Happy Friday, Lovies! Welcome to your Friday 'wine' down. Huzzah!
My excitement overwhelms me! I have a little surprise for my faithful readers which will be presented at the end of this blog post.
Let's jump right into discussing Bobbles and Barolos. starting with a discussion on the crocheted bobble stitch.
Fair warning that this post is going to involve a mini symbol/chart reading lesson and a bit of some yarn church. Yarn church because while conducting my research on bobble stitches (which I do for every stitch and every wine I blog about) I was a bit taken aback at the widespread miscategorization of the bobble, popcorn and puff stitch. So, I am taking it upon myself to "preach" by and through this blog. Imma stick my neck out there ~ way out there ~ in an attempt to add some clarity to this situation.
Well, since I said there will be mini chart lesson, I will just go on an present the symbols associated with bobbles, popcorn and puff stitches. I have chosen to show only one symbol per (ie. the popcorn stitch generally has as many as 5 double crochet, imma show you the symbol for making it with 3 dc, got it ... hope so.) Let's look at those symbols:
I had some techy issues and had to hand draw the symbols so they are not perfect but they convey the point very clearly. I show your the symbols as a 101 in stitches. By this you visuals (I am a total visual learner) can see differences in construction of the three stitches. Make sure to hit the arrow to see all three photos.
Let's look closely at the 2-loop bobble (there are can many loops, most often up to 5 - but hey, you can be just a loopy as you want and as what makes a pretty stitch, I am sure). Here is the most important distinction of the bobble from the popcorn and puff stitches... you ready ... a loop isn't a stitch, in the bobble stitch you are not completing stitches unlike puffs and popcorn where you are working double crochet stitches either completed or half way. The bobble stitch is constructed with a series of loops worked in the same stitch then brought together at the end with a final yarn over and pulling through of all loops on the hook.
The instruction will read something like: Yo, insert hook in next st, [yo, draw up lp] 2 times, yo, draw through all 5 lps on hook. This my lovies is a bobble stitch.
Think of a bobble head doll and how it moves, this stitch, to me at least, resembles that movement. And the final texture produced from this stitch is only slightly raised as by happenstance, whereas a popcorn or a puff is meant to be fully raised from the flat texture of the item being worked (it is to either "puff" out or to "pop" out of the textile.
The bobble is only slightly raised in that the stitch itself is thicker as it involves more yarn than say, a double crochet stitch - the intention of the bobble isn't to create a raised, puffed or popped situation but rather to create texture, to add a little extra 'umph to whatever is being made. See the photo below.
For clarity sake, I will provide what would normally be seen when reading instructions for a puff and popcorn stitch.
Popcorn stitch: [I will use the 5-dc example as it is the most common popcorn] 5 dc in next st, drop lp from hook, insert hook from front to back in the first dc of the group, pull dropped lp through st.
Puff Stitch: [2-dc puff] [yo, insert hook in st, yo, draw up lp, draw through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yo, draw through 3 loops on hook.
As you can tell my reading what the instructions for each stitch would resemble, there are pretty significant differences between the bobble stitch (use of loops rather than completed stitches); popcorn stitch (series of completed stitches (often dc) pulled together by the dropped stitch [the little 'U' on top of the symbol reflects that dropped and worked stitch) and the puff stitch (which are half worked stitches (in this case dc) brought together at the end by a final dc pulling the last loop through all loops on the hook.
Ok, let's test your knowledge. DO you, based on the information I have provided, now have a discerning eye? Can you see the differences?
How'd 'ya do? I hope that this little overview helps you to have a keen eye when it comes to bobbles, popcorn and puff stitches. So, now when someone tries to pass a popcorn stitch over as a bobble you can "testify" ..... #wink ..... about how it is not a bobble but a popcorn stitch.
*takes a sip of a delightful barolo* Ok, let's talk wine! I was out with one of my "in real life" besties last night. We had a great sparkling and then I had a fantastic Barbera ... can not wait to talk Barbera with you all. Anyhow, she began to tell me how she started a wine box subscription through Winc .... I was like WHAT?! Why did you not use my affiliate link? Whateves, things happen. But she went on to say how pleased she was with her subscription as she is able to try wine from small batch wineries she would never have the opportunity to visit. So, as I say almost every Friday ... if this is something you are considering, upping your wine game. Try out Winc .... but do it through my affiliate link please. (I get a small commission on the sale - so you essentially support me without really doing anything extra on your part) And right now they have a 4 for $40 sale. So um ..... yeah. $10 bucks a bottle. That is seriously a steal for small batch wines. So go on and give Winc a try.
Barolo is known as the Wine of Kings (as that's who had the privilege of drinking it way back when) and even now most Barolos cost a good chunk of change. I have another secret weapon when it comes to trying out new wines: Grocery Outlet! What would be a 70-80 dollar bottle cost me 14 bucks and I get to give it a whirl. So this bottle, was a Grocery Outlet find from many moons ago. I adore it. This one needs some time to breathe (I honestly let this one breathe overnight) but then it is good to go.
This wine is produced in the Northern Italian region of Piedmont. Barolos are associated with a wide variety of aromatic notes but tend to have a base of tar and roses. Other notes are chocolate, dried fruit, eucalyptus, leather, plum and tobacco. They tend to be full-bodies with deep tannis. A lightly colored wine varying from rusty to garnet when young and more brick red/orange (rusty hues) as it ages.
You can see the colors mentioned in the following photos. The tannis too!
Barolos are produced from the Nebbiolo grape and in order to be an authentic Barolo it needs to be comprised of 100% Nebbiolo which is monitored and certified by the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantia (DOCG) or Italian wine authorities. This wine is also known as the Biggest of the Big Italian Reds ~ it is BIG, BOLD and rich in tannis (like I like) and requires similarly positioned food. So, grab a big bowl of meaty pasta or a delightful risotto to go along with your Barolo. Until then, may your stitches and sips be plenty. xoxo
Now for the surprise! A FREE pattern. With Fall (aka boot season) just around the corner; how about a pair of lovely boot cuffs! The free pattern will contain ads, but if you rather an ad free pdf version you can get it for $2 by clicking the photo which will direct you to my shop page which can link you to either Ravelry or Etsy for purchase. Here's the pattern, enjoy.
Finished size
5” (W) x 5.5” (H)
materials
Yarn: Northern Bay Fibres, Cove, Ecru, DK, 146yds/50g, 85% Polwarth Wool/15% Silk
Approximately 35 grams/1.23 ounces
Hook: F5/3.75mm hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Tapestry needle
Gauge: 19 sc and 25 rows = 4x4”/10x10 cm
Special Stitches
Bobble: dc in indicated stitch, working around the post of the dc just made, [yarn over and pull up a loop] 3 times, yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on the hook. (Bobble completed.)
Make 2
Chain 11.
Row 1: sl st in each ch across, ch 1, turn. (10 sl sts)
Row 2: (working in back loops only) Sl st in each st across, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: repeat row 2 until piece measures 10” (25.4 cm)
Forming the band: sl st the two ends together only working the front loops of one side and the back loops of the other. Do not fasten off but continue on to working the body of the cuff, you will now be working in the round.
Rnd 1: sc along the top of the band, sl into first sc of the round (60 sc)
Rnd 2: *1 bobble, {See notes above}, sk next sc, bobble; rep from * across to end of round, ending with a sl st into the first of the two sts on top of first bobble of rnd. (30 bobbles)
Rnd 3: dc in second st of rnd, working behind dc just worked, sc in skipped sl st, *sk next st, dc in next, working behind dc just worked, sc in skipped st, repeat from * around
[do not sl at end of rnd just continue on but be sure to mark where your round begins] (30 dc/sc pairs)
Rnds 4: *sk next st, dc in next, working behind dc just worked, sc in skipped st, repeat from * around
Rnd 5-6: repeat rnd 4
Rnd 7: Bobble in first st of rnd, *sk next st, bobble in next*, repeat from * to end of rnd, sl in first st of the first bobble of rnd.
Rnd 8: repeat rnd 3.
Rnds 9-11: repeat rnd 4, ending last rnd with sl st in first st of rnd.
Rnd 12: sc in each st around working 5 evenly spaced sc decreases, sl st in first sc of rnd, (55 sc) fasten off. Weave in ends.