Crochet Shell Blanket FINISHED!

Good Grief.  Wondered if I was EVER going to finish this monster.  A Project Linus Blanket Bee coming up (this Saturday!) lit a fire in my fingers!  I started 'way back in August - yes last year - great idea for a big child-sized blanket and though not a fan of acrylic, the colors pretty and the Red Heart certainly in my budget.  So it stayed in my WIP basket.

Hook: 5.0 mm (H)

Yarn:  Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Multis/Ombres

How much: 7 skeins = 945.0 yards (864.1m)

Colorway: Monet

Pattern:  Sideways Shell Baby Blanket from Project Linus

Old favorite pattern from Project Linus, very easy to learn, mindless to crochet while watching basketball with Dad.  I thought only 5 skeins would make a huge-enough blanket, but found that I had made it too long (152 ch).  So I acquired 2 more skeins, balancing the size. It's BIG blanket. 45"x70".

And I have YET to EVER crochet anything that is a right-on squared-size.  My initial chain always too tight. Whne the directions say "chain loosely" they mean LOOSELY. 

Oh well, it's pretty, soft, colorful & nice. And DONE.

And turned in on Saturday!  On to the next project.....

Fooling About with Chemo Hats

My favorite so far: crocheted with a picot edge trim, really really fast & easy. I tried the Caron Simply Soft Eco for the first time - and liked it better than would have thought. Not a fan of acrylic, but some cottons aren't stretchy/soft enough for a bare scalp.
I used (my) adjusted version of this pattern, courtesy of Head Huggers: http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/cpatt12.htm

US H (5.0 mm) hook, and added a row of SC before & after the 'holes'.
Lastly, added the picot edge for a feminine touch.
Stretchy, roomy, light & airy & not too clingy.
About about half the skein made 1 hat, fitting a medium-sized head.
I like the natural color too. Especially in Arizona summer heat.
My friend CC with ACS kindly donated the head to model/work with, as I practice & learn!
The Phyllis Cap


Then I tried a knit hat, used the pattern below. Having never used DP needles, well, um, I was glad for a little elastic in the cotton!
I ball of Cascade Yarns Fixation Spray Dyed/Effects
Size US 8 needles (5.0 mm)
Here's the pattern I followed (mostly), courtesy of chiknitterguy. I didn't make it deep enough, so it's a sz small for sure.
http://chiknitterguy.blogspot.com/2009/06/todds-no-purl-hat-needles-and-yarn.html

Brim rolled up or down.

I also tried The Inside Out Chemo Cap

Made this with cotton & baby acrylic, didn't really care for it when I finished. Here is the knit pattern, courtesy of Head Huggers:

http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt20.htm

Here's the crochet Phyllis Cap, made with Lion Cotton

And another crochet version, with Bernat Bamboo Natural Blends in natural.
Soft & cushy, but a tad too hot for this climate.

And a couple more.

Windmill Dishcloth

Lovely blue & natural cotton, in windmill dishcloth pattern - another from Sew-Funky. See pattern link below.

Pattern link here:

http://sew-funky.blogspot.com/2008/05/windmill-dishcloth.html

Simple Crochet Scrubby Pattern

The scrubby pattern is very simple, a great use of leftover yarn. I used about 1/4 ball of kitchen cotton and US H hook:

Simple Crochet Scrubby

Chain 2.

Row1: 6sc into the 2nd ch, do not join.

Row2: Turn & 2sc into each of the 6 sts.

Row3: Turn & 2sc into each of the 12 sts.

Row4: Turn & repeat, till it's the size you want.

(6 rows made an approx 4" Scrubbie)

Weave in the loose ends & you're done!.

Knit dishcloth with keyhole crochet edge

Basic Garter Dishcloth
(aka Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth)
1 ball kitchen cotton
Size 7 needles

Increase Half
Cast on 4 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: K2, yo, knit to end.
Row 3: Rep Row 2 until there are 45-50 sts on needle.
Decrease Half
Next Row: K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit to end.
Rep last row until 4 sts remain.
K one row.
Bind off.
Do not cut yarn.

Keyhole Crochet Edge (I used an "h" crochet hook)
Round 1: sc all the way around finished dishcloth (with 3sc in ea corner).
Round 2: after 4th corner: ch4, sk1, 1dc in the next, ch4, sk1, 2dc in the next--repeat. In the corners, I made 2 dc, twice, to get it balanced.
Round 3: sc all the way around (with 3sc in ea corner).
Weave in loose ends.

Knit Dishcloth with Crochet Scallop Edge

I like the simple scalloped crochet edge, ‘specially when I give as a gift.

Crochet Scallop Edge:

1 row of sc around finished dishcloth, (3sc in ea corner st), ch 1.

Scallop row: *1 dc, ch1 + 1 sc in next st, sk 1 st, repeat from *

till you’re back to the original corner & it looks nice!

Here is the link to the Eloomanator Diagonal Dishcloth: http://eloomanator.eloomanation.com/docs/Eloomanator_Diagonal_Knit_Dishcloth.pdf

And the link to the basic favorite dishcloth:

http://www.groupepp.com/dishbout/kpatterns/grfavorite.html

Cotton Crochet Basketweave Washcloths

Here is the Free Pattern: http://www.groupepp.com/dishbout/cpatterns/basketweave.html

I love the bright colors. Maybe use as Christmas gifts.
Or combine for one large throw or blanket.

I've actually started these in August instead of November.

Great fir using up yarn, mindless crochet pattern, nice for late evening.

I'm nutty about basketweave patterns.