Reviewing Tunisian Crochet Join-as-you-go Tutorial by TL Yarn Crafts

Crochet is such a fun yarn craft that makes beautiful items. I've crocheted for decades but have always had trouble joining panels of crochet or granny square blocks. I recently started a small Tunisian crochet project that was less of an actual project and more to give me something small and easy to do on days that I don't physically feel like doing much else. By chance, my little crochet project that looked like a small scarf is turning into a beautiful lap blanket because of a wonderful tutorial from TL Yarn Crafts. I am exceedingly pleased with how this project is shaping up. It will make a beautiful gift.

TL Yarn Crafts.  I found TL Yarn Crafts quite by accident. It was perfect timing since I was refreshing my memory with Tunisian Crochet. The TL Yarn Crafts channel and websites were created by Toni.  On her YouTube channel, she shares over 200 crochet patterns. She has tutorials for crocheter's of every skill level: beginning, medium and advanced.  I found her tutorial to be very well-filmed, with every motion easy to see. Her instructions are easy to understand.

The TL Yarn Crafts crochet YouTube channel includes:

• crochet patterns - hats, sweaters, granny squares, and blankets
• crochet tips and hacks - blocking, twisted tassel, keyhole tassel, edging, and more
• Tunisian crochet tutorials - Tunisian hooks, the absolute basics, and patterns such as tunisian crochet in the round.
• yarn and accessories reviews
• yarn craft business tips and advice
• My Project - Tunisian Swatch to Striped Lapghan (happy accident) 

I had a pretty green gradient yarn by Lion Brand in my yarn hoard. Since I didn't feel up to working on larger projects, I decided to practice my Tunisian crochet skills.  Basic Tunisian crochet consists of using one long crochet hook, picking up loops in one direction, and pulling the yarn through each of those loops in the opposite direction. Easy-peasy. No counting. Just row after row of "yarn on" in one direction and "yarn off" in the other direction.  I hadn't Tunisian crocheted in quite awhile and wanted to practice the technique for making even edges that I had recently seen in a video. 

Once I had a scarf-length piece, had come across a video in which TL Yarn Crafts was making little Tunisian crochet squares. Rather than making the squares separately and joining them later (usually using a simple sewing stitch with yarn and a needle) she was joining as she went.

TL Yarn Craft's project was beautiful and her tutorial was clear.  I realized that I could use the same technique to join my scarf-shaped swatch with other scarf shaped pieces and make a striped lapghan.  The result is easy and turning out beautifully.  The seams are even -something I wasn't able to do when trying to sew blocks together.

I am using the green and the blue skeins of Lion Brand Gradient yarn cakes. This yarn is easy to work with, soft, and offers beautiful colorways.  This yarn is soft and easy to work with. It is a great choice for a large variety of crafts: blankets, sweaters, hats, and stuffed animals.

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Reviewing Jeans Yarn by Lion Brand

Stonewash Jeans yarn by Lion Brand.

Lion Brand Yarn Company sells some of my favorite yarns. While I'm waiting for my order of Comfy Cotton Blend yarn to arrive, I'm using some Jeans yarn that I had on hand. I had forgotten how much I love this yarn for hats. The super soft yarn, in blue jean colors, was perfect in a hat for my grandson. I think it'll also be awesome for making my Jenny Hats.

I've started crocheting chemo hats. I call them my Jenny Hats. If you'd like to know more about why I started making chemo hats the link to that article is listed below.

I've been using Lion Brand Comfy Cotton blend yarn for my Jenny Hats. Because cotton is so comfortable and because the Comfy Cotton yarn is so soft. But this weekend I did not have enough Comfy Cotton blend on hand. So I started a hat with the Jeans yarn. My goal is to make the most comfortable hats that I am able to make. 

I LOVE the Jeans yarn. It is 100% acrylic yarn - not cotton as I had guessed. It is machine washable and dryable. And the colors are awesome. "Stonewash" is the color pictured. Doesn't it look like a favorite pair of broken in jeans? 

The yarn is labeled as a size 4. In my opinion, it is on the small side of size 4. It is working up in this Jenny Hat just like the size 3 Comfy Cotton blend worked up. The Jeans yarn does not split or fray easily making it very easy to work with.

At the largest yarn store in my area, I can easily find Jeans yarn in 3 shades of blue, black and 2 shades of brown.  As I was preparing to write this, I see that Jeans yarn is being made in other colors; shades of pink, turquoise, red, and burgundy. These are labeled "Jeans Colors". 

Jeans Colors - pink

Related Links:

Read about Jenny and why I began making chemo hats. I also shared photos of the Jenny Hats made with Comfy Cotton Blend yarn here. 

Another Lion Brand yarn that I rave about is the Wool Ease Thick and Quick. An excellent chunky yarn for neck warmers and other projects that call for a thick, soft yarn. 

 (1 Skein) Lion Brand Yarn Jeans YarnCheck Price

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Reviewing Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Yarn

Reviewing Wool - Ease by Lion Brand Yarn Company

I have always loved to crochet. Recently, I have mindfully taken more time to crochet. As a result, my skills are improving and I've been creating things that people really enjoy. During this time I've begun to use a new yarn: Wool-Ease Thick & Quick by Lion Brand Yarns. Outside of using Bernat Blanket yarn in a couple of patterns, I've never branched out to the Bulky and Super Bulky yarns. But I stepped out of my comfort zone and I'm so glad I did. I am thrilled with this acrylic/wool blend yarn by Lion Brand.

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick

I've never been a fan of wool - with the exception of work socks that have a small percentage of wool. I love those. But anything that has a larger percentage of wool I imagine as scratchy. I don't know why, but I do. I just always assume that wool is going to be uncomfortable.

During shopping trips down the yarn aisles, I am a toucher. I want yarns that feel good. One day I touched a skein of yarn that was so thick and soft that I bought a few skeins. I did not realize they were an acrylic and wool blend yarn until I got home. 

Wool - Ease Thick & Quick comes in two skein sizes: a regular skein size at 5 oz (87 yards) or the bonus bundle at 12 oz (212 yards).  Be aware if you are shopping online. It appears the some outlets show the regular skein size as the "bonus bundle". Be sure to read the weight/length if ordering online.

 Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Yarn, Soft and Bulky Yarn for Knitting, Crocheting, and Crafting, 3 Pack, Arctic IceCheck Price

It is in the Super Bulky category (which is #6 on the label). And the recommended crochet hook size is "N" (knitting needle size 13).

Wool-Ease Thick & Quick is 80% acrylic and 20% wool. 

It is machine washable and dryable using cool temps. Do not bleach or iron.

I bought this yarn as I was experimenting - trying to crochet a very small neck warmer that someone had suggested. I ended up with the wrong pattern or the wrong size yarn during my experimenting. Then I gave this yarn and a "N" hook a try. And ta-dum, I have great neck warmers that people are enjoying.


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My neck warmers on Etsy

If you'd like an acrylic/wool blend neck warmer and don't feel like making your own, keep your eye on my Etsy Store. I will offer these neck warmers with button closures at DawnRaeCrochet as I get them made.

If you'd like to make your own scarf from this yarn, you can check out the crochet patterns on Lion Brand Yarn Company site. If you are a beginner, this "Brunch With Friends Scarfie" would be a good pattern to try. 

I am not good at writing patterns. So I cannot give you an actual pattern for my neck warmers. But for those of you who do crochet this may make sense to you:

• chain 9 to 11 (depending on the desired width)
• turn and single stitch in each stitch; continue for 6 rows (beginning each row with a ch 1 and turn)
• ch 3 and turn, DC in each stitch
• continue for desire length (mine are around 27")
• end with a row of single crochet for a finished edge
• attach a button (or 2 buttons) near the end of 6 rows of SC
• the button holes are the spaces between the DCs (making the scarf able to be worn in a variety of ways/lengths).

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