A New Mug Cozy

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Crocheted Mug Cozy

I started out knitting a little dish cloth but I think knitting takes forever so I transferred this onto a crochet hook.

And looked at a picture of a mug cozy I liked and made this:

I pulled it together at the bottom so now it sort of has it's own coaster.

Sorry I don't have a pattern for you.  I sort of made it up as I went along.

A beginner crocheter can do this.  I know because I'm am one!!!

Shirley

Crocheted Mug Cozy

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I Made It!!

I saw this pattern on line and decided to try it.  It was easy and I'm a beginner!  

It took me a couple hours one evening.

I'm sure it would be an hour project for veteran crocheters.

I think I'll make a couple more.

And also try to figure out how to make a tea pot cozy.

It turned cold and windy here again.  We had those couple freak days of 50 and 60 degree temps and now it's back to good ol' NE Ohio weather with snow.  Good weather for either baking or crocheting.

Since I've gained some unwanted weight, I think I should be just crocheting!!

Shirley

Crochet Challenged!

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I tried to learn to crochet on my own a couple years ago.

You can see my attempt here:  http://shirleys-world.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-funky-little-dishcloth.html

I sort of gave it up for awhile after that but I'm bound and determined to learn!

I think the winter and cold weather makes you want to make something "wool" and it feels so comfortable to think of sitting by the fireplace knitting or crocheting something you can actually use!

Well, I know how to knit.  I remember that from when I was a young teenager!  (A miracle in itself!)  I actually knit some baby sweaters and sweaters for me and my boyfriend at the time!!  But I think knitting takes forever and crocheting is supposed to be faster once you learn how.  It's that last part I'm a little concerned over.

I actually got this yarn and little pattern a couple years ago and never did anything with it.  So when I saw my basket of yarn that I had put away, I pulled it out and I'm going to try again.

It was bulky yarn with a "quick and easy pattern", so they say.

Things started out pretty good.  I have a couple books that demonstrate stitches that are super confusing, so I went to YouTube!  Much better.

Here's the picture of this warm winter cowl on the package that the yarn came in: 

I was using the wrong stitch to begin with but it started to look better when I changed.

See, it looks like it's coming along good, right!

Well, I should've stopped about 3 inches below that because it's only supposed to be 8 1/2 inches wide.

However, I had all this yarn left so I kept going.

One thing though . . . . I noticed it was getting narrower  so I decided to add stitches.  I really don't know for sure how to do that but I faked it and it certainly did!

 Now I had what looks like a little skirt!!!  Maybe for Rocky my dog!

I slipped it on and it goes down over my shoulders!

Well, I thought, this may be nice and warm in below zero temps!

You see, I have a real aversion to ripping things out  : ))

See, under my coat, you'd never know!!!!!!!!!!!

It's very warm!!!!!!!!

Shirley

I need some advice from crocheters!!

  

My Funky Little Dishcloth!

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What has possessed me to try to learn to crochet?? Well, I do know, it's Suzanne's blog: http://suzannemcminn.com/ It's called "Chicken's In The Road" and I read it everyday! She's like a very educated, wonderful writer, pioneer woman! Anyway, she's very, very INSPIRING. I'm going to bake real bread (with yeast and everything), make candles, make soap, learn to can, build a chicken coop and have chickens, make custard pie with all the eggs I'll have, raise goats, make cheese, raise sheep, learn to spin and oh yes, learn to crochet! (I already know how to knit.)

Well, I am starting with the learn to crochet part! It's not going as well as I thought. Everyone says it's easier to crochet than knit but I'm not finding this to be true! I don't understand the instructions even having gotten a "how to crochet" book for beginners. (with pictures) I finally went on YouTube and that helped a little. I'm a visual person! My first project is this little 9 inch square (supposedly) dishcloth with cotton yarn. Now, I cast on 40 stitches but after that first row I had no idea how many I had! (With knitting it's much easier to count. They are staring at you right on the needle!)

As you can see here, my little dishcloth looks like it got pregnant about a third of the way up the left side. Or maybe it's a goiter!!! I was up to at least 50 stitches, or whatever you call them. I fooled around till they started to decrease and go back to the normal size.

There's other funky stitches in there too. However, I hate to rip-out so there they are. After all it's for myself and it's a DISHRAG!!!!

I think this is the wrong side, if there is such a thing, but I learned to do this little ruffle on YouTube and it made it look a little better. (Why doesn't that row on the right match the others???)

Ruffles hide a lot I guess! I'm glad I learned that stitch!

Shirley