Rectangle Rug

My mom likes to make round and oval rugs.

Very nice. Machine wash when they get dirty. They will last for years.
To get them to lie flat, she has to increase evenly, every round, all around for round rugs and on the ends for oval rugs.
Easier to make is a rectangle rug.
Chain as long as you want the rug to be wide. Much as I start a bag.

For shoulder bags, I start with 11 ch. For a rug, I'm going to start with a 2 foot long chain. I will work rows until it is about 3 feet long, so the rug will measure 2 feet by 3 feet. I think I'll use dc instead of sc. I think it goes a little faster. I'm not going to use all the same color bags. I want stripes. I don't know how many bags it will take to make adequately wide stripes. This is another experiment. It's also going to take some time. Progress reports to follow...

Carrying Strap

This will be an experiment. I remember as a child, seeing pictures in older books of children carrying books with a strap wrapped around the books. This was before backpacks became so common on campuses.
I find myself carrying my flute and so much else all too often. It came to me today how much easier this would be to carry if I had straps to throw over my shoulder!
Using plarn and an H hook, chain 11, turn, sk first ch st, sc in next 10 ch sts.
Following rows: ch 1, turn, 1 sc in each st. 10 sc in each row.
Repeat until the strap is your desired length.
I think 55 inches would be good for me.
Being careful to not twist the strap, join the ends using sl st.
Update to follow on how well it works.....

Durable Crochet

This time last year, I was crocheting frantically to finish projects for my decorating or for gifts.

 Each project I finished gave me great satisfaction. When I give an item, the recipient always seems happy to have one of my creations. A friend told me just a few days ago that she's still happily using an angel as part of her Christmas decorations that I had made over 15 years ago for her. Additional proof, if needed, that carefully made items can be enjoyed for years to come.

 So, I have plenty of decorations, no need to make more.

 I'll just get out the items I've made over the last 30 years and enjoy them again.

 I might need a few more angels, since I tie them on presents, hopefully to decorate someone else's tree.

All those hours spent are now paying dividends.

 I can enjoy decorating using items made over the years. In fact, I've almost reached the point of wondering WHERE to display everything.

 Notice all the pineapples?

 A few items aren't pineapple patterned.

This doily is one I had made for my mother in law. When she passed away, it came back to me. She had put it out every year. Now I will do the same. At some point, it will go to one of my children to be enjoyed for many more years.

Patterns are Suggestions

 Have I said how much I like pineapples? I'm sure it's because my grandma who taught me to crochet had crocheted items in the pineapple pattern all over her house. It was just how she decorated. I thought it was elegant. Grandma's house is always special. I've made 3 of this afghan pattern, for my brother, my daughter and myself. Pineapple is also the traditional symbol of welcome. Afghans and doilies of the pineapple pattern say "welcome" to your guests.

A close-up of the pineapples.
Lovely. That's enough practice with the pattern. Time to change it!

So, a shawl. That was an easy change. Start with 1 bottom point instead of 8 and increase on both sides. I'm still getting compliments on this.

 Modesty panel.

This is nearly the same as the shawl, just smaller and in thread instead of yarn.

 The cape. This took lots of thread.

It was worth all the time. I felt elegant at my son's wedding. Yes, I have a crazy family.

Here's a wrap from a yarn wrapper I want to make. It's called: wrap with slits. I'm using off white yarn so I can wear it with anything. I started with 4 bottom points from my afghan pattern. That's a few inches wider than this pattern calls for. It's still half the width of the afghan. This calls for more rows than the afghan, but it also calls for hdc instead of dc, so we'll just have to see. Progress reports/updates to come.....