Mini Wooden Chalkboard

For the Crochet Motif Challenge, I needed something to write the number of each motif on, for pictures.  My first thought was post it notes, then I thought about cut out numbers....then....bing....the light bulb went on and the mini wooden chalkboard was born.

Materials:
Branch about 2 1/2" in diameter
Sand paper
Saw
Chalkboard paint

Directions:
Saw off a disk any thickness.  Mine is about 1/2" thick.
Sand down edges and cut sides.
Apply Chalkboard paint according to instructions on bottle.
Write messages, draw pictures....enjoy!

Still Christmas?

With the unfortunate sickness I have endured for the last three weeks, Christmas was kind of put on hold.  Anyone I send gifts and cards to, have been ignored.  The plan is to get greeting cards and stuff out by next week.

Almost three weeks ago, I started on my annual Holiday ornaments and only managed to make two of them.  It is my tradition to send a handmade ornament with each of my holiday cards.  This year, a Santa hat!  Although, I may choose something else to send next week as Christmas is over.

I looked everywhere on the Internet for a cute crochet Santa Hat pattern.  Nothing seemed to fit my criteria, easy and quick, so I made up my own pattern. 

Materials
Red yarn, any medium weight will do.  (I used Simply Soft by Caron.)
Lion Brand Fun Fur in White
H Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle
* Optional:  Small or Medium size craft Bell

Pattern
With Red
Ch 3, slst in 1st ch to create circle
Row 1:   Ch 2, 6dc in circle, slst in 1st dc (not the ch 2)
Row 2:   Ch 2, *1dc, 2dc* repeat around, slst in 1st dc (not the ch 2)
Row 3:   Ch 2, *1dc, 2dc* repeat around, slst in 1st dc (not the ch2)
Row 4:   Ch 2, dc around, slst in 1st dc (not the ch2)
Row 5:   Ch 2, dc around, slst in 1st dc (not the ch2)
Row 6:   Ch 2, dc around, slst in 1st dc (not the ch2)

With white.
Row 7:   Ch 2, dc around, slst in 1st dc (not the ch2)
Row 8:   Ch 2, dc around, slst in 1st dc (not the ch2)

Finishing
Fasten off.  Fold white rows up over the red.  Using the white tail and yarn needle, make a small stitch to fasten the white to the red.  With the red tail, create loop by tying the end inside the tip of the hat. 

Variations
Add bell to top of hat.
Using the White Fun Fur yarn, whip stitch a few times at the top of the hat to create a white "pom pom" looking top.
If you leave a long tail in the beginning, you can make a crochet chain loop to hang it.




* If you have any questions, or find any problems with this pattern, please let me know.

"From grease to shine in half the time".

I was taught how to make these Tulle Dish Scrubbers, by my wonderful Aunt in Law, three years ago.  (and have had the tulle strips cut out and bundled together that long) Unfortunately, last night when I wanted to work on these and finally turn the little bundles of tulle into dish scrubbers, I couldn't remember all the instructions she told me.  So I improvised.

Tulle Dish Scrubber 

Materials:
Size P Crochet Hook
Tulle
Large eye yarn needle

Directions:
Cut tulle into 3" wide strips.  You will need two of these strips to make one scrubber, or a total of 6 yards.

Chain 3, join with slst in first ch to make ring.

R1:   Ch 1, 8 sc in ring, slst in first sc.

R2:   Ch 1, 2sc in each sc from previous row (16 sc), slst in first sc.

R3:   Ch 1, sc around. (16 sc), slst in first sc.  (About halfway thru this row you will need to join the 2nd strip of tulle.  To do this, with about 4 or 5 inches left on the 1st strip, take the 2nd strip and overlap them.  Roll the sides up to "lock" them together.)

R4:   Ch 1, sc around (16 sc), slst in first sc.

R5:   Ch 1, sc2tog around, (8 sc), slst in next stitch.

Fasten off, but do not cut the remaining tail.  With yarn needle and remaining tail sew "hole" together.  Knot.  Tuck the remaining tail into the center of dish scrubber.

If you have any questions or problems with the pattern, please feel free to email me at hippiemissy@gmail.com.

*  Title is taken from the Joy Soap commercial.

Everything Deserves a Cozy

I just recently purchased a 10 1/2" laptop.  It will not replace my "work horse" laptop, but for Internet surfing, blogging, travel, etc., it will work great.  Also if my husband is on the computer, then I can also play on a computer.

Since it is a smaller laptop, I did not feel the need to buy a bag for it.  Instead with my knitting needles and some yarn from my stash, my new mini laptop is hugged by a cozy...because everything deserves a cozy.

Here is the pattern:

"10 1/2" Laptop Hug"

 

Materials:

1 Skein Caron Simply Soft Country Blue

1 Skein Caron Simply Soft Dark Country Blue

1 Skein Lion Brand Homespun Meadow

1 Skein Peaches and Creme Black

Size 13 Straight Knitting Needles

6 Stitch Markers

Yarn Needle

Cable Needle

N-9.00mm Crochet Hook

Directions:

Holding all four yarns together cast on 22 stitches. (You will knit will all four yarns together for the entire piece.)

Row 1:  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 2, add stitch marker.  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 6, add stitch marker.  Knit 3, add stitch marker.  Knit 2, add stitch marker.  Knit 3.

Row 2:  (cable row)  Knit 8.  Transfer 3 stitches to the cable needle and bring to front.  Knit the next three stitches.  Knit the three stitches on the cable needle.  Knit 8.

Row 3:  Knit 3.  Purl 2.  Knit 3.  Purl 6.  Knit 3.  Purl 2.  Knit 3.

Row 4:  Knit across.

Row 5:  Repeat row 3.

Repeat row 2 to row 5, until it measures the length of the laptop times 2.  (mine is about 23 inches)

Bind off.

Finishing:
Fold in half with the purl side facing out.  Sew together long sides, leaving short side open.  Turn Cable side out.

Loop for button...With crochet hook, leaving a 8" tail make a slip stitch and chain 14 bind off, leaving another 8" tail..  Tie the tails together to form a circle.  Attach to backside, in the middle of the upper edge, by pulling tails thru from the front to the inside 2 stitches apart tie together.  Sew button on the other side of cozy. Ta Da your done.

If you have any questions or notice any problems with this pattern, please let me know.