Peppermint Warmers

These Christmasy wristwarmers are the armwarmers-short version from the Witch Warmers in Crochet pattern. To look more like peppermint, it has been modified to have fat white stripes and skinny red stripes. Here are the modifications:

MC is red, CC is white.

Ruffle
Base chain & R1: use MC.
R2-R3: use CC, do not change color at end.
R4: skip.
R5: use CC, change color at end.
R6-R7: use MC, change color at end.

Arm
R8-R9: use CC, don't change color at end.
R10: skip.
R11: use CC, omit sl st, change color at end.
Inc R1-R2: use MC, change color at end.
Inc R3-R4: use CC, do not change color at end.
Repeat Inc R2: use CC, omit sl st, change color at end.
Repeat Inc R3-R4: use MC, change color at end.

Top
Repeat R10-R11: use CC, do not change color at end.
Repeat R11: use CC, sc-bl all, change color at end.
Repeat R10-R11: use MC, change color at end.
Repeat R10-R11: use CC, do not change color at end.
Repeat R11: use CC, omit sl st, change color at end.
Repeat R10-R11: use MC, do not change color at end.
End with sl st-bl in marker st, as written in pattern.

Pumpkin Warmers

This is a new Halloween version of Witch Warmers in Crochet. I used the notes in the pattern for making the short wristwarmers. The yarn here is Plymouth Encore DK, in orange (1383) and lime green (3335).

The pattern includes instructions for legwarmers (or shorter ankle warmers) and a neckwarmer, for a complete set.

You can find other variations for this pattern in these posts:
Evening-Length Winter Warmers
Elf Warmers

Today is FO Friday (Finshed Object Friday). For more FO Friday blog posts, check here.

Love Those Legwarmers

The Blog Week question for today is: What is the current state and use of an object you have crocheted or knitted?



Here is my crochet answer: I made these as prototypes for my Witch Warmers in Crochet pattern, and I knew I would wear them more than the other items (armwarmers and neckwarmer), because I am a dress-wearer. Yes, I wear dresses and sometimes skirts pretty much all the time. For me, it’s just way more comfortable, and that means on chilly days I need a little extra on my legs. I particularly like legwarmers because you can start the day with them over your socks, and then as it warms up outside, you can just take them off and have your normal socks... sort of like convertible kneesocks.

Current state: well, since they were prototypes, they are waiting to be frogged down to the ruffles and re-worked. This is because the pattern was improved during testing and these don't have a jogless (virtually) join to the stripes. Thanks to Absinthia, I can remake them so the jog doesn't end up spiralling around my leg.

If you want to see more posts from other bloggers participating in Blog Week, click here to find links:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=knitcroblo6&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

(Blog Week Day 6 tag: knitcroblo6)

Winter Warmers

Pretty, white, warm... these are actually made of yarn with a little sparkle in it. This is an evening-length, solid-color variation of the Witch Warmers in Crochet armwarmers pattern. Since there are no stripes, it's all single crochet, working up fast and easy. In addition, you can wear these inside-out for a ridged look. Here's how to do it:

Note: all stitches after the base chain are some form of single crochet until the very last stitch, which is sl st-fl.

1. Using the armwarmers pattern, work only the odd-numbered rounds for the ruffle.

2. When you get to the arm section, work all rounds in sc-fl only. Omit "sl st-bl in first st" and "sk1" wherever found.

3. Work through the Top of Armwarmer section, and add increase rounds until you reach about 1 inch less than the desired length (12" for me, not counting the ruffle). Do not end with a sl st-bl.

4. Skip to the Top of Legwarmer section, and work Top R12-14, omitting "sl st-bl in first st" and "sk1" wherever found. End Top R14 with a sl st-fl instead of sl st-bl.

Fit: this comes out stretchier than the striped version in the pattern, so if you want to go down a size, it will probably give you a bit of negative ease and fit quite well.

You can find another variation for Witch Warmers in Crochet here:
Short Version: Elf Warmers

Smooth-Finished Chain Circle

When crocheting in the round, like for socks, mittens, hats, or sleeves that start at the cuff, it’s nice to have a smooth circle from the joined base chain. After all, it will be a very visible end of the finished item. But what to do about the little jump in the circle that appears at the knot?

Here’s what I have come up with:

1. After finishing the piece, use a yarn needle or small crochet hook to draw the tail yarn through the chain beside the knot. That would be the next-to-last-made chain of the foundation or base chain that the knot and tail are “pointing at.”


2. Then split the tail yarn into 2 strands.


3. Draw one strand back through the first stitch in the first round, on the other side of the knot, in the inside of the work.


4. Tie the 2 strands together, and work in ends.

For more crochet tips to help with the Witch Warmers in Crochet pattern, see the following posts:
Forming a Base Chain Circle
Avoiding Stiff Crochet
Swatch Wars

Witch Warmers in Crochet

Witchy-striped, ruffled armwarmers, legwarmers, and a neckwarmer are crocheted with sportweight yarn and fitted for a feminine look. This is a crochet re-design of my knit pattern, Witch Warmers. Fast and fun to make: no seaming or blocking. These warmers are great for Halloween, and they can be made in other holiday, piratey, or school colors… or to complement your everyday witch wear.

The legwarmers are kneesock-length and can be made in a short sock length. The armwarmers cover most of the forearm and can be made in a short wristwarmer length.

An innovative ruffling technique is included, which produces a uniform ruffle that keeps its shape. In addition, a smooth striping method is provided for sharp-edged, toothless stripes that are practically jogless.

U.S. crochet terms

Sizes Women’s X-Small (Small, Medium, Large)
Size X-Small is shown in photos.

Skill Level Intermediate

Yarn 600-700 yds /550-650m for complete set

Plymouth Encore DK wool blend
3 skeins #217 black: main color (MC)
3 skeins #1317 turquoise: contrast color (CC)
Photo shows discontinued Lion Brand Wool-Ease sportweight, #130 Green Heather. Pattern includes specific yarn amounts for the neckwarmer, armwarmers, and legwarmers as well as for the full set in all sizes.

Substitute Yarns: any wool, wool blend, or acrylic sportweight / DK yarn that crochets to pattern gauge

Gauge 16 sts x 14 rows = 4”/10cm x 4”/10cm flat swatch, single crochet in front loop only.

3 Schematic Diagrams: Armwarmer, Legwarmer, Neckwarmer

You can find crochet tips and variations for this pattern in the following posts:
Evening-Length Winter Warmers
Short Version: Wristwarmers
Peppermint Warmers: Uneven Stripes
Fingering Weight Vartiation: Halloween Treat-Warmers
Smooth Chain Finish
Forming a Base Chain Circle
Avoiding Stiff Crochet
Swatch Wars
Pumpkin Warmers

The Witch Warmers in Crochet pattern is available for purchase as a download here and on Ravelry. $3.00 USD



I owe a debt of gratitude to the talented Swedish crocheter, Absinthia, who figured out how to make the stripes jogless for these warmers.

Many thanks also to Erssie Major, a most-admired pattern designer and contributor to well-known knit magazines and websites, who provided a bang-up tech edit for this pattern, and made it way, way, way, way better!