Broom Stick Cowl... How To...

A couple years ago I taught myself how to knit... and I have been addicted ever since!  Although my projects don't always make it to my blog, you can sneak a peek here, here, and here...  Recently, I picked up a crochet hook... and we've become fast friends... It is so much faster than knitting!  Over the last two months I have crocheted many gifts for Christmas(given away to fast for pics).  Now, I believe it is my turn to make something for myself!

Using a broom stick lace stitch.. and scrap yarn... I quickly made up this cowl...  Soooo cozy!!!

Here is my pattern (and broom stick stitch how to)if you want to create your own...

I used a size N crochet hook

Chain 37(bulk yarn)

or

Chain 73(worsted weight)

Row1- insert hook into second chain from hook, wrap yarn around three times, pull through stitch(chain) and leave on hook... repeat to end of row... Then slip all stitches off of your hook(see in pictures below), flip work so you can continue from the right side.

Row2- slip first four loops(stitches) onto your hook, work four single crochet stitches around the 4loops, pick up four more loops...and repeat to end of row... chain 1 and turn over work. (pics below)

Row3- work 1 single crochet in each stitch... repeat to end of row... chain 1 and turn over work.

***Repeat these 3rows until you have 18rows, or desired length... stitch ends together...

This pattern can be bigger or smaller depending on what size hook you use... to create different textures I crocheted 2stitches of a thinner yarn(gray yarn) into one of the bulky stitches(cream and black).

The width can also vary, as long as your number of stitches can be divided by 4...

 

Here is the broomstick lace crochet how to...



 Insert hook into stitch...

 Wrap yarn around three times...

 Pull wraps back through the stitch...

 Leave these wraps on your hook until you come to the end of your row...

 Slip loops(wraps) off of your hook...

 Turn work so you can continue from the right side...

 Slip four loops onto your hook...

 Work four single crochet stitches onto those loops...

 Pick up four more loops and repeat...

 Continue to the end of your row... chain 1 and turn your work...

Work 1 row of single chain crochet...
These three rows make up the broomstick lace... repeat until you've reached the desired length... remember to chain 1 in between rows...

Hopefully that helps...
Happy Crocheting!
***Jennifer

Handmade Gifts... Pencil Case...

My Daughter came to me the other day requesting ideas for a gift she could make for her friends...


My son of course piped up and said he wanted to make Christmas gifts too! 

Luckily, I had filed away on one of my Pinterest boards this great idea from... One Good Thing By Jillee... using recycled cereal boxes and cutting out nifty pencil cases...
You'll find more recycled cereal box crafts... (and download instructions/templates)... HERE...



This project was so easy and fast to make!  All you need for this craft is...
* a cereal box
*tape
*pencil
*scissors
*Velcro fasteners (I used sticky back dots)

You'll also need to print out the template from this link by makezine.com (just a side note... I found I had to add 1/2inch to the template to accommodate the pencils I planed to use in the finished case.  I added this by cutting the template in half, and then taped an extra 1/2inch piece of paper to the middle...)

Opening the cereal box and laying it flat, I was able trace out two pencil cases...  I made sure to score the dotted lines, it makes folding so much easier...

After following the simple instructions... these come together in a snap!  Love that you can use the printed side, or the cardboard side and add your own drawings...

My kids found this craft to be both easy and fun!  No whining involved... Which is a win my book.

We also had fun filling them with Christmas pencils and erasers...

They are going to have so much fun giving these to their friends...

 

I'm glad I took the time to do a craft together... It seems to often we are caught up in our individual activities.  As my kids get older I feel like time is running out!  I want to make as many memories as possible... and hoard them away for later when hanging out with Mom is no longer cool... and maybe someday they'll think back on their childhood say fondly "Remember when..."

Happy Crafting!

***Jennifer