Category: mini skeins

Will You Be My Galentine?

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February 13th is Galentine’s Day and it’s the day to honor the girls that stand beside you through thick and thin! Celebrate your Bestie on Galentine’s Day with the Claddagh Crochet Hat.

The Claddagh is one of Ireland’s most recognized and precious images. Two hands embracing a heart adorned with a crown symbolize the purity of a cherished relationship. Little hearts adorn this hat to remind you of that cherished love. Choose a single skein of Monstrous Bulky from Jems Luxe Fibers or use one of their Monstrous Minis curated color collections like Aphrodite shown here in reds and pinks. Create this hat for your favorite lady or girl-it comes in two sizes!

New Year, New Yarn, New Pattern

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Don’t you love a new year? New beginnings, a fresh slate…new projects! I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I make a new WIPs (works in progress) box. Everything from last year gets sorted and prioritized. And then I can start making room for the new projects in the coming year.

I hope you are having fun dreaming of what your next next project is! That’s always the best part, isn’t it? And I’ve got some super cute patterns coming your way in the next few weeks for you to drool over. The first patterns are from a collaboration with Forbidden Fiber to spread Random Acts of Kindness. Bookmark this page, because I’ll release a new pattern from the collection every few days until all five have been revealed. Then make available the Random Acts of Kindness Ebook featuring all five patterns at a discounted price. I hope you love them as much as I had fun designing them. Please take the opportunity to spread a little love this year!

Pattern #1

Kissing Hand Mitts

Precious mitts for a precious child, inspired by the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. The “kiss” can be emblazoned on the back of the hand or hidden in the palm.

Pattern #2

Winner Cup Cozy

Tell your Best Friend they are a Winner with this cup cozy, then make a complimentary
version for yourself! The fun motif is reminiscent of early TV game shows.

October Tricks make November Treats!

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I had a lot of fun partnering with Jems Luxe Fibers for their Trick or Treat advent box in October! I may or may not have been directly responsible for one of the tricks. I can admit, I am directly responsible for one treat: the crochet pattern included in the kit, the Winter Twilight hat! The pattern really shows off Jems’ stunning color palette that tells the story of the three witches of mythology who had to share an eye!

So now, the tricks of Halloween can be your treat! The pattern is great for any of the Monstrous Mini bulky sets from Jems Luxe Fibers. Check out the version below using the Apollo Collection. The blues and whites are perfect for ushering in winter snowfalls. And the Star Stitch detail evokes thoughts of twinkling stars in the clear cold night or snowflakes on a sunny winter day.

I hope you enjoy this trick-turned-treat!

Winter Twilight Hat using Monstrous Minis in the Apollo collection from Jems Luxe Fibers

October Offer: Two Free Patterns!

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Aren’t these mitts adorable? It gets better… They are warm and squishy and a delight to wear, too! Guess what.

The crochet pattern for these mitts is free for the month of October! But it gets better… You can have another pattern from my library for free for the month of October too! Any pattern!

Here’s how to get them. It’s easy!

1. Download the V-Stitch Mitts pattern here and make yourself a pair.

2. Post a picture of your own V-Stitch Mitts on Instagram. In your post, tag me, @katie_clark_crochet and @jemsluxefibers who dyed the fabulous mini bulkies used in this pattern.

3. Like @katie_clark_crochet and @jemsluxefibers on Instagram.

When you’ve done all three, message me and I’ll send you any one of the patterns listed on my website for free!

Lush Cowl + Monster Minis

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An older pattern gets an upgrade thanks to new Monster Minis from Jems Luxe Fibers!

Jems Luxe Fibers has introduced new bulky mini sets called Monster Minis and I’m in love! These little wonders are a fun way to play with color. I’m one of the lucky first designers to get their hands on some to see how they work up. The first thing I did was reinvent my classic Lush Cowl to feature Jems’s coordinating sets. This version uses a full skein of Jems Luxe Fibers Bulky in Graphite and the Hebe Collection Monster Minis. Don’t you love the color combination?

The warm and squishy cowl features a unique crochet cable technique. It works up quickly with enough plush layers to sit high over your nose, and is soft enough to scrunch around your neck. So grab the pattern and your Monster Minis from Jems Luxe Fibers. They are the only ones who carry bulky minis!

Lush Cowl $5

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Fight Like A Girl: New Pattern Coming Soon!

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It’s so hard to keep a secret! I’ve been working on a pattern collaboration with Forbidden Fiber Company called Fight Like a Girl, and I can’t wait to share it! So in my excitement, here is a sneak peek. If you want to get in on it, you can order the kit here.

Forbidden Fiber has delicious hand dyed colors and the Fight Like a Girl kit is no exception. This treasure trove is inspired by how awesome we think women are (ourselves included). The kit includes six 20g hand dyed miniskeins, a pattern (crochet or knit), and surprise themed goodies.

Be sure to order before limited supplies run out!

Agape Love Shawl Crochet Version and 9 Tips for working with Mohair

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Happy Valentine’s Day! Treat your Valentine or yourself to this soft, luxurious scarf designed by Judy Busby at Jems Luxe Fibers and translated to crochet by me, Katie Clark.

Agape Love is an unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of the circumstance.  Agape is the Greek term for Love – the highest expression of love – a pure and  selfless thing.

This shawl is a fun and quick crochet using minis and mohair.  Every row begins with decreases that shapes this colorful shawl.  Have fun with your colors and let it reflect the love you’ve experienced, how it has shaped and reshaped you.  God’s love for you and me is passionate, pure and beyond anything we’ve ever experienced, accepting us as we are.  He reminds us of our worth and beauty as His daughters.  He loves us with unconditional Agape Love.  God is Love!

Judy Busby, Jems Luxe Fibers

If you’ve never used mohair, you’ll find it takes some patience to work with. So before we get into the pattern, let me give you a few tips for working with mohair.

Tip #1

Use a larger hook or needle to retain loftiness. The wonderful thing about mohair is the silky halo of fiber that surrounds the core. Using a hook or needle that is too small will compact the fibers, negating the effect.

Tip #2

Work loosely. For the same reason as above, use a gentle hand. Or if you have a tendency to stitch tightly, go up another size or two.

Tip #3

Hold with another yarn to add softness, halo & warmth. The fibers aren’t just beautiful. They are very useful for insulating. Used alone, mohair is surprisingly warm. So adding it to another yarn will make your finished piece that much warmer.

Tip #4

Ask your LYS to wind your yarn. Especially if you’ve never used mohair before, because it is so clingy. You don’t want to be frustrated with your yarn before you even begin your project. If you must wind it yourself, try loosening fibers before winding by gently spreading the strands apart to keep them from matting together as you wind.

Tip #5

Do not work cake or ball from inside. I’m a work-the-ball-from-the-inside kind of girl. I do it even when it’s not recommended. Except for mohair. Ever. The fibers pull on each other and you end up with a big mess. Ask me how I know.

Tip #6

Use excellent lighting. This is always important, but especially when using mohair. The halo can make the core strand difficult to see. Good lighting can help and if you really can’t make out your stitches, try holding it up to the light.

Tip #7

Don’t worry so much about mistakes. The halo hides a lot. But if necessary, hold your work up to light to check.

Tip #8

Be patient when taking out stitches. It’s inevitable that you will have to take some out eventually. But try not to get frustrated. Don’t pull so hard that you rip the core, but don’t be afraid to tear fuzz to separate the strands.

Tip #8

Most of all, be patient! It’s is different than any other fiber. But the soft luxurious mohair is worth it!

Now on to the Agape Love Shawl Crochet Version!

Agape Love Shawl

Difficulty
Beginner

Finished Measurements
Approx. 90 inches by 6 inches

Materials
Agape Love Minis and Nimbus Set

or

1 skein Jems Luxe Fibers Nimbus in Ruby Red MC
1 mini skein Jems Luxe Fibers Luxe Sock in each of these colors
Aphrodite CC1
Rubellite CC2
Agape CC3
Ruby Red CC4
Apple of Discord CC5

US Size N (9mm) hook

Tapestry needle

Gauge
3 sc = 1 inch
Gauge not critical

Begin Shawl
Holding MC and CC1 together, ch 270 loosely.

Row 1: Working in back loop of ch, sk first ch, sc3tog, sc across to last 3 chs, sc3tog. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc3tog, sc across to last 3 sts, sc3tog. Turn.

Rows 3 & 4: Rpt row 2.

*Break CC1. Pick up CC2 and hold it together with MC.
Rpt row 2 five times (or as many times as desired if you have extra yarn).

Rpt from * for each mini skein. Finish off both strands. Weave in ends. Block as desired.

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New Patterns! Kirithra Cowl and Scarf

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Here is the Kirithra Cowl and Scarf! One pattern, two styles! “Kirithra” means “honeycomb” in Greek and it’s the same honeycomb pattern as the Kirithra Shawlette. I am so proud of the Kirithra Shawlette, but there are so many things I love about the cowl version.





First, it’s a perfect use of a pack of mini skeins from JemsLuxe Fibers! Do you have a mini skein set waiting for a project or 5 random minis you can put together? You can use that, or even left over sock yarn from your last few pairs. You just need 20 grams or 90 yards each in 5 different colors. You can even use a couple of full size handdyed skeins if you want.

Another thing is how fast it is. The cowl only takes a few hours to make, so it’s a great last minute Christmas present. The scarf, of course, takes a little longer, but it’s only December 1st. You still have time!

It’s easy too! If you were hesitant about the Intermediate skill level of the Kirithra Shawlette, this is a fun Beginner alternative.

If you like a challenge, or math (ha!), the cowl and scarf patterns are adjustable. The stitch count is included so you can alter the width and length.

I hope you enjoy this cowl as much as I have had designing and wearing it!