Red, White & Blue Starghan!

I made this for BIL years ago and said 'ghan was not complete at the time of the pic, but it should give you an idea of how large it was unfinished.

Starghan Video Tutorial on YouTube!!

Mike from mikeyssmail of youtube crochet video fame has kindly made a step by step tutorial of the starghan...here are the first 5 videos uploaded so far!

Video #1:

Video #2:

Video #3:

Video #4:

Video #5:

Video #6:

Video #7:

Video #8 (Final):

Absolute Final Edit of the Starghan

Okay all you Starghan Fans out there...I have done the final edit of the Starghan on both blog posts and now there should be no reason why you will oops in making this awesome blanket.

I deeply apologize for all the lost hours and yarn for those of you who were messed up by my imperfect directions...

Crochet on!!!

Long Time No Blog!

I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted anything on my blog...with my new job (teacher) and keeping up with 4 kids and my hubby, down time is a precious commodity!

I have made a few more tops (and crocheted girls dresses) since last year, but I have decided not to post anything yet as I am thinking of submitting them to various crochet magazines in hopes of getting a nibble.

When that is going to really happen? I don't know, but this Spring Break has given me some time to breathe and reflect and to focus on what needs to be prioritized and what needs to be put in the back burner for now...no worries about the crocheting though, there will be always time for that! But at the rate things are going, it might not be until summer vacation before I post anything more here (also I cannot blog in school, but I think that might not be the case soon).

Thank you dear visitors for still visiting my blog and letting me know how my patterns have added some joy in your lives.

Always crocheting, with yarn or in my mind...

yarndiva

Final Edit of the Starghan, I hope this is it!!

YarnDiva's Crocheted Baby Starghan (Star Afghan)
© April 2003 by Beth Espina-Cole aka mamabeth aka yarndiva

Kudos to lissie of ravelry.com for figuring out why this pattern is such a mystery to almost everyone!! Here is the link to her "aha" moment: lissie

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Materials:

1. Red Heart Sport Baby Pompadour Yarn in colors of choice.

2. Aluminum Crochet Hook Size F/5
Gauge: 6 rows from center to one point is 4”

(As long as the afghan is relatively flat…gauge is really not that important).

You may also use soft or worsted weight yarn and a larger hook for “bigger” babies!!

Special Stitch: Shell Stitch = 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc

Auhor’s Note: It is to be understood that ch 3 = 1 dc at the beginning of each round throughout the entire pattern.

The size of the afghan is up to you…these are just the basic instructions to start with.

Please read the entire pattern before starting! It could save you a headache!

Instructions:

Ch 5, sl st in first ch to form ring.

Round 1

Round 1: 20 dc = (ch 3 + 19 dc) around ring, sl st in 3rd ring of first ch 3.

The ch 3 for every new row is a substitute for 1 dc...it makes it easier to start your dc's at the right height.

Round 2

Round 2: Sc in first dc, {sk next dc, shell (3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc) in next dc, sk next dc, sc in next dc}. Repeat { } all around. 5 shells & 5 sc’s.

Round 3

Round 3: Sl st in sc, sl st in first 2 dc’s of first shell, ch 3, dc in 3rd dc of first shell, {shell in ch 2 sp, 2 dc over next 2 dc, sk next ([dc, sc, dc] ...yes, skip all three...the skipped stitches becomes your "valley"), 2 dc over next 2 dc’s}. Repeat { } all around. * Sl st in 3rd ch of ch 3, sl st in dc after ch 3 of R 3.

(User friendly terms: Basically, R 3 is this: the sc & the first dc is skipped, you sl st in the sc, the first dc and the 2nd dc and then from the sl st in the 2nd dc, you make 2 dc's (1 ch 3 + 1 dc) over the previous 2 dc's and then the 3 dc shell in the ch 2 sp. Shove the shell over and 2 dc over the next 2 dc, skipping the last dc on one side, skip the sc and then skipping the first dc on the next side. Then you 2 dc over the next 2 dc and shell in the ch 2 sp. Repeat around.)

Round 4

Round 4: Ch 3, dc each over next 3 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 4 dc’s, sk 2 dc's (this is the valley), dc in next 4 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 5: Ch 3, dc in next 5 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 6 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 6 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 6: Ch 3, dc in next 6 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 8 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s (again, this is the valley), dc in next 8 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 7: Ch 3, dc in next 7 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 10 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 10 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 8: Ch 3, dc in next 8 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 12 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 12 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 9: Ch 3, dc in next 9 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 14 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 14 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 10: Ch 3, dc in next 10 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 16 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 16 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 11: Ch 3, dc in next 11 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 18 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 18 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 12: Ch 3, dc in next 12 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 20 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 20 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 13: Ch 3, dc in next 13 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 22 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 22 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 14: Ch 3, dc in next 14 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 24 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 24 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Round 15: Ch 3, dc in next 15 dc’s, {shell in ch 2 sp, dc in next 26 dc’s, sk next 2 dc’s, dc in next 26 dc’s}. Repeat { } around. Repeat * of Round 3.

Continue pattern until desired size. Edging of sc or reverse sc is recommended.

Do choice of edging stitch in each dc stitch below. *3 stitches in ch 2 of shell, sk 2 dc’s when you reached the stitches that were skipped in the previous row.

Fasten off and weave in ends. After 15 rows, you can see where the pattern is going…just add 2 dc’s in between the skipped dc’s and make the 3 dc shell in the ch 2 space of the previous shell (or otherwise known as the star "tips") on every row and you should be fine.

You may alternate colors to give it a bit o’ sparkle!

A star pillow can be made by making 2 stars of 10 rounds (or so) each.

1. Trace the star shape on to fabric and make 2 fabric stars

2. Sew 4 sides together and turn inside out.

3. Stuff to desired “squishiness”.

4. Sew last side of star together.

5. With the crocheted stars, place wrong sides together and sc through both thicknesses around 3 points, place stuffed pillow and sc the star closed.

Clear as mud?

Violet Kimono Cardigan Revisited

I decided to sc the bottoms so that the edges would stay put, got rid of the black ribbon and put a black long-sleeved top on the bottom and viola! A whole new look! This one is definitely a keeper!

Burgundy Fan Lace Top

Just finished weaving the ends last night and wore it to school today! Made with elann.com sonata (100% mercerized cotton) and I used about 4.5 skeins of it. Pattern stitch (plus my own modifications) was found in a Brazilian crochet magazine and crocheted free-hand. I just measured myself after making a test swatch and based the pattern from that after making calculations. Took me 3 days off and on to finish. It was a very gratifying item to make as it was so fast and the stitch pattern could be done without looking at the piece.

Thanks for dropping by!!

PS. It was supposed to be a skirt, but it was a very tight skirt! I scooted it up and was very pleased to find out that as a top it was a perfect fit!! As with most of my wearables, my flukes turn out to be my best ones!

Sera Lace Tunic

From the Fall/07 issue of Interweave Crochet, I present the "Sera Lace Tunic" an adaptation of the "Sera Lace Top" by Doris Chan.

I used Classic Elite "Provence" in Natural (from eBay and Woolie Ewe in Plano, TX) and omitted the sleeves and made the top longer. With a black ribbon woven through the bottom 1/3 of the outfit and a black long-sleeved top and black pants to complete the outfit!

It took about 2 months off and on and I finally finished the ends last Wed. so I could wear it Thurs. As always, I received lots of compliments on it!

Enjoy!

Hot Baby Pink Skirt!!

I really had fun making this skirt. Actually this is my "I can't study for my Teacher's Exam any more I'm going to crochet" skirt that I started in May and put the final touches (the last 5%) last month (October).

After seeing pyogazel's take on the VS knockoff skirt using the painted thread technique, I decided to make skirt in a similar fashion.

I used 3 strands of UKI size 5 mercerized cotton in Baby Pink, Med. Pink and Fuchsia in a simple pattern made up by yours truly with a ruffle bottom. The underskirt I use is actually a skirt that I purchased a few years ago and it blends perfectly with the crocheted skirt...just how kewl is that!!