Happy Friday, T.H.R.I.V.E. Association Family! This week, we are continuing our focus on crocheted scarves with Yarnspirations’ “Mosaic Stitch Crochet Scarf.” This pattern creates a lovely geometric effect that looks more difficult to craft than it actually is. That being said, this is still a pattern that requires that you pay close attention to every round and stitch that you make. Fortunately, this free pattern also has a corresponding tutorial video that makes this a breeze to learn!
Here are the links to both the pattern and the tutorial video:
In our example, we chose to make our scarf without the fringe and used cream and blue as our color pair. There are countless other wonderful color combinations that would work with this pattern, but please keep in mind that if you intend to craft this as a donation to our cause, the scarf still needs to be in acceptably dignified colors for our veterans and/or their dependents to choose to wear. Darker shades of blues, blacks, grays, greens, and sometimes reds are most acceptable and desired by our dear underprivileged veterans and their dependents.
Happy Friday T.H.R.I.V.E. Association Family! We had our first official in-person knitting group at Highland Park Presbyterian Church! We are so very grateful to the church committee for all of their amazing support for our cause!
Last week, we promised to give our crocheters some love and attention. With that in mind, this week we’d like to share this lovely pattern from Red Heart, the “Scotch on the Rocks Crochet Plaid Scarf.” This awesome moss stitch scarf utilizes intarsia techniques for the lovely color blocking and three surface slip stitches for vertical lines along the length of the garment. While all of that sounds complex, the pattern is actually fairly simple once you get a feel for the repeats used in the pattern.
You can get your free copy of the pattern here: https://www.yarnspirations.com/on/ demandware.static/-/Sites-master-catalog-spinrite/default/dwc73d0f11/PDF/ RHC0425-029771M.pdf
We used colors that resembled Black Watch plaid and chose not to use tassels in our example. Feel free to have some fun and use whichever plaid color combinations inspire you! When crocheting this pattern, make sure to use two balls of each of the Main Color and Contrasting A color. This will make the color changes cleaner and easier to pick up as you go along. The only drawback is that this leads to a lot of ends to weave in, so we suggest that you weave in the tails as you work this garment.
Happy Friday T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We had a round table meeting recently and discussed a horrible oversight. Many of our family members are crocheters rather than knitters, and we feel like we have been neglecting them. We will be posting several patterns for all of our wonderful crocheters soon! Please stay tuned!
As we have said many times in previous blog posts, camouflage is one of the veterans’ favorite colors in our knitted goods. Many of our community partners, volunteers, and staff members can attest to this fact. Camouflage goods fly off our booths at Stand Downs!
The problem is what pattern(s) work with camouflage yarns- especially when it comes to scarves. For the purposes of this blog we’ll focus on knitting patterns that work well with camouflage yarns and in a later post we will address the best crochet patterns to use with this yarn. Our crafters love to flex their creative muscles when knitting garments for our wonderful veterans and their dependents- a quality which T.H.R.I.V.E. Association fully supports. However, in many instances, camouflage lives up to it name, and therefore a lot of patterns don’t necessarily work as well with camouflage as they do with other yarn colors. As a result, several of our crafters find themselves a little disheartened and pretty intimidated by this particular yarn. This is completely understandable. We’re here to help.
After a lot of thought, and some experimentation, we have found that three patterns work especially well with camouflage yarn: the double stockinette stitch, a rib, and our absolute favorite (and the subject of this blog post) the brioche stitch. Brioche knitting does get a bit of a bad wrap amongst the knitting community as being kind of a teeth-pulling experience. Let us reassure our wonderful community of crafters who might be eager to give this awesome stitch a try for the sake of the veterans and their dependents- the brioche stitch is really not that bad. It does take a bit more concentration to achieve and is not necessarily “turn-your-brain-off knitting.” That does not mean that you can’t have some nice relaxing music playing in the background while you’re knitting a garment in brioche; quite the opposite actually. The brioche stitch is excellent, and by that we mean without peer, when it comes to really showcasing your yarn. This is especially true when it comes to camouflage yarn. The brioche stitch rather than getting lost in the yarn, tends to go hand-in-glove with it. Neither the stitch pattern nor the yarn detracts from the other- rather they tend to show off the best qualities of each other.
As you can see from the pictures, the brioche stitch scarf is wider and fluffier than many other scarves with the same amount of cast on stitches. This is because brioche is a kind of “false rib” stitch that is not as stretchy as a traditional rib stitch. However, it makes for a very soft, luxurious, and pillowy garment. This stitch creates a beautiful double sided scarf that is reversible, so there is no right or wrong side. Garments knitted in brioche also lay flat so the knitter doesn’t have to account for curling edges. An added bonus of brioche is that scarves knitted using this stitch have very tidy edges due to the first stitch being slipped on every round. As a disclaimer, it takes two rounds of knitting to make a row to achieve this stitch pattern. It is a little more work, but in our humble opinions, the results are second-to-none!
For those who would like instruction from one of our dedicated staff, we will be posting a how-to video on this and other stitches at a later date. Please stay tuned.
A lot of our wonderful crafters have been asking questions about the best pattern(s) to use for items to donate to support our cause. We understand that finding just the right pattern can be tricky. There are so many great patterns out there. The problem, as with any gift, is to know what the recipient will like. Although we do want our crafters to have the freedom to chose what they make, we do understand the desire to have a bit of help to know what the veterans prefer. After all, our brave veterans and their dependents deserve the very best that we can possibly give them.
In a previous blog post, “The Ever Popular Scarf”, we pictured a scarf made using a Red Heart Pattern. We are posting another scarf made using the same pattern to show just how beautiful it is in any color! The pattern is called the Red Heart Basketweave Knit Scarf. If you would like to download your free copy of the pattern, please click the link below:
This beautiful scarf is very popular among our veterans and their dependents. In fact, many of our volunteers who distribute our goods at Stand Downs have found that they are some of the first to be chosen by our veterans! If you would like to knit this scarf (or any scarf) to donate to our cause, please remember to make sure that it is at least 60 inches (152.4 cm) in length so that the wearer can wrap it around themselves comfortably. Also, remember that the dear veterans and their dependents prefer dark colors, e.g. blue, black, green, grey, and all-time favorite, camouflage. If you would like to knit this scarf in a brighter color, red is always a popular bright color. We cannot emphasize this important point enough: please do not use sparkly or overly decorative yarns. While they have their place, they are simply inappropriate for the veterans and their dependents (including children because of choking hazards).
Although several of the Stand Downs that we support have been postponed or have had to be altered to keep our communities safe in this current pandemic, we are still collecting goods that will be sent to the various V.A.s throughout the year so please, please keep crafting! If you are not a crafter, but would like to help, there are still many ways to support our cause! Please consider donating materials and/or making a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead. Please remember you can support our cause by shopping on AmazonSmile. See the “Shop for Our Cause” blog post for additional information:
If you need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. Please be aware that any communications are recorded. If you have donations, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact us to make arrangements. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat or scarf can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent(s).
We wanted to share some additional photos of our Double Moss Stitch Scarf. Here’s one in the making! Please follow the link below to our blog post on this pattern as well as some useful tips.
If you would like to knit this scarf for our cause, please remember to make sure that any donated scarves are at least 60 inches (152.4 cm) in length so that the wearer can wrap it around themselves comfortably. Also, remember that the dear veterans and their dependents prefer dark colors, e.g. blue, black, green, grey, and all-time favorite, camouflage. We cannot emphasize this important point enough; please do not use sparkly or overly decorative yarns. While they have their place, they are simply inappropriate for the veterans and their dependents (including children because of choking hazards).
Although several of the Stand Downs that we support have been postponed or have had to be altered to keep our communities safe in this current pandemic, we are still collecting goods that will be sent to the various V.A.s throughout the year so please, please keep crafting! If you are not a crafter, but would like to help, there are still many ways to support our cause! Please consider donating materials and/or making a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead. If you need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. If you have donations, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact us to make arrangements. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent.
Happy Friday to our T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family!
The scarf in this photo was made using one of our all-time favorite stitch patterns: the Double Moss stitch. The Double Moss stitch provides a beautiful texture, and the best part of all is that it is reversible! It is a relatively simple pattern, but it does take some concentration not only to the pattern but also to ensure that your tension remains consistent. The pattern for the stitch can be found below:
Materials:
Yarn: We use worsted weight, but any weight will work for this pattern
Knitting Needles: Appropriate for the weight of yarn for your project (can be found on the yarn sleeve)
Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends
Abbreviations:
CO: Cast On
Sts: Stitches
K: Knit
P: Purl
BO: Bind Off
Scarf Pattern:
Cast On in Multiples of 4 plus 2, and 2 extra for the edge stitches. In our case, it would have been 42 stitches for the pattern, plus 2 stitches for the edges, which gives us a total of 44 stitches.
CO: 44 Sts
Row 1 (Right Side): Slip the first stitch purl wise. *K2, P2, repeat from * to the last 3 sts. K3
Row 2: (Wrong Side) Slip the first stitch purl wise. *P2, K2, repeat from * to the last 3 sts. P2, K1
Row 3 (Right Side): Slip the first stitch purl wise. *P2, K2, repeat from * to the last 3 sts. P2, K1
Row 4 (Wrong Side): Slip the first stitch purl wise. *K2, P2, repeat from * to the last 3 sts. K3
Repeat rows 1 through 4 until the garment reaches the desired length; 60 inches (152.4 cm).
BO and cut yarn leaving a six inch tail. Weave in ends.
For our scarf, we used 5 mm, U.S. size 8, needles and Lion Brand Pound of Love. To ensure that the scarf would be wide enough to be used to cover both the neck and mouth of a veteran (or dependent) living in cold climates, we cast on a total of 44 stitches and worked until the piece measured 60 inches (152.4 cm).
Pro Tip: To ensure neat edges on scarves, remember to cast on two extra stitches for the edges. For patterns such as the Double Moss Stitch, slip the first stitch purl wise and knit in pattern until the last stitch. Knit the last stitch and then turn your work. Do this for every row until you reach the desired length.
Please make sure that any donated scarves are at least 60 inches (152.4 cm) in length so that the wearer can wrap it around themselves comfortably. Also, remember that the dear veterans and their dependents prefer dark colors, e.g. blue, black, green, grey, and all-time favorite, camouflage. We cannot emphasize this important point enough; please do not use sparkly or overly decorative yarns. While they have their place, they are simply inappropriate for the veterans and their dependents (including children because of choking hazards).
Although several of the Stand Downs that we support have been postponed or have had to be altered to keep our communities safe in this current pandemic, we are still collecting goods that will be sent to the various V.A.s throughout the year so please, please keep crafting! If you are not a crafter, but would like to help, there are still many ways to support our cause! Please consider donating materials and/or making a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead. If you need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. If you have donations, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact us to make arrangements. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent.
In keeping with the spirit of Valentine’s Day on Sunday, we would like to share a free mittens pattern, compliments of DROPS Design. This mittens pattern, called “Keep in Touch,” makes the most amazing mittens that are great gifts for our homeless veterans and their dependents. These mittens offer the perfect mixture of warmth and comfort while also providing the wearer with the ability to do all of those little things that still require your bare fingers.
At first glance, the pattern may look a little intimidating, but there are many helpful instructional videos both at the bottom of the pattern webpage and in the “Tips and Help” section of the DROPS Design website. This company is also very good at answering questions about their patterns if you drop them a line or post in the comments section on the pattern site. If you do find yourself needing additional help with this, or any pattern that you are working on for our homeless veterans and their dependents, our experienced staff is on call to help with your crafting questions.
Pro Tip #1: Gauge is very important when making these mittens. Please remember to knit a swatch to check your gauge. If you are a loose knitter, try moving down a needle size in order to achieve the recommended gauge. For example, the recommended needle for the body of the mitten is a U.S. 6. Loose knitters might try a size U.S. 5. Conversely, if you are a tight knitter, try moving up a needle size (e.g. the recommended needle is a size U.S. 6 for the body of the mitten; tight knitters might try a size U.S. 7).
Pro Tip #2: When making the thumb and forefinger openings, the pattern calls for you to cast off 4 stitches for each opening respectively. This size opening may be a little tight for average adult males in the U.S. (as was the case with one of our male colleagues). This can be easily remedied. Simply follow the pattern as instructed up to the point where you cast off stitches for the respective openings. Instead of casting off 4 stitches, try casting off 5. Follow the pattern as instructed, remembering to cast on 5 stitches on the next round.
Pro Tip #3: If you have a jog at the cast on round when you join, cast on an extra stitch (e.g. the pattern calls for you to cast on 42 stitches, instead cast on 43). When you are ready to join in the round, (first, make sure not to twist your stitches) slip the first stitch on your left needle to the right needle. Now pass the extra stitch that you cast on (the 43rd one) over the first stitch. Then, move the first stitch back to the left needle and knit as usual. You should now have the original cast on number of stitches (e.g. 42 stitches). This creates a nice and tidy cast on edge for the garment.
Although several of the Stand Downs that we support have been postponed or have had to be altered to keep our communities safe in this current pandemic, we are still collecting goods that will be sent to the various V.A.s throughout the year so please, please keep crafting! If you are not a crafter, but would like to help, there are still many ways to support our cause! Please consider donating materials and/or making a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead. If you need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. If you have donations, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact us to make arrangements. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent.
Happy New Year to our wonderful T.H.R.I.V.E. community! To kick off the new year, here is a free pattern from Yarnspirations – the Red Heart Ribbed Knit Beanie. The pattern is available at:
Simply click the “download free pattern” button on the right and it will open a pdf of the pattern in a new tab.
At first glance, this pattern might look a little challenging, but it is in truth a great pattern for most knitters who are looking for something new, or maybe just for something to challenge them. The 1×1 rib creates a beautiful texture that stretches well and the crown looks so very unique while being relatively easy to accomplish. The pattern calls for the hat to be knit on size U.S. 6 (4 mm) needles which creates a nice tight weave. Despite the photo given in the actual pattern (which could be a little misleading), the hat does stretch quite well to accommodate most, if not all, adult heads. And, as many of our supporters know, our garments are going as far north as Alaska, where a nice tight weave is really the only way to go.
Like many patterns from Yarnspirations/Red Heart, this pattern lends itself quite nicely to yarn substitution. We substituted the recommended Heat Wave yarn with Red Heart Camouflage worsted weight (4) yarn that had been graciously donated by one of our awesome supporters. Camouflage is a big favorite among the community that we serve! After all, part of the fun of making and giving handcrafted garments is knowing that the recipient will love it and be proud to wear their new gift(s). We do aim to please our veterans and their dependents who absolutely love our handcrafted camouflage goods.
Pro tip: if you have a jog at the cast on round when you join, cast on an extra stitch (e.g. the pattern calls for you to cast on 96 stitches, instead cast on 97). When you are ready to join in the round, (first, make sure not to twist your stitches) slip the first stitch on your left needle to the right needle. Now pass the extra stitch that you cast on (the 97th one) over the first stitch. Then, move the first stitch back to the left needle and knit as usual. You should now have the original cast on number of stitches (e.g. 96 stitches). This creates a nice and tidy cast on round, especially when the cuff is turned up.
Although several of the Stand Downs that we support have been postponed or have had to be altered to keep our communities safe in this current pandemic, we are still collecting goods that will be sent to the various V.A.s throughout the year so please, please keep crafting! If you are not a crafter, but would like to help, there are still many ways to support our cause! Please consider donating materials and/or making a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead. If you need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. If you have donations, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact us to make arrangements. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent.
