Crochet to Go

I haven't posted any crochet finds in a while. Here's a neat one (knitted):


See more here.

This bracelet is the easiest project I've stumbled across in awhile. You can get through 2 or 3 bracelets over the course of a single movie. I'm fond of this hemp version, and the cotton crochet thread bracelet I started last night is looking pretty good. I plan to move on to necklaces next. The pattern is available here.

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

i'm cute
Originally uploaded by elesemichelle.

Graham has grown into his romper! The pattern is from Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies.

I'm wrapping up an excruciating crochet project - crafting the Obama logo into a Christmas ornament. As you can see, it has required a number of attempts, some much more successful than the others. My favorite - and final - draft is in the upper left.

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

This pattern is one of the more popular scarves on ravelry right now. I used a two-strand pink-and-white yarn I picked up at an estate sale a view years ago. It's very pink and girly! I like it as an accent piece.

Thanks Alicia!
Originally uploaded by dubteka.

Fabian, the aspiring musician.

Thanks Alicia!
Originally uploaded by dubteka.

I just finished three hats for little friends. I'm really hoping the sizing is right - I'm great at baby sizing and have adult hats down, but everything in between is a bit of a guess. It's the curse of living in the Bay Area - you just don't see kids very often. The pink hat is my favorite (it's worked in sc with a winding seam; the others are basic dc hats worked in a continuous loop).

The Guardian announced today that Google and the US book industry have finally reached an agreement about publishing and archiving books online (article here).

The agreement between Google and the US book industry means that internet users will soon be able to choose from and buy millions of titles, many out of print, or read them on a page-by-page basis.

…"What is so positive is that it recognises that authors and publishers must be involved when works in copyright are digitised and made available to the public, and usage must be paid for, while at the same time it promises to make the practicalities easily manageable for users."…

This is a big deal for all of us crafters - a world where all patterns are available, at any time.

My Christmas project list is starting to come together. It's daunting - I actually had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of everything - but it's starting to come together. The first two hats are done (grey and green, using Berocco's Pure Merino and the pattern mentioned previously). The pink hat I'm keeping for myself. I wasn't loving it during the creation process (too pink!), but I really like it on. It's somehow rosy enough to not be obnoxious, and I love the feel of the yarn. It's from a pattern I bookedmarked back in January: I Like Lemon's Button-Tab Hat. The original is a knitting pattern; I made a crocheted version using one of my basic hat patterns and a single crochet border (worked perpendicularly to the hat and in the back loops only). Very cute on - it's subtle, but nicely decorative. I'll take some more photos of the yarn this weekend in better light. (I've hit that unfortunate part of the year where I'm at work during the daylight hours, and leave and come home in the dark.)

Hat completed successfully! It's very, very cute. I used a 4.00mm hook and sport weight yarn (Patons Grace) and worked the 3-6 month size, and blocked and stretched it as recommended. It's quite small, but I'm hoping it will work with a newborn.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry, Vintage Bonnet by Sidsel Sangild.

I organized my yarns this morning and ran across this hat - an early attempt to make a brimmed adult-sized hat. As you can see, it's not quite the size I intended. But I like the brim and the fairly stiff structure.

Graham modeling his sweater (the original from the Crochet to Go Deck).

The best way to describe this project is as a successful failure. It was supposed to be a hat (you can find the pattern on Ravelry, Vintage Bonnet by Sidsel Sangild) and I somehow managed to get it horribly wrong. A combination of too small hook and thin yarn, is my guess. It's not a bad vase, though. I have it around a ceramic cup for now, and plan to starch it to stand alone as a bowl.

Here's the adult version of the Sejia Set hat from The Happy Hooker. I added two more increase rows, used thick yarn (Berroco's Pure Merino, color #8573), and a 6.5mm hook. I think it's this year's Christmas hat - it's super soft, worked up in under three hours, and looks good on everyone I've tried in on.

This is the first pattern I've made from a ravelry find. It's from the Mingling Yarn blog (pattern here). The pattern is simple and works up quickly. I like the finished result as a concept, but it looks really bad on me. I think I'd like a softer, more cowl-like structure, without the point this makes.

I'm done with the baby hats! 6 different variations, plus an adult-sized one for good measure (I'll post a picture of that separately). These are all based off the Sejia Set pattern in The Happy Hooker. The pattern adapts quite well to different yarn types (I added additional increase rows for the finer yarns).

I have 4 friends expecting boys right now. There's only one girl coming - and she's a twin of one of the boys. I took a road trip last week and got started on a few of the presents. It's surprisingly hard to find great boy crochet gifts. If you have any ideas, let me know. Right now I'm thinking rattles and squishy balls, hats, and bibs. This blue bib is a ribbed variant of the pattern I've been working on.

This is based on a pattern in the Make It Yourself library (a 1970s craft encyclopedia) - a pullover sweater I’ve reduced to a simple scarf. It alternates chain groups with rows of sc worked in the back loop only. For the scarf itself, I used a nubbly yarn that gives it a more textured appearance. The yellow version (a coaster) uses a sport-weight cotton yarn. I think this would be a nice edging for a knit scarf, and potentially placemats as well.

What started out as a quick project has turned in to a multi-draft, nearly two month project. The white, lace trimmed bib above was crocheted by my great-grandmother right before I was born. It's elegant and classic and, if the stains are any indication, was actually used. I wanted to replicate the pattern, but use baby weight yarn (to save time) and create variants that were less feminine.

This blue version was my second attempt (the first wasn't even close). It's too square, a bit stiff, and doesn't drape well.

I think this green one is just about final. I'm going to make the straps slightly shorter, add an extra two rows along the lower edge for length, and incorporate a scalloped edge when making the pattern for a girl.

This is a result of the ravelry fixation - I was cataloging all the projects I'd like to make in Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet, and stumbled across this pattern at the end of the book. It was incredibly fast - 2 hours from start to finish - and is a great way to use up yarn scraps. My version uses an assortment of wool and acrylic worsted weight yarns in pink, purple, and red.

I'm hooked. I've spent every night this week poking around on the site, cataloging work, and uploading images. It's exactly what I've been looking for - a visual index to both projects completed and projects I'd like to make. One of my favorite features is the library, where you get links to the projects you've made from a book (it would be even better if you could see your pictures). I also love the queue feature, for projects you'd like to make. It's awesome to be able to see pictures of a completed projects, scan through problems people have made, and see the results of using different yarns and hooks. If you're not already signed up, do it today! My account name is AliciaMalia if you want to look me up.

Additional features I'd like:
- A view to see all projects in any given book
- A way to see what I've made in a book, and what I'd like to make, all on the same screen

There is a printing error on the baby hat pattern in the Crochet to Go Deck (thanks to Andrea for pointing it out). Here is the corrected pattern:

Baby Hat
Warm, soft, secure, and adorable—everything you need in a baby hat. This is a very quick pattern, easy to complete in a weekend.

Level of difficulty: 2

Materials needed

• 40 grams/85 yds light green in medium worsted weight (I used TLC Amore in 3627 Light Thyme)
• 30 grams/65 yds dark green in medium worsted weight (I used TLC Amore in 3628 Dark Thyme)
• Crochet hook size F-5 (3.75 mm)
• Yarn needle
  

Gauge
In pattern, 18 sc and 20 rows = 4 inches

Sizing for 0–3 months, changes are shown in brackets [3-6, 6–12 months].

Directions
With light green, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook (6 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 3: Sc in each st (12 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 4: Sc in first st, 2 sc in foll st, *sc in next st, 2 sc in foll st. Repeat from * around (18 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 5: Repeat rnd 3.

Rnd 6: Sc in each of first 2 sts, 2 sc in foll st, *sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in foll st. Repeat from * around (24 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 7: Repeat rnd 3.

Rnd 8: Sc in each of first 3 sts, 2 sc in foll st, *sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in foll st. Repeat from * around (30 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 9: Repeat rnd 3.

Rnd 10: Sc in each of first 4 sts, 2 sc in foll st, *sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in foll st. Repeat from * around (36 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 11: repeat rnd 3.

Rnd 12: Sc in each of first 5 sts, 2 sc in foll st, *sc in each of next 5 sts, 2 sc in foll st. Repeat from * around (42 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

-----------------
[For 3–6 months, work 13A–14A, for 6-12 months, work 13A-16A]
Rnd 13A: Repeat rnd 3.

Rnd 14A: Sc in each of first 6 sts, 2 sc in foll st, *sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 sc in foll st. Repeat from * around (48 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 15A: Repeat rnd 3.

Rnd 16A: Sc in each of first 7 sts, 2 sc in foll st, *sc in each of next 7 sts, 2 sc in foll. Repeat from * around (54 sc). Join with sl st to first st. Ch 1, turn.
------------------------

Rnd 13–20 [15-24, 17–26]: Repeat rnd 3. Fasten off light green.

Rnd 21–34 [25-38, 27–40]: Attach dark green to any st, repeat rnd 3. Fasten off dark green.

Ear flaps (optional—make 2)
With dark green, ch 12 [14, 16].

1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across (11 sc). Ch 1, turn.

2–4 [2-5, 2-6]: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

5–8 [6-10, 7-12]: Dec sc, to combine 2 sts, at beginning and end of row, sc in all other sts. Ch 1, turn.

9 [11, 13]: Dec sc over 3 remaining sts. Do not fasten off.

Ch 50 to make a cord to tie the flaps with. Fasten off.

Finishing
Sew the flaps to the hat right along the seam between dark and light green. Flaps should be grouped together slightly, not placed 180 degrees apart. Weave in any loose ends.

Finished dimensions
7 1/2 [8 1/2, 9 1/2] inches in diameter.

Here's a bizarre little find from the Musee Mechanique in San Francisco. If you've never been, go - it's an entire museum of antique slot machines, automated carnival attractions, and vintage arcade games, all of which are in mint condition and functional. You can actually use and play with everything.

The hand-crocheted sweaters, however? Not original. It's hard to imagine why they were ever made.

Thinking of flowers, this is one of the better collections of flower patterns I've seen in awhile. 4 different patterns here, courtesy of Crochet Me.

This was a quick, use-up-some-leftover-yarn project. The pattern is from the 2007 edition of the Crochet Pattern a Day calendar. It's not exactly my taste, but it's a surefire grandmother or mom gift. Even an easy hostess gift. Total production time averaged about 30 minutes.

This pattern (the pink one is the original) was designed to be identical on either side, which translates to 2 sets of petals and a ring of leaves in between. The realist in me found this odd - flowers don't work that way. I streamlined the pattern (yellow) to have a single side and more leaf coverage on the back.

It would be simple to make your own custom pattern from any flower pattern you've already tested - just add a long chain and tassel at the end. If you're looking for inspiration, here's an extensive list of flower patterns.

European artist Joana Vasconcelos covers creatures in crochet. Her earlier work was much larger, and she appears to be focusing on the details and quality of her craftmanship. It's intriguing. Her site is interesting too, if a bit hard to navigate.

I finished this suit on the second-to-last day of my trip to Mexico. I think I've posted the top before - I made it several years ago, and it's gotten a lot of use. I've resisted making a bottom, primarily from a practicality standpoint. I just wasn't sure it would actually work.

Inspiration came from - of all places - US Weekly and The Superficial. Mena Suvari was featured wearing two different suits, of varying degrees of explicitness. This first one is similar to my final version; I think I'll skip this size.

It actually worked, and was surprisingly comfortable. I used cotton crochet thread and a 2.55 mm hook. I wouldn't recommend using anything larger. The material kept its shape while wet, it just gets a bit stiff. The bottom is worked entirely in sc; the top consists of 6 granny squares sewn together.

This is - I think - my last project from Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies. I was flipping through the book the other day and realized I've made almost every single item. There are a few that aren't exactly my taste, but the majority are perfect for baby gifts. I definitely recommend picking up a copy.

This little outfit has a zipper from ankle to neck. My boyfriend was concerned with the scratchiness of the zipper on the inside, so I've lined it with a soft ribbon. I like the look of it; I'll continue doing this on future projects.

I also like the reinforced heel (you can see if you look closely at the picture). You could easily make a baby booty pattern out of it.

The hippo was difficult. I made 3 different versions before finally settling on this one. The secret is to make it thinner - the rounder the shape, the less definition the design has. This slimmed-down version inspired the final grid.

Here's the set. The size was surprisingly difficult to get right. A simple tube with a slight increase worked best (an increase of 4 sc total over the entire height).

I'll start at the end. Here's Bergen - a rediscovered friend from high school - with his coffee cozy. The original request was for a Pete's-sized cozy with a hippo on it (long story). It look a few tries to get it right.

My coworker Austin took this photo - you can see more of his work here.

The theme: pop culture and fairy tales. Here's a sampling of the latest and greatest. From Geek Central Station, Princess Leia. From Simple Arts Planet, Rapunzel (check out her wedding dolls, too - they're really great). A smurf house in Delicious Crochet's photo stream. Finally, Maddie and Princess Fiona (the cat), on Karabout's flicker page.