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.

Lanyard and Pouch for Glucose Monitor free pattern

This is a simple crocheted pouch in a size intended to fit the Freestyle Libre glucose monitor or other devices of comparable size (about 4 inches tall by 2.25 inches wide by 0.5 inches deep). The pouch has a button closure at the top to keep your monitor secure. Having the pouch attached to a lanyard makes it possible to wear your monitor at all times (I mostly wear mine this way while I’m sleeping) and have it within easy reach when you need it. Download the free PDF from Ravelry here.

Pouch is worked in crochet; lanyard i-cord is knitted. You can opt to work the i-cord in crochet, if you prefer, or use some other method to make the lanyard. You may also make the lanyard longer or shorter, depending on what’s most comfortable to you. I like a 32-inch-long lanyard because it’s long enough that I can scan my sensor during the night without having to take off the lanyard or remove my monitor from the pouch. During the overnight hours I usually don’t need to see the monitor’s readout; I just press the monitor’s button through the pouch, scan, and go back to sleep. So here’s a common-sense note: You will have to remove your monitor from the pouch if you need to see the readout after scanning.

I also find that the i-cord stretches out after wearing this for about a week, but popping the pouch into the washer and dryer along with a load of laundry tightens the stitches right back up.

This pouch-on-a-lanyard can also be a fun item for children (only ones who are old enough to safely wear a lanyard around their neck!!) to gather small treasures during nature hikes or shells and stones while walking on the beach, etc. -- just make the lanyard a shorter length to fit your child.

Still looking at the yarn

My friend Terri (who is a fellow yarnaholic) shared this Pickles cartoon with me today. IYKYK! 😂