Scrappy Crocheted Afghan Using Leftover Yarn

I love this afghan. It is dense and warm and a bright spot on a cold, gloomy day.

It is crocheted but I think a similar version could be done with knit.

It is a very simple pattern. Crochet a foundation chain of desired length. I think I used a G hook to match the yarn's weight. I don't remember how many stitches I started with. I went with the "this is slightly wider than the depth of the couch" method. It's just a casual throw to use up scrap yarn, after all. I did make a point to use an even number of stitches so that the alternating sc and dc was constant but it isn't necessary.

That's all there is to this afghan, foundation row, alternate sc and dc back, switch colors, sc into dc and dc into sc then repeat back. Pick up base color and work two rows, pick up scrap color and work two rows. I cut scrap colors but leave base color traveling up side.

Amount of yarn will vary. I used up 3 skeins of the beige and lots of miscellaneous partial skeins of other colors.

I intend to do the crab stitch around the entire afghan, which I expect to take minimal at least another full skein.

If I was to knit this, I would knit a base row then slip 1, knit across in the base, switch to scrap color and repeat slip 1, knit previous slip 1, repeating alternating slipping 1 and knitting 1 for the whole afghan to get the jagged effect.

Knit Stuffed Hearts

These knit hearts are a fun project that whip up in a short time. An ideal gift idea.

They are quite easy.
You can use whatever weight of yarn and size of needles you want to use.
For chunky yarn I used size 10 needles because I wanted a dense fabric. I used circular needles but it's just as easy to use straight needles. The orange one is lightweight yarn and size 6 needles and you can see the stuffing peeking through because it was not so dense.

First we make the first "hump"
Cast on 3 stitches,
knit the 3 stitches,
KFB, P1, KFB
Knit 5 st
KFB, P3, KFB
Knit 7, cut yarn

Now to make second hump,
Repeat steps for first hump by casting on 3 sts.
I push the first hump to the left side, wrong side facing me just until I have cast on for the second hump, to keep it oriented correctly.
Now repeat:

knit the 3 stitches,
KFB, P1, KFB
Knit 5 st
KFB, P3, KFB
Knit 7

Now purl across all 14 stitches.
Knit 14
Purl 14

K1, ssk, K8, K2tog, K1
Purl 12
K1, ssk, K6, K2tog, K1
Purl across

continue decreasing on knit side row, until 4 stitches,

ssk and K2tog, turn, slip 1, k1, psso

1 heart complete.

Make a second heart.

Place rights sides (knit sides) together and seam them together, leaving about a 2" opening to stuff with stuffing, turn right side out, stuff, and sew hole closed.

Pattern Weights in Action

In a recent post I discussed making pattern weights. Here they are in action:

The little sour cream packet looking weights took about ten minutes to make a pair. They are filled with dry rice.

The little owl weights took about an hour, I suppose. I did not time their construction.

There are only three pattern pieces that you can make yourself; a quarter circle, about a one sixteenth of a circle, and a 1 - 1/2"-2" circle. The variance is because I did the 2" cardboard with 2 1/2" fabric to cover the cardboard and I think going a bit smaller would be better. The 2" version does give a broad and steady base though.

I used a compass and drew half the 10" circle on a piece of copy paper then folded it in half and cut out the quarter circle. Then I took the second quarter and folded it in half two more times and cut out the 1/16th circle, tapering it out at the tip to allow for seam allowance. Then you sew the two pieces together along the sides. I used two different fabrics for contrast. The 1/16th circle is brown and the 1/4 circle is gray.

Cut out about a 1 1/2"-2" circle of cardboard for the base and then a round piece of fabric about 1/2" bigger than cardboard. Do a running stitch around edge of fabric circle and place cardboard circle in center and snug up thread to wrap fabric edges around cardboard circle. Fold tip of triangle shaped tip down and tack down. Hand sew a running stitch around edges of bottom of owl  to draw up bottom. Put a bit of batting or poly fill into owl, pushing down into head then fill up with dried rice and cinch the bottom closed. Hand stitch fabric covered cardboard circle to bottom of owl. Add buttons. Voila! An owl pattern weight. Works great.

Yes, the fabric in photo is too wrinkled to cut out like that. I just set it up to take a picture and ironed it before actually cutting piece out.

Summer Weather Means Sun Hat Time

Playing with Reversible Bucket Hats/Sun Hats

Summer is just around the corner. I love hats. I like making them. I like wearing them. I have a lot of straw cowboy style hats for the summer, working in the garden, out walking, or attending outdoor events. Hats make all the difference in outdoor activities remaining enjoyable. First, they keep your head cooler than no hat under the direct sun. And they protect the top of your head and your face from sunburn.

I decided to play with making sun hats, starting with designing. First I made a doughnut shape, the outer ring for the brim, keeping the inner circle for the top of the hat and cutting out rectangle sides (crown). Yes, pi is a real thing and it's your friend. The top of the crown and the inner circle matched perfectly. The key is to place the circle down on the machine to allow the feed dogs to do the work of easing the fabric. Despite the crown being straight, same length on top as bottom, the doughnut shaped fabric was tough to ease in and ended up with a crinkly brim. Which is actually really cute. For a little girl, especially.

Pulled out an old bucket hat pattern from my pattern stash. It was Simplicity, McCalls, or maybe Butterick. I always copy pattern pieces onto tissue paper so that I keep the original pristine and organized. Made that version. Cute but the brim did not work for what I wanted. I wanted a brim to shade my face and the only way to wear this and be able to actually see was to push the brim up. Cute. Not really functional as a sun hat.

Time to tweak. To keep the dimensions of the inner circle of the brim, I cut almost to the edge but not through then spread the wedges to give me a wider brim. Worked great!

Top pattern piece is the original. Middle pattern piece is cut to form wedges to spread outside farther out and taped in place. Bottom pattern piece is tissue placed over wedged piece and drawn to new specifications.

I did not use interfacing since this was a prototype to see if the new brim pattern piece was how I wanted it to be but it still works great. It's something that can be tossed in a bag, tote, or luggage and will retain its shape. It can be tossed in the washer then dryer. Very happy with it.

Oh, and the best part, they're completely reversible! You can choose an elegant side or a fun whimsical side. I've been wearing the batik side out. I really like it. The pink/yellow one is nice also and I would wear it when I don't care about needing a brim to block some sunshine from my face.

For a child's hat you could get away with two fat quarters. For an adult sized hat you will need a bit more, simply for placement of the pieces. Since I was experimenting and making prototypes I did a few pieces with whatever I had on hand. You could even create a patchwork look with smaller fabric scraps. You could do a leather one. Even one from oiled canvas for a rain hat. If you're into embroidery you could embroider the crown or the brim before sewing the pieces together. A giant fabric flower with a pin back would be cute as well. The child's version made me think of Alice in Wonderland for some reason and my fingers craved some wild embellishment but since it was destined to be a gift I resisted. Dun dun dun... for now.