February Pattern Review

Butterfly Top

The first pattern I followed, at the very beginning of the month.  This is an idea that has been on my crochet list for a while after seeing it all over Pinterest.  Finally decided that it was time to actually make this, I found a pattern on Mae Crochets site called FREE PATTERN: Crochet Butterfly Top.  To make this top I used Caron Cotton Cakes in the color way of Peach Blossom.  An easy pattern to follow, and it can be made to fit different body types by adding more rows in certain areas.  For me, this butterfly top came out beautifully, however this top sadly is not ideal for my body shape.  If I were to follow this pattern again for myself I might add more rows in some areas to add more coverage and simultaneously make it fit better.  Overall I would rate this pattern a 3/5.

Kanata Kerchief Tank

This was a deceivingly simple pattern.  It started with making 4 identical squares, attaching them together, adding straps, and cleaning up the edges.  I got this pattern as a free download from Ravelry as Kanata Kerchief Tank by Jennifer Ozses.  I used Caron Cotton Cakes in the color way of Peach Blossom, the same yarn that I used for the butterfly top.  This pattern is something that I would not suggest for beginners, especially if joining two pieces of crochet is something more challenging, or identifying your stitches is hard.  It created a nice flowy tank top that is fun to twirl in.  I would give this pattern a 3.5/5.

Corset

I found this pattern on YouTube a while ago.  It is called crochet corset tutorial by Ann Bui.  I used the Made With Love The Cottony One yarn made in partnership with Lion Brand and Tom Daley in the shades Indigo For It and Silver Medal.  It is an easy pattern to follow along with the tutorial.  There are a few negatives to this pattern for me, I have made this pattern a few times and it has never fit quite as desired (some of this might be me being extra picky).  Also, while it is easy to put all of the pieces together, you still have to make 6 separate pieces before joining them together.  I personally like to make things in as few pieces as possible so that there is the least amount of seaming together.  Do not let this deter you from trying this pattern if you want to try out a crochet corset.  Some of this is me, my clothing preferences, and my body shape.  I would also give this pattern a 3/5.

Cut Out Halter Top

Notes

This is a one size top, but do not fret,  I will tell you along the way how you can adjust the pattern in order to fit your body better.

In the materials I have listed approx. how much yarn I used to make this top for me, but you may end up using less or more yarn.  Also, you do not have to use this specific yarn, but I would recommend you choose a weight 4 yarn.

Materials

• 4.5 mm crochet hook
• Made with Love the cottony one yarn, approx. 1.5 skein/278 yards (I used the shade Silver Medal)
• Stitch Markers
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Sew-on Snaps (2 sets) - These are the snaps that I used, I got them from Michael's
• Needle and thread

Stitches

ch - chain

sc - single crochet

scblo - single crochet in the back loop only

sc2tog - single crochet 2 stitches together

hdc - half double crochet

2hdc - 2 half double crochets into the same stitch (an increase)

hdc2tog - half double crochet 2 stitches together (a decrease)

Neckline

Row 1: Ch 5, sc in the 2nd chain from your hook and the remaining 3 chain spaces (4).

Row 2: Ch 1 and turn, scblo in each and every space (4).

Repeat row 2 until you have completed row 46.  (Or until it fits comfortably around your neck, stretching it a little is okay, I would recommend not making it too loose).  Ch 1, pull up, and cut.

Review: The Cottony One

Somewhat recently I have discovered Tom Daley's yarn made in partnership with Lion Brand, called the Made With Love The Cottony One yarn.

In the color Silver Medal

This yarn is made out of a combination of cotton and acrylic, 60% and 40% respectively.  A skein of Made With Love The Cottony One comes as a 100g ball equalling 185 yards of yarn.  With 12 different shades: Lychee White, Over the Moon, Indigo For It, Red Red Wine, Marvellous Mushroom, Hot Cocoa, Olive Twist, Primrose Hill, Silver Medal, Pewter Pan, Gold Medal, and Flaming Amber.  Many of these colors are in the more neutral category, I like the majority of the colors, of course much of this is my personal preference.

I found this yarn so easy to work with.  The way that the yarn is twisted was easy for my crochet hook to use, some yarns split causing my crochet hook to frequently snag on 

Lion Brand is a company whose yarn I use regularly.  I have used and enjoyed their: Bundle of Love, Pound of Love, and Wool-Ease, both the original and Thick & Quick.  All of these yarns have been pleasant to work with and quite soft.

I had been meaning to try out Lion Brand's yarn with Tom Daley for a while before I came across it in Michael's one day and decided to give it a try and instantly fell in love.  Being so easy to work with, quite soft, and creates a sturdy fabric.

Since then I have bought probably 9 or 10 skeins of this.  In the shades: Indigo For It, Red Red Wine, Silver Medal, and Primrose Hill.

Crochet Vocabulary and Abbreviations

Vocabulary

Insert hook - to insert your hook into the desired stitch, unless specified otherwise this is through both loops

Yarn Over - to wrap the yarn around your hook, generally once unless specified otherwise

Pull Through - generally to pull back through the stitch that you inserted your hook into, tends to be immediately after a yarn over

Pull Through 2 - also follows a yarn over, not including the yarn over you pull through the next two loops on your hook

Pull Through All - preceded by a yarn over as well, to pull through all other loops on the hook, leaving a single loop left (from the yarn over), usually to finish a stitch

Crochet Abbreviations

This is especially important when it comes to reading patterns, normally these abbreviations are shown before the written pattern, but it is still useful to know and to become more familiar with them.

ch- chain

sc - single crochet

hdc - half double crochet

dc - double crochet

blo - back loop only (to crochet only into the loop of the stitch that is farthest from you rather than both)

inc - increase (to crochet two stitches in the same stitch)

dec - decrease (to crochet two stitches together)

Other

Often in patterns you will see a number followed by stitch type.  For example 2 dc.  The reverse can also be true where you see stitch type followed by a number, for example dc 2.

These DO NOT mean the same thing.

If a pattern uses a different system they will say that usually in the notes or abbreviation section before the main part of the pattern.

When it comes to the first type, e.g. 3 dc, this means that you put a single double crochet (dc) into each of the next 3 stitches.

The second type, e.g. 3 dc, means that you are supposed to put three double crochets all into the same stitch.