Pattern: Wrist Work Bag

While the puppet insanity is still in full swing, and I'm making and modifying patterns like a mad woman (okay, not LIKE a mad woman... still) I took a break to do another free pattern. This one is a wrist bag for holding your ball of yarn so you can crochet on the fly. I'd seen a knitted one in someone's project list and decided I just had to have one too.

We all know I don't do the pointy sticks... so, this one is super easy, works up really fast and is useful too.

Wrist Work Bag: 

With H hook and cotton..

6sc in magic ring

*inc around* (12)

*sc, inc* around (18)

*sc, sc, inc* around (24)

*sc, sc, sc, inc* around (30)

join with ss 

chain four, dc in same space

*skip 2 sc, (dc, chain 2 dc, chain 1) in next sc* repeat around for row of dc Vstitches

Work dc V stitch (dc, chain 2 dc, chain 1) in chain one spaces between V stitches of previous row. I did seven rows of V stitches for my bag and it's about the right height for a ball of yarn. 

sc around for three rows

ss together, chain 28-30 (depending on your wrist and length of handle you want) ss to bag top on opposite side.

sc back along chain. 

ss to rim. 

sc back to opposite side

ss to rim

sc back, ss and finish off.

Weave in ends. 

More with Puppety

Well the puppet bug has bit me hard. I have polished up the pattern for the basic hand puppet with variations and it's now available on my ravelry store.
LINK: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/frances-pauli-designs

As much fun as I'm having with that one and the wonderful puppets my test crochet folks have made too, I want to do up a hand puppet that can hold  things and use its arms as well. So, I'm back to the testing/drafting stage and fiddling with some ideas for a simple hand puppet with hands pattern.

So far, I've had one awkward goof and one that I really like. I think I'm getting close to how I want this to look....

She is the spirit of the Eastern Wind, and I'll be doing four in elemental colors. For now, I'm out of black, so her arms need to be longer and I have to come back in and extend the black under sleeve so it covers the puppeteers arm for better performing.

Still needs some refining, but it should be ready for testing fairly soon.

:)

Rough and Tumble Coaster Set

I'm not exactly sure where the idea for this one came from, except that I needed coasters...my nice, glass set had so many chips around the edges that our fingers were in danger every time we used them, and I wanted to make them sturdy and able to be used outside for picnics/bbq or just having some coffee on the patio. 

So I sent my husband to the store with a request that he bring back a "big ol ball" of sisal garden twine, followed by an assurance that there was such a thing, and yes, it would be easy to find. 

Eureka. 

With a ball of sisal garden twine and a size K crochet hook.

dc- double crochet

ch-chain

ss- slip stitch

sc-single crochet

12 dc in a magic ring ss together

ch 3 (doesn't count as dc) 2dc in each dc around (24 dc) ss tog.

ch 2 *sc in next dc then 2sc in next dc* around. ss together 

cut sisal finish off and weave in end.

With scissors, trip all the long stings that stick out (give them a quick shave) for tidiness.

The sisal can be rough on your hands. You have to really work it but it can take a beating. After four, my  hands were getting sore, but it wasn't too bad. The coasters will curl up a little at the edge which works great with small galsses and coffee cups. If you are a giant mug drinker (like me) they are perfect sized and the mug of coffee will quickly flatten them out. They're flexible and easy to mold/manipulate because of the sisal. 

Stash!!

My mother off-loaded a bit of her stash on me. I'm not complaining. Stash is good. In particular when it comes in massive quantities. :)

But now I have two GIANT cones of mohair and I don't know what to do with it. Yeah, this is the kind of dilema I can really live with.

They are somewhat halloween colored, but there is SO MUCH yardage I find myself wanting to go big, complex, monumental!!!!

And so instead of working on my edits (which I'm supposed to be doing) I am in fact searching for appropriate patterns. (which is way too much fun)

Any Suggestions?
(they have to be crochet, I am knitting disabled)