handmade holiday

Reminder: A Handmade Holiday at Tranquil Space Arlington

Nov 20, 2014 // by admin // Blog, creativity, crochet, handmade holiday, knitting, Yoga // No Comments

This Sunday, November 23rd is your last opportunity to join me and the Tranquil Space cOMmunity for a Handmade Holiday. This Sunday, patterns will be provided for a crocheted mesh scarf, basic hat, and coffee cup cozy. We won’t all be working on the same projects, so don’t hesitate to come with whatever you are currently working on whether it’s with sticks (knitting) or a hook (crocheting).

Remember, no prior crochet experience required and attendance on September 28th and/or October 26th is not a prerequisite. Here are the details for Sunday:

November 23rd, 7:30 PM-9:00 PM, Tranquil Space Arlington—Keeping You Warm—Simple coffee cup cozy, mesh scarf, and basic hat. Pair the coffee cup cozy with a reusable cup and some hot chocolate for a quick, simple, and thoughtful holiday gift for your child’s teacher or a friend.

Participants are asked for a suggested donation of $5 to support the studio’s charity of the month, Wounded Warriors Project.

The 90-minute workshop will include a short yoga stretch break midway through (unless participants are engrossed in their projects) to help release wrists, hips, shoulders, and back. So, wear comfortable clothes, grab your hooks or sticks, and join us to start on your Handmade Holiday!

E-mail Lisa (lisacalandriello@tranquilspace.com) with any questions. Preregistration is not required; however, if you would like to preregister, contact the business at 703.829.6428 or via e-mail at info@tranquilspace.com. Interested in the first two workshops, check them out on my blog – October 26, 2014 and September 28, 2014 - for details.

A Handmade Holiday Workshop at TS Arlington

Oct 27, 2014 // by admin // Blog, creativity, crochet, handmade holiday, knitting, Yoga // 1 Comment

Last night was the second in our three-part series of Handmade Holiday workshops at Tranquil Space Arlington. We had a great time exploring the art of crocheting with a mix of new to experienced crocheters. We made granny squares and shared knitting and crocheting experiences.

Stephanie, Halyna, Danielle, Katherine, (see them hard at work in the photo above – clockwise from top left) and Melania (not pictured) had a great time and made some great progress (see the photo below). We are all very excited about the third workshop next month where we’ll learn a mesh scarf or coffee cup cozy.

Want to join in on the fun. Here are the upcoming workshops in this series (no prior crochet experience required and attendance on September 28^th and/or October 26^th is not a prerequisite):

November 23^rd, 7:30 PM-9:00 PM—Keeping You Warm—Simple coffee cup cozy, mesh scarf, and basic hat. Pair the coffee cup cozy with a reusable cup and some hot chocolate for a quick, simple, and thoughtful holiday gift for your child’s teacher or a friend.

Participants are asked for a suggested donation of $5 to support the studio’s charity of the month:

November—Wounded Warriors Project

All workshops include a short yoga stretch break midway through (unless participants are engrossed in their projects) to help release wrists, hips, shoulders, and back. So, wear comfortable clothes, grab your hooks or sticks, and join us to start on your Handmade Holiday!

Creative Awakenings Crochet Corner

Oct 27, 2014 // by admin // Blog, creativity, crochet, handmade holiday, knitting // 1 Comment

October 26th was the second in the three-part series of Handmade Holiday workshops at Tranquil Space Arlington. We had a great time exploring the art of crocheting with a mix of new to experienced crocheters. We made granny squares and shared knitting and crocheting experiences.

Here’s the basic pattern for these granny squares (it is heavily inspired by other general granny square patterns using double crochet clusters and chain stitches):

Pattern notes: The granny square is really a technique in crochet of working in the round. Granny squares can be made a variety of sizes and can encompass a myriad of stitch patterns. This pattern is for a very basic granny square that I learned when I took a class at my LYS. When working in the round in this pattern, you will not be turning your work the same way that you do when working back and forth (or “flat”). Join squares end to end with a whip stitch or single crochet together to make a scarf. Change the configurations of the squares and the possibilities of what you can make are endless.

Size: 6×6 inches (or desired size)

Yarn: Any worsted weight yarn (or any size yarn and coordinating hook size)

Hook: H/5.0 mm or I/5.5 mm (or other preferred hook size)

Gauge: For this pattern, gauge isn’t important. Find the hook that gives you the texture and stitch size that you prefer.

Abbreviations:

ch chain

sl st slip stitch

dc double crochet

Ch-4 and join with a sl st OR start with magic loop

Round 1 ch-3 (counts as dc), 2 dc, *ch-2, 3 dc*, repeat from * to * three times, ch-2, sl st to join at the top of the first ch-3, sl st until reach first ch-2 space.

Round 2 ch-3 (counts as dc), (2dc, ch-2, 3 dc) in the same ch-2 space, *ch-1, in the next ch-2 space (3dc, ch-2, 3 dc)*, repeat * to * three times, ch-1, sl st to join at the top of the first ch-3, sl st until reach first ch-2 space. (You have created corners)

Round 3 ch-3 (counts as dc), (2dc, ch-2, 3 dc) in the same ch-2 space, *ch-1, 3dc in next ch-1 space, ch-1, in the next ch-2 space (3dc, ch-2, 3 dc)*, repeat * to * three times, ch-1, 3dc in next ch-1 space, sl st to join at the top of the first ch-3, sl st until reach first ch-2 space. (You have created corners and sides)

Round 4 ch-3 (counts as dc), (2dc, ch-2, 3 dc) in the same ch-2 space, *ch-1, 3dc in next ch-1 space, ch-1, 3dc in next ch-1 space, ch-1, in the next ch-2 space (3dc, ch-2, 3 dc)*, repeat * to * three times, ch-1, 3dc in next ch-1 space, ch-1, 3dc in next ch-1 space, sl st to join at the top of the first ch-3, sl st until reach first ch-2 space.

Continue this pattern, (3dc, ch-2, 3dc) in each ch-2 space and (3dc) in each ch-1 space. At the end of each round, join with a slip stitch and slip stitch to the ch-2 space to begin the next round. The ch-3 at the beginning of every round counts as the first dc. Repeat these rounds until square is desired size.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

For more information about the Handmade Holiday Workshop Series at Tranquil Space Arlington, click here.

A Handmade Holiday at TS Arlington – Next Workshop October 26

Oct 16, 2014 // by admin // Blog, creativity, crochet, handmade holiday, knitting, Yoga // No Comments

Still looking to add a personal touch to your gift giving this year or try your hand at needlecrafts. My second Handmade Holiday workshop is approaching at TS Arlington. This workshop’s crochet-a-long is the basic granny square, a technique that once learned opens up a wealth of new project opportunities. Not interested in the crochet-a-long, bring your existing knitting or crochet projects to work on with the cOMmunity.

We’ll meet in the TS Arlington tea lounge after the restorative class:

October 26th, 7:30 PM–9:00 PM—(Not Your) Granny’s Squares—Basic granny square pattern. Granny squares are back in style. Sew a few together to make a stylish and warm scarf, throw for the couch, reusable market bag…the list goes on and on. $5 suggested donation benefits the Tranquil Space Foundation.

As with the first workshop, a limited amount of crochet supply kits will be available for a $10 supply fee payable to me. The kits include: 2 skeins holiday dishcloth cotton; 1 H hook; 1 I hook; 4 interlocking stitch markers; and 2 darning needles (to weave in those pesky ends). No prior crochet experience is required and attendance on September 28th is not a prerequisite.

The workshop will include a short yoga stretch break midway through to help release wrists, hips, shoulders, and back. So, wear comfortable clothes, grab your hooks or sticks, and join us to start on your Handmade Holiday!

E-mail Lisa (lisacalandriello@tranquilspace.com) with any questions. Preregistration is not required; however, if you would like to preregister, contact the business at 703.829.6428 or via e-mail at info@tranquilspace.com. For more information about our first workshop and the crochet-a-long project, check out the Creative Awakenings Crochet Corner.

A Handmade Holiday at TS Arlington

Sep 29, 2014 // by admin // Blog, creativity, crochet, handmade holiday, knitting, Yoga // No Comments

Last night was the first in a three-part series of Handmade Holiday workshops at Tranquil Space Arlington. We had a great time exploring the art of crocheting with a mix of new to experienced crocheters. We refreshed knowledge, worked to build muscle memory with our hooks, and practiced reading patterns while making face cloths and spiral scrubbies. Midway through we took a yoga stretch break to open up wrists, hips, shoulders, and backs.

Jenny, Danielle, Roula, and Stephanie were a blast (see their creations in the photo – counterclockwise from top left).

Want to join in on the fun. The next workshop in this series (no prior crochet experience required and attendance on September 28^th is not a prerequisite):

October 26^th, 7:30 PM–9:00 PM—(Not Your) Granny’s Squares—Basic granny square pattern. Granny squares are back in style. Sew a few together to make a stylish and warm scarf, throw for the couch, reusable market bag…the list goes on and on. $5 suggested donation for the Tranquil Space Foundation.

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