November snuck up on me again!

I guess I should be glad that doesn't read Dec. I'll be getting into making holiday stockings and gift card holders soon. Maybe this will be the year I actually get that bazar table and sell off all the completed projects I have stashed around. We shall see. If I don't get back Happy Holidays!

Crochet hook caddy

I've seen a lot of similar items online lately. I believe the first was on Moogly's blog. It was a bit large for what I needed though. I have a plastic zipper case with slots for my hooks and still they all manage to end up under my pc monitor in a pile.

 

 The center is a paper toilet paper roll with the top edge covered in a piece of blue material. The crochet it made from top to bottom and decreased with the change in colors. The light blue at the top doesn't extend all the way to the bottom to conserve bulk from being wrapped. The light blue was 19 rows to cover the roll with the last row being worked in the back stitch only. After adding the other colors the light blue is sewn snuggly around the roll, and the rest wrapped. And the end sewn in place.

 

Using H hook, ch 13, sc in scond ch from hook and across, 12 st. 18 rows of sc . 19th row of sc worked in back loops only. 2 rows of dec on top end, at end of row ch5, sc in second sc from hook, next 4 ch and row of sc. 2 more rows of dec on top end. (material should now extend to bottom of paper roll. 16 rows. 3 rows dec on top end. 16 rows, 2 rows of dec on top end. 15 rows.

 

The bottom is a magic circle with 8 sc in the loop and increase rounds. 4 rounds total and then sewn through all ends of wrap to attach bottom. Several stitches are sewn through the paper roll as well.

 

I considered making 2 circles for the bottom with a washer or something heavy between but then decided to just through pennies into the tube. It actually didn't need anything to weight it down though. With my pens in the center and hooks along the sides its just tall enough to remain nicely balanced.

Crochet Winter Slippers

It's getting to be that time of year again. My pc is next to a lovely bay window, which is great in spring and autumn. Not so great in winter, even after the window is sealed it gets freakin cold. So I pull out my shawl and lapghan and where are my slippers?  Every year my slippers go off to that mystical place of single socks, lonely keys, and flashlights that can only be accessed when your not looking for any of the actual items there. Slippers are a popular crochet item, but not all patterns are created with extended wear in mind. Yarn fibers reeeelaaax. And so those cute high top moccasins with the peek a boo toe become a floppy pile of string that falls off your foot. Most of my past creations have become un-wearable before my toes thaw. Even with revamping and elastic some models just couldn't be saved. So over experimentation I've discovered certain things that will extend the wear of high traffic slippers. Now don't get me wrong all those cute granny slippers have their place. Possibly by the door when you get new carpet or a gift for Aunt Do who keeps them under the bed for midnight emergencies. Perhaps you should understand that I'm one of those people who when isn't at work, or on an errand I'm barefoot. Why not just wear socks you say? Then I'd have to wash them. A pair of socks for everyday lounging doing... not much. And then amazingly even after years of buying the exact same pack of identical white tube socks so they will all match I end up with 12 obviously different socks and not one pair. I think the washer is cursed. The best creation so far was the most simple easiest pattern ever. I can not locate the web page from 2 years ago. But a woman was making simple slippers for a shelter she supported with crochet items. The pattern was a crochet rectangle folded long sides together. One short end was sewn together, the heel. The opposite top long side was sewn 2/3 closed. The open short end was gathered and pulled tightly closed to form the toe. Tada done. BTW these were worked with worsted weight yarn 2 strands together. I made the center of my rectangle, the sole, 3 strands together. No cuff but when paired with the leg warmers I'd made they were perfect. Extensive use just made them look better actually, just be sure to not make them too long. The more snug the longer they will wear. So now I know I want a slipper with: a separate multi strand sole, a dense/short stitch, snug fit, slouchy leg warmer'ish cuff. The pattern I used for the base of the slipper I found on Ravelry but is from Bernat's free pattern pages, Slipper Boots. I looked at a lot of patterns before deciding this was the one. They look like rain boots to me. But the good news is it worked really well. I used 2 strands of worsted weight instead of chunky yarn and went up a size to the large. My foot is 10in long and these fit well, which means snuggly but with wiggle room.

The 2 strands together was just a tiny bit shy of gauge. The top of the foot, below, was worked single strand. Which is why I went up a size. you could maybe go up a hook size. But I wanted a tight stitch and it will relax, so even if it is a bit snug after the breaking in period it should be fine. You could also continue using 2 strands which would tighten the stitch and be warmer and hold the shape longer.

The sole and upper are assembled as in the pattern. I had tried the join stitch from the bottom but it left a "not well sewn" look to the top. I could have whip stitched it together but decided the join actually made a nice color break. That's where I completely deviated from the pattern. You could had any 'cuff' or edging you like. I choose 2 rows of dc alternating front and back post. If you were going to use elastic I'd recommend doing so here, perhaps starting the dark green with a sc over the elastic.

I followed the post stitches with dc's in the back loop only. It just added a small ridge to end the cuff. The next row I increased the dc's every 8th stitch or so, to give it a little bagginess. Oh I also used the next size up crochet hook for everything after the posts. A couple more rows of dc, however many your comfortable with as this is the attached leg warmer it can be just over the ankle or up the calf. Though you made need more elastic or a tie for the top if its too tall on the leg. The final two rows are again alternated front and back post stitches. With that last row every 4th front post was done around 2 posts, to give it gather. I fully expected mine to slouch but I didn't want the top to be hanging open.

I really like these. So much so I'm considering making a few pairs as holiday gifts.