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Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #13

October 13, 2014 by Kathy Lashley Leave a Comment

Are you ready for another great episode of Dear ELK Studio! Sometimes there are questions that you have as a crocheter but just need a little guidance. Hopefully these questions and this site will become a “go to” place for you!

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Dear ELK Studio,
What is a great crochet project that I can finish in a weekend?

Dear Weekend Crocheter,
I would definitely recommend hats and maybe a scarf that says it uses one skein only would be great too! Another great tactic would be using bulky yarn. Makes ya feel like you are sort of cheating time! I’ll list a couple quick projects for you.

Dear ELK Studio,
What are some great projects for craft fairs?

Dear Get Ready for Craft Fairs,
Of course, it’s the quick projects that will help you get more bang for your buck. I think baby items such as hats would be perfect! They are quick and easy, so you’ll have time to make up quite a few. I’ve seen washcloths at craft fairs too, and I don’t think you could go wrong with making some adult hats! Many people at craft fairs can appreciate the time it takes to make crocheted items! Good luck to you!

Dear ELK Studio,
Why aren’t my granny squares square?

Dear Crooked Square,
There are a few reason why the squares aren’t square. One of my first reactions to this question was tension. Believe me when I say your mood can make a difference. I’ve crocheted one project on 2 different days and the second day was a rotten day, so guess what? My tension was tighter but that doesn’t mean the project is ruined. Moogly is going to help you by demonstrating how to wet block your project to straighten out that square!

Dear ELK Studio,
How can you tell what size worsted weight yarn is when buying a skein of yarn?

Dear Worsted,
All worsted weight is not created equal in my opinion no matter what the package says. Have you ever used Red Heart Super Saver and Caron Simply Soft? They both are considered worsted weight but are not the same when you start using them. The Craft Yarn Council has set some standards in helping you to determine the weights of yarn!

Dear ELK Studio,
How do I decrease the basic stitches?

Dear Decrease,
When I figured out to decrease my stitches, I was so thrilled! It made ready many patterns so much easier. When I first saw sc2tog, it totally confused me. I really had no idea what to do. If you need some help, Moogly has a video tutorial to help you learn!

I hope you enjoy this edition of Dear ELK Studio! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook! Daily questions and tutorials are available for you!

Welcome to Dear ELK Studio!

October 8, 2014 by Kathy Lashley Leave a Comment

Welcome to the debut of Dear ELK Studio! I’m really excited about starting a “sister” blog to ELK Studio – Handcrafted Crochet Designs. Why start another one?

Dear ELK Studio is more for the crocheter that wants access to the latest techniques, tips and crochet information. You will get daily questions asked and answered on the Dear ELK Studio Facebook page along with a weekly blog post compiling all the questions so they won’t get lost in the Facebook news feed abyss.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Dear ELK Studio newsletter! It’s different from the sister blog’s newsletter! Click HERE to subscribe!

Here are some of the other exciting features:

Crochet Community Photos and Finds – A blog post filled with the latest patterns by some really great designers! (If you are a designer and would like a chance to be featured, send me an email at elkstudiocrochet@gmail.com
Crochet Community Sales – Many of my designers friends have specials on promoting a paid pattern for free or just a sale on a newly listed pattern! You can check it out here to see what’s going on in the crochet community! I’ll try to keep it up-to-date. Designers can also contact me for consideration of promoting their sale by sending me an email.
Charity Showcase – You know I have a heart and passion for charity work. I personally feel that if I can crochet a hat and give it to someone in need, I should. I want to take a moment each month and highlight some of the great and “safe” organizations that you can donate too when you have the time.
Dear ELK Studio Q&A – Receive a weekly post on the questions you’ve asked via email or on the Facebook page. I’ll try to discover those answers that always seem to be difficult to find or maybe you are new and just need help!
Crochet Techniques – Receive a weekly blog post on me featuring a different crochet stitch or maybe even a tip. Sometimes I may feature my project to show you what the stitch looks like or will do a photo tutorial. When possible, I’ll link to you some of the best crochet video tutorials in the crochet community!

I also plan on doing a monthly “Yarn Discovery” on my sister blog, ELK Studio – Handcrafted Crochet Designs, discussing a new yarn that either I’ve never used or maybe one that you didn’t know about! Eventually Yarn Discovery will move its way over here but for now it will start on the sister blog! Be on the look out for this one! It will be a blast!

I’ve got a few other small things planned but what do you think so far? Is there a specific feature or something that you’d like to see either weekly or monthly from me? I’m always open for suggestions because after all, this blog is for all of us to share the crochet love and learn a little something along the way!

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #12

June 27, 2014 by Kathy Lashley Leave a Comment

It’s time for another edition of Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column! I hope you find some information that will help you become better in your crocheting endeavors! If you have questions, just scroll to the bottom of the page to see the comment section. I hope you enjoy!

Sign up for the Dear ELK Studio Newsletter! Click HERE to subscribe!

Dear ELK Studio,
All those abbreviations in patterns are confusing me. I typed a list of those found but still ‘fall’ over new ones and cannot clarify. plus: one pattern comes in US-English, the next in UK-english – I guess, I need some more special language courses (my mother-tongue is German) Any suggestions?

Dear Language Barrier,
Here is an image of the basic crochet stitches. I hope this helps.

Also, Oombawaka Design is so fabulous because she’s taken the time to create charts that take U.S. terms and translate them into several different languages. You can check all of them out HERE.

Dear ELK Studio,
What is a turning chain and how do I use it?

Dear Turning Chain,
Using the turning chain can sometimes be confusing but are necessary because they help you reach the height of your next row. Here’s a tutorial from Oombawaka Designs that will help you!

Dear ELK Studio,
How does one figure out where my first stitch goes after turning?

Dear First Stitch,
I had problems with this when I first started too. Don’t worry because once you figure it out it will be so easy. One thing you need to remember though is that although these are the “standard” instructions, the designer can always override this to make the pattern come out right. Oombawaka Design has a tutorial showing you which chain to work in once you get started with your projects.

Dear ELK Studio,
Can you gives me some suggestions on joining my granny squares.

Dear Granny,
There are several great designers out there that have made tutorials. I’ll just give you their links below.

Dear ELK Studio,
How long should my tail be at the end of a project?

Dear Long Enough,
The length of the tail should be long enough to allow you to thread it on a yarn needle to weave in the ends. I tend to leave my yarn ends about 5-6″ in length because once I have weaved in the ends, I can always cut the excess.

If you do have a very short yarn end you need to weave in, one trick I use is to insert my yarn needle into the project where I intend to ‘weave’ my stitch before threading the yarn through the ‘eye’ of the needle. I do this in multiple directions and insert the needle and re-thread for each step of the weave.

I would like to thank Rhondda from Oombawaka for contributing to Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column! She has great designs, tutorials, advice, tips and tricks for the avid crocheter. Take a couple of minutes to go check out her site to see all the goodies! Thank you Rhondda!

If you have questions, please leave your comment in the space provided below!

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #11

June 13, 2014 by Kathy Lashley Leave a Comment

Are you ready for another week of Dear ELK Studio? We’ve got some great questions this week…..Oh, do you have one? No worries. I’ve got you a contact form at the bottom. Just leave your question there, and our contributors will get to it!! Let’s get started.

Dear ELK Studio,
How do I weave in the ends as I go?

Dear Weaver,
We ALL dread the ever looming “weaving in the ends”! Seriously, there is nothing as daunting for a crocheter as a beautiful work of art worked in several colors or motifs…. With literally HUNDREDS of ends!There are several ways to weave ends as you go. This video shows a really easy way that works great!!! The ends tend to hold up very well, and I don’t have to go back to all those MANY dangling pieces of yarn!

Of course you still need a yarn/tapestry needle to weave in the end/tail and here is a video tutorial from Moogly that shows a great way to do that!

Dear ELK Studio,
How do I change colors?

Dear Future Color Change Expert,
Changing colors can seem confusing but it’s really quite simple. Here are two videos for you that may help.

Dear ELK Studio,Can you tell me what gauge is all about?

Dear Curious Gauge,
Gauge is:
*the size of your stitches; crocheted using a specific yarn and hook combination
*usually measured in stitches per inch and rows (or rounds) per inch
*usually tighter at the beginning and ending of rows – so check your gauge in the middle of the sample (sample is usually 4″x 4″ block)

NOTE: if your pattern is worked in spirals or rounds, crochet your sample in spirals or rounds to check your gauge! Here is a fantastic resource available for free from Martingale: How To Crochet – Gauge – Karen Costello Soltys To correct your gauge you can – increase or decrease the size of your hook; or adjust the height of your stitches slightly. Another option is to change the yarn you are using.

Dear ELK Studio,
How does yarn content change a project, ie cotton, acrylic, wool?

Dear Yarnie,
Wow….The type of yarn you use can certainly change the outcome of your project sometimes for the better and sometimes…..not so much. The YarnBox recently released an article about the different types of yarn written by Elena from Beatrice Ryan Designs.

Here’s another article that is helpful to on how to choose yarn for your projects.

Dear ELK Studio, Do you have any tutorials for front and back post stitches?

Dear Textured Stitcher,
Front and back post stitches can seem intimidating, but once you’ve learned them you will fall in love. Those two stitches can make some of the most beautiful projects because of the texture they add. Here’s a great tutorial from Moogly to help you!

Do you have a Dear ELK Studio question? Just leave it in the section provided below!

Have a great day. Be blessed. Kathy

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #10

May 30, 2014 by Kathy Lashley 1 Comment

It’s time for another edition of Dear ELK Studio! I love this column and look forward to writing the blog post every time. Do you have crochet questions that you’d love to have answered? I asked the fans on my ELK Studio Facebook page did they have any Dear ELK Studio questions and hope you enjoy the edition this week as the questions were geared more along “my style” of crochet.

Dear ELK Studio,
How did you decide to make those gorgeous southern hats?

Dear Southern lover,
I was making a hat one day and wondered if I could actually make a brim. I turned to Google and searched for “hat wire”. It took me to Judith M. Inc. Supply and saw the term millinery wire. I researched a little and found that you could use the millinery wire to hold the brim in place. BINGO! I ordered the wire and well…..they ya go. After a few months of playing around with the hats, I saw a beautiful hat designed by the famous Philip Tracey. I immediately ordered the Sinfonia yarn from Creative Yarn Source.

Dear ELK Studio,
How do you choose your color combinations? Color wheel? Yarn stash?

Dear Combo,
I can’t say that I’ve ever used a color wheel to decide on my projects. I see them all over from other Facebook pages sharing but it’s not my first choice. I have to say that I usually have specific colors in my mind for each project before they even get started. Sometimes I can use my stash but often times find myself either in JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby or buying on-line from Creative Yarn Source.

Dear ELK Studio,
How many times do you test your own pattern before sending it out to other testers?

Dear Own Pattern,
It’s probably safe to say that I make the hat at least 3 times if not 4 before I have others test. Some of my free patterns aren’t sent to testers unless I feel there are questions that may come up or if I need help in how to word a part of the pattern that I feel could give others trouble. However, my paid patterns are tested just for my own reassurance and having different sets of eyes on a pattern before it’s release for purchase is always wise.

Dear ELK Studio,
From where do you get your inspiration?

Dear Inspired,
As you read in the first question, some of my inspiration comes from looking at hats designed by people like Philip Treacy. I have several crochet dictionary books and will look through them and just sit down with some yarn and start playing around with different stitches and see what happens. Sometimes it works while other times I sit and frog something that took me 3 hours to create.

Dear ELK Studio,
Do you have a favorite type of yarn? Weight? Brand?

Dear Yarnie,
My summer time yarn is definitely Sinfonia Cotton Yarn. It’s a mercerized cotton which is great for my hats because I use the millinery wire. I didn’t want something that would stretch and the Sinfonia worked perfectly. This past winter my “go-to” yarn was Red Heart Soft. I love the shimmer of the yarn and it seemed to work great with all of the projects I had going on at the time. I’m sure it will be used again on the upcoming winter projects.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s edition. Please feel free to ask a question!!

Have a great day. Be blessed.

Kathy

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #9

May 16, 2014 by Kathy Lashley 4 Comments

Dear ELK Studio - A Crochet Column #9

It’s time for another edition of Dear ELK Studio. You asked the questions and our team of contributors have your answers. Be sure to leave your question at the bottom of the page in the area provided. If you’ve asked a question and don’t see it today, hang on because there is always next week. Enjoy today’s article!

Dear ELK Studio,
Do you have a basic pattern you use when teaching someone to read a pattern? I’ve taught several people the basic stitches, and I have a hard time teaching people to read a pattern.

Dear Teacher,
When teaching someone the basic stitches for crochet, I like them to also end up with a finished project. I begin with a scarf! The project can use the Foundation Chain, Sc, Hdc and Dc. I do 5 rows of each stitch until the desired length. This helps with the difference between stitches, turning, starting in the correct stitch, and beginning chains and tension problems.

Here is a link to a Houndstooth scarf which uses the basic stitches of single and double crochet. It looks complex but simple to do. You should also teach the person the abbreviations as you go along for them to get a good understand of reading the pattern.

Dear ELK Studio,
I’m getting ready to start projects for Christmas and would like some new ideas for craft shows and festivals.

Dear Totally Prepared,
When choosing projects to sell at craft fairs and markets it’s important to keep your target market in mind. Here are some links for inspiration.

Dear ELK Studio,
I’ve seen some cute lovey projects. Do you know of any tutorials?

Dear Lovey,
Instead of giving you just one or two, Keeping Busy has provided you with several different lovey projects! Thanks Anabelle!

Dear ELK Studio,
I want to make a hat with stripes but hate the way my join looks, can you help me?

Dear Stripey,
Sometimes knowing the technique to use when changing colors can be confusing. KT and the Squid and Cre8tion Crochet offer a different technique that may help you on the next project. Good luck!

Dear ELK Studio,
What is the best stitch to use for a washcloth project?

Dear Best Stitch,
The best stitches to use for a washcloth would be any stitch that gives the project texture. You can combine a single crochet followed by a double crochet and continue in that sequence to give great texture, or here is a pattern by Petals to Picots, as she has a beautiful washcloth pattern.

Do you have a crochet question? We’d love to hear it. Leave your comments in the space provided below.

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #8

May 1, 2014 by Kathy Lashley 3 Comments

Dear ELK Studio,

I am a beginner and wonder where I can find great crochet patterns?

Dear Beginner,
There are many fantastic sites you can visit online for crochet patterns. If I had to choose one I would recommend Ravelry. Ravelry has a variety of fabulous crochet patterns by many different designers. You can spend hours there browsing! You do have to register for an account but no worries because it’s free. . For some other crochet pattern resources you can take a look at this blog post by Oombawaka Design and for free patterns here’s another link also by Oombawaka Design.

Dear ELK Studio,
If you were making a hat, would you use the sc, hdc or dc?

Dear Confused Hatter,
That’s a great question and the answer is yes, yes, and yes! The choice of stitch depends on many things, but for me it is largely about the desired finished look. Let us look at them:

A single crochet hat will have a denser texture and depending upon the yarn you use will sometimes look knit. It will take longer too, but will probably be warmer and a bit more structured.

Double crochet will work up very fast as you can cover much ground in fewer stitches. It will give a softer fabric, with less structure. It lends itself well as a base to many decorative stitches and textures, such as front and back post double crochets, X stitches, puffy stitches, etc.

My favorite is the half double crochet. I just like the way it looks and it is so quick to stitch. It creates a semi dense fabric and lends itself as a base for many decorative stitches. Just about the only negative to this stitch is that it will lean right so when working in the round your seam will generally go on a diagonal, but of course there are ways around this.

Dear ELK Studio,
What social media sites do you think are important as a crochet designer?

Dear Social,
There are so many social media sites available for the upcoming designer. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google + are a few and maybe the most popular but some other great sites are Sulia, Tribber, Scoop it, and Stumble Upon.

My advice for you is which ever sites you choose just set a consistent schedule. Building a following is tough work and consistency is crucial. Another point to consider is that how you interact on Facebook isn’t necessarily how you interact on Pinterest or even Twitter. Each site can attract totally different crowds.

Dear ELK Studio,
How do I start writing my own patterns?

Dear Future Designer,
I wanted to give you a great answer, so I asked Kim Guzman and Tamara (Moogly) how they started.

Kim said that she is self-taught and learned by reading and studying other patterns. Once she submitted a pattern, she would study the changes made by a technical editor. She gave this link by Crochet Insider as maybe a place to start.

Tamara is also self-taught. She just started writing and then looked at other patterns from magazines and books to study the syntax and such. She also recommended getting feedback from other designers and crocheters. Her last piece of advice is, “It’s a learning process that you just sort of dive into.”

Do you have a crochet or business related question? Leave a comment in the space provided below!

I hope you have a great day! Be blessed.

Kathy

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #7

April 17, 2014 by Kathy Lashley 2 Comments

Dear ELK Studio,
Crocheting seems to be gaining in popularity again. So why can’t I seem to find new or even classic patterns for men’s fashions aside from hats and scarves?

Dear Men’s Fashion,
There are many wonderful crochet patterns for men. All Free Crafts has over 100 different links of sweaters, slippers, ties, hat, etc. I hope you find something here you can use!

Dear ELK Studio,
Is there a tutorial on the extended single crochet stitch?

Dear Extended,
I love using extended stitches in crochet – Moogly demonstrates the extended single crochet stitch in this video tutorial.

Dear ELK Studio,
I’ve seen the wrap around stitches but not sure I can make them on my own since I’m a beginner. Is there a video or tutorial?

Dear Wrap Around,
I love the wrap around stitch and no worries about being a beginner. We have found a great tutorial for you by Moogly.

Dear ELK Studio,
I love the Catherine Wheel stitch and want to make scarves and thread crochet headbands using stitch. But I cannot find pattern or video that explains Catherine Wheel stitch. Do you have any suggestions?

Dear Catherine Wheel,
The Catherine Wheel Stitch is a PRETTY stitch and not that difficult to master over time and practice! Here is a great video tutorial by The Crochet Crowd that will help you.

Dear ELK Studio,
I made an afghan from a pattern I found on Ravelry. I put a border around it but the sides are rippling. I understand a smaller hook may get rid of the ripples. It was all a single crochet stitch. If I use a smaller hook on the sides, will I need to switch to the size I used for the main part of the afghan on the bottom and top rows? I really don’t want to try it and have to rip it out again so suggestions would be appreciated thank you.

Dear Ripples,
I’m honored to have Kim Guzman be a guest contributor to our column this week. Here’s what she says:

First, determine the width and how many stitches fit nicely into the width (usually the bottom and top of the afghan).
Next, divide the number of stitches by the measurement to determine stitches per inch.
Take the height of the afghan and multiply it by the stitches per inch to determine how many stitches should fit there.
Fold the afghan in half to determine the center of each side and place a marker.
Fold it again to find the centers of the centers.
Continue placing markers evenly along the sides like that until you have several different sections.
Now, take the number of stitches that should be along the edges and divide it by the number of sections you have.
Work the number of required stitches in each section

It’s a lot easier to fill a small space with a designated number of stitches than a large space.

If any of that seems overwhelming to you, here’s a video tutorial by Yarn Obsession that may help you too.

Do you have a Dear ELK Studio question? Leave it below in the space provided!

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #3

March 11, 2014 by Kathy Lashley 1 Comment

Dear ELK Studio,
There are so many crochet hooks out there. How do I choose?

Dear Hookless,
I love my hooks and you are certainly right by saying there are so many out there! Recently there was an article written by Beatrice Ryan Designs for The Yarn Box addressing crochet hooks and everything you should know! Hope this helps.

Dear ELK Studio,
I hate the way my project looks when I finish them off. Is there a way to make the seam look smoother besides just making a knot?

Dear Knot Happy with Seams,
There are so many ways to finish your projects smoothly, so I think knots are rarely the answer. Here is the technique I recommend via You-Tube and another tutorial by Cre8tion Crochet.

Dear ELK Studio,
I am going to attempt a wedding ring crochet cover for our king size bed. I have six colors, besides white… Light and dark blues, purples and greens. And I found a beautiful variegated yarn for the connecting octagons. I am really struggling with a sequence or pattern for the colors. Is there a resource that could help me? Thanks so much!

Dear Multiple colors,
When it comes to choosing color patterns I think Whitney Otto, How to Make an American Quilt, said it best, “There are no rules you can follow. You have to go by instinct and you have to be brave.” But if you aren’t feeling brave, here is a post from Fresh Stitches and Granny Square Colors.

Dear ELK Studio,
I cannot get a beanie cap to turn out the way it should. I follow directions but it seems the hat gets smaller instead of larger after completing a few rounds. What am I doing wrong?

Dear Shrinking Beanie,
Hats that start from the crown generally work flat until the end of the increase rows, then as you build the sides they start to form into the traditional beanie shape. If you are having trouble with it starting to change shape while still in the increase phase, it may be that you are tightening your tension as you work and the hat starts to pull in. Also check that the pattern has the proper amount of increases, as an example if the first round in the hat has 10 stitches, generally you should have an increase of 10 stitches in each increase round.

Dear ELK Studio,
Why does my crochet hat always “stretch” after washing and drying?

Dear Stretcher,
You may try hand washing your handmade items or wash them in a lingerie bag on delicate cycle and lay the item flat to dry. This insures the item is not stretched out of shape by the harsh action of the washing machine or shrunk by the extreme heat of the dryer. If it seems ALL of your projects are looser than ideal still… You may need to tighten up your tension.
Do you have a question for Dear ELK Studio Crochet Column? If so, ask in the contact form provided below. We would love to help you!

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #13

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Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #12

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Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #11

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #10

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #9

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #8

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #7

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #3

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