Crochet Sunflowers

 I have a thing for yarn flowers. Like section on a Pinterest board thing. I think it's my way of coping with the fact that I've never been successful at keeping real flowers alive. I can't trust flowers to respond well to my attention, but I can trust yarn. I took this interest to a new level when I decided that I wanted to make all the "flowers" for my wedding 3 years ago...

That idea sounded amazing until about 200 flowers later plus at least 600 leaves and stems. I still don't regret it as it was something unique and special to our day but I can't say it's something I would recommend to others to do unless you have an unusually high amount of free time to spare (side eyes quarantine...). Each flower eventually took about a half hour from start to finish but originally was closer to 45 - 60 minutes until I really got in the swing.

The supplies and instructions below are for the flowers and stems but you can leave the stems off to use for decorations. Boutonnieres and corsages took a little more trial and error. Y'all let me know if that's something you'd want to see.

Supplies

• Inexpensive medium weight dark brown yarn (like Red Heart Super Saver)
• Medium weight green yarn, dark and light
• Yellow crochet thread (Aunt Lydia's is perfect)
• Jump Rings (use various sizes for different flower sizes but not smaller than .75" or bigger than 1.5")
• Size 5.5 Hook
• Size 1 Hook
• Floral wire, 18" pieces

Abbreviations Used

sc - Single Crochet

dc - Double Crochet

tc - Triple Crochet

qc - Quadruple crochet

ss - Slip Stitch

The Sunflowers

 

1. Start by putting the floral wire through the jump ring to the halfway point and twisting all the way down. Use one of the green yarns and 5.5 hook to crochet up the wire, covering it completely then tucking in the ends.

2. Single crochet in brown with size 5.5 hook around the jump ring, then keep crocheting over the stitches you just made (not in them, over them) until the yarn closes in the center. Be mindful to keep your stitches toward the outside of the ring so it builds out instead of into a ball. Weave in the end. Total number of stitches varies greatly depending on the size of the jump ring. Don't make them tight though - you'll need some space for the petals. 

3. Switch to yellow thread and size 1 hook. Start in any loop on the outside of the flower center you just finished. In each loop in the outside of the flower center: 

ss, sc, dc 2, tc 2, qc 2, tc 2, dc 2, sc, ss (14) 

The loop will likely be crowded but that's what gives the petal shape. Repeat this until all outside loops are complete. 

4. Once you're back at the petal you started on, sc in the top of each stitch around. This isn't absolutely necessary but in my opinion really makes the petals look cleaner and fall into place better. Weave ends and you're done!

It's not hard at all but tedious. I was inspired to use jump rings by another pattern years ago but now I can't find the link or who created it. If that was you - thanks for the inspiration! 

Pictured below: My quality control specialist

The Leaves

1. I used this pattern from Lakeview Cottage Kids for the actual leaf shape and design. Once I made one, instead of tying it off, I crocheted down the length of the 18" floral wire and continued to make another leaf using the same pattern but backwards, so I could fold the wire in half to be the same length as the flower stems. 

2. Once you master making them backwards which is easier than it sounds, you can make them in pairs and attach those to the ends of the wire as well, giving you at least 3 leaves at each wire end. You could attach the additional leaves in the other color green for variety. 

If you're making a Bouquet...

You'll need something in the center to give the flower heads a little space and help them stay flat. This glamorous little cone to the left was a toilet paper role that I cut, rolled into a cone, taped, then double crocheted over quickly so if it became visible it wasn't very noticeable. Then I used small clear rubber bands to assemble the bouquets around the cone until using ribbon to wrap it.

Not counting in the value of time, I was able to make all flowers for about $20 - $30. My bridesmaids kept their bouquets as part of my thank you gifts to them, and many guests asked to take home the lantern centerpieces and other decorations with the flowers. I'm still very happy with them looking back after 3 years. 

Oh, and how fabulous is my Gram's dress from 1958? It was in her basement until I asked about it in 2016. We dry cleaned it a few times and took it for minor repairs (Thanks Monirose Bridal in Madison, WI!) but not a stitch had to be altered to fit perfectly. Gram is the one in the stylish lavender suit. 

What have you or would you make for your wedding? Have you ever started a project that grew into a life of it's own? I'd love to know!

Sheila

P.S. Special thanks to Polka Dot Productions for the professional photos of the day!

T-Shirt Pillows

Every so often, a shirt comes around that is just too great to be stored in the closet. You might try to wear it as frequently as possible to share the awesomeness with the world. After all that sharing with the world, eventually it starts to wear out. That, my friends, is a sad, sad day. This is a story of two such shirts.



Behold the awesomeness that is this pink Elvis t-shirt that was a Birthday gift from my best friend, and this Golden Girls shirt my Gram gave me as a Christmas present. I have had a slight obsession with both Elvis and the Golden Girls since high school, if not before. Yup. I’m so hipster I liked these things before it was cool to ironically like them. Adjusts unnecessary glasses and sips PBR.

They’re both made of very thin material and were starting to get a little worn over the years. I was worried that a hole would develop and it might be lost forever. The best course of action was obviously to turn these great t-shirts into great pillows.

You Will Need:

Nerdtastic t-shirts
Scissors
Ruler
Chalk or Pencil
Sewing machine (or needle/ thread/ perseverance)
Stuffing
Straight pins
Embroidery floss (optional)

Square Pillow


Lay your t-shirt flat and decide how much of the main image you want to be featured on your pillow. Take a deep breath and thank the inanimate object that has been worn so many times and started so many conversations. Tentatively, hesitantly, and mournfully cut the sleeves and collar from the shirt. Have second thoughts. Decide to continue and tell yourself you’re giving it new life. Cut up the side seams of the shirt and across the shoulder seems, separating the shirt into two pieces, front and back.

Turn halves inside-out, use the ruler and chalk or pencil to draw a square on the shirt featuring the design as desired. Pin the two sides together inside your lines. Carefully cut out your square.

Use your sewing machine to stitch around the edges leaving about 3-4” open at the bottom of the pillow. Remove the pins and turn it right side out. Stuff your pillow A little fuller than you think it should be; the filling will flatten out over time. You can also use a pencil to help get the stuffing all the way into the corners. Once it’s full, use a slip stitch to sew up the last few open inches. You can stop there OR you can add tassels. And when you have the option to add tassels, why wouldn't you?

To make the tassels, don't listen to me. I kind of just messed with embroidery floss until it worked. Seriously. Each one is slightly different. Since I can't be trusted when it comes to tassels, this tutorial will be much more useful. When they're finished, just run a few stitches through the center of the tassel into the corners of the pillow.

Circle Pillow



The circle pillow shares a lot of steps with the square pillow but you have to be extra careful not to tug the fabric while machine sewing the edges or you'll end up with a lumpy circle. T-shirt material is notoriously difficult because it is so stretchy. I used a lamp shade as a guide for a perfect circle because I'm a classy, classy lady. Don't forget to leave a few inches open to turn right side out and stuff. Afterwards, stitch it up and you're all done.



Any favorite t-shirts laying around that need a makeover? Do you know how to make a good tassel? I'd love to know!

Sheila

Hanging Herb Garden (The Easiest One)

Things have pretty temperate here in Greenville lately. Not too hot or rainy and just a little breezy. The long sunny days have encouraged keeping the curtains open as much as possible to let in the natural light. I noticed something that made me a little nervous: the sun was never reaching my herb plants. Obviously, that led to an instant panic that the plant babies were going to die any minute from a lack of sun. Something had to be done.



Macrame and I are old friends going back to the days of summer camp and friendship bracelets. I've seen all kinds of hanging planters on the interwebs and decided it shouldn't be too hard to combine the old skill and the "new" trend. I've been pleased with the outcome since the herbs seem to be much happier and the colorful hanging pots are more fun to see. Because each hanger involves so many steps, I'm splitting them into 3 posts to keep them from getting overwhelming. This first one using 4 strands took about 10 minutes to make.



You will need:

Small Pot filled with the sun-craving plants of your choice
4 pieces Nylon rope, 72" each
1" Steel welded O-ring (can be bought individually in store for 80 cents)
Lighter (optional)

I chose these pots from Lowe's for a few reasons. 1, they were adorable and cheap (that alone would be enough honestly). Second, they were light-weight plastic so they wouldn't weight down the rope or the hooks too much and the sun shouldn't be too drying or damaging. These pots are also "self-watering" which means the pots don't drain on the patio below and it should help protect them from drying out with the dramatic increase in sun. Lastly, I was already there and didn't feel like shopping around anymore. So there's that.

4 Strand Hanging Planter

It was originally hard to see the detail in the pictures with the white rope so I used different colored yarn instead. Also, there were no rings left so I used the ring from a plastic bottle. Because I'm classy.

The first step is to gather all the strands and feed them through the ring. Once the ring is at the center of the strands, you'll tie what I like to call a "pretzel knot." Warning: do not use that term in front of people who know what they are doing/care about technical terms or they will laugh at you. The pretzel knot is the only one you'll use for this whole planter. Just cross the strands over each other and pull through the center. It helps to pull each individual strand as tightly as possible after tightening up towards the ring.

There's now 8 strands that are a little less than 36 " long. About 10" down, tie pretzel knots in pairs. 5" from there tie pretzel knots again, being sure to split the strands that were just tied together and join them with their immediate neighbors (see why the colors made this so much easier to explain?). Lastly, 3" down tie another pretzel knot using all strands and tighten. Finish it off by trimming the ends and using your lighter to melt the tips to keep the rope from unraveling. That's it! Seriously, 10 minutes tops.



The planter is pretty short. Finished it's only about 20" long, which was perfect for what I wanted but you may want to make your ropes longer that 72" to start with if you're looking for something more. They're so quick to make you can experiment. Keep an eye out this week if you're interested in the others which will be titled "The Ever-So-Slightly More Complicated One", and then "The Unexpectedly Challenging One."

Do you think macrame hangers are back in style? Do you know the real name for the pretzel knot? I'd love to know!

Sheila

Mini Garden Tools

In a world divided by so many issues like politics and religion, I think we can all agree on one thing: tiny stuff is freakin' adorable. Babies. Puppies. Kittens. Tiny versions of big things are 100% cuter. It's science.

That said, these tiny garden tools have stolen my heart.



A friend at work recently asked me what I knew about fairy gardens. I knew they existed, but I've really only recently learned to keep plants alive for longer than a week. I have a VERY limited experience base, but as mentioned earlier, anything in miniature means I'm all in. Also, a while ago polymer clay was on sale at the craft store and I thought to myself "I've never used this and have no plans for needing it but it's on sale so I better buy one of every color." Because that's how responsible adults shop. This then became a quest to use the polymer clay for the first time AND make something tiny. Win-win.

You will need:

White polymer clay
Clay tools intended for children (because after buying all the unnecessary clay, why invest in reasonable quality tools?)  
Paint or nail polish or your choice, brown and silver used here
Black Sharpie
Black string or embroidery floss

The first step is to work the clay. Depending on what kind you have, it might take a while. I used a tiny bit at a time and worked in another chunk when the first was pliable. If your clay is super crumbly or stubborn, you can use a tiny bit of Vaseline on your fingers to help. When the clay is easy to mold and smooth, take a piece about the size of your finger tip and shape it into a rectangle.

To make both the trowel and the rake, start by very gently rolling the top half of the rectangle between your fingers to shape the handle. Use the rounded tool to create a dent at the end of the handle. For the trowel, continue to roll the rounded edge until the desired thickness is reached then trim the ends to shape. For the rake, use a cutting tool to remove tiny slivers from the flat end and create the prongs. Use a pointed tool or toothpick to create a small hole in the handle ends.

The watering can is a bit trickier. I started with 3 different sized pieces, 1 about the size of a gum ball, another the size of a lima bean, and the other was somewhere in between the others. The lima bean piece was flattened into a thin circle about an inch across. The biggest piece was rolled into a cylinder shape and then slowly, carefully hollowed in the center using the rounded tool and my thumb. This piece goes on top of the former lima bean piece. Lastly, use the medium size piece to create the spout, handle, and hood: a skinny tube for the spout with ball flattened on one side and dabbled, another short tube for the handle, and a flat semi-circle for the hood. The pictures should hopefully help all this make more sense.

The pieces all stuck to themselves well with nothing but light pressure applied before baking. I used a toothpick with a small clay "pedestal" to prop up the spout and make sure it didn't get droopy before it baked. Put all your tools on a piece of foil and follow package instructions to bake your clay. Fimo required 30 minutes at 230 degrees.

Once they're cooled they're ready to paint! I used an acrylic brown which went on very streaky and gave an accidental wood grain appearance that I love. Finding a silver was a little more challenging. The perfect thing was hiding in the form of metallic silver nail polish which has exactly the galvanized look I was hoping for.

One the paint dries, use a sharpie to add bands around the handles and nail details on the watering can. Lastly, add a short piece of black embroidery thread to create straps on the tools and you're done. Add them to any indoor plant to create a mini garden all your own. And marvel in their tiny, adorableness. 

Would you add this fun touch of whimsy? How would you personalize them? What other tiny things should we make? I'd love to know!

Sheila

Crochet Pumpkin Patch Garland

TINY THINGS. Do you loves them as much as I do? I stand by my choice to adore things more for the simple fact that they are smaller than their full-sized counter parts. This love has most recently manifested itself in this little crochet pumpkin patch that even a beginning crocheter can make in less than an hour.

You will need:

Orange yarn
different shades of green and brown yarns
crochet hook

The size and gauge of the yarn/hook don't matter. Use whatcha got. I made about 10 pumpkins for my 3ft garland.

Start by making your pumpkins:

Chain 3.
Row 1: Double crochet 9 stitches into 3rd stitch from hook (the first chain you made). The last 2 chain stitches will count as a double so you'll end up with a circle of 10 double crochets. Slip stitch to join.
Row 2: 2 single crochets into next 3 stitches, 2 double crochets into next 2 stitches, 2 single crochets into next 3 stitches, 2 double crochets into next 2 stitches to make the oval shape. 20 stitches total.
Finish it off by tying and weaving in your ends.

Time to add them to the vine:

Use your first color of green or brown to chain at least 15 stitches. Add a pumpkin in by single crocheting through the top few stitches. I did each one a little different but used about 3 or 4 stitches each time. Chain anywhere from 15 to 30 stitches in between each pumpkin for desired length and variation.
Add other colors to give your vine dimension by chaining with 2 pieces of yarn at once. No need to tie in a new color, it seems to stay just fine. Occasionally, I would chain a few of one color and wrap the other around it then pick it back up in the chain. Leaving the ends loose looks cute.

You could add more variety by crocheting leaves along the vine as well. Or make little jack-o-lantern faces! I'm thinking about adding some acorns when it gets closer to Thanksgiving.

Do you decorate for the holidays? Living alone, I'm the only one who enjoys it but I still love to do it. Do you decorate for yourself or for family and visitors? I'd love to know!

Sheila

Scrapbook States!

You may have noticed by now that I really love maps, especially outline maps.




If you haven't noticed, there's plenty of proof here and here. There are so many amazing home decor projects on blogs out there but very few of them are possible for those of us renting. This isn't a huge project by any means, but could definitely add some color to plain beige, unpaintable, apartment walls. The secret? Removable glue dots. Those things are tiny dots of magic that hold forever and come right off when it's time to move on.

You will need:

Scrapbook paper, leftover scraps work great
a large map printout
scissors
removable glue dots

Print out your map. I believe the link included above is a public domain map. I printed it out over multiple sheets using Microsoft Paint because I'm high-tech. It seemed to work best printed in landscape, 3 sheets across and 3 down for a total of 9 sheets. Tape the 9 sheets together and cut out the large outline. I had to sacrifice Alaska and Hawaii in this... sorry.



Cut out each state from the big map and use as a guide to cut the state from the scrapbook paper. I didn't find it necessary to trace them beforehand. Helpful hint: As you cut out the states put them back together like a puzzle on a cookie sheet, it'll be much easier to transport them from your work space to the wall where you want to mount them. This whole process took about 2 hours, but I got distracted frequently. Thanks Netflix.



Add a glue dot or 2 to the back of each state and put 'em on the wall. I kept a quote on the wall with them for at least 9 months in my Montana apartment and when they came down they left no residue whatsoever. Not even a grease spot like sticky-tac tends to.


Basically, I hold a little bitterness to the New England area right now but I'll get over it.

If you invest in removable glue dots now, I've got some seasonal decorations coming up that will be able to use them as well ;) What are your favorite temporary decor projects? Any tricks up your sleeve for making a rented home feel homier? I'd love to know!

Sheila

Make Your Own Crayons

How wonderful was your Labor Day? I'm going to go ahead and assume. Pretty wonderful. My Mom came to visit me to explore Greenville and help me get my new place a little more put together. We accomplished a ton and somehow it seemed to create all the more work. 

It made me think of when I was home just a few short weeks ago and helping Mom prepare for the start of the school year with her new Kindergarten class. We just happened to take pictures of that adventure if you care to make your own crayons, for a classroom or yourself.





You Will Need:
-Lots of crayons, old ones that are broken or unused are the best kind. Also, Crayola seems to melt the nicest.
-Molds, either candy molds or fun ice trays
-Empty clean soda cans

Start by peeling the old crayons using a knife down the wrapper. It's best to sort them by color while you're peeling them. It's fine to have a pretty broad spectrum of the same color but if you mix too many outside colors with this method the final color can turn out a little brown-ish. Break the crayons into smaller pieces.



After you're finished peeling and snapping crayons (which is oddly satisfying), fit as many crayons as possible into a soda can. Make sure the can is as full as possible or it will want to tip over when you place into a small pot of boiling water. This little hack makes what is essentially a disposable double boiler. Later as the crayons in the can start melting you can add any crayons that didn't fit into the can on the first go. It takes about 10 minutes or so to get the wax nice and melted. Make sure to use a pan that is not your favorite in case you accidentally get a little wax in there; it's not the easiest thing to wash off.



Mom collects blue apples and they are a part of her classroom theme so the blue apple crayons seemed like a perfect welcome gift for the new kindergartners. Once the wax melts, pour the contents of the can slowly into your chosen molds. Mom used an oven mitt at first but then decided the can wasn't actually that hot and just used her bare hands. I was too much of a pansy to touch it. I don't have that magic force field yet that moms get around their hands to protect from heat, etc.  The wax in the molds may start to dent slightly in the middle. That shouldn't matter, but if it bothers you pour in a tiny bit more wax to fill it. Put the molds in the freezer for about 20 minutes to let the wax harden.



Pop 'em out and you're done! If you get any spill over, it's best to let it harden and then gently trim it with scissors after the crayon has been removed from the mold. You can reuse the same can over and over for the same color. You probably shouldn't use whatever mold you used to make the crayons to hold food again...

We did this all the time when my sister and I were younger--Mom knows all the fun activity secrets. Have you ever made crayons before? Any other tried and true methods to share? I'd love to know!

Sheila

DIY Paper Towel Holder

Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was as lovely as mine. I spent lots of time getting things unpacked and watching some of my favorite movies at the same time. I've stayed a list of all the projects I want to make in the next few weeks. This little guy was at the top of my list since I expected it to be pretty easy. Surprisingly, it worked out just the way I planned. 

I love the way the paper towel holder turned out. It matches my kitchen perfectly, looks cute, and was at least $5 cheaper to make than it would have been to buy a brand new one thanks to coupons and sales.

You will need:
2 pre-cut wooden dowels, 1/2" diameter and 12" long
2 decorative knobs with the screws attached to the base (make sure they are small enough for a roll of paper towels to fit over)
2 wood screws, 1" to 1-1/2"
1 precut circle plaque, mine was 6" across
Drill
Wood bit to pre-drill
Normal bit that fits your wood screws



Start by pre-drilling the center of one end of the dowels. It was surprisingly easy to keep the drill straight while doing this. Drill in as far as the bit will allow so you can make sure there is enough space to screw in the knobs all the way.



Once the holes are pre-drilled, hand tighten the knobs into the holes. Also, make sure the knobs you pick are small enough that a paper towel roll can fit around it so you don't have to unscrew it every time you need a new role.



Next, mark out where you want the holder dowel to sit on the circle plaque and where you want the sheet stopper dowel to go. I used a new roll of paper towels to help me figure this out. Pre-drill those holes as well.



Carefully hold the dowel up to the plaque, doing your best to keep it sitting straight. Its very easy for the dowels to become crooked. Drill through the bottom of the plaque into the dowel tight enough that the screw sits flush on the bottom. Repeat for the second dowel.



That's it! It takes a little guess work and about 20 minutes to make. Then you have your own custom paper towel holder.

What do you think? Would you rather just buy something like this and be done with it or do you enjoy knowing you created it yourself? I'd love to know!

Sheila

P.S. my camera cord is currently M.I.A so all the pictures had to be taken on my phone. That's why they are even worse than usual. Growing pains!

Business Card Holders

It is possible to be simultaneously crafty and professional?

I found this wonderful tutorial to sew business card holders, which seemed like the perfect thing to make as I prepare to start my first big girl job this week. I changed mine from the original ever so slightly; Melanie from The Crafty Cupboard made a super helpful and thorough tutorial that you should definitely check out if you plan to make one. Ready to make your own?

You Will Need:

2 pieces of fabric 5-1/2” X 4-1/2”, one for the cover and one for liner

2 fabric pieces cut 2-1/2” X 4-1/2”

small hair tie

small button

sewing machine, or needle, thread, and perseverance
Mod Podge or thin cardboard (optional)

Start by sewing a double hem on one 4-1/2" side of each of the 2-1/2" X 4-1/2" pieces. Pin the 2 smaller pieces to the front of one 5-1/2" X 4-1/2" pieces. The hemmed sides should go towards the center. The larger piece used here will becoming the lining. You can use the same fabric for all of them, or whatever combination you'd like. Baste stitch around as close to the edges as you can (the original tutorial recommends 1/8" seam allowance) to tack the pockets onto the lining. You could skip this step, but I feel like it makes them a lot easier to work with.

Pin the other 5-1/2" X 4-1/2" piece that will be your outside cover, right side towards the stitched pockets. In the center of one 4-1/2" edge, feed the hair tie through. Leave about a third of the tie outside of the fabric; the part you just fed through will become the button hole.

Stitch around the edges with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving just enough space to turn everything right side out. The original tutorial used interfacing to add stability. I didn't have interfacing... I didn't want to go buy interfacing... So I didn't. Instead, I used a mixture of methods to add stability. One method was to cut a thin cardboard box into two rectangles that were just a little smaller than the card holder when measured together. After the fabric was turned right side out, I used the turning space to insert the cardboard inside the fabric and move it into each half. A stitch down the center kept them in place. The other option was to use a light coat of Mod Podge over the cover. Both worked well. Also, one time I totally forgot to do either and it still turned out pretty cute. There's really no way to lose.

Whatever stability method you choose, after you finish it stitch around the edges of the entire piece to close the turning hole and make a nice clean finish. Add a button to the opposite cover side from the hair tie. DO NOT make the same mistake I did and accidentally sew through the pocket when adding the button like a goof. I've had finer moments. A stitch down the center between the pockets finishes everything off.



It's a fun gift and a good way to use up scraps as well. I may have gotten a little carried away. Each one took less than an hour.





As soon as I press "publish," I'm getting in the car and heading out to start the moving process! Here's to the eight hour drive ahead *raises coffee in a toast-like gesture* Can't believe it's already time to say goodbye to my family again and hello to this next chapter of life.

Do you use business cards? What do you keep them in? Any fun suggestions? I'd love to know!

Sheila

P.S. Happy first day of school for so many! My Mom's kindergarten class starts today. I'm not sure if the kids could possibly be any more excited than she is.

Crochet Bottle Cozy

Happy Monday! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. Did you know yesterday was National Ice Cream Day? We celebrated with an ice cream “tour” of Columbia, making stops at locally owned ice cream places like Paradise Ice and Rosewood Dairy Bar. I may not want ice cream again for a while, but it sure was fun at yesterday. There are few things better than sitting on a hot summer day holding a cold ice cream cone. Maybe the next best thing I can think of is holding a cold drink. Until it becomes a warm drink. So make this cozy to keep that from happening! (Smooth transition, right?)

I’m not much for writing or using crochet patterns to be honest. Usually I just try to start making whatever I have in mind; either it works or it fails miserably. This is my learning style. Then I adjust accordingly. There could potentially be MANY mistakes in this pattern, so please, please tell me if you attempt to make it and run into trouble.

A few things to keep in mind:

You can get a refresher of the basics here.

A slip stitch is usually used to finished a row without adding height and is very easy to do. Insert hook, yarn over, and pull all the way though so the yarn you just picked up is the only thing loop left on your hook. 

To turn your piece, you literally just turn it around. Not the hook but the project, so that you are working on top of the stitches you just recently finished heading the other direction. Maybe some hardcore crocheters do it differently, but this has always worked fine for me. 

Crocheters are lazy when it comes to writing down patterns and frequently use abbreviations. Below are the ones I will use, which are standard terms.

            1. ch = chain stitch

            2. sc = single crochet

            3. dc = double crochet

            4. sl = slip stitch

            5. st = stitch

            6. *repeat everything inside these the amount indicated*

I’ll start by writing it out, but eventually switch to the abbreviations once the lazy factor kicks in. Oh, and I used worsted yarn (Red Heart Super Savers yeahya), size 5.5 (or I-9) hook, a yarn needle, and about 8" of ¼ inch thick ribbon. Let's do this!

Row 1: Chain 3

Row 2: Double crochet 8 in the 3^rd stitch from hook, slip stitch to first stitch

Row 3: Chain 2, double crochet 2 in each stitch around, slip stitch (18 stitches)

Row 3: Chain 2, *dc 2 in first stitch, dc 1 in next* continue this around the circle. Slip stitch. (27 st)

Row 4: Single crochet in each stitch.

This is should make the base of your cozy. Now it’s time to build upwards.

Row 5: Dc on just the top half of stitches around. This will create the “walls” of the  cozy. Slip stitch to join (27 st).

Row 6-12: *Ch 2, dc in each stitch, join with sl st.* There is no need to turn yet. Unless you really want to.

Row 13: Ch 2, dc around but do not join. When you get to the start of the row, instead of joining you will turn.

Row 14: Ch 2, head back in the opposite direction with dc around, when you get to the end, turn.

Row 15: Ch 2, dc around, when you get to the end of this row you’re done! Tie it off and use a yarn needle to weave the ends.

Use the same yarn needle to weave in a thin piece of ribbon in the top row. The ribbon can be tied around the bottle to make sure it stays in place.

Now you have the week to work on this so it's ready for your next adventure. BTdubbs I chose garnet and black because those are Gamecock colors so the roomie can use this for tailgating when football season starts back up and be the cool kid at the party. Because that's what using crocheted goods in public makes you.

What is your summer beverage of choice? More importantly, what are your team colors? I'd love to know.

Sheila :)

PS. We accidentally discovered this same pattern fits perfectly around a regular sized plastic water bottle. Two for one!