Crochet Hand Bag/Stuff Sack

CROCHET HAND PURSE/STUFF SACK PATTERN
Supplies:
Heavy cotton yarn, worsted weight
Crochet hook, size I - or whichever is appropriate for the yarn
Yarn needle
Optional decorative yarns, buttons, etc.
(The small bag I made used #36 nylon cord and a 00/2.5mm crochet hook)
Instructions:

This project is crocheted in a spiral formation. It is helpful to mark the first stitch on each row, in order to keep track of rows and stitches.

Round 1: make an adjustable ring with 6 sc. (or: ch2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook)
Round 2: make 2 sc in each sc = 12 sc
Round 3: sc in next sc, increase in next sc, repeat around = 18 sc
Round 4: *sc in next 2 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 24 sc
Round 5: *sc in next 3 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 30 sc
Round 6: *sc in next 4 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 36 sc
Round 7: *sc in next 5 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 42 sc
Round 8: *sc in next 6 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 48 sc
Round 9: *sc in next 7 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 54 sc
Round 10: *sc in next 8 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 60 sc
Round 11: *sc in next 9 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 66 sc
Round 12: *sc in next 10 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 72 sc
Round 13: *sc in next 11 sc, increase 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 78 sc
Round 14: sc in each sc around = 78 sc and next 3 rows. (4 rows sc total)
Round 18: slip st first st, chain 3 skip next st, dc next st, chain 1, skip next st around. Join to 2nd chain w/slip st.
Round 19: sc in each sc around = 78 sc and next 3 rows. (4 rows sc total)
Round 23: slip st first st, chain 3 skip next st, dc next st, chain 1, skip next st around. Join to 2nd chain w/slip st.
Round 24: sc in each sc around = 78 sc and next 7 rows. (8 rows sc total)
Round 32: slip st first st, chain 3 skip next st, dc next st, chain 1, skip next st around. Join to 2nd chain w/slip st.
Round 33: sc in each sc around = 78 sc and next 3 rows. (4 rows sc total)
Round 36: slip st first st, chain 3 skip next st, dc next st, chain 1, skip next st around. Join to 2nd chain w/slip st.
Round 37: sc in each sc around = 78 sc and next 3 rows. (4 rows sc total)
Round 40: *sc in next 11 sc, decrease 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 72 sc
Round 41: *sc in next 9 sc, decrease 1 in next sc, repeat from * = 66 sc
Round 42: sc in each sc around = 78 sc and next 3 rows. (4 rows sc total)
Round 45: slip st first st, chain 3 skip next st, dc next st, chain 1, skip next st around. Join to 2nd chain w/slip st.
Round 46: sc in each sc around = 78 sc

Hide yarn ends by weaving into fabric w/yarn needle.

Use two braided strands as handles, weave through top dc in opposite directions.
(I used a 4-strand round plait braid)

OPTIONAL DETAILS:

*Create a decorative edge by crocheting w/ a contrasting yarn on the last row.
*Little handles are easy to make by creating strips of single crochet.
You may need to adjust the number of stitches and rows based upon your gauge
and finished size of basket. This is how the green accent handles were made:
Chain 13
sc in second chain from hook, and each chain across = 12 sc
sc in each chain = 12 sc
end.
Add decorative hand embroidery to the strips, if desired.
Fold strip in half, overlapping ends. Tack securely onto opposite sides of basket.
Weave ribbon through dc rows and tie with a bow on the front of the bag.

Hot Process Soap!

 Well, my artistic focus has once again changed. I'm over my knitting obsession. So much so that I have unfinished projects sitting in the bag in the corner of the room. Maybe I'll go back to them someday. On to my newest obsession: Hot Process Soap Making! I have always loved J.R.LIGGETT'S Natural Bar Shampoo and I've been wanting to make my own for quite a while now.  After studying videos on You Tube and reading forums and groups I finally took the plunge.It took me a while of saving up and purchasing supplies little by little in order to make my first batch.

Days before I was ready to work, I boiled some distilled water and added several green tea with jasmine tea bags and let it steep for about 10 minutes.  Then, after removing the bags, I boiled it down a little to concentrate the tea. (to about three-quarters of what it was) Then I stored it in the refrigerator until I was ready to use it.

I was a little nervous working with the sodium hydroxide with the tea at first.  When I went to mix it, wouldn't you know I chose a container with a crack in the bottom! Luckily, I had another close at hand and I only had a small puddle to clean up. Phew! First hurdle overcome!

After weighing out my oils and setting the crock-pot to high to melt the solids, my next harrowing moment was adding the lye to the oils.  Piece of cake! I'm very proud of myself for not splashing and making more of a mess.  I stirred and blended with a stick blender.  The soap came to a trace really fast within two or three minutes.  I was surprised at that since most sites I've read say that trace can take 15 minutes to reach.

Now, I turned the crock-pot onto low and set the timer for 30 minutes. I stirred the mix every 30 minutes for 2 hours and it did it's thing perfectly and turned to a vaseline consistency. Next, I weighed out and added my Moroccan Argan Oil and Tea Tree Oil, stirred well and molded. The smell was overpowering! I do believe I used way too much tea tree oil.  When doing hot process, I read that you use a lot less essential oils than in cold process.  Next time, I'm going to cut the scent down to about a quarter of what I put in this batch.  Our room was permeated with the scent for days!

The mold I used was a drawer organizer I found at Dollar Tree for 2 for $1.  It's the perfect size for guest soaps. After waiting 24 hours, I unmolded and cut the bars into 1 1/4 inch thickness.  Beautiful. I set them up on the shelf to cure for 2 weeks before I start gifting this batch.  The next soap I make, I'll consider putting up on Etsy.

Here's my recipe adapted from The Soap Queen's recipe:

TEA TREE AND ARGAN OIL SHAMPOO BARS

• 10 oz. Coconut Oil
• 10 oz. Palm Oil
• 8 oz. Caster Oil
• 8 oz. Olive Oil
• 13.68 oz. Distilled Water infused with Green Tea and Jasmine
• 5.36 oz. Sodium Hydroxide
• .5 oz. Tea Tree Oil
• 1 oz. Moroccan Argan Oil
• 15 drops of Euphoria essential oil.

Love This Yarn!

This is Sensations - It's A Wrap yarn.  I am loving this stuff.  It's color-wrapped plies with a touch of wool.  It's a #5 bulky yarn that is so very soft and luxurious.  I am making a Christmas gift with it right now and I'm totally addicted to the way this yarn is just so cuddly in my hands!

FREE PATTERN! Basketweave Baby Blanket

_BASKET WEAVE BABY BLANKET_

Finished size -
8 Skeins of Caron Simply Soft WW yarn (I'm half-way done and I've used 4 skeins so I'm estimating a total of 8)
Size 6 knitting needles 30" if using circular
Gauge - 32 rows/32 sts = 4" in garter stitch.
Yarn needle

Cast on 144 stitches using cable cast on.
IMPORTANT! Slip all first stitches as if to knit on every row.
Rows 1-16 K.  You should have 8 ridges of garter stitch.
Begin pattern as follows:
Row 17 - K across.
Row 18 - K7 (*K6, P4 ) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 19 - K7 (*K4, P6) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 20 - K7 (*K6, P4) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 21 - K7 (*K4, P6) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 22 - K7 (*K6, P4) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 23 - K across.
Row 24 - K7 (*P4, K6) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 25 - K7 (*P6, K4) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 26 - K7 (*P4, K6) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 27 - K7 (*P6, K4) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Row 28 - K7 (*P4, K6) repeat from * across to last 7 stitches. K7.
Repeat pattern rows for a total of 18 repeats. (216 rows total)
K last 16 rows in garter stitch to create 8 ridges.
Bind off. Weave in ends.

FREE PATTERN: Mickey's Market Bag!

 

ERRATA: Rnd 1: pm, k1, m2, k to last 2 sts of 1st side, m2, k1, pm. Repeat on second half. Rnd 2: k around Rnd 3: k2, m2, k to last 3 sts of 1st side, m2, k2. Repeat on second half. Rnd 4: k around Rnd 5: k3, m2, k to last 4 sts of 1st side, m2, k2. Repeat on second half. Rnd 6: k around Rnd 7: k4, m2, k to last 5 sts of 1st side, m2, k4. Repeat on second half. Rnd 8: k around Continue stepping over 1 st on all odd numbered rounds so that you are doing the m2 on the middle stitch of the last group of m2 in the previous increase round until you have 128 sts. (Should be a total of 10 increase rows)

Measure 12.5 inches from start of mesh (not from cast-on)

Join Yarn Invisibly - Picture Tutorial

By: Marie Anne St. Jean
I use this method w/knitting also.  It's the best join ever!

Free Pattern - Knitting an Oval Shape

KNITTING AN OVAL SHAPE

Using a 32" - 40" (preferred) circular needle, using a figure-8 cast-on half the number of desired stitches.  For example, if your pattern calls for 40 stitches, cast-on 20. Knit through back loops to establish the base.
If you leave 3x as much yarn as cast on stitches. Then you can use that long tail (after knitting a few rows) to weave through the center stitches for extra support.

pm = place marker
m2 = k front, back, front in same stitch

Rnd 1: pm, k1, m2, k to last 2 sts, m2, k1
Rnd 2: k around
Rnd 3: k2, m2, k to last 3 sts, m2, k2
Rnd 4: k around
Rnd 5: k3, m2, k to last 4 sts, m2, k2
Rnd 6: k around
Rnd 7: k4, m2, k to last 5 sts, m2, k4
Rnd 8: k around

Continue stepping over 1 st on all odd numbered rounds so that you are doing the m2 on the middle stitch of the last group of m2 in the previous increase round until you have the desired length for your oval.