Mint's Crochet

Black Sewing Thread Bag

2006-04-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Silly me, I forgot to post this project!

I gave it to mom already..and she likes it! Yay! ;)

I actually love working this small now. The way diagonal box stitch comes out in thread is pretty!

Needless to say I went on to a more ambitious project - I started a top with the rest of the black thread.

I've actually finished that one too (so I really am late on this post!) and will post it when I get pictures up.

Dread Piramato Roberta and Elane consult the map

2006-02-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

So I couldn't resist..I only had some peaches in cream yarn left and a little bit of thread and scraps...

Say hello to Dread Produce Piramato Roberta.

Sailing the seven aisles of the supermarket in search of treasure, Roberta is one of the most feared piramatoes around. And who wouldn't be terrified by a piramato of legendary reputation, especially one wielding a plastic knife?

Recently Elane and the mutant cherry tomatoes joined on to replace Roberta's crew (who had met an unfortunate canning end). Wearing the gold wig symbolic of her First Mate status, she and Roberta consult a map. It appears they are planing a raid on a local grocery store.

Minty-Fresh Hideout

2006-02-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

After escaping from the cafeteria, Elane the mutant cherry tomato makes a secret hideout in an altoid tin. After a sugar induced headache (now she's one sweet little tomato) asprin was in order.

With a gold wig and some eye-glass repair tools who knows what she'll be up to next..

2006-02-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

Meet Elane, the mutant cherry tomato. Other monster tomatoes (http://www.monstercrochet.com/TomatoPattern.html) have been appearing lately at http://www.monstercrochet.blogspot.com/. This particular tomatoe was a regular cherry tomato until she was captured by the local cafeteria. Exposure to a still unknown experimental salad dressing changed her forever. She was last seen escaping out of a dashers to-go meal line leading several other newly freed cherry tomatoes.

Mini Guide to Checkering Diagonal Box Stitch

2006-02-17T21:33:00.000-08:00

Edit: added last steps (those for on the non-increasing sides) this morning.

To learn the diagonal box stitch, I recommend this link:

http://www.crochetcabana.com/stitches/ltc-diag-box-st.htm

For increasing diagonal rows:

With a base like usual diagonal box stitch, but only one loop to finish the double crochet:

Then you draw a loop of the second color up and finish the double crochet:

(It's ok for it to be loose at this point - it will get tightened up in the next step.)

Then you do the chains to start the next diagonal layer just as normal but pull the two loose ends tight after you chain the second color.

Do the second color row the same as normal:

Cutting ends at the beginning of a row is often better to avoid tangling. Do all following rows just like before.

Conviniently, we can tuck them into the same colored boxes as they started and ended:

I can put up more examples if anyone would like me to. Anyway, off to bed. :)

On the non-increasing sides:
When you get to the end where you would like to start a non-increase, do a slip stitch and tie it off:

Turning so the double crochets of the last row are horizontal, draw a loop of the next color onto the hook (just like you do for the increasing side row start):

Chain two that will become your first double crochet of the box. At this point there are two things I usually do with the ends:

Stitch Over Option:
Just stitch over the end - you will end up with the loose end being on the inside:

Push End to Outside Option:
If you want to use the ends as tassels or otherwise prefer to have the loose ends on the outside, then this is the step you would use. First, finish your row:

..then place your hook into the first of the chain two that began the row:

Then pull the loose end through and pull slightly to secure.

At this point you should have your row finished, regardless of what you choose to do from above:

Simply repeat until you are finished.

Now you have a checkerboard pattern - congratulations!

Checkered Hook Case Pattern Draft

2006-02-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

This is my first try at a pattern, so I imagine it's not an easy one to follow. I'd love to hear any feedback on it if you hazard an attempt at it. Hopefully it's doable though, the pattern was simple.

Checkered Hook Case

Hook: US I9/5.50 MM
Yarn: Bernat Boucle in
Color 1 = light blue, Color 2 = tan, Color 3 = dark blue
(Of course, use whatever you like )
Zipper: 22 in. / 55 cm length of zipper in Color 3
(This will depend on the final dimensions of the case, but to give you an idea of how long it might be.)

Outside:

Alternating Color 1 and Color 2 at the end of each diagonal row make a rectangle that is 9 x 12 in number of boxes tall x wide. Weave in your ends!

Inside:

In Color 1 chain 26 then single crochet starting in the second chain from the hook (if I explained it correct, you should end up with 25 sc on the row and this row should be about the same size if not slightly smaller than the outside rectangle).

Chain one and turn, doing the same number of sc on every row after. It took 37 rows total to get it to length, though always check it against the outside piece. It should end up the same size or slightly smaller than the outside length wise as well.

In Color 2 do a single crochet border around the two rectangles, going through them both to hold them together. Follow this by a single crochet border in Color 3 into the border you just completed.

(This border in Color 3 is the area saved for sewing the zipper onto.)

Pocket:

In Color 3 chain 10 and single crochet starting in the second chain from the hook (you should end up with 9 sc on this row). Do 14 rows total of this.

Chain three at the start of the next row and double crochet into the second stitch from the end. Chain one and repeat (should make an open filet crochet mesh).

Sew or crochet on. In this case I crochet it on doing sc through the pocket and the inner lining. With extra yarn on both ends I wove it into the inner rectangle to make the border and bow decoration.

Handle:

In Color 3 chain 5 and sc into it (should be 4 sc on row). Continue to desired handle length (mine was about 20 rows long). Sew or crochet on.

Zipper:

All that is left is to sew on the zipper. Check to make sure you have a long enough zipper - 22 in. was almost the perfect length for the one I made.

Crochet Hook Case

2006-01-31T18:33:00.000-08:00

Been busy working on class work, and a shrug-jacket wip that I won't post until I finish it (have to put snap buttons on it, and a few last changes). With the remaining yarn I decided to make a crochet hook case as a gift for my aunt C who taught me how to crochet. I realized recently that she still carries them around in a plastic bag, so I thought this might be a nice gift for her. I'm also working on a project bag for her as well, but it may be a while before I have time to complete that project.

Anyway, photos!

Purse Finished!

2005-10-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

This took forever because class kept interupting. Tried a couple ways of closing it, this ended up being the one I liked best. Still need to adjust the cord length, but other than that it's good to go:

Update on Purse

2005-09-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Still working it - made a sc lining in white, though I'm not sure if I'm going to use it. Main issue is what I'm doing for the handles. I have a good idea of what kind I want to use, but until I can get the time and the funds to make another run to the local craft store it will have to be on hold.

At the moment I'm just struggling to survive the torrental downpour of homework.

Also have been bouncing around an idea for a jacket...but we'll see if I'm that ambitious. I really want to do it with sewing thread because of the feel, but I'm not that crazy yet. Probably will do with thread though.

First Thread Projects

2005-08-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

I have here pictures of my first thread projects, so I thought I'd post them. I can't believe how much larger #10 thread looks now as compared to the purple purse I'm working on!

Purple Purse in progress

2005-08-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

Here's my current project: a thread crochet purse. I don't have a camera so it's scanned up.

The nickel is for scale, I'm working it with a size 1 steel hook and size 10 seed beads. The bottom was one 10 size thread and two 40 (?) purple threads. Sides are two strands 40(?) thread on the beaded portion, single strand on the rest so far.