The (not my idea) t-shirt yarn bag

I cannot take any credit for the idea behind this bag - you see my good friend, Sharna made one and shared it on Instagram and I loved it.

Find Sharna's inspiring Insta feed here and her blog here

A quick search through my stash at home revealed lots of odds and ends of t-shirt yarn and a deeper dig unearthed some wooden bag handles, too.

And so, inspired by her totally marvellous idea, I decided to come up with my own original design pretty much completely copy it.

If you'd also like to be cool like Sharna and strut around with a copy-cat bag like me, then here's what to do:

You'll need around 350g-ish of t-shirt yarn oddments, a 15mm hook and D-shaped wooden handles (approx 17cms width) find similar here. (Some of my t-shirt yarn was a bit thin, so I worked holding two strands together to even things up a bit.) 

Pattern UK terms (US below)

Make Two

Rnd 1: 4ch (counts as 1ch and 1tr), make 7tr in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (8sts)

Rnd 2: 2ch, 1tr in same st (counts as tr2tog), 1ch, [tr2tog, 1ch] in each st around. Join with sl st to 1st st. (8st, 8ch)

Rnd 3: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [2ch, 1tr (counts as tr2tog), 1ch, tr2tog] in 1ch-sp, [tr2tog, 1ch, tr2tog] in each 1ch-sp around. Join with sl st to 1st st. (16sts, 8ch)

Rnd 4: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [3ch, 1tr, 2ch, 2tr] in 1ch-sp, 2tr between the next two sts, 2tr in 1ch-sp, 2tr between next two sts, *[2tr, 2ch, 2tr] in same 1ch-sp, 2tr between the next two sts, 2tr in 1ch-sp, 2tr between next two sts; rep from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (40 sts, 8ch)

Handle/joining

Rnd 1: (this will vary slightly, depending on your handle). Beginning with one of the squares, in any 2ch-sp, [1ch, 2dc] in 2ch-sp, 1dc BLO in each st over handle, 2dc in 1ch-sp

Now put the other square, with WS facing the WS of the piece you are working on. Make 1dc in the same 2ch-sp and the corresponding 2ch-sp of the square behind, then work your way around the two pieces, joining them by working 1dc BLO of front square to join FLO of back square. Make 3dc in the 2ch-sp space and repeat around, making 1dc in the first 2ch sp where you started.

Now you will just work across the back square. Make 2dc in the same 2ch-sp, 1dc FLO in each st over handle, 2dc in 1ch-sp.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

(Or if you're really lazy like me, tie the ends in a knot on the inside of the bag and snip them.

Job done.

Enjoy your bag - it really is the perfect summer accessory!

Pattern US terms 

Make Two

Rnd 1: 4ch (counts as 1ch and 1dc), make 7dc in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (8sts)

Rnd 2: 2ch, 1dc in same st (counts as dc2tog), 1ch, [dc2tog, 1ch] in each st around. Join with sl st to 1st st (8st, 8ch)

Rnd 3: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [2ch, 1dc (counts as dc2tog), 1ch, dc2tog] in 1ch-sp, [dc2tog, 1ch, dc2tog] in each 1ch-sp around. Join with sl st to 1st st. (16sts, 8ch)

Rnd 4: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [3ch, 1dc, 2ch, 2dc] in 1ch-sp, 2dc between the next two sts, 2dc in 1ch-sp, 2dc between next two sts, *[2dc, 2ch, 2dc] in same 1ch-sp, 2dc between the next two sts, 2dc in 1ch-sp, 2dc between next two sts; rep from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (40 sts, 8ch)

Handle/joining

Rnd 1: (this will vary slightly, depending on your handle). Beginning with one of the squares, in any 2ch-sp, [1ch, 2sc] in 2ch-sp, 1sc BLO in each st over handle, 2sc in 1ch-sp

Now put the other square, with WS facing the WS of the piece you are working on. Make 1sc in the same 2ch-sp and the corresponding 2ch-sp of the square behind, then work your way around the two pieces, joining them by working 1sc BLO of front square to join FLO of back square. Make 3sc in the 2ch-sp space and repeat around, making 1sc in the first 2ch sp where you started.

Now you will just work across the back square. Make 2sc in the same 2ch-sp, 1sc FLO in each st over handle, 2sc in 1ch-sp.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

(Or if you're really lazy like me, tie the ends in a knot on the inside of the bag and snip them.

Job done.

Enjoy your bag - it really is the perfect summer accessory!

Have a great weekend,

Sarah xx

Summer Bunting

Bunting

The perfect way to brighten up a mantlepiece, hang across the garden or adorn an otherwise plain wall.

And the Mister hates it, of course, but let's not worry about that for now...

Recently, I was sent a beautiful set of these Ricorumi cotton DK yarns to try. At just 25g each, they are designed especially for crocheting small Amigurumi and I thought they'd be brilliant for my bunting.

And so I've created* an easy peasy pattern which uses some of the pretty, summery colours available. You could any yarn you like for this - it would be a great stash-busting project. 

*I say 'created, but really this pattern is based on a traditional Granny Triangle pattern, which you can find everywhere. I just decided to add a dangly-bit. To make it pretty.

To make pom-pom: (US tr3tog = dc3tog)
(3ch, in 3rd ch from hook, tr3tog) twice, sl st at base of first tr3tog to close pompom (see blue arrow)

UK version (US below)

I used:

1 x 25g ball each of Rico Design 'Ricorumi' in Vanilla (5), Salmon (21), Nude (23), Light Blue (33) and Pale Green (45)

3.5 mm hook

4ch (counts as 1ch and 1tr)

Rnd 1: 2tr in 4th ch from hook, 3ch, [3tr, 3ch] twice. Join with sl st to 4th ch. 

Rnd 2: in any 3ch-sp, 3ch (counts as tr throughout) 2tr, 3ch, 3tr, 1ch in same sp, *[3tr, 3ch, 3tr, 1ch] in next 3ch-sp; repeat from * twice. Join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Rnd 3: in any 3ch-sp, [3ch, 2tr, 3ch, 3tr, 1ch] in same sp,  [3tr, 1ch] in next 1ch-sp, *[3tr, 3ch, 3tr, 1ch] in next 3ch-sp, [3tr, 1ch] in next 1ch-sp; repeat from * twice. Join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Rnd 4: in any 3ch-sp, [3ch, 2tr, 3ch, 3tr, 1ch] in same sp,  (3tr, 1ch in next 1ch-sp) twice, [3tr, 2ch, pompom, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch] in next 3ch-sp, (3tr, 1ch in next 1ch-sp) twice, [3tr, 3ch, 3tr] in next 3ch-sp, (3tr, 1ch in next 1ch-sp) twice. Join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Joining

20ch at beginning for hanging loop, then make [3tr, 1ch] in each 1ch-sp. When joining the next triangle, omit the 1ch.

US version

4ch (counts as 1ch and 1dc)

Rnd 1: 2tr in 4th ch from hook, 3ch, [3dc, 3ch] twice. Join with sl st to 4th ch. 

Rnd 2: in any 3ch-sp, 3ch (counts as dc throughout) 2dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch in same sp, *[3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch] in next 3ch-sp; repeat from * twice. Join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Rnd 3: in any 3ch-sp, [3ch, 2dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch] in same sp,  [3dc, 1ch] in next 1ch-sp, *[3dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch] in next 3ch-sp, [3dc, 1ch] in next 1ch-sp; repeat from * twice. Join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Rnd 4: in any 3ch-sp, [3ch, 2dc, 3ch, 3dc, 1ch] in same sp,  (3dc, 1ch in next 1ch-sp) twice, [3dc, 2ch, pompom, 2ch, 3dc, 1ch] in next 3ch-sp, (3dc, 1ch in next 1ch-sp) twice, [3dc, 3ch, 3dc] in next 3ch-sp, (3dc, 1ch in next 1ch-sp) twice. Join with sl st to 3rd ch.

Joining

20ch at beginning for hanging loop, then make [3dc, 1ch] in each 1ch-sp. When joining the next triangle, omit the 1ch.

And that's it. It goes without saying that you can keep adding triangles until your bunting measures the length you desire. And if, like me, you REALLY want to annoy your other half, just keep making more and more and more to festoon every corner of your home.

Have a great week,
Sarah xx

A cotton project

Cottons are one of my favourite yarns to work with; they have that lovely feel through the hands and are smooth on my hook.

Usually, I stick to my old favourites. Rico Creative Cotton Aran, or Drops Paris Cotton - both come in a huge array of colours, are inexpensive and have a wonderful, matte finish.

But I had an idea to make something else - something for me. Something for me to wear.

(Did you know that I have never made myself an actual, crocheted garment before. This is new territory for me.)

And so for that, I needed a different yarn. I still wanted cotton, but I wanted something finely spun, that would produce a nice drape....

And so I am trying this:

Patons 100% Cotton DK. It's mercerised, too (which has always scared me a bit). But is basically a manufacturing process which strengthens the yarn and produces a lustrous sheen. 

And so this is what I've managed so far:

Admittedly, it's not much, but I'm making it up as I go.

I like the stitch definition and I think the sheen is rather lovely. The label recommends a 4mm hook, but I'm using a slightly larger 5mm to give a better (I hope) drape.

My plan is for it to be a summer cardigan....

...at this rate it might be finished by next summer. 

I'll keep you posted!

And if you'd like to purchase some of this yarn, then you could try the very lovely folk at Stitch Craft Create, who will be only too happy to help.

Have a great weekend,

Sarah x