Double Crochet (dc)

 Hi again loves, 

Thank you for sticking around.  Today I would like to teach you double crochet (dc).  This will be done using American terminology.

This stitch is not as dense as the single crochet (sc).  It works up quickly and is perfect for blankets, scarves 🧣, and dishcloths just to name a few.

To do this stitch you make your foundation chain, however long you need it to be for your project...

I'll be doing a chain of 18 stitches.

chain of 18 sts.

To do the double crochet, yarn over (yo) and inserts your hook in the 4th chain from the hook... Yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through two of the three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through both remaining loops. There, you have just completed a dc.

We have 4 dc and 3 chains.

3 hooks on the hook

In this pic we yo and pull through 2 of the 3 loops

This picture is showing the completed stitch.

I also have a video for my loves. 

Thanks loves for taking a read.  Live, Love, Laugh... Please follow me on FB, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also purchase yarn to make your masterpieces here.

Designer... Well I'm getting there

 Hi Loves,

I have always been able to make my "own designs", be it a bag or a skirt, or even a suit for my firstborn (sadly I gave it away without thinking when she grew it out). I could also replicate without writing down the steps, but as time goes by the thought came to share my designs. This is where things get difficult, as it's easy for me to do but to write the steps down now that's a whole other ballgame.

Why you ask? 

Well, I can write down what I do, but will it makes sense to my readers?  Will they be able to reproduce the awesomeness I did?

Here are a few bags I made using no pattern...

SO......

In my quest to become a renowned designer...  I am testing the waters with what I think are easy-to-follow patterns, ones with simple repeats to make beautiful pieces. In January 2019 I wrote and publish my first pattern on Ravelry (wow, it's been that long).  I still haven't sold a single copy but not worried.  I have written notes here and there of different items I want to design but nothing final.

There are a few setbacks since my first publication however, I will press on and persevere.  I have grown and I'm more confident in writing my patterns.  I am also gathering the skills needed to ensure the patterns are well-written and formatted.

My first publication.

So look out world Khenzuri is coming!!  Stay tuned as a lot of awesomeness is to follow.  Until then... 

Thanks loves for taking a read.  Live, Love, Laugh... Please follow me on FB, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also purchase yarn to make your masterpieces here.

Spiderweb

 Hi loves, 

2021 started with a challenge presented to me by my mother.  She sent me a pic and requested the item for her birthday in February.  I was like wait a minute mama, I have never just looked at a pic and replicated it... I was about to back down but told myself this year, I will definitely step out of my comfort zone and really try to get my business off the ground as this is what I really love doing.

This is what she sent me.

I honestly went searching on the net for a possible pattern.  I typed in the search engine what I think this may be called... I search for images, I checked the page on Facebook, where she got it from, and no such luck. 

She then made another request....... Lady are you serious right now????   I am still trying to locate a pattern for your requested top.  You see, that item was made out of yarn but she hates yarn as she thinks all yarn is scratchy (trust me. I've tried telling her otherwise).  So, she wanted her's made out of crochet thread, you know that thin thread they used for doilies.

Yeah, that's the one... Aunt Lydia's size 10.. yup.. this same one.

On a side note, before you tell me there is one that was made for fashion (Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3, that's thicker), I found that out recently, but not available where I live.

Now back to the scheduled programming.....

I had to decide:

• How many chains I needed to do to get her size (which when asked for her bust measurement she replied... "measure yourself and add about 4")
• For the spacing how many stitches to skip etc.

With my picture, thread, and hook in hand I started to replicate... 

I also decided to hold 2 strands instead of two.  After working out how many chain stitches were needed. I started the easy part... Double crocheting the top section.

Now...... Here comes the hard part.... How am I going to start the design without a pattern now? Sighs!!!   Well, I did a thing.... It looked almost like the picture, but when I got to the end of the first round... Sighs again!!! there were too many stitches left, which means the last stitch will be too wide.. 

Aaaawwww!!!!

ok Melissa, think...... I counted the last stitches.. and did a little math and just perfect... I got equal spacing.. 

Working, working, working.. Crocheting, crocheting, crocheting... not feeling what I'm doing... Pause! Pause! Pause!

I finally got to the desired length... But something was off... Bummer!!!!!!!

This is what it looked like.

I wasn't feeling this look... then I did a thing... I slip-stitched the last row and felt that it looked better.. If you know me... I could not leave the others so I ripped back all the stitches back to the beginning of the pattern.  OMG, you say... That was easy to do... It's what followed next.. I did each round twice... 

What? How so?... Well after completing each round I do through each stitch and slip stitch around. That, in my opinion, thickens the strands and it looked better to me.  Let me know what you all think.

The end product.

Thanks loves for taking a read.  Live, Love, Laugh... Please follow me on FB, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also purchase yarn to make your masterpieces here.