Archive for May, 2009

Crochet Hook Used for Surgery

Posted in News on May 21st, 2009 by Rachel – 7 Comments
Dr. Peter Lawrence, chief of vascular surgery at UCLA, developed a new technique to get rid of varicose veins. More interestingly, this technique uses a small crochet hook to help remove the veins. This is a minimally invasive and non-scarring procedure called light-assisted stab phlebectomy (lasp). Who ever thought that crochet hooks would be used for more than just crochet?

Have you ever seen or used crochet hooks for something other than crocheting?

surgery

Free Crochet Pattern: Loose Cowl

Posted in Free Crochet Patterns on May 20th, 2009 by Rachel – 10 Comments
This cowl is meant to not choke you! For some reason whenever I wear something around my neck it feels a little too tight, but finally here is something that isn’t. It’s great for when the weather gets warmer or to add some flare to an outfit. The cowl is made with a big crochet hook to work up fast and use a small amount of yarn. Feel free to adjust the size of the cowl as you see fit! crochet cowl
Skill Level: beginner crochet skill level

Finished Size: 8” (20 cm) tall, 19” (48 cm) around
Note: to adjust size, follow directions within pattern

Materials:
Medium Weight yarn (approximately 90 yards)
Crochet Hook N (10.00 mm)
crochet yarn size 4

Gauge: not really important

Crochet Pattern: Cowl
Start by chaining 35 or as long as you want your cowl.
Row 1: ch 1, sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across: 35 sc
Row 2: dc in each sc across: 35 dc
Row 3: sc in each dc across: 35 sc

Repeat rows 2 – 3, seven more times or until cowl is as tall as you desire.

Slip stitch or sew the shorter sides of the cowl together and finish off. You may also choose to use buttons as a closure instead of sewing ends together.

If you need help with crocheting this cowl, let me know and I would love to help!

Crochet Plastic Bag Pattern: Plarn Soap Dish

Posted in Free Crochet Patterns on May 19th, 2009 by Rachel – 9 Comments
Crocheting with plastic bags is just like crocheting with any other type of yarn. The only difference is the texture of the material. The soap dish is a very small crochet project to start you off in exploring the world of plarn (plastic yarn). You can use the “How to Make Plarn Tutorial” if you don’t know how to yet! It is fun and a great way to recycle your old plastic grocery bags. plarn soap dish
Skill Level: beginner crochet skill level

Finished Size: 3” (7.5 cm) wide, 4 ¼” (11 cm) long, 1 ¼” (3 cm) tall
Note that size can be adjusted by following the instructions within the pattern

Materials:
Approximately 6 plastic grocery bags, cut into a ball of plarn
Crochet Hook G (4.00 mm)

Gauge: not very important
Since the thickness of plarn varies from person to person, use a crochet hook that you are comfortable with. Crochet as tight or loose as you want your soap dish to be.

Crochet Pattern: Soap Dish
Bottom
Start by chaining 12 or as wide as you want your soap dish
Row 1: ch 1, sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across: 12 sc
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across: 12 sc

Repeat row 2 fourteen times or until your work is as long as you want your soap dish.

Sides
Round 1: sc around bottom piece

Repeat round 1 four times or until sides are as tall as you desire, then finish off. If you find that your sides are a bit floppy, slip stitch around the last round to make it tighter or you may choose to put decreases in the last round.

If you need help with crocheting this soap dish, let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

Craft Coupons for Crocheters

Posted in News on May 18th, 2009 by Rachel – 2 Comments

Here is a round up for coupons this week! Some of the expiration dates vary so make sure you read them before using.

JoAnn - Here are 2 coupons! 40% off any one regular priced item. Valid through May 30, 2009. The second one is a 10% off your total purchase, which is valid from May 22 – 25, 2009. These can be used in store or online!

A.C.Moore – Here are 2 coupons! The first one is a 20% off your total purchase, valid May 17 to 23, 2009. The second is a one day special for 50% off any one regular priced item, valid May 19.

Michaels - 40% off any one regular priced item. Valid May 17 – May 23, 2009

Crochet Pattern: Barbie Summer Tie Top

Posted in Free Crochet Patterns on May 17th, 2009 by Rachel – 10 Comments
This top is interestingly made, yet very easy. All you have to do is make two triangles and connect them together. Maybe that sounds weird, but it works! The triangles are connected at the neck by a simple chain and the rest is just wrapped around your doll and held together with a belt. This creates the V-neck in the front and an open back. You can also sew the back or front of the top together if you like, but it’s not required to crochet this awesome summer top for Barbie!  barbie summer tie top
Skill Level: beginner crochet skill level

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An Angry Crochet Spot Reader

Posted in Rachel's Ramblings on May 16th, 2009 by Rachel – 29 Comments

A person sent me a nasty email the other day telling me how angry she was after making my super fluffy bath puff. I’m guessing that she didn’t read my ramble about the cotton yarn experiment that I wrote to go along with the bath puff or else she would have known the flaws that I pointed out.

Anyway, I decided to share this with everyone so that you all know that yes, there are flaws in the bath puff and if you still want to make it it is up to you. So please, please, PLEASE read the cotton yarn experiment before deciding to make the bath puff and sending me an email accusing me of making you buy cotton yarn and a new hook, just to make a piece of “crap”.

How to Crochet: Single Crochet Stitches (sc)

Posted in Tutorials and Help on May 15th, 2009 by Rachel – 13 Comments

A Single crochet stitch is the most popular, basic and common crochet stitch. Single crochet stitches are used everywhere in the crochet world, so this is a great stitch to learn. If you are a beginner, this should be one of the first crochet stitches that you encounter. In this example of how to crochet a single crochet stitch, we will assume that you already created a foundation chain.

This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you.

Let’s start with a foundation chain like this. (How to Crochet a Chain)

Insert your hook into the 2nd chain from the hook. You would now have two loops on your hook. You insert your hook into the 2nd chain and not the 1st because 1 chain is equivalent to the height of a single crochet. This way, your corner will be the same height as the rest of the row.


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Free Crochet Pattern: Fast and Easy Scarf

Posted in Free Crochet Patterns on May 14th, 2009 by Rachel – 8 Comments
It’s no secret that all you need to make a really fast, really easy scarf is super bulky yarn and a giant hook. Since bulky yarn is so thick and dare I say it, bulky, it is really fast to make something with it! Not only that, bulky yarn looks great in very simple patterns. You don’t need to show off your fancy stitch work when all you need to do is show off the cool yarn it’s made with. So here is a really fast and really easy crochet pattern to use your really cool bulky yarn on!

Skill Level: beginner crochet skill level

Finished Size: 4 ½” (11.5 cm) wide, 46” (117 cm) or as any size you want it to be
Note: to alter the size, follow directions within crochet pattern

fast easy scarf
Materials:
Super Bulky Weight Yarn (approximately 80 yards)
Crochet Hook N (10.00 mm)
super bulky

Crochet Pattern: Scarf
Start by chaining 87 or a chain as long as you want your scarf. The amount of chains must be an odd number.

Row 1: ch 2, dc in third ch from hook, (ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch) across: 44 dc
Row 2: ch 2, dc in first dc, (ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in next dc) across: 44 dc

Repeat row 2 three times or until scarf is as wide as you desire.

If you need help with crocheting this scarf, let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll be more than happy to help!

Free Crochet Pattern: Nylon Scrubbie

Posted in Free Crochet Patterns on May 13th, 2009 by Rachel – 6 Comments
Here is a crochet pattern for a nylon scrubbie that is generously shared by Tara (a Crochet Spot reader). Thanks Tara!

I haven’t gotten the chance to make them myself just yet, but Tara tells me that they are great on pots and pans and that she uses them for just about everything. I can’t wait to go out and get some nylon netting to make these. Tara used a size H (5.00 mm) crochet hook. Here is more information from Tara about nylon netting and the crochet pattern she used to make her scrubbies:

crochet nylon scrubbie

“1st just pick the colors of the course nylon netting. (The more colors the better) It can be bought at some Wal-Marts or at Jo-Anns, it’s on the bolts. Have it cut in 2 yards. When you get it home but it in 1 inch strips. Tie 6 strips together (I roll it into a ball) 12 yards.

ch 3, 6 sc in 1st ch don’t join continue working around circle with 2 ch in each until you reach the 2nd knot, (remember to keep knots in the back of your work) continue around with 1 sc in each around, (scrubbie should look kinda like a basket) at the last knot 1sc in every other sc to close it up. When opening is around the size of a quarter or a little bigger flip it inside out so the knots will be on the inside of scrubbie continue closing scrubbie tie off…tuck in end”

If you need help with crocheting this nylon scrubbie, leave a comment and I’m sure Tara would be glad to help!

If you have an original crochet pattern that you would like to share with other Crochet Spot readers, feel free to email it to me and I would be glad to post it for all to see!

Craft Coupons (expires 10/16/09)

Posted in News, Rachel's Ramblings on May 12th, 2009 by Rachel – 1 Comment

In the previous post I gave a link to a Michaels Coupon.

Well of you don’t have a Michaels, then maybe you have a JoAnn! Here is a JoAnn Coupon for 40% as well. This one can also be used online.

And if you don’t have a JoAnn then maybe you have a Hobby Lobby? If so there is a 40% Hobby Lobby coupon.

Lastly here is a A.C.Moore 50% off coupon.

I wish I found these sooner so that I could share. But here they are now! Happy shopping!