Tuesday, April 26, 2011

PLARN!

Need More Plastic Bags . . .
Stash too small!
So I just learned about Plarn and am so happy I did.  Plarn is yarn made out of plastic grocery bags or whatever plastic bags you have laying around.  This was the first time in my life that I looked at my stash of plastic bags and thought, "JACKPOT!"

To make the yarn, you fold up the bag lengthwise, cut off the ends, i.e, the handles and the bottom seam.  You then cut into circular strips about 1.5 to 2 inches wide.  Then you connect the loops together by intertwining them and pulling.  For better tutorial, check here.

So I came up with what I think is pretty cute little baby bib! 

Here's the pattern.



Yarn:  Plarn from about 8-10 plastic grocery bags.  Scrap worsted weight cotton for edging and strap.  I used purple Lily Sugar n Cream

Hook: I used an N hook, but I just saw a tutorial on tote bag making and the person there used an H hook.  I think the larger the hook, the easier and more fun it is to crochet (in my opinion), but the looser the stitch. With this baby bib a large hook is just fine.  For button use G hook.

Pattern:
Bib:  Using plarn, Ch 16, sc in second ch from hook and across.  ch. 1, turn.  sc across.  Repeat sc rows for about 15 rows or however many rows you want.

Edging:  Starting in the upper right hand corner of your bib with wrong side facing, using 2 strands held together, join cotton with sl st.  sc around the bib, working 3 sc in each corner.
When you get back to your starting point, sl st to join, ch 1 and turn.
Sc across the top of the bib.  ch. 1, turn.

Strap:  Row 1: Sc in next five stitches.  ch 1, turn.   Row 2: (ch from previous row counts as 1st sc) Sk 1 st.;  sc in next st.; sc2tog (3sc).  ch 1, turn.  *sc across, ch1, turn. (3sc)* repeat until your strap looks long enough.  I did 22 rows and my strap measures about 8 inches not including the botton hole.  To work button hole, after your last row of strap, work 2 dc, ch. 4, 2 dc.  Fasten and weave.

Button:  With one strand of yarn and a smaller hook, I used a G hook, work  button in round without joining .  Round 1: Ch. 2, work 6 sc in second ch from hook. Round 2: 2sc in each st. (12 sc)  Round 3: sc2tog in each st. (6sc) Round 4: sc2tog in each st. (3sc) leave a long tail.  Secure in place to opposite side of strap with the tail.

DONE!  Love that easiness and greenness and funness!  For care:  Machine wash and LINE DRY.  Plarn melts in the dryer!!

 

Friday, April 22, 2011

Love that Calm Cowl

Finished the Calm Cowl and tooks some pics.  I just love the "Granite Stitch" so much (I just learned that sc1, ch1, sk1, repeat is called the Granite Stitch).  I think the main reason is that it looks so much like knit or Tunisian.  It has that drapey, fabricky, knitty feel and look. 


This one is for my Aunt Maggie who has made almost everyone in my entire extended family a beautiful quilt.  She made one for my wedding and one for the birth of my daughter and countless others.  So this is my meagre thank you to her for her generous craftiness. 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

WIP Wednesday

I'm working on this wonderful little hoodie from Tina Barrett's book, Natural Crochet for Toddlers and Babies. I have most of it done. Still working on the sleeves, trim, buttons (although I may just do a zipper - I find we use the item more if it zips).



 I'm also working on one of my favorite cowls on Ravelry called Calm Cowl by Suzana Davidovic. It is so simple and elegant. The stitch is just sc ch1 but it turns out looking like Tunisian or knit. Just gorgeous.




And I'm also working on a cute little jumper that I am designing. I'm writing the pattern as I go. The yarn is so great I can't stand it. It is Prime Alpaca by Joseph Galler and it almost just feels cool to the touch. I can't explain it. So soft and warm and cozy. I think it is my favorite yarn yet.

So the part you see in the picture is going to be the skirt.  It is a variation of the wave pattern, just with 2 rows of sc after every 3 rows of pattern.  This makes a very subtle wavy line pattern.  So fun so far.  The only problem is that I'm making this kind of dark alpaca number and it is already starting to warm up.  I may try again after this one is done and do one in a cotton.  I was thinking white background with rainbow stripes.  That would be really cute.
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