Plarn Phone Caddy

This took 15 bags to make for my phone. Yours might need more or less, depending on the size of your phone. I have an android. I don't always remember to carry my phone outside when I'm gardening and I'm tired of missing calls.
Ch 4, turn, sc in second ch from hook and in next 2 ch. Ch 1, turn. Repeat rows of 3 sc, ch 1, turn until it's long enough for the width of your phone. For my phone, that's 12 rows.
Ch 1 working evenly, sc across the sides of the rows and ends. Don't join, just continue working sc around, just like the grocery bags. I needed 21 rounds to hold my phone.
Working down an outside front corner, sl st 5, ch 14, sl st 5 up the opposite outside front corner to make the flap holder.
To make a carrying strap, working across a short end, 3 sc. Work in rows, same as you did for the bottom until the strap is as long as you want. I made 140 rows. This makes a cross body strap and puts my phone just above my waist.
Making sure the strap is straight and not twisted and that after joining, you'll be working across the back, join with sl st to the other short end. Add another row, if needed.
Working across the top of the sc in rows (12 sc in each row for me), ch 1 at the end of each row, turn, to make a flap. This will go over the top and slide under the chain on the front to hold it closed. I made 12 rows.
It looks much like a small shoulder bag. Now, I'll always have my phone with me. It won't fall out of a pocket and start a "great phone hunt"! I won't set it down somewhere to have my hands free and forget where I left it. Being old as the hills, I remember having only a land line in the house attached to the wall by a cord. You always knew where it was, and that was the only place to make a call, so remembering to always keep my cell phone near is a new thing for me and I often forget.

How Many Hours a Day do I Crochet?

It varies. Since I don't have a job, you'd think I have 8 hours a day to crochet. Well, no. There's house work and yard work and gardening and reading.....
4 to 7 hours is closer to how much time I have for crocheting. Sometimes less, rarely more as I do get bored. My daughter says I have project ADD. I have trouble saying how long it takes to make any one thing because I don't work on any ONE project non-stop.
Plarn projects take a little bit more time since I have to cut the bags and fasten the loops together before I can crochet. Obviously, scrubbies are faster to make than shoulder bags, which are faster to make than grocery bags.

I've found that the coasters to the Pineapple Parfait set are slow going since I'm using a size 3 hook instead of a 00 hook. I can't crochet as quickly with the smaller hook. They are smaller than most doilies I make, so they can still be made in fewer hours-about 6.
I can crochet really fast with yarn and a size I or J hook, but afghans need so many stitches to make that they take weeks or months to make.

How much I crochet in any given time frame is relatively easy to answer in term of hours, but has too many variables (size of yarn and hook, size of project) to be answerable in terms of projects finished.

Plarn Sandals

The sole of these Sandals is the same pattern I use for house slippers. Patterns are just suggestions!
Ch 11, turn, sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. 10 sc.
Ch 1, turn. Sc in next 5 sc, inc in next sc, sc to end of row. 11 sc.
Ch 1, turn. Sc evenly across. 11 sc.
Repeat previous 2 rows, increasing in every other row until sole is wide enough. I do a lot of trying on to get a custom fit.
Work several rows even, until it is long enough to be nearly to the wider part of your foot.
For the next set of increases, at the ball of the foot, increase in the 3rd st from the edge, every other row, until it is wide enough for your foot.
You may need a few more rows of working even to get it long enough.
When it is long enough for your littlest toe, start decreasing every other row, in the 3rd st from the edge.
To fit my size 7 feet, I made it 38 rows long.
Ch 44, join at other side of last row with a sc to make a loop for over the top of foot.
Sl st in the sides of the next 4 rows, ch 42, finish off.
At other side of the same row, attach plarn with a sc. Ch 42, finish off.
Count down 9 rows, attach plarn with a sc. Ch 45, finish off.
At other side of the same row, attach plarn with a sc, ch 45, finish off.
On one side of beginning row (at the heel), attach plarn with a sc, ch 96, finish off.
At other side of the same row, attach plarn with a sc, ch 96, finish off.
These chains are enough to tie bows over my feet, you may need more or less for your feet.
Using the shortest chains, nearest the toe, wrap the chains around the 44 chain loop, tie in a bow.
Using the next set of chains, in the middle, wrap the chains around the 44 chain loop, tie in a bow.
The chains at the heels are long enough to wrap around my ankles from back to front to back to front and tie in bows. Yours don't have to be as long if you don't want so many wraps around your ankles.
Customize your Sandals! You could put flowers or beads on the chains, whatever strikes your fancy. Patterns are just suggestions!

Plarn scrubby

I used a size H hook to make these and didn't use all the strips from 2 bags. If you wanted to use a larger hook, or put more rounds on for a bigger scrubby, you would need more plarn. This size is good for my hands. Remember, patterns are suggestions!!
Ch 5, sl st in first ch to make a loop.
Work 10 sc in loop. I did not join any rounds.
Work 2 sc in each sc around.
*1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat from * around.
*1 sc in each of next 2 st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat from * around.
Sl st in next 2 st. Finish off and work in end.
These 4 rounds worked up to just under 3 inches. They are also the way my mom starts round rugs.

Finish off with a couple of slip stitches to look more even. Obviously, this takes a lot more rounds and more plarn! Just be sure to continue increasing evenly so the rug lays flat.
Of course, plarn items are machine washable, air dry.

You're only limited by your imagination, which means there are no limits. Let your imagination run wild and make something uniquely yours!

My Post-RAGBRAI Week

I am very glad to be home. A week of sleeping in a sleeping bag has made me quite thankful for my bed. A week of porta-potties and paying for cold showers has made me appreciate the comforts of my home.
While I did crochet last week, I feel that I've accomplished much more this week at home.
I finished the red, white, and blue coaster I started last week. It's about 6 inches in diameter, which sounds large for a coaster, but it's quite nice under a coffee mug.
I finished another round ripple baby blanket. Now I have 3 finished ready for the 3 couples in my close family who are married, but haven't yet started their family. I have another well underway, because a nephew is planning an October wedding.
Now, as we all know, I can't seem to be able to finish anything without starting another project. So, my new project is another pineapple table runner in white for my daughter who just bought a house.
I also started a yellow coaster and have made 2 more wine cork cat toys. I need 6 more for the cats in my close family.
It's been a busy, enjoyable week.