Introducing Rove Handmade

If you've visited here before, you might have noticed some changes.

Let me introduce you to Rove Handmade, a new brand that seeks to engage creativity with simple, minimalist crochet patterns designed in natural, sustainable fibres. You'll still find patterns and how-to's previously published under Maria Valles Handmade, now under a new name and a freshened-up online home.

Rove Handmade represents the next step for me in this handmade endeavor of mine, as I begin to think more carefully about designing, making, and sustainability. It is the culmination of several months of pondering, planning and hard work, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this next chapter leads.

In celebration, I am excited to share with you Rove Handmade Volume 1: Grannies, a collection of four easy crochet patterns for simple and stylish shrugs and cardigans. Inspired by crochet’s most famous motif, the granny square, these patterns also showcase beautiful Icelandic wool yarns in earthy undyed shades. The collection features two brand new patterns along with my best-selling Duo Two-Way Shrug and a new-and-improved pattern for my Granny Cocoon Shrug (previously published as free "recipe" here on the blog).

Each design employs inventive construction based on squares or hexagons, with no special shaping and minimal seaming, making these great projects for those crocheting their very first garment. Patterns include detailed instructions for five adult sizes, as well as schematics and notes on customizing your piece. You’ll also find tips on working with Icelandic wool and notes on yarn substitutions. 

Check out the ebook and individual patterns here!

Pixel cowl

I know it's almost summer here in the northern hemisphere, but it's sort of still scarf weather in Iceland and winter is around the corner for our friends on the opposite side of the globe. With that in mind, I figured why wait to start putting my backlog of decidedly autumn-y patterns out in the world? 

The first is a quick little cowl I made a loooonng time ago as a clean-up-my-stash project (you might have seen it here). I call it the Pixel Cowl because the jagged double crochet stripes somehow remind me of a zoomed-in, pixelated image (maybe it's just me, but the name stuck). Using small amounts of Álafoss Lopi and a big hook, it took under an hour to crochet and remains near the top of my list of handmade gift ideas.

Like some of my other how-tos, this is more of a basic "recipe" than a by-the-numbers pattern. The size and placement of your stripes will depend on the amount of yarn you use for each colour, and the cowl is easy to size up or down simply by adjusting the length of the starting chain and/or number of rows. I happened to have a combination of larger vs smaller amounts of yarn on hand, and I really like the look of different-sized blocks of colour. The main idea is to just join the next colour wherever the last one ends without worrying about matching things up, for a jagged, "pixelated" effect. 

The cowl is worked in the round, and the first round is worked into the "bumps" on the underside of the foundation chain - this keeps the edge nice and neat and adds a tiny bit more stretch to the chain. The only tricky bit is joining the foundation chain into a ring without twisting it (you could also start with a foundation dc, but I didn't think of that at the time).

PIXEL COWL

Materials

• Small amounts of Álafoss Lopi or similar bulky weight yarn in at least 3 colours 
  • I used a total of about 80 g/80 m (3 oz/ 87 yds) and 3 colours.
• 10 mm hook

Gauge

• 7 st and 4.5 rows = 10 cm (4")
  • Gauge is not crucial for this project and will depend on the yarn/hook size you're using.

Finished size

• 60 cm (24") x 23 cm (9")
  • Adjust the size by adding or subtracting foundation chain stitches and/or adding or subtracting rows.

Stitches used

• Ch - chain
• Dc - double crochet
• Ss - slip stitch
  • Note that this pattern uses US crochet terms.

Pattern

Ch 42, without twisting chain, ss into 1st ch to join into ring

Round 1 - Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc throughout), sk 1st ch, dc into the "bump" on the underside of each ch around, ss in top of beg ch 3 to join (42) (see notes below pattern).

Round 2 - Ch 3, dc around, ss into top of beg ch 3 to join (42)

Rounds 3 - 10 - Repeat round 2, joining each new colour wherever the last one ends (42)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Finishing

I like to wet-block pretty much everything I make in Icelandic wool - it's a rugged fibre and gentle hand washing in lukewarm water with mild soap softens it quite a bit. Roll the washed piece in a towel to squeeze out excess water (but don't wring or twist). Lay flat, reshape to measurements, and let air dry. Turning the piece every once in a while helps to avoid creases, but you can also steam out any creases with an iron once your cowl is dry - just be careful not to place the iron directly on the wool.

Notes on working into the "bump" of the foundation chain

To work into the bump , turn the chain slightly so that the underside is facing up. Insert your hook into the loop or "bump" in the centre and make your stitch. Crochet Me has a great post about different ways of working into the foundation chain here.

Hope you enjoy your Pixel Cowl!