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.

:)

It's a Polyp...really.

THIS is what happens when I procrastinate:

ALIEN POLYP PATTERN

Okay, I used regular red heart worsted weight scrap yarn and an F hook. 

This is amigurumi style so count around in a spiral and don't ss join your rows together. I also used safety eyes, which I got in a swap and am now IN LOVE with. You can do whatever you like for embellishments etc. 

stitches:

ss slip stitch

sc single crochet

dc double crochet

hdc half double crochet

f/o finish off

BODY

round 1- do six single crochet in a magic ring

round 2- 2sc in each sc (12)

round 3- 1 sc in first sc then 2sc in next sc around (18)

round 4- 1 sc in first 2 sc then 2sc in next sc around (24)

round 5- 1sc in first 3 sc then 2sc in next sc around (30)

round 6- 1sc in first 4 sc then 2sc in next sc around (36)

round 7 working in back loops only 1sc in each sc around (36)

round 8-16 (both loops) 1sc in each sc around (36)

(I attached my eyes between row 10 and 11)

F/O

BASE

make bottom exactly as rounds 1-6 and then F/O

ATTATCH

hold flat bottom to bottom edge of body. with complimentary color join with a ss. 

working in one loop from each part do:

hdc, 3 dc, hdc, ss, all the way around. 

stuff before you get too far! 

If you want the wavy bits to be bigger, go around again in the same pattern. 

F/O and weave in tail. 

CURLY HAIR

chain 11 

3 hdc in second chain from hook

3hdc in each chain to end of chain

attach to top of moster head. 

MODIFICATIONS

Aside from colors and size of hook, you can pretty much do anything with this one. More curlies on the head, arms, fins, flippers.... go crazy! 

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. 

Personalized Tunisian Mug Wrap

I wanted to make a Tunisian simple stitch mug wrap so that I could cross-stitch or embroider monograms or symbols onto them easily. The instructions below produce a wrap that will fit a standard, straight sided coffee mug. If you have a larger mug or want a bigger wrap, there are notes in parenthesis on how to increase the finished wrap.
Remember when adding width (beginning chain length) that you need to keep room for the edging and still not have a mouthful of fibers when you try to sip your coffee or tea! :)

Materials:
Worsted weight acrylic or similar sized yarn in two or more colors.
Tunisian/Afghan hook size I
crochet hook size H

Stitches:
TSS Tunisian Simple Stitch
sc Single Crochet
slip stitch
chain

On Tunisian hook, chain 10 (11,12)
TSS until the work measures 8 inches (or more*)
Finish off with color one.

Using crochet hook, attach edging color in corner with a slip stitch. Chain one and sc in corner.
Chain 30 and slip stitch to sc at beginning of chain
sc down short side of wrap
In corner: sc chain 30 slip stitch in original sc, chain one and sc in corner
sc across long edge
In the corner: sc, chain one, sc
sc up short side of wrap
In corner: sc, chain one, sc
sc across long side of wrap
Slip stitch to very beginning attach slip stitch, cut yarn and finish off

Finishing:
Weave in all ends.
Use coffee mug to position two big buttons and attach on short end opposite loops. Or you can use one button if the loops will reach. Then embellish your cup however you like with a tapestry needle and coordinating yarn. :)

* when figuring out how long to TSS make sure the wrap will go mostly around the cup, but remember that you will be adding edging to both ends. It is usually better to end with a little extra room. Stretch wrap around cup and make sure it doesn't reach the handle on both ends. You can always make slightly longer chains, but taking out rows of stitching is no fun. 

Tunisian Latte Cozy

Free Pattern:

TSS= Tunisian Simple Stitch.

This project is worked on a double ended tunisian hook "in the round." 

There are some fabulous tutorials on Youtube that explain the technique far better than I can. :)

(My gauge was an I hook with worsted weight acrylic. All you have to do is adjust your chain and row # to use what you have and make it fit)

Chain 28 and slip stitch together. 

TSS in the round for eight rows.

Bind off and weave in ends. 

Tricky, huh? 

 Enjoy!

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)

The Most Fictional Fun I've Ever Had

I started this blog for a silly reason. You see, my best friend talked me into signing up for Ravelry and I needed a way to get photos into posts easily, and I couldn't figure out the tech angle. The only thing I worked out is that if they had a url already (like from a blog post) that I could easily get them where I wanted them. Hence, I started a blog specifically for fiber arts and to host photos of stuff I wanted to share there.

Have you played on Ravelry yet? Man, get on over there and dive in.

Anyway, I obviously got hooked. No pun intended. I filled up my queue with projects, loaded up on favorite patterns and added every fiber book I own (and some I want to own) into my Ravelry library.
I joined groups. I crocheted like a fiend for a month or two. I chatted about Once Upon A Time, Harry Potter, Literature, Amigurami, and Star Trek....

you know, all the cool stuff. :)

This last summer I even participated in the Ravelympics and earned a sweet medal in Shawl Sailing.
Check it out:

But by far the most fun I've discovered has been in something called: Ravel Trek

yeah, if you know me, you can hear the squeeing already.

They play Star Trek on Ravelry, and it. is. beyond. cool.
I joined Starfleet. I was a cadet at the academy, I got assigned to a ship, went on a deep space tour of duty and completed a few missions (including one disastrous away mission) all from the comfort of my laptop and with my thread and hook in hand.

I even printed out the Official Ravel Trek Star Fleet Fiber Corps New Recruit Guide.
In short, I geeked out.
Here is where you can play too:

And I have to show off my little badge for completing a mission: