Tag: crochet

What to do with small bits of yarn

On By CarynIn Craft

I took the single ply merino wool I had left over from plying and made a simple lace scarf for my youngest’s doll. I had just enough for a decent length. The yarn is about 32 wraps per inch, which is small even for lace weight yarn. I tried nålbinding a new stitch, but the dark yarn was too hard to see. I tried knitting, but again, it was tiny and hard to see. So I used crochet, because I can crochet without having to distinguish individual strands. I did a simple lace pattern (chain three, single crochet in previous chain, repeat), and it still took me days to complete. Making doll clothes, though, is a great way to try different techniques with small amounts of yarn, rather than tackling a human sized project.

Crochet lace scarf from hand-spun merino wool for an 18” doll

Crocheted swatches

On By CarynIn Craft

What to do with wee balls of yarn? Swatches! The experiments on my hand-spun yarn continue. I crocheted up a swatch from each of the three balls of yarn, one two-ply, one three-ply, and one four-ply. I used a double crochet stitch for each swatch, but used a different sized hook for the four-ply. I’ve labeled each swatch (as you do) with a bit of hole-punched card stock.

The stitch definition is nicer (to me) for the three and four ply yarns, but the two-ply is has the softest feel. Although, the three ply may have felt softer if I used a size larger hook.

Wooden ergonomic crochet hook

On By CarynIn Craft

Well this was fun! I made a crochet hook out of a chunk of mesquite. Rather than a straight dowel (which are harder to hold and manipulate), I made a handle shaped to my hand, then chiseled out an indentation for my thumb. Then I shaped the actual shaft and hook. It took me a couple tries to get the length right (I used some scrap cotton to test), but found a good length and refined the head. I sanded down to 400 grit and sealed with tung oil. The shaft is a size K hook. I could probably have gone smaller, but we’ll see how this one performs. I sent it off to my Mom for the holidays!

Finished mesquite crochet hook
Back of crochet hook with wood burned lettering
Side of crochet hook

Cosplay crochet?

On By CarynIn Craft

My eldest likes to play Pokémon and picked for her avatar a green and white beret. As I was watching her play, I realized that I could make a hat like that! She didn’t make a negative face, so I sat down with my fingering wool and worked on recreating the hat (but without the cross bar, as she requested).

Crocheted beret with pom pom (100% wool)
Pokémon trainer hat
Hat flat

Dryer ball bag

On By CarynIn Craft

Awhile ago I switched to wool dryer balls in the dryer instead of dryer sheets. For the most part they work well (I do still use the sheet if I have a fuzzy blanket because the static is too much for the wool balls). I’ve been keeping the balls hanging next to the dryer in the nice cotton drawstring bag that they came in. Except getting the balls out of a drawstring bag when it is hanging is irritating. I thought about using a simple basket, but there is no where near the dryer to set a basket where it won’t fall off. It finally got to a point that the irritation was more than I could bear (honestly, it doesn’t take much right now). So I crocheted a hanging mesh bag with a wire rim so it was easy to get the balls in and out.

Coated steel wire rim with hanger

I started with coated steel wire from my wire stash. I used some variegated cotton, also from my stash (yeah, I haven’t been to a craft store in two months, <twitch>). I formed the wire into a loop with a handle, then did a single crochet around the wire to cover it. I crocheted the mesh (2 double crochet, chain 5, repeat, for those that want to know), from the top down and then decreased to close the bag. It functions! Hurray! It is also kind if fun to throw the balls at the bag to get them in.

Crocheted dryer ball bag