Wearing Your Crochet Creations

Do you like to wear the crochet items that you make? Do you prefer to see others wearing them? Most often I wear the scarves that I've designed since it would be rather difficult to wear a baby blanket! Recently, I noticed that the light blue of one of my Blair Headbands goes perfectly with the light blue in my space leggings.

Thus, I wore it them both to work, along with a black dress. That headband pattern is so underrated. Seriously. Sometimes designers imagine patterns that don't initially get a lot of love. For me, the Blair Headband Collection falls into that category. It's a free pattern, so check it out if you haven't already.

What crochet projects have you worn out recently?

Silver Lining Headband

Have you ever tried crochet cables? Yes, you can do cables in crochet! They're not just for knitters. I just love the way crochet cables look. If you've never done cables and you're interested in learning, my new pattern is a great choice. The Silver Lining Headband has gentle cabling. It's versatile and easy to wear.

As always, the pattern is available on both Ravelry and Craftsy.

Crochet Luxe Wristwarmer and Headband Set Pattern

I recently wrote a review of Zealana Luxuria Air Marle, a DK yarn, and in the process wrote a pattern. Since the yarn used is a luxury yarn, this prudent pattern uses only 1 ball or about 120 yards. The pattern includes both around the post stitches as well as front and back loop stitches, so you will want to follow those links and learn about them if you haven't already. Are you ready to make your own Luxe Set? Grab your 4mm hook and here we go!

Materials
- 120 yards of DK weight yarn (I used Zealana Luxuria Air Marle in color A899)
- US size G6 4mm crochet hook
- yarn needle

Terms
ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, st = stitch, rep = repeat, dc = double crochet, fpdc = front post double crochet, bpdc = back post double crochet, FLdc = front loop double crochet, BLdc = back loop double crochet

Wristwarmer
For women's size small, chain 38. For medium, chain 40. For large, chain 42. Making sure there are no twists in the chain, sl st into the first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 1 dc into each ch around. Sl st into the top of the ch 3 to join.
Round 2: Ch 3 (does not count as a st, now and throughout). Work 1 fpdc into the ch 3. Work 1 bpdc into the following st. *Work 1 fpdc in next st, work 1 bpdc in following st*, rep from * around. Sl st into the first st to join.
Round 3: Ch 3. Work 1 fpdc into each fpdc and 1 bpdc into each bpdc all of the way around. Sl st into the first st to join.
Rounds 4 and 5: Rep Round 3.
Round 6: Ch 3. Work 1 FLdc into same st as sl st. Work 1 BLdc into following st. *Work 1 FLdc into next st, work 1 BLdc into following st*, rep from * around. Sl st into the first st to join.
Round 7: Ch 3. Work 1 BLdc into same st as sl st. Work 1 FLdc into following st. *Work 1 BLdc into next st, work 1 FLdc into following st*, rep from * around. Sl st into the first st to join.
Rounds 8 and 9: Rep Rounds 6 and 7.
Round 9: Rep Round 6.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Make 2.

The headband pattern is coming up after these process pictures. 

Headband
Chain 122. Making sure there are no twists in the chain, sl st in first ch to join.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 1 dc into each ch around. Sl st into the top of the ch 3 to join.
Round 2: Ch 3 (does not count as a st, now and throughout). Work 1 fpdc into the ch 3. Work 1 bpdc into the following st. *Work 1 fpdc in next st, work 1 bpdc in following st*, rep from * around. Sl st into the first st to join.
Rounds 3 and 4: Rep Round 2.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Now you have a soft, cozy little set that's all ready for autumn :)

'Apelila Headpiece

In addition to the two crochet/knitting groups I attend each week in real life, I am also a member of several online crochet communities. The one I'm most active in, r/crochet, is having an Aloha April Contest this month. Since Alex grew up in Hawaii and some of our fondest memories are those we made during our 2013 visit to Oahu and the Big Island, I knew I had to participate. One of the users there, SassySSS, is an amazing crocheter who is super generous. She's offering delightful prizes to the contest winners. The only rule is that the project must be made with 200 grams of yarn or less. My project ended up being an amalgamation of two different patterns plus a good deal of my own imagining. I call it my 'Apelila Headpiece, or "April Headpiece".

 

The plumeria pattern is available for free on June Gilbank's website. The idea for the headpiece came from this pattern, but I didn't end up using any of the instructions. Instead, I made up my own leaves and white flowers. The white flowers are meant to be stephanotis, the dark leaves are maile and the light leaves are 'olapa.

Is it weird that I don't really care whether or not I place in the contest? I had fun crocheting and that's all that matters. Normally I'm a freestyle girl in both crochet and poetry and like choose my projects based on things that inspire me, but sometimes it's nice to be constrained as I would when writing a haiku or similar. It was a fun change to fit someone else's theme.

This contest has been so fun that I really want to pay it forward and host my own contest on r/crochet sometime soon. I'll let you know when and if I do that. :)

Crochet Sample Sale

Hello, friends! It's the time of year when I sell all of the finished objects that haven't already been sold or given as gifts during 2013. All of the items you see here were handmade by me. Some of these items were made as samples for the writing of my own original patterns and some were made because I wanted to try out the patterns of others. A few items were free-handed, meaning I invented the designs myself but did not write patterns for them. I know many of you have probably started your holiday shopping and I want to give you this opportunity to buy handmade. All proceeds will go towards more materials so that I may continue to grow in my blossoming and successful crochet design career.

Below you will find a list of item descriptions and prices. If you are interested in a piece and would like more information, please contact me with the name and/or item number via text, phone, or illuminatecrochet@gmail.com. Items are one-of-a-kind. When they're gone, they're gone!

1. Sweet As Honey Baby Set, $65. Pattern by Me
2. Paris Baby Set, $65. Pattern by Me
3. Amber Bee Bag, $20. Pattern by Me
4. Blair Headband Collection, $10. Pattern by Me
5. Natural Baby Hat, $10. Free-handed
6. Denim Baby Hat, $10. Free-handed
7. Textured Baby Hat, $10. Free-handed
8. Women's Divine Hat, $18. Pattern by Sarah Arnold
9. Women's Motif Beanie, $15. Free-handed
10. Women's Half-Crossed Hat, $18. Pattern by Me
11. Lullaby Baby Set, $65. Pattern by Me
12. Wheel of Dreams Baby Blanket, $45. Pattern by Me
13. Nicki Tote Bag, $25. Pattern by Me
14. Large Octopus, $12. Pattern by Paula Gail
15. Small Octopus, $8. Pattern by Paula Gail
16. Small Octopus, $8. Pattern by Paula Gail
17. Heart Garland, $12. Pattern by Sarah Anderson
18. Strawberries and Cream Baby Set, $50. Pattern by Me

For domestic shipping, please add $5. International shipping will be assessed on a case by case basis. I sometimes do custom orders if the idea interests me. If you'd like to chat with me about a custom order, please email me at the address shown above. Be aware that it may take a few weeks for me to fill the order and a customization fee may apply.

Here's a BIG THANK YOU to all of my blog readers, pattern and object buyers, social media followers, friends, and family who have supported me this year. Illuminate Crochet couldn't shine without you!

<3 Sara

Blair Headband Collection

Crochet headband patterns are pretty popular on Ravelry. I decided to try my hand at stitching up some cute little headbands for a free pattern. Here's what I came up with for the Blair Headband Collection.

I think my favorite one to wear is the light blue one up top. These headbands whip up in an evening so they'd be the perfect thing to add to a last minute gift or make for yourself to wear the next day. The free pattern is available on Ravelry. 

And yes, the name of the set is an allusion to a popular television show. xoxo