Mark's Rag Rug

My last catch up post for now is the rag rug that I did for Mark made out of some of our old bedsheets.  I spent a good portion of this last typhoon making strips out of our old sheets.  Then I crocheted them in a round to make a rug.  This is what I have for now, but I will probably add to it with the other sheets that match when we are done with them.  This is most of two queen sized fitted sheets.  I think the worst part of this project was definitely cutting the red sheets, they wouldn't tear like the black ones did.  Also, actually crocheting the strips was a bit hard on my hand and my bad shoulder.  I will be cutting all future fabric strips a bit more narrow. 

For those interested, the strips were about 2 in thick and I used a 12.0mm crochet hook.  I started with a chain of 6 (for the thickness of the strips I would recommend doing more st in the starting ch as I have a little bit of a problem getting it to stay flat in the middle), joined in the round and DC 8 times into the ring.  Rd 2: 2 DC in ea st around.  Should have 16st.  Rd 3:  2DC then 1 DC around. Should have 24 st.  Rd 4:  2DC then 1 DC in the next two st.  Should have 32 st.  Anyway, you get the point.  Every round you increase the number of single stitches inbetween the doubles.  If you find it isn't laying flat at any point then you can simply add stitches.  If it is starting to "pucker" then add less stitches. 

I don't know that I said any of that right.  If you have questions, just comment and I will attempt to explain it.  

My first completed sock!!

Okay, so socks are not easy at all!!!  I had to learn to knit with DPN's (double pointed needles) and how to use 4 of them at the same time to knit in the round.  I had many duds.  This sock isn't an exact replica of the one on the website because I got so sick of knitting the cuff only to screw up on the heel flap and picking up stitches along it and lose all my work.  So the cuff is much shorter than it was supposed to be as I only did enough of it to make the needles a little more steady.  This is the hardest knitting project to date.  I don't plan on it being the last time I do socks.  I still want to learn how to do toe up socks, but I think that will come a bit later.  I need to practice this way a bit more still.  If you want to learn to knit a sock with larger yarn and DPN's, I recommend doing this one and then moving on to the smaller needles and yarn.  Not only that, but it might give some insight on how to read and trust what a pattern says to do.  Sock patterns are extremely confusing, but well worth the effort.  The instructions on how to knit a sock is here.

The washcloth

Learning to knit has been pretty fun for the most part.  Sometimes frustrating, but I like a challenge, so I have mostly enjoyed it.  This washcloth was my way of teaching myself to increase, decrease, and to change color.  It was a bit confusing at first, but I got it.  I plan on eventually making many more washcloths, they feel so nice on the skin.  The pattern came from here.

 

Hey! It's a new post!

So, it's has been MONTHS since I posted, which is pretty sad.  My brother has mentioned my lack of discipline in the posting on my blog as I should...sorry, bro.  I have however been semi busy in the time that I haven't been on here.  I have only finished one crochet project (just the other day).  However, over the last couple of months, I have taught myself to knit.  I have done several washcloths which I won't be able to post at the moment because they are up in the dirty laundry.  I do have the one that I did to teach myself to increase, decrease, and change color (all in one go, phew) that I will be posting.  I, also, have been struggling to learn to knit socks.  I have successfully completed a beginner sock, YIPPEE!!  So, I am going to post those now...with pictures!

Pants/Shorts made out of T-Shirts

Mark and I have quite a few old T-shirts that we no longer use (some that we have never used) and I have them in a bag in our downstairs closet.  They were originally brought down so I could make rag rugs, however they have been sitting in there for quite a few months alongside an unfinished rug.  I ran across this post from Rookie Moms that shows you how to make baby/toddler pants out of old T-shirts.  I bookmarked it forever ago and for some reason, I felt like pulling out my sewing machine today, so I pulled this back up and gave it a go. 

I made the "pants" for Nick using his superman pants as my guide.  I tried them on him when he got up from his nap, little did I know that the kid has grown out of them in the last week or so, which means I am going to have to make them into shorts.  That boy is growing way to fast.  I, also, did a pair of shorts for Ellie, but I don't have the right width of elastic, so I am going to have to complete them tomorrow.  I think I might try one more pair tonight, before I go to bed.  I am not one who sews, so if I can do it, anyone can do it.  I suggest giving it a try if you have little ones.  It's a great way to recycle and it will save a few bucks on new pajama pants/shorts.

White Totoro Done!!

 After doing the blue totoro, I wanted to do the white one and the gray one.  I had the white yarn, so I started him.  He worked up VERY quickly.  I didn't do the feet, however.  I don't feel that he really needed them.  So, now, all I have to do is order some yarn for the the gray totoro and Ellie will have a complete set!! 
 

Totoro is FINISHED!!

The Totoro that I promised to Ellie is finished!!  He was a lot bigger that I thought that he would be, but he is Oh so cute!!  I will be making the others to go with him, as well.  I made only one change, really, and that was his eyes.  I crocheted the eyes because I didn't have safety eyes and I had to modify the white part of the eyes to accommodate the black crocheted part.  Overall, he was pretty fun to crochet and not to difficult to put together.  If you want to give it a go, the pattern is here.