Taking a Break

I’m going to have to take a break from knitting and crocheting for a few months.  I will try to squeeze in time as I am able, but the bulk of my time will be taken up with preparing for teaching next year.  I still haven’t started lesson plans for next year- 7th and 10th grade.  In addition to lesson plans I need to create PowerPoint slides for my son’s 10th grade World Civilization class, which encompasses creation to the 1600′s.  I also, still have to write the syllabus for 10th grade Language Arts.  All of those are big projects alone, but together they require many hours/day to complete by mid-August.

In addition, I have the entire book of Matthew to prepare for Bible Bowl, most of which needs to be finished by July 11.  I put in at least 1,000 hours on Bible Bowl last year.  I will be delegating some of the work this year, but it still leaves me a big chunk of it to do myself.

Since we have a week long vacation planned for this year, I won’t have a lot of time to sit down with knitting needles or hooks.  Be patient with me.  Once we settle into the new school year I will be able to find more hours to work on creating patterns.

Ravelry How-To

I must apologize.  This is a post I should have made at the very start, but didn’t think to.  I’m selling my patterns on Ravelry.com which is a knitting and crocheting community.  In order to buy patterns you need to set up a free account.  Once you have an account you can purchase patterns, post projects, join groups, and sell patterns.

Each of my patterns will have a link to their pattern page on Ravelry.  On the right is a button which says, “Buy it now.”  When you click on that button you will be lead through purchasing the pattern and will be given a download link to the pdf of the pattern.

I hope this is helpful to everyone who didn’t know how Ravelry works.  It’s a great resource and outlet for yarn crafters.  Even if you don’t plan to buy one of these patterns, check it out.  There are countless treasures to be found.

Floral Motif Coaster Set

Floral Motif Coaster Set

This pattern was challenging, but very fun.  I had never tried to make my own unique motifs before starting on this project.  They turned out pretty close to what I had envisioned.   I can’t tell you how many failed attempts there were while trying to create the motifs.  I’m sure there is a full science to stitch length, number of stitches, and such when it comes to designing motifs.

The fun in this pattern is the ability to mix and match the coaster backs and motifs in order to make your own unique coaster set.  The coaster back stitch patterns are single crochet spike, herringbone half double crochet, and a double crochet cluster.  The flower motifs consist of a 4 petal flower motif, 5 petal flower motif, and an 8 petal flower motif.  The coaster backs are made with worsted weight cotton yarn and the motifs are made with sixe 10 crochet thread.

You can purchase this pattern at my store on Ravelry.

Double Crochet Cluster back with 5 Petal Flower Motif

Herringbone Half Double Crochet back with the 8 Petal Flower Motif

Single Crochet Spike back with 4 Petal Flower Motif

Fan Jewelry Holder

Fan Jewelry Holder

This is a small Jewelry Holder designed to sit on a dresser.  It measures 5″ X 7″ like it’s sister, the Petal Jewelry Holder.  It sits long ways necklaces will drape onto the dresser surface.  It requires just 1/2 ball of yarn to make.  This makes it the ideal gift giving project or a stash buster project.

You can purchase the pattern at my store on Ravelry.

Petal Jewelry Holder

This is a small jewelry holder designed to sit on a dresser.  Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets can be hung from the chain mesh.  Post earrings can be pressed into the backing.   This project takes just 1/2 ball of yarn, so it’s a great gift project and/or stash busting project.  It is beautiful to look at and is inspiring some wall hanging ideas in my head.  We’ll see where that will lead in time.

The pattern can be purchased at my store on Ravelry.

Petal Jewelry Holder

Irish Whistle Bag

My son requested that I make him a bag to keep his Irish Whistle in.  His brother’s bodhran came with a case, but his Whistle didn’t.  Upon my asking he indicated that he wanted it crocheted and not felted.  This is the result of his request.  I used the Trinity stitch since it was the most Irish that I knew.  I will probably design a knitted and felted one with a Celtic knot cable eventually, just for fun.

I’m offering this pattern for free.  I thought it could be easily adapted to hold a curling iron or similar object.

Here is the pattern.

Irish Whistle Bag

Irish  Whistle  Bag:

Designed by Rebekah Chappel

 

Trinity Stitch:  sc3tog, inserting the hook in the previously worked stitch and then the next 2 stitches.

Chain 10

Round 1- sc in the 2^nd ch from the hook, Trinity stitch starting in the same ch as the sc, ch 1, *Trinity st starting in same stitch as the 3^rd leg of previous Trinity st, ch 1; repeat from * to end. 2 sc in last ch.  Do not turn.  Working on  the other side of the chain, 1 sc in 1^st ch, Trinity st starting in the same ch as sc, ch 1, **Trinity st starting in same ch as the third leg of previous st, ch 1; repeat from ** to last st.  2 sc in last st. Place marker

 

Round 2- ch 1, sc in 1^st st, * Trinity st, ch 1; repeat from * around, sc in last st, slip st into 1^st sc.

 

Round 3- Ch 1, sc in 1^st st, * Trinity st, ch 1; repeat from * continue working in a spiral, slipping the marker at the beginning of each round, until the bag measures 12 1/2” long.  When the bag is about 1” tall, weave in the end.

 

Round 59- sl st into 1^st st, ch 1, sc in 1^st st and each st around, sl stitch into 1^st sc.

 

Round 60- ch 1, sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in next st, ch 2, skip 2 st, *1 sc in next 2 st, ch 2, skip 2 st; repeat from * around, slip stitch into 1^st sc.

 

Round 61- ch 1, sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in ch 2 space, * 1 sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in ch 2 space; repeat from * around.  Slip st. into 1^st sc.

Round 62- ch 1, sc in 1^st st and each st around.  Slip st into 1^st sc.  Fasten off and weave in end.

Drawstring:

Ch 50

Row 1- slip st into 2 ch from the hook and each ch.  Cut a long tail and fasten off.  Insert drawstring in center eyelet on the front.  Thread through each eyelet around and pull drawstring through center eyelet.  Weave in the shortest tail.  With the longer tail, whip stitch the ends of the drawstring together and weave in the end.

Trinity Dishcloth Set

Trinity Dishcloth Set

Here is the second pattern I’ve finished and uploaded to Ravelry.  It is a dishcloth set made with Size 3 cotton crochet thread.  Years ago my sister made me Granny square dishcloths from this thread.  They held up to constant use and abuse without losing their color or becoming dingy.  After about 2 years one of the threads were accidentally cut with a knife.  The dishcloth held up to use and washing for another 4 months before it began to unravel.  I decided to use stitches which would provide some structure and texture to allow for scrubbing and longer use.

The yellow dishcloth is a Herringbone Half Double crochet stitch and the purple dishcloth is the Trinity stitch.  They are both edged in a picot edging to give them an attractive and finished look.  Each one takes just about a full ball of thread to make.  I hope you enjoy making them and using them for many years.

You can buy the pattern here.