Pin Loom Corn — Page 13

Winners in Twins Face Off Purse Challenge

April 21, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Winners in the Twins Face Off Purse Design Challenge Sponsored by Lion Brand

Congratulations Dana Bincer for designing the winning Bohemian Handbag. It received 70% of the votes! The twins are now tied having won one challenge each.

We received lots of comments in person and in social media about the yarn. So many people loved the bright colors. Our mom raved not only about the yarn but hinted that she would like the Bohemian Handbag as a Mother’s Day gift!

Winners of the Giveaway

Drumroll please for the two winners in the Lion Brand Giveaway.

First Place: Janet C
Janet wins 3 skeins of Lion Brand yarn and the patterns for both purses.

Second Place: Lisa S
Lisa wins both patterns for the purses.

A big thank you to everyone for participating in the Twins Face Off Design Challenge. We are so thankful to Lion Brand for providing the yarn for the challenge and giveaway.

The patterns for both purses are available in the shop. Both the Bohemian Handbag and Flower Power Satchel are included in the one pattern. Learn more about the Handbags pattern.

The Handbags Pattern is available on Etsy.

Filed Under: Challenges & Contests, Twins Face Off Design Challenge · Tagged With: Giveaway, lion brand, Twins Face Off, winners, yarn

Vote on Purse Challenge and Giveaway

April 14, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Vote on Twins Face Off Purse Design Challenge &
Enter Lion Brand Landscapes Yarn Giveaway

It’s up to you to choose, which bag / purse you like better. After you vote below, enter the giveaway for your chance to win the yarn used in this month’s challenge as well as the patterns for both purses.

Giveaway ends April 20, 2015 at midnight.

Left: Flower Power Satchel Right: Bohemian Handbag

Here are some close-ups of the bags. You can see larger photos in the shop.

Now it’s up to you. Your vote is anonymous, so you can vote with confidence.

[poll id=”5″]

US and Canada Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Handbags Pattern is also available on Etsy.

Filed Under: Accessories, Bags, Challenges & Contests, Twins Face Off Design Challenge · Tagged With: bag, design challange, landscapes yarn, lion brand, purse, Twins Face Off, Vote

Behind the Scenes: Lil’ Snapper

April 10, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Behind the Scenes: Lil’ Snapper

My in-laws recently had a baby, and to celebrate, I decided to crochet something to match the theme of the baby’s room. The overall theme was turtles, so I set out to make a sweet little turtle photo prop. After looking at the various turtle patterns available, I wanted to make something as lifelike as possible.

I drew various shell patterns and debated about the shape of the shell segments. I finally decided that hexagons and pentagons would be the easiest. Still, I wanted a pattern that would show intricate texture found on shells. That’s when I decided to try the spike stitch. After several prototypes, I settled on the pattern used in this Lil’ Snapper set.

Originally I designed the pattern in green and brown, thinking that was the color of the baby’s room. Nope, it was blue and brown! I furiously set to work redoing all the work I had done before. Turns out blue and brown make for an adorable turtle as well! That got me to thinking, there are girl turtles too, so I played with a pink version as well.

Turtle Family

The set originally included the blanket, hat and diaper cover. Those were published in Love of Crochet. I was doing some research on rattles for another project when I realized that the hexagon shape would work for a little turtle rattle. A plastic Easter egg filled with popcorn seeds was the perfect size for the little hexagon. I also thought the little cape photo prop could be turned into a little stuffed animal, and thus the Turtle Family was born. I even debated about turning it into a purse, but that has yet to be done.

Turtle Blanket, shell, diaper cover and hat pattern available on Etsy.

Turtle Complete Set pattern available on Etsy.

Filed Under: Animals, Behind the Scenes · Tagged With: behind the scenes, turtle

Twins Face Off – Landscapes Yarn Sneak Peek

April 7, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Twins Face Off – Lion Brand Landscapes Yarn – Sneak Peek

Last week we announced that we are having another design challenge. You can read about the announcement of the Lion Brand sponsored Twins Face Off with Landscapes yarn on our previous post.

Here’s a sneak peek at what we’re working on:

Wow, these are two very different looking projects!

The category we’ve chosen is bags. Could be a handbag, purse, backpack, etc.

Next week we will reveal both completed projects and ask you to vote for which one you like better. We will also be giving away 3 skeins of Lion Brand Landscapes yarn and two copies of the patterns. See you next week!

Handbags Pattern available on Etsy.

Filed Under: Twins Face Off Design Challenge · Tagged With: design challenge, landscapes, lion brand, sneak peek, Twins Face Off

Newborn Turtle Outfit Crochet Pattern

April 6, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Newborn Turtle Outfit Crochet Pattern – Lil Snapper

You’ll get lots of oooh and aaahs with this adorable little turtle newborn outfit. It’s a fun photo prop and fabulous baby shower gift!

This newborn pattern set includes:

Baby Blanket
Cape
Diaper Cover
Hat

The baby blanket and hat are practical items that baby can be uses for months/years. The cape and diaper cover are sweet little photo props to capture a moment in time. We’re not sure which is cuter…the tail on the diaper cover or the decorative shell pattern that uses the spike stitch.

Lil Snapper Crochet Pattern Available in the Store

The Lil Snapper crochet pattern is available in the Store.

Lil Snapper set on Etsy.

Lil Snapper plus rattles and stuffed animal on Etsy.

This newborn turtle set first appeared in Love of Crochet magazine Fall 2014. We have the rights back to this pattern and it’s now available in our shop.

Learn more and see more photos of the Lil Snapper.

Filed Under: Accessories, Afghan, Age & Gender, Animals, Baby, Hat, Patterns for Sale · Tagged With: baby blanket, cape, diaper cover, hat, newborn, turtle

Behind the Scenes: Granny Heart Clutch

April 3, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Would you rather keep your hooks and supplies in a plastic sandwich baggie, or in a crocheted granny heart clutch?

For the longest time I used a zippered plastic bag. It was actually quite convenient. It could be rolled up and put in my crochet bag or sit beside me as I worked. But I had to use the gallon size bag and it seemed slightly bulky.

A Owl Bean Bag Deb Blanket

After making a few heart granny squares for the Granny’s Tree of Love afghan for the Owl Set (pictured above), I decided to try to make a little clutch. I decided to make a bright and colorful one first. Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice has many lovely colors and made a delightful clutch. I lined it so I could keep my hooks and supplies in it.

Owl Bean Bag pattern on Etsy.

Owl Crochet Set pattern on Etsy.

Granny’s Tree of Love Blanket Photo Tutorial pattern on Etsy.

This clutch appeared in Love of Crochet magazine. The editor suggest monochromatic colors and this grey and black version was created (pictured below in Knit Picks Shine).

Perfect purse for crochet hooks

I put a couple of magnetic clasps on it to keep my items safe inside. It has quickly become one of my favorite projects. It is beautiful and practical.

Learn more about the Heart Centered Granny Square Clutch.

Heart Granny Clutch pattern on Etsy.

Filed Under: Adult, Age & Gender, Bags, Behind the Scenes, Crochet, Great as Gifts, Yarnovator · Tagged With: behind the scenes, clutch, granny square

Tips and Tricks: Color

April 1, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Color Tips

One of the simplest and easiest ways to adjust a knit or crochet pattern is to change the color. There are several things to keep in mind before changing the color.

Flame Beanies

Substitute Yarn. Use the colors suggested by the designer. If the exact yarn is not available, be sure to substitute with the same weight yarn. If the pattern calls for a light weight yarn (3), try to find another light weight yarn. Substituting with a medium could significantly change the size of the finished project. In the case of beanies pictured above, if the yarn used is larger / heavier than suggested, the hats may end up too big. If gauge is not important, feel free to substitute with any weight and adjust the crochet hook accordingly.

Flame Beanies pattern on Etsy.

Turtle Family

Fit a Theme. You might want to change colors to fit a theme. Sometimes you want to change the color to a person’s favorite color or you want to match the colors of a person’s room, like a nursery. Notice where the darker colors are used. If you like the original pattern, try to keep the darker colors where the darker colors are used. Keep in mind, some patterns will look fabulous in a different order as well. The turtles pictured above show the same pattern with various color schemes. I went for traditional, then attempted to make one similar to the blue and white porcelain of the 14^th century.

Turtle Rattles and Blanket pattern on Etsy.

Houndstooth Shrug

Notice Stitch Patterns. Some patterns don’t look good in all color schemes. Sometimes a solid color will look better than a variegated color and vice versa. Sometimes the designer chose odd colors but the pattern is beautiful. Look at the stitch work itself and decide if it’s something you like. Houndstooth is often done in black and white, but it would look equally stunning in various colors. I did see a project in lavender and grey. Because the colors were so close, the houndstooth pattern was almost invisible. The stitch work is great, but more contrasting colors would be better.

Houndstooth Shrug pattern on Etsy.

Owl Bean Bag Set

Go Whimsical. Realism has its place, but sometimes fun and fanciful color schemes can work just as well.

Owl Bean Bag pattern on Etsy.

Owl Complete Set pattern on Etsy.

Granny’s Tree of Love Blanket photo tutorial on Etsy.

Go Tonal. Working in tones can make for striking projects. Work from light to dark or dark to light, or vary the tones for more stunning transitions.

Heart Centered Granny Clutch pattern on Etsy.

Hiking Buddy

Notice the sheen of the yarn. Some yarn has a matte look while others are shiny. This can impact the appearance of the final project as well. Would a doll look better shiny or dull? Perhaps the doll would look better in matte colors while the dress is shiny. This hiking buddy pictured above was done in shiny Caron Simply Soft.

Hiking Buddy purse pattern on Etsy.

Frog it! Sometimes one color doesn’t look as good as we’d like. It might be worth ripping out and trying another color.

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks, Yarnovator · Tagged With: color, tips and tricks, yarn

Twins Face Off – Lion Brand Yarn Design Challenge

March 31, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Twins Face Off – April 2015 Design Challenge Sponsored by Lion Brand

We had such a great time with our first Twins Face Off Design Challenge that we’re bringing you another. Will Deborah be able to design another top pick and defend her title or will Dana design the crowd favorite and become the new champion?

Lion Brand Yarn is sponsoring the April challenge with a beautiful self striping yarn.

We will each have 3 skeins of Lion Brand Landscapes yarn in Boardwalk. This is a soft roving style yarn made in 100% acrylic. Each skein has 147 yards / 100 grams. The colors in this are vibrant, cheerful and fun and unlike anything we’ve worked with before!

Next week we will announce what cateogry of item we will crochet (could be a garmnet, accessory or toy, etc.) and we’ll share a sneak peek at what we’re working on. The week following that we will ask you to vote on the two designs. We will also be running a giveaway:

1st place to win 3 skeins of yarn and the 2 patterns;
2nd place to win the two patterns.

A big thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for sponsoring the April Twins Face Off. Visit their website to see Crochet Patterns and Knitting Patterns using Landscapes yarn.

Filed Under: Twins Face Off Design Challenge · Tagged With: design challenge, lion brand, Twins Face Off

Heart Centered Granny Square Clutch

March 30, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Heart Centered Granny Square Clutch

Crochet a heart centered granny square clutch for your crochet hooks and accessories!

This adorable little bag first appeared in Love of Crochet summer issue Crochet More 2014. We have the rights back to this pattern and have added this design to our shop.

For the magazine, Deborah crocheted the Heart Centered Granny Square Clutch in Knit Picks Shine yarn in greys and black. The prototype was crocheted in bright colors using Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn (see photos in the shop). The is a quick and easy weekend project and would be a great stash buster.

Deborah uses this to store all her crochet tools. She added magnetic snaps to keep the front flap securely in place. It’s keeps her crochet hooks and tools securely inside and the little hands of her toddler out. The clutch is also small and portable for when Deborah wants to work on her crochet projects on the go.

Heart Centered Granny Square Clutch – Available in the Store

The crochet pattern includes lots of photos, written instructions, checkboxes to mark your progress and more.

Granny Heart Clutch purse pattern on Etsy.

Learn more about the Heart Centered Granny Square Clutch and see color photos in the shop.

Filed Under: Accessories, Bags, Patterns for Sale · Tagged With: clutch, granny square, heart, purse

Behind the Scenes: Houndstooth Shrug

March 27, 2015 by Yarnitect (Dana) ·

Behind the Scenes: Houndstooth Shrug

The Houndstooth Shrug won by a landslide in the Twins Face Off Shrug design challenge. But it wasn’t always stunningly beautiful. It went through a couple of redsigns on it’s way to greatness.

“Shrugly” was how Deborah’s husband described the shrug at one point. Yep, combine the word shrug with ugly and you get one shrugly garment.

I think Deborah lost 50 pounds by getting rid of the hood!

Deborah and I talked on the phone throughout the design process and at one point I encouraged her to google images for Cruella Deville (cartoon character in 101 Dalmations). She liked the idea of splitting black and white on the outfit.

Deborah also mentioned that the collar was a happy accident. “I originally designing the collar so that it would join and buttoned in the center front,” she explaiend. “But, when I folded the collar back it created a stunning lapel”. The back of the collar looks great folded flat (as pictured above) or up (pictured right).

Kudos to Deborah for working and reworking her design until she got it just right. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

She held strong to her convictions to create a beautiful garment and her hard worked paid off.

You can see more pictures of the Houndstooth Shrug in the shop.

Houndstooth Shrug available on Etsy.

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Scarves, Cowls & Shrugs · Tagged With: behind the scenes, houndstooth, shrug