Making plarn

Today I will be making 'plarn'. No, I didn't make this one up. :) Plarn is the product you get when you cut plastic grocery bags into strips to be used as yarn. Plarn is made in the same way as Sharn only you don't have to stretch it before you connect the loops together.  Here is a plarn tutorial.

http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2007/02/17/instructions-for-cutting-plastic-bags-creating-recycled-plastic-yarn/

I have friends and family members saving their plastic shopping bags for me to turn into plarn. I made an awesome plarn shopping bag.  The whole 'shopping at Aldi's' thing from a previous post if you remember.  It turned out great, and so roomy.  People are asking me to make them one.  It takes 50 or  more bags to make one plarn bag.  I doubt I will be making very many plarn bags unless I get donations. I surely don't shop enough to get enough plastic bags in my own.

Jami's Camo hat

Today was a play date with my sis-in-law.  We went to this sweet little place called Rumor's Deli.  I had a Mouth of the South Combo, Jami had a Scoop Combo, and Cheryl had a 1/2 Mouth of the South Combo, Wyatt, my little one, ate a hot dog. The food was just too good!  They also have a coffee bar. I could so live there!! I love me some cappuccino and latte!!

    I just couldn't spend the day in town without stopping by one of my most favoritest stores. Hobby Lobby, even the name sounds fun. I could stay there all day.  There were a few things that I needed and a ton of things that I wanted.  Of course, it was necessary to gaze longingly at a great number of things, which I did, quite happily, too.  Wyatt needed some supplies for his arts and craft projects for school.  I picked out the material for my curtains and bed spread. This is the first time I left the store without purchasing any yarn. ~sigh~ I must be sick.  I didn't even buy a hook, although I looked real hard at a size N hook.  In the end, I put it back and left empty handed.

   Since we had a busy day planned, I decided to do a quick project that could be finished in an hour or so.  I had a skein of Red Heart Camo yarn laying around, so I snatched that puppy up, and got to work.  I modified the pattern from my baby hat I posted a few days ago to fit Jami.  In less than an hour she had a new Camo beanie.  She opted to wear it for our day out.  Looking cute in it, too!

An actual, true life conversation!

Hubby: I want a regular baseball cap. 

Me: I can't crochet a baseball cap (eye roll) 


Son: Chuck Norris could crochet a baseball cap. 


Me: I'd like to see Chuck Norris crocheting a baseball cap 


Hubby: Chuck Norris doesn't crochet, he scares the yarn into a baseball cap.


hahahahaha!

Pom-pom Hat pattern

I have made several of these hats.  I started out by making each of my two daughters one with big ol' huge pompoms on them.

This hat was made out of the black homespun yarn for my oldest daughter pictured on the right.  It is very soft and the pompoms are huge. I still need to trim the pompoms on this one.

My daughter who is quite the princess fell in love with the style and texture.  She is away at school and we miss her terribly.  She called me the minute she received it, and was thrilled with the gift. I doubt it will get hot enough in Texas to need the hat, but she is all about fashion statements. I am sure she will find and occasion to wear it! Can massage therapist wear ear flap hats to work?



I made another hat out of wool ease chunky yarn for my youngest daughter. She is a bit of a tomboy, loves horses, and working with her hands.  She was happy as can be with her hat.  This girl can be tough as nails and still as pretty as a flower.  How do they do that??

Allow a proud Momma a moment to brag.  I honestly believe I have two of the sweetest and prettiest southern belles around, and I'll kick the teeth out of anyone who disagrees!!!


Here is the free pattern for the Pom-pom hat.   http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/chs-pomhat.html I love the Lion Brand website.  If you can't view this pattern, it is because you are not a member. It doesn't cost anything to become a member. Once you do, you have access the hundreds of great patterns. Win win situation!

Crochet shopping bag

I love to recycle and to change things from their regular form into something fun and useful.  I was really torn over what I was gonna do with my sharn.  I had the idea to make a floor rug, but the main colors my son wears are red, blue, and white.  I really didn't want a bicentennial rug.

Since I shop at Aldi's, a market bag is a much better and more useful object for me. Whoo-hoo! Look at me! I am going green.  I love Aldi's.  They have wicked cheap prices. I have only two problems with them.  One, I have to bring my own shopping bags. I am always forgeting them. The other problem is I am alway forgetting my quarter for the shopping buggy.  I just realized, (dawn of awareness) it isn't Aldi's, it is me! I am forgetful. Ugh! I hate revelations.  Back to my shopping bag.

So, now, I have written the pattern for my bag. Unfortunately, it isn't user friendly, yet.  It desperately needs some fine tuning.  Hopefully, I will post it in a day or two. I have just had another 'dawn of awareness'. I stink at pattern writing. I'm sure there isn't a person it the world that can read and understand my bag pattern!

Sharn tutorial

This is my 16 year old son. As most 16 year olds go, he eats, sleeps, grows, and then eats and sleeps. Needless to say, I end up with a lot of cast off clothing.  It seems. the main choice of attire for most teens consist of jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers.  Which brings me to my latest project, 'sharn'.  Yes, I really did mean 'sharn'.

This is my sharn.  Pretty cool, huh?   Sharn is a cross between the words yarn and T-shirt. Since T-sharn sounds really stupid, I shortened it to sharn. I know, I know, sharn shounds shtupid, too. To make sharn, I took an old worn T-shirt that did not have seams down the side. The best ones to use is the type that is made in one piece, like a tube, with sleeves sewn in.

So, I take the t-shirt, lay it flat and cut off the bottom seam.    

Then I cut it into strips about ¼” or ½” wide, depending on my preference so that it is a circle. The sharn is going to be doubled when used, so it needs to be cut ½ the thickness that is needed.  

This is what the strips look like.  Notice that I cut them straight across so they are in loops.  This is very important for the next steps.

I stretch the sharn circles so that the sides roll together. This makes it easier to use and to crochet with.

I attach the two circular pieces together using the Girth Hitch.  Below, I have added a link that shows how to do the girth hitch.


http://www.animatedknots.com/girth/index.phpCateg=rescue&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

I then roll it all up like a big ball of yarn. Spots and stains really don't matter, because they aren't noticeable once the strip is rolled into a cord. I also cut right through any decal or design on the shirt. Make sure the pockets are removed as they will cause too much thickness when the strip is stretched.

This is what is left after I make my sharn. It is then cut up into squares and used as dusting rags for me and shop rags for Hubby.  Every part of the shirt is used. Only the smallest scraps are thrown away.  I throw away the neck band and the hem bottom that I cut off. That is just because I haven't figured out a use for them yet.

I'm just pooped!

For some reason the teenagers in my life have a strange attraction to poo.  They draw pictures of it and think it is just a hilarious topic to discuss at the dinner table. Ugh! The worst part is (sigh) they are girls. I know, I am a failure. I have failed miserably as the parental figure, nurturer, and all around guide to what is good and right for lady like behavior.   In a nutshell, my girls need a finishing school. I am reminded of that old addage, 'If you can't beat them (which is against the law lol), join them'.  Much to my embarrassment and chagrin, in my defeat, I have decided to adopt this slogan. Here is my newest project.

I found this pattern on Crochet Mama's Blog. She has free crochet patterns and is definitely worth checking out. It is also nice to know that someone has the poo factor in their life, too. lol Here is her poo-pattern.

http://yarnchick.blogspot.com/2010/07/oh-poo.html

Victorian Jacket

Been at it again!! I made this for another little niece. I just think it is the cutest thing. I got the pattern from http://www.redheart.com/.  I used some darling peach yarn bought long ago and just waiting for me to notice it again.  Being that this little project was made from supplies already available, I was very pleased with the cost factor. :)

To set off the look perfectly, I purchased a white lacy elastic style headband and a white feather clip to snazz up the headband. Courtesy of Hobby Lobby weekly sales.

Here is the link to the free pattern I used.  Wow!! Lovin' the free stuff!
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/BabyChild/WR1629+Crochet+Victorian+Jacket.htm

Free Crochet Pattern: Sweet V Baby Hat

Here is the sweet hat I made for my little niece.  I used Baby Bee Sweet Delight Twist yarn that I got from Hobby Lobby. It was marked down from $4.99 to the lovely price of $1.79. The color is called Teaparty. It is a #5 bulky yarn, and machine washable.

This is my first attempt at pattern writing, hopefully it has no mistakes.  Please inform me if any are found, I will gladly make adjustments.




Size 9-12 month (I hope)  :)

Hook K

Chain 47 join

Row 1. ch 1 sc around join to first sc 47 sc

Row 2. ch 1 sc around join to first sc 47 sc

Row 3 ch 1 sc around join to first sc 47 sc

Row 4. ch 1 sc in same st, sk next st , * v-stitch (dc ch 1 dc) in next st, sk next st, sc in next sc. Repeat from * ending with v-stitch. join

Row 5 chain 4 dc in same st, sk next, *sc in next ch 1, v in next sc, repeat around from * ending with sc. Join to the 3^rd ch

Row 6 sl st in ch 1 sp, sc in same sp, *v in next sc, sc in next ch 1. repeat around from * ending with v-stitch. join to 1^st sc with sl st.

Rows 7 – 14 repeat rows 5 and 6

Row 15 ch. 3, sc in v st, 1 dc in next sc, 1 sc in next v st join in 3^rd ch.  

Row 16 ch 4 dc in same st, sk next st, sc next st., sk next st, v in next st

Row 17 sl st in v, ch 1 sc in v, dc in sc, sc in v join to sc end off leaving a long string. turn hat inside out and sew hole closed. Place pom-pom at the top of the hat .

I know there are a lot of dishonest people out there, I choose to believe the best in everyone.  Therefore, my patterns are free, you can use them, link to them, and do anything you want with the products made from them. All I ask is please don't steal my patterns, and give me credit for the creation of them. If you use the pattern or post it to another site, please include a link to my site.  

my newest project

I made this little outfit out of Lion Brand  wool-ease thick and quick yarn.  I love the fact that it is part wool, yet soft and machine washable.  Gotta love that!!

Here is the pattern I used for the hat. I made some adjustments, though. I left off the brim and crocheted two chains on each ear flap. I really like the way it turned out.
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70501AD.html?noImages=
The web site and patterns and free, but you have to join to use the patterns.