Stocking Name Labels--How To

I had a customer recently ask me if I could make some kind of name label for a Christmas stocking for her daughter. The stockings I crochet are a little problematic with that kind of a request because the tops of the stockings aren't straight across as is true of traditional stockings. So, I did a google image search, found something that I thought might work, and put it together. 

Since I have a habit of remembering how I do these kinds of things, I thought I'd write up the instructions here. 

So, start out by printing the name you want, in large type, on cardstock.



Then, take the "slider cutter" and cut the name out. I like to line up the bottom of the name with the top of clear plastic on the slider, then cut. 



Then I line up the top, 


then each side.




Take a hole punch and punch around the name. My particular punch works well if you line the edge of the punch with the edge of the paper. 







Crochet shells around the paper, three in each hole, except on the corners, where you'll do six.



Finish off and weave in ends.

Make a hanging "rope" by crocheting forty chains. Attach to corner of label.

Chunky Ear Flap Hat - a pattern

This isn't the best picture of the hat, but how cute are these two??

I put together an ear-flap hat for one of my nieces lately, and it turned out so well that I decided to make a few more. Those turned out so well that I thought I should get the pattern written down so I could make them again in the future.

Chunky Ear Flap Hat
Sized for 8-9 year old person

Use Bulky Yarn - I like Lion Brand Hometown or Red Heart Chunky Soft
Size I hook

Round 1: Magic Circle, chain 2, 8 more hdcs
Round 2: 2 hdc in each hdc, 16 hdc total
Round 3: 2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 in next, around, 24 hdc total
Round 4: 2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 in next 2 hdc, 32 hdc total
Round 5: 2 hdc in 1st hdc, 1 in next 3 hdc, 40 hdc total
Round 6: hdc around, increase by 5 hdc evenly around, 45 hdc total
Round 7-13: hdc around, 45 hdc total

The hat should essentially be a beanie at this point. Check against recipient if available, add or remove rows according to fit.

Earflaps:

#1:
Join in the 6th st from the seam.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in same stitch and into 9 stitchets, turn 10 sc total
Row 2: Ch 1, sc around turn, 10 sc total
Row 3: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 9 sc total
Row 4: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 8 sc total
Row 5: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 7 sc total
Row 6: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 6 sc total
Row 7: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 5 sc total
Row 8: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, turn. 4 sc total
Row 9: Ch 1, skip first st, and sc in rest of row, fasten off. 3 sc total

#2:
Skip 13 st across front of hat and join in the 14th st. Repeat instructions for #1.

Joining anywhere in the hat, sc around, at ends of earflaps, make sc, ch 3, sc in each end. Fasten off.

Braided Ties:

Cut 6-12 strands of yarn 24" long for each braid. Loop yarn around your finger and pull through the ch 3 space on the earflap. Pull the ends of the strands through the loop and pull tight. Braid and knot the end.

Striped Slippers - a "quick and dirty" pattern

I've been working on these slippers lately, and thought I'd post my notes here for easier finding.

Striped slipper socks pattern
Size to fit a smaller child

Size g hook

Magic circle. Ch 1, 7 sc in circle
Next round 12 scNext round 16
Next round 19

Continue in a spiral with each round being 19 sc until you get to the base of the heel or in other words, the ankle. Finish off.

Join a little right (so that the beginning and ending rows will be in the sole) and sc 15 st for three rows. Then increase to 17 sc for two rows, then 19 sc for 2 rows. Finish off, and sew the top row together to make a slipper.

Sc around the hole of the slipper, decreasing so that it is eventually 19 sc. continue until it is the length you want it to be. Finish off.

 * *

Striped slipper socks pattern
Size to fit a 9-year old

Size g hook
Magic circle. Ch 1, 7 sc in circle
Next round 12 sc
Next round 18 or so sc
Next round 22 

Continue in a spiral with each round being 22 sc until you get to the base of the heel or in other words, the ankle. Finish off.
Join a little right (so that the beginning and ending rows will be in the sole) and sc 17 st for five rows. Then increase to 19 sc for two rows, then 21 sc for 2 rows. Finish off, and sew the top row together to make a slipper.

Sc around the hole of the slipper, decreasing so that it is eventually 20 sc. continue until it is the length you want it to be. Finish off.

**

Striped slipper socks pattern
Size to fit an adult

Size g hook
Magic circle. Ch 1, 7 sc in circle
Next round 12 sc
Next round 18 or so sc
Next round 22 

Next round 25

Continue in a spiral with each round being 25 sc until you get to the base of the heel or in other words, the ankle. Finish off.

Join a little right (so that the beginning and ending rows will be in the sole) and sc 20 st for five rows. Then increase to 22 sc for two rows, then 24 sc for 2 rows. Finish off, and sew the top row together to make a slipper.

Sc around the hole of the slipper, decreasing so that it is eventually 24 sc. continue until it is the length you want it to be. Finish off, making a ribbing of 24 sc if desired. (Ribbing will need to be stitched to top of sock.)

Scripture Carrier

My husband and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the things that we do in our faith is that our children aren't baptized until they are eight years old. My daughter had looked forward to the day that she would be baptized for years and years, and to celebrate the day, we decided to give her her very own set of scriptures.

Knowing that she would need something in which to carry them, I decided that I'd try my hand (literally-ha ha) at making her a scripture carrier.

Here's what I eventually came up with:






SCRIPTURE CARRIER
Use size G hook and cotton yarn

Granny Square, make 14

Chain 4 and join in a circle, then using hdc, and two-stitch "shells"' with one ch in between each one, make 4 rows, one with 4 shells, one with 8, one with 12, and one with sixteen. Finish off.

Stitch or sc squares together in panels, three panels of two squares each and two panels of four squares each.

Lining

For each panel, make a corresponding swatch of the same size, using sc rows, bordered with one round of sc. When complete, sc each lining swatch to corresponding square panel.

Assembly

Use the three 2-square panels as bottom, and side panels of bag. Use the two 4-square panels as front and back of bag. Sew all panels together in this manner. To "square up" top corners, use ribbon, rope, or chain/sl st "ropes", and run a small piece through the top of each corner, securing each with a know or a bow.

Carry Strap

Switch to size F hook.

Ch 200, being careful not to twist ch, join.

Rnd 1, sc in each chain, join, ch 3

Rnd 2, dc in each chain, join, ch 2

Rnd 3, sc in each dc, join.

Rnd 4, sl st in each sc around, join, fasten off

Join yarn in any foundation chain, sl st in each ch around, join, fasten off.

Make lining (strengthener) for strap using sc in rows and borders as with panels. Sc to strap.

Secure strap to bag by placing in long skinny oval across bottom of bag, and bringing sides up to form handles. Tack in place on bottom, and at top and bottom of front and back panels. 

Strengthener of bottom panel

Cut a piece of thick cardboard to the dimensions of the inside bottom panel of bag. Using sc, crochet a "cozy" around cardboard, sewing up,both ends with cardboard inside. Place in bottom of bag.

Add snaps, buttons, zippers, and other embellishments as desired.

Kandinsky inspired Designer Sweater (and pants set)

So, a few months back, someone sent me a message through etsy, inquiring about my granny square pants. Would I be able to make a granny square sweater, she asked?

After thinking about it, and ensuring that her timeframe would allow for some trial and error on my part, I responded that yes, I would love to make a granny square sweater.

We traded ideas back and forth until I felt like I had a pretty good feel for what she had in mind, and she even threw out the possibility of a granny square sweater and pants set, should the sweater turn out well. Within this conversation I learned that the intended recipient of the set would be her son, who would be wearing it to an ugly sweater contest around November/December of 2017.

As we nailed down a vision, I sent her this inspiration picture:

And we agreed that we would shoot for something along those lines.

After a few weeks of crocheting, we ended up with this sweater,

which my husband promptly fell in love with, and secured a promise from me that I would make him another as soon as I was able. Also interestingly, one of my neighbors, upon seeing the sweater remarked on the uncanny resemblance that it bears to on of her favorite paintings, Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles, by Wassily Kandinsky.

I have to admit, I definitely see the resemblance.

Then it was on to the pants. By roughly following my granny square pants pattern, I eventually landed on this:

My cheesy-yet-awesome husband. He's so accomodating!

All in all, it was a really fun exercise, and since I'd like to do it again (perhaps), and I wouldn't like to reinvent the wheel if/when I do it, I'm going to write down some pattern notes here. 

The Kandinsky Designer Sweater

Size H Hook

For yarn colors and types, see the "Color Choice" section at the end of the pattern

To make the Square:

Rnd 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 7 hdc in circle, join, ch 2 (8 total, counting ch 2 as first hdc)

Rnd 2: Hdc in same st and join, hdc, 2 hdc in next, ch 1, 2 hdc in same, continue around, 20 hdc total (5 on each side)

Rnd 3: 32 total (8 on each side), change color

Rnd 4: 44 total (11 on each side)

Rnd 5: 56 total (14 on each side), change color

Rnd 6: 68 total (17 on each side), change color

Rnd 7: 80 total (20 on each side), change color

Rnd 8: change from hdc to sc, only work in back loop of row below, 92 total (23 on each side). Finish off, leaving a long tail for stitching squares together.

Assembly:

Main "Vest": Make two panels of 3 squares by 3 squares. Stitch them together at the top, leaving plenty of room (1 full square, and a third to a half of the other "stitched" square) for the neck. Stitch up the sides, leaving the top squares unstitched for sleeve holes.

Sleeves: Make two panes of 2 squares by 2 squares. Stitch each of the panels together along one side, forming a tube or sleeve. 

Stitch sleeves to vest at the sleeve hole spot.

If the sweater fits your dimensions at this point, you're done. Otherwise, you can add stripes along the bottom and sleeves (I like to alternate hdc and dc, with the hdcs going in to just the back loops). If you want to make a mock turtleneck, sc around the neck area, decreasing or slip stitching as you go until you have the hole as small as you want it. Then, continue with the alternate hdc and dc stripes until it is as long as you want it.

Color Choice

This sweater was supposed to be a "semi Christmasy" sweater, and so I followed a color pattern as follows:

In the squares, 

rounds 1-3 were done in shades of either red, green, or white ("Christmas Colors")

rounds 4-5 were done in another shade of either red green or white

round 6 was done in a non-Christmas color

round 7 was done in another non-Christmas color

round 8 was done in yet another shade of either red, green, or white

For the stripes, I tended to alternate Christmas Colors with non-Christmas Colors

Throughout the project, I used scrap yarn, red heart acrylic super saver generally.

And now, with this gratuitious picture of me celebrating the completion of this awesome project, I leave you.

Plarn shopping bag-granny squares

My plastic bag collection was taking over our home recently, so I sat down and spent a few hours turning it into a few large balls of plarn. Then it was time to go "Pinterest Shopping" for inspiration as to what to do with these balls.

I found this picture, and decided to use it as a springboard.

Here's how mine turned out:

The pattern I used was pretty basic, just a chain 4, then join into a circle. Next sc 12 in the chain 4 circle, then 20sc, (3 in each corner, 2 on each side) then 28sc. Finish off. 

I made a bunch of the squares, then sl stitched them together, and made a border and a handle. 

Now I have a nice bag for my farmer's marketing, general shopping, or just taking things around here and there. What's not to like about that?

Cable Crochet Ear Warmers Pattern

Since I was in ear warmer mode, I went ahead an made up another one--this one to coordinate with my signature fingerless glove pattern.





Cable Crochet Ear Warmers

Size G crochet hook

Ch 34

Rnd 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across, *sc in end of row, ch 11, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across, sc in same st as * hdc in next free loops of ch, hdc in last free loop. *Sc in end of row, ch 11, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across, sc in same st as here*, sl st in first sc. Finish off.

Rnd 2: hdc in next sc, dc in next sc, *fptrc in next 2 dc on other side of foundation ch, sk 2 sc behind, dc in next 3 sc, rep from *4 times, fptrc in next 2 dc on other side of foundation ch, sk 2 sc behind, dc, hdc, and sc in next 3 sc, sc in the next 10 free loops of the ch 11 you made in Rnd 1. Sc in end of row, sc in next 10 sc, sc, hdc, dc, in next 3 st. *Fptrc in each of next 2 fptrc, sk 2 st behind, dc in next 3 st, rep from * 4 times, fptrc in next 2 fptrc, sk 2 sc behind, dc, hdc, sc in next 3 st, sc in next 2 sc and the next 11 free loops of the ch 11 you made in rnd 1, sc in end of row, sc in next 10 st, sl st to beg ch 2.

Rnd 3: ch 2, hdc in next st, dc in next st (*), sk next st, fptrc in next st, then fptrc in skipped st, "X" made. Sk 2 st in back of "X" just made, dc in next 3 dc, rep from * 4 times, sk next st, fptrc in next st, then make "X" in last fptrc group, dc, hdc, sc in next 3 st (*) sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, hdc in next st, dc in next st, rep from (*) to (*) 1 time, sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sl, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 9 sc, sl st to ch 2.

Rnd 4: Ch 2 hdc in next 31 st, sc in next 10 sc 2 sc in next sc sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, hdc in next 31 st, sc in next 13 2 sc  in next sc, sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 9 sc, sl st to ch 2.

Rnd 5: Ch 2, sc in the next 106 st ch 4 sc in next st 2 sc, 4 sc in loop just made, sc in next 11 sc, sl st to ch 2, finish off.

Ear Warmer Pattern

I've dabbled a bit here and there with ear-warmers, but up till now, had never worked up a pattern that really felt right. But, a month or two ago, I started working with a pattern in the round, with varying stitches, and it finally felt good enough to pursue.



So, here it is, in all it's "Charlotte-ese" crochet language glory. I call it the . . .

Crossing Lines Ear Warmer Pattern
(!!!! Catchy eh? I'm just full of unique titles over here)




Size G Hook

Chain 34

Sc in 3rd ch from hook and to end, 32 st

Round 1-Ch 2, Hdc in same st, make 15 dc "X"s in next 30 loops of chain, hdc in next free loop, *sc in  end of row, ch 13, sc in 3rd ch from hook and next 10 ch sc in same stitch as was done here * Hdc in next sc, make 15 doc "X"s in next 30 sc's. Hdc in next sc, *sc in next st. Ch 13, sc in 3rd ch from hook and next 10 st, sl st in same st as this * End row.

Round 2- Ch 2, Hdc in same st, Hdc in each st across to "tail" (32 st). Sc in next 11 free loops of ch, sc in end and in next 11 sc's, sl st in next sc.

Round 3- ch 2, Hdc in same st, Hdc in each st across to "tail" (33 st). Sc in next 11 free loops of ch, sc in end of row and in next 11 sc, sl st to beginning.

Round 4- Ch 2, Hdc in same st and in next 2 sc's. Make 13 dc "X's" in next 26 st, Hdc in next 15 sc's, 2 Hdc in next sc, 1 Hdc in next, 2 Hdc in next, Hdc in next 15 sc's, make 13 dc "X's" in next 26 sc's, Hdc in next 14 sc's, 2 Hdc in next sc, 1 Hdc in next 2 Hdc in next. Hdc in next 9 sc's, sl st to end.

Round 5- Ch 2 Hdc in same st and next 33 st, *sc in next 11 Hdc, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next st,*  sc in next 11 st  Hdc in next 34 sc's rep from * to * sc in next 8 st, sl st to beginning.

Round 6- ch 2, sc's in same st and in next 110 sc's. Ch 4, turn, sc in next 2 sc's, turn back to front side and 4 sc's into loop just made, sc in next 11 st, sl st to beginning, finish off.

FLOWER

Ch 4, join in a circle, ch 4, sl st in circle made, repeat 5 times, six "petal frames" made

Sc, hdc, dc, hdc sc in first "petal frame", repeat in next 5 frames, sl st to first frame

Sl st around post between frames, ch 4. Repeat from beginning 5 times, sl st around first post

Sc in first ch 4 sp, dc 4 times, sc. Repeat in next 4 ch spaces, sl st to beginning, finish off