Filet crochet tablecloth

So, I forgot to post this in between weather events (we are on our third or fourth week of daily storms).  In fact, this has been done for almost a month now!  It even has stains already - pickled beet brine and ice tea, to be exact.  Oh yeah ... this was made to be on our table, not as a gift.

Fleur-de-Lis filet crochet tablecloth

It may block out a bit larger.  I still have not blocked it for lack of a place to lay it out, much less pin it out ... but it is about time to clear the table again and give it a nice soak-wash in the dishwater.  My mom discovered early on with me that dish soap/detergent works best for getting food stains out of cotton.  For the record, ketchup, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, and any red juice or wine WILL end up on my shirt still.

New crochet project

We've had a bit of a warm spell this past week or so, and along with putting seeds into the dirt I have also started a new crochet project after a winter of mostly knitting (still need to post about all that).

I have been promising my mom a super-duper doily, one that will be "worth the wait."  Umm ... she's been hearing this for over a year now, BUT I have finally gotten my hot little hands on the perfect pattern that just screams, "Make me for Mom!"  Mom admitted that she has not checked this blog for quite some time now, so I think I am safe in posting this pic:

Roses in Bloom filet crochet tablecloth

I have been wanting to make a spectacular filet crochet project for a while now.  Just making coasters has not scratched that itch, so perhaps a small tablecloth will.  So far, I am about 10 rows in, out of 120 rows.

Current crochet WIP

Quick post-and-run this morning to show what I have been working on the past week or so: a new pair of crochet socks for hubby.  I am trying to hook these up pretty fast, so the previous pair can get a well-earned run through the wash.  Here is the first sock:

hubby's ribbed cuff sock

I was working on that sock last week up at his parents' house, and both his mother and grandmother were positively gushing over it.  They went at least a step or two beyond just admiring, especially when they felt the sock.  Sounds like I'll be making more ... eventually I'll be able to make socks for myself again.

So, hopefully I can finish up hubby's second sock today.  I'm already down the cuff and past the heel on #2, and about the middle of the round-and-round of the foot section.  Hubby has even been taking care of the cooking the past few days so I have more time to work on the socks.

Coats and Clark Quick Fashions booklet from 1968

Gloria asked about this the other post in the comments, so here it is!  This is Coats & Clark's book #185, Quick Fashions.

back and front scan of #185, Quick Fashions

 The beauty of this booklet is that it uses sport and worsted weight yarns, and also uses knitting and crochet.  Most of the sport-weight patterns call for three skeins (six ounces, no yardage given) while there is a good number of two skein patterns for worsted weight yarn (8 ounces, no yardage given).

This makes life a bit interesting, as a lot of yarns are now sold in three to three-and-half ounce (100 grams) size.  At least, most of the yarns I use.  So it was with an extra skein of the Bernat Denimstyle yarn (found on Hobby Lobby's clearance shelf) that I did up this cute pattern the past week or so:

two skein lacy shell, knitted

three skein cabled cardigan

I've actually cast on and tried working the cable pattern of the back of this three skein cardigan, but Bamboo Ewe is not a good yarn for a first attempt at cabling.  Instead,  it is now making the pretty red hearts scarf I blogged earlier this week.  I'll probably try it out in some Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool for myself, as it needs a nice stretchy yarn as it looks like you're suppose to block it rather aggressively.

I have also cast on one of the sport weight patterns, but bamboo yarn on plastic needles just is not easy to knit.  I think it will hook up nicely, though ... that is on the to-do list.

So this is the old book I am gushing about currently.  I do have some more, which aren't yet in Ravelry's database (to be fixed as I get to them!).  Enjoy the scans, Gloria!

Useless without pictures

I'll fight with the digicam later.  I've been quiet all summer, but I have been doing stuff: crocheting a bathroom rug and a doily that I am actually keeping, along with new coasters finally; knitting up a storm of dish/washcloths to use around the house.  It's also gift-making season.  I have three projects on the needles and a couple projects on the hooks.  I even have one finished already!

We've also been busy around the property: gardening, chickening, and since we had adequate rain this year ... the majority of the summer has seemed to be just mowing to keep the lawn from turning into a jungle.

My clothes are wearing out fast out here.  The main problem is ... I am still reshaping.  I suppose I could do the fitting on work clothes.

Another cup of coffee, and back outside.

Crochet wool ankle socks for hubby

I made myself a pair from this pattern first as a test, but I think I ought to wash mine before taking a pic of them.  Here are hubby's nice warm wool ankle socks - they are "absolutely perfect!" for wearing to bed.  I managed to get them done right before the latest frost hit.

crochet wool sleep socks

I'll need to grab some of the knit dishcloths after laundry today to snap a pic for Gloria.  I am now on dishcloth #4 - hubby requested a total of 12.  Then again, he also requested 12 socks (which by MY calculations is only six pair).

While the sewing room-to-be is still mostly stacks of boxes, there has been some progress in the past week. The solid wood bunk beds left by the previous owners have moved out to our new storage shed, and the oak bookcases hubby made have been trimmed to fit and moved in.  Not all the boxes in there are fabric, yarn, embroidery, or notions ... I have so far found one boxes of cups that should have been stacked in the kitchen, but there were three motivated movers for the two of us on the day all that was delivered.  BUT, enough progress has been made to let in the morning sunlight in the window.  In all honesty, if the weather is decent to nice I'd rather be outside than inside wrestling boxes.

More soap bags

Just a quick-pic update as I struggle to pry my eyes open with a third mug of coffee.  I usually stop after the second mug, but it just ain't having the usual motivating effect this time.

I've been playing with the crochet thread a lot lately, and the focus has been soap bags.  I had to adapt the pattern I used before to accommodate the local soapmakers' larger sized bars, but I think I'll keep this pattern to myself for a while as they have expressed an interest in selling my soapbags.

First, the original soapbag next to my first adaptation:

size-adapted on left, original on right

Now, for a style variation for my solid colored threads, this one is for my son:

Soapbag in UK blue with the beer soap

I included the soap label, because some folks have expressed doubt about whether I was serious when I said I bought hubby some beer soap.  Yes, it really does smell like beer (hubby kept the first bar next to his chair for a week just so he could smell it).  I know the soap lady has a page on FaceBook, but I don't see an independent website listed on her business card.

So now I need to get the soap in the "right" color soap bag to son, who is having a great time as a college freshman 200 miles away from home.  I'm starting to miss him, although I am glad he sounds so positive and excited about this new phase in his life.

Crochet baby blankie for new nephew

OK, another storm and another power outage last night ... which jogged my memory about posting the baby blankie for our almost-4-month-old nephew.

Baby blankie in cotton yarn

mostly square, about 4 foot each side

It isn't soft - I used the same cotton yarn I make washcloths and bags out of - but it is sturdy and textured and will be perfect to set down on the floor or ground and give the little guy something to scoot around on as he learns how to propel himself.

For those who would like to hook one up, the pattern is here.

Crochet sweater vest started

I finished up the baby blankie I've been working on since late March (I thought I posted it ...?  I must have been interrupted) after the first power outages in the storms a little over a week ago or so ... we got rain!  We sure needed it, since even the dandelions and quackgrass in the yard were giving up the ghost.  Not all of the garden survived (the sunflowers were knocked down by storms and didn't recover) but the squash is finally producing fruit, the 'maters survived both storms and hornworm, and the green beans are slowly coming off strike.

Now that the baby blankie is finally off the hook, I've been spending down time between yardwork trying to figure what to make next.  Yesterday's trip to Hobby Lobby yielded a project as 6 skeins of bamboo-wool yarn jumped off the clearance table and into my cart (of course, it cried, "Take me home!").  A thrift store book score from last month yielded the pattern: an 80s-style sweater vest.

Sleeveless shell top - aka 80s sweater vest

As you can see, I got started on it already this morning (after doing up a test square last night in some of my variegated cotton worsted, which will probably end up as a cute little bag).  I only have one skein of the blue, and want to stretch it out, with two of the "grape" purple and three of the red ... so it's seems obvious to me the shell part on the body should be red.

A quick pic of the book, for those whose tastes match mine who may wish to hunt this one up:

Granny Crochet Favorites - Leinhauser & Weiss, c 1989

It has a lot more than just afghans ... along with a dog blanket, bags, placemats, and whatnot there is also a nice pullover long-sleeved sweater pattern in it I plan to try once I get enough yarn all in the same fiber and weight.

Note to self: post the baby blankie pics soon.

Final pics of Mom's monster pineapple doily

I got moving early this morning, with morning sunlight streaming in to light my pics.  The air was dry enough for Mom's big pineapple doily to be finished drying and I couldn't wait to unpin it and see how it looks in the middle of my table.  Since the wooden table top is light-colored, I ended up setting the doily on today's sewing project: the black Shetland wool cape shell I cut and sewed a couple cold fronts ago.  It shows off the off-white thread quite nicely:

Mom's big pineapple doily in off-white cotton thread

I won't be starching it since that tends to make it difficult to fold up (and it will hold creases as well) for mailing, but hubby agrees that our coffee table would look quite nice with one of these on it.  I think I will use the next size up hook to see just how big this can get.  As for how it looks on our table:

Mom's doily on our table

It doesn't photograph as nicely as it will on dark-stained wood ... or black wool.  Tangential note: the sewn coasters on the right were a gift from Mom a few years ago.

One more doily pic before I break out the fuchsia linen/cotton lining to sew together for the wool cape ... this one doesn't have a "home" yet but it was fun to do and it holds its shape quite well.  It's half the size of Mom's doily.

Smaller pineapple doily

I'll post more on the sewing project after I get rolling on it ... I really don't want to jinx myself!  As cold as it is, playing with wool coating does have appeal this morning.

Monster pineapple doily for Mom

I finished Mom's requested off-white pineapple doily ... and it hooked up huge!  The booklet said it should be 20 inches across, but when I measured it says 21 inches ... although pinning it out I could have sworn it was over 24!

pineapple doily for mom

The reason I did this pattern is because I have wanted to make it since I bought the little book.  It was the reason I bought the book.  It will really stand out on Mom's antique dark-stained dining table, too.  Of course, my mind is already supplying the image-overlay of a large holiday ham on a pretty blue-trimmed serving platter sitting atop this doily.

I meant to snap a "before blocking" pic ... but once I got the ends woven in I didn't remember until I had it wetted down.

Oh, I also cut some fabric today.  More abut that tomorrow, I think ... I am feeling quite pleased with this latest doily.

More crocheting and doilies

So I found my digicam ... finally.  I had set it down near hubby's hobby corner after showing him this little snapshot of our dog's dedication to duty:

Pre-Rinse is more than a nickname - it's a calling!

The dog has very few chores, but this one is definitely his favorite: pre-rinsing dishes for us.  That's the rice steamer bowl, and I still haven't quite figured out how to keep the rice from sticking to the very bottom.  He was chasing it around the kitchen in his determination and zeal to get every last grain of rice off the bowl before he figured out to pin the bowl against the wall to make it hold still.

So my digicam sat in hubby's area, mainly because he has almost the same model of camera too and I was thinking mine was his.  I finally remembered where I left it and liberated more doily crochet pics.  Here is what I've packaged up to send to my sister for her holiday gifts ... and I beat my self-imposed deadline of April Fools' Day!  (Sis asked, "Why April Fools'?"  My reply: "It isn't as soon as Valentine's Day!")

Doily and 4 coasters for my sister

I figure the colors are appropriate, given the NFL (American football) team choices under that roof ... if I could have found the colors for the local minor-league hockey team up there I probably could have made both happy.  Oh, it's the exact same doily pattern as the variegated holiday pineapple doily but done in solid colors.

Mom, I am almost done with your requested off-white doily ... but I used a different pineapple pattern for it.  I just started the last round, but it's a bunch of little stitches so it won't go out until probably next weekend because I'll at least block and pin it out for you.  Val asked for an in-progress pic of it which I haven't snapped yet.  I'll probably take a "before blocking" pic since my before-and-after-blocking coaster pics didn't turn out like I wanted.  I saw someone post that crochet people make blocking sound "mysterious and magical" ... it's not mysterious at all (hot water plus pinning out), but it sure does feel like magic as I am pinning out a doily and the pattern stretches out in all its glory!

There was more I was going to post, but just can't recall ...

Ransom negotiations, pineapple doily style

So, I posted up my first pineapple doily - first full-sized doily, period - the other day, with a ransom note to Mom.  I called her for her birthday, and she says while it looks quite nice, she likes solid colored doilies better ... preferably in off-white.  Hmmm ... I have white-white thread, but surprisingly no off-white crochet thread in my (still small) lace stash.  I guess this counts as a good excuse to buy some.

Here is the variegated holiday doily, unpinned and starched.

holiday variegated pineapple doily

This one will still go out in the mail within the next week (provided I actually get to the post office).  It just won't be headed to Mom's house now ... Nope, not saying where it's going.  It will be a surprise.

First pineapple doily crocheted and blocked

I'm pretty excited - this past weekend when my sinuses went haywire, I sat on the couch and crocheted up my first pineapple doily!  Actually, it's my first full-sized doily I've completed after pulling out the first two attempts midway.  I've heard that with pineapple doilies, it's either love or hate ... so tally me in the "love" category.  This was so cool to hook up, and here it is blocked and pinned out:

First pineapple doily blocked and pinned

The book says it's supposed to be 15 inches across, but mine only comes out to 13 inches.  I guess it's official: I crochet "tightly".

MOM, this one will be yours ... as soon as you mail me that hat buckram you bought me after I posted about not finding any locally (that post is dated August 28th!).  I need it now, Mom.  The pretty linen sun hat did not weather the rainstorms we hit on our way down to Florida.  Getting a coat and a pair of leather gloves tossed on it after the rains didn't help, either.  Zip down to the post office, Mom, because you know you want to hold this - my first full sized pineapple doily - in your hands to see for yourself how my crochet is coming along decades after you gave me a blue plastic hook.  Do it soon - before I put it "someplace safe" because I do indeed take after you in that.

While waiting, there is another pineapple doily pattern in that book, and I scored another book of just pineapple doily patterns in the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby, so there will be one for this house at some point.

Variegated washcloth pattern and variations

I did up a bunch of crochet stuff to give as gifts this season, and looking back at my first post about "my pattern" for the washcloths I realize somewhere along the line I changed it.  I have finally achieved my goal of making mostly-square washcloths in the past couple weeks (I did have a 600 miles each way road trip to practice on!) and now feel a lot more comfortable with the general idea to repost and offer some variations on the theme.  First, my almost square efforts, one of which I finished this morning while still drinking my 2nd cup of coffee:

variegated yarn washcloths

Now, for the (updated) pattern for this:
Ch 33
row 1: sk 1 st, sc into the other ch (32 sc total)
row 2-10: ch 1, turn, sc into first sc, *ch 1 sk 1 sc* until end, then sc into last sc
row 11: ch 1, turn, hdc into each sc and each ch-sp
row 12-16: repeat sc-ch1-sk1-sc like rows 2-10
row 17: repeat row 11
row 18-22: repeat 12-16
row 23: repeat row 11
row 24-32: repeat row 2-10
row 33: sc all across (32 sc total)

And that's the body to it.  The stitches part is really simple ... the trick (for me, at least!) is to keep it nice, even, and square.

Now, for the variations: You can tie it off and weave in your ends at this point.  Or, you can slip stitch around the edges to give it a little more strength (the right-side and bottom ones are slipstitched in the pic).  Or, you can go around it with sc's or hdc's or even dc's if you want a variegated border, in which case you ch 1 (or 2 if using all dc), then put 2 in the first corner, 3 in the other corners and slst into the start after putting the 3rd st in the original corner ... I have discovered on the sides it comes out less ripply if you do a st-ch1-sk1-st instead of stitching into the middle of each row.  Your mileage (and gauge/tension!) may vary, of course.

Oh, I have been using worsted weight cotton yard and an H (5.00mm) hook for these.

I've been using my early ones in the shower as a washcloth and also in the kitchen to clean my counters, stovetop, and sink - and am quite pleased with them.  If someone hooks this up, please post in the comments how you like it (and I hope I've had the right amount of coffee for all this to make sense).

Crocheted bags for around the house

So, I've been quiet again (at least here).  Hubby says I get this way every year - he's probably right.  The good news is that I HAVE been doing shtuff, and am still on my crochet kick, although there is a new box of fabric to fondle for a later post.

As the post title promises, I have crocheted some bags for around the house use!  First up is my potato bag, inspired by an incident involving the potatoes in that plastic bag they come in, the dog's water bowl ... and the dog thinking a cat wanted to play.  The potatoes needed to come out of the plastic and off the floor of my pantry.  Enter a cone of cotton yarn and this crocheted carry-all pattern.  It will hold a LOT!  When I snapped this pic there were still about 8 pounds of russets and another 2 pounds of sweet potatoes (yams) in it:

crocheted potato bag

My only worry is the pantry door knob breaking off since I don't know how old that door actually is.  I debated about posting this pic because it shows what a mess my pantry can be ... but I have warned y'all many times I am a horrible housekeeper, so I guess I might as well prove it to those who have never seen it.  The potato bag crocheted up quickly.

Now for a pair of tote bags that aren't as fast, but I think look better:

Two crocheted tote bags

This is the crochet tote pattern, and the green-blue one is where I mostly followed the pattern, using the hook and row counts, but I couldn't tell if my cotton yarn was the right size or not.  I am thinking not since it turned out smaller than I expected.  For the shades-of-blue one I added rows and went up a hook size until I was happy with how tall it was.  There's actually a library book in the small tote for the pic - the tall hardback Elizabethan cross-stitch book that I am still copying (cross-stitching) from - so even the small tote is big enough to hold books.  Oh, I am working on a third tote from the pattern, using cheaper acrylic yarn (which I really don't like the feel of).

I have a few more things already made, but am not pleased with the pictures of them yet, so they'll need to wait for another post.

Simple variegated crochet washcloth

As promised, here is the "pattern" I used for the 80s kneesock colored washcloth.  Pattern is in quotes because it really is a case of this crochet RE-newb playing with stitches until I got something that looked cool.  I recrocheted it in solid blue soft cotton when hubby requested a soft facecloth, and he tried it out this morning and loves it:

Blue facecloth for hubby

No, really ... it IS this simple:
Chain 31
Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc across (30 sc)
Row 2-8: ch1, turn; sc in first sc *ch1, skip 1 sc, sc in next* then sc in last sc
Row 9: ch2, turn; hdc in each sc and ch-sp across (30 hdc)
Row 10-13: Repeat row 2
Row 14: repeat row 9
Row 15-18: Repeat row 2
Row 19: repeat row 9
Row 20-27: Repeat row 2
Row 28: repeat row 1, do not finish off ...
Edging:
Round 1: ch1, sc around doing 3 sc in each corner, sl st into first sc
Round 2: ch2, hdc around ... I did 2 hdc into 2 adjacent sc's on each corner to get it to lay flat, sl st into first hdc and finish off, hide tails.

Almost forgot: I used worsted-weight cotton and H hook for the variegated, and aran(?) cotton and a G hook for hubby's blue one.  I'm still trying to get the hang of matching hooks to yarns, so play with the yarn versus hook until you're happy with it ... and remember my motto: "They're not really pattern instructions, they're suggestions!"  This is especially true in this case.  LOL

I did up the blue facecloth in just a few hours, even with getting supper on the stove, so more experienced crocheters can probably knock it out even faster.  While it looks nice in a solid color, I think I still like it better in variegated:

variegated washcloth in 80s color combo

What can I say?  I like colors - especially these colors.  I think I'll try this out in my other variegated cottons, just for fun.  And get another cup of coffee ... if anything isn't clear, just leave a comment asking for clarification.  This pattern-reading and pattern-writing idea is new to me.

More crocheted dishcloths

Along with being a great way to practice stitches and (attempting to) crochet evenly and consistently, dishcloths are ridiculously useful around the house, and hubby has requested more - this time to give to his platoonmate who gifted us with a plastic grocery bag filled with fat carrots from his garden plus two bags of potatoes from his neighbor's garden.  Hey, I'll trade a little yarn and practice crocheting for garden-fresh produce!

In my quest for an easy-to-crochet textured dishcloth that looks good as well, I have found a pattern named "Citrus Twist dishcloth" through the Ravelry pattern database that is easy to follow and easy to remember.  I can't declare "the" pattern yet, but I love how it looks in variegated yarn (which I am truly a sucker for!)

Textured crochet dishcloths in almost-solid and variegated yarn

Now I just need to get consistent enough that they come out square (like they are supposed to!).

Marysews, I have NOT forgotten your request for the pattern on the 80s colored dishcloth ... I am starting another to make sure I can duplicate it, as that truly was just me playing around with stitches.  Hubby requested a "really soft" one to use on his face for shaving, so along with verifying the pattern (?) idea, I am trying to keep up with hubby's request list.

Useful things for the kitchen

So the dreaded oven/hot mitt is finally finished ... I was stalling because I have learned I truly detest sewing together the fabric-batting-muslin sandwiches.  Now I understand why people pay the asking price for prequilted fabrics!  (Note: If you enjoy diagonal machine-quilting layers of batting and fabric together, all the power to y'all and I wish you bliss .. this just is NOT my thing.)

It won't win any awards, and I will definitely be buying my next hot pad and oven mitt at the store rather than make another, but this one does match my apron perfectly:

Hot/oven mitt done

Oh yes, for a certain chat regular: hot mitt = oven mitt.  Ovens tend to be hot.  This project also has ruined my sense of humor temporarily.

Logistical note on construction: make the inside layer smaller than the outside one.  (Should I make that a Sgt Obvious tip as well?)  Have an extra sewing needle on hand - the batting dulls a needle faster than topstitching canvas and buckram do!

While procrastinating on sewing the hot mitt, I have also been using my crochet hooks to make useful kitchen items:

Lumpy (textured) dishcloths

Bobble/Pop scrubbers

Swiffer pad with textured bottom

Swiffer pad, top

These crochet up fast, are a great way to practice the new stitches I had to learn to make them ... and hubby says we need multiples (the second scrubber and dishcloth are already given away) not just for our house but to give to family as gifts.  I also made a ridged textured dishcloth that ended up being tested in my son's bathroom.  He says it works "very good" and sounded a little surprised about it.

Block party crochet style

Not that kind of block party - the crochet kind, where I've hooked up 6 lace things and need to block (shape) them.  I'm only going to post pics of two of these items, as the remaining four are intended as gifts for a family member who is subscribed via email.  Whether or not those emails get read, I am not taking chances.

OK, item number one: a doily coaster for my desk that does NOT contain a counting error!  I have one already for my coffee cup that has a counting oopsie, but wanted a correct one for my water glass.  Here it is, pinned out after a short hot water bath.

Lace doily coaster blocked and pinned

It looks a whole heap better now that it's pinned out.  For the record, I did adjust a couple pins after gimping the pic.

Now for a little fun item: a crochet lace snowflake.  This one turned out right with six points ... I already pulled out the counting oops with seven points.  It's a little difficult to see since the foam board is white, so I'll probably snap another pic with a dark background after it dries and gets a starching.

White crochet lace snowflake pinned out

Hubby suggested putting a hang loop on it and use it as a tree ornament.  I told him I left the loop off since I wasn't sure how it would turn out!  LOL - this is definitely my preferred version of a snowflake, since the real kind is accompanied by COLD.

I'm working on multiple items for use in the kitchen, so that will get its own post soon.