Thursday, June 10, 2010

in the middle of things

construction on the arbor commenced today. and while my almost-hubby was doing that, i worked on filling cracks, sanding, and staining an ottoman he made for us a looooong time ago. got one side done. then it started to rain.

here's a better picture of the headpiece. okay, maybe not a better picture, but a cooler one:


and i finished the produce bag today! the cording was too big for the plastic squeezy thingy i wanted to put on the end, but i think it worked okay.


and just for amusement, here's a larger version of what's going on in this picture:


"mom? mom? hey mom, whatcha doin' mom?" that's my girl.

and here's a pattern for the produce bag (for reference, it's holding about a pound of apples in these pics and doing just fine).

materials:
one ball sugar n' cream cotton yarn, or 95-125 yards of worsted weight cotton. i used sugar n' cream twists in "cottage twists," the link is for a different colorway, but eh, whatever works.*
* whatever color works. i would definitely recommend cotton for this project. strong, sturdy, and the yarn won't stretch, even if the bag itself does. and besides, wool just isn't practical.
size P crochet hook (11.5mm)
1 yard cotton cording

gsuge:
gauge isn't really important for this project, but i would say if you're normally a tight crocheter, ease up on the tension a little!

directions:
using a slip knot, make a loose loop.
this project is worked in the round. i just kept spiraling around; you can do this or you can join every round if it makes you more comfortable.
round 1: sc 6
round 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc)
round 3: *sc in first st, 2 sc in next st, repeat * around (18 sc)
round 4: *sc in first 2 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat * around (24 sc)
round 5: *sc in first 3 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat * around (30 sc)
round 6: *sc in first 4 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat * around (36 sc)
round 7: *sc in first 5 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat * around (42 sc)
round 8: *sc in first 6 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat * around (48 sc)
round 9+: sc in each st around, and around, and around until the yarn runs out!
tie off, weave in ends

to finish: thread the cord in an out of the second row of stitches from the top, secure in any way you like. you're done!

in other news, sweater surgery continues.


it is now without both button bands and the collar, with very little wasted. i've been using this great tutorial (p.s., i totally want to steal her roving!)

in fact, to help myself out a little, i made a swift with some wood scraps in the garage. this one measure 18" across, so each loop of yarn is roughly a yard, but i thinks i gotsta make me a bigger one.


there was soooo much yarn by the time i was done unravelling the collar. how much, you say? take a look at the bundle of yarn on the right:


it's soaking now, trying to undo it's "perm"... anyway, the bundle on the left was one of the button bands... the other one had machine-sewn button holes, so it was kind of a waste. the button band was 33 yards, give or take a few, and the bundle on the right is at least if not more than 10 times that much. and i still have two fronts, two sleeves, and the entire back to do! yay! pretty yarn....

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