Tutorial: Adding crochet border to knits

I made Stirrup Socks for one of my nieces for Christmas and had to crochet the edge of the heel slit to prevent it from rolling.

Found this great tutorial.

Step One: Make a slip knot and put it on the crochet hook. This is the same as step one of last week's tutorial. Make sure the hook you've selected is the right size for the yarn you're using!

I am using a G hook with Rowan Handknit Cotton.

Step Two: Insert the crochet hook into the "v" of the knit fabric. This is the same place you inserted your needle for picking up and knitting stitches.

The hook goes in the middle of the "v."

Step Three: Yarn over and pull the yarn through. This is not the same type of yarn over you're used to in knitting. All it means is put the yarn over the hook. (Pretty self explanatory.) Then use the hook to pull that yarn through the knit "v". You now have two loops on the crochet hook.

Yarn over . . .

. . . and pull it through, leaving two loops on the hook.

Step Four: Complete the single crochet. Yarn-over again, and pull the yarn through both loops on the hook. You have one loop left on your hook.

Another yarn over . . .

. . . and a completed single crochet.

Repeat steps two through four until you reach the corner or end of the row.

If you'd like, you can fasten off at the end of the row and be done with it. You fasten off crochet the same way you do the last bind-off stitch of knitting. This is what one row of single crochet looks like:

Note that the fabric isn't rolling!

How to give yourself a facial massage

Here's something we must do:

'You need to spend more time taking care of yourself,' she added, 'I clean my face twice a day, apply toner, serum and moisturiser - but each time I put something on my face, I massage the muscles for a few seconds to make them firm and bouncy. So, 5-7 minutes is my daily skincare routine.' Feeling  inadequate, I begged for extra help and Su-Man very kindly sent me her DIY massage routine:

Follow this sequence after cleansing your face. All the exercises are easier to do sitting down.

1) With elbows resting on a table, massage the face with moisturizer. Using the heels of both palms, start from the chin moving along the jaw bone up to the base of the ear 36 times  (I ask you to do each massage 36 times. The reason for this is that in Chinese culture the number six is considered a “lucky” number) .

 2) Take the heels of both your hands from the edge of your nostrils and press along in one continuous line underneath the cheekbones up to the edge of your ears. Again, 36 times and always, in one direction. Never press downwards. You want to lift the face muscles up – not down!!

3) Take the middle fingers of both hands and press the area between your eyes and nose, at the very top of your nose. Press gently but firmly downwards following the nose line to the side of your nostrils. Do this 36 times. This also clears the sinuses and helps to improve your breathing.

4) Make two small claws with your four fingers of each hand. Put them together on the middle of your forehead and press quite firmly (without pulling the skin) in an outward direction, smoothly, until the temples. 36 times and again, only in one direction.

5) Tap around the eye sockets with your fingertips, use the natural weight of the fingers. Do not tap too hard! Six times above the eye socket and six times below. Do not tap the eyelids! They are too delicate and this can damage the eyes. This exercise reduces any puffiness or swelling above or below the eyes. Once a day is enough. To finish off this exercise you can continue tapping all over the face. But you only need to do this a few times.

6) Finally,after finishing the above exercises, take the fingertips of both hands, and tap everywhere on the scalp and cranium quiet strongly (using the natural weight of your fingers). Please note: it is not good to touch your face after this exercise as you can transfer dust and dirt from your hair.

When you have finished this sequence, I suggest you drink a glass of warm water to help the chi flow. Once a week, I recommend that you exfoliate and use a face mask.

  

Headbands

Adjustable Cabled Headband

Link to pattern: http://www.picknknitpatterns.com/2011/04/adjustable-cabled-headband.html

Urban Ear Warmer Knockoff

Link to the pattern: http://www.favecrafts.com/Knit-Hats-Gloves-Scarves/Urban-Ear-Warmer-Knockoff

Headband Ear Warmer

link: http://tmatthewsfineart.blogspot.ca/2011/11/free-knitting-pattern-headband-ear.html

Portable Cushions

Link to tutorial.

Pillow Mattress

http://southerndisposition.blogspot.ca/2011/06/pillow-bed-tutorial.html

She found it on pinterest and thought I would like it. Welllll....she was right. Not only do I like it, but I could see an immediate need for one (why is it that you don't know you need something until you see it?). Since the one in the photo above is somewhere in England right now retailing for approximately $145 plus shipping...you know the rest, right? I'm super cheap.

If you'd like to pay $145 for it, you can get it here. If you'd like to make it yourself for a sliver of the cost, please see below:

First, I went to IKEA - here's my entire haul...one twin size duvet cover and five pillows.

The duvet cover was $9.99 and the pillows were $0.99 each (yes, you read that correctly). Total cost of this project? $14.94!! Who just saved 90%? I keep telling Eric I'm saving money, and he keeps asking me, "by buying things??" This is what marriage is all about, friends.

Step 1:

Measure. I eyeballed everything - I didn't even pull my tape measure out on this project. I liken this to my grandmother rationing ingredients at dinner...I don't know if she even owned measuring cups, but somehow the food was always delicious.

Here's how I measured:

Yep..."four pillows long" looks about right.

Step 2:

Cut the duvet cover to the desired width. Again, I eyeballed it based on the size of the pillows:

I ended up cutting the duvet cover exactly in half. Do you know what that means? I'll tell you what that means: it means that I have another pillow mattress just waiting for me to make it (it's probably going to wait a while).

Step 3:

Cut the top half of the duvet cover lengthwise so that the bottom edge sticks out a few inches further - like so:

The longer edge will fold under to make a pocket (so that you can't see the pillows when they're in the cover).

Step 4:

Hem all raw edges.

This was the longest step and it probably took 15 minutes.

Step 5:

Make the pocket. Fold the long edge (from step 3) inside under the short edge. I turned the entire cover inside out, folded the long edge, and then sewed up the sides width-wise (made about a 3" stitch at the top and the bottom of the cover).

Once I turned it right-side-in, the pocket was tucked neatly under the short side so that you couldn't see it. The widths of the long side and the short side match now (so I guess they aren't exactly "long" and "short" anymore).

Step 6:

Divide the cover into quarters by sewing three lines across the width.

This will make the "pillow cases."

Step 7:

Insert pillows:

Et Voila...a Pillow Mattress!

Here it is in it's new home, the "Princess Fort"

And here it is being used by the princess herself:

Really easy project - time commitment is about 45 minutes, and the pillows and cover are washable!

Happy sewing!

PS - here are the products used in the "Princess Fort." Enjoy!

Twofold Scarf to Make

http://southerndisposition.blogspot.ca/2011/11/anthropologie-lucia-loop-knockoff.html


I wanted the Anthropologie Lucia Loop, but it's $78. Seven. Eight. Too much for a scarf, n'est-ce pas?

It's beautiful, but it's not worth $78.

Enter tutorial.

Step 1: Cut two 12"x 60" pieces of silky coordinating fabric (longer for a longer loop, shorter for a shorter loop)

Step 2: Stitch the long sides of the fabric together wrong side out.

Step 3: Flip right side out - you should have a silky tube.

Step 4: Fold the tube so that the short ends are together...you should have FOUR layers of fabric...two of one fabric (on the outside) and two of the other (on the inside):

Step 5: Make sure the existing seams are even and start sewing the TWO INSIDE layers together. Take care to keep the outside layers pushed out of the way so that you don't accidentally stitch over them.

(Notice my thumb and forefinger keeping the bottom layer out of the way of the presser foot). You will continue around the loop until you get to the two outside layers...keep sewing until you can't sew another stitch without making a mess...you'll know when that moment is...

Step 6: Eventually, there won't be any more space to sew, but you'll still have a hole. No prob. Flip your scarf so that the "invisible seams" you just sewed on the short sides are tucked in. You'll have a little hole left like this:

Step 7: Get out a needle and thread, and sew the remaining couple of inches shut.

Once you're done, you'll have your own knockoff Lucia Loop Scarf!

Knitted Bag

Saw a photo of this bag I knitted in March 2007.

Dining area love

I love this dining area at Amanda Peet's home.

Jewelry Dishes

Here's my next project. I have the perfect leftover, coloured crochet yarns for these!

The Materials

• 1 cone of Habu's Copper Bamboo, 67% Bamboo, 33% Copper. This color is Brown.
• 1 skein of Habu's Dyed Linen, 100% Linen. This color is Dark Brown.
• A size A (2 mm) crochet hook.
• 5 removable stitch markers or safety pins.
• A heaping teaspoon of cornstarch and a spray bottle for homemade starch.

The Patterns

Gauge

9 single crochets = 1 inch

Finished Sizes

Square Tray: 3 3/4 inches x 3 3/4 inches

Rectangle Tray: 3 3/4 inches x 5 1/2 inches

Bowl: 3 1/4 inches in diameter

Pattern Notes

• For all three patterns, hold together one strand of the Copper Bamboo and one strand of the Dyed Linen.
• Don't despair if your tray or bowl seems a little floppy or misshapen as you work. The final step of starching and blocking works miracles!

Rectangle Tray Pattern

Foundation Row: With both strands of yarn, chain 29 stitches. Inserting hook into 2nd chain from hook, make 1 sc in each chain stitch. (28 stitches)

Turn the work.

Row 1: 1 sc in each stitch. (28 stitches)

Repeat Row 1, turning the work at the end of each row. Work until piece measures 4 1/2 inches from beginning.

Round 1: 1 sc in front loop of next 28 stitches, chain 1, mark chain with removable stitch marker, rotate work 90º clockwise, make 46 sc along long side of rectangle (one for each row), chain 1, mark chain, rotate work, 1 sc in each chain stitch (28 stitches), chain 1, mark chain, rotate work, make 46 sc along final side, chain 1, mark chain with different color marker to indicate the beginning of the round.

Round 2: *1 sc in each stitch to corner marker, remove marker, chain 1, replace marker on chain, skip a stitch, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 2 five more times. 

Slip stitch into next stitch. Cut the yarn, pull it through, and remove all your markers.

STARCH AND BLOCK

First, mix up your own batch of perfectly effective and safe household starch. Put a heaping teaspoon of cornstarch into about a 1/4 cup of room temperature water and stir it until it dissolves. Add to that about 1 3/4 cups of boiling water. When this has cooled down to room temperature, transfer your starch into a spray bottle.

Saturate your finished piece with the starch mixture and place it on a dry towel. Take the time to really shape the dish to how you want it, squaring the sides, smoothing the bottom and evening the edges. Allow the piece to dry and then fill it with your most special trinkets!

Square Tray Pattern

Foundation Round: With both strands of yarn, chain 1 into an adjustable loop (see our Adjustable Loop Tutorial right here for the how-to's.). Make 12 single crochets (sc) into the loop. (12 stitches)

NOTE: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable stitch marker. Be sure to reposition the marker at the beginning of each round to mark the new first stitch.

Round 1: 1 sc in next stitch, *3 sc in next stitch (corner), 1 sc into next 2 stitches, repeat from * two more times, 3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in final stitch. (20 stitches)

Round 2: 1 sc in next 2 stitches, *3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 4 stitches, repeat from * two more times, 3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches. (28 stitches)

Round 3: 1 sc in next 3 stitches, *3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 6 stitches, repeat from * two more times, 3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 3 stitches. (36 stitches)

Round 4: 1 sc in next 4 stitches, *3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 8 stitches, repeat from * two more times, 3 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 4 stitches. (44 stitches)

Continue to work in pattern, (1 sc in each stitch along the edges and 3 sc in the center stitch of each corner), ending when there are 26 stitches between each center corner stitch. (108 stitches total)

Next Round: 1 sc in back loop of next 14 stitches, *chain 1, mark chain with removable stitch marker, skip a stitch (center corner stitch), 1 sc in back loop of next 28 stitches, repeat from * two more times, chain 1, mark chain, skip a stitch, 1 sc in back loop of next 14 stitches. (108 stitches)

Reminder: As you manage the removable markers at each corner, remember also to keep working the marker that indicates the beginning of the round.

Next Round: *1 sc in each stitch to corner marker, remove marker, chain 1, replace marker on chain, skip a stitch, repeat from * through all four corners, 1 sc in each stitch to end of round. (108 stitches)

Repeat last round 5 more times. 

Slip stitch into next stitch. Cut the yarn and pull it through. Remove all your markers.

Follow the Starch and Block directions of the Rectangle Tray Pattern and you're done!

Bowl Pattern

Foundation Round: With both strands of yarn, chain 1 into an adjustable loop (see our Adjustable Loop Tutorial right here). Make 8 sc into the loop. (8 stitches)

NOTE: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable stitch marker. Be sure to reposition the marker at the beginning of each round to mark the new first stitch.

Round 1: 2 sc in each stitch. (16 stitches)

Round 2: *1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)

Round 3: *1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (32 stitches)

Round 4: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 5: *1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (40 stitches)

Round 6: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 7: *1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)

Round 8: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 9: *1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (56 stitches)

Round 10: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 11: *1 sc in next 6 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (64 stitches)

Round 12: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 13: *1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (72 stitches)

Rounds 14 and 15: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 16: *1 sc in next 8 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (80 stitches)

Rounds 17 and 18: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 19: *1 sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (88 stitches)

Rounds 20 and 21: 1 sc in each stitch.

Slip stitch into next stitch, removing the marker. Cut the yarn and pull it through.

Follow the Starch and Block directions of the Rectangle Tray Pattern and you've got a set!

How to Make a Dart

Tutorial

How to Make the Crochet Circle

Here's a good video tutorial on how to make a crochet circle.

Design inspirations

I was going through some of my files and found these design inspirations.

Stair Storage

Window seat

Porch

Kitchen

Plate rack

Summer Scarf

Tutorial

Make it by Monday

Link to DIY arts and crafts.

Knitting 101

Link to tutorial.

Wrap It Up: Make These 5 DIY Scarves

To do.

This week, winter hit Los Angeles—and my heater failed. While I've been using my blow dryer to warm my extremities, I've been checking out DIY scarves I can make in the discomfort of my home. I decided to scoop up a ton of fabric and whip up an infinity scarf.

Because my fingers were too cold to sew much, I purchased fabric that didn’t require a lot of needlework. Jersey fabrics work really well for this because you don’t need to finish off the ends—just cut and go. I cut the fabric about 3 feet wide and 7 feet long and sewed the two ends together, then repeated the process to make a few plush and comfortable scarves. With the leftovers, I made some smaller versions, like the glittery one I’m wearing here.

Mini Office

From Apartment Therapy

Wouldn't mind having this at home. Love the tote bag, too!