A Walk In the Woods

For several weeks now, my friend Rose and I have been setting aside a day to take a nature walk.  We normally meet around 10 am and spend a couple of hours walking, then we have a light lunch.  This has not only been good for my body, but has enabled Rose and me to forge a strong friendship.  There’s nothing like discussing the riddles of the universe while enjoying the gorgeous fall weather.

This week we went to the Oregon Ridge Nature Center in Hunt Valley, MD.  I had been there many times when my children were younger but had to reacquaint myself with the center and the trails.

Above you see Rose at the entrance to the center.  We chose a beautiful day, just after a rain.  The ground was wet but everything smelled clean and woodsy.  I hadn’t remembered that Oregon Ridge had a hen-house.

Inside the enclosure we found some lively chickens and a very dignified but shy turkey.  Rose set about feeding the chickens grass but when the turkey came over to get some, the chickens pecked at him so he retreated to the back of the enclosure.  Rose was finally able to throw some leaves through the mesh wiring on the top and the poor turkey managed to get his share!

Oregon Ridge was once the site of an iron forge.  Surprisingly enough, the ore was dug from a huge pit in the ground right on the premises.  Now a rustic bridge spans the pit and all you can see are trees and shrubs but we were both amazed that an operation like this was taking place in our area.  One of the homes of the workers has been restored and is open for tours on designated days.

We hiked the trail to the top of the ridge and had a great view of the new Chestnut Tree project.  The gypsy moths have decimated the chestnut trees in the area.  Volunteers have since cleared a large portion of the summit at the end of the trail and re-planted the area.

There are various other foundations on the grounds, evidence of forge buildings and activities.  Rose and I explored one of them after our hike.

Inside the nature center visitors will find a large window looking out onto the woods.  Several types of trees and shrubs are identified with numbers and descriptions so that you can look for them as you hike the trails.  The various rooms in the center contain exhibits including a working beehive, several native snakes and turtles in aquariums, and small interactive stations for children. Photos of the history of the forge line the walls in the hallway.  As with most nature centers, Oregon Ridge offers many events throughout the year for hikers and families.

Once we finished exploring the center we discovered that we had worked up an appetite!  Off we went to Wegmans  at Hunt Valley Town Center to graze the wonderful offerings at the buffets.

A little project finished

Didn’t these turn out cute?  The pattern for the fingerless gloves can be found here.  As for the neckwarmer, you can get the pattern here:  Flared Ribs  PDF Pattern

The neckwarmer is worked in ribbed stitches so that it drapes nicely over the shoulder under a jacket.  The turtleneck will keep you warm!  You can wear the buttons in the front or on the shoulder.  I used Martha Stewart Craft yarn  for both. It’s funny, folks had been complaining that this yarn was only offered in pastels but I found this deep Sailor Blue at Joann.

 

Sedgy Cowl and Ear Warmer

The sedge stitch results in a very textured and interesting pattern.  Here I have worked the cowl in the round, making the sedge pattern appear as diagonal rows.  On the Ear Warmer, I’ve worked the stitches flat.  In that case, the sedge pattern looks more like a boxed waffle.  Either way is pretty.  This easy pattern works up quickly and makes a great gift.

Sedgy Cowl and Ear Warmer3

 

Erika Neck Cozy

Redux

The pattern for the original Alder Neck Cozy was inadvertently thrown out with some of my old pattern notes.  At first I thought I would be able to reproduce the pattern from simply looking at the project but I was afraid that I would have too many errors that way.  I no longer had enough of the Alder yarn which is DK weight.  But I did have 2 skeins of Red Heart Eco Ways in Misty Violet which is worsted weight.

I quickly sat down to redo this project.  The Erika version uses fewer stitches but is made exactly the same way. I made it in two evenings.   If you want to make the Alder version with DK, just chain 63 instead of 51.  Then simply follow the instructions for Erika.  Your stitch count will be different but everything else will remain the same ( I think).

Erika Neck Cozy

Materials:  2 skeins of Red Heart Eco Ways, Misty Violet 186 yds, 170 m ( I only used a small portion of the 2nd skein so you might actually need about 275 to 300 yds.  Crochet hooks sizes H and J, 2 small buttons, yarn needle.

Size:  One size fits most

Gauge: 5  “petals” = 4″   and 8 pattern rows = 4″ using larger hook

Lower peplum

Row 1:  With J, ch 51. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and into ea ch to end.  (50 sc) Turn. This is the right side (RS) of your work.

Row 2:  Ch 1, sk 1 sc,( ch 1 sp made), [sc, ch 3, dc]  into next sc, * sk 2 sc, [sc, ch 3, dc] into next sc**, repeat from * to ** to last 3 sts. Sk 2 sc, sc in last sc. Turn. ( 16 “petals” made)

Row 3:  Ch 3, 2 dc  into 1st  sc, 3 dc into ea sc across ( you will be skipping all the “dc,  ch 3″ stitches) to las t ch 1 sp, 3 dc into ch 1 sp. Turn.

Row 4:  Ch 1, *sk 1 dc, [sc, ch 3, dc]** repeat from * to ** to last dc. Sc in last dc. Turn ( 25 “petals”)

Row 5:  (inc row)  Ch 3, 1 dc in 1st sc. * 3 dc in next sc, 2 dc in next sc** Repeat from * to ** to last ch 1 sp. 3 dc into last ch 1 sp. Turn.

Row 6:  Repeat row 4 ( 32 “petals”)

Row 7: Ch 3, dc into 1st sc, 2 dc into ea sc to end, 2 dc into ch 1 sp. Turn.

Row 8:  Repeat Row 4

Row 9:  ( inc row)  Ch 3, dc into 1st sc, * 2 dc into next sc, 3 dc into next sc,  2 dc into next sc** Repeat from * to ** to last ch 1 sp, 2 dc into last ch 1 sp. Turn

Row 10:  Repeat row 4 ( 38 “petals”)

Row 11:  Repeat row 7.

Row 12: Repeat row 4

Row 13:  Ch 3, dc into 1st sc, *[2 dc in next sc, 2 dc in next sc, 2 dc in next sc, 3 dc in next sc}**  repeat from * to ** to last 2 sc. 2dc into ea of last 2 sc, 2 dc into ch 1 sp. Turn.

Row 14:  Repeat row 4. Fasten off.

Neck Band

Row 1 :  With H, on wrong side (WS) attach yarn with a sl st at neck edge corner into starting ch. Ch 1, working into opposite side of your beginning ch, sc 50 around neck edge to end. Turn.

Rows 2-7: Ch 1, sc into ea st around. Turn

Neck Ruffle

Row 8:  Working in front loops only (FLO) ch 1, sk 1st sc, [sc, ch 3, dc] into next sc, * sk 2 sc, {sc,ch 3, dc} into next sc**  Repeat  from * to ** to last sc. Sc into last sc. Turn. ( 17 “petals”)

Row 9:  ( inc row) Ch 3, dc in 1st sc, 3 dc into ea sc around to last ch 1 sp, 2 dc into ch 1 sp. Turn.

Row 10:  Ch 1, *sk 1 dc, {sc, ch 3, dc} into next dc** Repeat from * to ** around to last 2 dc. Sk next dc, sc in last dc. Turn.

Row 11:  Ch 3, dc into 1st sc, 2 dc into ea sc around. Turn,

Row 12:  Repeat row 10.

Row 13:  Ch 3, 1 dc into 1st sc. *2 dc into next sc, 3 dc into next sc, 2 dc into next sc** Repeat from * to ** around to last ch 1 sp. 2dc into ch 1 sp. Turn.

Row 14:  Repeat row 10.

Row 15: Repeat row 11.

Row 16:  Repeat row 10.  Fasten off.

Front Trim

Attach yarn with a sl st on WS of left front at corner of neck ruffle. Ch 1, sc in same st, working in sides of rows, place 13 sc down edge of ruffle, 5 sc along edge of neck band, and 20 sc along edge of peplum. Ch 1, turn.  Work 2 more rows.  Fasten off.

Attach yarn with a sl st on RS of bottom corner of peplum. Ch 1, sc in same st, work a row of sc along edge as for left front, placing 20 sc into edge of peplum, 5 sc into edge of neck band, and 14 sc into edge of ruffle. Turn.

Ch 1, work 14 sc to neck band, Ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc into next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc into ea sc to end, turn. Ch 1, sc into ea sc to ch 2 sp, 3 sc into ch 2 sp, sc into next sc, 3 sc into ch 2 sp, sc into ea sc to end. Fasten off.

Weave in ends with yarn needle.  Sew buttons on left side opposite buttonholes.  My neck cozy benefitted from a little light blocking along the front edges to keep the corners from curling and to straighten the front bands.

Copyright: Carol Wolf, January 2012

 

“Kiss Me” Neck Cozy

“Kiss Me” refers to the X’s that the crossed double crochet stitches produce in this pattern.

Materials: About 150 yards of Knit Picks Bare, Merino Laceweight Wool and Silk, yarn needle, two 1/2″ buttons

Crochet Hook: Size F

Gauge: 22 sts in crossed double crochet = 4″

               8 row “pairs” = 4″

Collar Section:

Chain 2 at the end of the row is the 1st stitch of  the next row.

Ch 31, sc in 2nd ch from hook and ea ch to end.  Mark this side as right side.  Ch2, turn.

Row 1:  Sk first sc, dc in next sc, dc in skipped sc. *Sk next sc, dc in next sc, dc in skipped sc* Repeat from * to * to last sc. Dc in last sc.  ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc into top of ea dc to end. Ch 2, turn.

These two rows are called a “pair”.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 35 pairs.  Repeat row 1. Ch 1, turn corner to begin working along long bottom edge.

Bottom Edge: 

Sc into end of row just finished. Continue along bottom edge, placing 1 sc into the end of ea sc row and 2 sc into the end of ea dc row. (108 sc) Ch 2, turn.

Row 1:  Dc into ea of 1st 2 sts, 2 dc into next st. *Dc into ea of next 3 sts. 2 dc into next st*.  Work from * to * to last 4 sts. Dc into ea of last 4 sts.  Ch 2, turn. (134 dc)

Row 2: Dc into ea of 1st 3 sts. 2 dc into next st. *Dc into ea of next 4 sts,  2 dc into next  st*.  Repeat from * to * to last 5 sts. Work 1 dc into ea of the last 5 sts.  Ch 2, turn. (160 dc)

Row 3: Dc into ea of 1st  4 sts. 2 dc into next st. * Dc into ea of next 5 sts, 2 dc into next st*. Repeat from * to * to last 6 sts. Dc into ea of last 6 sts. Ch 1 turn. (186 dc) 

Row 4: Sc into ea st to end of row. Turn the work sideways.

Front and top edging: 

Working across ends of rows  just finished, work 6 sc.  Continue to work in sc to corner, placing 3 sc into corner. Work 1 sc into end of ea sc row  and 1 sc into end of ea dc row across top of collar.  At corner, work 3 sc into corner.  Continue to work in sc along the left front to the ends of the dc rows of the bottom edging.  Work 6 sc across the ends of these rows to corner. Ch 1, turn. Work one more row of sc along left front edge. Fasten off. Weave in ends. You may like to do some very light blocking.  Sew buttons into place and use spaces in fabric as buttonholes.

You can also add additional buttons to have the neck button all the way to the top.  This will give you more of a turtleneck effect and then you can leave some buttons undone as an alternative look.

Copyright Carol Wolf, December 2010

 

Roli’s Cowl

I had about 300-400 yards of bamboo yarn left over from another project so I decided to make a cowl.  These little collars are really handy.  You can pop one on over your coat to keep your neck warm or use it to dress up a plain sweater.

Materials: 300-400 yards bamboo yarn, Size G crochet hook, stitch marker, yarn needle

Gauge: Not important for this pattern

Ch 181, sc in 2nd ch from hook. Ch2, sk 2 ch, *sc in next ch, ch 2, sk 2 chs* Repeat from * to * to end. sc into 1st sc. Mark this st with a stitch marker.

Round 2: Ch 2, sk 2 ch, *sc in next sc, ch 2, sk 2 ch*.  Repeat from * to * around to marked st. Sc in marked sc, replace marker in this st.  Repeat round 2  67 more times, replacing the marker in the first stitch at the beginning of each round. At last round, sl st into marked st. Ch 1

Edging: sc into sc with join, * 2 sc into ch 2 sp, sc into next sc*  Repeat from * to * once around. Join with a sl  st to marked sc. Fasten off.

On right side of bottom edge, attach yarn with a sl st at 1st ch. Sc around bottom in same manner a for top edging.  Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

Copyright: Carol Wolf, December 16, 2010

 

Another Neckwarmer Vest

After I finished the Neckwarmer Vest, I had an idea for a different collar and since I had a few skeins of Simply Soft lying around, I decided to make up this alternate design.  The collar on this vest hangs down slightly as a small drape over the center front of the neckline.  I’ve already worn this vest several times and it is flattering as well as warm.

I needed 9 buttons.  When have you ever seen 9 of the same sweater buttons in the same place? Even JoAnn’s only stocks about 6 buttons of each type.  So I raided my button box and found 9 silver buttons.  Unfortunately, only 2 pair were the same!  Okay, I know it’s a bit lame and so 1980′s but I mixed and matched the buttons and used them all.  Without further ado, here is the pattern for the Neckwarmer Vest II.

NECKWARMER VEST II

Materials:             6 skeins Caron Simply Soft, 3 oz ea,  color Dark Country Blue, crochet hook sizes I and H, (9)  1″ buttons, tapestry needle

Size:                        Bust and Hips  44″

Gauge:                   12 pattern stitches =4″, 13 pattern rows = 4″

Stitches used:     Slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, sc 2tog, dc 2 tog       Tc2 counts as a stitch.

Body

With I,ch 116, sc in 2nd ch from hook and into ea ch to end (115 scs), ch1, turn.

Row 2:  Row 2:  Sc into 1st sc, *dc into next sc, sc into next sc*.  Repeat from * to * to end of row, ch 1, turn.

Row 3:  Sc into 1st sc. *dc into next dc, sc into next sc*.  Repeat from * to * to end of row. Ch1, turn.

Repeat row 3 until you have 37 rows or until piece measures 13″.  End on RS row. Ch 1, turn.

Left Front

Work in pattern for 25 stitches.  Ch 1, turn.

Continue to work in pattern over 25 stitches until you have worked 19 rows or until the piece measures 7″ from the beginning of armhole .  End on a WS row. Ch 1, turn.

Shape Neck

Work 16 sts in pattern, leaving 9 sts unworked, turn.

Row 2:  Sc2tog, work 14 more sts to end, ch1, turn.

Row3:  Work even in pattern on 15 sts. Turn.

Row 4:  Dc2tog, work 13 more sts to end, ch 1, turn.

Row 5:  Work even in pattern on 14 sts. Turn.

Row 6:  Sc2tog, work 12 more sts to end, ch 1, turn.

Work 4 more rows even or until piece measures 10 “  from beginning of armhole. End on WS row.  Fasten off.

Back

On right side, sk 8 sts, Attach yarn with a sl st in 9 th st, ch 2, sc in next sc, follow pattern for 47 more sts (49 total), ch 2, turn.

Next row:  Sc in 1st sc, follow pattern to end of row, ch 2, turn.

Repeat until piece measures the same as front.  Fasten off.

RightFront

On right side, sk 8 sts, attach yarn as for left front and work in pattern on 25 sts until piece measure 7″.  Fasten off.

Shape Neck

Turn.  Attach yarn in 10th st, ch 2, sc in next sc.  Work in pattern.  Ch 1, turn. (16 sts)

Row 2:  Work 14 sts in pattern. sc 2tog over last 2 sts. Ch1, turn.

Row 3:  Work even in pattern on 15 sts. Ch 1, turn.

Row 4:  Work 13 sts, dc2tog over last 2 sts. Ch 2, turn.

Row 5:  Work even in pattern on 14 sts.Ch 1, turn.

Row 6:  Work 12 sts, sc2tog over last 2 sts, ch 1, turn.

Work in pattern until piece measures the same as left front.  Fasten off.

Joining:  With the right sides facing each other,  whip stitch or crochet the fronts to the backs.  Weave in ends.

Front Bands: On right side,with H , attach yarn to bottom front corner with a sl st. Ch 1, sc in same st.  Work 59 more sc along front to neck edge. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2:  Work even in sc to bottom edge, Ch1, turn.

Row 3:  Work 2 sc, *ch 2, sk 2 sc, work 9 sc* Repeat from * to * along front to last 3 sts. Ch2, sk 2 sc, sc in last st. Ch 1, turn.

Row 4:  Sc in ea sc.  Place 2 sc in ea ch 2 sp. Ch 1, turn.

Row 5:  Work even in sc to end of row.  Fasten off.

Work 5 rows sc along left front as for right front, omitting buttonholes.

Armhole Trim:  With H, attach yan with a sl st at shoulder. Sc in same st and in ea st around, working 66 sc. Sl st to beginning sc.  Ch 1, turn.

Work 2 more rows around armholes. Fasten off.

Note:  The armholes on this vest are wide.  If you prefer to have them a bit smaller, work a few less sc in the first round, being careful that your fabric does not pucker.

Neck Edge and Scarf:  On right side, attach yarn with a sl st at right front neck edge. Sc in same st. Work a total of 69 sc around neck edge.  Fasten off.  Chain 21, fasten off.  With a sl stitch, attach chain to right front neck at 11th st from edge of band. Fasten off.  Repeat for left front.

Row 1:  On right side, attach yarn to right scarf chain with a sl st. Sc in same st, work in pattern around neck to end of opposite ch on left front. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2 and 3:  Work even in pattern.

Row 4: Work 3 sts in pattern, ch 2, sk 2 sts, continue in pattern to end of row.

Row 5: Work in pattern to Ch 2 sp. Work 2 sts in pattern in ch 2 sp. Work in pattern to end of row.

Work a total of 17 rows, making buttonholes on the 9th and 15th rows.  Fasten off.  Sew buttons opposite buttonholed on the left front band.  Cross scarf ends diagonally and sew buttons on left front scarf. Weave in all remaining ends.