Yarn Pooling Made Easy : A Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway

I don't know about you but a big trend last year in crochet was Yarn Pooling! Did you try it? I know I did and failed. Trying to find the right yarn, formulas and such wasn't easy on my own. Of course I didn't do a lot of research at first and was just grabbing variegated yarn I had on hand and just hoping it would magically happen. It didn't. I now have perfect solution and resource!

Yarn Pooling Made Easy 

By Marly Bird

This new book has 32 pages of wonderful information on Yarn Pooling. 

Including 

*Tips and Tricks including a video link 

 Marly walks you through how too do this!

You can actually have access to Marly's video's and Blog via Youtube any time!

*Marly Bird's Yarn Pooling Playlist! *

*Marly Bird's Blog Links on Yarn Pooling*

*General Instructions
crochet terms, symbols, abbreviations and a few pictorial walk throughs of a few more intricate stitches. 

*Yarn information  

I love it when books include the exact yarn used. I find this very helpful especially in yarn pooling. 

As Marly is Red HeartYarns National Spokesperson as yarns used are Red Heart Brand.

*10 - Easy Patterns 

 a few scarves

a set: hat, cowl and fingerless gloves

 Car Seat Cover

Child's Sweater

Baby Cocoon 

 Poncho 

I was really impressed with the variety of patterns.  
It was hard for me to choose one to make. 

I started with the Full Scarf, but I didn't just want a basic scarf and I messed up at the beginning so I pulled it out. 
I was drawn to the child's sweater but I didn't have enough yarn. 

So, I decided I would Make the Car Seat Cover just  a smaller version of it. 

I crochet for my daughters dolls a lot and thought it would make a cute mini babydoll blanket. 

I just happened to have a Skien of Red Heart Super Saver #906 Ocean. This was used for the scarf pictured above in the banner. 

I worked up a small rectangle using the yarn pooling method from the book and guess what it worked out!! Isn't this gorgeous. What I really loved was the border. It called for two contrasting colors but I went with a matching purple and the same variegated in the center and it made another lovely colorful border effect. 

I really love the way it turned out and my Daughter did too. 

So, if you were scared of yarn pooling. 

Marly Bird and this book will help you through it! 

I have to say personally. I've taken classes and followed Marly Bird for Years! She is an amazing women and you will learn so much from her! I can't say enough great things! Even if Yarn pooling isn't for you, You have to check out all her amazing designs and youtube tutorials.  

You will want to get your hands on this book! 

I'm hosting a Giveaway to win a copy of this book! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh and there is more! 

Be Sure to Follow Marly Bird's Youtube channel! 

She is going to be having daily giveaways during this tour too for more than just the book!!! 

Be sure to follow along on the rest of the Blog Tour too!!

Here is the schedule for you! 

Calleigh's Clips & Crochet Creations  September 5, 2017 - That's me! 

 September 6, 2017 

http://accrochet.com

September 7, 2017 

https://www.thestitchinmommy.com

September 8, 2017 

http://www.crochetmemories.com/blog/

 September 11, 2017

 Https://pattern-paradise.com

September 12, 2017

 www.5littlemonsters.com

September 13, 2017 

https://yarnutopia.com/

September 14, 2017 

www.samedinamicscrochet.com

 September 15, 2017

 www.nickishomemadecrafts.com

 September 18, 2017

 http://loopingwithlove.blogspot.com/

September 19, 2017

 http://undergroundcrafter.com 

Thanks so much to Marly Bird and Leisure Arts for providing a copy of the book to me for review. This post does contain affiliate links which I may be compensated for when you make a purchase, however the review is my honest, un-biased opinion. 

Priscilla Crochet Top: Review

Recently I had the itch to crochet something entirely different than anything I've ever made before. I was kinda in a funk the last few months and needed a pick me up when it came to crochet. Often times when you sell items you have to make the same thing over and over. 

I wanted to make something just for me that was out of my normal box! 

I have lots of patterns in my raverly library that I've picked up over time and so I started browsing for one that was begging to be made! The beautiful Priscilla Crochet Top  practically screamed at me! "MAKE ME, MAKE ME! " 

This pattern is by the amazing Viktoria Gogolak of CrocheTrend.  

I've made several of her designs before and I just love them all. She has an amazing talent for design. They are always very unique. She has a way with texture and making great pattern come to life! 

Priscilla Crochet Top: Made by Elisabeth Spivey

This Crochet Top she designed for Design Wars using Red Heart Unforgettable yarn! I really like that yarn but I wanted to use something I had on hand. 

I browsed my stash and found three skeins of Bernat Mosaic in the Ninja Colorway. 

Beautiful shades of Purple/blues/grey. I crossed my fingers that is would be enough because I knew it was a discontinued yarn. (It was just enough for the size I needed) 

This is made with triangle shaped motifs with a join as you go method. I really enjoyed the gorgeous motif design. The join as you go method could be a little tricky as I went but it wasn't to hard to figure out just had to make sure I was crocheting in the right spaces. If I got distracted I would mess up. At least crochet is easy to fix.  It came together over a matter of a week or so as I found time to work on it! It was neat to watch it come together with the variegated yarn. 

I only made a few minor changes. The design is meant for a more off the shoulder look but I didn't personally want to wear it that way so I added some extra decreases on the edges to bring it higher and tighter for more of a tank top look. 

For one that hasn't made to many intricate crochet garments this came out perfect and fit great. I made sure to measure  and check my gauge 1st (as you should) since I used a different yarn. 

The yarn drapes really nicely for the garment. 

 I didn't block it but I think the bottom edge would lay better if I did so I'll do that eventually. Just haven't taken the time to do it. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out! 

It was fun and sparked my love for crochet again! I would highly recommend this design and many of her others crochet creations. You will not be disappointed. 

What do you think? Would you make one? Do you love my purple orchid hair!?! It actually looks nothing like that now! I chopped it all off and now have a Purple Pixie! :) I loove it! 

I'm going to share a blog about my hair adventure soon over on my new blog

Simply Everyday Elisabeth 

Check it out!  I'll be keeping my more personal posts over that way so we don't clutter this crochet blog with to much non crochet, but it will be a great way to get to know me if you want :) 

My New Niece and Crochet Gifts

Yesterday I got a new niece! I'm so excited for a new baby in the family! I can't wait to meet her! With all the sickness we are giving her some space though! We don't want this fresh bundle getting sick! So hopefully I'll get to love on her later this week! 

Of course she got some crochet goodness from me! I made these around christmas time. 

I made up the hat! Just a simple beanie with a little ribbon ridge and 

added accent bow from the boot pattern. 

The darling boots were a special request from momma! I already had the pattern and have made them a few times! So I was excited to make them again! 

These are the Mia Slouch Boots

Pattern by Two Girls Patterns

They have tons of adorable, very well written patterns so be sure to check them out! 

Her momma sent me this picture this morning! 

She is wearing the darling hat I made for this special day! 

Congrats to Jason and Rachel on your darling new baby girl!! 

Pattern Review : Rolling In The Deep Infinity Cowl

Yay! It's finally Fall! One of my favorite times of the year. Time to pull out the boots, scarves and hats! If you love warm fuzzy infinity cowls I have a great one for you! 

Rolling in the Deep Infinity Scarf

By Cre8tion Crochet

First of all this fabulous pattern is a freebie! The pattern very well written. 

It's actually a very easy pattern too once you get the rhythm of the chevron down. If you've never done a chevron stitch design then this would be a great starter because you are going to do it a lot for the short rows! 

The cowl is super long, but I love that. It can be worn in a number of ways, which you can find on Cre8tion Crochet's Blog post. I have mine wrapped 3 times in the pictures. 

I got distracted by other projects so I've been working on it in-between when I could. 

Took me about a week, but I bet you could whip it out in a couple days. 

I used Hobby Lobby's Effervesce in the color ways - Shadow and Petal. Just one skien of each was plenty.  I just adore pink and grey together. 

The Effervesce yarn is soo super soft and slightly fuzzy. It was nice to work with but not fun to unravel if you messed up on a stitch a few rows back (oops). It doesn't seem to leave little fuzzy's on your clothing though which is nice so you don't look like an animal shed on you. (LOL) 

 I hope it doesn't pill but it might. Just the nature of the yarn. 

Note that I did use an H- 5.00mm hook instead of the suggest to match gauge with this yarn and my tension. The scarf came out perfect! 

The pattern would be really easy to adjust if you wanted it shorter too! I just really liked the options with the long scarf! Just perfect for me. 

I look forward to it getting cooler so I can wear it! It's going to be a go to scarf for sure! 

I'm already thinking of making another one with different yarn in black and white or another neutral like tan since Zebra print is so in this fall! 

What do you think? Would you make it? What Colors would you choose? 

Hand Chain Scarf Crochet Pattern Review

Hand chain Scarf in Sashay Golden

During the business of the Holiday's I hurt my hand and couldn't crochet for a about a week. I'm not really even sure what I did. I play piano too and I think I actually hurt it practicing not crocheting. Hand and finger exercises are soooo important to your hand health. You can read more about that in a previous post I wrote: Breathing in and out while you crochet.

Anyhoo. Not being able to crochet for a few days well wasn't going to happen. I tried to rest but still needed to whip out a few gifts some how. So, I cheated and found a pattern on how to crochet with your fingers as the tools instead of a hook. I thought maybe if I was relaxed and not gripping a hook that might help the pain.

I had two skeins of Sashay yarn I'd bought at Michaels that I thought should be used. The pattern I found was a freebie on Red Hearts Website called Glam-It Up Hand Chain Scarf.

This is a wonderful beginning project. Even if you've never crocheted this would be a great place to start. Or if you teach it may be a great project for you to get your students started with the basics of chaining and tension with out having to worry about a hook.

 Working with the mesh yarn can be a bit frustrating otherwise. I'd made several ruffles scarfs the previous year and I prefer to knit those rather than crochet and I don't knit well!

These scarves worked up in about 20 minutes, so I made two and really could have made more! The colors were gorgeous and I loooove the way they turned out! I used Red Heart Sashay Metallic in Rubies and Golden. They are so sparkly and pretty in person. I also love the fact that the scarf is super light! It's not heavy at all! I will for sure made more of these in the future.

I used two fingers and kept my tension pretty loose. I left a decent amount at the end and after I tied the ends together I made a little bow detail (see golden image) That way I could make it adjustable. The golden one has different lengths wrapped. The red one they are all about the same length. I like options! So will you try a finger/hand chain scarf?

Hand chain Scarf in Sashay Rubies