Assembly

Now that all the pattern pieces have been blocked, I was able to join the shoulder seams.  I like to separate my yarn into 2-ply strands and use a small crochet hook to crochet the seams on the inside of the coat.  You can see that I keep the pieces from slipping by securing them with little girls’ hair clips.

Once the shoulder seams were complete, I joined the underarm seams of the sleeves in the same manner.

Instead of setting in the sleeves at this time, I chose to work my collar and bottom bands first.  Turning a coat is difficult enough without the sleeves flopping around!  Then I pinned my zipper in place.

Sewing the zipper can be a little tricky.  It must be hand-sewn from the wrong side and it is always a problem to keep the stitches straight and the front opening from shifting.

I have finished typing up the pattern but it must be proofread  thoroughly for mistakes.  Once I have completed the entire coat, I will take pictures and post the free Bike Chain Car Coat pattern on my blog.  Look for the pattern the first or second week of November.

 

Hitting A Snag

I’m still working on the Bike Chain Car Coat and have hit a bit of a snag.  As I finished the body of the coat and began on the sleeves, it became obvious that I will probably not have enough yarn to make the collar and bottom band.  I had 18 skeins of Naturally Caron Country  and have already used 12 for the body of the coat.  My rules of thumb is that one side front equals one sleeve and I’m just barely there.

To give you some idea of what I had planned, I made a very amateur drawing of my design.  I ordered a 25″ red separating zipper for the center front and thought that I would put two tabs with buttons–one at the collar and one at the bottom band.  I found some nice buttons at JoAnns.

Now it appears as if I have two choices.  I can either turn the whole project into a sleeveless jacket or choose another way to make the collar and bottom band.  I’ve decided to try something I have always wanted to do–marry crochet fabric with woven fabric.  I think I’ll look for fabric that matches the color of my yarn and use this to make the collar and bottom band.  I have some beautiful red sateen on hand that matches exactly but I think that it is too dressy for this application.  Perhaps some micro-suede or corduroy? 

I’m still working on the sleeves and this whole project is taking a while because of my sore wrist and the small hook that I am using but I promise that I will produce a free pattern for this once I am finished.  I will give directions for the crocheted collar and bottom band as well as for the sewn version.  Stay tuned…

 

Final Sunday Giveaway

Alas, I have run out of giveaway items so this will be my final weekend of giveaways.  In the future, I may do this again as I accumulate excess magazines and patterns.  This week, as GROUP I, I am offering a Crochetville Messenger Bag.  I purchased this bag several years ago and took it to one of the GGOA conventions.  It is large and fairly deep and has that ever-popular Crochetville logo.

In Group II I am offering 2 magazines as well as an assortment of loose patterns.  You will get everything in the pictures.

Please let me know which group you would like.  If you have already received a giveaway please let somebody else have a chance.  Leave a comment or send me a message on Crochetville.

 

Last Giveaway this Sunday

I’m just about out of unwanted stash so this will be my last giveaway.  There will be several magazines and assorted patterns.  I hope I can get rid of everything next week.  I appreciate all of you who kept an eye on my blog to see what was going to be offered each Sunday.

 

9TH Sunday Giveaway

              

    

 

  GROUP I

There are 4 loose patterns in Group I.  They have all been collected from magazines.  The bear pattern has a knit and a crochet version.  The little dress is for sizes 12 mos to 4 yrs.  Two pretty afghan patterns round out this collection.

GROUP II     

Group II consists of two booklets.  The Mirabella jacket by Carolyn Christmas can be made in several versions.  Pattern Play Crochet includes 5 patterns for afghans, pillows, and a beautiful jacket.

Please let me know which group you would like.  Make a comment on my blog.  If you have previously received a free item, please give somebody else a chance.

Finally my stash of unwanted items is beginning to dwindle.  I think that I have enough for two more giveaways after today.  Then I will have to get busy and actually crochet something!  Spring and summer are not big crochet months for me.  I’ve already resolved to get away from making clothing and try my hand at other projects.  What to make…

 

8th Sunday Giveaway

This week I am offering two groups again.  Both groups consist of an issue of Crochet! magazine and a vest pattern.  Please let me know if you want group I or group II.  Leave a comment.

Group I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group II

 

7th Sunday Giveaway

Please note:  Next Sunday, May 2, there will be NO  giveaway.  I am going on vacation for a week and will not be taking my laptop with me.  Wow! no computer for a whole week.  I wonder how I’ll survive?  The Sunday giveaways will resume on May 9.

Group I

November 2006 and July 2007 issues of Crochet! magazine make up this group.  There are lots of garment patterns as well as afghans and assessories in these two issues.

Group II

Woman’s Day Granny Squares from 1976,  Annie’s Favorite Crochet from April 2006 and the “Learn How Book” from Coats make up group II. The granny square magazine has some wonderful afghan patterns as well as doilies, tablecloths and pillows.

Let me know which group you would like.  If you have already received a free item, please let somebody else have a chance.  First one to comment or email me gets the item.

 

6th Sunday Giveaway

This Sunday I am pleased to present several crochet publications.  McCall’s Needlework and Crafts was a popular magazine when I was in my teens.  Their pages were filled with knit and crochet projects, other needlework, sewing, and crafts.  Everything was beautifully presented and the projects were sophisticated and well designed.  I’ve managed to pick up a few copies at flea markets but they are very hard to find.  The copy below is a library edition with a hard cover.  There is also an Options leaflet and an edition of Interweave Crochet.  Please indicate group I or II when you contact me.

Group I

 

  

  

 The following group includes 2 vintage crochet publications and 1 issue of Crochet Today.  Comment or email me if you are interested in this group.

 

Group II

 

 

 

 

If you have received free items in the past, please let somebody else have a chance this week.

 

Snowy Day WIPs

There’s nothing like a snow day to help you make some headway on those works in progress.  The Gold Nugget Tweed Throw is worked with Red Heart Fiesta.  This yarn has beautiful flecks of jewel-toned colors throughout.  The pattern calls for black Fiesta with additional skeins of solid black, off-white and honey in Red Heart Soft.  My living room colors are mainly browns and golds so I swapped out the black skeins for brown combinations.  The throw is already stunning.  It works up very easily but there are lots of ends to weave in so I’m doing that as I go along.

Melissa Leapman is a great crochet designer.  Her patterns never fail to be classy and classic at the same time.  Her instructions are easy to follow.  She avoids phrases like the dreaded ” work right side like left side, reversing shaping”.  Instead, she give detailed instruction for each side of a sweater.  Her Apres Ski Sweater pattern published in the most recent issue of Crochet Today is one example of her timeless style.  As I was reading over the pattern, however, I noticed that the shaping is a bit unusual.  She has the waist area larger than the hip area.  Knowing in advance that this will be a huge no-no for me, I altered the pattern to include a little decreasing in the waist.  I kept the bust and hip measurement  the same. 

Red Heart Eco Ways yarn is made with recycled polyester and acrylic.  I like to be able to machine wash my sweaters so I tend to favor synthetic yarns.  The Cinnabar color of Eco Ways contains little flecks of undyed fibers.  This appears a lot like lint in the sweater as you work the project.  It’s not enough to give a tweed look but just enough to make it look like you washed it with a terry cloth towel.  I don’t know if this is normal for this yarn or is just happening with the color I chose.  I don’t really like this effect.  Maybe some of you who have used this yarn will tell me if you have had the same problem.

 

Charli’s Sweater

I owe my 8 year old granddaughter, Charli, a sweater.  Charli is a little bit rotund in the middle so my first try was too tight across her belly.  I decided to alter the pattern by making it into a swing-type cardigan instead of a pullover.  I’m still working on it so we’ll have to see what other changes will be made as I go along.