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 Shannon & Jason's Blog 

Yarn Substitution Help Is Here!

6/8/2016

 

Never be afraid to substitute yarn again!

We've all been there… You fall in love with a pattern only to find the yarn the designer used has been discontinued or is just not to your liking. It's a story is as old as the art of crochet itself. Perhaps even the worlds first Love-Hate relationship! "I LOVE this garment, but the pattern calls for superwash wool. I'm allergic to wool so I can't make it." or "This shawl uses 2 skeins of hand-spun lace weight yarn made from the plucked eyelashes of albino Vicuna, dyed in a mixture of crushed sapphires... can I use sport weight cotton/rayon instead?"

Don't let the idea of substituting one yarn for another fill your heart with a looming sense of dread. There are simple methods for making those kind of decisions - and, lucky you, there's now a downloadable video that will give you all the information you need to fearlessly swap one yarn for another!  <Insert Happy Dance Here>

Yarn Substitution in Crochet

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Women's Ribbed Edge Knit Vest Knitting Pattern

10/16/2014

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New From the Studios of Shibaguyz Designz - Crochet and Knitting Patterns and few of a kind bespoke garments for men and women by Shibaguyz Designz

Women's Ribbed Edge Knit Vest knitting pattern by Shibaguyz Designz


It's been a while since we've released a new knitting pattern into the wild so we thought we'd send this little beauty along to y'all.

We love the striking looks and cozy feel of this vest and we designed it with YOU, the wearer, in mind.

Here are a few details about what went on in the making of this design and the pattern.
Women's Ribbed Edge Knit Vest Knitting Pattern by Shibaguyz Designz - knitting pattern digital download includes pattern for sizes small through 3X and schematic

About the Yarn

We originally designed this vest in Plymouth Yarn Grande Glow which has a subtle hint of Stelina in it… that means there's a little SPARKLE to it or, as the name implies, a little GLOW.

Also as the name implies, Plymouth Yarn Grande Glow is a GRANDE yarn… meaning it is a bulky weight yarn weighing in at a healthy CYCA 5.

 And, yes, Plymouth Yarn Grande Glow is 97% Baby Alpaca. Folks… that means this yarn feels oh so soft next to your skin. Seriously… just get a case of it and dive into it. You're welcome.


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Crochet Gives Back

10/10/2014

 

How Our Crochet Community Can Give Back one person at a time


Crochet Gives Back – Helping others feel Safe, Warm, and Loved by Shibaguyz Designz

As the night temperatures dip lower, we find ourselves digging into the cedar chest at the end of the bed for those warm afghans and quilts to cuddle up under. The safety of a roof over our heads, the warmth and protection or our homes and clothing, and the love of friends and family are all things we are thankful for every day.


As a matter of fact, the mantra that comes to me throughout the day and that has gotten me through spots when I felt like my world was spinning a little out of control is:

I am Safe, Warm, and Loved.
Crochet Gives Back: 8 Free Crochet Afghan Block Patterns – Helping others feel Safe, Warm, and Loved by Shibaguyz Designz

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Top 10 Pages on Shibaguyz Designz This Week

9/14/2014

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The Top 10 Most Popular Pages on Shibaguyz Designz for The Week Of September 7-13, 2014


You clicked it… that picked it! These are the top 10 articles, tutorials, and patterns from the pages of Shibaguyz Designz. Click on the title or the preview photo to see the full page. Thanks for coming around this week… see y'all next week!

#10: Permission

I wrote this post because of the overwhelming number of messages we receive that say something like:

"I would love to make (insert Shibaguyz Designz pattern name here) but I just wouldn't look good in (insert color in pattern photo here)."

OR

"I would love to make (insert Shibaguyz Designz pattern name here) but I can't afford/can't find the yarn you made it in."

This post is our official Permission to go on with your own FAB creative self, pick a color or yarn you like, and CREATE!
Permission by Shibaguyz Designz - The permission we want to give to all the FAB crochet and knitting folks out there.

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Technique Tuesday -  Woven Cables Pattern Stitch Part 1: Double Treble Left Cross Crochet Cable

9/2/2014

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Technique Tuesday by Shibaguyz Designz

How To Make the Double Treble Left Cross Crochet Cable for the Woven Crochet Cables Pattern Stitch


Technique
Double Treble Left Cross Cable (Dtr L Cross)



NOTE: This is the first in a series of Technique Tuesday tutorials for the Woven Cables block from our booklet Crochet Gives Back – 8 Free Afghan Blocks for Warm up America by Shibaguyz Designz.

(Info on how to download the free booklet at the end of this post.)
Technique Tuesday - Woven Cables Pattern Stitch, Part 1: Double Treble Left Cross Crochet Cable Stitch by Shibaguyz Designz

Woven Cables Crochet Afghan Block by Shibaguyz Designz - ShibaguyzDesignz.com
Here's a gratuitous beauty shot of the finished afghan block from the booklet.

OOOOOOO… pretty crochet cables!

We LOVE crochet cables and this block was so much fun to design. We have since worked out several variations on this woven stitch pattern that y'all will see in future designs… including one in our book in Spring 2015!

What is it?
The Double Treble Left Cross Cable is a crochet cable stitch worked over seven stitches.


Click "Read More" link below for the full post.

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Technique Tuesday - Foundation Half Double Crochet

8/12/2014

 
Technique Tuesday by Shibaguyz Designz
TECHNIQUE
Foundation Half Double Crochet (Fhdc)

WHAT IS IT?
The Foundation Half Double Crochet stitch technique (abbreviated Fhdc) is an alternative to the instructions at the beginning of a crochet pattern that tell you to chain a certain number of stitches.

This technique simultaneously creates a row of "chain" stitches AND a row of half double crochet stitches (abbreviated hdc) without making two passes. Basically, it takes the place of two rows of stitches: the "chain" row that makes up the beginning base and the next row of half double crochet that is worked into that row of chains.

You might well be wondering why we keep using " " around the word chain… good question! It's because this isn't REALLY a chain stitch… not really… but it LOOKS like a chain stitch so that's what's important. In a previous Technique Tuesday article about the Foundation Single Crocht, we decided this was best called a Faux Chain (abbreviated FxCh). It's taking a little while to catch on but we're going to keep on with it because it makes us happy.
Foundation Half Double Crochet Tutorial by Shibaguyz Designz
Once you've practiced a bit with this stitch and create it comfortably, take a close look at the "chain" part of the stitch as you are making it. You will see how the "chain" is not, in fact, a chain at all but a clever doppelganger of the chain. It serves the purpose of looking like a base row of chain stitches but it is made in such a way that it is more elastic.

Which brings us to our next point…


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Technique Tuesday - Duplicate Stitch

8/5/2014

 
Technique Tuesday by Shibaguyz Designz
Technique
Duplicate Stitch

What is it?

The Duplicate Stitch technique is used to join the last stitch of a round to the first stitch of a round by creating a "duplicate" top on the skipped stitch it is worked over. The tail of the yarn is woven over the first stitch of the round in such a way that the front and back loops of that first stitch are duplicated. This creates a clean finish for the final stitch of a round and makes a nearly invisible join.


Why use the Duplicate Stitch?

Duplicate Stitch is a FAB method for finishing or binding off circular crochet and knitting projects.


Who amongst us has not gotten to the end of a crochet motif and been a little stumped by what to do to finish off that last stitch? How to make it look neat and clean without looking like we just reached the end of our project and tied a big ol' knot in it?
And who in our ranks has lovingly hand stitched a pair of toe-up socks and gotten to the bind off at the cuff just to sit there and stare at it hoping some divine messenger from the knitting ultraverse will magically grant us the ability to fuse our stitches with the power of our mind? What… just me? Fine… just me…
For the photos of this tutorial, we used a circular crochet motif to demonstrate. But don't stop there, with a little practice this technique makes invisible finishes for the cuffs of circular crochet or knit socks and sleeves, as well as the edges of top down hats and pullover sweaters.
Duplicate Stitch Tutorial by Shibaguyz Designz
The bottom line is, anywhere we work in the round or in a spiral and end with an open tube of some sort (hats, sock and sleeve cuffs, hems), we need to fasten off or bind off in such a way that the edge of our finished project doesn't look like it was gnawed on by a demented badger.

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New crochet pattern - Filigree Leaf tunic

3/19/2014

 
We here at Shibaguyz Designz love sharing new designs with you and today we  are very pleased to announce the re-release of our crochet pattern: the Filigree Leaf Tunic.

You might recognize this design from the first life it lived in a UK magazine back in 2011. Since then, the publishing rights to the pattern have reverted to us, we've made some spiffy patterning changes, added a chart, sized the pattern for Small–5X, and now we're re-releasing this beauty into the wilds of the internet for you all to download and enjoy for yourselves!
Filigree Lace Tunic by Shibaguyz Designz

The Filigree Leaf Tunic has been a favorite of ours for years. The easy fit and versatility of this tunic makes it a FAB piece for any body type and just about any occasion.

We've made versions of this design for clients who wore them as wedding dresses, holiday party cocktail dresses, and even beach cover-ups. However, the most popular use for this light and lacy piece is just as a comfortable top to throw over jeans and a tee or tank. Add a belt for a little flattering shaping and you're all set!

Worked from the top down, you can customize the length to meet your wardrobe desires. After making the two panels, you simply sew up the sides and top seams. Easy peasy!

Intimidated by all that lace? Never fear… there's a stitch chart included with the written pattern to help you visualize your stitches. Your hook will be flying along in no time!

Check out the gallery below then CLICK HERE to head on over to our shopping site and purchase your own digital copy today! Light and breezy for warmer temps or layered to keep off the chill… you'll look stunning and have TONS of bragging rights when you wear this piece and tell folks: Yup… I made this!
Filigree Leaf Tunic by Shibaguyz Designz
Filigree Leaf Tunic by Shibaguyz Designz
Shibaguyz Designz

NEW Crochet pattern - Infinity Squared throw

3/12/2014

 
Infinity Squared Throw pattern by Shibaguyz Designz
Shibaguyz Designz is proud to release the first in a series of throws and afghans we have created inspired by the manipulation of geometric shapes and colors.

The Infinity Squared Throw is worked in the round in easy double crochet stitches using four luscious shades of red that start lighter in the center and change to darker shades as you work outward. Each round of double crochet stitches is alternated with a round of back post single crochet stitches in a deep chocolate tone to give depth to the finished throw.

Our Infinity Squared Throw is shown here in Plymouth Yarn, Galway Worsted 100% Pure Wool. Red tones not your cup of tea? You can easily customize your own version of the Infinity Squared Throw with any color palette you like. Just pick four shades for the gradient color changes and one shade of dark yarn as a back ground for the post stitches. The possibilities for  stunning color combinations are endless!

This project is oh so easy but the results are a luxurious throw you will be proud to display in your home as a warm throw or as a piece of wall art.

Click HERE to go to the Shibaguyz Designz online pattern store to download your digital copy of the Infinity Squared Throw today!

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    Shannon and Jason

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  • Our Books
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    • Complete Crochet Course
    • Designer Crochet
    • Crochet Geometry
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