Mitered Dishcloth with Rose in Pastels

 While travelling, I've been working on a few small projects that are easy to transport. 

This one is my good old standby: the mitered dishcloth.

The pattern can be found in my Etsy shop by clicking here.
For this particular variation, I worked in both loops with a fingering cotton yarn, a 3.5 mm hook, and extra rows due to yarn weight.

Then a picot edge was added.

It's pretty like this, but if you'd like a little extra pizzazz from the garden, a rose is a nice touch.

Start with the rose pattern by clicking here.

Then add leaves like this:

On the back, crochet and connect eight 3ch loops even with the petals with a SLST.

In each loop (SC, HDC, DC, 2ch picot, DC, HDC, SC)

SLST to first leaf, leaving ends for attaching to the dishcloth.

Finish by sewing onto the dishcloth with the ends:

These make the best gifts! 

They can be paired up with a pretty and/or coordinating bottle of dishwashing soap or a dozen roses. 😉

The handle makes it easy to hang for drying.

I'm looking forward to returning home at the end of the month and crocheting from dawn til dusk!

Wishing you all a day of dawn til dusk crocheting!

Warmly,

Astri

🌸🌸🌸

Norway 2019

To celebrate the NVO's retirement, we've been on a three month sabbatical in Norway. 

We are homeward bound at the end of the month. 

In the meantime, here are a few spots we've visited:

 Bergen

Malmefjorden

Veiholman, Smøla

Molde

 Kristiansund

 Geiranger

  Ålesund

 Åndalsnes

Tromsø

It's been so fun and quite an adventure, but I look forward to getting home and starting on at least one of a hundred crochet ideas. It's interesting how the ideas come when your mind is quiet.

 I have; however, been working on small projects along the way, and if you'd like a peek at those please see my Instagram (click on link above).

I hope this post finds you all well and that your lives are full of love and crochet!

Warmly,

Astri

Stone Washed Apple Blossom Dream Afghan WIP

Currently on my hook...

The Apple Blossom Dream Afghan

 in 

Scheepjes Stone Washed yarn. 

  I'm in love with these colors.

Stamen: Citrine

Petals: Pink Quartzite 

Petals: Rose Quartz 

Petals: Tourmaline 

Leaves: Canada Jade 

MC: Crystal Quartz, Moonstone 

The pattern can be found on Ravelry by clicking here

or

on Etsy by clicking here.

The pattern is written and measured for Scheepjes Colour Crafter or Stylecraft Special DK yarn,

 but I'm loving it in these Scheepjes Stone Wash colors, as well! 

Since this is still a WIP, I don't know how much yarn the total blanket

 will call for in the washed yarn; in the meantime, here are the yarn quantities by motif for

 the Scheepjes Stone Wash yarn, which comes in 50-gram 100m skeins,

 in the event that you would like to get started with the washed yarn:

Blossom motif:

Stamen: 2 meters

Petals: 4.5 meters

Leaves: 4 meters

MC: 11.5 meters

Diamond motif:

MC: 8.5 meters

Please remember extra yarn will be needed for joining and the border.

My favorite place to purchase yarn is at:

LoveCrochet*

(Quick shipping to and from the US and overseas)

Most of the Scheepjes Stone Washed yarn colors listed here

 can be purchased at LoveCrochet by clicking *here.

Thanks for stopping by and

Warmly,

Astri

*This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links does not increase your cost; 

however, I do receive a small commission. Your support allows me to continue creating, designing and writing, and for that I am grateful.

Apple Blossom Dream Afghan - Published and Listed!

The pattern for the

"Apple Blossom Dream Afghan"

has been published and listed!

Whew, this one was a doozy, the design has been eight years in the making!

Spring is coming!

The "dream" for this design was to create a five petal apple blossom

(with stamen) motif, trying to imitate nature as close as possible. 

A pentagon granny motif worked for the blossom; 

however, pentagons joined together eventually created a round ball.

That was not going to work for the afghan, maybe a pillow, but not an afghan.

Armed with the NVO and his math skills, and a little creativity, the afghan dream came true!

 🌸🌸🌸

And it's finally here!

 You can find the pattern at either my Etsy shop by clicking here

or

in my Ravelry store by clicking here.

Here's how the listing reads:

Let this pattern guide you in making this lovely apple blossom afghan. Its fresh and soft design is also ideal for many applications. The finished size is approximately 47" x 62" (119 cm x 158 cm) which is perfect for napping or displaying. 

Cozy on up for cooler days/evenings or wrap baby snuggly for a stroll. 

Oh, and think of the color possibilities!

This instantly downloadable 20-page pattern includes plenty of step-by-step photos, as well as, links to videos for extra added assistance. The last two pages of the pattern is a condensed "crochet short-hand" version of the pattern. The pattern is written and verbalized in US crochet terms.

Ideal for an intermediate crocheter. General knowledge of crocheting a granny square is helpful.

And here's the yarn I used:

My favorite place to purchase the yarn for this project is at:

LoveCrochet*

(Quick shipping to and from the US and overseas)

Click here for Stylecraft Special DK*

Click here for Scheepjes Color Crafter*

Warmly,

Astri

*This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links does not increase your cost; 

however, I do receive a small commission. Your support allows me to continue creating, designing and writing, and for that I am grateful.

Apple Blossom Dream Afghan-Tests

The 

"Apple Blossom Dream Afghan"

crochet pattern is almost ready to be released!

Meanwhile, here are some of the tests from my lovely helpers:

Judy:

Emma:

Elizabeth:

Rashmi:

Thank you for your awesome help, ladies!

There's been a lot of 

going down in our parts,

and I'm wishing you the same!

Warmly,

Astri

Apple Blossom Dream Afghan - Test Swatch

Here's the first test swatch for the

"Apple Blossom Dream Afghan"

Pattern to be released Friday, February 22, 2019!

Meanwhile, there's a lot of

going down!

Apple Blossom Dream Afghan

We've seen more snow in the last few weeks than I have seen accumulated over my lifetime!

It's beautiful and I do love it.

So while inside out of the cold, I couldn't think of anything better to do

than to dream of spring and work on the design and pattern for the

"Apple Blossom Dream"

crocheted afghan.

🌸🌸🌸

It has springtime written all over it.

I have just about wrapped up the pattern in order to send it out for testing.

The goal is to have it tested, edited and published by the end of next week.

I'd like to release it before we head to Norway for three months.

(Then I won't bother you with patterns for a while.)

By the time we return, from our trip, the apple blossoms will be gone and I simply cannot wait until the following apple blossom season next year to release the pattern. 

It's just too exciting!

This project that's been mulling around in my head for nearly eight years and I'm finally doing it,

I wonder if it has anything to do with being newly retired.

🌸🌸🌸

Keep an eye out for it!

Lots of warmth and

to you all!

Warmly,

Astri