I Want To Try Some More Crochet Over Wire

I made this little flower playing a concertina several years ago. It's approximately 10" tall and 5" wide at the widest part. I really like it, only wish I'd done the face in a darker contrast, so, next time probably. This is leaning over the top of a purse, with part of the flower inside the purse. 

I have in progress a crocheted doll that I will try to give a squeezebox. I'm using one of my own patterns but I'll modify it a bit. 

Good Enough For These Old Overalls

Done deal. No fancy patches for this one.

Aha! It can hold a coiled-up cord

One day I stitched some sashiko on a square because I felt like it, but didn't really have a plan. Then, yesterday, my cardstock-type holder for the Kobo cord broke. The cord is kept in the chenille yarn pocket but it also needs a more grippy thing. Finally, a job for that odd little fabric tube!

Ever BOIL your embroidery?

 Do you remember when some threads had "Boilfast" on the label?  That was 

long ago, but I thought, "Hmm... bet I can still boil my stuff..."

These little hand-made embroidered  towels are about 12.5" X 7.5" 
They've both been used and machine washed/dried a few times, 
but I didn't want any trace of detergent (or anything) on them so 
then I boiled them for 10 minutes (and air dried them). 
I wish I'd just hand-washed and boiled them from the start, 
and I'll do that from now on.  Most of their wearing-out 
came from doing them in the machines, even with "good" 
detergent. Of course, they won't stay perfect, and I knew that!
I still enjoy seeing them, anyway. 

They are backed with actually two layers of the Mainstays 
(Walmart) Flour Sack Towels, cut to size. One layer is what backed
my embroidery directly as I sewed, then the outer layer covers 
all that. I tacked it all together in a few places. Basically, just
like you'd do if you made a big quilt. 

There are other flour sack towels -- or other fabrics -- that 
would maybe be a better quilt backing, but as far as
dish drying towels go, I love the Mainstays brand (and 
they're the cheaper ones!).

If you want to embroider on flour sack towels, though, 
and are not simply using them as towels and 
backing, you'll want something else (Aunt Martha's).

Not dirty, but very coffee stained! 
These are the back sides, even after 
washing and boiling. But they 
still work just fine. 

The Crocheted Tank Top

 As usual, I've been very slow to get this project completed. But now I just need to sew up the seams and add the trim. I started this one...what, two years ago?

I'm using  Go Handmade Tencel Bamboo "double" that I bought from Hobbii (Denmark). I like it. Not sure if it's the best choice for the tank top pattern I'm using, but I think it'll work. 

The pattern is "Valencia," from a book by Sandi Rosner, Crochet Tank Tops 9 Designs for Warmer Weather (Stackpole Books, copyright 2022). 

Finished the second crocheted shoulder piece

  I didn't crochet at all yesterday, and today I almost missed the boat again... got busy with tasks. But I did it -- made the last piece of the blanket yarn geo vest. 

Also, I make lots of big mesh bags,  with blanket yarn.  Was thinking today that I'd like to make some more small bags, little gift bags. 

 

It's So Fun When The First Try WORKS!

The trapezoid-type half hexagon (Half Hexagon 1 in the book) turns out to be perfect for the shoulder piece. (Just fyi, the other half hexagon, #2, is five-sided.)

I was so pleased that my first attempt to find a good shape for this was just right. So, next I'll crochet a second half hexagon, and then decide if I want to sew everything together with a contrasting color or not.  

The vest clipped together,
half hexagon in place

The Half Hexagon 2, as given in the book
'Every Way With Granny Crochet' by 
Julia Madill