Posting My First Crochet Pattern – Easy Cotton Washcloth Pattern

As the weather turns warmer I don’t want to crochet heavy wool scarves and winter accessories.  Besides, spring and summer mean traveling for me, and a quick project that can be easily transported (pulled out of a purse, for example) is exactly what I want.  Besides, cotton washcloths are wonderful to crochet.  I love the feel of cotton between my fingers.  They make such lovely gifts — housewarming, birthdays, hostess, wedding and baby showers.

There are so many washcloths patterns out there.  Mine is really just a modification of all those that have come before.  I really like my pattern because I only have to count the first row (foundation chain), and then it is pure “meditation crochet.”

This is my first pattern I’ve gone public with, so there may be bits of confusion — something I’ve left out/not explained well (just let me know).  But it is such an easy pattern.

Materials:

• Worsted Weight Cotton  — 50 to 100 yards (depending on size of the washcloth you want)
  • Cloths pictured use Bernats Handcrafter Cotton
  • Lily Sugar & Cream – you can get two washcloths from one 2.5oz (120 yard) ball
  • and Premier Home Cotton (Premier is a cotton blend – 85% cotton, 15% acrylic and I find it is better for larger cloths because it holds its shape better when wet, but is slightly thinner than the other two brands).
• Hook Size — I use 5mm  for Premier Home Cotton;  A 5.5mm for the thicker Bernats and Sugar & Cream
• Scissors and Yarn Needle to weave in ends

Gauge is not important for this project.

Stitches

• CH – Chain
• ST – Stitch
• SC – Single Crochet
• DC – Double Crochet

Pattern for approximately 8×8 inch washcloth (mine measure 7.75 inches square)

• Foundation – CH 25 loosely
  • To increase the size of your cloth, increase in multiples of 2 and then add 1 (e.g., 25, 27, 29, etc.). Each pair of stitches increases the row size by approximately 1/3 inch.
  • I find adding one CH to the foundation gives me a sharper/matching corner on my cloths.
• Row 1: Work through the back “bump” loop, you will get a nice edge on your cloth (for a tutorial on how to do this, see HERE.DC in third back loop, *SC in next back loop ST, DC next back loop ST,* repeat  * until end of row ending with a DC
  • At the end of row one, I pull up the tail from the start of foundation chain and pull it through the last DC of row 1.  I then crochet over it in row 2 & 3.  This saves time weaving in ends 🙂
• Row 2: CH 1, Turn; DC in next ST (both loops now, regular crochet),
  • *SC in next ST, DC in next ST* repeat * until end of row ending with a DC
• Row 3+: Repeat Row 2 until you’ve reached the desired size of your cloth.
  • Fasten off leaving 6 inch (or more) tail.  Weave in tail across two rows in two directions.

You always end the row with a double crochet, CH 1 & turn. No counting (yay!) — which makes this the easiest pattern to follow while traveling or watching hockey/football  🙂  SC are always on top of DC and vice-versa. The result is a nice “fluff” stitch that gives a lovely soft texture and pattern.  I do not edge the washcloths as I like them just as they are.

Crocheting in the first tail and not edging saves time per each cloth.  Each 8×8″ washcloth takes me about 40 minutes (from start of first stitch to last tail woven).  Time is important, especially if you want to sell your product (which I do).  The more time I put into an item, the more expensive it is. Many people love the luxurious feel of a cotton cloth, but don’t want to necessarily pay a lot for one.

Wash your cotton washcloths in icy cold water to set the color and block the edges & corners if necessary.  Tie a pretty ribbon around them and they are ready for gifting.

So that is my first public pattern.  There are many similar (such as this one) and much more fancier patterns out there, find one that works for you and crochet away.  Remember, you can always purchase them from me if you run out of time–Curious Purple Pig on Etsy.

Happy Crocheting 🙂

A New (Renewed) Crafting Room

Part 1 of what will surely be a several part series–The Great Craft Room Makeover

Etsy sent my crafting to a whole new level. I completely grew out of my old office space.  The room was decent sized, but really lacked storage.  All my stuff was in bags across the floor.

Our guest room is bigger, and right next door.  Plus, it has a huge double closet.  So here it goes:

Step 1: Pack it all up and try to filter out the junk from “real” craft supplies.

Step 2: Close Etsy shop for a few days (how can I do orders with everything packed up?).

Step 3: Clear out the guest room (my new craft room) as much as possible (after all, we still need to live in this house and I can’t disrupt everything (or can I?).

Step 4: Cabinets!!!!!

I didn’t go crazy here, just bought the stock, ready built.  This is a dormer room, so the upper wall cabinets are only 15″ (over the appliance cabinets).  The best thing here is the 10 feet of counter space!  Four lower base cabinets, 4 uppers and a laminate (10′) countertop = $600.  And that will be the only $$$$ I spend on this makeover.  I am dedicated to up cycling, reusing, making, everything else I need.

Cabinet install: Most will recommend installing upper wall cabinets first, but in my case I was doing this by myself and the uppers were smaller in size.  So base cabinets first:

Then a cat comes in and hops in a drawer.

 

Then you find boxes/boards/books (whatever) that are the right height to rest your upper cabinets on while installing.  Note here: place your upper wall cabinet on the stack and run it all across the base cabinet run first to make sure they will all fit on the wall space.  No room is perfectly level and the first wall cabinet should go on the lowest point.  Clamps are very handy to align the next cabinet with the previous to keep them flush.

 

So This should really help my storage issues:

 

And then I start painting…It is a creative space after all 🙂

 

More painting, and then labeling (the key to organization).

I’ll do a separate post on the knobs & pulls, which are kind of different (and cheap).  But for now I have to get back to work, it is almost time to move in 🙂

Just Add Paper

After working on hundreds (maybe 1000s) wedding invitations, programs, door cards, escort cards….you name it.  I have found some tools I really love.

 

This handy little envelope jig ROCKS!

 

Made by We R Memory Keepers, under $20 (at this posting, less if on sale).

It makes just about any size envelope you desire and works on paper, vellum and card stock.  I have now made 100s of envelopes without issue.  It takes some time, some elbow grease, but you get custom envelopes in the end, so I like it.

 

Curious Purple Pig rating is a wowzy 9 oinks.

 It would be 10 if the scorer was not plastic and instead bone.  But otherwise a good tool and investment if you have lots and lots of envelopes to make.

 

How it works:

Cut your paper to size.  the chart on the jig tells you exactly what size you’ll need.  I love my guillotine cutter for cutting…

Line up your paper to the corresponding score line.

Punch and score (use the tool along the indented line on the jig), rotate counter clockwise -and keep punching a scoring (all 4 sides).  After the first punch you line up the previous score line with the arrow on the punch instead of the ruler.

 

Optional step is to round the corners–

Then just fold and glue 🙂

 

You can seal the envelopes with stickers, glue, or use a “lick and stick” adhesive so you can seal them when you are ready.

I’ve been busy preparing for the holidays.  Combined with my Cuttlebug Embosser, there is no stopping me 🙂

 

I actually use the custom envelopes to send out all my jewelry purchases from my Etsy shop.  I love the personal, custom touch:

 

 

Back to Painting Flowers

I love to paint.  My grandmother taught me: if you can’t move it, paint it, and if you can’t paint it, put a flower in it.

I wonder if that was my inspiration for painted paper flowers?

I started making these a few years ago for weddings (including my own).  And yes they are a bit labor intensive, but I can’t help myself.

So here is a re-run of the step to create these lovely large flowers (the tutorial uses a mix of green paint, but the process is the same).

Supplies

*Regular copy paper (or drawing paper)
*Hot glue gun
*Stick or Floral Stem Wire
*2 colors (or more) craft acrylic paint (the cheaper the paint the better, I’ve found)
*Water
*Paint brush (for painting and rolling)
*Tape

CuriousPurplePig Rating: 8.5 oinks, could be messier. I do manage to get paint in my hair though.   Takes about 30 minutes per flower to cut/paint the petal (not counting paint drying time), another 30 minutes or so to assemble.

Steps

Each petal is cut from regular 8×11 paper, free form “teardrop” shape. The outside petals take 1/4 of the sheet, the inside ones, 1/6th. I advise at least 8 petals of each size (24 total). I stack the paper and do them all at once. I cut waves into the edges too.

Lightly fold the paper in 4ths for the larger petals:

And into 6ths for the smaller, inside petals (fold in half, then into thirds):

Using two colors of watered down craft acrylic paint, I quickly paint each side of the petals. The water helps to blend the colors. Just follow the form of the petal with your strokes. Only use one brush for all colors.

After making hundreds of these flowers, I’ve found that the cheaper the craft acrylic paint the better.  The “good stuff” is too thick and has to be watered down to much.  I don’t want to offend Craft Smart brand, but it works really well for watered down/blended effects like these flowers.

I used more darker color on the smaller inside petals, and went lighter on the outside. More water mixed in lightens the paint too.

{{{{{paint drying}}}}}

Find a center stick. I have a bunch of old dried stems lying around that I use. But a skewer stick will work too (or a stick from your yard–even better). The larger the flower, the larger the diameter the stick.

UPDATE: I switched from using sticks to florist wire stems like these:

I then glue a piece of styrofoam or rolled paper on the end to give it a larger diameter base to glue the petals. With the wire, I can bend and shape the flowers as needed in the centerpiece, much better.

I use a paint brush handle to roll the paper edges.

Low temp glue glue gun, my best friend. Attach the petals by gluing at the base.

If the paper tears a bit, just dab with glue to seal it. Keep working around until you like it.

I used more glue and then florist tape to secure it more to the stick/floral stem.

Done!

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Yarnoholic

Maybe I need help, but fall is coming and I can’t stop buying yarn.  My thoughts turn to watching football (Go Broncos!) while curled up on the couch crocheting.

The colors are amazing (too bad I’m not a better photographer) and I can’t stop.  The first step is admitting you are out of control.

Lately, I’ve been addicted to these layered loop scarfs using sashay/ruffle yarns.  I love the mix of colors and soft texture of these yarns.

 

 You can’t get more autumn-y than this:

 And Purples, of course:

 

The “How To”

This is one long crochet chain.  And I mean loooonnggg.  300 inches (25 feet).  I used an extra large wood bead painted and sealed that keeps the layers in place.  I used a Q hook to make these, but use the size necessary for your yarn.

These scarves are adjustable- just pull at the individual chains to extend or shorten.  Or remove the bead altogether, or….

 

So now I have a huge boxful of different colors, including blue and orange (again, Go Broncos!).

 

Curious Purple Pig Rating:

There is a messy part–I get to sand and paint the wood clasp bead on the scarf.  So I manage to get paint all over my hands which is 8 oinks.  I’m only happy when I have paint on my skin.

A high Oink factor for color.

Overall: A respectable 8 Oink ratings for these layered loop scarves. 

 

But…

The classic gray scarf remains one of my favorites:

Back from Wedding Crafting…

Curious Purple Pig is back.  I’ve been off working on weddings for the past year and had a blast.  But during the past year I have also been collecting.  Collecting for jewelry making mostly, but ideas for other items as well.  The messier, usually the better.  But this week’s craft is not messy at at all (minus a few bits of dried catnip). Crafting for pets can be fun, because they don’t judge you (and are usually wowed by the process just as much as the finished product).  So here is my latest…

Naughty Cat Christmas Coal

Who doesn’t know a bad cat who  deserves lumps of “coal” for Christmas?  Don’t have time to make it?  It’s for sale in my Etsy shop: CuriousPurplePig (again, shameless self promotion).

Curious Purple Pig Rating:

• High oink factor because cats love it (see the video below 🙂 )
• High oink points for easy (as long as you can grow catnip–which is really a type of weed)
• Low oinks for not being messy at all (don’t even need glue 😦 )

Overall 7 Oinks

Product testing with a focus group of one cat (raw & unedited coverage of test results).     Two Paws Up!  It’s a hit 🙂

Supplies:

• Black yarn
• Catnip (you can buy it, but I used my own from plants we have at home–best to have some nice potent organic nip for the felines)
• Tulle (fine mesh)
• Crochet hook to fit your yarn & yarn needle
• Container, Tag and rest of packaging is optional.

Steps

1) Crochet the coal lumps.  You could also use fabric or felt, but crochet (or knitting) gives it a nice texture that cats love.  There is no pattern here.  I start out with a magic circle, do one round of 4-6 single crochet stitches, and then go nuts.  I added some bobble stitches for bumpy texture.  Just work chaotically in rounds with mixed stitches until you have an odd shape.  Leave it open on top.  You can then use a yarn needle to close the lump after you have stuffed it.

2) Wrap some dried catnip in fine mesh/tulle.  I like to double wrap it to make sure it doesn’t get out.  Use organic catnip if you can. Stuff the balled up catnip-in-tulle into the lump of coal.

3) Optional–Cats love the crunchy sound of cellophane, so add in a few 1×1 inch squares.

4) Use a yarn needle and close up the lump.

Done!

If giving as a gift, wrap it up by decorating a box or bag.  The cats won’t care, but the human will appreciate it. I hope your cats enjoy! 

DIY Petal Aisle Border

I saw this on Pinterest and said “Want.”

And roughly $15 and about 20 hours of labor later, I have what I want:

Supplies:

Bags and Bags of Dollar Store Petals (300 petals per bag)–I suggest starting with at least 10 bags.

Roll of masking paper for painting (like you get at a home improvement store)

Glue–I started with regular white craft glue, but quickly changed to my trusted low-temp glue gun

Scissors and tape

Dye for Petals (optional, depending on your colors)–I just tea-stained mine to make them off white/ivory

Purple Pig Rating: Easy, not messy, but has “WOW” factor . 9.5 Oinks because it is awesome.

Steps:

There are lots of tutorials for DIY petal runners.  The big difference with mine is that I didn’t use tulle for the base.  I was at the home improvement store in the paint aisle and notices a 125′ of paper masking (like craft paper) in green that was a perfect match to our wedding colors.  It was $4, so I had to buy it. Some diy brides discuss gluing petals on tulle and the glue coming through the tulle (making it hard to work with). I had no problem like that using paper.

1. To make the edges, roll out the paper and fold in half. Mine is in 12.5′ sections.

2. Cut your design on the folded side.

3. The curly design is a series of arcs cut and taped together.  Overlay both sides on top of each other when taping so they are match.

4. Optional Step: Dye/stain your petals.  These white petals from the dollar store are white-out white.  I’m an ivory girl.  So I boiled a big pot of water and dumped several cups of strong tea in it and brewed up some ivory petals.  I pulled them out at various times for subtle shade differences, rinsed and put in a salad spinner (yes a salad spinner) to dry off quickly.

5. Glue on petals.  Keep gluing, get more petals, keep going.  Bored? Keep gluing.

Put just a dot of glue on each petal, and stick the glued part under the “flap” of petal next to it to hide the glue spot.  Glue in different directions, and on top of one another. But I also found it easier to glue the edges first and then work inwards.  The look you want is dropped petals.

I started with regular white kraft glue, but it took too long to dry, so I switched to low temp hot glue.  You hid your glue spots by only using a tiny drop and sticking that part under the petal next to it.

This picture just has the individual sections (6 in all, two side sections at 12.5′ each, and the two curly sections) just laying butted up to each other.  I will use tape the day of to attach them on site.

(please ignore the bad photo stitch for this panorama shot.  I have limits with my iPhone).

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Wedding Card Pop-up Box

It started the weekend as a mere cardboard box my karaoke machine came in. It is now our weeding card box -or- “mailbox” to be more descriptive.

I was browsing vintage mailboxes and got inspired. This may be the most fru-fru thing I’ve ever made. And just to make sure it reaches cute overload, I made a pop-up sign that says “Thank You!” when one opens the drawer to put the card in. Yes, when a guest opens the front drawer flap to put their card in, the sign on top will pop up and say thank you.  It’s sure be a hit with the kids at the wedding 🙂

I don’t have a tutorial, but basically:

1. Find a box.
2. Cut a flap in the front on three sides leaving the bottom attached. This will be your drawer front. Duct tape the inside of the bottom of the flap (maybe the outside too-you can cover it later) so it will have more strength as it gets bent (opened) multiple times.
3. Cut two drawer side pieces with an arc between the edges. Here is someone else’s tutorial on that. http://torispelling.com/blog/post/tutorial-kids-diy-mailbox
Attach side pieces with duct tape –after you make sure they fit 🙂

4. Punch three holes in the flap: one in center for the knob, and one in each corner for the ribbon or string.
5. Make your pop-up sign for on top out of card stock. Punch one hole in each corner of it for the ribbon. You will need two pieces card stock (the other piece get used in step 7). I recommend a thin piece of cardboard for the middle of the sign for extra sturdiness.
6. Sit the sign where you want it on top. Punch two holes in the box top behind the sign for the ribbon to feed through.

7. Duct tape the sign to the box by running tape over the back of your sign onto the box (the tape is shaped like an “L” when the sign stands up. Use your other piece of card stock to cover the tape in the back of the sign. You will also want to attach a piece of wood, marble, or something right behind the sign. This will keep it from flopping backwards. I just use hot glue to attach some flowers.
8. Optional Step: paper mâché the entire box to cover all duct tape and to make a nice paint suface.
9. Tie thin ribbon (or string) to each corner of the sign, feed them through the holes on the top of the box, open the drawer (flap), grab the ribbon and tie to the corners of the front flap (where you punched the holes). Adjust tension of the ribbon as necessary so the sign pops up. Optional: glue washers where the ribbon feeds through the holes for looks and for strength.
10. Decorate your mailbox. I found that I had to make the sign top heavy so it would fall back down when the drawer was closed. So I hot glued on some flat sided marbles on top.

Sorry I didn’t take pics as I went. It was all trial an error for me. It went through several iterations. I took several pics of the final product, all painted. Hopefully, you’ll be able to figure it out.

Notice the flowers on top? They are my previous blog -Painted Paper Flowers. In fact all the decorations on my box are paper (except the knob & pearls).

Final list of supplies for this: box, duct tape, thin ribbon, hole punch, paper, paint, knob, 6 washers, flat marbles.

Cost: Well I had everything, so maybe about $5 of supplies.

Here are some more pics.

  

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Painted Paper Flowers

Two nieces married, now it’s my turn. I’m getting married!

I’ve been experimenting with paper flowers for a while. I love the stylized look. They don’t wilt, require no water, and can be done way in advance.

To make it just wee bit more messy, and since I love the look, I paint the petals. I’ve made several styles thus far, but the pics below show my favorite.

Supplies

*Regular copy paper (or drawing paper)
*Hot glue gun
*Stick
*2 colors (or more) craft acrylic paint
*Water
*Paint brush (for painting and rolling)
*Tape

CuriousPurplePig Rating: 8.5 oinks, could be messier. I do manage to get paint in my hair though.  Very easy. Takes about 30 minutes per flower.

Steps

Each petal is cut from regular 8×11 paper, free form “teardrop” shape. The outside petals take 1/4 of the sheet, the inside ones, 1/6th. I advise at least 5 petals of each size (10 total). I stack the paper and do them all at once. I cut waves into the edges too.

Lightly fold the paper in 4ths for the larger petals:

And into 6ths for the smaller, inside petals (fold in half, then into thirds):

Using two colors of watered down craft acrylic paint, I quickly paint each side of the petals. The water helps to blend the colors. Just follow the form of the petal with your strokes. Only use one brush for both colors. Don’t worry too much how it looks.

I used more darker color on the smaller inside petals, and went lighter on the outside. More water mixed in lightens the paint too.

{{{{{paint drying}}}}}

Find a center stick. I have a bunch of old dried stems lying around that I use. But a skewer stick will work too (or a stick from your yard–even better). The larger the flower, the larger the diameter the stick.

I use a paint brush handle to roll the paper edges.

Low temp glue glue gun, my best friend. Attach the petals by gluing at the base.

If the paper tears a bit, just dab with glue to seal it. Keep working around until you like it.

I used more glue and then florist tape to secure it more to the stick.

Done!

Cat, for scale.

Some of my other large, and very small, paper flowers…

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Halloween Already?

Here it is the end of July and my thoughts turn to Halloween?

School starts up in August so back to 60 hour plus work weeks and little time for party planning.  Our annual Halloween party is an event.  Just 70 or so of our favorite fun people and lots of great costumes.

I start the planning by thinking of what worked well last year, what didn’t work so well.  And always: the food.

Here are some of my previous “hits.”  All the pictures are {mine} from the food I made, but the recipes have been borrowed and adapted from many creative people.

Meat Head

Meat Head was new last year.  Funny, people would eat the sliced deli meats around the head, but not off the head 🙂

Having a lighted plastic skull is a must again for this year!

Pumpkin Burger

I like having the food in multiple locations for Halloween to keep the party flowing and everyone eating.  Pumpkin Burger took a lot of skewers and toothpicks to hold together, but people seemed more willing to pick the deli off of it rather than the skull (squeamish guests).

Although still one of my favorites is the pumpkin throwing up that I used as a menu stand one year–

Eyeballs

Is any Halloween party complete without eyeballs to eat?  I’ve tried many over the years.

The jello-based eyeballs are the most realistic looking.  However, they have to be painted the night before and kept chilled on the table.

After many of late night eyeball painting sessions, last year I switched to candy eyeballs that could be painted way in advance (melted white chocolate, mint molds):

Candy fingers were a bonus.

Cheese Balls

You can do so much with cheese, and it is tasty too!  But, if you make your cheese balls too fancy, people maybe reluctant to tear into it.

Finger Food

These went fast!  Luckily, there were about the easiest thing to make.

Bleeding Eyeball Punch

Yes I am obsessed with eyeballs on Halloween.  But this is just too cool and my guests love it.  They fill their glasses up directly from the squirting eye.  Put a few glow sticks in the pot for extra effect.  Always serve under a black light 🙂

I’m sure I’ll do the standard kitty litter cake and chips and salsa served in the coffin too this year.  These are my old standbys. But as always, I’ll start scouring the internet for more gruesome and fun foods to serve this year. Who knows, meat head may turn into a full blown cadaver!

[all photos on this page are original and credited as such]