Suzies Stuff

My Chevron Ear Warmer
Coordinates with My Chevron Scarf

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn
Size G (4.00 mm) Hook
Yarn needle

Sizes:
Child 18-20”
Woman [21-23”]

Notes: (1) Turn after the chains on each row. (3) Chain at beginning of the row counts as a hdc. (4) Long repeats of color will show up the chevrons best.

Ear Warmer:

Ch 21 [23]
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in 7 [8] ch, skip 2 ch, hdc in 9 [10] ch. [18, 20 hdc]
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in blo of 7 [8] sts, skip 2 sts, hdc in blo of 8 [9] sts. [16,18 hdc]
Note: This is the right side.
Row 3: Ch 2, hdc in blo of 6 [7] sts, skip 2, hdc in blo of 7 [8] sts. [14, 16 hdc]
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in blo of 5 [6] sts, skip 2, hdc in blo of 6 [7] sts. [13, 14 hdc]
Row 5: Ch 2, hdc in blo of 4 [5] sts, skip 2, hdc in blo of 5 [6] sts. [10, 12 hdc]
Row 6: Ch 7, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in 4 chains, hdc in blo of 3 [4] sts, skip 2 sts, hdc in blo of 4 [5] sts. [13, 15 hdc]
Row 7: Ch 7, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in 4 ch, hdc in blo of 2 [3] sts, skip 2 sts, hdc in blo of 8 [9] sts. [16, 18 hdc]

Repeat rows 3-7, until there are 6 [7] pattern repeats, ending with row 5.

Hold the two ends of the ear warmer right sides together [there will be four sts on each end of beginning chain that don’t match up to sts on row 5, leave those stitches unworked] and slip stitch them together working in the blo of row 5 and the unworked loop of the beginning chain. Fasten off and weave in ends.


Abbreviations:
Ch chain
St(s) stitch(es)
Hdc half double crochet
Blo back loop only

The shrubs and bulbs are blooming. It is a beautiful time of year in the Pacific Northwest. A little more sunshine would be nice and a little less wind as well. Maybe I need to go fly a kite and not fret about the wind. Sounds like a plan to me.

I went on the first campout of 2006 last week. I made up My Shamrock pins for everyone. So didn't get to pinch anyone for not wearing green. The link to the pattern for them is on the sidebar.

The last few days I've been working on a scarf pattern. I got the idea for it from a pattern on knitty.com, it is the Edgar Scarf. Since not everyone knows how to both crochet and knit, I designed a crochet pattern.

MY LITTLE FLAPPED BAG

This is a small bag with several flap options. This bag is sporting the Weighted Flap. You need to know a bit of crochet to make this flap.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS:
Feltable wool, like Wool of the Andes, Paton’s Classic Wool, Peruvian Wool, about 120 grams (4 ounces)
½ inch Fender washer 1 ½ inches in diameter

16 inch Circular Needle size 10.5
Size 10.5 Double Point Needles for I-Cord
J Crochet hook for weighted flap

SIZE:
Before felting: Base, 3.5 X 10.5 Height 12 inches
Felted size: Base, 2.75 X 6.75 Height 7 inches


BOTTOM:
With size 10.5 circular needle cast on 33 and knit 25 rows in garter st (12 ridges on both sides). Note: knit last 2 stitches on first row together, so that you are working on 32 stitches.

Pick up and k 12 sts along the left edge of rectangle just worked. Pick up and k 32 stitches along the CO edge. Pick up and k 12 sts along remaining side. [88 sts total]

BAG SIDES:
Knit 12 inches approximately 62 rounds.

I CORD BIND OFF:
Cast on 3 stitches at beginning of round on right-hand needle, slip the three cast on stitches to the left hand needle. Knit 2 stitches, knit into back of third cast on stitch and first edge stitch at the same time. (1 stitch is bound off) Return the 3 stitches on the right hand needle to the left hand needle. Repeat until there are only 3 stitches remaining, cut yarn and with blunt needle thread through the 3 stitches and pull tight. Weave beginning and ending I cord together.

I CORD STRAP: (make 1)
Cast on 5 stitches, leaving at least a 12 inch tail for sewing strap on later. Knit 24 inches of 5 stitch I-Cord with 10.5 dpn.

Sew an end of I-cord to the inside center of the bag sides (the sides where the 12 stitches were picked up). Overlap the side about an inch (on the inside) and reinforce the area by weaving the tail back and forth through the stitches a few times. Like doing duplicate stitch.

STRAP VARIATION:
Cast on 5 sts leaving at least a 12 inch tail for sewing strap to bag. Work 5 rows of garter stitch. Work 5 stitch I-Cord until strap is 23 inches long. Knit 5 rows garter stitch. Bind off. Fasten off leaving a tail at least 12 inches long for sewing strap to bag. Follow instruction above for sewing starps to bag.
You can now felt the bag or, before felting, add one of the optional flaps. After knitting the flap sew it on the inside centered between the straps you sewed on earlier.

OPTIONAL FLAPS:

Glitzy Flap:
This flap incorporates novelty yarn in the flap for a bit of glitz.
With size 10.5 needle cast on 15 stitches with main yarn
Knit 6 rows in garter stitch with main yarn
Rows 7 - 30: Knit 3 with main yarn only, knit 9 sts with novelty yarn and main yarn, knit 3 with main yarn only. Drop and cut novelty yarn about an inch from the flap after row 30.
Rows 31-36: Knit 6 rows with main yarn only. Bind off. Sew bound off edge to inside of the center of one side of bag.

Pointed Flap:
With size 10.5 needle cast on 15 stitches
Knit 24 rows in garter stitch
Decrease 1 st at beginning of each row, until 3 stitches remain, bind off.
Sew cast on edge to inside of the center of one side of bag.

Not So Pointed Flap:
With size 10.5 needle cast on 15 stitches
Knit 24 rows in garter stitch
Decrease 1 st at beginning of each row, until 7 stitches remain, bind off.
Sew cast on edge to inside of the center of one side of bag.

Rounded Flap:
With size 10.5 needle cast on 15 stitches
Knit 24 rows in garter stitch
Row 25: K2tog, 2 times, knit till 4 stitches remain, ssk 2 times (11)
Row 26: Knit (11)
Row 27: K2tog, 2 times, knit till 4 stitches remain, ssk 2 times (7)
Row 28: Knit
Row 29: K2tog, knit till 2 sets remain ssk (5)
Row 30: K2tog, knit, ssk (3)
Bind off
With size 10.5 needle cast on 15 stitches

Weighted Flap:
½ inch Zinc Fender Washer 1.5 inches in diameter
J Crochet hook

Rnd 1: 30 sc in fender washer, slip stitch to join, ch 1 do not turn. This is the right side. Single crochets should be very crowded, this is so that when it is felted it will completely cover the fender washer.(30)
Rnd 2: Sc in 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around. Ch 3 do not turn. (36)
Row 1: Dc in 2 sc, hdc in 3 sc, sc in 3 sc, hdc in 3 sc, dc in 3 sc, turn. [15]
Row 2-24: Transfer loop from hook to size 10.5 needle. Pick up 14 stitches. Knit 23 rows garter stitch.
Bind off. Fasten off leaving at least 12” tail for sewing to bag.

FELT AND BLOCK:
Block on a Large Priority Mail box inside a plastic bag. Or dry flat. The bag should fit the box tightly, it should be a struggle to get it on the box. This will make the corners nice and squared off. Center the straps on the short side of the box. The flap (of your choice) should be centered on one long side.

I've been playing around with felting bags, AGAIN.

I have a few ideas that are just bouncing around in side my head. Here's one that I'm pretty happy with. It is a small bag with a weighted flap. The weight is to make the flap stay in place. I'm working on writing the instructions. Once I have them proofed I'll post them here. I think you Dear Reader are going to like this one.