Plarn Basket

I like having my wip in baskets. It is neater and I feel so organized. So, here are two ways to make granny square plarn baskets.
For the first way, make 5 granny squares, 1 for the bottom, and 4 for the sides.
www.crochetingwithval.blogspot.com/2014/06/granny-square
They all need to be the same size. So, decide how big you want the bottom, and how tall you want the sides. You could make it taller by putting another row of 4 granny squares over the first row of 4.
To join, you have 2 choices. For a tighter join, use slip stitches.
www.crochetingwithval.blogspot.com/2014/06/finishing-off-slip-stitch-joining
For a more open join:
www.crochetingwithval.blogspot.com/2014/06/granny-square-afghan
The second way to make the basket has no joins and is worked entirely in rounds.
Ch 4(starting chain, dc). Dc in 4th chain from hook (starting chain). Ch 2, 2dc in starting chain. Ch 2, 2 dc in starting chain. Ch 2, 2 dc in starting chain. Ch 2, join with sl stitch to first dc (ch 4 of beginning chain). 4 dc and 4 ch 2 spaces.
Start spiral. Ch 1, sc in same space as joining. 2 hdc, ch 3, 3 dc in same space. 1st corner. Ch 2. 3 dc in next space. Ch 3, 3 dc in same space. 2nd corner. Ch 2. In next space, work 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. 3rd corner. Ch 2. In next space, work 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. 4th corner.
Ch 2. In space between the hdc and dc (1st corner), work 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. Ch 2. In next space, work 3 dc, ch 2. In space of 2nd corner, work 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 2. In next space, work 3 dc, ch 2.
Continue working 1 3 dc groups in the side spaces with 2 chains on either side. And working 2 3 dc groups in the corner spaces with 3 chains between them.
Continue working the spiral until the bottom is the size you want.
This has been increasing so the bottom would lie flat, but now, to get the sides to curve up, you have to stop increasing.
Now, in every space around, work 3 dc, ch 2.
When it is tall enough, you can add handles, unless you want to just use the holes of the pattern for finger holes.
www.crochetingwithval.blogspot.com/2015/05/plarn-basket-tote-tray
Or just finish it off by tapering down:
In next space, work 3 hdc, ch 2. In next space, work 3 sc, ch 2. In next space work 2 slip stitches, finish off.

Special Stitch: Picot

The picot stitch is generally used in the edging row.

It adds visual interest. I have slightly changed how I make picots from how the patterns usually are:
Ch 5, sc in fifth ch from hook. Somehow, I never liked how that looked.
So, instead, in this case, I would ch 5, sc in same stitch (sc or dc) where the chain started.
In other words, I will work the edging row per the pattern, until I come to the picot, work the number of chains it calls for, work another sc in the same stitch as the last sc before the chain, then continue the edging row. Some of these edging rows have loops instead of picots. Instead of sc in same stitch as beginning of chain, the pattern will say to skip some stitches. Longer chains will generally skip more stitches.

These bigger loops are used for joining strips together. They also give me the perfect place for toothpicks when I'm blocking a finished project.

Just my opinion, but I think picots in the finish edging look elegant.

I have enough lead time to make:

a crocheted Nativity set.
My daughter-in-law asked for this in November, I knew there wasn't enough time before Christmas at that point, and sadly I told her so. Then, my daughters saw it and wanted it, too! Well, it is too cute for words, and I want a set, too!
The pattern (and pictures) is at:
www.5littlemonsters.com
Posted on November 13, 2015, titled: crocheted Nativity set.
I like that the pieces are small and can (mostly) be made with left over yarn. I did buy some special colors. I didn't think my yarn colors would be bright enough for the Magi. I haven't found grey for the donkey, either. Who knows? I haven't dug all the way to the bottom of my left over yarn bags!
One other change: I use B B's for weights. I make the little bags as she said, but I use B B's to fill them. I'm not sure I'll make the star to be free-standing, either. I may fasten the dowel to the back of the stable.....
I have to get more of the set made before I decide.
Four Nativity sets added to my list of works in progress.......

Special Stitch: Cluster

 Whenever I've seen the cluster stitch in a pattern, it's been explained at the beginning of the pattern. Usually because there are minor variations from pattern to pattern, e.g. dc or trc, 2 or 3 stitches in a space. You can see it best here in the closing of the shells around the larger hearts/pineapples.

The border I put around the scarf makes the cluster stitch at the top end of the scarf harder to see.

 With no edging, it's much easier to see (on the right).

Here is a sample of cluster stitch directions:
*YO, insert hook in next ch 2 sp. YO and pull up a loop. YO and draw through 2 loops on hook. YO, insert hook in same sp. YO and pull up a loop. YO and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * once more. YO and draw through all 5 loops on hook.
It's easier with the doily in your hands. After a couple of times, it's very easy. Different patterns may vary slightly.

This doily uses bobble stitches for the (red) Holly berries. Different stitch. I don't like it and have avoided patterns which call for it.

Pineapple Wrap: Finished

I really do enjoy finishing a crochet project. I finally can see just how gorgeous all my hard work is. I must also enjoy starting new projects, since I start so many!
This started as a wrapper project.

First change: color. I made it in white.
Second change: stitches. I based it on my pineapple afghan.

Third change: size. Finished size: 96 x 19. Pattern suggested size: 80 x 14.
The afghan has 8 bottom points. The wrap has 4 bottom points.
I bought 2 14 oz skeins. I have just a little bit left of the second skein. I used worsted weight yarn and a size I hook.
The pattern says to make all the bottom points before joining and working rows. You have to mark the right side so that the first row across is always worked on the same side.
I make the first one, don't finish off so that when I've made the second one, I can join immediately.
I had made 2 1/2 pineapples on the outside strip when I started the slits. I worked over 2 strips for the outside. 23 rows made a long enough slit. So I fastened the other skein on and worked over 3 strips for 23 rows for the middle. Fastened off and worked 23 rows over the last 2 strips for the outside of the other slit.
Then I worked across all 7 strips until it was long enough to wrap nicely around me. The outside strips of pineapples are 15 pineapples long. Finally, I was able to finish the 4 points of the longer strips of pineapples.
Much as I want to start another project, and I have yarn/plarn for several, I really do need to finish some others......

Round Ripple Baby Blanket: Finished

This wasn't meant to be one of the blankets for nieces and nephews and my children. I still need 8 more of those. I need to get busy on those, there are now 5 married couples in that group who haven't yet started their families!
No, this is for our orchestra director's granddaughter, who is due in July.
www.crochetingwithval.com/2014/05/ripple-afghan-pattern.html
I'm always glad to finish another project.

I'm also glad when the recipient seems happy to have received something I've made.
Now, of course, I have fewer wip's, so I have to start something else. I've had the yarn for my February afghan for a couple of weeks. So....
Perfect pink, baby pink and soft white. In the same pattern I made for James and Diana.

With any luck, I'll finish it before next February.....

Plarn WIP Basket

It's not as if I don't have enough things to make. My daughters are always thinking up new things for me to make! This idea is thanks to my younger daughter. I have lots of bags piled up waiting to be made into plarn. Sadly, most are just a few of each color. I have a few projects which have been waiting months for more specific colored bags.

So, why not make some smaller striped baskets to hold other WIP? That will use some of those bags and hopefully make my piles of waiting yarn neater.
I've had a shopping bag of target bags in progress for almost a year. I pulled it out and put a partially finished baby blanket in it. Success! 2 projects neater!
Now, I'm going to make a round basket. Start the same as a scrubbie.
Keep going, working increases evenly until the round is big enough. 1 foot is a nice sized bottom of a basket. Then, work even until it's tall enough. If I want the basket to flare open a little more at the top, work a few increases every few rows. I can, but don't have to, add handles. Either in the style of shopping bags or in the style of the toilet top basket.

Then, a round of a contrasting color for visual interest, and I'll have a pretty solution for lots of different colored bags AND those messy WIP