Chilly Weather, Crochet Shawl, and Walking with a Friend

Finally, the chilly days arrived to California. Right in time, as it's the Holiday Season!

I got to wear my new crochet shawl! 

Every week a friend of mine and I go for a walk in a park. It's such a simply, yet wonderful way to connect, to share some laughs, to get some exercise and fresh air. 

My friend snapped these pictures of me. My goodness, I knew I have quite a bit of gray hair, but I didn't realize how much it shows. 

Oh well, growing old is part of life :)

Crochet Square for a Special Blanket

I made this crochet square the day before yesterday, and today I mailed it all the way to the UK. 

With many other green crochet squares coming from all over the UK and perhaps other parts of the world, it will be used for making a blanket for a little boy Daniel, who's in an intensive care in the hospital. 

I joined this project through a crochet group on Facebook. Two wonderful ladies who announced it, will join the squares into a blanket.

I know, from the economical point of view, it doesn't make sense to send a small crochet square over the seas, all the way from California to the UK. But this is not about that.

This is my way of saying to this family: "I don't know you, I don't know your little boy. I can't help you in any significant, meaningful way. But I am not indifferent to your pain, and to the struggles you are going through."

Several years ago, my oldest son was diagnosed with autism. The doctors who gave the diagnosis were like: "Have you ever heard of autism? Well, your son has it. Here are some Internet links where you can learn more. Good luck."

Back then I felt like I have this tragedy in my life, and nobody cares!

 It was such a difficult experience. But with time I learned that my son's diagnosis is not a tragedy, but a challenge. You adapt to it, you make the best out of it, and you go on.

I also learned how important it is to have a network of family and/or friends who can give you support through the difficult times. And it's important to offer your support, no matter how small or insignificant, to other people. 

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Cluster: *yarn over, insert hook and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw thorough 2 loops on hook* six times, yarn over and draw through 6 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through two loops on hook.

Ch 8, join with sl st in ring.

Round 1: ch 3 (counts as 1st dc here and in following rounds), 3 dc in ring, cluster in ring, cluster in ring, *4 dc in ring, cluster in ring* three times; join with sl st to first dc.

Round 2: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next cluster, ch 1, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next cluster, ch 1* around.; join.

Round 3: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2* around; join. 

Round 4: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 dc, (dc in next cluster, dc in next dc) twice, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, (dc in next cluster, dc in next dc) twice, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2* around; join.

Round 5: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) three times, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) three times, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join.. 

Round 6: ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in each dc and in each cluster across to next ch-3 space, 5 sc in ch-3 space* around; join.

Round 7: ch 1, *sc in each sc to next corner, 3 sc in corner sc* around; join.

Round 8: same as Round 7. 

Shells Newborn Dress Free Crochet Pattern

I constantly add new pattern to my shop, and I also "retire" some. Here is one such pattern! I hope you'll enjoy making this newborn dress!

Olga Poltava © December, 2015

This pattern may not be redistributed in any form. You are very welcome to sell the finished items that you make using this pattern.

This pattern is written using US crochet terminology.

Size: Newborn

Skill Level: Beginner

Materials:

US Hook size E/4 (3.50 MM)

Super fine yarn, about 150 yards in each color

For the dress shown above I used Woolike by Loops & Threads

Small button

Gauge: 9 dc = 2 inches, 3 rows = 1 inch in height

Abbreviations:

ch chain

sl st slip stitch

sc single crochet

dc double crochet

* * Instructions between asterisks should be repeated as many times as there are stitches to accommodate them or as many times as stated.

When changing color yarn, don’t cut off the yarn after each round, let it hang until you use it again in the next round.

Ch 53.

Row 1: dc in 4^th ch from hook (first 3 skipped ch count as 1^st dc), dc in each ch across. (51 dc).

Row 2: ch 3, turn (counts as 1^st dc), dc in next 2 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc* across. (63 dc).

Row 3: ch 3, turn (counts as 1^st dc), 2 dc in next dc, *dc in the next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc* across, dc in last dc. (84 dc).

Row 4: ch 3, turn (counts as 1^st dc), 2 dc in next dc, *dc in the next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc* across, dc in last 2 dc. (105 dc).

Row 5: ch 3, turn (counts as 1^st dc), 2 dc in next dc, *dc in the next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc* across. (126 dc).

Join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch-3 and continue crocheting in rounds.

Round 6: ch 3, 2 dc in same beginning space, skip next dc, sc in next dc, *skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, sc in next dc* around, join with sl st to 3^rd ch of beginning ch-3. (32 shells).

Round 7: sl st to 2^nd dc of dc-3 group, change color, ch 1, sc in same dc, 5 dc in next sc, *sc in 2^nd dc of next dc-3 group, 5 dc in next sc* around; join with sl st to 1^st sc. (32 shells).

Round 8: sl st to 3^rd dc of next dc-5 group, change color (do not cut off the second color yarn, let it hang along until you use it again in the next round), ch 1, sc in same dc, *5 dc in next sc, sc in 3^rd dc of next dc-5 group* four times, ch 5, skip next 6 shells, sc in 3^rd dc of next shell, *5 dc in next sc, sc in 3^rd dc of next dc-5 group* nine times, ch 5, skip next 6 shells, sc in 3^rd dc of next shell, *5 dc in next sc, sc in 3^rd dc of next dc-5 group* five times; join with sl st to 1^st sc. (18 shells, two ch-5 spaces)

Round 9: sl st to 2^nd dc of dc-5 group, change color, ch 1, sc in same dc, *7 dc in next sc, sc in 3^rd dc of next dc-5 group* four times, sc in 3^rd ch of next ch-5, 7 dc in next sc, *sc in 3^rd ch of next dc-5 group, 7 dc in next sc* nine times, sc in 3^rd ch of next ch-5, 7 dc in next sc, *sc in 3^rd ch of next dc-5 group, 7 dc in next sc* five times; join with sl st to 1^st sc. (20 shells)

Round 10: sl st to 4^th dc of dc-7 group, change color, ch 1, sc in same dc, 7 dc in next sc, *sc in 4^th dc of next dc-7 group, 7 dc in next sc* around; join with sl st to 1^st sc. (20 shells)

Rounds 11-32: repeat Round 10. You can also make the dress longer if you wish.

Fasten off.

Attach yarn to top right corner of the back opening and continue crocheting into ends of rows: (sc, ch 4, sc) in first end of row (this creates a button loop), 2 sc in each end of row down and up the opening. Fasten off, weave in end. Sew the button on the other side of the opining.

Bright Pink Shells Crochet Scarf

This is the same stitch that I used for the Blue Lace Baby Blanket, but I adjusted it for a shawl. 

Well, it's a bit too wide to be a shawl; it's more of a triangular scarf I guess.

The finished measurements are 60 inches wide and 23 inches long.

Shawl or scarf, I think I'll get some wear out of it this fall and winter. I just need to be patient and wait for the weather to cool down. Here in Northern California we still have summer-like days.

I used Caron Simply Soft Light yarn and size G/4 (4.25 mm) hook. 

I'm pleased with how it turned out, and I wanted to make another one for my friend. 

I don't know what I was thinking! Usually I'm not a big fan of variegated yarns, yet this Red Heart Soft really appealed to me. Wrong choice!

I'll have to think of something I could use this yarn for. Because it clearly doesn't work for this pattern. 

The pattern for Bright Pink Shells Scarf is available in my Etsy shop.