Craft #17 - Frilly Preemie Dress --Completed!

It's finally finished!!! It is so detailed, and I had to keep taking parts out while I was making it up.  All I can say is it had better be proportionally correct. Is "proportionally" a word? Maybe it's just spelled wrong,,, oh well, moving on to the long awaited pattern! :)

Frilly Preemie Dress
This pattern has been posted by Krafty-Lyn.  Please only use it for gifts, donation, or personal use. Thank-you.



Materials
Bernat Softee Baby yarn
D Crochet hook (can use E or F)
G Crochet hook (bump it up to an H if you choose an F for your smaller size.)
Ribbon - I used 1/8" width ribbon, but you may use something wider.

Using a a D crochet hook with this yarn yielded a dress that would fit a 20-22wk Preemie.  Use a larger hook with this yarn, or a larger hook and heavier yarn to make bigger sizes.


Chain 29
Row 1: 7 Single crochet. Sc in next ch. Chain 1 then Sc in same ch.  Repeat across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2: Half Double crochet up to first chain 1 space.  Hdc in ch1 sp. Ch 1 then Hdc in same stitch.  Hdc up to next ch1 sp. Hdc in ch1 sp.  Ch 1 then Hdc in same stitch.  Continue this pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Repeat two more times
Row 5: Hdc up to first ch 1 space.  Ch 2.  Slip stitch first ch1 sp to second ch1 sp.  Hdc up to 3rd ch1 sp.  SS third ch1 sp to fourth ch1 sp.  Hdc to end.  Ch 1 and turn.
Row 6: Hdc across.  Ch 1 and turn.
Row 7: Hdc in first st away from hook.  4 Hdc in next st. *Hdc in next st. 4 Hdc in next st.* Repeat pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 8: In back loops only, Hdc in first st away from hook.  *Skip 4.  Hdc in next two stitches (one in the last of the Hdc shell, one in the single Hdc).* Repeat pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Repeat Rows 7 &  8 once.
Row 11: 2 Hdc per stitch across.  Ch 1 and turn.
Row 12: 1 Hdc per stitch across. Ch 1 and turn.
Repeat Rows 7 & 8 once.
Row 15: Double Crochet in first stitch away from hook.  *3 Dc in next st. Dc in next st.* Repeat this pattern across.  Ch 1 and turn.
Row 16: In back loops only, Hdc in first st away from hook. *Skip 3. Hdc in next two stitches (once in the last of the Dc shell, once in the single Dc).* Repeat this pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 17: 2 Hdc in first st. *Hdc in next stitch. 2 Hdc in next st.* Repeat this pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 18: In back loops only, Hdc across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 19: In both loops, Hdc across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 20: In back loops only, Hdc across. Ch 1 and turn.
Repeat Rows 7 & 8 twice.
Row 25: 2 Hdc in first stitch. *Hdc in next three stitches. 2 Hdc in next stitch.* Repeat pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 26: Hdc in every stitch across. Ch 1 and turn.
Repeat Rows 7 & 8 once.
Row 29: DC in first st. *4 Dc in the next st, then one Dc in the following stitch.* Repeat this pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 30: In back loops only, Hdc in first st away from hook. *Skip 4. Hdc in next two stitches (once in the last of the Dc shell, once in the single Dc).* Repeat this pattern across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 31: Hdc in each st across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 32: In back loops only, Hdc in each st across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 33: In FRONT loops only, Hdc in each st across. Ch 1 and turn.

Edging:
Sc in first st.  *Ch 3. Sc in next st.* Repeat this pattern across. Ch 1. Do not turn! Work 45 sc up the edge. (***See note***)  Tie off & weave in end.  Attach yarn to bottom of other edge. Work 45 sc up the edge. Tie off & weave in end.

Sleeves (repeat this pattern for each sleeve)
Round 1: Attach yarn to the bottom middle of the sleeve opening. Work Sc around the opening.  SS to beginning and ch 1.
Round 2: 2 Sc in each Sc around. SS to beginning and ch 1.
Round 3: 4 Hdc in first st. *Ch 1. Skip 1. 4 Hdc in next st.* Repeat this pattern around. SS to beginning and ch 1.
Round 4: In back loops only, Hdc in first skipped Sc stitch in previous row. *Ch 1. Hdc in next skipped Sc stitch in previous row.* Repeat this pattern around. SS to beginning and ch 1.
Switch to a larger hook (I went from a D to a G)
Round 5: Sc in each space around. SS to beginning and ch 1.
Round 6: Hdc around. Skip last st. SS to beginning and ch 1.
Rounds 7-18: Repeat Round 6 until you have 16 stitches in your round (not including the SS or ch1).  You should be down to 16 stitches by round 9 or 10.  Continue the rest of the rounds without skipping the last stitch.
Edging: In each stitch around: Sc, ch2, Sc (all in one stitch). SS to beginning. Tie off and weave in ends.

Weave ribbon through the dress in between the first two ruffles (row 8).  Leave plenty (6-8") of ribbon to tie a bow for closure (you can have the dress look like it ties in the front OR the back)

***Note*** You may want to ch 6 at the end of the edge and ss it to the same stitch for use as a button hole. Attach a button to the opposing side so you can button the top part closed.  Otherwise, you can just tie the top closed with ribbon.


Please- if you ever have any questions about my patterns (like if they're unclear or you think I might have made a typo), let me know! Thanks. :)

Craft #13 - Felted Crochet Yarn Caddy --Completed!

This was a gift for my sister, so I couldn't post it until I gave it to her.  I used a beach tote bag pattern that I found on CrochetPatternCentral.com, and made a few alterations to make it work for my idea.  First of all, I used Paton's Classic Wool with a size H-USA crochet hook.  I also started with 12 dc in the ring instead of 8, and followed the the rest of the pattern.  That way when I felted the bag, it would be the right size.  In Round 9, I did a popcorn stitch every 4 dc.

Double Crochet Popcorn Stitch

YO, pull up a loop.  Repeat 3 more times so you have 9 loops total on your crochet hook.  YO and pull through all the loops..

I continued to throw in a few popcorn rows throughout the pattern to give it texture.

How did I felt the bag?  After finishing the bag and adding the wide strap, I put the bag in a wash load of towels.  I ran the Hot wash/Cold rinse cycle & extra detergent.  I checked the felting job every 5mins to make sure I wasn't overdoing or underdoing it.  By the time I took the bag out, the wash cycle was almost done anyway.  I then put the bag back in for the rinse cycle.  I dried the bag for 15-20mins on hot with the towels.  It did shrink a bit more in the dryer.  I am very pleased with the results.  The pictures aren't the greatest- I'm working on getting a better camera (probably a higher quality camera phone... like a Samsung Epic or HTC Evo Shift).  I forgot to snap a picture of the bag before I felted it, but here are a couple pics of the post-felting job.

Craft #4- Homemade Lavender Comfort Wrap --Completed!

I saw in the store one day that they were selling "Comfort Wraps" for $10.  It appeared to be just a long sock-like tube of lavender scented rice.  As tempting as it was to take the easy way out, I figured I could make one. 


Today I started by crocheting the cover.  I really wanted it to have the feel of yarn, but obviously you can't just stick rice in a crochet project unless it's been felted or lined.  I'm using Lion Brand Jiffy in Wine with a size K hook. 




Homemade Lavender Comfort Wrap
This pattern has been posted by Krafty-Lyn.  Please only use it for gifts, donation, or personal use. Thank-you.


Materials
Lion Brand Jiffy yarn
Crochet hook, size K
Fleece or flannel fabric
Needle & Thread (or sewing machine)
2lb bag of rice
Lavender Essential oil
6-12" of ribbon


Crochet

Ch 15, SS to beginning to form a ring, Ch 2
Round 1: HDC around. SS to beg. and Ch 2
Round 2 & on: Repeat Round 1 until desired length.  Turn your project inside out.  Using a yarn needle and left-over yarn, close one end with the wrong side out.  Turn your project right side out.




Lining

Measure the width of your Crochet section.  Cut your fabric 2x as wide minus 1" and the length of the crochet project minus 1".
Fold fabric lengthwise with the wrong side facing out. 
Sew along the long edge with a 5/8" seam allowance.  Leave the top open to put the rice in.  Turn your fabric right side out.


Rice
Pour rice into a large bowl.
Sprinkle lavender scent and mix well.


Option 1:
Put your fabric pouch into the crochet pouch.  Using a funnel, fill the tube with rice to the desired stiffness.  I like mine completely filled but still floppy.


Option 2:
Using a funnel, fill the tube with rice to the desired stiffness.  I like mine completely filled but still floppy.  Pull the crochet pouch over the fabric.


Massage the rice around so it's nice and even.  Sew the top of the fabric closed.  Weave your yarn around the top of the crochet like a drawstring.  Pull it tight and tie a bow.



I recommend heating it up in no longer than 30 second segments, and for no longer than a total of 1.5mins.