Color Pooling

There has been a craze (or maybe obsession) lately in the crochet community about "color pooling".  It's about taking a variegated yarn and crocheting it into a discernible pattern.  The ideal being the argyle pattern.  I must admit I fell into the pool (ha ha) myself.  I was so fascinated by it I went on a quest to figure it out on my own.

With so many variegated yarns available, it was tough to find just the right one to "pool" correctly.  In this example I used Red Heart Super Saver in Zebra.  I started with a chain of 42, then used the moss stitch starting in the 4th chain from the hook and 2 chains to turn.  I used an I hook, but there are some who got the same results using a different hook and count.

My results were stunning, but since everyone has a different tension when crocheting, results will vary from person to person.  If I can find more RH Zebra, I see an awesome super scarf in my future!

Mermaid Tails and Other Cozy Things

Finally, summer is coming to a close and that means making warm and cozy things!

Got a few projects started and the first one is the unbelievably popular Mermaid Tail.  Although this is often geared towards the girls in our family, I believe boys like them too!  This one is UNISEX so all the kids can get cozy!  This one is now available in my Etsy Shop HERE.

My Prairie Star

I wanted to share this afghan I made as a wedding gift for my son and daughter-in-law last year.  I was cleaning up (yeah, that doesn't happen much) and found some of the charts I made, so I figured I would share.

I started by searching for an afghan that looked like a quilt, and I chose this pattern from Red Heart called Prairie Star Afghan as a starting point.  I started with a diagram for the pattern and filled it in with my chosen color scheme (my daughter-in-law loves purple and my son loves green).  I think the colors worked out well!

  Anyway I started with the diagram below.  Then I filled it in with colored pencils.  As the chart filled, I added my own increases to make it queen size.  I was shooting for measurements of 66 x 84 and it turned out to be a little bigger.

I filled in most of the chart before I started, but when the measurements needed to be much bigger than the original pattern, I charted as I went.

my chart filling up

 My chart almost done!
The finished product!  I was definitely a labor of love!

You can find the pattern and diagram for the Prairie Star Afghan HERE.  There is also an excellent YouTube tutorial for this pattern HERE

Circle Jacket

Recently finished a circle jacket and I am thrilled with it!  I used a free pattern from Drops Design called Moonlight Mist.  To make it fit a 5-7 year old, I used dk(3) yarn and a J 5.5mm hook.  You can pretty much size this to anyone by changing yarn weight or hooks.  The armhole placement really determines the size however!

 You can find the free pattern HERE

Save The Fingers Microwave Finger Gloves

Being a crocheter, I value my fingertips a whole lot.  That being said, I also use my microwave often, and I now mostly use glass to cook in.  After many times getting frustrated about using large hot pads, and way-to-large oven gloves to retrieve my hot bowl of rice and peas, I decided that I would make something small enough to handle smaller dishes but would also protect my delicate fingers.  Enter the "save the fingers microwave finger gloves"!  Easy to make and quite practical for small plates and bowls fresh out of the microwave.  Plus they're quite a conversation piece because someone will undoubtedly say "what the heck are those?" when they see them hanging on your hooks by the oven.

Here's how to make them

1. Start with a magic circle, and sc 8. Or chain 2, sc 8 in 1^st ch. do not join.

2. Working in the round, sc in each sc for 9 or 10 rounds. You can mark the first stitch of each round, but it's easier if you just crochet until you reach the length of your middle knuckle. Finish off and weave in ends.

TIP after your second round use your finger to push out the forming tube and it will be easier to find the stitches.

3. Repeat Steps 1 and and 2 for each finger. For the thumb, sc 9 as a base because the thumb is wider. Fit should be tight as the cotton will stretch with use.

4.  After you finish the thumb, do not finish off. Ch 12 and join to next “finger” with slst. Slst in next 3 sts, ch 5 and join to next finger with slst. Repeat for next 3 “fingers”. Tip the reason for the 3 slsts in next finger is to center the chains between the “fingers”.

After last finger, finish off and weave in ends.

 They look crazy, right?! But they do help to prevent the burn from a hot dish!

And you won't risk damaging your valuable assets!

Written pattern is available in my Ravelry store HERE.

My helmet bag

I finally got a motorcycle!  Yay!  Now, once you have the motorcycle the next  step will be acquiring things for the motorcycle, or for myself and the motorcycle.  First thing was I needed a bag for my helmet, and gloves.  The helmet is great, but I didn't like the chintzy bag that came with it.  So I made my own helmet bag.  What to make next.....maybe a jacket and chaps?  Well, I better stick to leather and not yarn for that.

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Groovy Flower Power Barefoot Sandals

This is a photo tuturial for my Groovy Flower Power Barefoot Sandals.  Starting off is a quick and basic pattern for the barefoot sandal.  Then a pattern for a retro flower you can sew on.  Once you have the basic pattern down, you can always add your own embellishments!  For the written pattern without pesky pictures, it's available for free on my Ravelry store HERE.

Basic Barefoot Sandal

Start by chaining  for approx 26” (about 100 chs) with color A.  (This will be one ankle tie)

30 sc in ch for toe loop

Put a stitch marker on last chain made, then chain 30 and sc into chain with marker and sc in the next.  (this is the toe loop)

Chain for another 26” and finish off.  (This is a very basic barefoot sandal)

Keep in mind you can add or delete chains to fit larger or smaller feet.  Size shown will fit most adults.

toe loop

basic barefoot sandal

Flower Power Pattern

Rnd 1  Sc 6 into magic ring. Leave a long tail for sewing.  Finish off.  (I suggest you pull yarn through instead of knotting.  You can work around your ends in next round.  You can also ch 2, sc 12 in first ch, but your center hole will be larger.  I highly recommend a magic ring.)

Rnd 2  Attach second color to any sc with slst.  Ch 1, sc in same stitch. (I attached it to the first sc made in last round making sure to catch the ends in the sc and pulling to tighten.)  

*Slst into next sc, ch 5, working back down chain, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 3 chs, slst in same sc, sc in next st*  

Repeat from * to * 6 times, omitting last sc and slst to 1st sc in round.  You should have 6 petals with a sc between each one.

ch 5, sc in 4, slst to same sc

Rnd 3  *Working up edge next petal, sc, hdc, dc, 2 dc. Working around to opposite side of stitches, 2 dc, dc, hdc, sc, slst in sc between petals.*

Repeat from * to * 6 times.  (If you are having trouble finding the stitches to work in to, Pull at them until you can see them.  You are working up the back of the scs from last round and then around the front.  There are, therefore, 4 stitches on each side to work in to.)    

sc, hdc, dc, 2 dc

back around, 2dc, dc, hdc, sc, slst into sc between petals

2nd petal done

Finish off and sew flower onto sc on basic barefoot sandal.  Add beads to ties if desired!

Go Forth and Be Hippy!

Healing Through Creativity : Stigma and Mental Health

Healing Through Creativity : Stigma and Mental Health: Stigma is harsh, isolating, and a major issue in mental health. Those living with a diagnosis experience stigma and anyone who works in b...

My new headliner

I love my old '95 Saturn and I keep "taping" together what seems to be falling apart.  Since I used to do a lot of work on cars, I have been fairly successful in keeping my old Sat running and in good shape.  In the last couple years, however, my headliner began to fall down, droop and tear.  I had to finally just rip it out.  Unfortunately, underneath the fabric of the headliner was a rather gross looking type of foam which had hardened and become crumbly.  Something had to be done.  Not being very wealthy and somewhat frugal, I decided to put my crocheting skills to work.  I crocheted mini granny squares and joined them to make blocks to attach to the roof.  Since the foam had become so crumbly, glue would not work so I used blocking pins to secure the blocks of granny squares to the roof.  Most people who have seen it just laugh.  My best friend says it looks like something Cheech and Chong would do.  I don't care.  It keeps the disintegrating foam from crumbling all over the interior.  I love my old Saturn and will keep it till it runs no more doing anything possible to keep it as long as possible.

 This is still a work in progress and, yes, the sun visors will have to be done next!

No Bees in My Beer Can Cozy

With warm weather approaching, we all like to enjoy our favorite beverage outside.  Unfortunately, bees, flies, and other crawly pests like our beverages too.  Here is a simple crochet pattern for a can cozy with a top to stop those pesky invaders from ruining your drink.  Or even worse yet, getting a bee sting.

I ended with a simple FLO (front loop only) sc on the rim
and a ch 10 for the loop

No bees, bugs or anything crawly will swim in your beverage again!  The written pattern is also available on Ravelry for free HERE.

You will need worsted weight yarn.  (less than half a skein)  I used Red Heart SS in camo and pink camo, and an H (5mm) hook.

Pattern Notes
Work in continuous rounds; do not join rounds or turn unless otherwise instructed.

Crab stitch or reverse single crochet is optional to finish the edges. Crab stitch is basically a single crochet worked back along your work. Meaning you work a sc back around to the right instead of the left (if you are right handed.) There are some great tutorials for this stitch on the web!

Directions
Start with a magic circle (or ch 2 if you haven’t quite mastered the magic circle).

Rnd 1: Work 6 sc in magic circle (or in 2nd ch from hook). Place marker for
beginning of rnd; move marker up as each rnd is completed. Or use yarn marker.

white yarn is my stitch marker

Tutorial for yarn marking on my blog HERE.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sts.)

Rnd 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around (18 sts).

Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * around (24 sts).

Rnd 5: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts; rep from * around (30 sts).

Rnd 6: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around (30 sts).

Rnds 7-21: 1 sc in each st around. Slip stitch to first sc of last round.

Finish off (leaving approx 10” tail to sew top on) or do another round of sc in front loop only for a more finished look. If you are more ambitious, do a round of
“crab stitch” for the rim.  Or not.

I used a white piece of yarn to
mark the rounds

Cozy should fit snuggly around can as it will stretch a bit after using.

For the top:
Complete rnds 1-6 for cozy.

Rnd 7-12: 1 sc in each st around.

Slip stitch to first sc of last round.

Finish off with a round of front loop only sc, or crab stitch for rim. You can also ch 10 and attach with slip stitch to form a loop so you can “flip” the top on and off easily.

Using tail from finished cozy, sew top on (through about 4
stitches), finish off and weave in ends.

            

This one I crab stitched the rim before
 I attached the top

Have a happy bug-free beverage!