Sensational Sunburst Square - free 6" square crochet pattern

Do you remember me mentioning this CAL a few weeks ago - well, I guess a month ago now?

I'm wicked excited to be a part of this VERY fun crochet along! I was proud and happy to be asked to to design one of 36 squares, which put together will make an amazing sampler lapghan.  I think a lot of us are making extras of some of the squares, to make a slightly larger blanket, and I hope you do too.

You can join in anytime and the group is having a ton of fun! For more info go to crochet memories

If you are new to my designs, I specialize in easy, beginner friendly accessories, and have been published in various magazines over the last few years, and I'd love to have you drop by my group, Anastacia Knits Designs, or visit my designs on Ravelry.

To download a printable pdf, click here

Sensational Sunburst Square

By Anastacia Zittel 
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs

Anastaciaknits on instagram, pinterest, Ravelry, and twitter

Use tag #anastaciaknits wherever you post photos!

Materials: 

• small amounts of Caron Simply Soft worsted weight yarn, in 4 colors (A, B, C, and D)
• size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
• yarn needle 

Gauge:  14 stitches in pattern =4"

Measurements: square measures 6” across

Abbreviations (pattern uses US terms):

ch(s): chain(s)

sp(s): space(s)

rep: repeat

sk: skip

sl st: slip stitch

sc: single crochet

hdc: half double crochet

dc: double crochet

tr: treble crochet

Pattern Notes:

• Square is rated easy.
• Chain loosely throughout pattern.
• If using a worsted weight yarn heavier than Simply Soft, you most likely will not need to crochet the last round

Pattern:

Round 1: With color A, make a magic circle, 12 dc in magic circle. Join with a sl st to first dc. Tighten magic circle. 12 dc made. (if you prefer, ch 5, join in a circle with a sl st, and then continue as above). End off color A.

Round 2: With color B, join yarn with a sl st to any dc, and ch 4 (counts as dc, ch-1 sp), * dc in next dc, ch 1 loosely. Rep from * around 10 times more, join with a sl st to first dc. 12 dc and 12 ch-1 sps made. End off color B. Measures 2 1/3” across.

Round 3: With color C, join yarn with a sl st to any dc, ch 6 (counts as tr, ch-2 corner sp), tr in same dc, * ch 1, dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, hdc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, hdc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, ** (tr, ch 2, tr), all in next dc. Rep from * twice more, and from * to ** once more, join with a sl st to first tr. 8 tr, 8 dc, Do not end color C. 8 hdc, 4 ch-2 corner sps, and 20 ch-1 sps made.

Round 4: Continuing with color C, sl st into first ch-2 corner sp. Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc), all in same ch-2 corner sp. * (dc in next tr, sc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, (dc in next hdc, sc in next ch-1 sp) two times, dc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next tr, ** (sc, ch 2, sc), all in ch-2 corner sp. Rep from * twice more, and from * to ** once more, join with a sl st to first sc. Do not end color C. 28 sc, 24 dc, and 4 ch-2 corner sps made.

Round 5: Continuing with color C, sl st into first ch-2 corner sp. Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc), all in same ch-2 corner sp. * dc in next sc, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) across round until next ch-2 corner sp, ** (sc, ch 2, sc), all in ch-2 corner sp. Rep from * twice more, and from * to ** once, join with a sl st to first sc. Do not end color C. 32 sc, 28 dc, and 4 ch-2 corner sps made.

Round 6: With color C, rep round 5. End off color C. 36 sc, 32 dc, and 4 ch-2 corner sps made. 

Round 7: Measure your square. If your square matches my gauge exactly, then your square measures 5.75" across, and with color D, join yarn with a sl st in any ch-2 corner sp, and rep round 5.

 End off. Weave in ends and block lightly.

If you have any questions or comments or just want to join like-minded souls, please join my Ravelry group at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs. Thanks!

Optional color choices:
Use color A for rounds 1-2
Use color B for round 3
Use color C for rounds 4-5
Use color D for rounds 6-7

New pattern release: grandpa allan's cowl

I'm so excited to tell you about my latest design, Grandpa Allan's Cowl!


My grandfather - Allan - never wore a cowl and I don't remember him wearing a scarf, either, but I couldn't resist naming this cowl after him when I found a simple knit / purl pattern called Alan's Pattern.


This easy to stitch cowl comes in two sizes, 7" by 22" or 10" by 34".

The border is a simple knit and purl pattern, and the cowl goes fast fast fast based on the stockinette stitch center.

Any worsted weight yarn you feel comfortable in blocking will work wonderfully for this design - and there's a matching hat in multiple sizes soon to come!

Marina Cowl: free easy crochet pattern

The Marina Cowl was originally supposed to be published the beginning of November as a free pattern to crocheters, for a quick stitch item to make for the holidays.

There are two parts to this pattern: a traditionally written pattern for worsted weight yarn in two sizes, OR a recipe / pattern template, to make the cowl OR anything else you'd like made in the round (like legwarmers, boot cuffs, or simple fingerless gloves) with any yarn, using any size hook in any gauge & in any finished size! You can see the cuffs I made and another cowl I made on Friday FO.


What with one thing and another, I didn't have time to publish it, though my testers were lovely in finishing their tests on time!

About a month ago, I decided I'd post the pattern for NatCroMo, so here it is !

Oh, and while you are here, enter my giveaway for FIVE of my patterns! Giveaway runs through the end of March, 2015 ! (see my sidebar for the rafflecopter)

Marina Cowl

Designed By Anastacia Zittel
 http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs

https://instagram.com/anastaciaknits

Materials: 

• 2-4 skeins Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 100% wool, 110 yds/101 meters per 1.75 oz/50 gr skein
• size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook

Gauge:  5 V stitches: 4” (10.16 cm)

Measurements (circumference): 20” (50 cm) or 28” (66 cm)

Abbreviations (pattern uses US terms):

ch: chain

sk: skip

sp: space

rep: repeat

ea: each

sl st: slip stitch

sc: single crochet

Special Stitch:

V st(s): V stitch(es), made as follows: (sc, ch 2, sc), all in same chain

Pattern Notes:

• o   There are two parts to this pattern: First of all, a basic cowl pattern written for two sizes (with changes for the larger size in parenthesis)
• o   Afterwards, follows a template with some simple math, so you can use this stitch pattern to make a cowl (or cuffs, or anything else you desired worked in the round) in any size, using any yarn, with YOUR gauge
• o   Always work V stitches in the chain or chain space
• o   Cowl is worked completely in the round

Pattern:

Chain 78 (126), and join to form a circle, being careful not to twist stitches.

Round 1: Ch 1, V st in first ch. * Sk next 2 chs, V st in next ch. Rep from * around cowl, sk last 2 chs, join with a sl st to first V st (join in first sc of V st): 26 (42) V sts made.

Round 2: Ch 1, V st in first V st, V st in ea V st around, join with a sl st to first V st: 26 (42) V sts made.

Repeat round 2 as many times as desired until cowl is desired height. 

End off. Weave in ends, block lightly and wear with pride!

Template:

Finished Measurements:

Circumference: _______ (A)

Gauge (after blocking):

_______ (B) V St =4”. Be exact; include fractions of a V st, if needed.

Math:

o   Divide the number of V St by 4: _______ (B) / 4 = _______ (C) V St

o   Determine how many chain stitches you need to start:

_______ (A) times _______ (C) =  _______ (D). Round (D) number up or down to a whole number.

o   _______ (D) times 3 = _______ (E) Number of chains to start your cowl.

Chain _______ (E), and join to form a circle, being careful not to twist stitches.

Round 1: Ch 1, V st in first ch. * Sk next 2 chs, V st in next ch. Rep from * around cowl, sk last 2 chs, join with a sl st to first V st (join to first sc of V st).

Round 2: Ch 1, V st in first V st, V st in ea V st around. Join with a sl st to first V st.

Rep round 2 as many times as desired.

Repeat as many times as desired until cowl is desired height. End off. Weave in ends, block lightly and wear with pride!

Many thanks to my testers, debspugs, knittylucia, Leilacnm, sjordan255, PrincessPa, and bren9217! 

Link Up: That DIY party
I Heart Naptime
Craft-o-Matic

Sew Darn Crafty

Too Cute Tuesday

Friday FO: marina cowl and cuffs

I actually finished and photographed these items months ago, in September of last year. The photos were shared on Ravelry, the pattern put up for testing, and then... well... Christmas happened.

 I work in retail, and it always always is busier and crazier and more exhausting them I remember it being in previous years - and I've worked in retail a long, long time!


So today I share two items I made using my Marina Cowl pattern, which I'll be publishing on Sunday (and if you are just reading this now, the link will take you to the pattern).


The pattern comes in two formats - a traditionally written pattern, for worsted weight yarn, for a cowl in two sizes, or a template / recipe for making whatever you want, in whatever yarn you want!



The cowl photographed here - in white - was using the pattern as written, for the smaller size.

I also used the pattern to make a pair of fingerless gloves - no shaping on these, just a straight tube.


I know - not everyone's cup of tea, but I actually really like this type of fingerless glove because they are so fast to make, and use such a small amount of yarn!

If and when the gloves are getting in my way of work (which happens all the time) I can just pull my thumb out of the whole & wear it as a cuff and I'm still gonna be warmer than not having them on at all.

You can see here I'm wearing them as cuffs, not as fingerless gloves.
Link Up: That DIY party

I Heart Naptime

Firecracker Shawl

The firecracker shawl was a collab of sorts between a fabulous indie yarn dyer and myself.


I fell in love with her yarns and the ethics behind her yarn and have another design in works using it.

I used Morning Bright's Holistic Merino Yarn in DK and her site is Morning Bright.

This is a FREE crochet shawl pattern that anyone can make with any yarn (though I do recommend a DK, a sport, or a worsted weight yarn for best results), available on the fall issue of

Crochetvolution!

Becky also made a version of the shawl, using another colorway of her fab yarn, and her beautiful daughter is modeling for us.


She used a colorway named Granite and used one skein, just like I did.



Link up parties:

Too Cute Tuesday

Raspberry Lace Shawl

Another recent published design of mine is the Raspberry Lace Shawl.


I used the absolutely divine yarn made by Sweet Georgia Yarns called Trinity Worsted, in a raspberry color of course!


The yarn is a merino, cashmere and silk blend, and was just so pretty, and was so much fun to crochet with.


It is also in the Crochet Through the Seasons issue of I Like Crochet (remember the afghan I showed last week? Same issue).

Crochet world

I'm so excited to announce my latest design in the next issue of crochet world magazine! 

Hits newstands dec 30 so please check it out!

Sinfully Simple Afghan in I Like Crochet magazine

I was really excited to design this afghan (though I do admit, the photo is not flattering).

The design is called "Sinfully Simple Afghan" because it is easy for anyone to make! I actually was rather sad when I finished the afghan, because i enjoyed making it so much (I was making the sample in the heat of August, which shows how much I enjoyed making it - in the heat and humidity of a Massachusetts summer with no air conditioning!)


It uses a few different stitches, so the pattern is always changing, but it is very easily memorized, very easy to keep your place, and doesn't involve any counting !


It is from the special Crochet Through the Seasons issue of I Like Crochet.

update

It's been a crAZY busy summer for us. I can't even describe how busy it's been - between the day job, the garden, the canning, the CSA we joined, Jon's two jobs, family commitments, and trying to take charge of my health/wellbeing, it's been crazy! Unfortunately the designing really has taken a backseat, though I did manage to design a few things for Crochetvolution & a few things for I Like Crochet magazine (a digital magazine that's very exciting!)

 This is a long, pending design that's ready to be published, except I can NOT manage to get good photos - I've tried three times so far!




My current design in progress is a scrap afghan:



 In other news, my Mondrian Afghan was published in Love of Crochet:

and I published a quick little American Girl Doll cardi:

Thanks for catching up with me today!

Half Circle Shawl

I'm so pleased to share with you my latest shawl design, Half Circle Shawl. Yup, it's another half circle shawl! This design will be so, so fast for you to whip up, using a bulky weight yarn! It's available through Crochet 1-2-3 magazine, issue 11, in stores NOW!

(photo copyright Valu Publishing)

Colored Brick Road Handbag

My latest design is one I'm personally so thrilled about. I came about this idea because I came across an old ball-band towel I had knitted up a few years ago. It was lying tossed across my table, sideways. I saw it, and thought it would make a cute purse, but wanted to crochet it instead. Using a self striping yarn for the "bricks" means a lot less ends to weave in!

So, I introduce to you, the Colored Brick Road Handbag

Butterfly Scarf

Introducing, the Butterfly Scarf!

I'm delighted with this design, because it really, really honors my grandmother. She was a fabulous knitter, crocheter, and sewer, making clothes for the entire family.

She was the one who started me collecting pattern books, and I was one of her favorite grandchildren because I could talk "crochet" with her.

Whenever I visited, I tried to bring along a wip for her to see. I still remember the day when I taught her something new - I was working on something - I don't remember now - and was working on a circ, but working flat instead of in the round. She had no idea you could do such a thing.

The thrill I had in that moment, that I could teach someone who I always thought knew EVERYTHING about fiber crafts... was amazing.

Anyways, my grandmother was a big threadie, she loved making doilies, wall hangings, tableclothes, bedspreads, you name it. She was always a little mad at me that I wouldn't use thread, had no interest in it at all.... So, grandma, this is for you...

Butterfly Scarf

Triangle Trellis

Introducing my next design, another shawl using a cotton - linen worsted weight yarn, the

Triangle Trellis.

Started at one side with only a few stitches, and an easy two row repeat, this is another shawl that will be quick to make up and the beautiful  yarn will make this a favorite three season shawl.