I combined all the kitchen aids I’ve been making into a bundle to sell at a local craft fair. The produce bag is the packaging, and inside are two cotton washcloths, a dish scrubby, and a towel holder. I even did them in a variety of color combinations.
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.
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!
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.
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.
I have been experimenting with nylon tulle fabric (fine mesh fabric, usually in the bridal section). My sewing machine cleaning instructions include using this kind of fabric to gently clean screw threads. If it can handle that kind of work, scrubbing dishes without scratching should be a breeze. I ordered 15 yards, and chose the gold color. I tried cutting narrow strips, but found that sections about 6-7” inches wide worked well to crochet bulky scrubbies. I used leather shears to cut off a section of the bolt. (I’ve since found out that tulle comes in 6” widths in the ribbon section, so we’re going to store that info away for later.)
The cut strip was double layered, because that is the way fabric is laid in a bolt. To make the material manageable, I wound it nostepinne style on a dowel.
I tried various methods to make the scrubbies, but came back to the basic crochet half-double stitch round. For my skill set, that is the neatest (as in tidy and well formed).
To make these, I use a size M hook and start with a magic circle, crochet 8 Half-Double Crochet (hdc) stitches, pull the end tight and slip stitch (sl st) into the first hdc. The second row starts with two chain (ch) stitches, then has two hdc in each hdc from row 1. I crochet the end in as I go. Sl st to beginning the of the row. The last row (yup, just three rounds) starts with 2ch, then 1hdc in the previous hdc, 2hdc in the next, repeat around. Cut material, pull through last stitch, join to first stitch and weave in the end. Easy peasy and fast.
Crocheting cat mats is a great stash busting activity. Pairing worsted weight acrylic yarn with a puff stitch results in a cushy mat that seriously dips into the bag of leftovers.
To make the mat use a size G hook with worsted or medium weight yarn in three or more colors.
Chain 43, or multiples of 2 +1 to get the desired size.
Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, single crochet (sc) across.
Row 2: turn, chain (ch) 2, *yarn over, skip first sc and insert hook in the second sc, yarn over, pull up loop to match the height of 2 ch. 3 loops on the hook. In the same sc, yarn over, insert hook, yarn needle over, pull up loop. 5 loops on the hook. Repeat to get 7 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all seven loops. Ch 1. Repeat from * across.
Row 3: Change color. Leave the other color attached if doing a three row repeat. Ch 2, *yarn over, insert hook in the first ch space, yarn over, pull up loop to match the height of 2 ch. 3 loops on the hook. In the same space, yarn over, insert hook, yarn needle over, pull up loop. 5 loops on the hook. Repeat to get 7 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all seven loops. Ch 1. Repeat from * across.
Row 4: Repeat Row 3.
Row 5: Pick up the first color, which should be at the starting side. Continue with puff stitch pattern picking up the yarn color that was left off two rows down. If you want to change color every row and not have a three row repeat, or you run out of yarn, weave in the ends, or crochet over the ends as you go.
Continue making rows of puff stitches until you reach the desired length.
To finish the edge, single crochet along the top and sides for two rows. Pull yarn through last loop. Weave in ends.
Put mat where the cat can find it.
Critters and Craft 