Crochet to Go

I love how this project came out. I've been making my way through the Make It Yourself library, a 12-volume craft collection packed with great patterns and ideas. This particular pattern is the cover feature for Volume. 6, and originally a knitting project. The pattern below is an adaptation for crochet, in a 3-6 month size. It's a simple pattern, and would be easy to adapt for larger sizes or different decorative treatments.

Striped Baby Dress Pattern
Materials Needed:

• H hook (5 mm)
• 2 skeins (140 grams) sport weight yarn, main color (color A)
• 20 grams each sport weight yarn, 2 additional colors (color B, C)
• 2 buttons

Yarn tested: Bernat Soy, 70g per skein, 50% soy/50% acrylic
Fits: 6-9 months

Front:
Using color A, ch 40.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. (39 sc)

Row 2-3: Sc in each sf across. Ch 1, turn. (39 sc) Fasten off color A.

Using color B:
Row 4-6: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (39 sc) Fasten off color B.

Using color A:
Row 7-9: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (39 sc) Fasten off color A.

Using color C:
Row 10-12: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (39 sc) Fasten off color C.

Using color A:
Row 13-14: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (39 sc)

Row 15: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (37 sc)

Row 16-19: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (37 sc)

Row 20: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (35 sc)

Row 21-24: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (35 sc)

Row 25: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (33 sc)

Row 26-30: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (33 sc)

Row 31: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (31 sc)

Row 32-44: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (31 sc)

Row 45: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (29 sc) Fasten off color A.

Using color B:
Row 46-47: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (27, 25 sc) Fasten off color B.

Using color A:
Row 48-49: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (23, 21 sc) Fasten off color A.

Using color C:
Row 50-51: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (19, 17 sc) Fasten off color C.

Using color A:
Row 52: Dec sc in first two sts. Sc to end of row, dec sc in last two sts. Ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Row 53-73: Continue working rows of sc, alternating colors in 2-row groups. Fasten off.

Back:
Work rows 1-44 for front. Fasten off.

Finishing:
Sew side seams to waist on either side. Fasten off.

Row 1: Attach yarn with ss to front corner (either one). Ch 6, turn, skip first ch and sc in remaining chains. SS to join to bib, turn.

Row 2: Ch 6, turn, skip first ch and sc in remaining chains. Leaving 1 row of bodice unworked, SS to join to bib, turn.

Repeat row 2, working ribbed edging evenly around to opposite side of bib. At each side of waist, leave 2 rows of bodice unworked to shape corner. Fasten off.

Straps (make 2):
Mark desired placement of straps with safety pins (~ 1 inch from center of back).

Row 1: Attach yarn with ss to one of the desired places. Ch 1, work 1 sc in same st and next 4 sts. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (5 sc). Repeat row 2 until straps are 11 inches long.

Second-to-last row: Sc in first st. Ch 3, skip 3 sts, sc. Ch 1, turn.

Final row: Repeat row 2. Fasten off.

Weave in any loose ends. Sew buttons to top corners of bib.

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.

My grandmother recently unearthed these from her cedar chest: hand crocheted dishcloths, made by her mother. I'm curious - was this a popular style at one time? A google search turned up only a few hits, including this free pinafore dishcloth pattern. As soon as I get through my project backlog, I'll try to develop patterns for how to make these two.

Some projects just don't work out. I was sure this was one of them - the yarn wasn't draping well, the shape looked all wrong, clearly the directions were for a project other than the one pictured. The pattern is the little yellow dress pictured in the upper left corner (Coats & Clark's Book for Babies, Book No. 510, 1956), made to fit a 1-year-old.

I've suffered along on this pattern for a month. That's really long for me - generally I try to move on to something new every two weeks or so. But we've been traveling, I've had some freelance work, the weather's been improving, etc. I definitely can't say I've put in a lot of hours on this project lately. I finally finished it in 2 back-to-back bursts this weekend, sewed it together, and... Wow! It's not quite what I set out to make, but it's rather cute. It's also adjustable at the shoulders and waist, and buttons up one side, so you don't need to struggle to get it over the baby's head.

Moral of the story? Don't give up, even if success seems impossible.

The pattern is available online here.

Green Brimmed Hat
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Here's Hat #3 in the brimmed hat series. It's still not exactly what I was shooting for, but - I'll just toot my own horn here - I love it. I think I'm finally getting over my "Blossom" complex (a.k.a. "Short Girls Can't Wear Hats"). There will be a Hat #4, but I'm definitely saving my pattern notes on this one.

I started the "Soft Brimmed Casual" a few weeks ago. I was diligent and made my swatch (it took a couple of tries - the yarn reference from 1947 is fairly oblique), and carefully counted and measured my rows.

Here's attempt #1:


As you can tell, it's a complete failure (as an adult hat; it's actually pretty cute for a toddler).

Here's attempt #2 (a complete departure from the pattern; I did my best to interpret the instructions for the proper sizing):


Off, it's really not bad. On, it's awful. Way too wide at the top, too flared at the bottom. Plus it has those awful depressions around the top. On the positive side, it's a decent fit, and the texture and stiffness is right.

Here's #3, a work in progress. Let's hope it works.

I just recently stumbled across this blog. Cathy posts vintage craft pictures from what I assume is her own massive collection - she's posting almost daily. This example is a real gem - can you imagine crocheting your own tights? This outfit must have taken years to make.

My mom is a great crochet supporter. I recently let her know that it's not yarn that I need (I'm drowning in the stuff these days), but rather pattern books. I'm working towards putting together a book of vintage patterns, updated for modern audiences, sizes, yarns, and hooks.

This is her favorite of the latest batch she's given me. I like it a lot too. She requested this hood, which I tried but had to abandon last night. As Adam said, it's just to funereal.

I plan to get started on these projects as soon as I make it through my huge list of holiday gifts.

These were a recent find at a thrift shop in Napa. I'm almost positive that the apron I made must have been from a pattern that also listed variants - the designs are really similar. Particularly this second one. I can't say I like the red version much, though it has something tribal about it, with shaping and colors inspired by Native American loincloth designs. Not necessarily what I normally look for in an apron.

This is my first project from The Baby Book of Knitting and Crochet. I drastically modified the pattern to get the gauge to work. Thank god for pictures of what things are supposed to look like, right? My finished version appears to be close to what the author intended. My impression of this book, based on this one pattern, is that it's great inspiration but only suited to a more advanced crocheter or knitter who knows how to identify and correct problems. For example, this tells you to repeat pattern stitch "across until 72 star sts are made. Cut off remaining chain." Huh? The whole thing with unravel.

All that said, I love how this turned out. Definitely a keeper. It could be expanded into an entire dress - you could leave the back open and just attached a crocheted skirt.

My adjustments to the basic pattern: I used South Maid 100% mercerized cotton in peach, size 10, and a 3.5 mm hook. I essentially halved the stitches per row (to 36 star sts in the first row), but kept the number of rows the same.

My friend Jessica loaned me an amazing book she found at a used bookstore: The Baby Book of Knitting and Crochet. Published in 1948, it has roughly 150 patterns, many of which are still appealing to a modern audience (or, at least, to me). I've had the book on my nightstand for about two months now. My only problem is deciding which project to make first...

Feeling guilty about keeping the book so long, I recently went online to find my own copy. The author (Elizabeth Laird Mathieson) also wrote a The Complete Book of Crochet and The Complete Book of Knitting. Crochet is definitely dated, but there's hope--expect to see a few projects from the book in the near future. It includes this pattern that I made a few years back for Sophie.

Finished at last! I feel like I've been working on this project forever. It's unfortunately not a complete success. As you can see from the picture, it's rather small. I'm afraid it's just going to have to go in storage until I know a nice 8-year-old who's into tea parties.

I do love the edging, and am fairly partial to the look of filet crochet (especially when it's not being used to make a doily). I'd like to use this border on something else--perhaps sleeve cuffs?

If you'd like to tackle this project yourself, you can find the pattern here. I used a 2.25 mm hook and Aunt Lydia's Classic Crochet Thread Size 10 in color 419 (ecru, 2 balls), 486 (navy, 1/2 ball), 480 (delft, 1/2 ball), and 1 (white, 1/2 ball).

I have a new weekend passion--estate sales. Luckily, Adam loves them too. He looks for old tools and kitchen gear (recent find: a bacon press), and I look in closets and baskets for crochet materials. We had a great haul yesterday. I got this whole collection--which includes 7 sets of knitting needles, a filet crochet book from 1945, several pieces of costume jewelry, tons of buttons, and all of that thread (all on wooden spools)--for $15.

I realize I haven't posted anything I've made in quite some time. This is partly because I'm crocheting less (the weather's getting better; more time outside) and partly because I've been diligently working on the apron pattern. I love how it looks so far, but I seriously think it could take months to finish. Months. The pattern is at times hard to decipher and certainly not for the beginning crocheter.

This is my next project (once I finish the pile of stuff I'm working on). Aprons and crochet are two of my favorite things--why did I never think to combine them?

Not one of my absolute favorites, but still a worthwhile vintage project. Here's the original pattern from 1943.