Lots of color

I bought some Red Heart sock yarn (Spring Stripe colorway) at Joann's a few months ago and forgot I had it. I threw it in my suitcase when I went to Korea to give it a test drive. I've been in a crocheting mood lately, so I decided to try out a Clapochet.

I've tried to crochet a Clapotis shawl a few times before. I had no idea that a pattern already existed. It was pretty easy and has the distinctive Clapotis diagonal stripe. I like it. I used almost exactly 3 skeins to get a smallish shawl. I am thinking of adding some buttons to make it convertible like Wisp.

My car needed to be washed very badly.I had my camera with me and got a few pictures. My daughter loves riding along. Her favorite part is the tri-color polish spray. I have to agree with her. Both of us love color.

I love lunch.

I came back from Korea obsessed with two things: crochet and cooking. Even though we are home for lunch every day, I've been packing the Korean version of bento, dosirak, like a mad woman. The fact that I have a daughter who love white rice more than any other food is only encouraging me. (The girl could live on rice balls.)

I want to share my love of lunch-packing with everyone, so I crocheted this little buddy for my friend's birthday.

All I had to do was crochet a square with cotton yarn. Then I added a few rows of mesh. I crocheted a few lengths of chain to thread through the mesh. When open, the square protects the diner's lap. When the chains are pulled tight, the lunchbox is safe and secure.


I found this box at Walmart for about $7. The lid can be frozen to keep food cool all morning. The silverware were included. The sides secure with clips and seem to be fairly sturdy.

I hope she likes it. I might consider making some more for Christmas. What would you think if someone gave you a lunchbox as a gift?

Waste Not, Want Not

I chopped up one of David's old uniforms from Desert Storm last week. I'm making an art quilt with a pocket to store love letters from his time overseas. It's deeply meaningful...blah, blah, blah. I had a few scraps and I'm trying to use them in everyday objects.



I crocheted a little linen purse with my handspun flax. I like the light, summery fabric. I added a little band of shells to flare out the bottom of the bag. I decided to line it so I can hold a sock knitting project without the needles poking out. The pocket and nametape from David's uniform worked out perfectly.

I got the bamboo handles with a 40% off coupon at the fabric store. I'm happy with the results. The colors worked together perfectly.

I always want something of his near me.

Handspun Linen Crocheted Bags

I used all of my handspun flax. I made a few sturdy bags with some of it. I like a crossbody net bag for farmers' markets and vacations.

It's light and strong. It was easy to make. I didn't bother with a pattern. I improvised a single crochet bottom, double crochet body, and a single crochet strap. I can't wait to take this baby to Korea this summer.

Flax, just like a fairytale princess

I got my grubby mitts on some flax and I've been spinning like a bewitched princess.

While I prefer animal fibers, I don't mind the flax.

I spun a few hundred yards dry and it's very twine-like. I've been wet spinning since then. Instead of keeping my hands in water for hours, I've been slathering myself in cheap-Christmas-gift-lotion. It works better than water at tucking in ends, and it washes out when I boil the yarn to soften it.

I'm crocheting a topdown raglan in laceweight merino. So far, so fun.

Crocheted Clapotis

Not a success. Not a failure. Somewhere in between. I ran out of handpainted silk yarn and didn't have a way to get any more from the indy seller. I tried to extend the length with fringe, but it only helps so much.

The drape and shine are perfect. I will try again.

I hope you all stay safe tonight. My brother killed himself and my ten month old niece in a drunk driving accident last New Year's Eve. Please don't drive drunk. Please. Somebody has to find your broken car and body. Somebody has to decide what to bury you in. Somebody has to pick out music to play for your grieving friends. Your family will sit in a funeral parlor crying themselves sick and smelling the embalming fluids from your casket.

Public Service Announcement over.

Happy New Year--cheers to hope.

Carrotcake Pancakes and a Gnome Home

I decided to treat the kids to a fun brunch on Sunday after church. These carrotcake pancakes were a hit. The kids insist that I make these for Daddy the morning after he comes home.

If you want to join in the deliciousness, here are my simple (lazy) directions: To your favorite pancake batter (you know I used a mix), add 1 cup finely grated carrots, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, and 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.

I used this recipe for the icing, but I left out the margarine. I substituted 1/4 cup of grade B maple syrup for 1/2 cup of the sugar. Very pancakalicious.

I crocheted the Gnome Home for Isabel, but I didn't have anything to live in it yet. Then I got a wonderful surprise in the mail from CJ. She sent us one of her cute little rabbits. Isabel immediately claimed it, so Mr. Bunny will live in the Gnome Home. Thank you, CJ!

I used tapestry wool I found at a thrift store held triple stranded for the house and Mode Dea Dream for the grass. The roof is a bulky hand dye I had leftover. The flower is sock yarn remnants.

The mushrooms felted perfectly. I was sure the stems would turn pink. I saw a dye catching cloth at the commissary and decided to give it a try. It worked so well that I've decided I'm going to use one every time I felt something in the washer.

Isabel will probably never be as excited about handmade gifts as she is right now. I am determined to make her everything I can before she starts requesting brand name items for Christmas.

I am actually looking forward to Christmas now. We bake Jesus a birthday cake every year as our special family tradition. Yup, I'm a Jesus Freak. My kids see church service as one of the most fun and important parts of the holiday. We go to a pretty liberal and fun church, though.

I hope you have a great holiday no matter what you celebrate or how you celebrate. Even if this time of year is usually agony for you, I hope you find a bit of joy somewhere.

Attn: Naysayers

For those of you who didn't think I could knit vomit, I present my first Stashbusher Spiral Socks. After years of working in hospitals and clinics, I can honestly say that I've seen prettier vomit.

Holy crap, huh? In a strange way I really love them, though.

I also crocheted some thrummed slippers for my grandmother. I used my handspun Targhee two ply in worsted weight and roving remnants. I used a size F hook for a tight gauge. I wish I had shaped a heel instead of fudging my way without a pattern. This pair looks like a pair of kayaks, but my grandmother has long, skinny feet. I hope they fit okay.

You should try knitting or crocheting some thrummed slippers. It's like walking around with your feet in fluffy warm clouds.

I really want to crochet some thrummed mittens. I have been to four stores looking for the Winter 2008 Interweave Crochet, but I can't find it here. I guess I'll have to order online somewhere. Marly's pattern is genius.

Inside out and outside in.

These slippers are every bit as warm and comfy as they look. Now if I could just get my lazy self to the post office, life would be great.

Slinky Crochet

I am still on a quest to crochet a Clapotis-inspired shawl. I made yesterday's scarf as a practice swatch and have started working in laceweight silk now. I will post directions for the Crochet-o-tee later.

These gray-green photos are of the shawl. The silk is luscious to work with. The drape is amazing. The chain sections make a kinetic fabric that biases and twists. It's really fun and will be very wearable.

The scarf was inspired by this Finnish pattern. English directions aren't available, so I went rogue. I didn't want tassels or wide chain sections because I have a tendency to snag my scarves on just about everything.

Here are my modified English directions, with all props going to Ulla Magazine. Their copyright page allows me to post translations as long as I don't charge you for them.

Yarn: Cascade Venezia Worsted, 2 skeins (436 yards)

Hook: US Size F

Worked sideways.

Chain 236.

Set up row: Skip first 2 ch, dc 9, *skip 5 ch, chain 5, dc 10* Repeat between ** to end.
All other rows: Ch 2 (counts as first dc) dc9, *skip 5 ch, chain 5, dc 10* Repeat between ** to end.

My finished scarf was 20 rows wide, counting the original base chain. I blocked it out to 8 inches wide.

The last dc in each row is worked in the turning chain. I add this because nobody told me when I first started crocheting.

Block the finished garment like you mean it. The drape only intensifies.

I also whipped up a Lacy Girly Fancy Hat. The yarn was rescued from a failed sweater and it took 8 separate pieces to make this silly thing. A smarter person would have thrown the yarn away, but I've never bragged about being too smart. It still needs to be washed and blocked, but I like it. I left out the eyelets and ribbon. It took me 3 hours, including considerable time spent weaving in ends.

This is a gift for someone who wears this color all the time.

Crochet Pattern: Papa's Hobo Hands

I decided that my grandfather needed a pair of fingerless mitts for Christmas. His hands don't fight off the Montana cold as well as they used to. He putters around in the garage a lot and needed yarn that wouldn't show sawdust and dirt.

This is what I came up with--another way to justify my many sock yarn purchases.

These handwarmers are worked in sturdy single crochet stitches. The largest size has long palms that can be flipped back a bit for dexterity. The yarn is fun to work with.

All terms in this pattern are American. UK crocheters will work in double crochet.

Materials:

One skein Araucania Ranco Fingering Weight Yarn--I made the largest size and only used 50g for both mitts. A single 50g ball of sock yarn would work for the two smaller sizes.)

Size C (2.75 mm) hook

Sizes:

Keep in mind that crochet doesn't stretch as much as knit fabric. When in doubt, go up a size.

Man Hands (Lady Fingers, Little Monkey Hands)

Measurement across palm 3.5 (3.25, 3) inches across.

Knuckle to wrist measurement 8 (7.5, 7) inches (or desired length.)

Gauge:

5.5 single crochet per inch

Directions (begin at knuckles):

First round: Chain 40 (36, 32) and join with a slip stitch to form a ring. Use a removable marker to keep track of the start of the round.

Chain 1, skip first chain space (this chain will count as a single crochet in the next round) and single crochet in each chain around. 39 (35, 31) single crochet this round.

Second round: Do not turn, start spiraling around mitt--one single crochet in each stitch around, 40 (36, 32) single crochet around.

Continue working in single crochet even until piece measures 3 (2.5, 2) inches. [Work the full 3 inches if you want a folded top.]

Thumb Gusset: At the beginning of the round, chain 12 (12, 10), then continue working the rest of the round as before.
Next round: Single crochet in each chain and all existing stitches. 52 (48, 42) stitches total.

Work even for 3 rounds.

Gusset Decreases: Work 5 (5, 4) single crochet stitches of thumb, then single crochet 2 together [Insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop, insert hook into following stitch and pull up a second loop. Yarn over hook and pull through both loop on hook--one stitch decreased], single crochet to end of round.

Continue decreasing one stitch each round until 40 (36, 32) stitches remain. Work even to desired length.

Break yarn and fasten off.

Finish Thumb: [An extra stitch is worked over the gap to avoid a hole in the thumb.]

Join yarn where palm and thumb meet with a slip stitch, chain one, then single crochet in each stitch around. 13 (13, 11) stitches. Work in single crochet until thumb touches base of thumbnail. If you can't measure the recipient's hands, 8 rounds should be about right.

Break yarn and fasten off.

Weaving in all ends. Block as desired.

Aunt Carolyn's Scarf

I dyed a few hanks of sock yarn last month. It was a lot of fun, and I no longer notice the smell of vinegar. I think my nostril hair was burned off by the steamy vapors.



This colorway was for my Aunt Carolyn. She's sassy and funny and loves purple. I was going to give it to her for Christmas, but she just had a brain tumor removed. I think she needs a yarny pick-me-up from me.


This scarf is soft, warm, machine washable, and funky enough for my crazy aunt. Want to use up some sock yarn? Here are my directions.



Aunt Carolyn's Scarf


This scarf is worked from the center out so each edge will be scalloped.


400-440 yards of sock yarn

Size F crochet hook

Gauge not critical, but my finished scarf measured 6 x 68 inches.

Arcade Stitch
Found in many stitch dictionaries, Arcade Stitch is a multiple of 6+8.
Row 1: Skip 1 chain, 1 single crochet in each of the next 2 chains, *chain 3, skip 3 chains, 1 single crochet in each of the next 3 chains*, chain 3, skip 3 chains, 1 single crochet in each of the last 2 chains, chain 1, turn.
Row 2: 1 single crochet in 2nd single crochet, *5 double crochet in 3-chain space, 1 single crochet in 2nd single crochet of 3-single crochet group* turn.
Row 3: *Chain 3, 1 single crochet in each of 3 central double crochet*, chain 2, 1 single crochet in turning chain, chain 3, turn.
Row 4: 2 double crochet in 2-chain space, *1 single crochet in 2nd single crochet, 5 double crochet in 3-chain space*, 1 single crochet in 2nd single crochet, 3 double crochet in 3-chain space, chain 1, turn.
Row 5: 1 single crochet in each of the first 2 double crochet, *chain 3, 1 single crochet in each of the 3 central double crochet*, chain 3, 1 single crochet in last double crochet, 1 single crochet in turning chain, chain 1, turn.

Repeat rows 2-5.

To make scarf, chain 50. Work Arcade Stitch until piece is half of the desired length. End with row 2. Break yarn. Going back to original chain, attach yarn with a slip stitch on same side as yarn tail. Start Arcade Stitch again, beginning with row 1. Work until desired length, ending with row 2. Finish off. Weave in ends, but don't trim. Block as desired. Trim ends when dry.

I Apologize to the Crochet Intolerant

Yes, it's crochet! Yes, that's fringe! Yes, it's fabulous!

(Ignore the junk in the front yard. David was having a Tag Sale. I got rid of my Fun Fur and Red Heart yarns. Woo hoo.)

I used Prairie Silk in Capital Green from our trip to Brown Sheep Co. and a size J hook. I completed the first half while attending an outdoor concert. It was really easy and fast. Here is the pattern.



I really love to crochet. Sometimes my right elbow is so worn out from knitting and embroidering, that crochet is the only thing I can do without pain and fatigue. Thankfully, the new yarns and patterns are far more elegant than the crochet of yesterday.