Catching up on my crocheted projects, part eighteen

Finally, something different!



Here's a collection of smart phone cozies I made.  They're different sizes to fit different types of phones.  The middle one in the bottom row is Tunisian stockinette stitch.  It was done as a rectangle with the sides sewn together. The one above it is so dark, you can barely see the cables!  That one was done as also done as a rectangle with the sides sewn together.  The others were all done in the round, some beginning from a flat base just two rows wide. 

I'm having a lot of fun making phone cozies.  They're a great way to expriment with stitches, textures and cables, are quick to work up, and leave you with something useful in the end. 

Catching up on my crocheted projects, part twelve

Here's another project using the Waverly for Bernat yarn.




The horizontal lines are the cable stitch I learned how to do in my crochet course - a stitch that no one really uses anymore.  I can see why - it's a pain to work, but I do like the result!  The strap is just rows of 4 sc, then I bordered it all with sc.

The main thing that's different about this bag is the inside.



I made a plastic canvas frame for the inside.  The sides and base are a single piece, with smaller pieces sewn into the sides.



After sewing together the plastic canvas pieces, I worked buttonhole stitch along the top, plus an extra row of running stitch, just for appearances.  After placing the frame inside the bag, I worked joined it to the bag itself using the button hole stitches to sc into.  Without the frame, I felt the bag was just too floppy for use.  That drape is great for shawls, but not so good for bags!

Catching up on my crocheted projects, part six

This next hat was an experiment for me in a couple of ways.  First, it was the first time I used Patons Classic Wool.  I've been avoiding wools since I had a reaction to some wool yarn I'd worked with a few years back, though I think I may have been reacting to the dye, not the wool.  I had no problems at all working with this yarn, and it was really pleasant to stitch with.





My other experiment was with the pattern.  I wanted to play around with cables - moving them around and crossing them, but had no idea what, so I made this up as I went along.  I rather like how it turned out.  I've found myself playing around with cables a lot more often of late.  They're rather fun!

More photos here.

Catching up on my crocheted projects, part one

With how busy things have been over the summer, I haven't kept on top of posting photos of my finished crochet projects.  I'll be catching up on that for the next while.

The first batch will be of various hats I made.  Ferdinand got quite a bit of a work out for these photos.  The rest, I'm going to have to get my kids to model for me, as I don't have a torso or arm to go with my head.

 

First up is an all-over front and back post hat with earflaps.  Visit this link for other angles.

I've made a version of this hat before and wanted to revisit it.  I tweeked where I did the increases, and this time I used Bernat Mosaic yarn.  The post stitches makes it quite dense and warm, and I'm quite happy with how it looks.  My younger daughter promptly claimed it for herself, and I've posted a photo of her wearing it while she kept me company during my last Open House. :-D
 

Ready

The almost complete sample for my crochet course.  It is being deliberately left unfinished so that it can be mailed flat, and so my instructor can flip it inside out to check my handiwork.
I still have to write the pattern instructions out properly from my notes to send with it. After this, I have three more lessons to finish the course.

Intermediate

Working on some cable stitch for my course. I need to plan an intermediate project with Aran stitches; knurl (done), diamond (blocking) and cable. I'll be throwing some front post cables into the project as well.


update:  Hmmm... on looking at the photo on the computer, I think I posted the wrong cell phone picture.  I discovered my phone has a macro setting, which turned out better.


When I have the front panel of this project assempled (it's going to be a sampler pillow case, and the back is going to be plain) I'll get some better photos.

First use

Using a new cup cozie for the first time. 
It occurred to me recently that having extras to keep in my purse or pockets would be useful, so I made several last night.  These are handy and quick little projects to experiment with.  For this one, I got to play with making diamonds, as well as figuring out how to adjust for increasing the size of the cozie at the top to better fit the cup. 
I think it turned out all right. :-)

Crossed Cables hat

I got some photos today of another cable hat I'd missed earlier.  My younger daughter has claimed this one for herself.




This piece was worked using two strands of Harmony yarn and a 9.00mm hook.  The crown was done in a flat disk of double crochet stitches.  When I reached the size I wanted, I did one round of dc without any increases, then started on the front post stitches to make the cables.



The patterns was determined by the number of stitches I ended up having, which was a multiple of five.  The first couple of rounds were in groups of 3 fpdc and 2 hdc.  After that, I split up the first and last fpdc to start the X.

Working the cables really pulled in the sides.  When not worn, the sides look completely straight, rather than gently curving outwards as most of the hats tend to. 



The last bit was worked the same was as the Green Cables hat. 

The entire piece was a touch longer than I usually make for a hat that doesn't get turned up - something my daughter really likes!

I'm rather happy with how it turned out, though if I do it again I might change the crossed front post double stitches to front post triple stitches.  I think that would prevent the pulling in.  On the other hand the hat wouldn't be quite a snug as it is, and I don't think I'd want it any looser.  Perhaps if using a thinner yarn or smaller hook, it would be more of a concern.  As it is, I think it worked our rather well.

Cable Petals

Recently, I got an itch to experiment with crochet cables.  The result was several hats.  Although I had no pattern or plan in mind, I used the same basic structure for all but one of them.  The crown of the hat is done in a flat disc until it's just wide enough to cover the top of a head, then the sides are worked without increases to various lengths, depending on if I want to so a ribbed "cuff" or add extras such as ear flaps.

For this hat, I used a some Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds in Medium Blue that I had gifted to me, but hadn't found a project for it.  It was quite nice to work with, and I would definitely use it again.

The recommended hook size is 6.00mm, but for this project, I went with a 5.50mm hook - I think.  It was either that or a 5.00mm, and I really don't think I went that small.  I may or may not work the pattern again and write out an exact details, but until then, I hope this description is enough for you to figure out how to make one yourself.



I started this pattern with a 9 sc magic circle.  The next round was increased to 18 in dc.  For the third round, I worked the increase stitches in hdc in between pairs of front post double crochet (fpdc).

For each round following, I kept working hdc in between the fpdc stitches until I reached the size I wanted.  The increase stitch was worked into the top of the second of each pair of fpdc.  I think I did one round without increases without changing where the fpdc were placed.  After that, I worked the straight sides and changed where I placed the fpdc stitches by one in each direction to bring the cables into the points of the petals.  The last round had one fpdc around both fpdc of the previous round, and one extra hdc added to make up for the one less fpdc.



To finish the cap, I worked a "cuff" in alternating front and back post dc for several rows.  For the ear flap I worked rows into slightly more than half of the hat - I tried it on first, then marked where I roughly wanted the flap portion to begin and end in front of each ear.  I started and finished with an hdc, then did the rest in alternating front and back post dc, making I sure started and finished with the same stitch.  When working on the inside of the hat, I also made sure to work front post stitches into the back post stitches of the previous row and vice versa, so that on the outside, it all came out the same.

To make the slight curve of the earflap portion, I reduced by one stitch at the beginning and at the end of each row by skipping the second last stitch and working an hdc into the last stitch of the previous round.  Extra care had to be taken to make sure I did the front and back post stitches in the the next row in the right places.



The hat was finished with one round of sc.  The curve of the earflap was kept by working 2 sc in the "corners" of the flap, while two sc were done together where the flap switched to the forehead portion.

This hat used up most of the two balls of Shetland Chunky I had.  The smaller hook together with the cables made for a much snugger fit than I normally do.  I'm very happy with how it turned out, but to do it again I would move up to the 6.00mm hook.  Either that, or it would do well as is for an older child.  I really like how the earflap portion hugs around the ears and keeps out drafts, though for a glasses wearer, the snugness does tend to affect how the glasses sit on the face.