I spend a lot of time looking for inspirational images on the internet. I wanted to share this last batch with ya’ll because they are soooo spectacular and really interesting on so many levels.
I’m beginning to understand that my hat fetish and my snood obsession kind of go hand-in-hand. I’ve been doing research on vintage snood patterns and I’ve been having a little luck. You can see one of them here. I also found a really neat tutorial here - it tells you how to make a simple snood from an old doily. (If you didn’t know, I heart doilies big time. The doily/snood combination is almost too much to bear.)
On to the pictures!
*Swoon*
This is a sweet little summer project! I got the itch to make it when I found this interesting granny square in my mother-in-law’s old 1967 Mon Tricot needlework book…..
I like that the open cross granny square in this project is bit different than your run-of-the-mill granny square. Unfortunately, the instructions in my mother-in-law’s book were written in British crochet notation. I only speak American, so I just made mine up and wrote it down to share with ya’ll. It looks a little different than the one in the book, but it’s definitely working with the same idea.
(Pssst! Stash-addict: This top is a great opportunity to use up all that random, sorta ugly, funky-feeling acrylic yarn you’ve managed to accumulate, too. Even though it is made of acrylic yarn, this top will never give you that weird I’m-Wearing-Spun-Plastic feeling because its fully lined with your favorite old tee-shirt.)
Stuff you’ll need:
Good ol’ fashioned acrylic yarn.
G crochet hook
Donor tee or tank top (or other scrap of complimentary knit material)
Handsewing needle
Matching thread
Step #1: Crochet your granny square. Here’s what you’re going for:
Round 1
CH 7, sl st into circle.
Round 2
CH 2, 2 DC into center circle.
*CH 1, 3 DC into center circle.
CH 3, 3 DC into center circle.*
Repeat from * to * 2 more times.
CH 1, 3 DC into center circle, CH 3 and sl st to close round.
Round 3
Ch 3,
*3 DC into Round 2’s CH 1 (the small space inbetween sets of 3 DC), Ch 1
3 DC into CH3 loop, CH 3, 3 DC into same loop, CH 1*
Repeat from * to * 2 more times.
Ch 1, 3 DC into Round 2’s CH 1 (the small space inbetween sets of 3 DC), Ch 1
3 DC into CH3 loop, CH 3, 2 DC into same loop, sl st to close round.
Careful! This is where things start to change!!!
Round 4
Ch 3,* 2 DC into 1 CH space. 1 DC into each of the 3 DCs below, 2 DC into 1 CH space below.
CH 1, 3 DC into 3 CH loop, CH 3, 3 DC into same 3 CH loop, CH 1.*
Repeat from * to * sl st to close round.
Round 5
Work the same way as round 4, except this time work 1 DC into each of the 7 DCs below, ultimately forming 11 DCs (2 new ones + 7 old ones + 2 new ones) on each side. The corners stay the same with each round - the only thing that changes is the number of DCs on each side.
How many rows until I’m done?!
For my top, I worked a total of 10 rows. You could add a row or two to make the top bigger or subtract a row or two to make it smaller. I recommend holding the work up to your body as you go (preferably in front of a mirror) so that you can get a better idea of how big it will need to be.
Step # 2 – Add Straps.
Once you’re happy with the size it’s time to add the halter part. Starting at one corner, CH 25 and sl st closed at about 18 stitches in from the corner. (See the pic for clarification!) Try it on before you snip the yarn to see if it’s working on your body. Too long would mean that your top is exposing parts of you meant to be covered up and too short would mean that you can’t get your head through the hole.
My halter strap looks like this:
For the tie closure in the back, I just looped about 7 or so inches of spare yarn around either corner. You could braid the ties or even crochet them if you felt like it. You’re just looking for something you can tie in the back to hold the top closed.
Done? Now you’re ready to….
Step #3 – Attach the lining.
Lay your donor tank or tee on a flat surface. Whatever you use, make sure it’s a knit (i.e. stretchy) NOT woven.
Cut one side of your tank/tee open and lay it flat if you need a bigger piece of fabric to work with.
Use your granny square as a template and cut the lining to size. (Don’t cut into your granny square!!!!)
Using a slip stitch, sew the lining to the granny square.
Don’t worry about finishing the edges of the knit fabric – knits don’t unravel and if you sew it right, the unfinished edges won’t be visable when you’re wearing the top anyway.
All Done! Wear dangle earrings and rock it.
Back View!…….
mmm…crochet photography…so much pattern….
Enjoy!!!!!
Many of you know that I live in a housebus that my girlfriend, Julia, and I built from scratch. (That’s a whole ‘nother blog…) At 7.5′ by 30′ it’s a small space. I had my sewing space set up in there (of course) and that’s where I made all of the stuff I currently have for sale in my Etsy shop. However, right now the bus is parked at my mom’s house in Santa Rosa. I’ve been taking advantage of her guest room and using the opportunity to get really messy with my sewing……
What’s going on in there?? Well, I’ve been working on a skirt for Stitch Magazine but I can’t really tell you any more details than that. (Sorry guys!) Ok, ok, I can tell you that these materials are involved:
Secret Skirt Materials - light purple linen, pretty new calico print, thread. Like it so far? Me too.
My new Husqvarna was involved, too, of course.
Isn’t she pretty? I’m still so glad I didn’t go for those new-fangled computerized machines. I bought her last fall after crying over my broke-a$$ Riccar too many times. She may be made in China but she’s Swedish *designed* gosh-darn-it!
Oh yes, I digress. Why are we still in Santa Rosa?
Well, here’s why: I’ve been having a weird feeling in my throat (like a mouthful of mashed potatoes got stuck half-way down) since before Christmas and I thought it was time to get it checked out. Rather than go on to Santa Cruz, I decided to stay in one place to figure out what was going on. I thought it would take a week.
About a month (and 7 or 8 doctor’s appointments, 6 tests and $600+ dollars) later, we *finally* know what my problem is! No, it’s not heart burn, its not cancer, it’s not hyperthyroidism, it’s…….globus hystericus. The doc says it’ll go away by itself if I just chill the heck out and give it time. LOL. Thank God!
While I was waiting for the results of all these bizarre tests and awkward appointments, I rediscovered crochet as the fidgity, comforting little self-care activity that it is. (What can I say? Not knowing what the heck is going on with your neck/throat is kinda freaky!) We’ve been renting the Tudors
and watching it for hours every night. The results? 1.5 scarves and 1 hat:
Woot. Scarf. This yarn has been in my stash for ages. Too ugly to use, too DIY to throw away…Both the pepto-bismal yarn and the dark browny-grey yarn were recycled from thrift store sweaters that I unknitted. Heck, I even dyed the pepto-bismal cotton yarn that lovely pepto-bismal color all by myself using the power of kool-aid. I think it looks…ok.
Another shot of my pepto bismal scarf in action. It’s all just straight double crochet.
Crocheted hat. I was going for a cloche look. I’m not sure I really nailed it. I like the bobbly on the side, though. I used a vintage button and a bunch of rescued braided satin frog closures. (Editor’s note: I had to crop this because I looked too stupid for words in this pic….better to leave it to your imagination.)
Scarf .5? Well, it’s still in the works. It’s knitted, not crocheted and that takes me a good bit longer to do. I’m a slow knitter.
Tags: crochet, crocheted hat, crocheted scarf, globus hystericus, husqvarna viking, knitting, recycled yarn, Sewing, skirt, stitch magazine, Thrift Scores
