Summer Crochet

Summer crochet slows to a snail's pace at meo my crochet. I like to make things that are easy. I like to keep it simple and practical too. 

With this in mind, I decided to use my stash of Bernat Handicrafter cotton yarn making dish cloths and coasters. They are great to have on hand as hostess gifts. I have been working slowly, but steadily for the past six weeks. It takes one hour to crochet a dish cloth. A large ball of cotton yarn costs ~$16 at Lens Mills and will make about eight dish cloths. 

My pile has grown to the point where I have enough to consider selling. I wonder if people would pay $8 for a set of two dish cloths or perhaps four coasters? It's a good thing I crochet for fun and relaxation, otherwise I might be disappointed making less than $2 an hour for my efforts.

Summer crochet mostly happens in the living room. I sit on this sofa with my laptop to my right and my work piling up on the table in front of me.

 

All those dish cloths and coasters form a colourful display while I work. As you can see, I have more cotton yarn, so will continue making coasters. 

 

In case you would like to make your own dish cloths or coasters, I've included instructions below.

DISH CLOTH

Supplies Used:

Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn

5.5 mm crochet hook

yarn needle

scissors

Stitches used:

ch (chain)

sc (single crochet)

flsc (front loop single crochet)

blsc (back loop single crochet)

Starting chain - 29

R1 - sc in 2nd ch from hook (28) 

Note: I like to crochet in back bump of starting chain as shown here.

R2 - ch1 turn, sc in 1st sc, flsc, blsc (repeat across), sc in last sc

R2 - ch1 turn, sc in 1st sc, flsc, blsc (repeat across), sc in last sc

Continue until dish cloth is square (fold diagonally to check)

Border: sc around, 3 sc in corners, finish off and weave in ends

Finished size: 8.5" x 8.5"

COASTER

I followed this free pattern by designer Nancy Livengood. I like the look and simplicity of this coaster. Using Bernat Handicrafter cotton yarn and a 5.5 mm crochet hook - the finished size is 4.5" across.

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Creamsicle Banana Pop Baby Blanket

I finished another crochet baby bobble blanket. It is one of my favourite free patterns called Ruffles and Dots Baby Blanket by blogger Maybe Matilda found here. I started two weeks ago as mentioned in this post and am happy to report all leftover Bernat Handicrafter cotton yarn shown below got used up plus I did NOT have to buy more. YiPpEe Mission Accomplished!! 

I decided to finish the blanket in creamsicle once I ran out of pale yellow then I worked a row of bright orange single crochet around the outside which coordinated nicely with the frilly creamsicle border. As I was working the last row of the border, I wasn't sure if there would be enough yarn to complete the round. Check out that teeny tiny bit of leftover yarn in the photo. I couldn't have planned it any better. 

I love how the bobble bumps make a fun and tactile blanket for babies.

I even love the look of the blanket finished with 6 bobble rows in creamsicle. It was a necessary colour change to avoid buying more yarn as my intent was to use what I had on hand for this project. The bright cheery colours inspired me to name it "Creamsicle Banana Pop Baby Blanket". A delicious baby blanket for summer.

Our poodle loves posing on this baby blanket. It's a perfect fit for both poodles AND babies. 

I've included stats and instructions in case you might like to make one too. I promise you won't be disappointed if you do.

Stats/Instructions for this blanket:
34" x 34" outside edges
Yarn - Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (Worsted Weight)
Hook size - 5.0 mm
13 bobbles across
29 bobble rows (26 bobble rows of pale yellow + 6 bobble rows of creamsicle)
1 row of single crochet (sc) around outside with 3 sc in the corners (bright orange)
1 row of 2 double crochet (dc) per sc with 7 dc in the corners (creamsicle)
1 row of alternating 2 dc then 1 dc in each dc around with 5 dc in the corners (creamsicle)

Math for starting chain: 8 x # of bobbles in first row = 104 for 13 bobbles across
3 rows of sc before first bobble row, between bobble rows and after last bobble row
First and last bobble row: 3 sc before first bobble, 7 sc between bobbles and 3 sc after last bobble
Alternate bobble rows: 7 sc before first bobble, 7 sc between bobbles and 7 sc after last Note: only 12 bobbles on alternate bobble rows

I hope that all makes sense. Do comment if you have any questions or need clarification. I would be happy to help.

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