Free Pattern--Looks Knit Crochet Kindle Cover

Full disclosure...I fell in love with Mamachee's Can't Knit Cowl pattern. It was just beautiful and genius way to use crochet to appear knit. Please go check out her Ravelry store, linked above, she's a very talented pattern writer! Her pattern is the inspiration for this pattern.

This pattern has NOT been tested, if you find any errors, have suggestions, or what not please leave a comment or drop me a line over at Ravelry.

Materials:
Acrylic worsted weight yarn. I used Vanna's choice.
G Hook

Gauge:
I don't do gauge. I know, cardinal sin. I'm just too lazy. This cover is based on a Kindle Touch. Finished cover measures 5 1/4 inches x 7 1/4 inches. Adjust for your kindle. Go up a hook size for a less tight stitch, use a lighter weight yarn for a looser stitch. Experiment as how you see fit!

Stitches:
hdc: half double crochet
slst: slipstitch


Notes:
After Round 2, you work in a spiral, in one continuous round. Majority of this pattern is written in 3rd LOOP of the hdc stitch. Please see photos below.

Round 1: Ch 23, hdc in 3rd chain from hook. hdc across, slst in beginning chain and slst in next chain (the base of starting slipknot.

Round 2: Ch 2, hdc in same st, and working on opposite side of the foundation row, hdc across and slst in last chain. In other words, you are crocheting on the opposite side of the starting chain. This makes the base for your cover.

Round 3-27: DO NOT join, hdc in 3rd loop of next stitch. (SEE PHOTO)

Continue on in this fashion, around and round. The first few rounded curves can be a little tricky. Continue on, even if it looks a little wonky, it will start to look like a tube. You don't have to keep strict count, you can easily count your rows by counting the "knit" rows. If you choose to change colors, continue on for however many rows of one color you want. I used six rounds of gray before switching to blue.

I did 6 rows of gray, 6 of blue, 6 of gray, 6 of blue. Try to change colors in the same spot, on the "back" of the cover, so the color change isn't too noticeable.

When you reach the 26th row (or whatever row is as tall as you want for your kindle), you'll be attaching the elastic for the closure. An elastic hair band works great!

Row 26: hdc until you are about in the middle of the BACK of the cover. Crochet OVER the elastic ponytail for 3-4 stitches. (see photo)

Continue around for one last row of hdc in the 3rd loop until you reach the 'start' point on the back. Slst into the last stitch.

Sew on a button on the FRONT of the kindle cover to hook the elastic on. Where you put your button will vary. I put mine in the 2nd row of the top blue section. I didn't want the elastic to pull too tight, as my son is very rough on things and this one is for him.

Alternative closures:
Instead of an elastic hairband, chain a long chain, attach where the elastic was, and use it to wrap around and around the button.

Add a flap of regular hdc, leaving space for a button hole.

Add a snap.

Add two lengths of chained yarn, no button and make a tie.
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That's it! You're done! I love the look of the 3rd loop stitch and it's soft, squishy and very protective for your electronic devices.

This pattern can be adapted for many other things! It would make a super comfy hot water bottle holder, an ice pack holder, a bag to be felted, etc. This stitch is very versatile and super easy.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, corrections!!

Enjoy!!
~~Amy

Finish It Friday

Finished the September Crochet A Long in my Ravelry group. If you'd like to join us, it's not too late :)

I have only done the one so far, as I don't celebrate Halloween so the apple was the best choice for me.

Can't believe we're already IN September. Time is FLYING!

Happy Fall Y'all!

What's on your hook??~~Amy

Getting Excited for Fall

Oh I can feel it....I can sense the change in the air...fall is coming. Today we had a cool front and it was a little taste of fall heading our way. Usually we get a few 'teases' of fall, so we could be in the upper 90's again next week, but I'm going to enjoy this weather while I can! We let the windows down, air out the house, and get outside!! We can suddenly enjoy a bike ride, swinging, playing outside, without feeling like we'll die of heat exhaustion. The heat down here truly is an entity of itself, an angry demon you don't mess with. You avoid it with air conditioning and wait it out.

Fall means Saints football is back, and although that makes me a football widow because my husband watches EVERY SINGLE GAME he can, I enjoy a good game. Fall means a chance to wear and use the crochet things I make! Fall means leaves changing, apples, pumpkins, Thanksgiving is soon! I LOVE FALL!!

So, I've got my windows down, yarn out and enjoying it!

Even my guinea pigs love the cool weather!

Enjoy it!!
~~Amy

I Am Alive....

PHEW. Sorry I went MIA. First I went back to work (which should be ending soon!) and then we had good ol' Hurricane Isaac wreck havoc on us for a week or so. But we are back home, getting life back together. I have a lot of catching up to do at work, in the business and at home but we're here, safe and sound!

What's new in Mama World? Well, first off, HOW did it get to be SEPTEMBER?? I mean, whaaaat?

Secondly, YEAH ITS SEPTEMBER! That means cooler weather is coming, football and Thanksgiving is just two months away!! I love fall, however short it is here!

I've been trying to create at night after the day job is done, the kids are in bed and the man is occupied. I had hoped to be plunging full on into my business when school started, but this temporary job came up. I knew they needed my help and hey, who doesn't want a few extra coins? :)

So I've been crocheting at night, and FINALLY finished the Mario Granny Square blanket! It's so cute. I still have to edge it and back it with a cotton. Oh and tie off a gazillion strings...

Yes, each "pixel" is one 4 inch granny square. Yes, I am insane, thank you.

I also made this cute little weenie dog. The lovely Scotti at Inner Hooker found it and we could NOT find the pattern anywhere. (Though we truly wish the creator had written one, we SO would've bought it.) So I dabbled a bit with existing amigurumi patterns and came up with Andrew, the Weenie Dog :)

I'm tweaking the pattern more and making it easier and more consistent and working on that, slowly, surely.

I also finished up a pillow cover based on the Summer Garden pattern from Lucy of Attic24. It's lovely and is a great late summer addition to my house :)

What have you been up to? Make sure you do something every day that makes you smile!

~~Amy

WIP Wednesday

I'm slooooooooooowly making progress on my Mario Granny Square blanket. Slowly pecking away at it. Getting there!

Hope to finish him soon, work on some of the granny stripe blankets and start a Yoshi blanket for my other son :) This pesky day job is kinda slowing me down :)

~~Amy

Finish It Friday

Finished up the buttermint cowl!!

I also finished up a little jar cozy for pens/pencils for my temporary work desk :)

Have you finished up anything fun lately??

~~Amy

WIP Wednesday

This week's WIP is another version of the cowl from Frayed Knot...I loved it and had to try it in my favorite yarn EVER...Chroma by Knit Picks. I had some of this one left and am giving it a go :)

Isn't that yarn yummy??? I seriously could just fondle Chroma all day long....

Finish It Friday

Flowers on a Rainy Day....

Made a few flowers, several for hair clips for a photo shoot for my niece, and the rest just for fun :) It was pouring while I made these, but they're a bright little fun piece on a stormy day!

~~Amy

Crochet, Colors, Humor and Fun...

I'm a secret blog reader. I don't have time to read a ton, but when I do, these are the ones I choose. They're a mix of all that makes life, well life.

Here are some blogs I LOVE that inspire me and make me smile. (or cry sometimes.)

Attic 24. Lovely blog of crochet, color and life in the UK. She has great, easy to follow patterns also in my fave style..the granny.

Crocheting With Raymond. Again fun colors, a cute cat, and awesome patterns.


The Bloggess. Seriously, she had me Beyonce' the chicken. Do not read her blog or book if you are in a social situation where it is inappropriate to laugh out loud.


This is Not That Blog. Funny-ness in Cartoon form.

Diary of a Mad Woman. Raw, Serious, Funny, Sad, Joy....this local woman is my hero.

Kevin and Amanda. I want to hate them, I do. They're so cute. And crafty, and pretty. But I can't, I just can't.

YoungHouseLove. Another couple I want to hate. But I can't. I take solace in these 'perfect' bloggers that they aren't perfect and are merely showing us the side of life that hides the boogers wiped on walls by your small people.

Smashed Peas and Carrots. A lovely mama who I have had the pleasure of "meeting" online and her blog is one that makes me happy and want to find joy in parenting. And Congrats Maggie on the new carrot!! :)

Yarn Harlot. Funny, yarnie humor. And I still like her even though she's not a hooker.

Stark.Raving.Mad.Mommy. She makes being a mom of a special needs child fun and awesome.

The Peaceful Mom. Proof you do NOT need to be a gazillionaire to make it work.

There are many more I like and I wish I got to read all these all the time but I don't. I skim when I can, catch up when I can, but I can always go there for inspiration, a laugh or smile.

What do you read when you are in need of inspiration? Or need a laugh??

Free Crochet Pattern--Easy Coaster

Here's another freebie for you. Nothing new, fancy or earth shattering, just a little coaster for your coffee :)

COFFEE COASTER
©Amy Dutsch

G Hook
Cotton yarn

Pattern worked in ROUNDS, do not turn.
Terms Used:
ss=slip stitch
st=stitch
sc=single crochet
dc=double crochet


Round One: Ch 3, 11 dc in 1st ch. SS to join. Pull yarn to tighten center.

Round Two: Ch 3, 2dc in each st around. SS to join with starting ch.

Round Three: Repeat Round Two.

(If you want a bigger coaster, repeat round two again)

Round Four: Ch 1. 1 SC in each st around. SS to join with Chain.

 

Round Five: Ch 1. SS in each st around. SS to join with Ch. Finish off and weave in ends.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or corrections!!
~~Amy

Free Crochet Pattern--Easy Washcloth/Dishcloth

We're doing washcloths for the CAL/KAL that I created over on Ravelry so I thought I'd take a stab at one since I hadn't found a nice, quick, simple pattern in half double crochet (so far).

EASY WASHCLOTH



Terms Used:
ss= slipstitch
st= stitch
sc= single crochet
hdc=half double crochet

©Amy Dutsch 2012

G Hook (Or preferred hook size)
Cotton Yarn  (I used "I Love This Cotton")


Ch 22
hdc in 3rd ch from hook and 1 hdc in each st across
ch 2
turn
*1 hdc in each st across
ch 2
turn*
Repeat from * for 13-14 rows (until desired size)

ch 1 and  sc around all edges of the cloth, fudging as you go. Do 3 sc in each corner for a more rounded appearance.

OPTIONAL:
At last corner (meeting where you started) ch 20 and ss into same corner to make a hanging loop for the cloth. ss into next st for security , finish off and weave in ends.

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If you have any tips, suggestions or corrections please drop me a line on Ravelry.