Man does it feel good to have yarn between my fingers again! Seriously, it's been years since I picked up a hook or needle. I forgot how calming and relaxing it is. My life feels so busy, but I can take the time to implement this back in my life. It definitely make me feel better. I love coming up with patterns and giving them to friends. One of my good friends lost her darling toddler a couple of years ago from cancer. It was so hard to watch her and her family go through that. I know that God gives trials to those that He knows can handle it and my friend is the best in every way. So strong in her testimony of Jesus, such a good, kind, patient mom and is so selfless. She found out she was pregnant with a boy and we were all SO excited! Not that it replaces her daughter, but helps heal and knowing that he was with her before he came is just so special. I got her some gifts for her baby shower, but on the day of, I felt like I needed to make her a blanket. So I searched for a fun crochet stitch and grabbed the cutest boy color yarn in my stash and went to work! This can easily be made for bigger sizes. (see below for ch suggestions on different sizes) It's a multiple of 3+2 sts.

MATERIALS

Step 8: After all of that hard work, we want it to last for seasons, even years! So let's weatherproof it! Make sure you're doing this outside. Give it plenty of time to dry before attaching the ribbon.

Here is a pic of the ribbons with the regular circular wreath! Looks great both ways.

MATERIALS

1. First thing you need to get is a 14" foam wreath. You can get them for around $5, but if you have a thin pool noodle laying around, you can cut it to size and duct tape it. I was needing to make 20 of them, so I tried it this way and they worked perfectly! Make sure to hot glue the ends, put enough duct tape, and hold it together for 1 minute before releasing.

Step 8: After all of that hard work, we want it to last for seasons, even years! So let's weatherproof it! Make sure you're doing this outside. Give it plenty of time to dry before attaching the ribbon.

Leave it to Taylor Swift to get me out of my 3 year hiatus of being online! (It's so good to be back, I miss this creative outlet crocheting, knitting, making videos, patterns, and the community. After having my 6th child, I started to feel like I was stretched too thin, and then we moved and started renovating our house...but I just miss you all so much!) 

I feel like the yarn world went crazy when Taylor was spotted wearing this Vrggrl crochet dress. I immediately fell in love with the color palette and I have always wanted to make granny squares. This was my first time and I think it's a great pattern to learn how to make them. Because, trust me, you make a lottttt of clusters!

The pattern is fairly easy, the hardest part in my opinion, is sewing the dress together. But don't worry! I GOT YOU! I made a video tutorial showing all the steps in case you need a visual on how to do a step. 

You have to decrease and increase to make the scoop neckline. I spent a lot of time figuring out the best way to do this and make sure it's symmetrical and it came out perfectly. 

I also wanted the colors to match on the front and the back, but I didn't want there to be a bulk of purple on both sides of the dress, so in step 4 in the finishing section, you add some other color rows there to help with that and to make it more bell shaped like the sleeves.

Yarn - It was quite challenging trying to find the right colors in the correct weight. Since this is a spring/summer top, you don't want anything too heavy. It also becomes too thick which nobody wants clothes to make you look extra bulky! But if you can't find your colors in size 3 light weight yarn, you can still use size 4 worsted weight. I did this with my color brown and I just went a smaller size in crochet hook for those rows. 

Right now, I only have the pattern written for one size. If you are interested in making more sizes, please message me on Instagram and maybe we'll get a test knit going.

Click here for a 2 min. video showing all the steps!

Click here to download the FREE Pattern

Click here for the Video Tutorial

SKILL LEVEL - Intermediate

KNITTING TECHNIQUES - ch, dc, 3dc, sc

MATERIALS

• BERNAT SOFTEE BABY 

- Lavender (1 skein)

- Antique White (1 skein)

- Cantaloupe (2 skeins)

• CARON ONE POUND 

- Truffle (This is size 4 worsted weight yarn)

• SIZE G (4MM) HOOK

• OPTIONAL - SIZE D (3-3.25 mm) HOOK if you are using size 4 yarn

COLORS

A. Lavender 

B. Brown

C. Cream

D. Peach

A, A, B, C, B, C, B, D, D, D, D

PATTERN - Granny Stitch in flat rows.

ABBREVIATIONS

ch - chain

dc - double crochet

rep - repeat

sc - single crochet

sk- skip

STICH EXPLANATIONS

Cluster - ch 1, 3dc

When it says rep, repeat only what is in the parentheses (  )

BACK - It’s easier than the front so lets do it first :)

Ch 138

Row 1: 3dc into 6th ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 3, 3dc in next ch) rep 33 times (34 clusters)

Row 2: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in first ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 33 times (34 clusters)

Rows 3-13 (11 rows): Repeat row 2. (13 rows of 34 clusters total)

Decrease (for the neck)

Row 14: Repeat row 2 until the last ch space, 1dc in ch space (33 clusters)

Row 15: Ch 4, turn work, sk first ch space, 3dc in next ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 32 times (33 clusters)

Row 16 (same as row 2, just 1 less cluster): Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in first ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 32 times (33 clusters)

Rows 17-31 (15 rows): Repeat row 16. (18 rows of 33 clusters total)

Increase

Row 32: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in first ch 1 space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 32 times. In the same space as your last cluster, ch 1, dc. (33 clusters)

Row 33(last peach): Ch 4, turn work, dc in first ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) to end of row. (33 clusters)

Row 34(purple): Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in 1st ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 33 times (34 clusters) 

Rows 35-46 (12 rows): Repeat row 2.

Keep a long piece of yarn at the end to sew pieces together.

Back total rows:

13 rows - 34 clusters

20 rows - 33 clusters

13 rows - 34 clusters

FRONT

Ch 138

Row 1: 3dc into 6th ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 3, 3dc in next ch) rep 33 times (34 clusters)

Row 2: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in first ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 33 times (34 clusters)

Rows 3-13 (11 rows): Repeat row 2. (13 rows of 34 clusters total)

Decrease (for the neck)

Row 14: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in next ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 29 times. Dc in next ch space. (30 clusters)

Row 15: Ch 4, turn work, sk first ch space, 3 dc in next ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 29 times. (30 clusters)

Row 16: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in next ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 28 times. Dc in next ch space. (29 clusters)

Row 17: Ch 4, turn work, sk first ch space, 3dc in next ch space (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 28 times. (29 clusters)

Rows 18-29 (12 rows): Repeat row 17. 

Increase

Row 30: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in next ch space (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 28 times. In the same space as your last cluster, ch 1, dc. (29 clusters)

 Row 31: Ch 4, turn work, dc in first ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) to end of row. (29 clusters)

Row 32: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in 1st ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 29 times. (30 clusters)

Row 33(last peach): Ch 17, cut yarn. Turn work, on your first ch 1, ch 4, 3dc in first ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 29 times. (30 clusters)

Row 34(first purple): Repeat row 32 (30 clusters). Then, (ch 1, sk 3, 3dc in next ch) rep 3 times (34 clusters)

Rows 35-46 (12 rows): Repeat row 2.

Front total rows:

13 rows - 34 clusters

2 rows - 30 clusters

16 rows - 29 clusters

2 rows - 30 clusters

13 rows - 34 clusters

SLEEVES

Make 2

Ch 86

Row 1: 3dc into 6th ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 3, 3dc in next ch) rep 20 times. (21 clusters)

Row 2: Ch 4, turn work, 3dc in first ch space, (ch 1, 3dc in next ch space) rep 20 times. (21 clusters)

Rows 3-33 (31 rows): Repeat row 2. (33 rows total - 3 rep of color pattern)

FINISHING

1. Weave in ends

2. Sew the front and back pieces together from the first 12 rows and the last 12 rows on both sides. With color D, sc a border along the front neckline and the back.

3. Sew the sleeve to create a seam so the sleeve is round. Rep for second sleeve.

4. With color D, crochet 3 rows of 26 clusters starting from the bottom of the back piece (this will make an opening for the sleeves). *Do not attach to the front side yet.

5. With color D, sew the sleeve onto the opening. You want your seam to be in the middle of the side of your new 3 cluster rows.

6. Sew your new 3 cluster rows to your front piece. Repeat steps 4-5 for the other side.

7. Sc a border around the bottom of the dress and your sleeves.

8. Wet block.

9. Rock your dress! Take a pic so I can see what an amazing job you did :)

My very own pattern on Lion Brand's Website?!?! Can I just say how excited I was when Lion Brand reached out to me and asked if I were interested in designing a pattern for them! I really love their yarn. The company is so friendly, supportive, and has the desire to help others. I am honored to be able to work with them. 

I didn't have too much time to design and create the pattern, so I wanted to make something that was fast but also unique that you can wear during the spring and summertime. My goal was to make it beginner friendly, but I didn't want to create a rectangle shawl. I wanted it to be V shaped so increasing makes it a little more difficult. 

But in this case, it's SO easy! Changing colors can be challenging because you have to make sure your ends won't unravel and you have a lot of loose ends to manage. But I just love the color ways together.

The beauty of making your own garments is that they are one of a kind, and the color pattern does just that. I also love it in one solid color and if you're a beginner, I would definitely start there! Plus, you only need 1 skein!!!! How amazing and affordable is that, to make a shawl with one skein?! 

Click here to download the FREE Pattern on Lion Brand's website and follow along with me!

Click here for the Video Tutorial

Ravelry: https://ravel.me/isla-shawl-3

SKILL LEVEL - Easy

KNITTING TECHNIQUES - knit, k2tog, yo

MATERIALS

-Lion Brand - 24/7 Cotton in Cafe Au Lait, White, and Ecru

-Size US 13 (9mm) 29”(73.5 cm) circular needles (Click here for my needle set I used in my tutorial)

-Tapestry Needle

-Scissors to cut the fringe

-T pins to block

CHART

Please please PLEASE block your shawl! You will not be able to see the beautiful lace design if you don't and it will NOT drape well. It'll be all scrunched in the middle and it will not be the correct size. Trust me! It will not look good if you don't block your shawl. This is what it looks like before I block:

Before blocking 😬

After Blocking. 😍 You can see the beautiful design and the drape is perfect!

I would love to see your shawl! Please share on Instagram so we can all be inspired by your talent! #iKNITS #islashawl