I really love vintage patterns! I don’t remember how I found this pattern on the web, but I am glad I did. It is called Pretty Petals Potholder and was published in 1946, perfect for my kitchen. It does make a very nice potholder. I used my Handicrafter Cotton again to make it. I know I have seen stunning pillows or cushions on other blogs with a similar pattern, so I just had to join in the fun. I am very tempted to make this into chair pads, I think it would work nicely for that.
Here is a better view…pretty and practical! I will be making more of these.
This basic stitch, from a Bernat pattern (you have to join to view and download the patterns, but it is free to join) I think is one of my favorite stitches for dishcloths. I have seen it called a Linen stitch, Woven stitch and Moss stitch. Wonderfully functional with a nice texture, fast and easy as pie. The pattern is fabulous just as it is.
I prefer to work in squares, it gives you an edge that is the same on all sides if you don’t want to do an edging and it naturally comes out square. So, I worked out how to do the stitch in squares.
They are very nice plain, with a longer loop in one of the corners for a hanging loop, but I decided to add an edging. I made these with 11 rounds, then the ruffle edging is 2 rounds, one in the stitch and then one of the ruffle. The ruffle is super easy, ch4, sc. Ch4, sc, over and over again. For a hanging loop, ch8 for the center loop of one of the corners instead of ch4
A sample size diagram of the in the round pattern, just add how many rounds you would like.
The only bit that is a little different and needs some explanation, is the start of each round. The ending is as usual, slpst to the top of the sc. Then I slip stitch into the corner ch3 space, and instead of doing a ch1 to get the height for the sc, I pull up the loop of the slpst a little so I have the proper height, and used that instead of the ch1. It made the start of the round less obvious without the extra thickness you get with the ch1. You can do it with the usual ch1 if you prefer.
I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Country Yellow, Country Red, Robins Egg and White, with a size E (3.5mm) hook. I love the colors, fun, vintage-y and festive! Maybe I will like washing up dishes more with pretty dishcloths (well, can’t make me like it worse, and maybe I will think crochet thoughts while doing them, which can only be good : )
This is an interesting crochet technique, will have to give this a try! By TXCr1cket on YouTube, there are other videos you may want to watch there too, including the same technique done in the round.
But I didn’t. This stunning granny square blanket was made by Sandra’s Cherry Heart. 672 small grannies. Oh, how I want one! I so love the colors! I am overwhelmed at just the thought of all those squares, the sheer number of them! And yet the itch to make is strong, they are such little squares, little squares go fast….
So many beautiful things to crochet, so little time!
Use any beautiful flower granny square and then frame it with what I am calling Picture Frame edging, because it reminds me of victorian picture frames. All made in Bernat Handicrafter cotton and a size E-4 3.50mm h0ok.
I used these very lovely flower granny square patterns for the centers. I used a sliding loop to start all of them, only tightening the loop enough so the stitches fit perfectly.
Flower Garden Granny Square by Harujion Designs – I changed the ch1 between the petals to ch2, which made the center less tight and easier to do for me when making the sc’s of the next round.
Thought I would start to share some of the beautiful crochet I run across on the web, usually on Pinterest. It is so inspiring to see what gorgeous things others have made. This one is from the blog lana verderosa, a simple granny blanket with beautiful colors and design….I think this is going on my (only in my mind) ‘to make list’. There is no pattern or directions, just this image to inspire.
from lanarosa.canalblog.com
Maybe I should make an actual list, might remember some of these things and make them. Oh, I can add a ‘want to make’ tag which will create a list here!
When I first saw freeform crochet, I fell in love with it. I love the asymmetrical look, the wide variations of color and pattern and the let you imagination go aspect of it. I had no idea how they did that!
So, I finally just did it, grabbed some of the cotton yarn I was using for dishcloths and just started thinking the worst that could happen is I wasted a bit of time…
What is it? I do not know; I think I will use it as a hot pad
It was so much fun to do! There is no pattern, no do this x number of times, you just do what you feel like. Somewhat modern looking, somewhat folk art looking and just fun : ) My mind is already busy thinking and plotting…so many possibilities. I am definitely going to try more of this!
I haven’t misplaced my calendar. I fell in love with these earthy colors (see, I don’t only do bright colors ) and it all reminds me of November in New England. Frost on the edges of brown leaves as you crunch through them in the woods. Gray skies that smell a bit of snow. The greys and dark colors of the bare trees, the rustle of leaves as a squirrel scurries away, scolding me and Zip for intruding. Snuggling up with a cup of cinnamon coffee or hot chocolate.
I started this in the summer, when it was very hot and November weather seemed so far away. This post has been sitting since then, as whenever I could take photos it was rainy and cloudy. Today, it was a bit cloudy but I took some photos just the same.
I am not sure how I will arrange these off centered granny squares, but I really like them. I wanted a quilt-y look with the hombre yarns being the patterned fabric.
These squares were made like the Mitered Granny Square, with a larger center square with a different color border, only 2 ‘half rounds’ that make the miter part, and then two rounds for the final border.
I love cotton dishcloths, I use them a lot since I travel back in time to 1950 every time I walk into my kitchen. The only dishwasher able to pass through the time warp is me.
I love this Daisy Granny Square pattern @ Bunny Mummy. I used that to make this dishcloth, changing it slightly by using a magic ring and making 3dc clusters instead of 4dc clusters and doing just one round of Robins egg around the flower.
I joined them as I went, then did one round of sc around the 4 squares in the Robins Egg, with 2sc, ch1,2sc in each corner. The red edging is sc, sc, ch3 dropped picot (ch3, drop the loop off the hook, insert hook into front loop of the sc, pick up the loop and slpst), all around, with a ch8 instead of a picot in one corner to make a loop.
Since I bought some Bernat Handicrafter cotton in my favorite colors to make dishcloths, I now have enough yarn to make far more dishcloths than I will ever need, that yarn comes in huge skeins! I suspect there will be more posts about dishcloths in the future, maybe in 1951 or thereabouts.
mrsbeata commented on A Better Granny Rectangle post and kindly shared a link to a video on YouTube showing how to cut plastic bags into yarn (plastic + yarn = plarn). I had wanted to make some grocery totes out of plarn, but thought it might be too much work, but maybe not! Another thing on my ever growing “to make” list : )
Here is the video, or you can go to YouTube to see it there (and thank them for making a video showing how easy it is!).
Crochet Again 