Plastic carrier bag crochet

I saw something interesting the other day - crocheting with plastic carrier bags.  I'd seen a lot of patterns for making shopping bags, but none actually using shopping bags.  This is something I just had to try.  First off though, you've got a lot of work to do to get your yarn.

To make the yarn, follow these instructions.

http://www.plasticbagcrafts.com/make-plarn/

If you want to get started on your crochet quite quickly, you can add to the yarn as you go which is quite handy.

Making the bag

I haven't got a clue how this will look, but I'll write down what I'm doing bit by bit and if it works out, we might have a sort of pattern. :)

I've just made a foundation chain of about 30 (I didn't count) then worked double crochet in each stitch to the end.  In the last stitch, I did 3 double crochet and then worked around the other side of the foundation chain and did another 3 stitches in the end. Slip stitch to join the row.

For the next row, Chain 2 then work 1 treble in the front loop (or is it the back?) of each of the stitches in the previous row, both sides. slip stitch to join the row.

Chain 2 and treble in each stitch around.

I plan on just working each row and hopefully it'll work.  I might increase or decrease stitches depending how the shape comes along.

Fingerless mittens

In my Art of Crochet kit, I found a great pattern for some fingerless mittens.  I altered the pattern a bit as these had a thumb on them, but I didn't like the thumb.  If anything it made it easier.

The wrist was made using treble crochet, and the main part of the glove was made using the v stitch, increasing the number of stitches to shape the thumb and finishing off with a couple of rows of double crochet.

I got a bit complacent with the first glove and managed to miss a couple of stitches.

 

I bought a slightly better wool and started again and this time round, if I missed a stitch, I unpicked the whole piece of work until I got back to that stitch.  Sometimes I can get away with it, this pattern isn't very forgiving for sloppy work :)  Excuse the poor hand modelling, I'm waiting for a proper photo of the finished pair from their new owner.

Hats for Innocent Fruit Smoothies

You may have seen the Innocent Fruit Smoothies with wooly hats on in the shops - these are all part of their Big Knit campaign.  I decided to try crocheting a miniature wooly hat and this is what I've come up with.

Apologies, I didn't concentrate exactly on what I was doing, but I'll try and explain :)

The Pattern

You will need two colours of yarn.  I used Purple (A) and pink (B) in a double knit yarn with a 3.5mm crochet hook.

ch = Chain
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
DC = Double crochet (UK)
TC = Treble crochet (UK)

(Using A) To start, ch 2 then do 6 DC in first chain.  Continue working in the round - using stitch markers if you think they'll help.

1st Round 2DC in each st in previous round (12 sts)

2nd Round (2DC in next st, 1DC in next st) 6 times (18sts)

3rd Round (2DC in next st, 1DC in next 2 sts) 6 times (24sts)

I stitch quite tight so added an extra row of increases, you may be okay with 24stitches in the round)
4th Round (2DC in next st, 1DC in next 7 sts) 3 times (27sts)

5th Round 1DC in each st around (27sts)

(Change to B)

6th Round 1DC in each st around (27sts)

(Change to A)

Continue with rounds 4 and 5 until your hat is at the desired size.  Ensure you finish with Yarn A.

Final Round (Using B) (3TC in next stitch, sl st in next 2 sts) 9 times (45sts) - fasten off

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For the PomPom, I was given this really handy tip.  It's so quick and easy to do :)

http://www.molliemakes.com/projects/how-to-make-tiny-pom-poms/

Overall, the whole thing only took a couple of hours from start to finish.

Fuschia - Just a photo

This is just a photo of a fuschia - the pattern came from a book a friend purchased and I can't for the life of me think what it was called.  I popped it on a friend's hat and she was chuffed with it :)

Amigurumi Friends - Emily

I'm finally up to date with the blog - I'm right in the middle of a project at the moment so I can now blog as I'm doing it.

We're in the middle of some renovations at home so this might take me a while to finish.  Hopefully the blog posts from now on will be a little less rushed.

So...EMILY!!

I've been dying to get round to starting Emily, the main reason being her hair.  Emily has the most amazing head of long curly hair and I've been dying to try this technique.  I crocheted the normal head shape, added the eyes and mouth and then have finally got to work on the hair.

To start with, I cut lots of strands of log brown double knit yarn then - this is the bit that took the time - I pulled the yarn apart into really thin pieces.  As the yarn is twisted together, when you unravel it, it's perfect for really tight curly hair.  I then added a couple of pieces of this yarn where I would normally add one piece of normal yarn for each bit of hair.  I have given this a really soft brush to make it a bit more fluffy which has made the curls a little bit looser. I hope you'll agree this is really effective and looks fab. 

I've got to decide on what Emily's going to wear before I go any further.

Getting there

I've struggled getting my act together with this one but I'm finally getting there.  I actually went for an all black dress with black leggings and leopard print shoes.  The body and feet was worked the same as all the other amigurumi friends, but when I got to the feet, I worked with two different colours at the sawe time.  I think the effect has worked, but the only problem is that they feet are now a bit big.  If I were to try again, I'd probably use two different colours, but just go for a lighter weight yarn.

I've still got the arms to do, but I've got a bit sidetracked with some other little projects but I will finish this.

 

FINISHED!!!

Female Orc - World of Warcraft

The next project was a female Orc from World of Warcraft. It's based on my friend's character Beefious :) I used the same techniques as previous projects, but I used a 4 ply yarn for the hair this time and it seems to  work a lot better.  There's a bit more detail in the face as well.

I'm very disappointed with the proportions on this one, but I do like the head so I'm happy to share.

Here's a few pictures from start to finish!

 

Amigurumi Friends - JemJems

Okay, so I've started something here.  Following my Amigurumi Tina, I decided to do one of my best friend JemJems.

I decided to use blonde coloured wool with a few strands of yellow.  I was going to go with a quiff hairstyle but decided against that.

For the cleavage, I tried to create a bit more of a realistic shape this time.  It was actually quite easy. As I worked round, I increased the number of stitches at the front of a couple of rows and then decreased for a couple of rows.

Before I got to the end, I worked one row in the front loop, leaving the back loops to start working the trousers in.  I worked another row of double crochet then finished the piece with a row of half treble.

I finished the piece with black wool to make trousers and shoes, then cut the hair to finish.