• Little Lobster and Baby Mermaid – Crochet.
• Lobster Potholder – Crochet. A really cool vintage pattern that could be incorporated into blanket squares as well.
• Lobster Trap Scarf – Crochet (scroll to bottom).
• Jacques Crusteau – Knit.
• Toy Lobster – Knit. This is from a fellow Mainer, who knows that lobsters should only be red when they’re fully cooked!
• Lobster Claw Mittens – Knit.
• Lobster Washcloth – Knit, but charted pattern can be used for other crafts as well.

Have a nice weekend!

Welcome once again to Newbie Tuesday at the Maine Skein.
The following is reprinted (with some revisions) from my old blog, Stuff Peasie Made.

This is an active blog entry here. If you want to learn how to be less of a n00b, you’re going to have to practice. And I’m going to try and help you practice in the comfort of your own computer chair.

It may look overwhelming at first. But take each bit at a time, be patient with yourself, and don’t give up! If you find yourself stuck, by all means ask me for help. That’s what Newbie Tuesday is made for!

Today, we’re making the Universal First-Time Crochet Item: the scarf.

Quick reference tips will be formatted like this, for you to easily find when needed.

So, before we begin, have the following with you:

• A crochet hook (size g-k)

• About 300 yards of worsted weight yarn
• Scissors
• A large-eyed yarn needle

To make this item, you’ll need to know:

• Chain stitches (ch)

• Single crochet (sc) stitch
• Fastening off

Here is a great page if you need a refresher. It has some of the best diagrams and explanations I’ve found.

When selecting your crochet hook size, the later in the alphabet the letter is, the bigger the hook size is. So a size K hook is bigger than a size G hook. Bigger hooks will make looser stitches than smaller hooks.

Yarn by and large comes in 6 different sizes, or weights. The bigger the number, the bulkier the yarn. The finest, superfine weight, is used to make baby items, socks, and delicate edgings. Worsted weight, the most commonly used weight of yarn, is right about in the middle. It goes on up to Super Bulky weight, used for things like rugs or heavy blankets. In recent years, a nice simple sizing system has been used to make buying yarn even easier: number sizes are used along with description. Here is a thorough and more detailed description of yarn weights.

OK, make your slip knot on your hook.

You’re going to make chain stitches next.

In a pattern, you’ll see “ch x”; it means make x many chain stitches. So if it says “ch 38″, for example, it means “make 38 chain stitches”. The slip knot you made at the very beginning never counts as a chain stitch.

For this scarf, there isn’t a specific number of chain stitches to make. Make chain stitches until it’s as wide as you want your scarf to be. Then, make one more.

Once you’ve made your chain stitches, your foundation chain, it’s time to make single crochet stitches. In fact, just the way they are on the diagram is just the way they’re going to be made for this scarf.

In patterns, “single crochet” is abbreviated “sc”. “sc in 2nd ch from hook” means “make a single crochet in the second chain stitch from the hook (not counting the loop that’s on your hook)”

Row 1: Next:

When you get to the end of the row:

Row 2: Now you’re going to do pretty much the same thing as the previous row:

Make 1 chain stitch (ch1), turn your work around. This is your turning chain.

Row 3 +: You’re going to repeat Row 2, including the turning chain at the end of the row, as many times as needed until your scarf is the length you want it to be. Keep checking your length.

This step could take a few days. At first, each row will seem to take forever. But as you go, it will get quicker, easier, and more even. Practice practice! If you keep at it, you’ll likely have this all done–or nearly done–in time for the next N00b Monday.

When you get your scarf as long as you want it, fasten off (fo). Using the yarn needle, weave the end of your yarn into the stitches of the scarf so as to hide it.

Finally, we’re going to add some fringe to the end of your scarf. Cut several long strips of yarn, and attach the fringe as shown here or here.

Ta da! You’ve completed your first-ever scarf! Just think of all the handmade gift possibilities next Christmas!

Now, here’s the pattern in pattern-ese. You can double check the translations above:

Congratulations. I look forward to hearing your questions and feedback, and seeing your finished product if you want to show it off here!

Photo credit: www.reggie.net

• Crocus Doily – Crochet.
• Crocus Scarf – Crochet.
• Crocus Bud Socks – Knit.
• Icelandic Crocus sweater – Knit.
• Better Daffodil Cloth – Knit, but the charted pattern could be used for several other crafts as well.
• Daffodil Hat – Knit.
• Spring Daffodil Baby Socks – Knit.
• Crocheted Daffodils
• Daffodils Fillet Table Runner – Crochet.
• Daffodil Afghan – Crochet.

Got an idea for a Weekend Project List theme? Comment here or email maineskein(at)gmail(dot)com!

The photo doesn’t quite do justice to the colors. The header of this blog was made using this same yarn!

This week’s Newbie Tuesday answers what may be the single most-asked question when it comes to knitting: Why does stockinette stitch roll up?

Stockinette stitch in knitting refers to doing all knit (k) stitches in one direction, then turning it over and doing all purl (p) stitches the other direction. It can also refer to doing all k stitches in the round, and is thus called because it’s commonly used when making socks.

When it’s not being made in the round however, but in rows, knitters will notice that before long, their work starts to roll up like a tight scroll. I myself ran into this problem originally in 2007, as I was learning how to knit, and the following article is a repost of what I learned.

Why does Stockinette Stitch Roll?

(Originally posted April 24, 2007, here.)

As I’ve mentioned before, one of the cool things about WordPress is that I can see what people entered into a search to find their way to me. And one such thing entered within the past 24 hours was the very title of this post.

This is a problem I experienced first-hand, so I went and asked at the newbie_knitters (I believe that’s how they spelled it…) community at LiveJournal. I was frustrated that my very first ever practice project was rolling up like a tight scroll and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. So I asked, and mentioned that all I’m doing is a simple stockinette stitch.

The answer came back almost immediately from dozens of individuals, all saying the same thing: stockinette stitch rolls up. That’s just what it does. Why, I’m not certain; likely it’s that the stitches on one side are longer than the others and physics bein’ what they are, well, there you have it. But whatever the specific reason, know this: The sun will rise, the tides will flow, death, taxes, stockinette stitch rolling up.

Nearly three years later, it’s still the best answer I can give you: it rolls up because it does. It’s not something you’re doing wrong.

Thank you for reading; if you have any questions for next Newbie Tuesday be sure to post them here, or email me at maineskein(at)gmail(dot)com.