Calculating yardage used, it’s easier than you think!

Posted on April 20, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

I love math. It was always one of my favorite subjects in school. I find comfort in numbers-nerdy, I know. Maybe that is why I love crochet designing. I thrive on finding the proper stitch repeats to manipulate yarn into creating the vision I have in my head. Many are afraid of math, don’t be. Math CAN be your friend. For example, if you need to calculate the yardage used in a project. Maybe you are testing a pattern for someone and they want the actual yardage you use, or maybe you have some yarn, not a full skein, and want to know if it’s enough to make that special hat pattern. Maybe you are math geek like me and are just curious. Whatever your reason for calculating your yardage, you can do it and it’s easy.

Supplies needed-

yarn
the yarn label (this is key)
kitchen scale (digital is best and one that measures in grams is even better)

1. Determine how many yards per ounce (or grams).

Yarn labels state yardage and ounces/grams. Say your skein has 3.5 ounces and 220 yards. Divide total yardage/by total ounces. In this example, that works out to approximately 63 yards/ounce. (220/3.5=62.857).

2. Determine how much yardage you used.

You need to weigh your yarn BEFORE you start your project (if you aren’t using new skeins) then weigh your yarn AFTER you finish. Subtract ending weight from starting weight to determine weight of yarn used. Then multiply by amount of yards per ounce as determined from the label in the first step. In the above example, if you used 1.5 ounces of yarn then yardage would be 1.5 X 63 = 94.5 yards. That’s it!

There are 28 grams per ounce so if you measure in grams, you will have a much more accurate calculation. I have a digital kitchen scale. I believe I bought at Wal-Mart for about $20. I know some people use the scales at local post offices. Just remember to always save the yarn labels of partial skeins. That way, you can calculate how much yardage you have on hand. If a pattern states estimated yardage needed to complete the project, you’ll know right away if you have enough or not.

Have fun!

Got Drool?

Posted on March 21, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Got Drool?

I’d like to introduce a few of my latest designs….Drool Bibs!

Penguin Drool Spit Bib

Polar Bear Drool Spit Bib

Hippo Drool Spit Bib

Lion Drool Spit Bib

Baby Bear Drool Spit Bib

Bunny Rabbit Drool Spit Bib

My oldest was a drooler-big time. He was an adorable, chubby, happy baby that soaked everything! I wish I knew how to crochet back then (I learned when he was about 5) because I spent a small fortune purchasing cute drool bibs to soak it all up and keep him dry.

Babies like him are what inspired me to design these adorable drool bibs. Make them in cotton or cotton blend yarn for maximum absorbency. I made mine in Knit Picks Comfy Worsted-what a great yarn! These bibs work up quick and are sure to be a hit at any baby shower.

Each bib pattern set comes with 2 patterns. So far I have made 3 sets; Forest Friends-Adorable Bunny and Sweet Baby Bear, Safari Friends-Happy Hippo and Loveable Lion and just released, Polar Friends-Preppy Penguin and Charming Polar Bear. Be on the lookout for more. I’m addicted to designing them and have plans for many, many more Friends!

Patterns are available on Etsy, Craftsy and Ravelry for $3.50/ SET (2 patterns per set) Don’t forget, all Crochet by Darleen Hopkins purchases on Ravelry are Buy 2, Get 1 Free! No coupon needed!

Stash Bust Update-March 2013

Posted on March 10, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Stash Busting for Hope, Update March 2013

Phew! It’s been a busy month and it’s only the 10th! I spent this last week finishing up a few hats I had started but hadn’t gotten around to completing. My incentive was to get the Kissy Fish Hats out to Halos of Hope ASAP. I also heard about a little girl in Michigan who could use a few hats. This is what was written about her on a facebook page I stumbled upon.

(From Debbie Fry Kruse via Crochet Club Facebook Page)
This is Kaelee, (on the right) and her twin sister. She is in the 3rd grade. Kaelee just had to shave her head as she is fighting cancer. She is from a small town and I’d like to show her no one fights alone! Her teacher will post pictures of the hats from around the world! If you would like to send a hat to her at school, the address is: Hopkins Elementary School, 400 Clark St., Hopkins, MI 49328 attn: Heather Fuss

and this article about an upcoming fund-raiser for her family.

So this month, two of my Stash Busting for Hope hats will go to Kaelee (green with flowers and pink stripes with heart) and two (fish) of my hats will go to Halos of Hope. The four hats together weigh in at 13 ounces.

Total Stash Bust Yarn Weight to Date: just over 2 pounds! (1/3 done!!)

Total Stash Bust Hat Count to Date: 10

Pattern Testing for Hope

Posted on March 6, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Thank You Amazing Pattern Testers!

Whenever I’m ready to release a new pattern, I always tech edit and pattern test it. There’s a great group on Ravelry where individuals volunteer to test patterns, for free. They work through it and let me know if anything is confusing and could be worded better. Or if stitch counts are wrong, if I missed a “ch 1 and turn” or even typos. I usually ask my testers to list final yarn usage so I know if my amounts listed are accurate. It’s a great group and everyone wins. The testers get a lot of free patterns and the designers get a lot of free help from the very people who use the patterns.

When I was ready to test my Kissy! Kissy! Fish Face Hat, I tried something different. With the help and blessing of the group’s moderator, Chris, I made an unusual request of the test that the tested hat be crocheted in chemo friendly yarn and then mailed to me to be donated to Halos of Hope for their Under the Sea Campaign for Atlanta area hospitals. I wasn’t sure what to expect-postage is expensive and a lot of people don’t have the extra $$ for postage, but boy did this great group of ladies step up to the challenge. I had 16 volunteers in a short period of time. From the 16, I received 26 hats for donation! What a great, giving group!

Check out these amazing fish! I included the 3 that I’ve made so far. I’ve got a couple more fishy hats I plan to finish up this week (Stash Busting for Hope!). Once they are done, I’ll be packing up all 31 hats to send to those brave young fighters.

Find out more about Halo’s Under the Sea Campaign. It’s not too late to make a hat and get it in the mail to them. I’m offering a 50% off coupon on my Ravelry site for the Kissy! Kissy! Fish Face Hat pattern. Use coupon code “HOHFishFace” to save $2.25 on the pattern, then, apply the savings to your postage. You’ll be so glad you did. : )

Coupon code expires 3/15/2013 midnight EST

Enjoy!

Duct tape and Crochet

Posted on February 6, 2013 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Duct tape really can fix just about anything.

I recently switched from Boye crochet hooks to Clover Soft Touch hooks. I’ve been having problems on and off with my right arm and I found having to have a tighter grip on the Boye hooks (thinner handle) contributing to the problem. The Clover hooks aren’t cheap so I’ve only purchased a few when I had coupons to help reduce the price. A couple weeks ago I found myself in a crochet pickle-I needed a 4.25mm hook to get gauge. My Clover G is a 4.00mm and I was short on gauge. Using my Boye G which is a 4.25mm, I was able to get gauge but my arm started hurting after just a couple of rounds. So what is a crochet addict to do….DUCT TAPE!

I placed a pencil grip on the hook and then covered it with duct tape. I wasn’t long enough so I added some poly fiberfill and then covered it in some more duct tape. The result is great! I was able to crochet for an extended period of time without my arm aching!

Although this worked in a pinch and I was able to finish my hat, I still prefer the Clover hooks as the Boye seemed to “catch” a lot on the yarn. I’m not sure why; I’ve used them for years without a problem. Maybe I’m just used to the weight and balance of the Clover hooks now. I’ll probably continue to purchase a couple more of the sizes I use often but this was a great, inexpensive fix.

Free Pattern Friday-Slouchy Football Hat, Crochet

Posted on November 2, 2012 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Slouchy Football Hat

I’ve moved all my free patterns to one location. You can find this pattern here:

http://freecrochetpatternsbydarleen.blogspot.com/2013/08/free-pattern-slouchy-football-hat.html

Thanks for stopping by!

Crazy for Earflap Hats!

Posted on October 13, 2012 by CrochetByDarleenHopkins

Are you CRAZY for EARFLAP hats? I am!

When I started making them, I wasn’t sure how to attach the braids just right. It took a lot of practice but I believe I have perfected the look. Follow the tutorial below and you can too.

Tutorial-earflap braid

Tip-When I complete the earflap, I leave a long tail and rather than work the ends in, I work it into the braid. Two less ends to work in!

RS=Right Side WS = Wrong Side

1) For 10” braids, cut 11, 22” pieces of yarn. Fold in half.Insert hook from WS to RS of earflap and pull the yarn through. (I find it easiest to use a large hook, size J or larger)