommend that any beginners stick to a non-novelty yarn, and try to use things like the caron, you know, regular worsted weight yarns.

That's all for tonight, happy stitching!

A Little Update...

Hey! Sorry for the wait for a new post. I have been wrapped up in finals at school, and my pattern making has taken a hit and been replaced with studying. But I finished finals today, so a new pattern (a Holiday one none the less) will be up before the end of the weekend! But thanks for reading, knitting and crocheting.

"beePod" iPod cozy- Knitting

I originally made this adorable little cozy for my older sister, who is obsessed with bees. It is mostly knitted, but the wings were crocheted. It is fairly simple to make, but you need to be able to do both knit and purl stitches. The crochet is merely the single crochet stitch.

"beePod" iPod cozy:

What you'll need:
US size 8 knitting needles
size F/5-3.75mm crochet hook
medium weight yarn-
one skein yellow
one skein black
cotton crochet thread-white
button
tapestry (yarn) needle
thread and sewing needle for button*

*My button has the one little hole in the back, and I just used some of my crochet thread (which is the really thin stuff you sometimes see in the yarn department-look for sugar n' cream yarn, for example) to tie it on. Most other buttons will need regular sewing thread and needles.


How to make it:
In yellow, cast on as many stitches as you need to go a little past the width of your iPod. For my sister's iPod video (I don't know if there's more than just the 1st gen, but hers is the 1st gen one) I cast on twelve.
*do three rows of stockinette stitch in yellow
switch to black
stockinette stitch three rows of black

repeat from * until it is twice as long as your iPod, making sure the stripes match up with each other when you fold it in half.
I had six stripes of yellow, five of black
cast off.

Then, pick up the four middle stitches on one needle. To do this, just put your needle through one of the top loops of the middle four cast off stitches so that you start with the next stitch to continue the stockinette pattern. Do four rows of stockinette.

In the next row, knit (or purl) the first stitch as usual. Then knit (or purl) the next two stitches together. wrap your yarn over the top of your loop, and then knit (or purl) the next stitch as usual. This should give you a space for a button to go through.
knit or purl the next row as usual

in the next row, knit or purl the first two stitches together, then the remaining stitches together. You will have only two stitches now.

Knit or purl both stitches together, then cast off the last stitch.

Weave in all ends.

Fold piece together, right sides together. Sew up the sides, making sure the stripes are even with each other. Your button hole strap should be the only part not sewn up. Weave in those ends.

Now you have the body of the bee!

To put on the button, put your iPod in the cozy and fold the strap over. Put your finger through the button hole, and then put the button on the spot where your finger was, sew it there. This should be a pretty accurate place for your button.

Now all that is left are the wings. If you are a knitter who has never crocheted, this could look pretty daunting. But it's not, don't worry.

With the white crochet thread and your little hook, chain two.
single crochet five stitches into the first chain.
*chain 1, single crochet in every single crochet across.
repeat from * four more times.

Using your yarn needle, sew wings on, making sure to sew down the entire straight side of the wing.

Repeat the whole wing process, sewing the new one on to the other side directly across from the first one.

Once you have finished sewing on the wings, you are completely done! Yay!

Go forth knowing that your iPod is now protected from scratches and cold!

Welcome!

Hello, welcome to the first post of Teens With Yarn!

As a teen who loves to crochet and knit, I've always found it somewhat difficult to find a pattern that isn't too much like something my great grandmother would make, doesn't call for more yarn than I can afford to buy, and is written in terms that are easy to understand. So, I started creating my own patterns, first in crochet, and then eventually in knitting. I tried to make thing I knew my friends would love and use, and that are practical in that they won't cost you a fortune in yarn and odd hook and needle sizes.

So, take a look at all of my FREE patterns, look at all the tips and tricks, or even take the time to learn a new hobby! And if you don't know how to knit or crochet, and can't learn, I will soon have links to my up-and-coming etsy.com store where you can purchase some unique crafts.