Making Things for My Family and Myself

I have been making so many things to sell, that I haven't worked much on anything for myself or for my family. This week I got back to some of those things.

My youngest daughter left for a trip to Senegal this week - yes, the one who had her appendix out! At her request, I made her this water bottle carrier. It is made from Whole Foods bags crocheted while holding a strand of cotton yarn alongside. The plarn is waterproof and provides cushioning, and the cotton is absorbent in case the water bottle sweats or spills.

Today I took out some of the needlepoint projects I had sitting on a shelf. There were a few that look like they are completed, I'm not sure why they were still in bags with their threads. I made this one a while ago. I used a handpainted canvas, and added some personalization to the bottom edge. Ghe music staff ix a signature, the notes on it are ABD.

Another one I completed is pictured below. I remember that when I finished it I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. I was thinking of maybe incorporating it into a tote bag.
Here is one that I started and didn't complete:

This is the one I chose to work on today. I love how soothing needlepoint can be. I started this one over 5 years ago!:

A Walk Around My Neighborhood

Field Testing Crafts

One effective marketing technique is to wear or use what you make. So I finally crocheted myself a purse out of plarn. See these previous posts to learn more about plarn:

Plarn
Working With Plarn
Plarn Fun!

First I sewed a bandanna into a lining and then I made the bag to fit the lining, which was then sewed to the top of the bag. Here is a picture of the finished bag:

The face of the bag is about 10 x 10 inches and it is 2 inches deep. The strap is a circular tube which I designed - it is strong and comfortable to wear. I stretch it as I work with it so it doesn't stretch any more as you use it.

Daily use of a bag that I made proved to be more than a good marketing technique. I found several which I can now correct in other bags. Firstly, ends that I had tucked in started to peek out:

I'm going to try some craft glue on it and see if that holds them in.

Lining the bag was something new for me. Most of the bags I have made so far are unlined so they can let damp contents breathe. However, for a purse I wanted a lining so that small things won't fall out.

One mistake I made was to crochet the bag a little bit bigger than the lining, thus the lining didn't quite fit. More significantly, putting a non-stretchy material inside a stretchy bag caused problems:

Yesterday I bought some light tan jersey fabric from JoAnn's to use as a lining. In addition, I purchased some broadcloth which looks good on both sides. I have cut the fabric to make into pockets, one will fit my iPod and/or cell phone and the other is a bit wider to hold keys and pens. I'll get out the sewing machine soon and I'll post the "after" pictures.

Appendicitis and Reversible Knit Stitch Patterns

What a week! My daughter's changing Facebook status tells the story:

Sunday: Heather is 17 years old.
Monday evening: Heather is going to the emergency room
Tuesday morning: Heather has appendicitis

Tuesday evening: Heather has no appendix

We got home Wednesday evening, she's sore and tired, but recovering. I'm tired, and also recovering. Following are pictures of my "appendicitis scarf". I started it in the emergency room, and finished it Wednesday morning.

I like working with patterns that include multiples of 3. I find I can count the stitches in my head and still focus on other things like conversations or TV. It also makes it easy to tell if you have the right number of stitches in the row, if you drop or add a stitch the pattern won't work.

When my husband and other daughter came to visit, the first thing I asked for was more yarn! Here is the second scarf I started to work on:

When I make scarves and afghans, I like them to look good on both sides. In the many books of stitch patterns I own, there are none that show how both sides of a stitch looks. Maybe I'll write a book featuring stitches that look good on both sides, along with photographs. Just one of the many projects to do in my spare time.

The two stitches I used for these scarves are relatively easy to do. For the one in the first picture I used a size 6 needle, and dk weight yarn, but this will work with any size yarn and the appropriate sized needles for the yarn weight. I cast on 21 stitches, and it is about 4.5 inches wide. Here is the stitch pattern for the first one:

Multiple of 6 stitches, plus 3

For every row: Slip the first st as if to purl; k2 *p3, k3; repeat from * to end.

The second scarf ends up looking sort of like a sideways rib stitch. I used a size 6 needle, and 2 strands of fingering weight yarn. With 24 stitches cast on it is 4.5 inches wide.

Following is the stitch pattern.

Cast on desired number of stitches

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit

Repeat these 3 rows for pattern.
Note: to make a smooth edge, slip the first stitch of each row.

Happy knitting!