Two Brothers Blankets

This post- Five Yarns I am Loving for Spring-  may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support!

It’s the first day of spring and I am loving it! Here in Florida, it actually feels like spring today, instead of hot and humid like usual! It’s quite enjoyable! I’ve had my spring crochet patterns planned out for quite a while now, so I’ve been working with lightweight yarns for that long as well! Today, I want to share with you five yarns I am loving for spring! Yarns that work great for the warming weather, and have great color choices for spring! Some of these yarns listed are very specific, others are just a general type of yarn.

Hand- Dyed Yarns

I am currently obsessed with hand-dyed yarns. I am just in awe of how dyers can create these beautiful array of colors in one simple skein of yarn. It just amazes me! Fingering weight or sport weights are great lightweight yarns for spring. And with hand dyed yarn you can pretty much find any colorway, color combo, or fade that you’re looking for! My favorite blend to work with is a Superwash Merino Wool and Nylon blend. I love the softness of merino and the sturdiness of nylon! There are so many indie yarn dyers out there, but a few of my favorites include KT and the Squid and Montana Crochet.

Knit Picks Stroll Tweed

I am currently designing with Knit Picks Stroll Tweed and I am really liking it. It is a fingering weight yarn consisting of 65% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon, and 10% Donegal Tweed. It’s soft, and lightweight which is great for the spring garment I am designing. The tweed specks can sometimes be a bit difficult to work with, but that’s something I’m willing to tackle for the awesome look the tweed gives.

Knit Picks Brava Sport

Knit Picks Brava Sport has been a go to lightweight yarn of mine for years. It’s lightweight (duh!), soft, and super affordable! It’s 100% acrylic and has a huge selection of colors. I’ve used it to design so many patterns including all of my Magnolia top patterns, the Aspen Tunic, and the Celtic Weave Tee. I’ve also included it in my Five Budget Friendly Yarns list. It’s a great yarn if you’re on a budget!

Baby Bee Sweet Delight

Baby Bee Sweet Delight is a DK (#3) weight yarn that works really well for spring. It is a 60% acrylic and 40% polyamide blend. This yarn has a very light, flowing feel to it. It comes in a large variety of colors ranging from brights, to neutrals, to pastels. One skein also has 377 yards, which is awesome! I used this yarn for my latest design, the Springtime Sweater, and some older designs like the Katie Cardi and Derby Duster Vest. You can find this yarn at your local Hobby Lobby or online at their website.

Cotton Blends

Any lightweight cotton blend is great for spring! Some of my favorites are Premier Yarns Cotton Fair, and Lion Brand Yarns Comfy Cotton Blend. They are comfortable to wear in the spring and summer and usually do okay if they get wet. I have used cotton blends for a number of my spring designs including the Sarasota Swimsuit Cover.

Those are the five yarns I am loving for spring this year! I’m so excited to be make lightweight, sleeves, and cool projects for the next few months! What are your favorite yarns for spring?

The Cherry Blossom shawl is my first design using both hand dyed yarn and fingering (#1) weight yarn! I purchased the beautiful yarn pictured above from Ashleigh and CJ of Handmade Home Fibers, during one of their updates. The names of the yarn were Georgia and Peach Cobbler, and being from the state of Georgia, I was in love already! This yarn is wonderful to work with. It has an amazing drape, even before blocking! The colors were just stunning! I love how the solid color was truly solid and very saturated. There wasn’t any spots of yarn that didn’t have color or color that wasn’t as bright. And the speckles on the other color were my favorite! They worked together perfectly! The Cherry Blossom Shawl is perfectly customizable to your size preferences. You’ll love the workup as much as the finished project!

You can purchase the ad-free, printable, pdf version of the pattern on Ravelry and Etsy!

Materials

• 700-750 yards fingering (#1) weight yarn
• G/4.0mm crochet hook
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Yarn needle

Difficulty

• Easy

Gauge

•  Rows 1-5 = 4” across the top

Sizing

• 52” across the top unblocked

Pattern Notes

Starting chain does count as first stitch unless stated otherwise within the pattern.

Each row should increase by 6 dc.

Sample shawl changes colors every 8 rows.

Stitches Needed & Abbreviations

st(s)- stitch(es)

ch(s)- chain(s)

sc- single crochet

dc- double crochet

puff st- yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all 7 loops.

MC- magic circle

*- repeat from

Shawl

Create a MC.

Row 1: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3dc in magic circle, pull tight. (6 dc)

Row 2: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 2 (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 2, 2 dc in last st (the starting ch). (12 dc)

Row 3: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 5, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 5, 2 dc in last st. (18 dc)

Row 4: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 8, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 8, 2 dc in last st. (24 dc)

Row 5: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 11, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 11, 2 dc in last st. (30 dc)

Row 6: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3, skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3, skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st.(10 ch spaces, 16 dc)

Row 7: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last ch space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st. (12 ch spaces)

Row 8: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, skip next st, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space on that side, 1 dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 2 sts, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space, skip next st, 2 dc in last st. (48 dc)

Rows 9-13: Ch 3, turn, turn, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in each st across to ch-2 space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in each st across to last st, 2 dc in last st. (stitch count will increase by 6 for each row.)

Row 14: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3, skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3, skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st.

Row 15: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last ch space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st.

Row 16: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, skip next st, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space on that side, 1 dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 2 sts, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space, skip next st, 2 dc in last st. Repeat rows 9-16 until shawl measures 52” across the top or to desired length. Fasten off, weave in ends, and block.

Video tutorial of steps 1-8: (Correction at 10:54 in video, it should be a ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space. See written pattern row 7 for more details.)

Pattern is a copyright of Two Brothers Blankets. Please do not sell or alter this pattern in any way.

One of the key components to my crochet pattern designing process is pattern testing. Over the years I’ve gathered a great group of reliable, talented pattern testers that I work with each time I design a pattern. But it wasn’t always that way. I’ve had my share of dealing with bad tests and difficult testers. Or the worst, pattern thieves. So I’m going to share, what I believe are, 10 key components to being a good pattern tester.

The Do’s

1. Complete your test in a timely manner. Meaning complete the test by or before the due date. Before committing to a test, ensure that you will be able to complete it in time. Yes, life situations may happen that are beyond your control. But for the most part, make sure you will have enough time to commit to completing the project in time.
2. Treat it as a job commitment. You may not be getting paid in a monetary manner, but you do get a free pattern out of the deal. So treat this pattern test as a true commitment and treat it as you would a job for your own business or career.
3. Communicate with the designer. If you are confused on a part of the pattern or if you run into a deadline issue or anything else, contact the designer. Reaching out is going to create that relationship with the designer and will help your chances of being chosen again or the designer giving you a good reference. Keep those lines of communication open at all times.
4. Take good pictures. In most cases, designers don’t expect you to have a professional photographer take your test photos, but they do want to see a good quality photo. This means natural lighting, preferably outdoors. If indoors, use a window to give you the natural light. Also, don’t take a photo with clutter or lots of items in the background. You want to showcase the project, and only the project.
5. Work up the pattern exactly as it is written. The whole point of pattern testing is so that the designer can ensure that the pattern works out as it is written. Now, if there is an error or a problem, go to the designer and ask if it is okay to fix it or make changes. Just do not make changes without letting the designer know.

The Don’ts

1. Disappear if you cannot complete the test. Life happens and it is impossible to complete a test. Designers understand that. So communicate with the designer if something comes up and you cannot complete the test. Do not just disappear or not respond. This will ruin your chances of ever testing for that designer again and possibly other designers. Tell the designer the truth and, more often than not, they will be understanding.
2. Share the pattern. This is just a big no. Don’t share any patterns with others. But even more so, don’t share a pattern you are being trusted to test. This is sure way to ruin the trust and respect the designer has for you as a tester, and you will not be asked to test again.
3. Share project progress without permission. Sometimes designers don’t mind you sharing your test progress on social media but always make sure to ask them before you do. I usually don’t mind if I have already shared on my own social media, but there are other times I don’t want it shared at all until I am ready for a full reveal. Get permission to share first, and respect the wishes of the designer.
4. Change the pattern during testing. If there is an error or problem with the work up of the pattern, go to the designer and let them know what it is. Then wait to receive further instruction from the designer. Don’t just change the pattern because you don’t like the way it is written or the way it looks. You can let the designer know these things, but always check with the designer before making any changes.
5. Tear the pattern/design to pieces because you don’t like it or you think it would be better the way you would do it. If you don’t like a design, don’t test it. Designers love feedback but not if it’s just ripping the pattern to shreds. Necessary and constructive feedback is key. If it’s just your opinion, think first about whether it absolutely needs to be said. The point of testing is to see if the written pattern can be worked up, not changed to be something else.

So those are my personal do’s and don’ts of pattern testing. I think if you stick the do’s you’re on your way to being a great pattern tester. What do you think? Are you a tester or a designer? What other things would you add to these lists?

This post- Dude Pullover Sweater Crochet Pattern-  may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support! 

I’m the only girl in my house! Well, unless you count our two dogs. But the humans in this house are all boys, except for me. So I like to crochet them some things every now and then. Last year I created the Dude Cardigan, which is like a blazer style cardigan. This year, it’s a pullover style sweater using the same great stitch combo!

I created the Dude Sweater in both children’s sizes and adult sizes so I could make the guys matching sweaters! In your purchase you’ll get both downloads of the adult sizes and the children’s sizes! The children’s sizes are 2 through 12 and the adult sizes include Small through 2X! All the sizing details are in the listing!

This sweater is a top-down, raglan style sweater with no sewing required! I used, my favorite, Knit Picks Brava Worsted, in the colorway Hunter. Knit Picks Brava Worsted and Brava Sport are my go-to acrylic yarns. They are a really great bang for your buck. They are soft, true to weight, and less than $3 a skein!

I’ve added quite a bit of notes to the pattern to help you customize your sweater to fit the person you are making it for. It’s very easy to make adjustments within the pattern to get a good fit. You can adjust both the length and the width with just a few small tweaks. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me!

You can purchase the ad-free, printable pdf pattern on Ravelry or Etsy!

This post- My Five Crochet Must-Haves-  may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support! 

We all know yarn and crochet hooks are a huge must-have when crocheting, but there are other products that I couldn’t live without when creating new designs and projects! Today I’m going to share five of my crochet must-haves! These are items I swear by and use almost every day when I’m working on a crochet project or planning a new one!

• My Swift. I went many years without purchasing a swift, but about six months ago I had enough with tangled yarn, so I purchased this swift. It’s so easy to put together and take apart and all the parts fit in a small drawer in my filing cabinet. It’s simple to use and makes winding yarn SO much easier and faster! I don’t know why I waited so long to buy it! If you purchase a lot of hand dyed yarn or yarn that is hanked often, this swift is a game changer!

1. My Knit Picks yarn winder. This works with the swift to wind my yarn into beautiful, center pull cakes. It’s fast, attaches to my desk, and is easy to use. I’ve had it for a few years now with absolutely no issues. It’s great for winding half skeins of yarn, or brand new hands of yarn. It creates beautiful cakes, and can hold quite a bit of yarn. It’s another product that just makes everything quicker and easier.

• My Wescott Scissors. I have about 5 pair of these lying around my house. They are just the best scissors I’ve ever used. They are really affordable and last just about forever, if you take care of them.

• My Soft Measuring Tapes. I have about 5 of these lying around my house too, but mostly because they always seem to go missing. I really only every know where 1 or 2 actually are located. But they are a must have. I use them every time I’m crocheting or designing. I use them to measure myself, measure my gauge swatch, and measure my project as I work. They work great and are definitely a must-have!

My cubed shelves! Before I purchased two of these shelves, I stored my yarn in a shoe rack! It was not cute! But I’ve purchased two of these 9 cube shelves and they sit in my office and work perfectly to store my yarn stash in! I can pile the yarn all the way to the top and all the way to the back, so it holds a lot of yarn! Plus, shelves filled with yarn are super cute and look great in my office!

These are my five crochet must-haves, other than my yarn and hooks, of course! What other crochet tools and products do you love and use all the time?

This post- Primrose Blouse Crochet Pattern-  may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support! 

The Primrose Blouse is a crochet pattern that I released in May of 2015. Just recently, I decided to make another one, and after making a few changes, I’ve updated the entire pattern!

For this lovely spring top I used Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn (#4 weight) in the colorway Seashell. The color was just perfect! It’s a bright coral color that has me SO ready for spring! This top is worked from the top down, with the sleeves added at the end. It is easily adjustable in both width and length.

You can purchase the Primrose Blouse crochet pattern on Ravelry and Etsy!

I was so excited when Tanya of Cornbread and Honey reached out to me to collaborate! Tanya is an indie yarn dyer who has everything from fade kits to custom colorways to gradient cakes! She sent me a cake of gradient yarn to play with and from it came the Sweet Tea Shawl!
The name of her shop Cornbread and Honey reminded me of another southern delicacy (at least to us southerners), sweet tea! Which is how I got the name for the design!

Tanya sent me this beautiful cake of gradient speckled brown yarn. It started off with a very dark, saturated brown and eventually turned into a very gorgeous speckled cream. This yarn was such fun to work with! It was a cake of 656 yards of sport weight yarn. The fiber is 80% super wash merino and 20% nylon. I absolutely love this fiber combo because the merino is so very soft, but the little bit of nylon gives it some sturdiness and makes it smooth on my hook and easy to work with. With the nylon I didn’t run into any pilling or splitting, which was so nice. I wet blocked my shawl after I completed it and the drape was SO amazing afterwards! This yarn is seriously one of the best yarns I’ve every tried!

The Sweet Tea Shawl is a triangle shawl that starts small and increases as you go. This shawl uses basic stitches, but the combination of them creates a stunning look! This is one of those patterns that doesn’t require gauge and that you can make as big or as small as you like! I love to wear it as a scarf around my neck but you can also make it large enough to wear over your shoulders.

I am so happy to have gotten the opportunity to try Tanya’s yarn. It is truly stunning and I plan on purchasing more!

Now through Sunday, January 27th you can use coupon code TWOBBCBH at checkout to get 50% off the Sweet Tea Shawl crochet pattern! Grab the pattern HERE!

You can use the very same code to get 20% off any yarn in the Cornbread and Honey shop! She even has the exact yarn I used for the Sweet Tea Shawl, as well as other gradients! This yarn is worth every penny!

Once I learned how to crochet, I wanted to make all the things! But I couldn’t read a pattern! I had learned how to crochet with YouTube videos and books, but crochet patterns scared me! What were all those abbreviations? What size was I supposed to do? Do crochet patterns even read left to right?! I had no idea! Eventually I figured it out myself, but it did take some time, and lots of trial of error! I want to save you all that trial and error and time! Today I’m going to share with your the very basics of how to read a pattern and you can also watch the live show I did on this topic below!

*Disclaimer- This step by step layout pertains to how my designs are laid out. Not every designer is going to have the same pattern layout or order, but this should give you an idea of what to look for and what each section means, regardless of where exactly it is in the pattern.

The First Page

The first page of a crochet pattern contains the most vital information. This is where you will find what materials you need, gauge, sizing, stitches used, and any pattern notes there are. Sometimes this will also continue on to the second part of the pattern, so be sure to read through the whole pattern before you start.

Materials- Here you will find exactly what you need to make the project.

Difficulty- This is the crochet experience you will need to make this project. (i.e.- beginner, intermediate, advanced)

Sizing & Yardage- Here is where you will figure out what size you are making and how much yarn you will need for it.

Pattern notes- Any additional instructions, tips, or information needed will be in this section.

Stitches Needed and Abbreviations- Here you will find what stitches are required in the project and what abbreviations will be used for them throughout the pattern.

Pattern Instructions

Once you’ve moved past the first page, you’ll come to the pattern instructions. Here is where you will start working. Most patterns will have a beginning section which will include how many chains to start with and sometimes a few beginning rows or rounds.

Most all patterns will be listed by either rows, rounds, or steps. Go through each one in their numerical sequence unless the pattern tells you otherwise. Each segment of the pattern will likely be in order of the way it should be worked up, unless the pattern tells you otherwise ahead of time. So work your way down the pattern until you get to the end.

Finishing

Most patterns will have a finishing section or an area that tells you what to do once you’ve completed all the steps. It may say “Fasten off. Weave in ends. Block if needed” or “Finish off and weave in all of your ends.” This will let you know that you have completed the pattern.

Additional Tips

Most of the time you will be able to find information on the designer in the pattern. There is usually a link to their website or shop and an email address. Do not be afraid to email the designer with questions if you’re struggling. Pattern support is part of being a designer and we want to help. Also, if you find an error within the pattern, and you are certain that it is a mistake, email the designer to let him/her know. That way they can fix it and send a pattern update.

Here’s a live video I did on my Facebook and Instagram on this very topic!

I hope you find this article very helpful as you venture into pattern reading! Please feel free to comment below or email me with any questions you still have!