Crochet towel holder

On November 9, 2023November 6, 2023 By CarynIn Craft

Here is a versatile little towel holder! It uses one metal ring, which is covered with single crochet stitches, a band that can be any pattern of stitches with a 2-4 repeat, and a soft loop made by making a chain long enough to go around the metal loop, then is also covered in single crochet stitches.

Photo description: crocheted towel holder hung over an oven handle with a cotton hand towel threaded through both loops.

Photo description: Same towel holder, but with the hard loop through the soft loop over the oven handle. This configuration is nice because the towel holder will stay on the handle even without a towel.

Photo description: Same towel holder hung from a cupboard knob.

On the holder pictured, row 1 is a single crochet (sc), chain 2 (ch2), sc, ch2, sc. Then row 2 is ch2, double crochet (dc) in first sc, 3dc in next sc, 2dc in last sc. Row 1 and 2 are repeated. After making the soft loop, I like to sc across the top of the band as well, then tack the edge down to make the circle a little neater. These can be made with any yarn, and different bands. They are quick and useful!

Crochet washcloth

On November 8, 2023November 5, 2023 By CarynIn Craft

I have a new favorite way of making washcloths. Although I love the diagonal knit cloths, I really am a slow knitter. It takes me literally hours to knit one washcloth. Crochet however takes half the time for the same size cloth, and a simple single crochet, chain one pattern is easy to remember and makes cloth with a nice texture that is not so thick that it takes days to dry.

Photo description: Natural white cotton crocheted washcloth with loop.

I use a hook one size bigger than what is recommended on the label, then chain 30. In the second stitch from the hook, single crochet (sc), then chain (ch) 1. Skip a chain loop, and repeat the sc ch1 across. Turn the work, sc in the previous sc, ch1, repeat across. Continue rows until the fabric is square (test by folding it diagonally.) Sc around the outside, making a ch7 loop at one corner. I find 2sc in the other corners is sufficient to turn the corners.

They still play

On November 7, 2023November 4, 2023 By CarynIn Cats, dog

Thor the technical kitten (seven months old) and Missy the dog still play on the living room rug. Here is the most recent video. Here is one where Thor was much smaller. He has grown a bit.

Photo description: Video still of Gray Tabby cat and Black dog laying on a gray and blue rug together.

As long as Thor maintains a healthy weight, he shouldn’t ever outweigh Missy who weighs 20 pounds, but visually he is getting closer in size.

Fate of the pumpkins

On November 6, 2023November 2, 2023 By CarynIn chickens

We get our pumpkins to carve jack-o-lanterns the day before Halloween, then the day after, put them out for the chickens. This is to limit mold growth and decay. I will leave the pumpkins in the runs until the chickens have pecked away what they want, then they go to the compost bin.

Photo description: Natural white pumpkin carved as a happy skull sitting on the dirt with a hen investigating.

Photo description: Carved orange pumpkin with the lid removed sitting on the ground with a hen pecking at the inside of the lid.

String produce bags

On November 5, 2023November 2, 2023 By CarynIn Craft

I have found a use for my knitting looms: string bags. I had some acrylic Luster Sheen yarn by Coats and Clark in my stash, and I probably inherited it since the price tag is from Woolworth for $1.49! It is strong and thin, which is great for string bags. I follow the included instructions to start knitting. These looms recommend a twisted stitch, which also works better for bags as they retain their spacing better. After the first pass, I run the tail through the first round to close off the bag. The end won’t completely close until the fifth round or so, but it is easiest to find the loops after that first yarn over. I then continue to knit until I have about 12 inches of fabric, pulled straight. To finish the bag, I run two lengths of satin cord through the last round to make drawstrings.