Crochet Tutorial: Working The Cross Stitch Into Your Granny Square

 Tutorial For Using A Cross Stitch Pattern In Your Granny Square
Before beginning please read instructions all the way through.


For same instructions in a more printer friendly format, go HERE  (free PDF download)

The cross stitch works in sets of three stitches so your rows must be in multiples of three.  The sides of this square are 12 stitches across, counting the middle stitch in the corner group.
That is important for later.


Instructions for cross stitch: 
Skip two stitches, tr in next stitch, ch 1, tr in first skipped sc (skip 1 sc going to the right and tr in next stitch to the right)

Start by attaching the contrast yarn at any corner with a sl st. and ch 4 (counts as a dc + ch 1)
Work the cross stitch across the side to the end.
**Ch 1, dc in corner st (last worked st), ch 1, dc in same st, ch 1, work cross stitches across side of square to end, repeating from ** around until you reach last corner.  After making last cross stitch on last side of square, dc, ch 1, sl st into third ch of beg ch.  If using contrast yarn, fasten off, weave in ends.

Attach contrast with a sc in ch 1 of cross stitch. (If not using contrast, ch 1, sc in next st)  Sc in each tr , dc, and ch 1 spaces across all sides in all corners as well.  Fasten off, weave in ends.










The photo below shows what the corner group looks like when finished.

You can make a more defined corner, of course, if you add two sc to the corner st of the square, which I did not do because I didn't think of it till I saw this photo and noticed how round the corners were.  I would put the two extra sc in the first dc of that corner.

The cross stitch makes a great border for a granny square or a wash cloth or dish rag.  If you're more talented than I you can probably add granny square rows following the cross stitch rows.

Crochet News:: A Great Site For Free Patterns

I stumbled upon another great website for free crochet patterns, a site I don't see listed in everyone's "favorite links" list on their blogs. It's Berocco.com, and has crochet and knitting patterns for free or booklets for purchase, a wide variety of absolutely gorgeous yarns to choose from in brilliant, dazzling color schemes.

One particular pattern that is included in one of the booklets for purchase, struck me as not only beautiful but unusual. A feminine scarf, lacy and flowery and is nice enough that anyone would love to receive it as a gift (I'm thinking Christmas but it would make a nice gift any time of year if you live by the beach in California that is. )

I do love scarves and am always looking for interesting and beautiful scarf patterns that look like they would be fun to make, not just the tedious dc across every row. A pattern like that is difficult for me to finish because I get so dang bored with it. heh. heh.

I'm definitely going to add this scarf to my que and probably a few more (if not many more) from the Berroco crochet pattern directory and I'll definitely be purchasing some of the crochet pattern books Berocco has for purchase.

Let me know if you've made any of Berocco's patterns, if you've used any of their yarns, etc. in the comments below. Have a great crochet day.

Signing off with a new handle (not another one! ) changed to The Mad Hooker! (That would be the crazy mad, not the angry mad. )

Cynthia

Denim Stripe Fat Bottom Bag, Lined With Work Shirt

(Quick note:
 Assuming you're a chick (female) and on that assumption another follows:  that you love to shop.  With that in mind, the links on this page all take you to either Amazon.com or Joann's where you can price check or compare a purchase for that particular bold face item.  I don't get credit, royalties, a kick down, annuities, a percentage, or anything else except the joy that I helped you find these wonderful things online to make your shopping experience easy and your crocheting much more fun.  grinning now)
 ------ end of "QUICK" note.  heh, heh.  Oh how I can babble on.)

Working with Red Heart's Stripes yarn was a lovely experience, truly.  The yarn did not tangle, it is twisted (is that the correct word?) nicely so my hook went through and came back out of loops smoothly as I worked along.  This colorway, denim stripe,  made a perfectly "denim" looking pattern for this bag.

I lined the bag with an old but rarely (if ever) used ladies work shirt.  It has cute metal flower buttons down the front and I wanted to keep them in the lining so I sewed closed the placard (button strip) with my machine. 

Secondly, I sewed closed the bottom of the shirt to where there was room enough for the pockets to fit inside the bag, giving me two inside pockets that were ready made.  (Yea, I AM lazy.  Yeppers!)


Thirdly, the shirt wasn't quite wide enough to reach across the bottom part of the bag (before adding handle flaps) so I just eased it in and made adjustments wherever necessary.  It came out a bit bunchy in the bottom but it worked out fine in the end.  (get it?  Fat Bottom Bag?  in the end?  Yea, right.  Get a day job, I know.  heh, heh.  )


The handles look great with this bag, I got them at the only place I know to get purse handles in my area (Michael's stopped carrying them, the dirty rats!), at Joann's.  They were the $4.99 variety which is fine and dandy but if you watch the ads for the store, you can get them up to 40% off and stock up on handles and other purse supplies there. (If you make Fat Bottom Bags - or any bag at all, you just have to go to a purse and bag supply sale at Joann's the first day the sale starts or there will be nothing left by the time you get there, a day later!)

The flower does not compliment the bag the way  I want it to but it'll do for now.  It gives me an excuse to go back to Joann's - to find an embellishment that better suits this bag.

Making this one with my mother's stand in caregiver  in mind, (the one who relieves me of my duties for six hours a day twice a week!), I can't wait to present it to her, finished and ready to use.  She said she had her eye on this when it was still a WIP and has no idea how it turned out so the surprise for her will be much more fun for me.  (Happy, happy, joy joy!  .... Tail's all wagging, lol)

On to the next FFB (That's Fat Bottom Bag for us seasoned FFB hookers, BTW), TTYL, TGIS, TTFN!

Crochet News: Another Great Crochet Caddy Idea

The Home Depot is one of my favorite places to browse around, get inspired, find cool stuff, and spend money, all for the good of our home, and me of course.

While wandering around the huge hardware store (if you can really call it that) I saw a tool bag that looked like it might be something I could use.  I'm always attracted to things that make my life easier, keep things neater, and maybe even help me stay organized. 

This tool bag has many pockets inside and out and nestles inside a five gallon paint bucket (empty of course!), giving it a sturdy handle and good, strong form.  Check it out.  It happened to be on sale so I really had no reason to pass on this purchase.  Naturally I had to buy a brand new clean five gallon bucket to use with the tool bag.  Here's the result:

In this caddy I have plenty of room for my crochet hooks, scissors, (several pairs), tatting shuttles, pencils and pens, etc.  Inside I can store the project AND all the yarn required for it, the pattern book, and anything else that can't find a pocket on the outside.
The other side of the tool bag has pockets that are a bit wider, useful for many things such as project index cards, a packet of yarn needles, and so on.

I did not spray this one with Scotchgard Fabric Protector yet but plan to.  (Yea, I've got a horny boy dog who loves to mark his territory.  Until it gets sprayed by Scotchgard I have to keep it up off the floor so it doesn't get sprayed by my little chihuahua boy.)

I don't remember the exact price of the tool bag, it was on sale for approximately $7 and the bucket was regular price at $5

If you have any questions or ideas please comment below, thank you.

Signing off to find that can of Scotchgard I absentmindedly plopped somewhere in the house.  or garage. or yard. or car. oh crap.  It's here somewhere.

Note: Yarn in the bucket is Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight, color Real Teal

Easy Crochet Slippers

This pair of slippers were easy and quick to make.  I made a few alterations to the original pattern for Easy One Piece Slippers designed by Terri Kroupa but only for decorative purposes.  The pattern is well written and simple to follow.  It filled me with joy to see how happy Mom was when I put them on her feet!

I added back post stitches in the second to last row - only three, centered, every other stitch, and in the last row every three stitches and every other stitch (in the previous row bpdc) in the center.

These are easy for Mom to get on her feet (she has Parkinson's Disease)

I added a pretty but simple flower to the heel so she'd have a little extra to grab, to pull the slipper onto her foot.


Results?  She's thrilled with them.  The only disappointment is having to wait for the Plasti-Dip to dry on the soles so these aren't slippery for Mom.  I purchased the Plasti-Dip at The Home Depot for a little over $6.00 and the only option I saw was the product in black.  I just visited the web site and read that it is also available as a spray on application and also comes in other colours, as well as CLEAR!  YAY!  This is great news for us crocheters!  I'm thinking it could be used on the underside of crocheted area rugs, especially now that I know it comes in a clear solution so the product won't show through the little holes in things we crochet.  YAY! 

Face Scrubbie #4 Free Pattern

I've been whipping up these face scrubbies getting ready for Christmas and, hopefully, a boutique I am planning to open for pre-Christmas sales.  The scrubbies are going to be packaged in bundles of like color schemes, added to baskets with soaps and lotions and matching wash cloths and bath mitts.


Here's the instructions for yet another face scrubbie, this one is easy enough for any beginner and makes up super fast using remnants of cotton yarn from dish cloth projects.

For ease in printing this pattern or others I've posted,  or elsewhere on the web, here's a comment Viola left on one of my patterns that may help you:

"...As for the printing, if you do a "print preview" first, you can select only the pattern pages. I just tried it and the print is small, but nothing in the pattern was cut off...."
(signed),
Viola's Hook
----
Thank you Viola!----


Face Scrubbie #4 Pattern


With a size I crochet hook and a small amount of cotton yarn (size 4 such as Peaches N Creme or Lily's Sugar And Cream)


chain 2 loosley
Round 1:  In second ch from hook work (sc, ch1) six times.  Join to first sc with slip stitch (sl st)  if using contrast, fasten off.
Round 2:  Join contrast with sc in any ch 1 space, ch 2
   (sc in next ch 1 space, ch 2) five times , join to first sc with sl st (6 sc, 12 ch total)
Round 3: ch 1, (3 sc in ch 2 space, ch 1) around (total six times), join with sl st to first sc, fasten off if using contrast color.
Round 4: Attach main color wtih sc in any ch 1 space, sc in same ch 1 space, ch 1, skip next sc, sl st in next sc, ch 1, (2 sc in next ch 1 space, ch 1, skip 1 sc, sl st in next sc, ch 1)  around (five times) join with sl st to first sc, fasten off, weave in ends.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me or comment below

Free Pattern - Face Scrubbie #2; Post DC Stitch Tutorial

Here's the second pattern for face scrubbies that I am making and giving away to anyone that is willing  take them from me, ha ha....
A photo tutorial for the post stitch follows the pattern instructions.

Added 7/27/10 at 9:45 PM:
If you would like photos of your own scrubbies added to this post with your handle name, email them to me HERE, it would be fun to see everyone's different scrubbie ideas!

I take my cotton crochet yarn and size G hook everywhere I go so I can work on these whenever I find a minute or two of idle time.


Face Scrubbie #2  Free Pattern


With size 4 cotton crochet yarn (Lily's or Peaches N Creme, Lion Brand or Royale) and a size G hook,


ch 2,

Round 1:  work 6 sc inside second ch from hook, join with sl st to first sc made


Round 2:  ch 3 (counts as first dc) dc in same st as joining st, 2 dc in each sc around.
Fasten off, weave in ends.


Round 3:  join contrast color (white) with a sc into any dc from round 2.  Make Post DC stitch (tutorial follows pattern), ch 1, sc in very next dc being careful to leave no dc from round 2 un-worked.  There'll be one Post DC and one SC for each dc from round 2.

Post DC stitch:

 YO,  insert hook behind the entire post made by the very next dc,

 yo, draw hook back to front of work,

 YO, draw through 2 loops on hook,
YO, draw through the 2 rem loops on hook.
--- end of tutorial Post DC stitch ------



Make sure to work each dc with a sc, the Post DC stitch goes into each dc from row 2 as well.    Be sure to leave no dc un-worked or your stitch pattern won't be uniform.

Working a sc in the next dc:  (The dc you  are going to work the sc in looks as if it is almost behind the Post DC you just made as shown:)

And showing how the Post DC looks when it's completed:

Funny Story - Crocheted Swim Suits Beware!

A friend at Ravelry sent me this message about the crochet bikini top I just finished off.  I thought it was a cute story that we ought to pay attention to if we're crocheting or wearing crocheted bikini tops and bottoms.  My friend gave me permission to post it on my blog.  

Message follows-----

crochet bikini top warnings

Sent at 6:46 PM July 23, 2010

About 10 years ago a good friend and I skipped work and went to Zuma beach. The weather was cold and windy, so we decided to go back to the San Fernando valley where it was over 105 and cool off in my pool.

When we got home, i saw that she was wearing the crochet bikini top I had made a few years earlier for her teen age daughter. I made it from beautiful black cotton yarn that I had in my stash for a while.

Let me just tell you that I am experienced crocheter and the halter and back ties were strong - at least 2 or 3 rows of single crochet.

When we jumped in the pool, the top immediately stretched. Em reached to pull it up and the left strap broke in her fingers. I started laughing.

She tried to pull the remaining two pieces to tie them together and they shredding in her hands.

By then we were both hysterical. I waded over to help her and while she held up one cup, i tried to fix the other.

Well, before a minute was up, there were a million small pieces of black cotton floating in the pool and two hysterical ( 40 and 50year old) women dying of laughter.

Today, at least 10 years from the “incident” , we were again floating like logs in my pool and laughing about that day and ssoooo thankful that the “incident” occurred in the privacy of my backyard instead of Zuma.

Since then I have made her more crochet gifts - always something to be worn OVER other clothing.

Linda

-------end of message---------

Currently I am working on a bikini top using J.P. Coats Nylon Crochet Thread.  We'll see how that goes and I'll post the results asap.

As for now, I advise wearing the cotton crochet bikini tops for sun bathing only.  (They would make an interesting tan pattern on one's boobies, right?  ha ha!

Banana Berry Fat Bottom Bag

My Banana Berry Fat Bottom Bag, My Favorite One

This is my favorite of the Fat Bottom Bags I've made so far.  (Clicking on the link previous takes you to the Amazon site and the page where this book can be previewed and ordered, if you want it and you know you do.)
  This one didn't take me too long, I had lots of practice as you can see from several older posts.  I almost regret giving it away but I did buy two skeins of this yarn (Red Heart Super Saver in Banana Berry)  and there's enough material left over to line another bag, yea.

For the handles, as I mentioned in the post Chunky Fat Bottom Bag, I used hot glue to anchor the handles in place so they wouldn't slide around.  If using circular handles that the pattern calls for, this step is not necessary.

For lining this bag I used the same procedure as I outlined  HERE

Big And Chunky Fat Bottom Bag

 I made this bag for my friend with this chunky yarn - Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick And Quick - not called for by the pattern for the Fat Bottom Bag which you get in the book "Stitch and Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker".  (It's a fabulous book with detailed, funny instructions on each stitch, gauges, yarn weights, and has many wonderful, diverse patterns in the book that would make any "Hooker" Happy. )


Back to making the bag with chunky yarn.  To use the heavier weight yarn I omitted some of the middle rows  the body of the bag because the result would have been too chunky to gather and look nice. Also I had to dec the amount of gathering stitches and add one extra row of gathering stitches in order for the handle flaps to fit the small handles I bought and for the dec in rows of the first piece.

Before adding the handle flaps I lined the bag with 1/4 yard of matching fabric, cutting the fabric to fit the bag while easing it inside the bag and adding a few pleats where  necessary.  The lining is sewn in with heavy duty thread using a blind hem stitch.




Next I added the magnetic snap closures.

I hot glued the handle flaps in place to the handles themselves in order to keep the oblong handles from sliding around and getting sideways while the bag is carried.  I discovered why the pattern calls for round handles. heh, heh.  Being the weirdo that I am, not liking to be told what to do I thought I would get creative and use these different handles to go with each bag's personality.  Well, I should have stuck to the round handles but using the hot glue to anchor them in place, I am glad I didn't conform only to what the pattern called for.  That's the rebel in me I guess.

After sewing the flaps and adding the embellishment I am done but for a cell phone pocket that I'll make out of the lining fabric.  I tried to crochet one but the thick and chunky yarn wasn't suitable for making such a pocket.


And that's it.  Now, if you don't already have the book, go to Amazon and order it!  It's the best!

UPDATE!!  I finally found the link to a blog that has a photo tutorial for lining your fat bottom bag...  Here it is, it adds to this one, and this one adds to hers, so definitely check out this link if you wanna line your bag.  It will save you a lot of time, believe me! 
Go HERE

This Is Totally Unlike Me (not)

I'm still looking for the pattern I wrote down for the star washcloths and the zebra print ones too.  (sigh)  See my post on being a hoarder here. 


In the meantime I started crocheting a bikini top and think it's coming out pretty darn good (had to throw in the pun for the knitters out there).  I don't know who it will fit, I don't really know anyone with a size A cup but I can always modify the cup for whomever I decide to give this to.  Here's how it goes so far:  (p.s. I will probably post the pattern on Ravelry, for purchase.  This one took some major brain power.)  I'm actually almost finished with the top - I just can't find the other piece right now.  I fell asleep crocheting this last night and the other half and ball of yarn is buried in my bed covers somewhere.  It'll be a real trick trying to find it, believe me... Once again, see my post on hoarding here.  lol

I

My Name Is Cyndi And I'm A Hoarder

Several people have requested patterns for the zebra stripe cloths and star cloths both so I have decided to post patterns for all... As soon as I can find where I wrote down my stitches!  I live in the land of missing items of importance.  I think we have Tommyknockers or something like them, coming into the house when I'm asleep, rearranging things so I can't find whatever it is I am looking for.

It's funny how I will see something almost everyday - usually while looking for something else I've misplaced - and that something I see everyday will disappear the day I go to find it where I saw it everyday before.  I don't understand this at all.  I try to be organized and neat but that all flew out the window when I got overwhelmed with trying to be perfect.  I went from one extreme to another, you could say.  In fact, you would say, if you saw my house.  This is where Hoarders Anonymous should step in and do an intervention...

I am living on the borderline of being an "Extreme Hoarder".  It's true, I really am. I've seen the shows on cable television.  I have discovered though that it's not just me, I do have someone I can blame for this defect of mine; my mother is a tried, tested, and true hoarder.  She has boxes and bags full of newspaper clippings, old magazines with projects in them for us "kids" (for when we were in elementary school), bank records from a bank that no longer exists and has been gone for over twenty years, almost every school project my siblings and I brought home from school, our report cards (all of them, even the progress reports!), what I would say to be thousands of photos that have waited over fifty years to see the inside of a photo album, clothes that ought to be donated but are so out-dated even the thrift stores won't take them, and so on.  Oh yea, can't forget the years of National Geographic magazines that we used for reference when writing reports in school.  We've got boxes full of those and - she just asked about them the other day just to make sure I hadn't gotten rid of them or tried to sell them on eBay. 

Consider all those things and more that my mother is keeping for a rainy day or waiting for something mysterious to happen to make those things useful.  Now add my own boxes and bags full of stuff just like all that in the house, plus an 8 X 10 storage cubicle where I have even more stuff.  Not to mention the old 8 X 8 storage room in the back that was once our playhouse when we were kids.  Don't forget the garage where I've stashed twenty or so storage tubs of various sizes full of Christmas decor. 

I am no different than Mom.  I say I blame her but I really can't.  My hoarding is a bit different in that I feel like I can control these things while the rest of my life is out of control.  I also have a huge emotional attachment to every single thing I keep. 

My sister says I must let this stuff go.  I agree - to a point.  Some of it must be kept, like bank records, etc and that's a matter of legality.  Some of my stuff is very useful on a daily basis - like all the yarn I have.  I buy it when it's on sale, have a idea for a project in mind for each strand of yarn, and love having it around me.  I usually have about ten different projects going at once cuz I get bored easily.  My children have made very special projects when they were in school and I can't bear to part with most of them. 

The rest of my hoarding refers to the feel good stuff.  Things that aren't necessary to anyone or anything except my feelings.  I'm talking about all the antique and vintage powder sachets - still full of sachet power, mind you! - I've collected, my collection of pigs, and numerous other collections I proudly own and like to look at once in a while to get that yummy feeling inside when I see them.  I can't explain it, I don't know how to make that addiction go away, and I'm not sure I want to.  Those are the things I need to bring myself to part with.  That's for another time after a lot of therapy, I think.

Holy Crap - there's someone at the door, I've got to hide (won't be hard amongst all these boxes and bags) the people standing on my porch are wearing "H.A." buttons which could only mean one thing - Hoarders Anonymous has figured me out and are here to intervene!  Ack!  (Cowering behind the artificial Christmas tree box - the tree I purchased because it was such a great deal, even though we've never used an artificial tree before.  Yea, I know - you're wondering what our boxed Christmas tree is doing in the entry hall in June...  You should see the rest of the house!  Or maybe not.)

Speaking Of Fat Bottom - - Bags, That is..

I made this fat bottom bag a bit bigger than the others by adding some stitches to the beginning chain and some rows to the body as well as the handle flaps. 

 

 I used polka dot rick rack to weave through the gathering row between stitches and left the ends long enough to tie so I could close it up on the sides if I want.  The ends look okay even if I don't tie them in a bow and leave them dangling instead.  (see photo above)

 

I used opposite polka dot cloth for the lining, added after finishing off main body, before adding the handle flaps.  To put the magnetic snap closures on, I made sure to remember to fasten them on before sewing the handles into the flaps.  

I'm very happy with this bag, I think it's darling.  Someone will be getting it for Christmas this year, I think.  lol.

 

Washcloth Crazy; An Entire Slew Of The Dang Things by Anitalite

I don't know what's come over me or when it all started.  I never gave a thought to crocheting anything but doilies until I joined Ravelry and Crochet me.  Well, doilies and collars.  Okay, and scarves.  I forgot about the scarf phase I went through.

Thanks to the internet I've discovered a whole world of crocheting.  Pattern browsing, bookmarking, and downloading inspired me and motivated me to branch out from my cocoon of doilies (and collars and scarves, don't forget).  I found it fun and actually kind of creative to make jewelry and dishcloths or washcloths from cotton thread and yarn.

There are so many new and wonderful colors to choose from, the possibilities of making dish washing more pleasurable and washing one's face feel feminine with a lacy cloth instead of the stained, grimy things my boyfriend used for rags while working on his lawnmower.   I just purchased five kitchen towels - all look alikes - all very feminine looking, hoping my boyfriend would not want to use them for his macho, hard core work in the garage and yard.  Yea, R-I-G-H-T! 

So... I made these and will make kitchen towels I think, as soon as I restock my Lily's Sugar (or Peaches) and Cream cotton crochet yarn....  Take a looksie at the fun I had:

This is the latest washcloth.  I like to put a flower in the middle of these so we can use that part for a bit more scrubbing action if we want.

Side view,







Top view

Okay, Next please!

(This is one of my favorites)

I can't decide if this is pink or purple or some other pinky-purple color I don't know the name of yet.  The flowers and pattern of this reminded me of sweet peas.

Here's that pinky-purplish color again.  I like how I made the center of this one, it makes a great scrubber and the lacy part is soft and gentle washing and still gets the job done.

This one reminds me of that cute as a button flower that grows everywhere, impatients.  Again, a nice little scrubber flower in the middle, lace for gentle washing.  The outside ruffle is just for looks, lol.







And now for something  completely different...

Zebra guts??  The Lily's color is "licorice" but I think it looks more like zebra guts.  My daughter loves zebra stripe and this washcloth was an experiment to see how Lily's Ombre would turn out with this stitch.  Yep.  Zebra guts. ha.

And finally, for now, yet another experiment in zebra,

Looks like this zebra got drunk and then threw up.  I tried a tiny chevron stitch and well, you can see how that turned out.  (where did I go wrong???)  ha.  Both the zebra cloths still function as well as the others, they're just a bit much to face in the morning for an A.M. face wash.


That's all for now!

I Found It

I am happy to say I found the yarn wrapper for the Open Fan Stitch Scarf I made for my mother. I don't recognize the brand and am sure we got the yarn at a specialty shop that no longer exists...

Here is the details I can read on the wrapper...

It is a metalic gold paper that says
"Velveen" and right below that it says 'fit for a queen'

78% wool 22% rayon
net weight 2 oz (56.5 grs.)

On the back it says
(now I know the shop no longer exists)
Super Yarn Mart! Los Angeles Ca 90015

If anyone knows of a Super Yarn Mart still in existence, please send me the link to their site or a phone number for the company. I would love to get my hands on yarn of this quality again.

(In case you didn't see the page Open Fan Stitch Lacey Scarf, this yarn was a bit left over from a sweater my mother knitted for me over twenty five years ago.)