The Meanwhile Pictures

This morning, finally, I got around to taking those pictures of the projects I've been doing since the end of August.  Here they are:

The Tunisian Crochet Washcloth

The Bath Mitt

The Shopping Bag

The Hot Pad in Packer Green and Gold

And...

The finished Laundry Area Wall!  Tada!!!

 

 

In the Meantime...

So, it's been closing in on two weeks since my last post but never fear, I have been crocheting.  Just haven't taken any pictures of the finished items yet.  Things have gotten busier since Labor Day.  Ha!  And I thought I'd actually have more time once that holiday was over.  Silly me!  This week (so far) has been particularly busy with a couple of meetings thrown into the mix.  But I still do at least some crocheting every day. 

I've also been organizing some things around the house.  The laundry area in the basement is almost finished.  Covered an old table with a vinyl tablecloth I got for less than $3 at Wal-Mart to use as a folding station.  Ta da!!!

And today I bought another laundry basket and attached it to the frame of an old TV tray so that I can put the (clean) clothes from the dryer into it and eliminate bending down to grab each piece of clothing to fold it (and leaving the whole folding table station free to actually do the folding!).  Next I want to spruce up the wall.  I was thinking of painting it but it's only fiberboard and I think that would look too funky (not in a good way).  So I'm thinking I'll go buy another couple of those vinyl tablecloths and staple them to the wall.  I don't care if they're in a fall leaf pattern - it's my favorite season!

Anyway, back to crochet projects:  I started learning Tunisian crochet via a class on Craftsy.  Made the first item in the class: a washcloth.  It took me 3 days to complete it (yikes!) and, though it's not perfect, it did turn out pretty well.  I need to work on keeping an even tension - not all that easy as a novice but I think I'll get there...eventually.

Then I made a bath mitt that I have yet to use (because I haven't taken a picture of it yet) and a hot pad in Packer Green and Gold.  In between these three projects, I have been crocheting a shopping bag and finally finished it this afternoon.  And...add one more of those cup cozies and that accounts for the past almost 2 weeks.  Whew!!!

I'll get the pictures taken and posted soon...

The Latest Projects

Although it's been a while since I posted, I have been crocheting!  Here are three of the latest:

This one's called a Ribbed Hat. 

It's done with Red Heart super saver yarn in Fall.

This next little project, Coffee Sleeves (or cozies) was inspired by a pin

I saw on Pinterest. 

There was no pattern included in the link. 

In fact, these little gems are being sold for $10 each! 

Well...I took a look at the picture, figured out a knock-off pattern,

got out my Peaches & Creme cotton yarn in Oasis and my G hook. 

Both of these (one shorter than the other by design) used less than

one 2 oz. ball of yarn (at a cost of a whopping $1.47/ball of yarn)!

 

 

These little cup sleeves will fit one of those cups of coffee

you get at Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop.

They're machine washable and dryable too!

 

Here's the pattern I came up with:



Eco-Friendly Cup Sleeves

Materials:

·        100% cotton worsted weight yarn

·        Size G hook

·        3 Buttons

Notes:

     ·        chain 3 and chain 2 at beginning of rows do not count as stitch.

·        Shell: 5 dc in same stitch.

·        Directions for taller sleeve in parentheses. 

Directions:

Chain 13 (16)

Row 1: Sc in second chain and each chain across (12 sc; 15 sc)

Row 2: Chain 3. Dc in first sc and each sc across (12 dc; 15 dc)

Row 3: Chain 2. Hdc in first 4 dc, dc in remaining dc.

Rows 4-18: repeat rows 2 and 3.

Row 19: Chain 3.  Dc in next stitch picking up loop in beginning chain, repeat across.

Row 20: chain 1. Sc in each dc across. Do not fasten off.

Top: Chain 3. Work 4 dc in same stitch.  Work 8 more shells evenly spaced around top of sleeve.  Fasten off and weave in ends, securing top and bottom of flap.

Sew buttons on flap.

Camera Battery Case

Isn't it just so frustrating when you're all set to take a picture and the batteries in the camera are dead and you don't have any spares along?  Well, I have this little Nikon Coolpix digital camera that I keep in a small, padded camera case that I got at Wal-Mart.  I didn't like the idea of just putting spare batteries in the case where they could bump up against the camera.  So I took the idea of the cell phone cover (18 August 2013 post) and made a smaller version with some adaptations.  It holds 2 AA batteries.

I had a little bit of Peaches & Creme cotton yarn in Psychedelic left over from the chair socks and used that with a G hook.  The whole thing is simply done in rounds of 16 single crochet stitches until the right length is obtained.

Instead of the loop and button closure, I crocheted a length on the back (working back and forth), decreasing by 1 single crochet on both ends, ending with a few rows of 2 single crochet and finally did 2 single crochet together.  Then I made a chain 4 and attaching it to the front of the little case two rows down.  (Gee, I guess the pattern is contained in these two paragraphs!)

And...tada!  Here's what I got:

It fits in the case perfectly and there's plenty of room for my camera.  Now I won't have to worry about not having extra batteries along.

Hair Dryer Stand and Cover

So...I got this idea from Pinterest (no kidding, right?) to use PVC pipe for a hair dryer stand.  The one I saw on Pinterest had a smaller diameter elbow coming off the main, larger portion of PVC.  The hair dryer was placed into the larger PVC opening and a curling iron was placed in the elbow.  Well...I don't use (or even have) a curling iron, so off to Fleet Farm I went and found a short section of 3 inch PVC and a "female" piece to use as a base.

Now, the ones I saw on Pinterest were painted.  And I thought about doing that too.  But today, I got this really great idea: why not crochet a cover for this hair dryer stand.  So I got out my size G hook and favorite Peaches & Creme Seaside Stripes yarn and set to work.  The pattern is included below.

Cool, huh?

 

Tada!

 

Ok, here's the pattern (and I hope it makes sense)

 

My Hair Dryer Cover

This pattern fits a 3 inch diameter PVC pipe. 

Materials:

1 ball cotton yarn (I used Peaches and Creme)

Size G hook

 

Abbreviations:

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

Directions:

Rnd. 1: Make a magic ring and work 6 sc in ring.  Join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 2: 2sc in same st as joining and in each sc around. (12 sts).

Rnd 3: Sc in same stitch as joining, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next sc repeat from around (18 sts).

Rnd. 4: Sc in same st as joining, sc in next sc,* 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc. Repeat from * around. (24 sts).

Rnd 5: Sc in same st as joining, sc in next 2 sc, * 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc. Repeat from * around. (30 sts).

Rnd 6: Sc in same st as joining, sc in next 3 sc, * 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc. Repeat from * around. (36 sts).

Rnd 7: Sc in same st as joining, sc in next 4 sc,* 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc. Repeat from * around. (42 sts).

Rnd 8: Sc in back loop only of each sc. (42 sts).  The bottom is now done.  On to the tube!

Rnd 9: Chain3 (counts as first stitch), in same stitch as joining, *chain 1, dc 2 together repeat from * around ending with chain 1.  Slip stitch into top of chain first dc.

Rnd 10: sc in same stitch as joining and in each chain 1 space and dc around.

Rnd 11: Chain 4, *dc 2 together, chain 1 repeat from * around ending with dc 2 tog.  Slip stitch into top 3rd stitch of beginning chain 4.

Rnd 12: Sc in same stitch as joining and in each chain 1 space and dc around.

Repeat rows 9-11 until desired height, ending with a sc row.

Next row: sc around (42 sts). Do not turn.

Finishing row: Chain 1. Working left to right, sc in each sc of previous row.  Finish off and weave in ends.

Feel free to copy this pattern but please do not post online

unless you link back to my blog.



Cell Phone Case

This is just a simple single crochet case I made for my rather small cell phone.  Now when I throw my cell in my purse, it's easy to find!  I found the pattern on Pinterest and used Peaches & crème cotton yarn in Seaside Stripes.

My Jute Basket

I wanted a basket to keep all my face care products in.  I have made other baskets with cotton yarn and have also seen pictures and patterns of baskets posted on Pinterest made with string, rope and twine.  This, below, is my variation on a crocheted basket using 100% Jute twine.  Instructions are below the picture.  I hope they make sense...

 

 

My Jute Basket

Size: 6 inches diameter; 3 inches high

Materials:

1 ball of 100% jute twine (the ball I bought had 200 feet and I used approx. 175 feet for this basket)

Size I and F crochet hooks

Length of 1/4 inch ribbon

Small amounts of two colors of cotton yarn (I used Peaches and Creme)

 

Abbreviations:

sc = single crochet

sl st = slip stitch

hdc = half double crochet

dc = double crochet
 

Directions:

Rnd 1: Make magic ring and work 6 sc in ring.  Join with sl st in beginning sc.  Chain 1.  Pull tight.

 

Rnd 2: 2 sc in joining sc and each sc around. Join with sl st in beginning sc. Chain 1.  (12 sts)

 

Rnd 3: 1 sc in joining sc, *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc, repeat from * around.  Chain 1.  (18 sts)

 

Rnd 4: 1 sc in joining sc, 1 sc in next  sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc, repeat from * around Chain 1.  (24 sts)

 

Rnd 5: Sc in joining sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, repeat from * around.  Chain 1.  (30 sts)

 

Rnd 6:  Sc in joining sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, repeat from * around.  Chain 1.  (36 sts)

 

Rnd 7: Sc in joining sc, 1 sc in each of next  4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, repeat around.  Chain 1.  (40 sts)

 

Rnd 8: Sc in back loop of each sc including joining sc.  Join with sl st. Chain 1

 

Next rows: sc in joining sc and each sc around.  Join with sl st. Chain 1.  Repeat until the desired height just about obtained.

 

Next Rnd: Chain 3. Skip next sc, hdc in next st.  Repeat from * around. Join in 2nd chain.  Chain 1.

 

Next Round: Sc in joining chain of previous row.  Sc in chain 1 space, sc in next sc, repeat from * around.  Chain 1.

 

Finishing Rnd:  Sc in previous sc around (you will be working sc from left to right in the previous round sc).  Sl st in beginning sc.  Fasten off.

 

Weave in ends.  (I used a size G Hook to weave in the ends - it was easier.)

Weave ribbon through chain 1 spaces and tie off and attach a crocheted flower or tie ribbon in a bow.

My Flower:

With cotton yarn and size F hook:

Rnd 1: Make magic ring and work 6 sc in ring. Join with sl st in beginning sc.  Chain 1

Rnd 2: 2 sc in joining sc and each sc around. Do not chain 1. (12 sc)

 

Rnd 3: 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc in next sc, sl st in next sc.  Repeat around (6 petals).  Fasten off.

 

Flower Center: Attach contrast color (CC) from front to sc post in first round of flower and work 6 sc, joining with sl st in first sc.  Chain 1.

Next Rnd: Sc 2 together 3 times and fasten off.  Pull ends of CC to back of flower and weave in.

Attach flower to basket.

 

*
Feel free to print this pattern.  Feel free to copy this pattern but please do not post online

unless you link back to my blog.