Crocheted Hand Warmers

Greetings to all our readers and crafters. Have you ever thought you’d done something you hadn’t? Could have sworn you’d done it? But when you mention it, people look at you like you’d dropped in from Mars.

That happened to me when our sweet Crystal asked for bloggers to take some days this week. Wednesday, Craft day, was open, and I thought, “the only project I could do that’s fast enough would be crocheted hand warmers, and I’ve already done a blog on that.”

Just in case, I did a search. The only blog on hand warmers was in 2013 and by another blogger, and it was for knitted hand warmers.

So, here’s what I whipped up for all you typists to stay warm on the keyboard.

I used crochet hook G and worsted weight yarn, but if they’re too bulky for your taste, you can use sports or baby yarn and hook H. They just won’t be as warm. I would say you need moderate crochet skills to do this project.

Tie on and chain (ch) 16, turn.

Single crochet (sc) in the second ch from hook and each chain across. 15 sc.

Ch 1, turn. Sc in each stitch (st) across. 15 sc.

Continue for 12 rows.

Decrease row: Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first 2 sc together. (decrease made) SC in each sc across. 14 sc.

Ch 1, turn. Sc in next 12 sc, Sc in last two sc together. (decrease made) 13 sc.

Ch 1, turn. Sc in first two sc together. (decrease made) 12 sc.

Ch 1, turn. Sc in each sc across for the next 4 rows. (19 rows) Break off.

Repeat 3 more times (4 swatches made).

Lining up decrease rows on same side, put two together and whip stitch with yarn and yarn needle together up to 1^st decrease row. Break off.

Sew opposite sides together, pulling taunt to take in bulk on the little finger side.

Repeat for the other warmer. Set them so decrease rows (thumb side) are on opposing sides.

Starting at the back (palm side) of decrease side, attach yarn at top and evenly space 18 scs for thumb hole. Attach front and back at top and slip stitch 4 st down the side. Break off.

Attaching the yarn at top where thumb hole sides were attached, sc in the next 3 sc of front side only. Ch 2, sc catching the back at the same position. Turn. Sl st two, sc in the next 3 st. Ch 2, sc catching the back at the same position. Turn. Sl st two, sc in the next 3 st. Ch 1, sc cating the back at the same position.Turn. Sl st in ch and break off.

Repeat for other warmer. Weave in loose threads to underside.

Measure ¼ inch elastic around wrist. Cut 2 pieces.

Turn warmer inside out and weave the elastic at wrist position (about 3 rows from beginning row) around the bar of every other sc stitch so it will show only on inside. With needle and thread, whip stitch the elastic ends together.

Turn warmers right side out. That’s it.

It’s going to be cold this weekend, folks, even in the South. Get your crochet hooks out and whip up these warmers. If you prefer knitting, search for the blog on the knitted warmers. We have it all here at STT.
BTW, don't forget to leave a comment for one of our great giveaways.

Christmas is coming!

It that time of the year again!

Michele here to try and whisk you into the holiday spirit! If you’re a crafter you know it’s the time of year when you start planning your holiday project list.

This year I plan to make a Christmas afghan. I already have two, one my grandma made in the seventies, and the other came from my parent's cabin in Northern MI. I love those blankets. They have sentimental value because they are connected to someone or something in my past. I’d like to make something like that for my own children.

So, I need your help. Which throw do you like? I’ve posted a few patterns along with the link to the web site where you can find them if you’re interested. 

Please, vote in the comment section to help me out and don't forget to leave your e-mail address to be entered into our weekly drawing.

   Here's choice number one. I love the bright contrast and fun peppermint candies! 
And here's the link to the pattern: patterns/peppermint-throw-and-pillow

Choice number two. Another pretty one!

Here this link: Snowflakes-ribbons-throw

And the last choice. I like this one because I learned to crochet granny squares when I was in elementary school. (a LONG time ago!) 

Link to this cute granny square throw: Holiday-throw

                                                                      

All the above patterns are found on Red Heart Yarn's web site.

Thanks for your help! I can't wait to hear from you!

Happy crafting,

Michele

The Joy of Giving Ourselves

 

What do these crocheted slippers have to do with the Olympics, other than I crocheted them while watching the games? I’ll tell you at the end of this post. Don’t peek.

I used to meet with a group of fellow craft ladies, and we made simple gifts for shut-ins and nursing home residents. Every Christian has a deep need to help others, and if you can have a gab-fest and do something you enjoy—well, it doesn’t get much better than that.

As much fun as these gifts were to make, they were just an instrument to bring those of us who felt a need to help together with the lonely and sick. The real gift was the time we spent with those people who graciously received us. Knowing someone cared made them feel better, but I believe we who visited gained even more.  

This rush-rush world we live in has eaten away at that precious time to visit the sick and to give of ourselves to the least of these. But the need still exists, as does the desire to give of ourselves and share something we really enjoy.

Since I’m becoming a serious writer, I’m constantly looking for an opportunity to encourage reading and promote books. One way may be to give away used books to retirement and nursing homes, including audio books for those who can’t read. Most churches have outreach programs. Why not take a book to sick church members?

That’s what I was thinking about as I crocheted these slippers and watched figure skating. The pattern is easy-peasy and the slippers surprisingly warm. If you’d like the pattern, you can contact me at elainehmanders at gmail dot com.

The slippers not only keep feet warm, they glide as easily over hardwood floors as skates do on the ice. Yes, I admit I tried it. If I had the skill, I could do those twirls, loops, triples and quads. For that reason, I recommend you tack a non-skid strip on the soles if you give them to the elderly and infirm. But for a child or an adult as foolish as me, they’re a lot of fun.

How does your organization or church minister to the sick? Leave a comment with your email address and be entered for a chance to win the prize for this week, Guardian's Promise by Christina Rich.

Coasters--A Quick and Easy Crocheted Gift

Coasters—A Quick and Easy Crocheted Gift

By Catherine Castle

Photo by Catherine Castle

 

I bought some really cute round gift boxes a couple of years ago and planned to make some quilted coasters (which I still might do), but the yarn and needles sitting beside my comfy chair kept calling to me. So, I designed a simple crochet coaster instead to fill the gift boxes. I crafted the coaster pictured above while watching my evening television shows. The pattern doesn’t take much yarn, is quick, and is an easy craft for a beginner.

 

Here’s the pattern I came up with to make the coaster. If you wanted to get fancy you could add a picot edge instead of a plain one. I used a sports weight yarn and a size G needle. A medium weight cotton yarn would be good, too, as it absorbs liquid better than acrylics.

 

Coaster pattern

Round 1: Chain 5 stitches. Connect chain with slip stitch (ss) to form circle.

Round 2. Chain 3, then double crochet (dch) in center opening of chained circle. Crochet a total of 14 dch in center of circle. Join round with a ss in top stitch of the chain three stitch.

Round 3: Chain1 dch  in same opening as chain 3. 2 dch in each stitch of round 2. SS round 2 together at  top of first chain 3 in the round.

Round 4: Chain 3, *2 dch in next stitch of round 3. 1 dch in next stitch. Repeat from * around ending with 2 dch. Join round with ss in top stitch of chain 3 of round 4. Tie off yarn. Weave ends into coaster.

Round 5: Edging—Tie on a contrasting color yarn in any stitch of round 4. Single crochet in each stitch around, join with ss. Tie off contrasting yarn and weave any ends into the last round.  

 

Round 6: Pour yourself an iced tea and enjoy your handiwork.

 

Happy crocheting!

 

Crocheted Christmas Decorations

Merry Christmas everyone. You know the feeling. You’ve spent weeks decorating and everything looks perfect…almost. There’s a niche that seems forlorn. A gaping hole in the Christmas tree screams out for one more decoration. It happens to me very year…the bane of a perfectionist’s existence.

So I get out my crochet hook.

 

Years ago the crafty ladies in the office met during lunch to crochet, and one year we all made these cute Christmas boots. As you can see, they’re simply made. Thirteen mini granny squares whipped stitched together with a shell border and a chain tie. The toe is stuffed with a weight (I use a box of staples) and tissues. A small cup is wedged in the opening and filled with candy. I show canes here, but everyone’s favorite is silver bells (Hershey's kisses).

The Christmas boot candy dish takes no time to make and adds that homey splash of color to any lonely nook.

Now for the tree. I grew up in rural Georgia, and we went into the woods to find our tree, always a cedar. Pines are nice, but the cedar’s heavy scent permeates the whole house.

We had only twenty glass ornaments, carefully unwrapped and oh, so strategically placed. I was in charge of filling in the gaps around those elegant ornaments. My creative soul came alive as I made things of beauty out of foil and yarn, pinecones and paint, popcorn and berries. What fun I had.

 

Most of my ornaments are purchased today, but there’s always that empty place, and this year I crocheted this little Christmas cone. All it requires is a few yards of yarn and a bit of ribbon. I’ll insert the directions for my crocheting friends.

(With worsted weight yarn and G hook tie on, 2 sc for anchor row. Sc in rounds, increasing 2 sc in every round until you have 16 sc. Attach contrasting yarn, dc in each sc around. Ch 3, sc in each dc around. Make a chain about ten inches long, dc in each chain to make handle. Tack handle to each side at top of cone. Weave two strips of ribbon through each side at the top dc row and tie into bows.)

It’s ready to hang on the tree. Drop in a piece of candy as a surprise, or as I hinted to my husband, it makes a perfect hiding place for jewelry. Just saying.

Do you have hand-made decorations on your tree?