August 2017 – Gilly Gnits

Frankie Crochet Coffee Sleeve

August 30, 2017 No Comments

Boo!

Halloween is going to be here before you know it, and it’s always fun to have new ideas for the holidays! But I’m sharing this with you today because it’s Frankenstein Day!

What’s Frankenstein Day? It’s a holiday celebrating Mary Shelley‘s birthday, the author of the novel Frankenstein (you can find it at Barnes & Noble). I’ve always thought it was interesting how the idea of Frankenstein (who’s *actually* not named Frankenstein!!) has evolved to what he is nowadays in the collective cultural mindset. He’s actually a really tragic character in the novel, which if you haven’t read the novel and happened to have stumbled across the film version with Helena Bonham Carter and Robert De Niro you’re going to be SO blindsided by that fact and sit there surprised and crying like I did. Because you had no idea when you came in!

But that isn’t what this post is about!

This is a happy post about crafting! I’m here to share a pattern for a coffee sleeve with a family-friendly Frankenstein’s monster (and I’m calling him Frankie) which is really cute and very simple. If you don’t already know, I’m a HUGE fan of reusable coffee sleeves! I love that they are helping me cut down on wasting paper (though I need to remember to bring my reusable coffee cups and that is an ongoing issue for me), and that they are wonderfully personal and able to be personalized! It certainly makes it much easier to figure out whose cup is which, so you can make your mark and stake out your drink, rather than stare at the straws trying to figure out who was wearing which lipstick or lipgloss!

I hope you enjoy working up your cute sleeve and I’d love to see your creations, so please share your finished pieces with me on Instagram or Facebook! Happy crafting, everyone!

And watch that movie if you get the chance because it’s actually very interesting, but I’d suggest you have a box of tissues right next to you because it is probably going to hit you hard in the feels like it did to me!

Materials Needed:

*H crochet hook
I used Boye
*Worsted weight yarn (4) yarn
Green
Black
*2 black buttons
*Tapestry needle
*Scissors

Terms Used (US):

sc = single crochet
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
st/sts = stitch/stitches

Instructions:

With Green, chain 32 and slip stitch to the first chain, forming a circle. Ch 1
Round 1: Work 1 sc into the slipped stitch and sc across. Slip st to Ch1, ch1 (32 sc)
Round 2 -6: Repeat Round 1. At last of Round 6, color change to Black with slip stitch, ch 1 (32 sc)
Round 7-9: With Black, sc into each stitch in the round, sl st to beginning ch, ch 1. In final round, end with the sl st to the beginning ch and bind off, weaving in all ends

With your tapestry needle, sew on the 2 black buttons in the green section of the sleeve to create the eyes—make sure you’re certain of where you want the eyes to be before you stitch them on or you’ll have a googly-eyed sleeve!

…Or maybe you want that? It’s yours to customize!

Final step: Enjoy your drink, whether it’s hot cocoa, coffee, cider, pumpkin spice lattes, or tea!

Do you like coffee sleeves and want other ideas? Check out my Top of the Class Pencil Coffee Cozy and Santa Belly Coffee Sleeve for more coffee goodness!

Like this pattern? Don’t forget to pin this article for later on Pinterest!
And I’d love to see your finished projects! Please share with me on Facebook and Instagram!
Finished items made from this pattern may be personally sold on your Etsy and at craft fairs, but please share the love and credit the pattern back here! And please don’t copy and paste this pattern as your own!

Crochet

Bow Ties Are Cool Roundup

August 28, 2017 No Comments

Happy Bow Tie Day, everybody!

I’ve heard that bow ties are cool, have you?

Well, I’m here to share a roundup of some pretty cute and adorable bow ties from various designers around the internet for your viewing pleasure and perusing for inspiration! Get the crojo back with these adorable little projects–they’re quick, they’re easy, and they’re fantastic for getting some more usage from your scrap yarn stash. Every little project counts, you know.

So these are going to be a mix of bow ties and bows which, when you think about it, are pretty much the same thing, the difference being that it goes around your neck or on your head. But don’t get too bogged down with the details, bows are cute and here’s a whole bunch of cute patterns for you. Let me know if there’s other cute bow projects you want to share! I’m including the links to the patterns in both the title as well as click-throughs on the images to make things easier and give you options, happy clicking!

1. How to Make Crochet Bow Tie from Simplicity

2. Doggie Bow Tie from Humble Carnival

3. It’s a Crochet Bow Tie – I Crochet Bow Ties Now – Bow Ties Are Cool! from StormFly Crafts

4. Crochet Plaid Bow Tie from Whistle and Ivy

5. Easy Crochet Bow Tutorial from Craftiness Is Not An Option

6. Bow Ties For The Guys from Red Heart

7. Crocheted Bow Tie from Cut Out and Keep

8. Infant Bow Tie from Stitch11

9. Crochet Large Striped Hair Bow-Candy Corn from EyeLoveKnots

10. Bowtie Pacifier Clip from The Crafter Life

Hope you found some of these projects as cute as I did! I think I need a bow tie now…

Until next time,

Gilliane

Uncategorized

Healthy Crafting Tips

August 20, 2017 No Comments

Hey friends!

I took the past week off from crafting to give my hands a rest.

I’d realized that I was working too hard too often with them and not letting them rest properly. At work, I’m always clutching either a radio or a thermos (I’m a security officer!), and in Southern California, you’re usually white-knuckling it in traffic, so my hands go through a lot before I even get my hands on a crochet hook or loom tool! I was spending more time stretching my hands at work and realizing just how sore they were. I’ve been hooking more things at a much faster rate and stressing out the muscles.

And that’s not good for your health.

So I took a break to recenter myself and get my hands back into better shape, but now I’m back and I wanted to share some helpful tips to keep your hands and body healthy while still being able to do what you love: crafting!

1. Keep hydrated.

I know that that sounds like a given, but so often us crafters (I see you on Instagram!) chug caffeinated tea and coffee to help us power through our day and all of our projects–but it’s so important to drink water to avoid unnecessary headaches. Coffee is life, I know, but DRINK THAT WATER! Here’s some info from the Mayo Clinic on water intake (article here):

– 8 glasses of 8 ounces of fluid is good

– keep in mind that fruits and veggies give you hydration

– aim for pale yellow urine (I know it sounds gross, but pay attention)

2. Watch your posture.

Mind those curves of yours, and make sure that things are properly aligned from time to time to alleviate and/or prevent any strain you might be inflicting on yourself! I have a tendency to slump a lot and relax my back too much which causes lower back strain for myself–sit upright. Like this guy:

Have your back straight and pull your shoulders back occasionally just to reset yourself. The Cleveland Clinic has some helpful tips and how you can train yourself better! Spine.org also has some great tips for how to maintain your posture while standing, driving, picking up kids, and doing various tasks throughout the day, and is definitely worth a look.

3. Take breaks.

Take breaks! And not just for sipping your drink, though that can help your hands. Get up, do some stretches, and walk around. Get the blood flowing to break it up. Different sources say to get up once an hour. I know we all love the crafting marathons, but they’re not doing us any good health-wise, even if we do feel good about completing things faster. Stretch your legs a bit, stretch your neck, and stretch your hands!

4. Stretch your hands.

Your hands are your livelihood and your hobby, keep them safe and healthy! WebMD has a helpful slideshow about the different kinds of stretches that you can do for your hands, which you can find here. Take frequent breaks, stretch your hands, and maintain proper hand posture to help keep carpal tunnel syndrome at bay. Though there are no “fool-proof” methods for preventing Carpal Tunnel, it helps to stretch.

Use appropriate tools. Why are ergonomic hooks so popular? Because they help people get the right hand shape they need so that it doesn’t hurt to craft. When I first started out with crochet, I wasn’t using ergonomic hooks and was wrecking my hands. I couldn’t craft for very long because my hand would start to cramp up. There is a history of arthritis in my family, so I’d like to stave that off for as long as possible and take care of my hands. Since I started using the ergonomic hooks, I haven’t had the cramping! Yay!

You also might need to keep your hands warm. When my hand was hurting, I bought myself a crafting glove over at Michaels and it was very helpful. Whether it was because it acted as a gentle pressure on the hand muscles or the warmth it gave my hand, I found the crafting glove to be really nice. And, while I haven’t needed to use it, I do keep it handy just in case I might need it during the wintertime.

It’s like my dad always says, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

5. Get sleep.

Again, those crafting marathons are fun, but get sleep. Get your proper rest so you can tackle your projects more appropriately. I have spent so many nights just aimlessly hopping from one project to the next or scrolling patterns online. At times, this is fun, but remember to get sleep!

I hope you found these tips helpful! I know that it’s hard to keep track of time and pay attention to how long you’ve been working on any given project, but it is SO important that you take care of yourself while doing so! You love crafting, so you want to be able to be healthy enough to continue to do so comfortably! What kinds of tips and tricks do you use to keep at the top of your health game? Are there certain stretches that you like doing best? I’d love to hear how your practice safe crafting, so hit me up in the comments here, or Instagram, or on Facebook.

Until next time,

Gilliane

Like what you’re reading? Don’t forget to pin this article to your boards!

Crochet

Happy National Granny Square Day!

August 15, 2017 5 Comments

Happy National Granny Square Day!!

Wait, what?

Yes! Today is National Granny Square Day!

I know that there is a ton of “national” days, but I think it at least keeps things interesting, even if you can’t use it as an excuse to call in sick from work…

Me: *cough cough* “Sorry boss, can’t come in today, I’ve gotta celebrate National Granny Square Day”

Man, that would be awesome, though.

So today I’m here to share with you some of my own curiosities about the granny square and some of my favorite patterns that include them! Come along with me on this journey, it’ll be a fun little jaunt!

I was curious as to why it was called a “granny square” and unfortunately there really aren’t that many reliable resources to help answer the question as anything further than it “looks like something your granny would make”, which is a little bit of a letdown that it might be something so stereotypical. So it seems like another one of those “how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop” questions…the world may never know.

Another thing the world may never come to a definitive conclusion is when it got started. It’s about as murky as the question of when crocheting really got started as a fiber craft. Some reports say early nineteenth century but, as mentioned by The Sunroom, the earliest references are from books from Victorian England, in which are rather complicated patterns, suggesting a longer history than even that. Want to know more than you possibly wanted to about granny squares? I humbly suggest further reading this article by Crochet Concupiscence, it’s pretty wild and thorough!

But from whatever humble beginnings it originated, it has had an enduring relationship to crafters all over! It enjoyed a renaissance in the 60s and 70s and hasn’t ever completely faded, continuing to grace runways even today.

And there are all kinds of granny squares!

Little ones:

These are 2 3/4 in squares from Crochet Again!

Chunky ones:

Chunky granny squares from Designs by Phanessa

Simple ones:

Complex ones:

Leaf Stitch Granny Square from Craftsy User Jyneffer

You have plenty of opportunities for creativity with these!

There are several kinds of motifs you can use as well. You can go for a floral motif:

Or even some cute animals! Maria’s Blue Crayon does some really adorable wildlife granny squares!

Maria’s Blue Crayon’s Woodland Afghan series

And here’s her Ocean Granny Square Afghan

The “granny” style motif isn’t all, either!

You can also do granny stripes:

And granny chevrons!

The sky’s the limit!

And even I myself have made some cute stuff using the design! It’s such a nice and simple way to make things and really opens you up to different ideas!

I have my Granny Gone Chic fingerless gloves, these are done in Gryffindor colors:

And my Granny Goes to the Beach applique bikini top:

I just appreciate the wild amount of variety you have as a crafter when it comes to the usage of the granny square motif. I think it’s just a really cool way to add pops of color to things, whether you want something super vibrant, or subtly delicate in creams. It’s also a fantastic way of busting up your stash of odds and ends of yarn, which everyone has! So I hope you enjoyed reading this little foray into the magic of granny squares, I certainly did. If you want to get into the fun and action of the day, be sure to scroll about through the Instagram tag #nationalgrannysquareday or #nationalgrannysquareday2017! Everyone will be posting up close pictures of their individual squares to create a delightful digitally composed afghan, let’s hope it figuratively covers the globe!

Until next time,

Gilliane

Enjoy this article? Be sure to pin to your Pinterest boards! And I’d love to see what you’re up to with all of those granny squares, find me on Facebook and Instagram! Happy National Granny Square Day!

p.s. Enjoy all of these patterns, but be sure to share the love and link them back to where they came from. Be kind, and don’t claim the patterns as your own!

Crochet

Top of the Class Pencil Coffee Cozy

August 13, 2017 1 Comment

Hey everyone!

Welcome back! If you liked my pencil scarf pattern from just shy of two weeks ago, then I’ve got an extra special treat for you! I’ve written up a pattern for some delightfully perfect back to school-themed pencil coffee cozies! I’m a big fan of coffee sleeves, they’re just so versatile and fun and highly customizable!

Best of luck to everyone whose little tykes have been sent back off to school and are getting back into the swing of the new school year! You’re probably going to need the coffee! It’s so weird to me hearing that people are starting school in August–or even July!–because I myself have always associated with September being the back to school time, so I can only imagine!

Another thing about the impending season is that it’s when lots of crafters are getting ready for their craft fairs, since they are already underway and the signups have begun for the events that won’t be popping up for another couple of months! I have some craft fairs on my own radar, and you probably do, too! And even faster still is the doom and excitement of all the holidays, so lots of craft preparation is going on!

And have I mentioned just how much I love quick and easy projects? They’re the best! I’ve shared my Santa Belly Coffee Sleeves here recently, which if you haven’t seen them, check them out, they’re super cute and I used mine on and off throughout July…because Christmas in July! Another reason why coffee sleeves are awesome (in addition to their personal qualities and that they help you reduce the amount of paper in landfills) is that they are quick and easy! I had originally whipped up one of these last year when I’d been inspired by my Project Scrap Yarn, and I was just so in love with how it turned out, but I hadn’t done anything with the pattern! I’m glad that I finally have the chance to share this with you! For these reasons and more, I think that these little coffee sleeves are perfect gifts for the teachers going back into the classrooms or for your craft fair needs!

So let’s get started!

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn (4)
-Gold
I used Red Heart Super Saver
-Grey
I used Craft Smart
-Pink
I used Impeccable
H hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Terms used (US):

Sc = single crochet
DC = double crochet
Ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch

Instructions:

Using H hook and GOLD yarn, chain 32, slip stitch join to form loop

Row 1: Ch 1, single crochet into each stitch around, sl st to beginning of row (32)
Rows 2-5: Repeat Row 1.
Row 6: Repeat previous row, sl st to beginning and bind off

Row 7: Sl st GREY into first stitch, ch 1, single crochet into first stitch and every stitch around, sl st to beginning (32)

Row 8: Ch 2, DC into first stitch, sc, *DC, sc, repeat from * to end of round, sl st to beginning of round

In the above picture, you can see the work in progress! The first row at the foreground of the photo is Row 7, the row of single crochet in Grey, and the row being worked behind is Row 8, the alternating of DC and sc

Row 9: Introduce PINK with a slip stitch. Ch 1, sc into the sl st space and every space around, for 32 sc. Sl st to beginning ch.

Keep going!

Rows 10-12: Repeat Row 9. Start with ch 1, sc around, sl st to beginning. When you’ve reached your desired eraser length, bind off and weave in those ends!

Here’s a picture of me from when I first created this cozy last year–I still had the braces then! Time flies so fast! I actually kind of miss the braces, is that weird?

And that’s the Top of the Class Pencil Coffee Cozy! I hope you brought enough for the whole class!

Until next time,

Gilliane

Like this pattern? Don’t forget to pin this article on Pinterest!
And I’d love to see your finished projects! Please share with me on Facebook and Instagram!
Finished items made from this pattern may be personally sold on your Etsy and at craft fairs, but please share the love and credit the pattern back here! And please don’t copy and paste this pattern as your own!

Crochet

Back To School Roundup!

August 3, 2017 No Comments

Fall’s coming!

I’m sure of it…like in some parts of the United States, somewhere? Not here in California, but I’m sure it is definitely going to be happening somewhere! Send me pictures of what weather looks like because as a Californian I’m terribly confused. But either way, school is going to be starting up pretty soon, if it hasn’t already, whether it feels like summer where you are or has started transitioning into Autumn.

I’m jealous, by the way, of the places that experience Autumn, and I’m not afraid of showing it.

*googles images of Autumn* *wistful sigh*

But here’s a list of crochet patterns and designs that I think just scream back to school and that you might enjoy! So if you’re sending the kids back to school, off to college, want to give a gift to a teacher, or just simply enjoy the adorable qualities of these designs for your fall wardrobe, these are all really cool and fun ideas—so get to crafting!

Pick an Apple…Or A Pumpkin!—by Divine DebrisThese dainty earrings are a sure-fire conversation starter! They would make for a lovely and quick project for back to school or for various fall parties! These apple earrings would make for a perfect back-to-school piece or a gift for a new teacher! Or, if you’re planning on doing quintessentially fall things like apple picking and want a fun statement piece, these would be perfect! Made from lace yarn, the work would be small (make sure to do hand stretches so you keep your muscles safe!), but the dainty quality is wonderful!
http://divinedebris.com/pick-an-apple/
Top of the Class Pencil Scarf—by Gilliane of GillyGnitsThis snazzy scarf is a FREE pattern made by yours truly and is such a dorky and fun way to bring in the back to school and fall season! They work up pretty quickly (you can mindlessly stitch single crochet in the body of the piece while you watch Netflix!) and allow for lots of variation, so start sharpening those pencils and have fun!
http://www.gillygnits.com/top-of-the-class-pencil-scarf
Hop on the Bus, Gus! Scarf—by Amanda Rader Designs
Carrying on the scarf theme, this is such a fantastic and ingenious scarf that looks like a long school bus! It has such a fantastic usage of detail, right down to the little blue handicap and red stop sign icons on the sides of the piece! The use of chain spacing to create the scarf’s “windows” is a smart detail element as well. Available as a free Ravelry download!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hop-on-the-bus-gus
Crochet Pencil Pouch—by Sarah of RepeatCrafterMe
Pencil pouches are so cute and useful, so it’s the best of both worlds! This pouch has a single button enclosure and I love how she models the piece with a mix of crochet hooks and pencils, it’s usually how my desk looks!
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2016/07/crochet-pencil-pouch.html
Pencil Shaped Pencil Pouch—by Ashleigh of Sewrella
This and the following entry are both by Sewrella as part of her Back To School series and are so adorable, I’d have been amiss in not including them! They are super cute and look even better as a set! This pencil case is a nice quick project and will be such a fantastic accessory for your little one to take with them and all their brand new writing utensils to school! I personally love the double-button enclosure on the piece!
http://www.sewrella.com/2016/08/pencil-shaped-pencil-pouch-back-to.html
Notebook Paper Crochet Textbook Cover—by Ashleigh of Sewrella
I love things that are usable and contribute less waste, and I remember book covers in school being pretty wasteful because they were paper and tore and were quickly thrown away by the end of the first week of school because of their lack of durability. Not the case with this cute pattern courtesy of Sewrella! It looks like a sheet of lined paper, complete with the detailing of punch holes, and looks like a beautiful fit for books! Her thorough photographs of her process make for easier crafting and are incredibly helpful while working the project!
http://www.sewrella.com/2016/08/notebook-paper-crochet-textbook-cover.html
Back-to-School Teacher’s Treat—by Maria Bittner of Pattern Paradise
The teacher’s treat: apples! These are some cute apple coasters that would be perfect for a teacher’s desk to start the new year off right, and have a table that’s safe from rings from their coffee. Because teachers need A LOT of coffee! But this would also be a perfect addition to a country-themed kitchen, and is just a very cute pattern. The post also includes an option to make the coaster pieces into a tiny treat bag! Perfect!
https://pattern-paradise.com/2014/08/22/free-crochet-pattern-back-school-treat
Building Blocks Crochet Backpack—by Tamara Kelly of Moogly
Whoa! This is so cool! Inspired by Legos, this is an adorably intricate drawstring backpack requiring an understanding of a number of techniques, but Moogly is such a great resource you can find all of the tools you need on the site to properly execute the bag! I wouldn’t call this a quick and easy project by any means, but it looks like a labor of love that is well worth the effort!
http://www.mooglyblog.com/lego-inspired-crochet-backpack/
Gecko Bookmark Pattern—by Lion Brand Yarn
I think that crochet bookmarks are so much fun! And this one is no exception. A fun, elongated body makes this little gecko look like family-friendly roadkill (sorry if that’s a gross picture that popped into your head), but makes it perfect for laying flat in a closed book! The curlicue tail is a nice touch and the little tongue makes for a nice addition, though could be omitted if desired!
http://www.lionbrand.com/crochet-pattern-gecko-bookmark-1.html
The Perfect Gift: Yarn Ball Bookmark—by Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom
I love the perfect simplicity of this bookmark pattern! It really is perfect since it is probably the easiest pattern in this lineup of awesome patterns! It’s a pompom with a long tail that can be inserted into a book as a very effect bookmark! It can be made by hand or with the use of a Clover pompom maker. It’ll spruce up the desk with an assortment of cute pompoms sticking out of a stack of books!
https://www.designmom.com/the-perfect-gift-yarn-ball-bookmark/

Hope you liked the patterns here, and feel free to share some that you’ve enjoyed! I’m always looking for new friends on Pinterest! I’ll be scouring through Pinterest myself throughout the rest of summer and dreaming of Fall!

Until next time,
Gilliane

Crochet

Top of the Class Pencil Scarf

August 2, 2017 2 Comments

Hey there! I know that it’s the dead of summer right now and all you want to do is run and hop and skip and jump and have lazy days…but school is coming again. That’s right, school. is. coming. again.

Byeeeeee, random kid from the internet in this stock picture!

Before you know it, it’s going to be time to do the Back to School shopping and get new backpacks and clothes and all of the fun (and not-so-fun like waking up early) stuff that comes along with it! And judging by the ads and displays at Target and Walmart, for some of you it’s already time! Time to sharpen those pencils and get back to school!

This pattern that I’m sharing with you today would make a perfect scarf for a student (even for your college kid heading off or back to campus!) or a splendid gift for that teacher in your life, ooooor even a great quirky perk to your own outfit! I wanted something kind of whimsical looking as a fun project to work on and I was inspired by my Project Scrap Yarn that I have been working through. (Click through for my post about PSY! You can also look for the hashtag on my Instagram!) My favorite aspect of the pattern is the crinkle look of the faux-metal tip of the pencil, I think it gives it a super cute textural aspect to the design! If the crinkle look isn’t personally your thing, I’ll include the alternative faux-metal tip, there is a lot of flexibility in crochet. You can follow the pattern to the letter or, if you would like a thinner/tighter scarf, feel free to use a smaller hook to obtain that kind of gauge. You can make it however long you would like! Whether you like the ascot-ty look or you really want the scarf to wrap around, the design is pretty straightforward and versatile, I hope you enjoy it!

**Notes** Because a lot of this pattern is small color changes, I’ve highlighted the colors being used in BOLD to help it stand out in the text, so you don’t accidentally skip it somehow.

The yarn color you’ll need the most of for this project is the gold/yellow, since everything else is in small quantities.

Seriously. The black yarn you’ll only need for like 8 stitches and room for weaving in the ends. Really small.

Materials:

*1 Ball of worsted weight yarn (4) in Yellow
[I used Red Heart Super Saver in Gold]
*Small parts of:
Black (for the lead)
[I used Red Heart Super Saver]
Beige (for the pencil)
[I used Impeccable in Heather]
Gray (for the ‘metal’ tip)
[I used Craft Smart yarn in Gray]
Pink (for the eraser)
[I used Impeccable in Arbor Rose]
*I Hook
*Scissors
*Tapestry needle

Terms Used:
SC=Single Crochet
Ch=Chain
St/s=Stitch/stitches
DC=Double Crochet

Instructions:

With Black, ch 2
Row 1: 2 sc into the second chain from the hook, ch 1, turn
Row 2: 1 sc into each stitch, ch 1, turn (2 sc)
Row 3: 2 sc into each st, yarn over and slip knot to end the color. Color change to Beige. Ch 1 with Beige and turn. (4)

I didn’t like my original attempt at color changing, which is why I’m suggesting just binding off each color and then slipping in the new color!

I had originally tried a color change in the last stitch, but it didn’t really work out the way that I had liked, so I felt it was necessary to complete each other in the row before introducing the new color in each block. It looked really messy on one side which, for some projects, is okay, but this kind of annoyed me, so here’s the two examples of the pencil tips that I made:

The wonky one was okay on the other side, just flip it over:

So it’s up to you whether you want to make the color change in the last stitch in your row, but this is what I liked the best for this project in particular…and the one I went with!

Row 4: 2 sc into first st, sc next 2 sts, 2 sc last st. Ch 1 and turn (6)
Row 5: 2 sc into first st, sc next 4 sts, 2 sc last st. Ch 1 and turn (8)
Row 6: 2 sc into first st, sc next 6 sts, 2 sc last st, yarn over and slip knot to end the color. Color change to Yellow. Ch 1 with Yellow and turn (10)
Row 7: 2 sc into first st, sc next 8 sts, 2 sc last st. Ch 1 and turn (12)
Row 8: Sc each st across, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 9-??: Sc each st across, ch 1, and turn until the body of the scarf has reached a comfortable length for your project’s needs!

You might want a scarf that’s more ascot length or a super scarf, or you might want something shorter for your kindergartner but something longer for your college kid, so I’ve left the length more or less up to you! If you have a whole skein of the yellow yarn, then you have lots of room to play with the length, it’s your scarf!

But there’s still more! Leave room for the eraser!

Last row of Yellow: Sc across all stitches, yarn over and slip knot to end the color, color change with Grey. Ch 1 with Grey and turn
**Grey 1: Single crochet into each stitch across, ch 2 and turn

Grey 2-8: 1 DC into the first stitch, sc the second, DC the 3^rd, continue pattern to the end, ch 2 and turn.

The above chart is meant to help you out in the scheme of how the stitches are supposed to situate themselves, the 3 with a bracket off to the right hand side of the chart is to denote a stitch height of 3! I hope this helps! (Please let me know if it doesn’t make sense, or if I can clarify it. My Microsoft Paint skills are pretty good, I hope!)

**Alternative with Grey**
If the crinkle effect isn’t to your liking, you can DC into each stitch across the row, ch 2 and turn. Repeat for each row until the eraser metal is to your desired length, but 10 rows would make an appropriate length.

At end of final row, color change with Pink. Ch 1 with Pink and turn

Pink Row 1: Sc into each st across, ch 1 and turn.

Pink Row 2-8: Repeat Pink Row 1 until the Eraser is your favorite length!
Note: You can make the Grey and Pink rows as long as you’d like, though however many rows you use, match it in the opposite color to make the sections even

Bind off and weave in all ends. Wear it like a scholarly rock star!