Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Mohawk hat

Seeing a couple of such hats at crochetville, I was tempted to make one for my son. So here is mine It has had mixed success. My son is undecided whether he likes it or not while my husband thinks it's "funny" but "ok for a kid".



Currently I am working on a bag (yeah) and a pair of socks.That would be my first pair for adults.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Toddler poncho and hat

I made this poncho and hat for my daughter. The poncho is poncho#2 of Aggie May's. The hat I made up myself. These are quick and easy and poncho pattern is great. This was my first baby poncho and I am very happy with it. I used up scraps of yarn from my little stash and it ended up very bright and eye-catching, a sharp contrast from the baby pastels that I had made uptil now for my daughter.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Flower toddler slippers

I had been wanting to make slippers for my daughter for some days, especially since I had made a pair for my son last year. Finally a did make a pair a couple of days back and my daughter actually likes them (I think so) because she actually wore them and did not pull them off.
Flower toddler slippers
Materials:
· Acrylic yarn DK Rose pink and small amount of fluorescent green.
· Crochet hook size 3.5mm or one needed to obtain gauge

Gauge: 8 sts x 5 rows =2 inches (in DC)

Size: approx 6 inches long

Method: (Make two)
Rnd 1: Chain 3, join with sl st to form a loop. Ch 3, 9 dc in the loop, jn with sl st to the 3rd ch of initial ch3.Turn.
Rnd 2: Ch3, 1 dc in same st, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next , *(2 dc in next dc) twice, 1dc in next dc, rep from * once, 2 dc in last dc, jn. Turn.(17 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, ( 2dc in next dc) twice, 1 dc in next 6dc,, (2 dc in next dc) twice, 1 dc in next 3 dc, join.Turn.(21 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 4 dc, (2 dc in next dc )twice, 1 dc in next 8 dc (2 dc in next dc) twice, 1 dc in next 4 dc, jn. Turn.(25 dc)
Rnd 5: Ch3, 1 dc in next 5 dc 92 dc in next dc )twice, 1 dc in next 10 dc, (2 dc in next dc )twice, 1 dc in next 5 dc, jn. Turn.(29 dc)
Rnd 6-9: Ch 3, 1 dc in each dc throughout, jn and turn.
From here on slipper is worked in rows, not rounds.
Row 10 -15: Ch 3, 1 dc in each dc throughout. Turn.
Row 16: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of next 11 dc, dec 1 st over the next 2 dc, 1 dc in next, dec 1 st over the next 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 12 dc, turn.
Row 17: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of next 10 dc, dec 1 st over the next 2 dc, 1 dc in next, dec 1 st over the next 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 11 dc. Fasten off.

Flower: ( make 2) With green, ch 2, work 6 sc in the 1st ch, join with sl st.
Rnd 2: ch 1, 1 sc in same st, 2 sc in each of next 5 sc, jn.
Rnd 3: ch 5,sl into the same st, sl in next sc, rep from to the end. Fasten off.(12 petals)

Finishing:
Sew the back seam on both slippers. Sew flower onto each slipper.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

It calls for a little celebration!!

I am treating my family to a pizza and soda tonight (pizza is not a routine food for us). The reason? I had promised my husband to have a pizza when visitors to my blog reached the 10,000 mark. That was today, mashallah. So we are marking this happy occassion, thank you all visitors. Here we share our pizza with you:

Friday, November 16, 2007

Brownie bag

This is my latest bag. Knitted this time, made from the same home-dyed cotton. The name "brownie bag" is my husband's brilliant idea.
BROWNIE BAG

Materials:
· Brown worsted weight cotton (or any which gets the right gauge)
· Knitting needles 6.5 mm.
· Fabric for lining
· Crochet hook 4.5 mm
· Closure clasp.

Size: 12 x 9 inches excluding strap.

Gauge: 6 sts x 9 rows = 2 inches.

Pattern:
Row 1 (RS): K
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K 3, *P3, K 3, rep from * to the end.
Row 4: P 3, *K3, P 3 rep from * to the end.
Row 5 and 6: Rep rows 3 and 4.
Row 7: rep row 1.
Row 8: rep row 2.
Row 9: P 3, *K3, P 3 rep from * to the end.
Row 10: K 3, *P3, K 3, rep from * to the end.
Row 11 and 12: rep rows 9 and 10.


Method:
Bag body:

Cast on 39 sts and work in pattern for a total of 86 rows. Bind off loosely.

Strap:
Cast on 8 sts and work in seed st for a total of 82 rows. Bind off.

Closure:
With same yarn and crochet hook, work 6 sc in the metal closure clasp (see pics). Ch 1 turn. Next row: 1 sc in each sc, ch1 turn.
Repeat to a total of 12 rows, fasten off.


Finishing:
Fold the body piece into half with right side facing and sew up the sides.
Turn out the piece and sew the clasp ring in place 5 inches down the upper margin making sure that it is midway between the two sides.
Sew the closure at the back about 3 inches from the top.
Sew the lining, with a small zippered pocket along the back.
Sew the handle in place.
Now make a fold over the lower edges (lining and all) about 1.5 inches wide and pin in over the side seams on both sides. Sew these folds to the side seam. This gives the bag a more rounded look.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Cars crayon bag

I made this yesterday for my son. The pattern is jungle crayon bag from freepatterns.com. I had promised this to my son a few months ago. He is very fond of drawing and colors. This is a very easy pattern. I was planning to use solid colors with only front two car panels but my son wanted "a lot of cars" so I did the entire thing in car print. He is very happy with it and that's the real thing.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Indigo bag

Here, I am finished with this one bag. And here is the pattern for all. A word of caution though, I have not tested this pattern, however it's fairly simple and I am here to answer any questions.
Indigo bag


Materials:· Cotton yarn (I bought thick cotton tying thread balls from hardware store and dyed them) equivalent to worsted weight or any that gets the correct gauge. Indigo and cream.
· Crochet hook 4.50 mm
· Tapestry needle and thread
· Fabric for lining
· A metal buckle
· Magnetic snap or Velcro for closure
· Zipper for inside pocket (optional)

Size: 9.5 x 5.5 inches excluding strap.

Gauge: 7 sts x 8 row = 2 inches in Tunisian st.

Method:This bag is done mostly in Tunisian st with a little bit of sc.
Body (front and back): make 2.
With indigo, ch 35 + 2 .
Row 1: work Tunisian st starting from 3rd ch on hook. (36 sts)
Row 2: Work basic Tunisian st over the 36 sts.
Row 3: same as row 2 with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(34 sts)
Row 4 and 5: As row 2.
Row 6: as row 3.(32 sts)
Row 7 and 8: same as row 2.
Row 9: same as row 3.(30 sts)
Row 10 and 11: same as row 2.
Row 12: same as row 3.(28 sts)
Row 13 and 14: same as row 2.
Row 15: same as row 3.(26 sts)
Row 16 -17: same as row 2.
Cast off by working a sl st into each row. Fasten off.

Gusset:With cream, ch 5 + 2.
Row 1: work Tunisian st starting from 3rd ch on hook.(6 sts)
Row 2-4: Work basic Tunisian st over the 6 sts.
Row 5: same as row 2 with one increase 1 st inside from both ends.(8 sts)
Row 6-8: same as row 2.
Row 9: same as row 5.(10 sts)
Row 10-12: same as row 2.
Row 13: same as row 5.(12 sts)
Row 14-16: same as row 2.
Row 17: same as row 5. (14 sts)
Row 18-50: same as row 2.
Row 51: Work basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(12 sts)
Row 52-54: same as row 2.
Row 55: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(10 sts)
Row 56-58: same as row 2.
Row 59: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(8 sts)
Row 60-62: same as row 2.
Row 63: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(6 sts)
Row 64: same as row 2.
Cast off by working a sl st into each row. Fasten off.

Finishing:Stitch together front, back and gusset using weave stitch.

Flap: Along the upper free edge of one body piece, with cream, work 25 sc, turn.
Row 2-10: ch2, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 24 sc. Turn.
Fasten off. Work a row of sc around the free flap edges with 3 sc in each corner. Fasten off.
Join with indigo at the 10th sc of row 10. Work one sc in each of the next 5 sc, turn.
Row 2-13: ch 1, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 4 sc, turn.
Fasten off.

Handle/strap: Ribbon 1: Along the one upper free edge of gusset, join with cream and work Tunisian st in 1st 2 sts. Work 60 rows, fasten off.
Ribbon two: work similar to ribbon one, starting in the next 2 sts along the free gusset edge.
Ribbon three: work similar to ribbon one, starting in the last 2 sts along the free gusset edge.
Braid up the three ribbon and stitch them in place at the free gusset edge on the other side. With tapestry needle, stitch up the ribbons to each other along the length of the strap, in order to reinforce the strap.
Buckle: Join with indigo and pick up 2 sc along the horizontal bar on one side of the vertical bar, ch 1, and further 2 sc on the other side of vertical bar. Turn.
Row 2-7: ch 1, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 4 sc, turn.Fasten off.
Ch 8, fasten off. Sew in place along both ends of row 2.
Sewing: sew a piece of Velcro to the buckle piece and the bag front. ( or se a magnetic strap instead. Sew and attach lining. I used floral linen. I made a zippered pocket on the inside and used cardboard at the bottom between two layers of fabric.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Side-tracked

I know I had started this month with the intention of working on the two cardigans and to finish them off, but I got side-tracked again. Well, I had had this idea for a while now, so I got some balls of cotton tying string/yarn ( or whatever one might call them) from a hardware store and some dye and dyed them at home. Now I am working on a couple of bags. One is nearly finished and I will post a pattern in 1-2 days, inshallah. The reason I had to dye the yarn from hardware store was because the only yarn available around here is basic acrylic yarn. And I am tired of my bags looking exactly like my sweaters.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

It's cardigan time

With the start of winter, my focus has shifted to cardigans in progress. Presently, I am working on two, one for my husband which is about 30% done and the more recent one_Lilac lace_ for myself. It is about 10% done.

I hope to finish both this month, inshallah. Some other ideas for bags, poncho, babay clothing are floating around in my head but I am warding off temptation for the time being. But I can't help myself from spending lots of time on the net.