Homespun

Friday, February 24, 2006

A Bag with No Name



Here's a pattern I made up last year. The bag is really nice. The only thing I'd change about it is to add a second bottom and then an insert made of plastic canvas. I may write up directions for that. In the meantime, here are the directions for the original...

Size:
7" wide x 9 3/4" tall; 22" circumference

Materials:
1 skein Red Heart Grande in color Linen (Color A)
1 skein Red Heart Grande in color Cranberry (Color B)
J crochet hook
yarn needle

Gauge:
9 dc and 5 rows = 4"

Instructions:

Bag:
Rnd 1: (RS) With Color A, ch 4, 11 dc in 4th ch from hook, join with sl st to top of ch-4. (12 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc now and throughout), dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (24 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (36 dc)

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in same st, (1 dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st) around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (48 dc)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in same st and in back loop only in each dc around, join with sl st in top of first sc. (48 sc)

Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in each sc around, join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 7-12: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. Change to Color B in last dc of Round 12.

Rnd 13-16: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, join with sl st to top of ch-3.

Rnd 17: Ch 4, (skip next st, dc in next st, ch 1) around, join with sl st to third ch of ch-4. (24 ch-1 spaces)

Rnd 18: Ch 3, dc in each st and each ch-1 space around, join with sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off.



Strap:

With Color B, make chain to desired length. (I made mine 51 inches long). Tie knot in each end of strap, weave through Rnd 17 of Bag, and knot ends of strap together with overhand knot about 2 inches from ends of strap.

Weave in ends.

Friday, February 17, 2006

I got my first rejection letter today. I expected to get one, but still...Oh well. Hopefully mailing out 4 more designs this weekend.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

I finished the Frenzy Cardigan, and I think it turned out great! Now I'm working on thisshrug in Caron Simply Soft in a raspberry color. It'll turn out a couple inches larger than it would be in the suggested yarn, but that's good for me.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Crochet Olympics

I just joined the 2006 Crochet Olympics-I'll be making the Bernat Frenzy Cardigan in Homespun instead of Frenzy, because that's what I had and needed to use, and I have no money for yarn right now. Poor Jenn, lol!

Anyway, I'll be taking a break from designing until the Olympics is over, except for mailing out some completed patterns. They're very pretty, and I hope the editors think so, too!

Ian and I cleaned yarn yesterday. What had happened was I had stored my yarn in the basement (first mistake), in a cupboard (second mistake) that apparently leaked. A lot. (last, and biggest mistake.) So the labels on the yarn just disintegrated, and the plaster on the back wall of the cupboard got stuck to the yarn, and some of the yarn actually got moldy. But all was not lost, even though there were also spiders. We bought one of those lint brushes, not the sticky kind, but the kind that feels like it has velcro on it, and started brushing that yarn. It worked really well. Then we went upstairs with the yarn and sprayed it liberally with Febreze. That took care of most of the yarn, and the yarn that was still stained or otherwise in need of cleaning is now in panty hose, awaiting the washing machine. Don't worry, most of my yarn is acrylic or acrylic-blend, so it won't felt or become otherwise damaged. I've got my yarn back!!! Yay!

Also, with the way I've been losing weight (3 pant sizes in 4 months), I've decided to start making sweaters in the size I'll probably end up (about a 16 American), or XL. So things won't be too small, and they won't be too big either.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Wow. I've been really busy with crocheting designs to sell, and of course, we've had no internet access for awhile, but I'm back now. Hopefully I'll have some new patterns soon.