DIY Crochet Patterns

Today has been a long and productive day for me. I went to the mechanic and got a lovely bill exceeding $550.00 to fix my grinding brakes and calipers. I went to the grocery story and spent more than $250 in groceries. I called my insurance company to get it reinstated which should be another lovely monthly bill and doctor and hospital copayments. Needless to say, keeping up with the cost of living can be daunting and every little bit helps.

Since I've learned to crochet I have been making a lot of varied crocheted projects but it didn't hit me how much it could help around the house. I found some awesome patterns for household items on Pinterest and Ravelry and I would love to share them with you.

Loofa's aren't exactly expensive but it can be very annoying if the cheap store bought ones keep unraveling and breaking apart for you. Here's the answer! This pattern is not my own creation, the original creator and her awesome blog can be found here:
http://virkning-crochet.blogspot.com/2011/05/duschboll-i-bambu.html

Bath puff

Yarn: Bamboo Soft, 100m/50g, from Ullcentrum

Hook: 3½ - 4mm (crochet loosely)

Ch 5 sl st in first ch to make ring

Rnd 1: ch 3 (counts as dc), 14dc in ring, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3 = 15dc

Rnd 2: ch 3 (counts as dc), 4dc in same st as joining, *5dc in next dc*, repeat, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3 = 75 dc

Rnd 3: ch 3 (counts as dc), 2dc in same st as joining, *3dc in next dc*, repeat, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3 = 225 dc

Rnd 4: ch 3 (counts as dc), 2dc in same st as joining, *3dc in next dc*, repeat, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3 = 675 dc

Fasten off. Make a twist of the remaining yarn. The finished product is about 10cm in diameter.

I loved Swiffer products when they first came out on the market, then after some time, the refill cost piled up. If like me, you're ready to upgrade to a more permanent and less costly solution, why not crochet dusters and mops? I found this pattern on ravelry.com. Check out this Swiffer Duster by Krysten L. & Gherkin’s Bucket :

copyright Krysten L. & Gherkin’s Bucket 2007. Don't steal my stuff y'all. It's for personal use only, to bring joy to others.

Give credit where credit is due. Selling the finished product for non-profit charity uses is OK.

Materials

Size H (US 8) crochet hook 1⁄4 oz worsted weight kitchen cotton (I used Sugar n Cream) 1 1⁄4 oz machine-washable novelty yarn (dependent upon type ~35 yards)

Abbreviations

Ch – chain Sc – single crochet Ea – each Dc – double crochet Tfl – through the front loops Hdc – half double crochet Sl st – slip stitch St - stitch Rep - repeat

Pattern

Ch 21 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in ea ch across, turn (20 sc)

Create Round: Ch2,*dctfloffirst5sc,hdctflinnext10sc,dctflinlastfivesc,ch2*,turnwork and rep from * to * working in remaining loops from the row of sc you just worked into (i.e., what was the back loop of each stitch), join with sl st to first dc of the round

Close Round: ch 1, sc tbl of both sides of previous round all the way across (this will create a pocket, and leave a ridge to attach the novelty yarn to later), turn (20 sc)

Repeat last two lines once more, fasten off and weave in ends.

Attach novelty yarn to one loop of an edge stitch on the long side with a sl st, ch 10 loosely, sl st into loop of next st. (SEE NOTE BELOW)

* Sl st in loop of next stitch, ch 10 loosely, sl st in loop of next st *, rep from * to * across.

At the end of the row, ch 2 and turn, continue back in the same manner through the “ridge” of loops you created when you closed the round. Repeat for 2nd ridge and the other side edge; you will have four ridges of novelty yarn loops. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Slip prongs of Swiffer Duster into the two pockets and get dusting! Note that the first time you put it on it will be snug and may require some “scooching” to get the handle prongs all the way in.

NOTE – Use my directions for the fringe as a guide, if you have particularly bulky novelty, you may need to adjust these directions. Try making your chain length a little longer and slip stitching into every other loop, etc. It all just depends on how loose or compact you want the dusty part to be: looser and longer fringe will allow for more corner and small places dusting; compact and shorter fringe will make for a more “scrubby” duster.

You can also purchase these pre-made through my etsy shop, for those of you who are less than crochet-inclined. www.gherkinsbucket.etsy.com

For this Reversible Swiffer mop, please click this link:

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/03/craft_pattern_crocheted_revers.html

Last but not least is all cotton scrub pad's for washing your face and removing make up:

http://barbarabradford.blogspot.com/2009/01/butterfly-facial-scrubbie-gift-set.html

I'm going to keep searching for more ways to put my skills to the test and I'll be sure to share my findings with you, my friends.

Thanks for reading.
Love,
Mery Ann

Mod Podge Wonders!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm a Pinterest fanatic. The funny thing is, I'm pretty damn lazy...and usually strapped for bucks so as much as I want to DIY the crap out of everything, I never actually get around to creating those awesome crafts. I first heard about Mod Podge when I started pinning and pretty much every one kept saying how expensive it was. In some cases it can be up to 8 dollars a bottle. I don't know about you but eight bucks is a lot at my house. 

When I saw all the cool things you can do with it, I really wanted to try it. I'm especially interested in the yarn related crafts that float around Pinterest. As a result, I went on a search for the makings of this wondrous device. As it turns out, it's a lot simpler than I thought it would be. I wanted to share it with you, so here's the recipe:

Mod Podge in a Pint Jar (matte)

Fill jar half way up with white glue (like Elmers)

Then fill jar up with water.

Shake Well.

This is a 50-50 mixture glue/water.

It will have a Matte finish.

If you would like a Glossy finish, add 1 TBS of clear varnish.

Shake it!

Now that you know how to make it, check out this amazing blog on how to use Mod Podge for fun crafty projects 

http://www.modpodgerocksblog.com/

That's all for now friends but let me know if you liked this info and share any and all crafts you make from it. I'd love to see what you come up with. :)

Thanks for reading.

Love,

Mery Ann

Is anybody out there?

I've been working on this blog for a few weeks now and I don't think I've put enough of myself in it. I am by nature, a writer. My thoughts are driven by analogies, my visions are riddled with adjectives, my words are flourished with verbal scenery. Every time I witness something new or awe inspiring, in my brain I'm working out the most polished and interesting way of describing it, mostly to myself and often to whomever is nearest. 


My closest friends and family know me as, well, a know-it-all. I don't mean that in a negative way mostly but it can have a connotation to it that can sometimes sound distasteful. I take it as a compliment. 


I love teaching. As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. One year, after the last day in my fourth grade class, my teacher let me take home the most worn text books to keep. I spent the entire summer playing 'school'. I would set up my bedroom floor as a classroom with teddy bears and baby dolls as students and my poor six year old brother as the only mobile pupil. I would prop up a composition notebook on the frame of my red metal bunk bed and try my best to pretend it was a black board. I taught my 'students' about our solar system, addition, and read to them my favorite Judy Bloom books. We had lunch with pudding snacks and nap time where my brother would run off to play something else usually. 


He was always a good student. I taught him his ABC's on a metal white board with colored plastic magnets. I even remember as a 6 year old being on all fours next to him as he lunged back and forth trying to imitate my crawling. 


Those are some of my fondest memories of my little brother. He taught me just as much as I taught him. His patience and unconditional love have always been a priceless lesson for me. 


If you are out there, and you are reading this, I promise to put a little more of myself in here. I'm an open book and if I do say so myself, it should be interesting to read.


Thanks for reading.
Love,
Mery Ann