City Farmhouse Studio

February 15, 2024October 28, 2024

Crochet Wintertime Cardigan Pattern

Have you ever finished a project, put it on for the first time completely finished, and then did not want to take it off? That was this cardigan for me.

The bulky wool yarn makes a perfect thickness for a material that is warm and comforting, but not so thick that it is uncomfortable to wear. The fit of the cardigan looks polished, but not so form fitting that it is binding anywhere. Putting it on just felt perfect for this cold Michigan winter we are finally having.

Using the category 5 bulky yarn with a size L (8.00mm) hook works up so quick. I sat down with my family to watch a movie while working on this. I was amazed how much I got done on a sweater in such a short time!

February 1, 2024October 28, 2024

Knit Lovely Day Sweater

Have you ever made something that you knew that you would like it, but then once you made it and started wearing it you liked it even more than you thought you would.

That is how I feel about this Lovely Day Sweater. I wanted a sweater with some details so it wasn’t a typical pullover with rib edgings. I also wanted it to have a higher neckline so that it would be warmer in winter.

After going through library book after book in knit edgings, bandings, and stitch examples, I tried several different ideas to finally end up with a cable band that is knit in the traditional vertical orientation but then added to the sweater horizontally.

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023

Choose Your Own Adventure – Knit, Machine Knit, or Crochet Slipper Shoes

Last year I made both of our girls some house shoes out of thick and cozy yarn they picked out from the store. Both of them love their pairs and wear them quite a bit. This year, the youngest came home from school and said her teacher will let them wear slippers in the classroom instead of cold and wet shoes from the playground. But, they need to have a hard sole incase they step on anything.

Well, the ones I made last year don’t have anything on the bottom so they won’t work. I previously made for the girls a kids’ size of our Vacation Shoes pattern, but working into a pair of flip flops takes time and effort. And, in all honesty, I didn’t want to put that much effort into a pair of shoes that she will out grow in a few months.

October 19, 2023October 28, 2024

Crochet I’ll Keep You Warm Cowl

This little pattern came about earlier this year. I bought Lion Brand Landscape Breezes yarn loving the colors and how it appeared in patterns online. My intent was to knit a sweater. I made a swatch and liked it, but once in a larger panel for a garment the stripes became muddled except for a bright citrus yellow stripe.

It wasn’t what I was wanting, so I went back to the drawing board thinking it needed smaller width to get the colors to work like it did in my swatch. So, I created this sample of making a square, then adding on to one side of the square for so many rows, and then repeating the step of adding rows as I turn to a new side. It was better but still not what I had envisioned.

The kicker was when I showed my 4 year old niece the swatch for a different point of view. Before I could even fully get out “what do you think about the colors…” she responded “that is the ugliest thing I have ever seen.” Straight from the mouth of babes, and I kind of had to agree.

October 4, 2023October 28, 2024

Children’s Knit Dream of a Cardigan Pattern

As I mentioned in the adult Dream of a Cardigan Pattern, our 11 year old was hoping that she would get to keep the one I made for myself after she tried it on. I love the cardigan too much to give it up, but couldn’t resist the love for it that I saw in her eyes, too.

So, we went to Michaels to pick out what color of yarn she wanted for her own Dream of a Cardigan. She picked out this lighter blue color, that honestly, in the store I was not fond of. But, she loved it and had decided upon it. I even took her picture with several up against her shoulder so that she could see how it looked next to her. With her having more red in her hair it does impact how some colors look, but for the most part all looked good. She liked the blue the best and thought it would work well with many of the things in her wardrobe. So, the yarn was purchased and now I needed to make her one of her own.

September 26, 2023February 15, 2024

Crochet Half Log Cabin Dish Scrubby

Back in 2021 I posted the Crochet Quilter’s Dish Scrubby pattern, and since then I have absolutely loved using it. For me it is the perfect size for washing dishes, and I have been impressed with how well the yarns have held up to all the wear and tear. Not to mention the bright colors always makes me smile when I pick it up to do the dreaded and never ending dish washing.

Now, after two and a half years, I have been inspired to make another one based off of it. On the previous pattern I made four half log cabin blocks, and then joined them together. This pattern is just one larger block all on its own to give maximum scrubby material on two edges. A perfect edge to easily scrub off burnt or dried on food from pots and dishes.

September 22, 2023October 28, 2024

Crochet Ma Chere Skirt

This past spring my husband and I went on an amazing trip to the island of Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean. It is a tropical island paradise, and coming from Michigan my wardrobe was not too tropical island appropriate.

While researching the island we found out that the island tends to be more dressy than what we are used to in our little corner of the world. Casual shorts and a t-shirt definitely marks you as an American tourist. So, in addition to the few summer dresses I own, I wanted a skirt that I could wear with a tank top during the day. Something casual but appropriate, and something that would be comfortable in 90 degree sun with some wonderful tropical humidity.

September 14, 2023October 28, 2024

Dream of a Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Have you ever made a new clothing garment, put in all the hours, patiently seamed it, diligently wove in ends so it would be just perfect, and in the end you are absolutely in love with it? You love it so much you would wear it every day it is so comfortable, would be appropriate for lounging around the house to wearing to work, and basically just want to live in it. That is this cardigan and why I call this pattern the Dream of a Cardigan, because it is just like a dream it is so fantastic.