Hot Mama Llama!

This llama was fun to make, though a bit time consuming (each of her 'hairs' was added on by hand!).  Although I was inspired by the pattern offered by the Red Heart yarn company, I went off-grid (just created her without a pattern) since I like to crochet when I'm watching TV, and it's too hard to try to follow a printed pattern then.  She stands 15" tall, and you can find her here:

The Cold Weather is Lingering, so Fight Back with an Afghan!

That cold weather just won't seem to go away, so time to fight back with a warm, cozy afghan!  It sits on your lap as you work on it (knit or crochet), and will warm you forever once you're finished.  Here are some of the latest out-of-print afghan pattern books on the Pokey Pokey Needlecraft Shop shelves.  And if you're REALLY ambitious (and need some cash), you can sell your lovelies at Etsy, Gypsy Spoonful, or other handmade selling site!

Upcycle a Cardboard Carton with Crochet

Upcycle a Cardboard Carton

with Crochet

Materials Needed:

Sturdy Cardboard Carton, empty (this example used a Huggies Snug & Dry carton, 54-pack size)

·       Worsted Weight Yarn (this project is a good way to use up yarn bits in the stash!)

·       Crochet Hook Size K (a larger hook makes for faster finish!)

·       Yarn Needle

·       An awl or pick to punch holes into the carton (holes must be large enough to allow the yarn needle threaded with single yarn strand to pass through)

Note:  Use two strands of yarn held together

Step 1:  Beginning at bottom of box:   Chain a length approximately 1-1/2” shorter than the length of the bottom of the carton (turn your carton upside down and hold the chain loosely across the bottom to measure.)  Sc across the chain, and re-measure.  Your chain should now reach the edge across the bottom of the carton.  If not, adjust by adding more or fewer chains – remember, the chain will be stretchy, so hold the chain loosely to measure against the carton, do not stretch it out.  The piece should be measured against the bottom of the carton – when held loosely against the bottom of the box, the sides of the rows should match the edges of the box bottom. 

Sc each row, and repeat until piece covers the bottom of the box (turn the box over frequently, and hold your work against it to check your progress.)  Your completed bottom should cover the bottom of the carton, edge to edge.  Cut yarn. 

Step 2:  With contrasting yarns or the same colors as desired, attach new yarn to any corner of the bottom piece.  Sc across, and repeat by sc each row, until the piece measures the length of the box side (hold your work with the bottom in place and smooth it up the side of the box to see where you are for length).  Once you have reached the exact length of the box side (and keep in mind that ‘exact length’ means that when unstretched, the piece measures the length of the box side), work 2 rows in dc (these two rows will fold over into the inside of the carton edge).  Cut yarn.  Repeat for remaining three sides.

Step 3:  Use a strand of yarn and the yarn needle to sew the four seams closed (or, attach a single strand of yarn, and use a Size G crochet hook to sc along each seam, for a ridged look.)

Step 4:  Sewing the cover onto the carton:  Hold the cover against the carton and fold the two rows of dc into the carton to determine where your holes will be placed; they should be approximately in between the two rows (about 1” in from edge of carton).   Use the awl or pick to punch evenly-spaced holes across the edges of the box . 

Step 5:  Thread yarn needle with a long strand of yarn, and anchor the yarn by running a few stitches through the edge of the dc.  Needle through a corner hole, and begin an overcast stitch along the carton edge, following the holes you punched.   Weave in any loose yarn ends to finish.

Project Suggestions: 

·       Finish your project by adding handles

·       Add a lining of fabric to inside of carton

·       Use bright primary colors for each side for a child’s storage box

·       This project is a great way to use up bits in the yarn stash

Crochet a Bunny Hand Puppet

These cute crocheted hand puppets are easy enough to whip up a herd of bunnies in time for Easter, birthdays, or springtime church bazaars:

Source: Crocheted Bunny Hand Puppet via busycrow on Craftsy

Easy Crocheted Seat Cover

Dress up an inexpensive folding metal stool with this easy crocheted cover:

http://www.sova-enterprises.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=18561;osCsid=kd2ptm4a3njqu28ovvc7402br5

Recycle a Can With Crochet

Make a cute flower-topped box with lid from a recycled can. The box is perfect for filling with those new air fragrance crystals or potpourri because the scent wafts easily from the crocheted lid. The pattern is available here:



http://www.lulu.com/content/multimedia/recycle-a-can-with-crochet/7972431

Crocheted Chair Cover is Finished

I finally finished my chair seat cover; it's crocheted in Red Heart Worsted, in a variegated shade (pinks, blues). I just started with a CH-5 to make a circle, and went 'round and 'round from there in sc; but switched to dc for the sides, to give the cover definition. It's attached with a drawstring underneath.

Crochet a Steering Wheel Cover

Partly to be cheap, partly because I like the way Lily's cotton Sugar N Cream yarn feels, and partly because the steering wheel desperately needed some padding for comfort... I crocheted a steering wheel cover. I started with crocheting a strip, 17 sts across, to fit around the wheel snugly (fit it snugly, because the cotton will stretch slightly after being on the wheel). After reaching that length (a snug fit around the wheel), I sewed the ends together and placed it on the wheel. Then I basted it onto the steering wheel (if you think you'll want to remove it for laundering at some time, etc., you'll want to baste it firmly onto the wheel), but heck, I like the way it looks, if it gets dirty beyond belief, I'll probably just crochet another one!