Will crochet for coffee

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Coffee cup cozies, java jammies, mug sweaters . . . Whatever you want to call them, they are great projects for beginners, a quick gift, or just to use up bits of yarn. I wanted one that would keep your hand cool and your coffee warm no matter what cup you were using. Here is what I came up with.

Adjustable Coffee Cozy

Yarn: 50-70 yards of worsted weight, I used Galway Paint

Hook: US G, 4.00mm

Notions: button about 1”dia

Gauge: Not important for this pattern

Special stitches:
FPDC - Front Post Double Crochet: Yarn over. Insert hook around post of next stitch from right to left. Yarn over, finish DC as usual
Waffle stitch - *DC in the FPDC, FPDC in the DC*

Body:
chain 19

row 1: dc into 4th ch from hook, dc in next 15 sts (16 dc)

row 2: ch 2 (counts as hdc here and throughout), turn, *fpdc around first st, dc in top of next st* 7 times, hdc into top of turning chain (16 sts)

row 3-25: ch 2, turn, *fpdc around dc from last row, dc in top of fpdc from last row* 7 times, hdc into top of turning chain (16 sts)

Strap:
row 26: ch 1, turn, slip stitch into next 5 dc, ch 1, sc into next 6 dc (6 st)
row 27: ch3, turn, dc into next st, ch2 & skip next 2 st, dc into next 2 st (6 st)
row 28: ch1, turn, sc across (6 st)
Repeat rows 27-28 5 times (6 buttonholes)
Finish off and weave in ends.

Sew on button around row 8 or so.

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This pattern hasn't been tested by anyone but me, so feedback is welcome!

Making peace with denim-style

Saturday, November 22, 2008

I frogged most of the scarves I was making with Bernat's denim-style yarn. I was really starting to hate that stuff. But I have finally made peace with it. It works up nicely as a hat when I use an L hook (8.00mm).

It has been wicked cold the past couple of weeks. Great yarn weather. I keep adding more winter-wear items to my Ravelry queue. I can't possibly get them all done, but I can't stop collecting them. Every once in a while I'll go through the queue and weed out the items that, when I'm honest with myself, I know I will never make.

I keep adding more yarn to my stash, too. I've got to stop buy yarn until I get some of these projects done. But there are so many lovely yarns out there calling my name. I'm currently glomming on Highlander from Alpaca With A Twist. It is so soft and buttery. And the colors are homey and comforting. This yarn just makes me happy.

Scarf Mania

Sunday, November 9, 2008

With the economy in the tank, it's a good year for homemade gifts. That's why everyone is getting a scarf this year. At the moment I have nine different scarves in the works, with more on the way.

Most of them are in Bernat denim style yarn. I love the way this yarn looks on the shelf. Unfortunately, it's not as much fun to work with. It's almost a bulky weight so it needs at least a J-hook to have any loft whatsoever. I'm keeping the stitches simple because even a basic V-stitch felt too stiff with big holes.

But it did give me an opportunity to try a slip stitch pattern based on David Benjamin Burchall's techniques. Using a Bates P-hook (11.50MM), I am alternating back loops and front loops. The resulting looks similar to a knitted American moss stitch. And the fabric is soft and drapey. I'm pretty happy with it.

On the knitting front, I finished my garter stitch scarf and have started moss stitch scarf and a ribbed scarf (both in Bernat denim). I have also started a hat using a beautiful mint green Highlander yarn from Alpaca with a Twist. I love this yarn so much I don't even mind using pointy sticks. It is so soft I can't wait to touch it. My husband is starting to question my relationship with this yarn.

Stick it

Thursday, November 6, 2008

I'm becoming bi-stitchual. I started a garter stitch scarf the other day to give the knitting muscles a work-out. I will never love working with pointing sticks the way I do with hooks. I just don't think that way. But I would like to be competent enough to knit at least one pair of socks in my lifetime. I know there are folks that crochet socks and more power to them. I just don't like the feel of crocheted footwear.

 
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