I haven't quite decided on a name for this one yet because my inspiration for it was twofold:

First, all my little wild floral paintings for the 100 Day Project, of course! And second, Moorit magazine's recent call for submissions, which included some neat images on their moodboard of textured book storefronts and other gridlike pictures.

The floral influence combined with the grid inspo became a garden trellis!

Post stitches almost always offer a fun playground for color, in my opinion, and so I decided to just have fun with this one.

The pattern begins with a single color and then moves into using the 3-color change method, where you swap colors at the end of every row, carrying your yarn up both sides, so that you get stripes without a zillion ends.

I worked through the mini skeins in a sort of fade order, adding in the full-size skein main color (green) at the end of my first mini skein. I haven't quite gotten to the end yet, so I'm not sure how it's going to work out on that side exactly, but I'm probably going to add back in any leftover bits and bobs so that I can use up every last bit of yarn!

(I cut each mini after 20 grams to begin with so I could get a better idea of the size limitations if you weren't working with 21-22 gram minis like I had in this set.)

So.

What exactly is a pattern preview?

Essentially, it's a bare bones version of the written instructions with a few details left to fill in because I haven't actually finished my own sample yet.

For example, with this pattern, I don't have an exact row count or finished measurements yet, but I DO share that at the end of Row 324 I'd used 297 grams of yarn and the scarf measured 60.5" long and 6.5" wide, unblocked.

It's a way for me to share my work in real time, in the moment of creation, without the added pressures and time needed for a polished pattern that's ready for publication.

Some of my pattern previews go on to be published later and some will never make it to that stage and so they live exclusively on Patreon. But they get to LIVE this way!

I have so many patterns that I began and even worked full samples of, but will never return to for one reason or another and so they just sort of die on a dusty shelf or in a bin somewhere. Which makes me feel a little sad!

This way, by offering pattern previews, I can still share the design ideas without worrying about perfection. And I really like being able to do that.

Pattern previews are available to all paid members on Patreon or you can purchase a single post for just $5 (my current published pattern price on Etsy and Ravelry is $8).

So if you really prefer having a nice PDF version of your crochet patterns, then I would hold out for a publication date in the future. But if you don't mind a sort of old-school blog-style version of the pattern, and are comfortable improvising a bit if needed, then you should definitely check out my collection of pattern previews on Patreon! There are over 20 unpublished patterns living there right now and Patrons get access to all of them for as little as $2 a month.

PLUS a Connie-made art postcard in their mailbox each month!

And yes, I've got this month's postcards packed into a suitcase with me so I can send out more if anyone new joins me. Here's a peek at the postcard alongside the original painting AND one of the zippered notions pouch samples I ordered:

I also had a request for prints of the Hyacinth painting, so I popped a few options into my Etsy shop!

I'm happy to offer prints or project bags featuring any of my paintings from current as well as previous collections; just let me know what you're interested in!

For the next few weeks, as we make our way across the country to Georgia and get settled in there, the only thing available in my Etsy shop will be crochet patterns unless there is a specific request. Like for the Hyacinth prints!

So be sure to let me know if you're looking for anything in particular.

All right. It's time for us to hit the road again (currently in Arizona; should end up in Texas by the end of the day).

Cheers!

-Connie

P.S. We stayed a few days with family in San Diego and this handsome fellow kept me company while my own cat cowered in the bedroom, lol. His name is Gus Gus and yes, he's as frisky as he looks! We all have to watch out for our toes when he's around.