A Crochet Project Just For Me!

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Yup… that's right. I made something just for ME!
I don't do that very often but this one had to happen.

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If you follow along with us on Twitter or Facebook, you know I gained a serious obsession for blanket scarves this past fall and winter.

For me, a blanket scarf is more than just an opportunity to wrap up against the elements. Although, let me just say that, on our trip to New York City this past February, we were VERY happy we had them. We were in the FAB city on the day of the coldest temperatures since the 1970s and our blanket scarves were VERY useful. But I digress… 

More than just protection from frostbite, blanket scarves are a FAB way to showcase a beautiful piece of fabric. This is definitely the case with the gorgeous wool we bought at Mood in NYC.

For a crochet or knitting devotee, blanket scarves are the perfect way to showcase a stunning yarn or a dramatic stitch pattern. Also, they are great projects for just sitting and stitching when you don't want to think too much about shaping.

So… yeah… I'm a little obsessed. And I don't see this obsession ending any time soon because I have only begun to dive into the endless combination of fabrics, stitches, yarns, colors… MAKE ALL THE BLANKET SCARVES!!

Looking back, I'm realzing this post could have been subtitled:
Why A Blanket Scarf Is A Many Splendored Thing
 

Since I don't really make a lot of things just for me and since I am particularly in LOVE with this project, I thought I'd share it with you.

The story of this scarf is kind of funny. You see, I have this Craftsy class called Quick and Easy Crochet Cables and the project for the class is a FAB little envelope clutch made from a simple rectangle of crochet cables. When I was on my way to Denver, Colorado to film the class, I realized I didn't have anything particularly warm to wear in my coat closet. You know… Seattle winters just aren't that harsh and the only time we get into temps that cold is when we go hiking in the mountains and I didn't want to wear my beat up hiking jacket for my trip.

Then it hit me… DING!

In my studio is a large wall of shelves full of yarn that inspires me. On one of those shelves, was a bunch of yarn that we purchased on a particularly snowy trip to Wyoming around ten years ago. The yarn was a bulky, single-spun, slight felted wool we found in this little shop in Dubois, Wyoming (pronounced Dew-boys for those not from Wyoming). Like many of you, we sometimes buy yarn and fabric without any idea of what we are going to make with it. These purchases are made because the yarn or fabric is inspirational and I make no apologies for buying inspirational product. This wonderful, wooly, Wyoming yarn was one of those inspirational purchases. The natural colors, the soft hand, the fact that the wool came from the shop owner's own flock… it was the perfect storm for us and we bought as much of it as she had on the rack in her shop: nine big ol' gorgeous hanks in total.

This is where the DING! happened…

So, with one of those novelty hooks I keep in a drawer because I have NO idea what size they are, we rolled the Wyoming wool into center-pull balls, I grabbed my Craftsy class cable chart and set to stitching!

I know… long story… but a good one, yes? This project is the perfect example of inspiration meeting opportunity. That's what makes the resulting blanket scarf even more special for me.

Here are some shots Jason took of the finished scarf while were in the Shibaguyz Photography studio one day. Yes, it's good to be married to a professional photographer.

The pattern is the exact pattern stitch for stitch from my Craftsy crochet class. Upon seeing this blanket scarf, some folks have taken the class just so they could learn cables and make a scarf like this for themselves. Heck… while we were in New York City, we were walking along the shops on Madison Avenue and folks came out of the shops on two different occasions to ask where I purchased my scarf. Of course, they left with our card in hand.

So many things I love about this scarf. Even though the weather is warmer here now, I'm looking forward to our trip to New York this October when we teach at Rhinebeck then spend a few days in the city. Yes, I've already started on new blanket scarves. More photos and patterns later…


Details about our classes at Rhinebeck here:
Workshops with the Shibaguyz at the 2015 New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY    

For now, enjoy the eye candy! Oh… if you do decide to get your crochet cables groove on with my Craftsy class, be sure to share your finished project photos with us. Clutches, blanket scarves, however you decide to use the pattern from the class… we want to see how YOU are inspired too!

Here's a special link for you to use for my Craftsy crochet class:
Quick and Easy Crochet Cables Class on Craftsy by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby   


Stitch On!
S&J

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