Thread Crocheted Dragon Scale Shrugs – The Very First & The Very Last Made
Finally, just over a month and a half of finishing it, the custom Dragon Scale Shrug has been mailed to Florida and given to my Step-Grandmother. My Mother informed me that she loves it and it fits her very well.
My Mother sent me a photo and I’ve been given permission to post it:
The white one that my Mother is wearing, is the very first one I ever made. It’s the one that I based my pattern from, and the reason why I learned how to do the Crocodile Stitch. I began it March 22, 2014 and finished it April 10, 2014. My parents came for a visit that summer and I gave it to my mom. When they returned to Florida, my grandma saw it and asked if I could make one for her also. It took me longer to make that one, starting it September and not finishing it until after the Holidays at the beginning of January. But then, I was big time multitasking in the projects at that time, too.
Both shrugs were made with Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Cotton in White and Natural, using the giant 2730yd balls of thread.
Dragon Scale Shrug Pattern now for Purchase!
You can purchase the PDF for download either HERE or on Ravelry for $5.00
This for the 15″, 16″, & 17″ shoulder to shoulder measurement sizes (small, medium, & large) only. The pattern for the Plus sizes, 18″, 19″, & 20″, are still in testing.
Much Crocheting, and Some Pattern Editing, Today
Working on my Grandmothers shrug, even though it’s only slightly modified in the sleeve to make it a 3/4 length instead of full length long sleeves, I still need to refer back to my written pattern for the Dragon Scale Shrug. I am now at the shoulder cap of the sleeve and I’m not happy with what I have written, so hence the editing. It’s a minor edit, but it was bugging me. I’ve got the 1st 2 rows (1 scale row) done of the shoulder cap, 16 rows to go. I’ve already had to frog the shoulder cap twice, but I think I got it right now.
I’m getting very anxious to get this written pattern completely finished and up for purchase! Soon, I hope! I think the smaller sizes will be out before the plus sizes though. I’m more confident on the pattern for the smaller sizes.
Finishing and Beginning
I have finished the dice bag order for my friend. The original order was for 2 small bags and 2 large, but he added on for another large,and will be picking them up on Saturday. I sent him this photo and he seems happy with them.
I also squeezed in an additional project, I made a necklace for my best childhood friends upcoming 45th birthday. It’s made from my Isabeau pattern. I hope she likes it 🙂
I’ve also been working on Keely’s Daughter of Dragons Shrug. I’m about halfway done with the second sleeve, then comes the seaming, the neckline, and the wrist-lace to match the 1st sleeve. The lace that will be on Keely’s will not be in the pattern for the shrug, she chose it from a pattern online that she liked. The lace I will be including in the pattern will be a simple honeycomb openwork design that I thought worked well with the scales of the shrug. (info for testing this pattern in THIS POST)
Keely’s chosen wrist-lace
~*~
Wrist-lace for the written pattern
I am still working on my grandmothers shrug too, but I haven’t any photos of that yet. Her’s will be a modified version of my original Dragon’s Scale Shrug. She wears a 16″ back, but wants looser “large” sleeves that are 3/4 length, in tan size 10 thread.
I also have a barrette order to make yet. Another friend of mine ordered it as a Yule gift for another friend of hers. I pre-purchased a wide black barrette for which I will be crocheting small thread snowflakes and gluing them to the barrette.
Still working on Raven’s Dragon (Scale) Skin Dice bag. It’s my “Purse Project”, I keep a wrist pouch with the project in it in the backpack style bag that I use as a purse that I take everywhere with me. I’m making it in Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Glamour in the Lapis (dark greenish teal with sapphire blue metallic) colorway. It’s very sparkly and shiny, so it doesn’t photograph well. I’m thinking about writing this pattern too when it’s finished. This one is going to be rather large, I’m almost done with 1 ball (202yds) of the yarn and I just bought a second to be able to finish it. I think he might want to be able to fit a deck box (Magic: The Gathering) in it along with his dice.
Yesterday, I was able to spend some of my yarn allowance and got 5 balls of Patons Lace Sequins in the Smoky Quartz colorway.
I want to make a shrug out of that for myself. I did up one pattern round in the Dragon Scale and, because of the sequins, I used the recommended hook size on the label and adjusted the stitch count for a size larger hook. The shrug is written for a size 3.25 hook for gauge, and the recommended hook is a 3.50, so it was easy to figure out. I think it’s going to be a cross between my original shrug and Keely’s shrug in design. I guess I’ll figure that out when I get to it. Now to put this aside for later when I have Keely’s shrug done and more on my grandmothers shrug done. I have a bad habit of needing a minimum of 2 project going at the same time.
Now on to a night of Crochet and MacGyver on Netflix 🙂
The Dragon Scale Shrug Revisited
I did some editing on the pattern today and I decided to split the pattern; SML on one, 1X, 2X, 3X on another. I figured less numbers to wade through to figure out what size is what. I also made it a little more customizable also.
I think I might be getting closer to the release date for it 🙂
Also, still working on the dice bag order and the shrug for my grandmother. I might also have a jewelery order coming 😀
“Insert Witty Title Here”
The hubby took me shopping today at JoAnns! I got 5 more balls of crochet cotton, 4 of which are new colors, well, colors that I didn’t have in my stash yet anyway, and 2 necklace stands so I can take better photos of my necklaces. One is black velvet and the other is an off-white weave. I’m hoping to increase my crochet cotton color selection gradually over the next couple of months too. That means I need to make color swatches for the new colors and take better photos for the Shops available thread colors page.
Some friends of mine suggested that I should try my hand at some Steampunkish style necklaces after I did the one with the circle and flower motif a couple of weeks ago. So I think I’m going to look into getting some accessories, like gears/cogs type things and maybe glass pearl beads, to embellish the motifs with. I know a lot of people who are really into Steampunk, so I’m hoping I do this right! I’m not “into” Steampunk myself, but it interests me the more I learn about it, almost to the point that if I had the money, I could probably really get into it. I’ve always been a “Ren Faire” person, especially after working at The Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly, MI for over 10yrs with a few different Artisans, so Steampunk wouldn’t be too far off for me LOL
I was also thinking about making pins for removable embellishments for certain necklaces, like my new Lattice & Lace necklace. Ever since I started my Shop, I just keep getting new ideas in my head that need to come out and I really hope people like them.
While I’ve been working on these necklace projects, coming up with new ideas, and getting ready for a (hopefully) big sale on my Facebook Page, I’ve noticed that I’m a bit OCD with numbers. It’s weird. If I’m working on something that has some kind of pattern in it, it has to have odd numbers, especially something to do with 3, 5, or 7, or a multiple of one of those numbers, or the piece doesn’t look right to me. If I’m working in the round, I have to start with either 5 or 7 stitches. When I was making the 2-round Irish Rose for a necklace, the original pattern called for 6 petals, but I had to make 7, because any other way seemed wrong to me. I guess I’m just weird that way.
Anyway, I think I need to get off here and get back to cleaning out the area for my expanding crochet cotton stash 🙂
After 4 and a Half Days without Electricty,
this is what happens while sitting around with only battery powered lamps and candlelight.
I think the last one needs some embellishment though, like some little flowers or something.
We just got our power turned back on yesterday afternoon after it was turned off on July 4th and today was the first time I was able to get onto the laptop.
I am planning a Facebook Only Sale on already made Crocheted Jewelry, so why not check out my Facebook page, by Midknight, and “Like” it for updates and to watch for when the sale will be.
Sneak Peek of Something New
A friend of mine planted an idea into my head, and of course I had to do something about it 🙂
Not going as Slow as I thought I would!
Well, I went against my doing things “one at a time”!
I now have everything, except the earrings, up and ready for custom orders!
What you can find in my shop:
I am also offering Crocheted Ribbons! You can purchase them by themselves, or get extras in different colors for the Simply Petals and the Layered Petals necklaces to give them different looks!
I have also updated the Main Shop Page and added an About Page.
One Thing at a Time
I decided to started adding items for sale, gradually, one at a time.
I have ready for custom order my Cascading Petals Necklace now!
You can find it HERE in my Shop.
Keep watch for more announcements as I add more items.
New Bracelet and Necklace
I am very happy with the way these 2 turned out.
Layered Petals Cuff Bracelet
Layered Petals Necklace
I should be setting up my shop here within the next couple of weeks!
Necklaces… Lotsa Necklaces
The last couple of nights I’ve been working a lot on necklaces. I came up with another style I like, and another variation on the Cascading Petals necklace. The color combination ideas are endless!
I spoke with my husband, and told him that I want to start an online shop to sell my crocheted jewelry! I needed him to be on board with this because since I don’t have an actual paying job at the moment and I don’t drive, I will need his help to get this thing going, to buy the supplies I will need and for getting orders to the post office. I am so excited!
I will have ready ship necklaces and earrings, and I will have custom orders for custom color combos. I’m going to try to have photos of color swatches of the thread colors I have available too. I will sell them in necklace/earring sets and individually. The necklaces and earrings can have an optional silver-color flower charm attached. I also have an idea for a bracelet, but I still need to make one to see if it works the way in envision it.
On top of that, I will be making and selling simple basic dice bags in the Magic, The Gathering 5 Mana colors on consignment at a little game shop/cafe not far from where my inlaws live. I think it’s been a good day.
Here are some of the necklaces I’ve been working on. I still need a name for the new style though.
They all still need to be blocked into shape and some of them still need the ends woven in.
The one in the multi-purples still needs a ribbon made too.
This one still needs to have the ties attached.
…and here is one of a finished set in action.
I will be doing an official announcement on when I’ll be able to actively begin to start selling my jewelry at a later date. Right now I’m trying to get everything prepared for it.
2 more variations on my Cascading Petals Necklace
I’m sure there will be more lol
The green didn’t photograph well, it’s supposed to be a light non-pastel spring green.
The original necklace is in the previous post.
Cascading Petals Necklace
Of course if I did earrings, I just had to do a necklace too.
It turned out different than I thought it would, but it kinda made itself. I can see a couple things that I think I want to do differently in the next one I make, especially of I decide to write the pattern.
Cascading Petals and Single Petal Earrings
It’s not like I don’t have *tons* of other projects going on at the moment or anything lol
This idea decided to pop itself into my head while I was sitting in the van on the way to the grocery store with my husband last night. Of course, as soon as I got home I had to make the idea real and I finished a couple of them today. I still have more earring ideas in my head. I might write them down and make a pdf pattern booklet with all of them for purchase, maybe with a photo tutorial. Still thinking about it though. I was also thinking about making a bunch of them to sell on Etsy or something. If I did that, I would want to get sterling silver earwires and nice packaging for shipping for them too.
Where Have I Been?
Sorry that it seemed that I’ve dropped off of the ‘net again. My eldest son has been very sick for the past month and has been in the hospital for the past 9 days. He had surgery this past Tuesday and will be going back into surgery this upcoming week. Needless to say I haven’t been doing very much crocheting lately.
I have a pair of crocheted earrings that I had done the week before we ended up in the hospital (I stay here with my son day and night). The earrings were inspired by my own Isabeau Choker pattern. I plan on having them up for sale as a single pattern and together with the choker at a special price for both patterns bought together. When I’m happy with the way they look and I have them on ear wires, I will get a photo of them posted.
Update: Dragon Scale Shrug Pattern
The rough draft V.1 is ready and I have testers for the 1X and 2X/3X, 1 tester each so far, but I could use more. I’m still looking for testers for the small, medium, and large, but I could still have additional testers for the plus sizes. The back measurements are 15”x8” (16″x9”, 17”x10”, 18”x11”, 19”x12”, 20”x13”), but the important measurement is for the width (shoulder to shoulder), and I made the sleeve length customizable.
One thing I forgot to mention in my previous post is that all of the terminology in the pattern are in US crochet terms: US single crochet = UK double crochet, US double crochet = UK treble, etc…
If interested, please message me on …by Midknight on Facebook or email me at midknightstarr@gmail.com
Also, you can see my original post for more details.
Thanks 🙂
Almost done
I finished the second sleeve tonight. I’ve been weaving in some loose ends, then I will be seaming everything together. There is a good chance I might have the entire shrug done tomorrow, but I’ll need to wait until my daughter comes home from the grandparents house so she can model it for me for photos.
I also plan on tea dying this one. When I started it, I was using thread from my stash. It was about a half ball of the giant 2,000+ yard Aunt Lydia’s size 10 cotton and I didn’t realize that it had yellowed like it did, so the top of the first sleeve and the entire second sleeve are very white from the brand new thread I had to buy to finish this, while the rest is a bit off white from the older thread. I didn’t want to try to bleach it and I’ve tea dyed crochet cotton before.
First sleeve:
Second sleeve:
Soon I’ll be writing out the pattern from the notes that I took and I’m also going to work on the sleeves for the Patons Lace blue version.
Isabeau Choker Pattern Sale
On sale now for 50% off. Was $3.00, Now $1.50
(photo ©Lindacee on Ravelry)
(earrings are *not* included in the pattern)
Update: Dragon Scale Shrug WIP
Progress is going well, I think. This weekend though I took a break from the sleeve I was working on in thread, to try out this idea in the Patons Lace.
Patons Lace is an acrylic/mohair/wool blend yarn that is a size 2/fine yarn. I crocheted a shrug back using the same size hook I used with the thread.
The thread one needs to be blocked to measurements, so it looks smaller, although when it’s slightly stretched, it measures the same as the one in Patons Lace.
I really like this pattern in the Patons Lace better than in the thread, I like the softness and feel of the yarn in this stitch pattern, compared to the cotton, although the stitch definition is much more pronounced in the thread. Most likely I will write the pattern for the Patons Lace, but will let people know it can be made with the thread too, if wanted, probably with a few adjustments.
Sleeve progress:
I have about 3 to 4 inches to go on it.
Dragon Scale Shrug WIP
The back of my Dragon Scale Shrug is done, complete with armholes and ruffle collar. Getting ready to make the sleeves.
I originally was going to make it in worsted weight yarn, but that didn’t work out so well. I decided to make it in size 10 crochet cotton, but I have a couple of balls of Patons Lace that I think would work nicely for this project also.
Right now it’s in a size small/medium, so I still have the math to look forward to for the bigger sizes.
My daughter, who is modeling this, is 6ft tall, and broad shouldered with long arms, and generally wears a medium in her tops. This shrug is meant to be worn a bit on the snug side, but I’m hoping that I have it worked out so that there is plenty room around the underarm for comfort.
by Midknight Designs 