Cinched Cowl 2

Here is another version of a cinched cowl which creates a tie cord from the bottom to the top of the cowl (or you could wear the cowl upside down of course and tie the cord at the bottom - your choice).  This tie cord is made as a continuation of the cowl and is not separate.  Let's see if my instructions are understandable :).  I used Loops & Threads Charisma yarn in the color Northern Lights.  This is a great soft, thick yarn.

Cinched Cowl 2

Size N hook
Chain 45 stitches
Join last and first stitches with a slip stitch being careful not to twist the chain
Ch 2, Half double crochet in the second chain and in each stitch to the end of the row
At the end of each row slip stitch through the first stitch in the row.
At the beginning of each row Ch 2.
This cowl measures 8.5-9 inches.


Tie cord:  At the end of the last row, after slip stitch into the first stitch of that row to complete the round, continue in a chain stitch for 14 inches to create the tie cord.  Turn work and single crochet back the length of the cord, binding off when you reach the cowl's edge.  Weave the tie cord through the holes created at the seam (the joining stitches at the end of each row).  Pull and cinch as desired.  Finish with a knot.  

Half double crochet stitch:  yo, through stitch, yo, pull through the stitch and all the way through the three stitches on the hook.  

Cinched Cowl 1

I love the combination of the yarn in this cowl.  The deeper purple is an alpaca from Rowan in the color of Guatemala.  I used this yarn before in the Revive Scarf.  The lighter shade yarn is Red Heart Boutique Treasure in Spectrum.  This is a beautiful acrylic/wool yarn that knits so nicely.  

I made this cowl a bit wider in circumference than some so I could add the cord to cinch it.  This cowl is crocheted in the round in double crochet.  The cord was made at the end and woven through a row of double crochet.  

Cinched Cowl 1

Size K hook
Chain 80 stitches to start.  
Join the last stitch with a slip stitch in the first stitch, being careful not to twist the chain.
To start the next row Ch 2, double crochet in the second chain in the first row.  Continue to double crochet in each stitch to complete the round.
To end each row use a slip stitch in the first stitch, then Ch 2.

NOTE:  If you want the rows to have the decorative ridge showing, when crocheting from the inside, or wrong side of the cowl, pick up the stitch by inserting the hook through the front part of the stitch only.  

Continue in double crochet throughout project.
Color A for  2 inches
Color B for 6 inches
I finished with a single crochet in Color A.

Tie cord:  I chained 30 inches, turned work, insert hook in second stitch and continues to the end in single crochet.

Pot Holders

The pot holders / hot pads below are a simple single-crochet stitch.   I think I used a size I-9 hook.  They are double-sided and look the same on both sides.  They are blanket-stitched in matching thread color to finish the edges.   I used Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in Cottage Twist, Black and Yellow.   A small hair elastic in red is used for the loop.  Hope you like these.  Fun and easy!

Pot Holders

Little Poncho

This is a poncho I made for my eight-year-old niece.  The idea was taken from a pattern on lionbrand.com called Downtown Tot Poncho.  This one is worked in double crochet, with a size L hook.  It is worked in two rectangles and then seemed together and finished with double and single crochet stitches around the edges.  We purchased the hoodie to go with the poncho.  

Little Poncho

Fingerless Mittens

Why fingerless mittens?  Texting, phoning, strumming, drumming, piano playing, driving, high-five-ing, "quote, unquote -ing," coffee drinking, Pop Tart eating, and. . . oh, yes . . . knitting and crocheting :)

Below are two pairs of easy fingerless mittens.  They were very fun to make.   These were both made as flat pieces.  (I am now working on some in the round which I will share later).  These two samples are basically the same pattern size, though one involves intarsia with a cable.  

Easy Fingerless Mitten (basic pattern)

Size 10 needles
Cast on 30 stitches loosely
Row 1-4: Seed stitch (Row 1: K1, P1 across.  Row 2: Purl the knit stitches, Knit the purl stitches. Repeat )
Row 5: K across
Row 6: K2, Purl to the last two stitches, K2
Row 7: same as Row 5
Row 8: same as Row 6
(I repeated Rows 5 and 6 for approximately 7 inches from the cast on edge)
Last 5 Rows: Seed stitch
Bind off.
Sew or join the edges leaving approximately  a 1" space for the thumb.
I finished the top edges with a single crochet.

Note:  The mitten with the cable inserted is worked differently.  If you would like the detail on this, please send a comment and  I am happy to share it. I have not written it up for the blog at this time.  Also, this mitten requires you to make a left hand and a right hand version of the mitten.  

Oh, and if you are thinking that this pair looks a little funny because the colors don't match, you are right.  Variegated yarn is wonderful but...have I mentioned I'm knew at this?  In the end I decided they were cool and I liked them anyway.  

  

Chunky Basket

Happy holidays to everyone!  It is now December and I am working on a couple of Christmas gifts. But, before moving onto those, I want to share with you my second entry for a basket.  This version is much more sturdy than the basket bowls I featured in the previous post.  I used a bulky acrylic yarn, though, I would probably use a wool the next time around.

I found this pattern at Crochet in Color (crochetincolor.blogspot.com).  Liz, the creator, is a master at making these baskets and her examples are awesome, beautiful!  This is my first try and you can see that my rows are not as straight and tight as her baskets.  Something to strive towards.  So, my chunky basket actually came out a little lumpy (for those that listen to will i am ;).

Chunky Basket

Basket Bowls

I wanted to try something different and was curious about  b a s k e t s.  This is the first of two posts on two different approaches to making a basket with yarn.  Below is the Crochet Basket Bowl pattern by Kris Hopper which I found in a tutorial on YouTube.  The large one was my first experiment and I chose to use two craft yarns in brown and light green.  The smaller one is a different variation.  Both were done with two strands crocheted together and with a size N hook.  Please look up the YouTube video for instruction.

If you have any questions about how I did this please let me know.  Always happy to help clarify.  

You may be able to tell from the photos below that I love my succulents, too, and realized one of them fit perfectly in the crochet bowl.  Hope you don't mind a few extra photos.  

(Remember you can always click once on any photo in the blog and you will get an enlarged view.)

Crochet Basket Bowl