Cathy, Author at City Farmhouse Studio

June 13, 2025June 13, 2025

Crochet Daydream Believer Top

I have seen Lion Brand Coboo yarn at stores for a while, but never had a project in mind for what to make with it. With summer approaching it finally dawned on me to use it for a summer top. As a crocheter and knitter, I have plenty of sweaters and cardigans that I have made. However when it comes to the warmer months my wardrobe has way fewer hand made items.

While last year I did make my Crochet Bucket Hat and have been making a couple knit tops over the years, crochet was very much lacking in my options. I decided to make a crochet summer top, and Coboo was the perfect summer fiber blend to try.

May 29, 2025May 29, 2025

Knit Wingspan Shawl Pattern

Are you a shawl person? I didn’t consider myself one, besides wearing one as a scarf or a neck piece in winter. However, this pattern has changed me!

I am now finding myself chilled, and instead of grabbing a blanket or layering on a sweater I just drape this around myself. It has enough warmth to make a difference, but is so light and easy to wear it doesn’t make me feel like I am wearing some heavy and bulky item that restricts my movements.

May 15, 2025May 30, 2025

Machine Knit Wingspan Shawl Pattern

Recently I made the crochet Beyond the Sea Shawl and realized it had been a while since I did a knit shawl. Now, since the Estrela Lace machine knit shawl pattern is rectangle, I wanted to make one that was either triangular or crescent in shape.

Being machine knit, and working on an LK150 with a limited amount of needles posed a major constraint. To get the angles I wanted for the shape of the shawl using only 150 needles available on the mid gauge, the gauge would need to be so open that the stitches wouldn’t look right. Another hurdle was getting the rate of decrease to be easy to remember and work with, and not something that was really random and hard to remember as you were making the shawl.

April 17, 2025April 18, 2025

Crochet Beyond the Sea Shawl Pattern

Several years ago I made the Estrela Lace Shawl for my sister’s wedding. It is a machine knit, lacy shawl that was perfect for her to wear over her wedding dress. Over the years I have been wanting a shawl for myself.

We are outdoors quite a bit in the summer, and like to be out by the water. Here in Michigan there are plenty of warm days, but cooler nights. I wanted something that I could easily layer, be multipurpose, and still feel like summer.

I came across this staggered shell pattern and fell in love. With the edging motif to give even more details, I believe it is perfect for out by the beach or over jeans with a tank top for a casual night out.

April 3, 2025April 3, 2025

Knit Put Your Records On Cardigan Pattern

I had the idea for this pattern for a while, but it took a bit for me to work out all the details in my head. Working out mentally how each panel would be constructed took some time, and then even more time to work out the little details in real life.

March 20, 2025April 3, 2025

Machine Knit Put Your Records On Pattern

A while ago I made a sweater for my dad out of this 100% worsted wool yarn. I loved the color, and living in Michigan I have come to love wool more and more each year. I had purchased plenty of skeins, and just so happened to have a sweaters quantity left over for me to make something for myself!

Most of my wool items have been sweaters, so I wanted to make cardigan that could help get me more through the transitional seasons since the wool cardigans I have are bulkier and warmer.

February 6, 2025February 7, 2025

Crochet Fireside Sweater

If you have read about my Fireside Cardigan crochet pattern you know how much I have loved wearing it. I also have enjoyed working with the Lion Brand Heartland yarn on it and on the Fireside Infinity Scarf. So, of course, the next logical step for me would be to make a sweater out of the same yarn and herringbone stitch.

Another aspect of the Lion Brand Heartland yarn (and no, I am not sponsored by them) that I like is the wide color selection. Seriously, if all yarn lines would have this many options it would be the crafter’s dream. There are so many colors, and even several shades of them. Looking for something different than what I used on the cardigan and scarf was quite difficult because there were just too many I was wanting!

January 30, 2025April 3, 2025

Knit Wrap Sweater Scarf

Last week I shared the pattern for this wrap sweater scarf for machine knitting. Here is the instructions on how to create this versatile wrap scarf by hand.

Using a combination of strategically placed yarn overs and then knitting them together you get this highly textured body with ease. Perfect for the intermediate knitter, or a newer one wanting to expand their skills.