Saturday, January 26, 2013

Construction Tips for the Ghost Cone Scarf

Today I had the rare experience of opening a crochet magazine to follow my own pattern; to work from instructions that I myself had written many months ago. But the instructions in the magazine were not exactly as I had written them; they were better.

So here's to technical editors everywhere, and especially to the ones at Interweave, who condensed my overly-wordy pattern into an elegant half-page of essentials. Their careful pruning and terminology tweaks taught me several things I needed to know about pattern-writing.

Thank you, Interweave tech editors, for all your hard work behind the scenes.



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I'm really excited about the enthusiastic response to the Ghost Cone Scarf. Many beautiful versions have already popped up on its Ravelry project page, and I've received several requests for a tutorial to demonstrate how the scarf is put together. In response, here are a few short videos which I hope will answer some common questions about this pattern.

1. Forming the Arch


2. Taming the Twist


3. Joining the Columns


Note re joining the columns: You may of course join them as often as you wish during the scarf construction - the pattern recommends every third arch, but you could do it at every arch, every other arch, or farther apart. (Forgot to say this in the video.)

If you have any other questions about the pattern, please don't hesitate to e-mail, or contact me in Ravelry, and I'll be happy to answer them if I can.

Again, thanks for viewing, and happy crocheting!

~ ~ ~

P.S. If you're interested in seeing some design precursors to the Ghost Cone Scarf, check out the Bean Blossom Scarf and the Curly Maple Scarflet.

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43 comments:

  1. Hey Sue! Congratulations! I wish, more than ever, that I could crochet (one day, one day) to try out this pattern. I'm really excited for you.

    Editors are fabulous, I agree. My last garden history article (5,600 words) was altered in the most respectful, discrete manner. Every change made perfect sense and did not tamper with my style. I was so impressed.

    Have yourself a cheery weekend!

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    1. Thank you, Stephanie! Dear me - 5600 words - perhaps my pattern wasn't so long after all.... :)

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  2. Congratulations Sue you ate a very clever lady, I have had a look at your others they are beautiful I'm not sure if I would be clever enough to make them but I will definitely be giving them a try. :)

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    1. Thanks Linda - honestly they're pretty easy. And even little projects help when it comes to stashbusting, you know. :)

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  3. Congratulations! Your scarf pattern is beautiful! blessings ~ tanna

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  4. Sue, You are so talented!!! I think you should do a bracelet tutorial, mine is gorgeous and I know it would be a huge hit.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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    1. I did think of making it January's free pattern - perhaps I will.

      Thanks Meredith! :)

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  5. I have picked up that magazine twice now...drooling over that scarf on the cover. Just yesterday, I had it in hand once again...and leafed thru the magazine to the page where the pattern was located. Broomstick lace is not something I've conquered yet...and I decided not to spend the money for the publication. I never realized it was YOUR pattern! What a hoot. Congrats! I need to mull over the idea of conquering broomstick because that scarf intrigues me Ina big way! Thanks for the videos!

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    1. Would you believe I've never even made any broomstick lace? But I've seen my sister at it and it's actually pretty quick and easy.

      You can make this pattern - it's almost entirely chain stitches held together by a few half-double crochets. Very much easier than it looks. I think the hardest part (and it's not that hard) is keeping the columns straight while you work.

      If you do have any questions about it, please don't hesitate to ask. And thanks for commenting! :)

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  6. The Videos are awesome, as is the scarf!

    Congrats on making the cover, but I am more than sure it will be the first of many covers for you in the future. Your designs are lovely and so inspiring. :)

    Blessings always

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  7. I have been eyeing this scarf for a long time now. This makes it less intimidating to tackle. :-)

    Thank you!

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    1. Gosh, don't let it intimidate you - your crochet skills are way more than sufficient for this pattern, Astri! And you know you can e-mail the designer with any questions.... :)

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  8. Too, too talented are you! You make it all seem so easy, but then we know it isn't. Especially for the likes of me. Darned hooves.

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    1. Someone needs to invent a goat-friendly crochet hook. Goatchet? Go-chet? New craft potential there! :)

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  9. I am not sure I have the skill, but I sure am going to try. :)
    Thanks for the wonderful tutorials. You make it look so easy.

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  10. I am so happy for you that your wonderful pattern is such a success Sue :) If only I could crochet!

    And thank you so much for your get well wishes, and for rounding me up to 100 ;)

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    1. Such a nice round number, as Monk would say. :) Hope you're feeling better, and thanks, Annie! :)

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  11. Congratulations on making the front cover! Your design is beautiful

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  12. Ditto what Stitchy said. I expect you to make the cover of many magazines. Your ideas always are elegant and fun at the same time. Not all designers have that touch! And you do videos, too!!! I may have to hire you to do some videos while making my snowflakes. I get so darned many requests!!!

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    1. I hope that's true - about the magazines - and just getting some more patterns accepted would be encouraging. (It's an uphill battle.)

      I'd love to make videos for you. :)

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  13. What yarn are you using in this tutorial? Just curious. I have looked at a few different yarns to try to get the lacy/satiny look...

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    1. This is Heritage Silk by Cascade - it's finer than the Interweave scarf yarn, but very silky. Good luck finding a yarn you like!

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  14. I too saw this pattern in Interweave crochet and loved it. I was wondering if you would consider making a video showing how to do each step from the beginning. I am a visual learner and for some reason i cant get it started. Thks again for sharing your GOD given talent

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    1. Thanks so much for commenting!

      It's a bit awkward to make a complete video - to do so, I would essentially have to give the pattern away, which would be breaking copyright law. If you have specific questions about any particular step, feel free to email me or contact me in Ravelry and I will do my best to answer them. :)

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  15. I understand I will contact you soon. Thks again for everything you do. We really appreciate you

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  16. I'm having a problem with the button bend. If says to make two ledc iin next 2 sts then skip next hdc cl. Are you saying to make two ledc in each of the next stitches then skip the next set of four hdc cluster? Or skip last st and first of next cl? Please let me know asap as this is a gift. Thank you for the most beautiful pattern to come out in a long time. It really is easy since I already do broomstick and crochet

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    1. Make 2 ledc in each of the next 2 stitches. Then you need to make a kind of linked cluster which will jump from one column to the next. You start by making pulling up a loop from the horizontal bar of the previous stitch, then insert your hook in next stitch (which is the last stitch of the current column), pull up a loop, skip over the place where this column joins to the next column, pick up a loop in the next stitch (now you are on top of the next column) yo and pull through all the loops to finish the stitch. (You'll do this between every column.) Hope that makes sense - if not let me know and we'll try again. :)

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  17. I was almost finished the scarf and was patting myself on the back when I came to the ending button band and I completely confused. Even after reading the post above I still don't get it. 1. I don't understand how to put 2 ledc in the same st and 2. what is a hdc. Hope you can help.

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    1. 1. To put 2 ledc in the same st: make the first ledc. Then pull up a loop from the horizontal strand (as you did for the first ledc). Now insert hook into the same st you just made the first lecd in, and complete the second ledc. Think of it as an increase. (See this link for an example of a regular dc increase: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/increase-double-crochet-in-the-middle-or-end-of-a-.html. You're doing the same thing but with ledcs instead of dcs.)
      2. An hdc is a half-double crochet.

      Good luck, and please ask again if you need more help. :)

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  18. What is the 'horizontal bar' in the ending button band? I need to have this scarf done by tonight, so if you could reply ASAP, that'd be awesome! Thanks!

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  19. Never mind about my last question, I understand it. But I'm really confused with the directions. The directions say to do the hdc thing at the beginning of the band and then do the ledcs the rest of the way, until the last sts. It says then to do everything after the ** in the pattern. But then it says to do everything that's in the last paragraph for the last sts. I'm really confused. I need to have this done by tonight, so if you can, could you answer ASAP? Thanks.

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  20. Ack! Had a beautiful answer typed out and the computer ate it. Let's try again.

    It is a bit confusing. Here's what you do: make an hdc. Then work the rest of that paragraph (from the * to the words "all lps on hook"). This is one segment, and it covers one column. Now go back to the * and work the entire paragraph again on top of the NEXT column. Do this 4 times total.

    For the 5th column, just work the first part of the first paragraph: from * to **. THEN skip to the second paragraph and follow the instructions from "insert hook" all the way to "Fasten off". And you're done!

    Good luck, and sorry I can't be more specific than this. Copyright issues limit what I'm allowed to say. :)

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  21. Thank you so much this was so much helpfull it was better to watch the video then try to doit from reading!!!

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  22. Thank you it was so much helpfull seen it the read it!!
    I catch it now!!!

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  23. My daughter saw your Ghost Cone Scarf online and she wants me to make it for her. I haven't crocheted for years but how could I say no? I ordered the Interweave magazine with your pattern in it.

    I have been practicing with spare yarn and I think I am ready to try the real thing. You mentioned in a previous comment that you used "Heritage Silk by Cascade" for your demo videos. Could you please tell me how many skeins of the "Heritage Silk" I would need to order?

    Thank you for being available for questions. Something tells me that I will be visiting this site again before I finish the project.

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    1. I used 2 skeins of the Heritage Silk (total of 874 yards), and held the yarn double. The scarf I made was 6 columns wide by 24 motifs long, and used up almost all the yarn. If I had it to do over I would make it 5 columns wide (like the magazine pattern) and about 30 motifs long, so it would be long enough to wrap twice around the neck. Heritage Silk is finer than the magazine yarn, so you'll want to go down a hook size or so than what the pattern calls for.

      You can also use a worsted-weight yarn, held single (with the appropriate size hook). About 500 yards of worsted weight would be plenty for a scarf about 48-50" long. For a 60" scarf, allow more.

      Have you looked at the Ravelry project page? You can probably get some good yarn ideas there by seeing what other crocheters have used.

      Good luck and please ask if you need more help! :)

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  24. Thank you for making the videos! This scarf is the reason why I purchased the magazine, and I just started it a few nights ago. I just wasn't "getting it" and was thinking about ditching it, but I decided to Google a tutorial, and lo and behold, here I am! I will take another look at the video and restart the project!
    Kim

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    1. Thanks Kim - it's really not hard at all. If you have any questions please feel free to ask, either here or on Ravelry (where I can be found as either Sue Perez or Mrs. Micawber).

      :)

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  25. That’s as well nice, hope it will make a Rocking place for youth and I also Hope that will come true. Best of luck!! found here

    ReplyDelete

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