My New Toy

 

I have a new toy! It is so new I haven't even tried it yet, but the concept is TOO COOL not to share.  It is a portable wrist yarn holder. When I'm traveling and knitting, no more losing the ball of yarn. It will stay secured to my wrist. Hm... Can I knit while riding my stationery bicycle?

This was found on Amazon. I assume there are other sources for it. 

Crocheted Dish Cloths

 I was on a Facebook page where someone asked for a crocheted dishcloth pattern. Someone suggested filet crochet, but it's pretty open. It works for curtains and string bags, but I don't think I'd want it for a dishcloth. I would probably use a waffle stitch and make a square that fits my hand. Commercial dish cloths are about the size of a face cloth. That gets bulky when hand made. I make mine about 6-8" across. If a person wants a design in the cloth, create it by filling in the waffles with solid stitches.  Hm... Now to find my crochet hook.   https://mirellamoments.com/learn-to-crochet-the-waffle-stitch/?fbclid=IwAR0ViZkdlRFkHUGKnrpBPoo8UfP1gbKJ6TDtMeWacnOVOHyXOMrg2w_8OR4

String Bag Bottle Carrier

 
Last weekend my son Joe; daughter-in-law, Lisa; and boyfriend, Leon and I made our first visit to the Baker Creek Seeds Festival in Mansfield, Missouri. It was the perfect day for such an adventure: sunny, just warm enough, and lots to see. We took my little red wagon that I use for gardening. By the time the day was over Lisa and I had it overflowing with tomatoes, cantaloupe, peppers, wisteria and other plants that will find their new homes in our gardens. 

We were all carrying water bottles, but Joe and Lisa had to juggle theirs all day while trying to carry plants or maneuver backpacks and the wagon. Leon and I were carrying our bottles in two string bags I made a while back. People wanted to know where we were buying those holders. What a good idea! 

I do believe I will be making more bottle holders for family!

I know I have posted this in an earlier blog, but I will repeat it here so it can be found easier. If you want one, here is the pattern:

String Bag Bottle Carrier

When using fingering weight cotton yarn [Hobby Lobby Sinfonia], this will have a 2 1/2” diameter at the base. If you use worsted weight cotton, the carrier will be bigger.

Be aware that the handle will stretch during use. It can be made shorter to start with, or a knot can be tied in it to adjust the length after it stretches. It is long so it may be used as a cross-body carrier. I see that I put in the directions to make the handle 50" long. Now that I know how much it stretches, I might start with 40". Make yours to suit your need.

 One ball cotton yarn (worsted or fingering weight)

Size F crochet hook

Scissors

Removable stitch marker (optional)

1. Chain six. Join to make a ring. 

2. Chain 1. Turn. Make  5 single crochet (sc) around the ring. Join with a slip stitch. [6 stitches]

3. Chain 2. Turn. 2 double crochet (dc) in each sc.  Join. [12 stitches].

4. Chain 3. Turn. 1 triple crochet (tc) in the loop of first dc. *Chain 1. TC in top of next dc.*  Repeat between the ** to end. Join. [24 stitches].  

5. Chain 4. Turn. 1 tc in top of first tc. *Chain 2.  Skip one tc. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom. [12 squares.]

6. Chain 6. Turn. Chain 3. TC in top of first tc. *Chain 3. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom.

7-17. Place removable stitch marker at beginning of Row 6 so you have a place keeper to help you count rows. Repeat Row 6 ten times. 

18. Chain 1. Turn. 1 sc in top of first tc. * 2 sc. 1 sc in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join.

19. Chain 3. Turn. DC In each sc around. Join.

 

20. Chain 1. Turn. SC in each dc around. Join.

21. SC in each of next for stitches. 

22. Chain 2. Turn. DC in next 3 stitches. [4 stitches]

Repeat Row 22 until strap is the length you want.  I made mine about 50 inches long so I could use it as a crossbody strap. When you have the length you want, fold the bag in half to find the attach point for the end of the strap (opposite the starting point.)  Slip stitch strap to top of bag. Fasten yarn. Burn ends.

If you want, you can add a drawstring to snug the bag against your bottle, but I have not needed it.

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Pack Up Your Troubles in an Old Stringbag

I am in love with string bags! I understand they are a staple in Europe. Folks keep them in their pockets or purses and whip them out at the grocery because their culture doesn't expect a store to provide shopping bags.

They are fast to crochet  and wonderful to use. I made a large one (the varigated blue one) for collecting tomatoes from the garden. There are regular sized ones that live in my purse for trips to the grocery. I no longer fumble with those dratted flimsy plastic produce bags. I pull out my string bag and deposit the onions or potatoes or peppers in a nice, washable cotton bag. (Okay, I carry more than one bag so each veggie has its own string bag.) Yes, there is even a modified string bag for carrying a water bottle.  What isn't to love about a string bag?

So how do you make one? I searched Pinterest for ideas and put together a couple of patterns to create the one I make. One ball of yarn can make two or three bags. My favorite yarn at the moment is Hobby Lobby's Sinfonia because it is fingering weight and has a nice hand. You can see it as the yellow water bottle caddy. There really isn't a gauge on this, but if you find the Size F hook uncomfortable for the yarn you are using, feel free to change hooks. I do recommend sticking to cotton yarn. Acrylic and wool will stretch.

Once the foundation is established, the main crocheting creates the netting of the bag. You are creating squares with each triple crochet above the last. The number of chains across the top of the box will dictate the gauge of your square. I generally stop at 3 chains. If you want a tight netting, stop at 2 chains. Large netting, increase to 4 or more. By the same token, the capacity of your bag is dictated by the size of the base (roughly Rows 1-4.) I usually stop with a 24 stitch base and start expanding from there to create the netting. If you want a larger bag, move up to a 36 or 48 at or some other function of 12  before you expand to create the netting. This may take trial and error (if you are like me) or a bit of math puzzling to work out the rhythm of stitches to get to the multiple that you want. Whatever number you develop for the outer ring of your base will dictate the number of squares in your net. (I know. Clear as mud, but play with it and it will work itself out.)

CROCHET PRODUCE STRINGBAG

1 ball cotton yarn (worsted or fingering weight)

Size F crochet hook

Scissors

Removable stitch marker (optional)

1. Chain six. Join to make a ring. 

2. Chain 1. Turn. Make  5 single crochet (sc) around the ring. Join with a slip stitch. [6 stitches]

3. Chain 2. Turn. 2 double crochet (dc) in each sc.  Join. [12 stitches].

4. Chain 3. Turn. 1 triple crochet (tc) in the loop of first dc. *Chain 1. TC in top of next dc.*  Repeat between the ** to end. Join. [24 stitches].

5. Chain 4. Turn. 1 tc in top of first tc. *Chain 2. tc in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom. [24 squares.]

6. Chain 6. Turn. Chain 3. TC in top of first tc. *Chain 3. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom.

7-17. Place removable stitch marker at beginning of Row 6 so you have a place keeper to help you count rows. Repeat Row 6 ten times. 

18. Chain 1. Turn. 1 sc in top of first tc. * 2 sc. 1 sc in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join.

19. Chain 3. Turn. DC In each sc around. Join.

 

20. Chain 1. Turn. SC in each dc around. Cut yarn. Fasten off. Bury ends.

Drawstring: Chain stitch 150 stitches. Fasten off. Weave through the dc at the top edge of the bag. Knot ends together.  

Enjoy your bag!

WATER BOTTLE CARRIER VARIATION

There are only 12 squares in this net instead of the 24 in a produce bag. The bag is narrower but the same height. It has a crocheted strap attached. 

1 ball cotton yarn (worsted or fingering weight)

Size F crochet hook

Scissors

Removable stitch marker (optional)

1. Chain six. Join to make a ring. 

2. Chain 1. Turn. Make  5 single crochet (sc) around the ring. Join with a slip stitch. [6 stitches]

3. Chain 2. Turn. 2 double crochet (dc) in each sc.  Join. [12 stitches].

4. Chain 3. Turn. 1 triple crochet (tc) in the loop of first dc. *Chain 1. TC in top of next dc.*  Repeat between the ** to end. Join. [24 stitches].  

5. Chain 4. Turn. 1 tc in top of first tc. *Chain 2.  Skip one tc. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom. [12 squares.]

6. Chain 6. Turn. Chain 3. TC in top of first tc. *Chain 3. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom.

7-17. Place removable stitch marker at beginning of Row 6 so you have a place keeper to help you count rows. Repeat Row 6 ten times. 

18. Chain 1. Turn. 1 sc in top of first tc. * 2 sc. 1 sc in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join.

19. Chain 3. Turn. DC In each sc around. Join.

 

20. Chain 1. Turn. SC in each dc around. Join.

21. SC in each of next for stitches. 

22. Chain 2. Turn. DC in next 3 stitches. [4 stitches]

Repeat Row 22 until strap is the length you want.  I made mine about 50 inches long so I could use it as a crossbody strap. When you have the length you want, fold the bag in half to find the attach point for the end of the strap (opposite the starting point.)  Slip stitch strap to top of bag. Fasten yarn. Burn ends.

If you want, you can add a drawstring to snug the bag against your bottle, but I have not needed it.

Old favorite: Mon Tricot Pullover and Scarf Hat

One of the first big knitting projects I started when I was a beginning knitter was a hooded scarf. I found the pattern in the D-J 1974 02094 Mon Tricot magazine.  (That's the photo from the magazine.) The hood was a simple stockinette pattern with a small design around the face. It was made in sportweight yarn and knitted with Size 2 needles. It should have been fast and easy. Five years later, the scarf languished in time-out. I don't think I ever finished it. I still like the idea of a hooded scarf. Now that sportweight yarn doesn't intimidate me, I wonder if I will try it again?  My notes say it needs 5 skeins of the main color and 1 skein of the alternate color. There are even directions for machine knitting. Now that would solve the boredom of endless stockinette!

Lesson learned?  Beginners need to see progress and sportweight yarn and Size 2 needles take forever to make a scarf.  If you are teaching a beginner to knit, may I recommend bulky yarn and something big, like Size 15 needles?

Let's see if I can post the directions from the magazine.  You will probably have to copy them and print them to get the directions large enough to read. The directions come in adult and child sizes.

Those Blasted Argyle Socks

I have been working on a pair of socks for my boyfriend for three years. Yes. THREE. And I still have not finished the first sock.



We do living history re-enacting. He demonstrates the pennyfarthing bicycle. I demonstrate hand-crank sewing machines. As you can tell in the photo, Argyle socks are the right thing for a pair of knickerbockers. Alas, commercial ones that we have found are too short. (He's wearing a very stretched out pair of my knee socks for this photo, if I remember right.)

Now I knit. I can do color knitting. What should be so hard about knitting a pair of Argyle socks? I started them three years ago. I admit I distract easily, but after about 10 months, the first sock was ready to try on. (Grr. Top down knitting is for the birds. Toe-up I'd have had them ready much sooner.)

Leon was able to squeeze them on with lots of help from me tugging them over the heel. The socks were too small. All that work... and I'd have to rip it out! Well, on the good side, I did learn that the socks should be one more pattern of diamonds taller. (Faint consolation.)

I haven't been as diligent with the new socks, and I'm into year two on the first sock. I will finish them but they are a chore now, not a joy. Other projects lead me away but I come back to them. The new socks are on larger needles and I am being very careful about stitch count.

Things I've learned:

1.  Stitch count means everything. It is very easy to lose a stitch along the way and that throws the diamond pattern off and contributes to the socks not fitting.
2. Lifelines are critical.  Every so many rows, I weave a "lifeline" into my work. This is a line of contasting color threaded through a row of stitches like a permanent "needle" going through the loops. If I have to tear back my work, I need only go as far as the last lifeline to find a point where the stitch count was accurate. I can rebuild from there and not have to tear back to the cuff.  Believe me, I did that a few times before I remembered the art of the lifeline. It was not pretty.
3, Intricate patterns need to be worked where you can concentrate. These are not traveling socks. Most of my knitting is done when I am a passenger in a car, gazing out the window, chatting and knitting. Not these. They require total concentration. No TV. No conversation. No fun. :(

I will post pictures of the final socks (in a year or so at this rate.) Leon says that knowing how hard I have worked on them, he will be nearly afraid to wear them.

No, that's not the point. The POINT is not even this pattern will get me to quit. :)

Sweather for My Mother

As I work on the Argyle socks, I have been remembering the first time I did multi-color knitting. In the early 1990s I made this sweater for my mother.   I have always loved this pattern because it was "so Mom." She was an outdoorsy, casual woman who always enjoyed the color blue. She loved the sweater but didn't get to wear it too often. Kansas doesn't get cold enough for such a warm sweater very often.

I do not like to make large

Mom in 2000

projects. They take forever to knit. This sweater took close to two years to complete. (The heirloom sweater from an earlier post took three years.)  It is not that I am a slow knitter. When I am knitting, I can chug out the stitches like a sewing machine. The slow comes from interruptions. My knitting can languor for months on end while I am gardening, or sewing, or reading or doing whatever has distracted me. Ah, well. They do get done.

I enjoyed knitting this. The diamonds are knitted in, not embroidered afterward. It required me to develop a two-handed knitting technique where I held the main color in my right hand and the carried color in my left hand. I would weave the carried color over or under the knitting needle to be caught by the main color as I created each stitch. Mom, who had always been my knitting mentor, said a sign of good multi-color knitting is for the back to be as tidy as the front. I won't promise that happened for every part of this, my first try, but I was pleased with the outcome.

Today the sweater belongs to me. I'm waiting for Kansas weather to get cold enough to wear it.