Simple Crochet Potholder

For Mother's Day I crocheted my mother-in-law a potholder.
I finished in on Monday (May 7th), but didn't want to post until today, just in case she checks my blog-- It would have ruined the surprise!

I simply created a giant rectangle and folded it in half (hamburger style) to get double the thickness, the sealed the edges (only three edges) with half double crochet.

This is the giant rectangle before I folded it.

I did the edges in a contrasting bright red.

Compare the size to the crochet hook.

An "action shot"!

Now, for the details:

I used Patons Classic Wool Taupe for the body of the potholder, and Patons Classic Wool Bright Red for the border.  It is 100% pure new wool, so it ought to be good for use in the kitchen, and can be washed in cool to warm water (lay flat to dry).
A 4.5mm (size 7) crochet hook worked very well for me, but I am sure a 5mm (size 8) would be fine too.

To make it:

Chain 52.

1st row: 1 double crochet in 3rd chain from hook (counts as 2 double crochet). 1 double crochet in each chain to end of chain. Chain 2, and turn.

2nd row: 1 double crochet on top of the very end of the section that you just finished. What I mean is skip over two you chained. 1 double crochet in each section to the end. Chain 2, and turn.

Keep repeating until you get 18 rows total!

Then fold over the rectangle hamburger-style. Look for the edge opposite your original chain. This is the easiest edge to begin sealing the edge, since the double crochet leaves you with neat holes to insert your crochet hook.

Make sure you have folded right down the middle, and start "sealing" by half double crocheting in each double crochet (remember to go through both of the layers).

When you get to the end of the "top," chain to get a nifty loop to hang up your potholder.

Connect the loop with a slip stitch.

Half double crochet down the side and continue across the bottom.

When you seal up the bottom, you are done!

Round crochet coaster

A few days ago I finished crocheting another coaster in the round.  This time I used stitch counters and what a difference it made!  The finished product is below:

This is the right-side up view.

This is the wrong-side up view.

I think the coaster turned out quite well for my second attempt at crocheting in the round.  (^_^)

Materials:

Patons Classic Wool Natural Mix
Crochet hook size 8

Stich counters if you have them

I followed some very simple steps:

(1) Chain 4 stitches, and join with a slip stitch to form the center loop.  Then chain 1-- this counts as the first SC (single crochet)-- mark this with a stitch counter if one is available, and do 7 SC (single crochet) through the center loop, for a total of 8 SC (counting the first chained stitch).  Join the last of the SC to the first chain with a slip stitch (the stitch counter comes in handy for letting you know which stitch to join to).

(2) Round two: chain one-- mark with a stitch counter, then SC twice in each of the stitches for a total of 16.

(3) On each round increase by 8 stitches in regular intervals.  (For example on round three SC twice in every other stitch, and on round four SC twice every third stitch.  This will lead to an increase of 8 stitches per round.)

(4) After finishing the 6th round, turn once you chain 1 to reach the 7th round.  This means that you will crochet back around on the part you just finished, instead of proceeding forward in the same direction.  This creates a slight change in texture (you can see it especially clearly in the wrong-side up view as the indentation).

(5) After the 7th round, chain two, marking the 2nd chain with the stitch counter, turn, and finish the coaster with a DC (double crochet) in each stitch.

In other news my husband just purchased a Brother CS6000i sewing machine for me as a belated Christmas present!  I am so excited.  It will arrive this coming Wednesday (only 2 days away).

Yesterday I spent some time cutting out patterns for my next couple of sewing projects.

I think I briefly mentioned in my previous post that I had purchased some patterns.  I have the "Very Easy Vogue" pattern V8634 in Xsm-Sml-Med (a close-fitting pullover top with a cowlneck), meant for two-way stretch knits.  I also picked up Simplicity 2317 Size(s) A 8-18 (multiple patterns in this pack, all variations on sleepwear).  The dress pattern that I picked out before, Vogue Options V8648, seems more challenging so I am putting it on the back burner until I acquire some more experience.

It took awhile to cut out all 22 pieces of the Simplicity pattern, but I did it!

For now I want to focus on just making the simple tank top and shorts PJ set, but eventually I want to make the Tshirt + long sleeve shirt/pants PJ set in flannel too, so I figured I might as well cut out all the pieces.

I made some adjustments to the patterns (cowlneck and PJ set(s)) before cutting them out.  After measuring myself with a measuring tape, I realized that I am relatively thick-waisted (less than 9" of difference between my waist measurement and my hip measurement), but in other measurements I am pretty standard (my numbers: 32-26-34 1/2) so I adjusted the patterns by drawing natural looking lines to the next size up only for my waist area.  Fortunately this was easy to do thanks to modern day multi-size patterns!  I also lengthened the inseam on the pants leg pattern to end up at around 31" once fully made (seam allowance and all that accounted for), and made some simple adjustments to the shorts pattern to make them a tad bit longer (I am too old to be showing off my booty to that extent...).

Today I purchased some simple knit fabric (navy blue for the cowlneck top, and heather gray for the tank top and shorts PJ set), matching thread (Gütermann) and elastic for the waistband of the shorts.

I just finished washing and drying the fabric.  We'll see if it shrank or not in the wash!