Hard to believe it's been almost three whole weeks since I last posted here, but as I said last time, it's all for a good cause! And you can bet this idea of my handwork being on the back burner will not last forever. It can't! You all know how it feels when something else in your life takes over your sewing or knitting or crafting time for a while. You miss it, right? You need it, right? Right. I'm glad we got that settled.
Now would you like to see what I have done since last we met here, in the way of handwork anyway? I'm certain you don't want to see my English papers or my biology book, even though there really is some pretty awesome and fascinating stuff in it...the biology book I mean. The English papers not so much. It's not my thing, if you know what I mean. But it must be done, so I do it. The biology I am really enjoying, and I'm not just saying that because my Super Cool professor, who insists we call her by her first name (just one of the things that makes her Super Cool!), said she was going to look me up here! It really is fascinating and something I never studied before.
Ok, sorry about that diversion...now on to my most recent finish...a scarf requested by my son...
Can you guess what his inspiration for color choice might have been? Yes indeed, he is a big Harry Potter fan! The yarn I used is the new Team Spirit yarn by Red Heart. It was pictured in a crocheted basket weave scarf on the same page as my article on basket weave stitch in a recent issue of Crochet Today! magazine. You can check that out HERE if you want, although I don't think I showed enough of the magazine page to see the scarf. But anyway, that is where he got the idea.
I did not use basket weave stitch, but instead something a bit more simple and plain. Just an easy half double crochet, working in the back loops only to create that lovely bumpy little ridge on each row.
The yarn comes in lots of different color combinations, most matching up to professional football or big name college teams. It is self striping so the color changes happen effortlessly and at very regular intervals as you can see on this scarf.
The yarn is acrylic, very reasonably priced, and available where you find lower end yarns of this type. I purchased mine at my local Joann Fabric store. It was just ok to work with, and I think that it feels much too stiff and scratchy to make a comfortable scarf or hat to wear against the skin. My son even commented on that! So I'm not sure I would use it again for a project like this, but would instead purchase softer yarn in the colors I wanted and do the striping the old fashioned way. However, I am now working on a matching hat, using up what is left of the scarf yarn. Once that is finished, I don't think I'll be working with Team Spirit again, unless Red Heart softens it up considerably in future runs.
Have you tried Red Heart's new Team Spirit yarn for any projects? If so, share in a comment below your experience with it and how you felt about working with it. I'd be curious to know if others feel the same way I do, or if I'm way off base here.
As soon as I finish the hat, I'll share pictures here. In the meantime, I think I'll spend a little time studying for my biology test, and reading up on the next two chapters in Human Growth and Development. English can wait until I get my next assignment...we're into what I consider modern poetry now...ugh! Give me the old fashioned stuff anyday! Wish me luck! I'll need it!
Happy Stitching!
Click here to return to HookedOnNeedles.com
Now would you like to see what I have done since last we met here, in the way of handwork anyway? I'm certain you don't want to see my English papers or my biology book, even though there really is some pretty awesome and fascinating stuff in it...the biology book I mean. The English papers not so much. It's not my thing, if you know what I mean. But it must be done, so I do it. The biology I am really enjoying, and I'm not just saying that because my Super Cool professor, who insists we call her by her first name (just one of the things that makes her Super Cool!), said she was going to look me up here! It really is fascinating and something I never studied before.
Ok, sorry about that diversion...now on to my most recent finish...a scarf requested by my son...
Can you guess what his inspiration for color choice might have been? Yes indeed, he is a big Harry Potter fan! The yarn I used is the new Team Spirit yarn by Red Heart. It was pictured in a crocheted basket weave scarf on the same page as my article on basket weave stitch in a recent issue of Crochet Today! magazine. You can check that out HERE if you want, although I don't think I showed enough of the magazine page to see the scarf. But anyway, that is where he got the idea.
I did not use basket weave stitch, but instead something a bit more simple and plain. Just an easy half double crochet, working in the back loops only to create that lovely bumpy little ridge on each row.
The yarn comes in lots of different color combinations, most matching up to professional football or big name college teams. It is self striping so the color changes happen effortlessly and at very regular intervals as you can see on this scarf.
The yarn is acrylic, very reasonably priced, and available where you find lower end yarns of this type. I purchased mine at my local Joann Fabric store. It was just ok to work with, and I think that it feels much too stiff and scratchy to make a comfortable scarf or hat to wear against the skin. My son even commented on that! So I'm not sure I would use it again for a project like this, but would instead purchase softer yarn in the colors I wanted and do the striping the old fashioned way. However, I am now working on a matching hat, using up what is left of the scarf yarn. Once that is finished, I don't think I'll be working with Team Spirit again, unless Red Heart softens it up considerably in future runs.Have you tried Red Heart's new Team Spirit yarn for any projects? If so, share in a comment below your experience with it and how you felt about working with it. I'd be curious to know if others feel the same way I do, or if I'm way off base here.
As soon as I finish the hat, I'll share pictures here. In the meantime, I think I'll spend a little time studying for my biology test, and reading up on the next two chapters in Human Growth and Development. English can wait until I get my next assignment...we're into what I consider modern poetry now...ugh! Give me the old fashioned stuff anyday! Wish me luck! I'll need it!
Happy Stitching!
Click here to return to HookedOnNeedles.comLabels: crochet, half double crochet, Red Heart yarn, scarf
posted by Mary Grace McNamara on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
5 Comments:
I am so glad to see a post from you. I have been thinking about you and wondering how school has been going - thanks for the update. How in the world did you find time to make a scarf?? I agree with you - red heart yarn tends to be too stiff for my tastes. I do, though, like their Red Heart Soft yarn and have used it several times. Keep us posted when you have a chance - love hearing about you new adventure in life!
By
annemarie, At
September 19, 2012 at 8:41 PM
School is hard work and that is awesome you went back!
By
Jenn, At
September 19, 2012 at 8:56 PM
I too, am happy to read your latest post. I appreciate your review of the Team Spirit yarns. A couple of years ago, I knitted a scarf for my son in his school colors, and it was a little tough to find yarns in the right colors (purple and gold). I could find purple in one range and gold in another, and the weights/gauges would be not quite right. I finally found both colors in LB Vanna's Choice. I can't afford to be a natural fiber "snob", but I also don't like my synthetics to feel stiff, scratchy and with no "bounce". I loved the LBVC.
So fun, though, knitting/crocheting for the kids, isn't it?
By
WendyBee, At
September 21, 2012 at 3:36 PM
The scarf almost looks like it could belong to Harry Potter, too.
I hope school is going well for you. I went back to college in my 40's with 5 children still at home, and it was a challenge but very worthwhle! We did our homework together at the kitchen counter each night.
By
Nedra, At
October 16, 2012 at 10:23 AM
I looked so forward to using this yarn to crochet hat & scarf sets for donation. From the first, I hated this yarn. It's so rough to the touch and the end products are so scratchy. I purchased seven skeins online as none of my local shops carried it. If I would have known how awful this yarn is, I would not have purchased any of it. I do NOT recommend this yarn to anyone for any project.
By
Grandma Janet, At
October 31, 2012 at 1:23 PM
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