Saturday, April 26, 2008

Making the city cozy --one park bench at a time

I recently came across an interesting blog. If you're going to be a rebel, here's the way to do it! Check this out: http://microfibermilitia.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Good Enough to Eat

The swapping bug has bitten me! I've signed up for several swaps in some of the craft groups I belong to on Yahoo and have been having a blast. At first I was sticking to the dishcloth swaps. They're quick, easy, fun, & you get something useful in return. (Some of the cloths I've swapped and the patterns can be found on my dishcloth blog: http://dishclothdiaries.blogspot.com/)

Here is my latest swap creation. It's a pin cushion shaped like a donut. (And has zero calories!) I made it from this pattern: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32761
I haven't sent it out yet. I just finished it last night so shhhh... don't tell my partner what it is! :) I really hope she likes it!!

But I think the most interesting swap so far has been the "Bra Purse" swap. (Yes I said BRA! LOL) The swap was inspired by the ladies of the Red Hat Society. My daughter Cyndi and I worked on it together, well Cyndi did most of the work, but I think it turned out great and our swap partner thought it was a hoot!
Instead of making a purse that would probably never be used... at least not in public, we decided to make the bra into something a little more useful. I came up with the idea of filling the cups with potpourri to make it into a "closet freshener." So now, I'm told, it is hanging in our partner's bedroom closet. :) So what's next on the swapping agenda? A Potpourri Panty swap to go with the bra purse of course! LOL


UPDATE:


Here's a picture of the Panty Sachet I sent to my partner for the Creative Korner panty swap . I hope she likes it!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Heart Shaped Potholder

Finished size: Approximately 8 x 9 inches

Materials: (US) size G hook, 2 oz. Worsted Weight Cotton in desired color (Example was made using Peaches ‘n Cream’s Spring Meadows)

(make 2-do not fasten off at end of 2nd piece)
Ch 4. Sl st in 4th ch from hook to form a loop.

Row 1: 3 sc in loop, ch 1, turn. (Turning ch does NOT count as a sc now and throughout.)
Row 2: 2 sc in fl of first st, sc in bl of next st, 2 sc in fl of last st, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: 2 sc in fl of first st, sc in bl of next st, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * to last st (there will be one st remaining to be worked), 2 sc in fl of last st, ch 1, turn.
Rows 4-15: Repeat row 3. (There will be 31 sc in row 15.)
Row 16: sc in fl of first st, *sc in bl of next st, sc in bl of next st, repeat from * across, ch 1, turn.
Rows 17-19: Repeat row 16.

**Note: Rows 20-23 are worked in two parts. I've labeled the rows 20a-23a and 20b-23b with all of the "a" rows and "b" rows being worked consecutively by number. In other words, you’ll work all of the a rows, then all of the b rows.

Row 20a: Insert hook through fl of first st, yo and draw up loop, insert hook through bl of next st and draw up loop, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (fl dec made), sc in fl of next st, *sc in bl of next st, sc in fl of next st, rep from * 4 times more, insert hook through bl of first st, yo and draw up loop, insert hook through fl of next st and draw up loop, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (bl dec made), ch 1, turn, (there will be 16 sts remaining from row 19 to be worked, we'll get to those shortly.)
Row 21a: bl dec, sc in bl of next st, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 3 times more, fl dec, ch 1, turn.
Row 22a: fl dec, sc in fl of next st, * sc in bl of next st, sc in fl of next st, rep from * 2 times more, bl dec, ch 1, turn.
Row 23a: bl dec, sc in bl of next st, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 1 times more, fl dec, fasten off.

Row 20b: Picking up where you left off on row 20a, skip 1 sc, join yarn in fl of next sc, fl dec, sc in fl of next st, * sc in bl of next st, sc in fl of next st, rep from * 4 times more, bl dec, ch 1, turn.
Row 21b: Repeat row 21a.
Row 22b: Repeat row 22a.
Row 23b: bl dec, sc in bl of next st, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 1 times more, fl dec, ch 1, do not turn.

Row 24: 2 sc in end of row 23b, sc in end of each row 22b, 21b, and 20b, sc in un-worked st from row 20, sc in end of each row 20a-22a, 2 sc in end of row 23a, sc in ea st across row 23a, 2 sc in end of row 23a, *sc in end of next 2 rows, 2 sc in end of next row, repeat from * 6 times more, sc in end of next row (you should now be at the beginning loop), 3 sc in beginning loop, sc in end of next row, *2 sc in end of next row, sc in end of next 2 rows, repeat from * 6 times more, 2 sc in end of row 23b, sc in ea st across row 23b, join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Joining:
Rnd 1: Ch 1. Holding both pieces together with wrong sides together and matching all points, sc through both layers, placing 3 sc in the centermost point at the bottom, join with sl st in top og beg ch, ch 1, do not turn.
Rnd 2: sc in same st, skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, (sc, ch 8, sc) in next st, skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, *3 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, rep from * 12 times, skip next st, 5 dc in next st, skip next st, *sc in next st, skip next st, 3 dc in next st, rep from * 12 times, sl st in top of beg sc.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Designed and written by April Moreland
© 2008 All rights reserved

Friday, April 11, 2008

Heart Dishcloth

NOTE: Rows 31a and 31b should read "dec, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 2 times more, dec"
Both rows have been corrected. I'm sorry for any inconvenience! Thanks Oreo, for bringing it to my attention. :)

Finished size: Approximately 10 x 11 inches

Materials: (US) size G hook, 2 oz. Worsted Weight Cotton in desired color (Example was made using Peaches ‘n Cream’s Spring Meadows)

Ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook to form loop.
Row 1: 3 sc in loop, ch 1, turn. (Turning ch does NOT count as a sc now and throughout.)
Row 2: 2 sc in fl of first st, sc in bl of next st, 2 sc in fl of last st, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: 2 sc in fl of first st, sc in bl of next st, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * to last st (there will be one st remaining to be worked), 2 sc in fl of last st, ch 1, turn.
Rows 4-20: Repeat row 3. (There will be 41 sc in row 20.)
Row 21: sc in fl of first st, *sc in bl of next st, sc in fl of next st, repeat from * across, ch 1, turn.
Rows 22-26: Repeat row 21.

**Note: Rows 27-31 are worked in two parts. I've labeled the rows 27a-31a and 27b-31b with all of the "a" rows and "b" rows being worked consecutively by number. In other words, you’ll work all of the a rows, then all of the b rows.

Row 27a: Insert hook through fl of first st, yo and draw up loop, insert hook through bl of next st and draw up loop, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (dec made), *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 7 times more, dec, there will be 21 sts remaining from row 26 to be worked, we'll get to those shortly, ch 1, turn.
Row 28a: dec, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 6 times more, dec, ch 1, turn.
Row 29a: dec, * sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 5 times more, dec, ch 1, turn.
Row 30a: dec twice, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 2 times more, dec twice, ch 1, turn.
Row 31a: dec, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 2 times more, dec, fasten off.

Row 27b: Picking up where you left off on row 20a, skip 1 sc, join yarn in fl of next sc, dec, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 7 times more, dec, ch 1, turn.
Row 28b: Repeat row 28a.
Row 29b: Repeat row 29a.
Row 30b: dec twice, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 2 times more, dec twice, ch 1, turn.
Row 31b: dec, *sc in fl of next st, sc in bl of next st, rep from * 2 times more, dec, ch 1, do NOT fasten off

Edging:
Rnd 1: 2 sc in end of row 31 b, *sc in end of next 2 rows, 2 sc in end of next row, repeat from * 9 times more, sc in end of next row (you should now be at the beginning loop), 3 sc in beginning loop, sc in end of next row, *2 sc in end of next row, sc in end of next 2 rows, repeat from * 9 times more, 2 sc in end of row 31a, sc in ea st across row 31a, 2 sc in end of row 31a, sc in end of rows 30a, 29a, 28a, and 27a, sc in un-worked st from row 26, sc in end of each row 27b-30b, 2 sc in end of row 31b, sc in ea st across row 31b, join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Rnd 2: sc in same st, *skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, rep from * 10 times, 3 dc in next st, sc in next st, *skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, rep from * 10 times, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, *skip next st, 3 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, rep from * 6 times, skip next st, 3 dc in next st, sl st in top of beg sc.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Designed and written by April Moreland
© 2008 All rights reserved

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Too cute to pass up!

Funny Myspace Comments
Myspace Comments @ MyNiceSpace.com

Pot Handle Cover


Finished size: Approximately 5 x 2 inches

Materials:
(US) size G hook, small amount Worsted Weight Cotton in desired color (Example was made using Peaches ‘n Cream’s Spring Meadows)

**If you need a cover that is a bit smaller or larger you can adjust the hook size accordingly by going up or down one size.

Chain 20

NOTE: turning ch does not count as a stitch.

Row 1: sc in second ch from hook, ch 1, turn. (19 sc)

Row 2: sc in front loop only of 1st sc, (sc in back loop only of next sc, sc in front loop only of next sc) 9 times, ch 1, turn.

Rows 3-13: Repeat row 2, do not turn at the end of row 13.

Joining: sl st in end of rows 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7. Fold the piece in half lengthwise, sl st through the ends of rows 6 and 8 both at the same time, (sl st through the ends of the next 2 rows both at the same time) 5 times, (working through the opposite side of the beginning ch, sl st through the next ch and the corresponding st from row 13 both at the same time) 19 times, ch 1.

Finishing: sc in end of each row around open edge of cover, join with sl st in top of beg sc.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

CAUTION: Do not leave on pot handle when not in use or while unattended on stove top or near open flame.

Design by: Cyndi Moreland
Pattern written by: April Moreland
© 2008 All rights reserved.