February Craftivism Challenge - Crochet Heart Scarf Pattern and Tutorial

I am soooooo sorry this has taken sooooooo long to get posted!  Did you ever have a week where everything takes 3 times longer than usual, no matter what you do?  That's been the last 4 days of my life.  Hopefully, whatever's up with this time-warp issue has finally been resolved and is on its way OUT THE DOOR!



So as promised, here is the (small fanfare of trumpets) Crochet Heart Scarf Pattern!

Let's get started...

I used a 7-oz. Red Heart Super Saver (most of it), Cherry Red - you can use any acrylic worsted weight yarn you choose, as long as it's red.  I also used a size J (10/6mm) hook.

For our newbie crocheters, we're going to learn how to do a double crochet (dc) with this project.  Don't worry - it's just like I told you, every crochet stitch is just yarn overs and pull-up-a-loop-s.  We're also going to practice repeats within rows (usually written as * to *) and numbers of rows.

Start by chaining 202.

Row 1:  Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (201 sc).  Remember to hold the yarn tail behind your first few stitches to work it in.  Ch 3, turn.  Yes, 3 ch's.

Row 2:  That ch 3 acts like your first double crochet (dc) of this row.  So now you're going to dc for real.  Skip the stitch that's next to your chain (your chain is replacing this stitch). Yarn over.

Insert hook into next space.

Yarn over,

and pull up a loop, just like you do for single crochet.

 Yarn over again, and pull through 2 loops, just like single crochet.

Do it again.

Now you know why it's called double crochet - you basically make 2 single crochets right on top of each other.

Sc in next stitch. *Dc in next 2 stitches, sc*, rep from * to * across, ending with a sc.  Be extra careful with your counting.  I was talking and watching TV and interrupted and checking the computer.  There are sections of my test scarf that have as many as 5 dcs in a row.  Yeah, no fooling!  So the moral of the story is, you should have 201 stitches (counting the ch 3 as the first dc), and end with a sc.  Now, ch 3 and turn.  Here is a closeup of the pattern.

Row 3:  For this row, instead of doing BIG BIG small, we are going to do small small BIG, and here's how it goes.  Your ch 3 will act as the first dc.  Sc in the tops of the 2 dc in row 2, then dc in the sc in row 2.  Repeat across.  Make your final stitch in the top chain of your turning chain from Row 2.  It's just like making a stitch in your base chain.  After you make that stitch, ch 1, turn.  Make sure you have 201 stitches.

Row 4:  Sc across.  Ch 3, turn.  Do you have 201?

Repeat rows 2-4 four (4) more times.  When you get to the last sc of the final row, make 3 sc in that same stitch.  This will turn your corner.  Working as best you can, sc in ends of the previously worked rows.  You'll remember doing this from when we did the cup cozy.  When you are ready to make the last sc along the side, do 2 sc in the last stitch, and slip stitch to the end stitch on the base row.  Fasten off, and weave end into back of scarf.

Join with a slip stitch to opposite end (where your chain first began).  Sc in ends of rows up to the top row.  Work 2 sc in that final end, and join with a slip stitch.  Fasten off, and weave in the end to the back of scarf. Here is a close-up of the neat texture these alternating rows create.

Now, you have a perfectly lovely scarf.  But maybe you're a fringe girl, or you're thinking your scarf may end up in the hands of a fringe girl.  Not a problem.  We just learned how to do fringe when we made the mug mats.

Since this is fringe for a grown-up, it needs to be a little more substantial than just a single little strand of yarn.  We're going to use 2 strands.  We don't want to be all flashy - just a little fringy.  So let's start by counting the number of sc's you have on each end.  Hopefully you have the same number on each side.  If not, I won't tell.  There are no scarf police!  And I'm so sorry - I have to make you do math.  Take that number and multiply it by 2.  This will be how many fringe strands you need to make.

I made my fringe about 8" long.  I used this piece of cardboard, and wrapped my yarn around 72 times.  Then I cut the yarn at that bottom edge - ALL the strands of yarn.  It looked like this:

Part of me thinks this would make some pretty stylin' hair for a punk rock Raggedy Ann doll...

Insert your hook from front to back in the sc's on the ends.  You'll start at one end, then work toward the other.  So take two of those strands and loop them over the hook.  Pull this loop through the sc, then pull the ends through the loop.  Pull tight, and you have your first "fringe".  Repeat all the way across one end, then all the way across the other.  When you get all of them done, straighten them all out by combing through with your fingers.  Line the ends up with a ruler (I used my cutting mat), and trim them all even.

And there you have it!  The great thing about this pattern, and especially the length of this scarf - if you were to make it again, using several skeins of yarn, you'd have a really nice-sized, thick and warm afghan.  Do only 2 repeats for a skinny fashion scarf using a skein of really chunky yarn, and maybe a thin, variegated sock yarn.  Use a metallic yarn.  Play with the number of dc's and sc's - what will happen if you use 2 and 2 instead of 2 and 1?  What about 3 and 3?  What about 3 and 1?  Just so many ways to play!

Oh, and bonus!  Now that you can double crochet, you can make granny squares and you can make shell stitches.  We'll get into that more down the road.  For now, though, celebrate your new stitch and get ready for more fun!  Be proud of you!

February Craftivism Challenge - HeartScarves

Did you know that heart disease kills more women each year than breast cancer?  In this season of hearts, our monthly Craftivism Challenge will be making scarves for women facing the challenges of heart disease.


Before we start, please read about the WomenHeart HeartScarves Program.  We'll be doing two scarves - one knit and one crochet.  At the end of February, we'll have a link-up party to share our projects, just like we did for our pillowcases, Little Dresses, and Boy Shorts.

You can order a kit from Red Heart Yarns - a portion of the sale is donated to the WomenHeart program, or you can use up your stash of red yarn.  Follow the pattern from the kit, follow the patterns we use here, or follow your favorite scarf pattern.  The only requirements are the size and color.

By the way, if you are going to a SuperBowl party tomorrow, but aren't that big of a football fan, this is a great project to work on between the commercials.  Who knows - you might get some of your friends interested, and start a stitching circle!

We're going to start with the crocheted scarf today, and do the knitted scarf next week.

January Craftivism Challenge - Round-up

Well, we've spent the last 3 weeks making pillowcases, Little Dresses and Little Boy Shorts.



These are my pillowcases (all 12 of them) - they are headed to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Now it's time to show off what you've made, and tell us where your goodies are headed!  Sorry, no photo thumbnails, but you can list your blog, or a link to Flickr or other photosharing website.  Be sure to go visit others who've worked hard for these challenges, and leave them some blog love!

Here we go!




Thanks so much for your participation!

A Special Day and A Special Challenge

I hope you all are having fun starting the first of our January Craftivism Challenges.  I have another one for you...
Let me start by saying how grateful I am for each and every one of my readers.  You are all a special bunch, and your pageviews and comments mean so much to me.

As of today, SPH has officially had viewers on the 6 inhabited continents (welcome, Namibia)!  The teenager and almost-teenager and I have been using the "audience map" on the dashboard to practice world geography for homeschool.  We have been counting the countries, and all of us are so excited when a new country is heard from.  And today, we reached Africa.  Wow - I am so amazed, and humbled, and blessed.

So here's the Special Challenge for this Special Day...

I'm hoping that one of my resourceful readers can connect me somehow to a scientist or member of the support staff in Antarctica.  I know, you can't find one in the phone book (sometime I'll share with you all my missionary to Bolivia story).  But, maybe just maybe, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone else...

For that special reader - a 3-pack of handmade dishcloths in your choice of colors.  And yes, I will actually ship this one to anywhere in the world.  Also, I will be glad to send a matching set to your scientist.  I thought it would be a nice taste of home for someone living at the bottom of the world.

Please have your scientist or support staff member contact me at the email address listed in the left-hand column of the blog.  They must be actively and currently working in the Antarctic.  It's still summer down there, so there should be a pretty large contingent.  Of course, summer doesn't last forever, especially in Antarctica.  Time is of the essence here.

All entries will be based on time stamp on the email, and it will be first-come, first-served for the prize.

And a PS - if you are reading from somewhere other than the USA today, would you be kind enough to leave a comment with your country of residence?  You don't have to leave a mailing address, or anything like it - just a country.  Like Canada.  Or Russia.  Or China.  Or Bangladesh.  Or, of course, NAMIBIA!

Good luck, to all, and have fun!