I have been really focused on posting about yarn and knitting and crochet and patterns and things related to building my new business for the last couple years.

I feel like I have been neglecting some of the other equally important elements that I began this blog about ... Namely living a full, whole and bountiful life.

Not everything in my worls is happy go lucky, and many things do not come naturally easy to me, but I do have a bit of a knack for letting things SEEM that way sometimes. 

I think this is one of my (many) vanities. Which is funny to me, because I'll go anywhere without make-up and the latest fashions are several years from being donated to the second hand store so I can buy them and put them in my closet. But I do have may vanities nonetheless.

To this day, I remember seeing a drawing on the office wall when I was about 3 in a pre-school, or daycare situation for a short period of time.

Isn't it funny how things can jump into our heads and influence us all of our lives, from even the very youngest ages!
Some influences are good, and others maybe not as healthy.
I'm on the fence about this one today.

I couldn't find a similar drawing, but this photo of a baby duck will serve just fine for my demonstration:

Cover the photo from the waterline down, and only look at the baby duck calmly floating along in the water, relaxed and happy ... Peaceful huh!? Makes you feel calm, and at ease. Until you understand what is happening under the water! 

Those little legs are working like crazy to keep that little fluff ball moving in the right direction, and afloat.

That drawing influenced me at the age of 3, and I didn't even know it. It has impacted the way that I think about the perception others have of me. It has influenced how much I let others see of my struggles and efforts to propel my life and objectives forward.

I have no opinion at this time if that is right thinking or wrong thinking.

It just IS.

And while I may not be sharing the behind the scenes struggles with more people, I am recognizing how long that has been a function in my life, and that maybe I am not as open a book as I used to like to think.

But I thought is was an important recognition. What are the little children in your life seeing, that you might not think they see?

This is just another element of my human growth that I am sharing with you, because on going growing and healing is more than just necessary in our long term quest for ...

Living Well!
Love SuziQue

Dragon Tail Crochet Scarf: FREE Pattern

My designing mind has been at it again! 

This time at the request of a customer that noticed that this particular style of scarf pattern is wholly lacking in crochet form!

So, of course I started in and came up with this pretty and fun pattern.

While I did design it with Hayfield Colour Rich Chunky Yarn in mind, it can just as well be worked up in most any yarn you like or have! If you are interested in using the recommended yarn, you can contact me for ordering information.

GO HERE to download your free pattern! Stitch! Have fun!

Watch the tutorial video:

Please be aware that at this time, I cannot reply to your comments on my blog or the YouTube Channel. If you have comments or questions that you would like a response to, please visit Perfectly Knotty's Facebook Page

We love to see how other people are deciding to play with colors and textures, so please share your version of the scarf with us on our Facebook Page. Or on Ravelry

Happy Stitching! Happy Life!
THAT is Living Well!

Love,

SuziQue

2015 Local Yarn Shop Tour Free Shoulder Wrap Patterns

The 2015, 10th anniversary Puget Sound Local Yarn Shop Tour is May 13-17th 2015.

This is Perfectly Knotty's free pattern contribution:

Our featured yarn is Queensland Uluru. One of my personal favorites.
A beautifully soft blend of Cotton, Acrylic and Polyester in colorways that are too delicious to describe! These are the colors I currently have in stock, and it comes in others too!

Both of these patterns are simple and basic, to allow stress free stitching that really showcases this amazing yarn!

CROCHET VERSION

Get the Crochet Pattern Here
Watch the tutorial Video:

 

KNITTED VERSION

Get the Knit Pattern Here
Here is a tutorial for the knitted shawl:

(Updated May 30-2015)
(Updated July 16-2015) added knitting tutorial
(Updated July 21-2015) added crochet tutorial

Having fun with your stitching is...
Living Well!
Love
SuziQue

Crochet Tutorials on Foundations and Connected Stitches

The wonderful thing about stitching with a double crochet, is that you get amazing height with it! One row of double crochet is slightly taller than 2 rows of single crochet, depending on your yarn, hook, and personal tension.

The down side for me with double crochet, is that I do not like the gaps between the stitches for a lot of projects,  unless I am making something lacy, or am intending to weave something through the spaces.

A couple of years ago I learned about connecting double crochets, and WOW ... What a difference it has made in several of my projects! You'll bee seeing it more in upcoming designs.


I am also NOT a fan of the long starting chain for afghans, but especially garments! It is too easy for it to get twisted, and is just isn't stretchy and flexible, so not comfortable at all around the edges of garments. I am a lace maker from the beginning of my crochet life ... often referred to as a "Threadie" which is where I learned to make foundation double crochet and foundation single crochet.


Over the years I have combined these techniques together and come up with some great techniques that really are game changers! I present for you here four video tutorials that I hope you find useful and helpful!

Be sure to share these, Pin them on Pintrest, and share them on Facebook and so forth! Let's make them viral! I hope that my tutorials take some of the challenge and mystery out of creating meaningful crochet work for Stitchers everywhere!

This is the Foundation Single Crochet.

Try out the Foundation Double Crochet:

Build on your basic skills by trying the Connected Double Crochet:

Now, put it all together ... DO NOT psych yourself out here!
Take a deep breath and watch this tutorial as many times as you need to to totally master the
Connected Foundation Double Crochet!

Growing and building your stitching skills also grows and builds your confidence and creativity!
Which is another amazing part of

Living Well!
Love SuziQue!

Free Crochet Lisbon Poncho Pattern

This is one of the prettiest patterns that I have seen in a long time!

I first found it on the Berroco Free Pattern Pages, and knew right away I HAD to make it!

I used the Hayfield DK w/Wool that I carry in my yarn shop, and it worked beautifully!

However, I did find that the way the original pattern is written to be confusing and frustrating, so I set about making it more clear and understandable. Beautiful patterns shouldn't be scary :)

Here is the pattern as I edited it Suzi's Edit of the Lisbon Poncho

The texture of the pattern is beautiful, and I can see myself making this pattern again, using my edited version of course.

Don't be afraid to play with patterns that others have written. Much like cooking recipes, they are wonderful starting points for more amazing creativity! I started the pattern again by making a flat, solid, circle with crochet thread that had the correct number of starting stitches. Worked the pattern as usual, only in thread ... and VIOLA ... an adorable draw-string pouch! It could be made deeper by working the rows that create the body one extra time

Exploring texture and technique leads to ...
Living Well,
Love SuziQue