Countdown to Christmas - Easy Beanie

Since I've been unemployed, the days tend to run into one another.  I don't really pay attention to my calendar because I don't need to be anywhere.  Imagine my surprise when I realized that today is November 22nd - Christmas is only 33 days away!!! What am I going to do?  Obviously, I don't have the financial resources that I had last Christmas, so this year, I have to put more time and thought into my gift giving.  The first thing that I need to do is take an inventory of my gift closet.  I am one of those people who shop all year long - for two reasons: 1) it helps to spread the cost of Christmas throughout the year and, 2) less stress running around looking for last minute gifts.  What I am not good at is budgeting for Christmas; because I buy throughout the year, I don't normally keep track of what I spend.  I know, I know, I just spent some time telling everyone that they need to keep a budget of everything they spend and here I am breaking my own rule.  Sorry!

But what if you don't have a gift closet and you don't have any money in the budget for Christmas?  What about  a homemade gift?  I love homemade gifts; it means so much to know that someone took the time to make something special just for me.

One of my homemade gifts this year is crocheted hats.  If you know how to single and double crochet, this is an easy homemade gift.  It takes me literally 15 minutes to crochet a beanie hat and it will fit teens to adults.

Easy Beanie

The original pattern can be found at http://www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/accessories/beanie-hat/.

Finished measurements – length = 8″, circumference = approx 20″ unstretched.  One size fits most ages teen to adult. Repeat round 9 for a longer hat, skip round 9 for a shorter skull cap.

Gauge – using 5.5mm (US size I) hook, after round 4 your swatch should measure 5″ in diameter. Adjust hook size to obtain correct gauge.  You can use one color yarn or mix and match your colors.  I used Red Heart and I Love This Yarn for my hats.

Stitches -
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
*I modified this pattern; the original calls for crocheting through the back loops in some rounds.  I crocheted my hat by crocheting through the back loops throughout the pattern.

Pattern notes – this hat design is made crocheting in rounds, each round will begin with a number of chains which will count as the first stitch, and is ended by joining the last stitch with the top of the beginning chain creating concentric circles. “st” denotes the stitch of the previous round.

Begin – ch 3, join with a slip st to first chain to form a ring.
Round 1 – ch 3, 9 dc into ring, join with sl st to top of ch 3. 10 sts.
Round 2 – ch 2, dc into same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 20 sts.
Round 3 – ch 2, dc into same st, dc in next st, *(2 dc in next st, dc in next st), repeat from * 8 more times, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 30 sts.
Round 4 – sl st into back loop of same stitch, ch 2, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *(dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st), repeat from * 8 more times, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 40 sts.
Round 5 – ch 2, dc into same st, dc in next 3 sts, *(2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts), repeat from * 8 more times, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 50 sts.
Round 6 – sl st into back loop of same stitch, ch 2, dc in next st, 2 dc in next
st, *(dc in next 9 sts, 2 dc in next st), repeat from * 3 more times, dc in last 7 sts, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 55 sts.
Rounds 7, 8, 9 – sl st into back loop of same stitch, ch 2, dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2.
Round 10 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 11 – ch 2, dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2.
Round 12 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 13 – ch 2, dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2.
Round 14 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 15 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 16 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch. tie off MC and weave in yarn ends with a tapestry needle.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License by OS Crochet and Laura Killoran of Croshay Designs.

Home made Dish Cloths

I've noticed that I blog in spurts, which is OK I guess.  A few weeks ago, I wrote about making home made laundry soap.  Today, it's dish cloths (or rags, as we used to call them growing up).  I've seen a lot of patterns for dish clothes, but the cloths are too small.  I need something substantial, something that going to wipe a fair piece of counter top.

Here's my pattern (easy of course if you can crochet)

Chain 34. 
Row 1 - Single chain in the 2nd chain from the hook to the end (33 sc).  Turn.
Rows 2 - 45 - chain one and single chain to end of row.  Turn
Tie off.

That's it - you know, it's got to be easy or else, I'm not interested.

Crocheted Hearts

These crocheted hearts are super easy to make and they only take about 2 minutes!  I downloaded the pattern from the internet (sorry, but I can't remember which website).  I made a bunch of these in different colors for my Valentine tree.

Crocheted Heart Pattern

Size D crochet hook
Yarn of your choice - I used Red Heart
(Use any size hook or yarn to change the size of the heart)

All stitches are worked in the first chain.

Chain 4.  Work 3 triple crochet (tr) into the first chain, 3 double crochet (dc), chain 1, 1 tr, chain 1, 3 dc, 3 tr.  Chain 3, slip stitch into center and fasten off.  The slip stitch helps to create the "v" at the top of the valentine.

These hearts are very versatile.  You could make a garland or use them to set off a gift.  Happy Crocheting!

Coffee Cup Toilet Paper Cover

When I saw this cute toilet paper cover, I just had to make it - http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Bath-Crochet-Patterns/Cup-O-Coffee-TP-Roll-Cover.

Here's how mine looks:

roll of toilet paper and toilet paper cover

side view of toilet paper cover

I slightly modified the way I put mine together, so that's why it looks different, but I'm still happy with the way that it turned out.  My sister loves it and it now sits proudly in her bathroom.

Another Crocheted Scarf

I'm still on my scarf kick.  I've started crocheting a hooded scarf in lavender.  Purple is one of my favorite colors.  The pattern is very easy but it's taking me longer to finish because I started back to work full time this week - almost 2 months after my car accident.  I start to poop out around 2:00 pm and by the time I get home a little after 4:00, I pretty much just want to rest.  I am hoping that my strength and stamina return soon.  As soon as I finish the scarf, I will post directions and a picture. 

Cascading Potato Chip Scarf

I'm on a bit of a scarf kick and when I heard the words "potato chip" in the same sentence as "scarf", I was intrigued.  It turns out to be a super easy scarf to crochet.

I found the pattern at http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Hats-Scarves-Gloves.  Just search for cascading potato chip scarf.  If you're new to crochet, this is a good project to start with.  I love the blue (Red Heart Blue) against the brown (Coffee Fleck).  Hope you enjoy!

PS - I am now the proud owner of a 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan in metallic blue :)

A Simple Winter Scarf

It doesn't get cold here in Florida very often, but we're looking at a second night with a hard freeze - time to cover the plants and pipes and bundle up with a jacket and a scarf.  Most of the time though, wearing a scarf  in Florida is more of a fashion statement.  My daughter-in-law loves anything purple, so for Christmas, I crocheted this simple scarf for her.

It's easy to make and only uses one skein of yarn.  I used "I Love This Yarn" in mixed berry from Hobby Lobby.

Use a size K crochet hook.

Chain 27.

Foundation Row: single chain (sc) in 2nd chain from hook.  1 sc in each chain to end of the chain.  Turn.  You should have 26 single chain stitches.

First Row:  Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet (dc).  Skip first two sc.  In next sc, *(1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc).  Skip next 2 sc.  Repeat from * to last 2 sc.  Skip 1 sc and 1 dc in last stitch.  Turn.  You should have a total of 26 stitches.

Second Row:  Chain 1.  1 sc in each chain to end of the chain.  Turn.  (26 sc).

Repeat First and Second Row until you run out of yarn.  Finish with a 2nd row.  Fasten off.  Scarf measures approximately 45 inches.



Plastic Bag (Plarn) Totes

I found an easy way to reuse my plastic grocery bags; I crocheted tote bags out of them.  I found the pattern at www.kaylaksthriftyways.com.  Each of my tote bags took approximately 70 grocery bags.

Before I began to crochet, I needed to cut up my bags and make plarn.

First, I straightened out the bag.

Next, I folded the bag in half and cut off the bottom seam and the handles.

I folded the bag in half again and, using a ruler, I cut the bag into strips.

I got approximately 10 strips from each bag.

Next, I connected the bags together by intertwining them.

I pulled the two bags until they were tightly connected.

I repeated this process until I had a ball of plarn.

Basic Plarn Tote

Gauge:  About 3 sc = 1"

Finished Size:  14" across, 14" high, 8" rise on handles

With size "k" crochet hook and plarn, chain 41.

Round 1:  Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.  Do not turn; sc in each unworked loop of ch (40 sc).

Round 2:  Sc in first sc of previous round.  Mark as first sc.  Sc in each sc around.

Repeat Round 2 (44) times.

Work Handles:

On next round:  Sc in next 14 sc.  *Ch 40.  Skip next 12 sc.  Sc in next 2 sc.  Turn, skip next 2 sc, sc in each of 40 ch and next 2 sc.  (Turn, sc in 3rd sc from hook, in next 39 sc of handle, and in next 2 sc of tote) 3 times*, sc in next 22 sc of tote, repeat between **, sc in next 6 sc of tote, sl st in next 2 sc, tie off.

Here are two of my finished bags.  They're functional, strong, and fashionable.