City Farmhouse Studio

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, 2023January 30, 2025

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.

February 8, 2023October 28, 2024

Crochet Go Your Own Way Cardigan Pattern

Have you ever had a project that you wanted to make, but the thought of some portion of it made you procrastinate? This cardigan was like that for me.

I have seen many granny square cardigans over the years, and think they are cute. Just none of them have really spoken to me as being the one to make. It may be from them being too busy, or just the idea of all the ends to weave end. So, I came up with an idea of making one with a more even texture throughout the square, as a patchwork of similar colors, and each square being of one color.

I found Lion Brand’s Shawl in a Ball that had a nice gradation from white to dark blue. And the shifts were long and subtle. And, when I mean long, I mean LONG! I started making the blocks and loved how each block looked the same color, I had a nice number of different color varieties, a good amount of each one, and all the colors effortlessly worked together.

Once the blocks were finished, that is where my procrastination came in.

February 1, 2023October 30, 2024

Crochet Heart Scrubby

This pattern has taken me too long to make. Not that actually crocheting it took that long, took me about 20 minutes for the YouTube Tutorial – and that was with all the talking! No, getting in my head how to make this pattern took so long. Years long.

After publishing my first dish scrubby trio pattern collection a lady reached out to me asking where the heart pattern was. I had to really figure out what she was referring to since there was a round pattern, and two square ones. I finally determined it was from looking at one of the images of a square one draped over a pot that she perceived it to be a heart shape. These dish scrubbies were published in 2018. From her reaching out I began thinking of making a heart shaped scrubby. So, it took years.

October 12, 2022October 28, 2024

Knit Summer Breeze Top

Close to twenty years ago I had a black top that had a very simple shape, wide sleeves, simple details for the edgings, and a v-neck. I loved it. I could dress it up for work, or down with a pair of jeans to run errands. Either way it was so comfortable to wear, a major plus for me.

I wore it for many years, and it was starting to show how much I loved it. With great sadness I had to get rid of it.

This summer I was thinking about what I could make to have more hand made items for my summer wardrobe, and this memory came to mind. I wanted to create something that had the comfort, versatility, and ease in styling with the simplistic design elements.