Tag Archives: Linda Dean

Helpful Unicorns, Win One Yourself

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ScannedImageWorking in the crochet industry has given me several opportunities. I have been able to meet wonderful people, I have inspired others to create, I have had the done some traveling, and I get to sample new products. It is from these opportunities that I have a giveaway for you!

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Unicorn Fibre cleansing set!

I have checked out the products of Unicorn Fibre, they make fabulous cleansing products for natural fibers. They are gentle, yet effective with a clean scent. I have a set of cleansers; Power Scour, to remove stains, odors, oils, and even can be used to wash raw sheep fleeces. Fibre Wash, for gentle cleaning with no yellowing effect. Fibre Rinse, to reduce “itch” factors, reduce dye loss, and leave fabric just yummy. Included in the set, a complimentary Unicorn Fibre Baby Unicorn, just cute and cuddly to make you smile.

The products are designed for hand or machine wash, and work with hard or soft water. They are easy to use, and the Fibre Wash and Fibre Rinse can make blocking a dream. These are definitely products that can enhance any of your natural fiber creation.

So why is it important to treat natural fibers delicately? It has to do with the chemical makeup of the wool and hair that are mostly comprised of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen & Sulphur, (it is Sulphur that attracts moths). Natural fibers are more likely to break down in chemical washes that interact with these properties. An easy way to think of this is as your own hair. Different hair care products can have very different effects on your head, and the same is true with natural fibers (wool, alpaca, and such).

So to have your own opportunity to check out these cleansers, simply leave a comment on this post before Wednesday, November 2, 2017 midnight PST. I would love to hear about your favorite natural fiber, or cleansing tips you might have, but any comment will get you entered. One lucky winner will be selected randomly on November 3, 2017. If you don’t happen to be selected, give yourself a treat and check out Unicorn Fibre products (you can find them here).

Chrysanthemums Keeping It Warm

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ScannedImageIt is beginning to feel like autumn in my little corner of the world. We had our season’s first measureable rain fall, the leaves are beginning to turn to yellows and oranges and reds and purples. The evenings are cooling off, and I even find myself setting a nightly fire. This is just perfect conditions for my latest design found in the October 2016 issue of I Like Crochet magazine, the Chrysanthemum Throw.

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Chrysanthamum Throw Photo courtesy I Like Crochet

The squares of Chrysanthemums definitely make me think of the decorations during Thanksgiving meals. The construction is a little unique for a crochet motif as there is a round that you turn your work and fan the petals. It is like shells folded over on itself to form almost a cone type petal. Also by turning the work, you get a different look of the stitch, as the reverse side of stitches as a little more bumpy appearance then the front side. This causes a little more texture, and really brings the feeling of flowers to the work.

This throw is worked as a join-as-you-go, so there is no sewing. Instead you have a quick working motif, which becomes a quicker throw. The look is structured, simple and clean as a single flower is bordered by a solid band. It is worked up in colors that highlight the fall season, yet just chancing colors to greens, whites and yellows, can make this a dreamy spring feeling throw.

This design came into being in the same manner as the Astral Flowers Throw, as can be recognized with the same color palette. They both grew out of a physical expression of thought and caring for a friend that lost her daughter. One mutual friend organized many to create 6” squares that she volunteered to assemble into an afghan. The outpouring was so great she made 4 afghans. Flowers can always say so much, without even saying a word.

A Little Flirt in the Tunisian Skirt

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ScannedImageI had a lot of fun creating the Flirt Skirt that can be found in the October 2016 issue of I Like Crochet magazine. It has a slight swing, and is inspired by a simple traditional full skirt. It definitely has a feminine quality, yet it is made from a linen based yarn and thus has a nice structure.

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Tunisian Flirt Skirt Photo courtesy I Like Crochet/ Prime Publishing

The entire skirt is worked vertically, so it is pretty easy to customize it to any size. All you need to do is add or subtract rows to make it bigger or smaller, and if you would like to change the length, simply increase or decrease the number of the beginning chain. All the shaping is created with short rows that give a great flare at the hem.

I definitely need to make this one for myself! I find that giving a little flounce at the hem gives a little more accent to my “curves”. Granted, I am of a large, okay, extra-large size, but that does not mean that I don’t like to have an outfit without some shape. I don’t want to wear a sack and hide, and this skirt allows me to help add a visual balance to my shape. I have found that this skirt shape is very flattering on many different body types.

The construction in essentially in one simple stitch, which gives the overall design a classic, and clean feel, while maintaining a pattern that is easy for beginners. For more seasoned crocheters it is a relatively quick project to work up, making a quick addition to any wardrobe.

It is constructed in a yarn without much stretch, and substituting a yarn with more bounce, like a wool, will definitely give this skirt a different life. While even a hand painted or variegated yarn can give a really great visual effect, causing a slimming vertical line.

Yeah, I am happy with the way this one came together.

Tunisian Mini Shawl- Free Pattern!

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ScannedImageWelcome to those visiting me from ELK Studios! Enjoy the Crochet-a-Long (if you would like to join, please check out the ELK Studio Christmas Present CAL)

Hard to believe that the holidays are fast approaching! To help work up some holiday gifts I am sharing my Tunisian Mini Shawl pattern. This is a shawl that is worked from the bottom point upward, with increases on either end of the row. I will admit that the very first row can seem like a bit of a challenge, but it becomes a simple repeat after that.

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Tunisian Mini Shawl

Tunisian Mini Shawl by: Linda Dean 

Add a little color to your wardrobe and brighten up any ensemble with this silk mini shawl. Worked in Tunisian crochet on a large hook, this project works up quickly and can be easily made into a full size shawl. Don’t be discouraged by the tricky start, it gets easier by row 2!

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate

Finished Size: 40” wide, 24.5” long

Materials List (for sample):

Tunisian Crochet Hook size P/ 11.5mm or size needed to achieve gauge.

1 skein Lisa Souza Glacier, sport weight, 100% Bombyx Silk Yarn (273yds/3.5 oz, 250m/100g) color: Flahridduh (www.lisaknit.com)

Tapestry needle

Material list options:

Any fine to medium weight yarn

Tunisian hook at least 2 sizes larger than standard crochet hook to be used for chosen yarn (i.e. if you would use a H/8/5.00mm standard crochet hook with yarn then use a K/10 ½/6.5mm Tunisian hook)

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 10.5 tss /8.5 rows =4”

Pattern Note

Each row consists of a forward pass and a return pass.

Increases are worked on either side of this triangle by addition of loop to hook; worked by inserting hook into the same stitch as previously worked, but in a different location.

Abbreviations:

ch: chain

rep: repeat

RP: Return Pass: YO, pull through first loop, *YO and pull through 2 loops on hook; Rep from * across row until 1 loop remains on hook. (need a visual? Check out my tutorial)

Tss: Tunisian Simple Stitch: Insert hook behind vertical bar, YO, pull up a loop. (need a visual? Check out my tutorial)

sc: single crochet

st(s): stitch(es)

YO: yarn over hook

Row 1: Ch 2, insert hook from back to front through the ch closest to hook (this is so that the current working loop does not work off), YO, pull up a loop, insert hook in back bump next ch, YO, pull up a loop, insert hook between the remaining two loops of same ch just worked in, YO, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), RP.

Row 2: Insert hook from back to front of the loop created just below working loop, YO, pull up a loop, Tss in each bar across to end (including bar directly below starting loop), and end by inserting hook through ch st, YO pull up a loop, insert hook between 2 loops remaining of ch, YO, pull up a loop (6 loops on hook), RP.

Rows 3-52: Rep Row 2, increasing by 2 stitches every row as established. (106 loops on last row)

Row 53: Ch 1, sc through each bar across, and through last ch st.

Finish off.  Weave in all ends.

©2013 Linda Dean Crochet

Be a Dinosaur!

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ScannedImageHalloween is right around the corner, and my latest design in the October 2016 issue of the digital magazine, I Like Crochet, has a quick costume to turn your little one into a dinosaur!

The Dizzy Dino consists of a hat and sleeves (or arm warmers) that feature spikes, to highlight this reptile features. Everything really works up pretty fast, and can be created in a variety of colors to have a dinosaur pack on your trick or treating adventure.

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Photo courtesy of I Like Crochet Prime Publishing

One of the reasons I enjoy this design, is that it is soft, so kids with issues of textural feel can be comfortable. It is washable, so that it can have a life after the holiday as part of the dress up box. Finally it has warmth. Halloween in my geographic area is always a toss-up, it could be raining and 50 degrees or it is hot at near 100 degrees. This always makes it a little difficult to plan costumes, but in with this hat and arm set I can pair it with a sweatshirt or T-shirt and still have an effective dinosaur.

I will admit, this design did not begin as Halloween, it actually grew into creation from kids party ideas. One year I actually crocheted hats for all of my guests to my son’s birthday party. I filled these hats with candy and such, essentially turning the hat into a party favor bag, which had life after the party. This might seem a little over board, but I know that when my kids typically attend a party they come home with a simple bag of small toys and candies. These party favors usually leave a trail through my house of wrappers and scraps of paper, and me attempting to secretly throw this out, while my kids treasure them as memories of a good time. So by creating hat party favors I felt like it was actually a memento that could be kept without feeling like my kids were hoarding trash.

At my son’s party the hats seemed to be a hit, they poured out the candy to wear them, and even used them to help distinguish teams for a game a soccer in the back yard, hats vs hair.

Any way you look at it this design as possibilities, and will bring a smile to every kids face.