[Nfb-krafters-korner] Simple Shrug: was Sewing two pieces together

Wed Feb 13 17:41:35 UTC 2013

Susan and Cindy and others,

All of your descriptions have been so helpful. I took a throw laying
on the couch the other day and had my hubby hold the edges as if they
were seamed and I donned the throw. With all of the descriptions and
actually pretending to put the shrug on helped immensely and the light
has snapped on in my head. I get it!

To Susan, the pattern calls for an N hook so that the piece can
stretch and fit all sizes. I have not been able to crochet with
anything smaller than a J so I can tell you that when I make blankets
or scarves using an N, P and even a speed hook, the project works up
faster and with a more holy or lacey look to it. I made a triangular
shawl using Homespun Painted Desert and an N hook. It looked quite
lovely. The pattern called for 2 scanes and I used 3 only because I
repeated the pattern once more. The shawl went for $45 at our NFB of
California State convention banquet auction.

Before I return to the simple shrug pattern, I want to say that I hope
to make another triangular shawl using Homespun Thick and Quick and a
Q/speed hook.

Okay, simple shrug ... I haven't actually started the project. I
usually browse through patterns and decide what is feasible or dream
up a project based on multiple patterns. I got so excited about the
ease of this project I decided to make them as presents so I just went
onto the site last night and purchased Pearls, cream, Tulips and
Montana Skies for colors. I'm praying the project works up to 4 balls
and no more! I usually go to Jo-ann's and buy my yarn but this weekend
is too buisy with multiple birthday celebrations, and since standard
shipping is free, and the yarn was 15% off on the site, I ordered it.
Hopefully, it will come by the beginning of next week and I can start.
I'm hoping one of these shrugs will make it into my closet. I have
never made myself anything yet.

Susan, you'll have to keep me posted on your progress.

LM

On 2/12/13, slerythema <slerythema at gmail.com> wrote:
> LM,
>
> Here is a description that might help.
>
> Picture a person standing up, now raise your arms out from your body at a
> 90
> degree angle (you look like a cross. Imagine your rectangle laid across
> your
> back from finger tip to finger tip. The short end of the rectangle is at
> your fingertips. Wrap the long sides around both arms (your seam) but where
> it runs across your torso on your back there will be no seam and it will
> run
> across your neck and waist.
>
> Another way to picture it is to think of a rectangle shawl and how you wrap
> that around your body, where it wraps around your body would be the sleeves
> and the part wrapped around your back and shoulders would not be changed.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Cindy S.
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Nfb-krafters-korner
>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Lisamaria Martinez
>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 2:53 PM
>> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Lisa/Sewing two pieces together
>>
>>
>> Susan,
>>
>> This helps but is different than what I was imagining. I
>> thought the seam was sewn down the long open ends with a gap
>> in the middle. I think it makes more sense to sew the seams
>> on the short ends of the rectangel. I guess the problem I am
>> having is what the shrug looks like on especially since there
>> is no opening for your head. When you slide your arms through
>> the arm holes I am imagining that the material bunches up
>> quite a bit? Any description around this will be helpful.
>>
>> I think this is a super easy pattern and looks like it will
>> crochet up very prettily. I haven't started. I'm waiting to
>> figure out how it will wear first. The recommended yarn was
>> Homespun and the hook size was N (9 mm).
>>
>> Thanks for all the help.
>>
>> On 2/11/13, Susan Roe <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net> wrote:
>> > Hi Lisa,
>> >
>> > I took a look at your pattern and it is really nice and
>> simple.  I am
>> > thinking about doing one myself.  What size hook did you
>> use?  For the
>> > finishing, once you have folded your rectangle in half, with the
>> > folded edge
>> >
>> > away from you and the open edge closest to you, starting
>> with the left
>> > short
>> >
>> > end, measure 7 inches down from the folded edge and place a marker
>> > (such as
>> >
>> > one of those plastic safety pins).  Do the same on the right hand
>> > side. Then beginning at each marker, sew together your short sides
>> > down to the corner closest to you that joins the short side
>> with the
>> > long open ended sides closest to you.
>> >
>> > Since there is no right or wrong side to this piece, I
>> would turn it
>> > inside
>> >
>> > out which would tuck in any edges you may have once you
>> have made your
>> > seems.  Now, to sew up that seem, you can do that one of three ways.
>> >
>> > 1. Single Crochet:  Attach your yarn at your stitch marker
>> and pull a
>> > loop through with your hook and use that loop as the
>> beginning of your
>> > single crochet.  Then just incert your hook along the edges through
>> > both thicknesses of crochetted material and work as though you were
>> > crochetting along a single thickness of crochetted work.
>> Bind off at
>> > the end once you have reached the corner.  This is a seem
>> that would
>> > do best to be on the inside of your work.  Exact positioning of
>> > stitches and material rows are not important.
>> >
>> > 2. Slip Stitch:  Attach yarn as mentioned above.  Pull a
>> loop through
>> > with your hook.  This is going to produce a raised line of flat
>> > stitches on the side of the material facing you and will
>> not cross up
>> > and over the open edges.  It will be similar to a sewing machine
>> > stitch, but with only one thread.  Moving from right to left along
>> > your piece, insert your hook a little down from where you drew your
>> > loop through and pull a second loop up
>> >
>> > onto your hook.  Now you have 2 loops on your hook.  Pull
>> the loop you
>> > just
>> >
>> > pulled onto your hook through the second loop on your
>> needle.  You now
>> > have
>> >
>> > just 1 loop on your hook.  Keep these stitches loose because that
>> > allows you
>> >
>> > to continue to the left, pick up another loop and draw that loop
>> > through the
>> >
>> > second loop.  Continue this stitch moving about an 1/8 to 1/4 inch
>> > further as you go.  Bind off.  You can make this stitch a
>> little fancy
>> > by adding one
>> >
>> > or two chain stitches between each time you move your hook over the
>> > 1/8 to 1/4 inch over.  This will give it a bit of texture with one
>> > chain and a slightly ruffled look with two chains.  This seem can
>> > eather be left showing
>> >
>> > for decoration or turned inside.
>> >
>> > 3. Shoe Lacing:  I don't know if this is the correct name,
>> but that is
>> > what
>> >
>> > I call it because it reminds me of lacing a shoe with one
>> lace.  With
>> > a large eyed needle, attach the yarn to your piece.
>> Picture your two
>> > edges as
>> >
>> > the split in your tennis shoe where you lace them up and the eyes
>> > along each
>> >
>> > side are where you are going to incert your needle.  The front side
>> > facing you is one piece, the side facing away from you is
>> the second
>> > piece and the
>> >
>> > space where the two pieces touch is the middle.  Keep
>> lacing a shoe in
>> > mind,
>> >
>> > incert your needle through the back side through to the
>> middle and up
>> > between the two pieces, being sure not to catch any of the
>> front piece
>> > in the needle.  Pull the yarn close, but not tight.  Bring
>> your needle
>> > opposite
>> >
>> > to your front piece and incert your needle from the front
>> side through
>> > to the middle space and up, not catching any of the back piece of
>> > material. draw yarn close, but not tight.  Move down a bit on your
>> > back piece and do it again.  through the back and up the
>> middle, snug,
>> > through the front and up the middle, snug.  These cross
>> over stitches
>> > are done opposite each other
>> >
>> > and closes the middle gap at the same area/level so it won't leave
>> > gaps between stitches, but it will pucker if you draw your stitches
>> > too tight. Where you place the needle is not as important as in
>> > knitted material.  For
>> >
>> > knitted material, I like to aim for the ridged bump that is between
>> > the looser stitch area as you turn each knitted row.  This
>> seem can be
>> > either left showing or turned in.  You can also use this technique
>> > with edges held
>> >
>> > flat together or lay your piece out flat with the sewing
>> edges facing
>> > each other and you will still use the lacing method, but
>> your action
>> > will be; through left side and up through middle, snug,
>> through right
>> > side up through
>> >
>> > middle, snug.  Move down on left side about 1/8 to 1/4 inche and
>> > repeat.
>> >
>> > I hope this helps you in choosing a method to seem this
>> nice shrug.
>> > If you
>> >
>> > still have trouble, use my e-mail linc below and I'll give you my
>> > phone number.
>> >
>> > Susan
>> > dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Lisamaria Martinez, NOMC" <lmartinez217 at gmail.com>
>> > To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>> > <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2013 2:48 PM
>> > Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Help with Lion Brand pattern
>> instructions
>> >
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> I hope that this is okay to post sends lion Brand allows
>> you to share
>> >> pattern instructions.
>> >>
>> >> I don't understand how to finish this shrug. Based on the
>> >> instructions, in
>> >>
>> >> my mind, there is no opening for your head. Can anyone explain? Is
>> >> there an error in the pattern?
>> >>
>> >> Thank you so much.
>> >>
>> >>
>> http://www.lionbrand.com//patterns/90689B.html?iP=2&p=2&ss=http%3A%2F
>> >> %2Fwww.lionbrand.com%2Fpatterns%2F90689B.html
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
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