Hanging Litter Basket for RV

This hanging litter bag is intended to be used with a disposable liner. A plastic bag or small paper bag from the grocery store is suggested as a liner.

Using a 5mm hook, in HDC start with a base of 10 sts. Work in continuous rounds increasing 10 sts each round to 100 sts, about 7 inches in diameter. Work in straight continuous rounds for 12 rounds. Decrease 10 sts on next round to 90 sts. Work in straight continuous rounds for 8 rounds. Decrease 10 sts on next round to 80 sts. Work in straight continuous rounds for 4 rounds. Finish top edge with knitted applied i-cord including a 2-inch loop at the end of round.

Litter bag will be about 11 inches tall when finished.

Update: My husband discovered that the plastic tub that our dishwasher pods come in is a perfect fit to be a rigid liner for the hanging litter bag, making it easier to neatly tuck away the top of the plastic litter bag between the crocheted cover and the pods tub. Genius!

To the Peak Hat free pattern

I love the unique texture and stylish brim of the To the Peak Hat, a free pattern from Patons/Yarnspirations.

Changes I made from the written pattern: Used 5.5 mm hook. Worked to 80 sts. Made each cluster with 4 FPDCs instead of 3. Made brim 54 sts wide instead of 46.

Economical yarn bowl idea

When your daughter gives you a gigantic ball of yarn, you get to use the BIG mixing bowl.

So here's a DIY idea for how to make an economical yarn bowl using items you might already have on hand. Before starting your project, gather your yarn, a mixing bowl big enough to hold it, and a folding spring clip that has holes in the handles as shown in the photo. Add your yarn to the bowl, attach the clip to the rim of the bowl, and feed your yarn through the holes in the clip handles. Then work your project as usual.

The bowl will help to keep your yarn contained and sitting where you want it as you work. When you run out of yarn, place the next skein or ball into the bowl as before and continue working.

Swingy Shawlivest - new pattern!

New pattern alert! Today I released my crocheted Swingy Shawlivest pattern on Ravelry! This is a paid pattern, but if you try it I believe you'll agree it's a good value.

 

The Swingy Shawlivest is an eye-catching, reversible layering piece worked in a shape reminiscent of a classic top-down crochet shawl in an airy mesh fabric that drapes wearers of any size comfortably with ample positive ease. The seamless extended-double-crochet mesh pattern is easy to memorize. Choose to work until your Shawlivest is the length suggested in the pattern, or work until your piece has a finished length that suits you.

Perfect for keeping the chill at bay at the office or for staying warm and fashionable while running errands or cozying up at home, the Swingy Shawlivest is as easy to wear as any vest and stays in place all day with none of the fiddling, fuss, or repositioning that shawls often require.

A compact/printable version of the pattern is included, so you can save paper and ink by only printing one page.

The Swingy Shawlivest uses about 1,000-1,200 yards of worsted or aran weight yarn. (Total yardage will vary according to your individual gauge and choice for finished length.) You will likely need more yardage/skeins to match stripes if you’re using yarn cakes with long ombre color changes.

Gauge is not terribly important for this project; choose a hook size that works your chosen fiber into a fabric with nice drape, even if that means going up or down one hook size (or more).

Pattern includes written instructions and photos to guide you step by step.

If desired, add fringe or a crocheted edging along the bottom to give your Shawlivest a look that’s totally unique to you. You could even opt to add a few buttons or toggle closures to the front, although your Shawlivest will stay in place easily as you wear it without such embellishments.

Chic Aran Headband free pattern

I simply love this pattern for the Chic Aran Headband by Kinga Erdem. It’s very quick to make once you get the hang of the technique of the crossed stitches. The finished item has gorgeous texture and is comfortable to wear.

This is an intermediate pattern because of a couple of techniques it utilizes: crossed stitches and yarn-over slip stitches. But once you get a feel for these techniques the pattern itself is quite easy and intuitive.