Recycled Silk Tuck-Away-Tote

For my first quarter Fiber & Textile mod project on Lettuce Craft, I decided to run a Spring Greening Challenge.  The assignment was to craft an item that replaces a commonly used disposable version, such as dishcloths, cloth napkins, paperless-towels, etc. 

For my own contribution, I knew I wanted to make something out of a recycled yarn.  I dug through my stash and picked out a few cakes of Darn Good Yarn's silk blend sport weight yarn, in colorway Burgundy Blossom.  It's made from reclaimed sari silk and viscose. 

I searched Ravelry for a grocery tote pattern, and found this super cute Tuck-Away Tote pattern, that contains a pocket, that the tote can be folded up into!  You can easily tuck it away to carry in a purse or coat pocket. 

 The round pocket is positioned along the bottom of the tote.  I finished it off with a pewter Celtic button that I had in my stash. 

All tucked away, ready to go on a shopping trip.  ...whenever we're finally allowed to go out again!

Miniature Dragon Egg Dice Bags

These little wonders were created specifically for a challenge over on Lettuce Craft.  My friend PerfectlyBohemian, who mods the Art Board, challenged us all to miniaturize our favorite crafts.  Are you kidding?  You want me to Miniaturize My Craft?  Well buckle up Buttercup.  I've got a teeny tiny craft just for you!

 

When I saw this challenge, I was so intrigued with the idea, but I had no idea what to make.  After kicking around some ideas with crafty friends, I realized one of the things I'm known for crocheting is dragon egg dice bags.  And in my jewelry making stash, I just happened to have some itty bitty aluminum scales.

I whipped out my smallest crochet hook, and some lace weight silk yarn and got to experimenting.  My normal sized dice bags are made with 144 'small' sized scales, that each measure 14mm x 22mm (or 9/16" x 7/8"), and use #4 or Medium weight yarn and a 5mm crochet hook, and are finished with glass pony beads, about 1cm wide.  The finished full size bags measure 12cm tall (or 4.5").

The miniature bags were made with 27 'tiny' sized scales that measure 7mm x 11mm (or 1/4" x 7/16"), and used a #0 or Lace weight yarn and a 2.25mm crochet hook, and are finished with 4mm Swarovski crystal beads.  The finished bag measures 3cm tall and 2.5cm wide (or 1.5" x 1").

One of the only problems I encountered was that the hook didn't fit through the hole in the tiny scales.  The pattern I use for the full size bags calls for you to crochet through the scales, to attach them to the bag.  Since that wasn't an option here, I sewed them on.  I crocheted 2 rows beyond the row I wanted to add the scales to, then went back and stitched them, so that the thread wouldn't accidentally catch the yarn, or I wouldn't accidentally sew a stitch closed, that I needed to get a hook back into.

Each finished bag is about the size of a standard D20, though one doesn't really comfortably inside.  I knew that in order to display the tiny bags, they would need tiny dice.  But I was just not up for making itty bitty polyhedral shapes.  I felt sure that way madness lies.  So I picked up some 5mm micro dice from a maker on Etsy.  I adore how cute they are with my bags! 

Calypso Wrap

I recently whipped this up for a friend who is going through a rough time.  I had hoped the bright colors, reminiscent of the sunrise, might help brighten a dark time, and help her know that a new day is always on the horizon.  The pattern is the Calypso Shawl, and the yarn is Darn Good Yarn's Ombre Recycled Silk in Orange, Blue, and Purple.  The yarn is made from silk waste, that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Cozy Silk Slippers & Mitts to fit with Apple Watch

Been feeling a little under the weather lately, and a friend pointed out that I should try to be good to myself, and rest up.  So I put aside my monster afghan crochet project, and whipped up a cuddly pair of silk slippers just for me.  The pattern is called Silk Mer-Slippers by Miranda Nippert.  It was originally designed for Darn Good Yarn's Silk Roving Worsted Yarn in a colorway reminiscent of mermaids, and utilizes a shell stitch, hence the name Mer-Slippers.  I used the same yarn in Crimson Fire instead, because I had 5 skeins of it on hand.  This project busted nearly 2 skeins of it from my stash!  The pattern is very quick; I did the first slipper Thursday night while watching tv, and the second on Friday afternoon, while curled up with some GBBO on Netflix. Since I'm still feeling tired, I plan to spend the afternoon on the couch again, and might make a pair of fingerless gloves to match it.  Or I might nap.   :D

I just finished up a pair of mitts to match my new slippers!  I love fingerless gloves and mitts, but they are always problematic with my Apple watch.  I created a little window in the left mitt, so I can still access my watch screen while I wear them. 

From the Ashes Silk Shawl

I finished a quick little summer shawl!  The pattern is the From the Ashes Shawl from Rachy Newin Designs.  I started it when I was called home unexpectedly for a family funeral.  (The pattern name seems somehow appropriate for such an event.)  I wanted something very small to work on, so I took just 1 skein of the 3 used in the piece, and uploaded the pattern PDF to my kindle.  The yarn, a few stitch marker, and hook all fit in a little zippered pouch that I could tuck in my purse while traveling. 

The yarn is Darn Good Yarn's Sport Weight Silk in colorway Popsicle.  I received 1 skein of it as a selection of the month in their subscription yarn club.  Later I received a second skein as a promotion they were running where you could add a surprise to your subscription box for just $5.  Since I now had two, I picked up a third skein later, so I'd have enough to make something light and lacy.  It is such a dream to work with.  It glides across your skin, and whatever the detergent they use on the yarn smells pleasant, but not overwhelming.  I found myself sometimes sniffing my project.  Is that weird?  Wait, never mind.  It's totally weird, but I don't care.

As for the pattern, I initially had a bit of trouble with it.  The directions per row are a dense block of text, and even with the text size turned up on my kindle, it was easy to get lost within the paragraph.  I did the first 8 rows easily enough, but by row 10 I could tell something was off.  I frogged and restitched rows 8-12 a few times, not quite figuring out what was wrong, and getting a bit frustrated.  Finally I decided to walk away for a little while.  I took a nice shower, did a few errands, and had some lunch.  Lo and behold, when I got back to my parents house, there had been an update on the pattern, and it now had a diagram!  The diagram made all the difference, and I discovered that I had simply missed an asterisk in row 10, leading to 2 too many stitches.  It also made me realize how far I've come with reading crochet diagrams over text directions!

Elise Shawl in Turquoise Silk

This shawl was made for jemimah in the Use the Good Stuff Swap, on Craftster.  I LOVE the excuse to look through my treasured pieces in my stash, and make something lovely for someone who will truly appreciate it.  The pattern is the Elise Shawl, and is a free download on Ravelry.  When I first saw it, I was a bit intimidated, as it looks intricate, but after an initial setup of 6 rows, you repeat the same two rows over and over until you get the size you want, then add a simple picot border. 

The yarn is Darn Good Yarn's sport weight silk in Caribbean Current.  I decided I wanted to highlight the purple and deep teal splotches in it, so I added some iridescent glass beads along the final row, in the picots and the single crochet directly above the previous double crochet post.

Blocked it came to 44" across and 22" deep at the center back, and I finished with just 12" of yarn leftover!

Good Stuff Baskets

These baskets were made for jemimah in the Use the Good Stuff Swap on Craftster, hosted by craftylittlemonkey.  The idea of the swap is that life is short, so we should use the treasured craft supplies we would otherwise hoard, while we can. 

While digging through my stash of silk yarns, I came across these two bright skeins from two months worth of Darn Good Yarn's monthly subscription box.  I poked around Ravelry, trying to find some inspiration from other crafters.  I saw an awesome post from user marianheart, where she combined the same two skeins I was trying to, into some baskets, based on a pattern for a floor pouf. 

I decided I wanted to make something similar, and so I wrote my own pattern, using what I think is the same stitch (alternating spike stitch), but changing the base to one I've made a million times for bags and bowls.  I made a large and a small basket out of the two skeins, and would have made a medium sized one if I had more yarn.  The patterns for both the big & small, and the nonexistent medium size, are written out below. 

**LARGE BASKET**
Rounds 1-7: Start with the Begonia, and crochet in the round, with 6 sc increases per row. (42 sc at end of round 7)

Row 8: Change to Machu Pichu (without cutting previous yarn - the spike stitches and the abundance of colors in the yarns help hide the jog between rows, which will be on the inside of the basket).  Do a row of sc in **back loop only** to start the sides.

Row 9: Change to Begonia (without cutting previous yarn); do a row of [alternating spike stitch][1].

Row 10: Change to Machu Pichu (without cutting previous yarn); do a row of alternating spike stitch.

Row 11-22: Continue doing rounds of alternating spike stitch, changing colors without cutting yarn, in each row.  You will end with Machu Pichu.

Row 23: Add a round of [decorative slip stitch][2] in Begonia.

Finish off, weave in ends.

**SMALL BOWL**
Rounds 1-5: Start with the Begonia, and crochet in the round, with 6 sc increases per row. (30 sc at end of round 5)

Row 6: Change to Machu Pichu (without cutting previous yarn - the spike stitches and the abundance of colors in the yarns help hide the jog between rows, which will be on the inside of the basket).  Do a row of sc in **back loop only** to start the sides.

Row 7: Change to Begonia (without cutting previous yarn); do a row of [alternating spike stitch][1].

Row 8: Change to Machu Pichu (without cutting previous yarn); do a row of alternating spike stitch.

Row 9-12: Continue doing rounds of alternating spike stitch, changing colors without cutting yarn, in each row.  You will end with Machu Pichu.

Row 13: Because I had more Machu Pichu than Begonia left, I did a final row of alternating spike stitch in Machu Pichu (so 2 rows in that color). 

Edging: Thread the remaining end of the Begonia on a yarn needle.  Run the needle up through the back of rows 12 & 13, to hide this longer jog.  Add a whip stitch along the top edge of the basket. 

Finish off, weave in ends.

If I had more yarn, I would do a medium size version, so here's a pattern for a medium size basket.

**MEDIUM BASKET**
Rounds 1-6: Start with the Begonia, and crochet in the round, with 6 sc increases per row. (36 sc at end of round 6)

Row 7: Change to Machu Pichu (without cutting previous yarn - the spike stitches and the abundance of colors in the yarns help hide the jog between rows, which will be on the inside of the basket).  Do a row of sc in **back loop only** to start the sides.

Row 9: Change to Begonia (without cutting previous yarn); do a row of [alternating spike stitch][1].

Row 10: Change to Machu Pichu (without cutting previous yarn); do a row of alternating spike stitch.

Row 11-18: Continue doing rounds of alternating spike stitch, changing colors without cutting yarn, in each row.  You will end with Begonia.

Row 19: Add a round of [decorative slip stitch][2] in Machu Pichu.

Finish off, weave in ends.

Purple Silk Sari Ribbon Bowl

This bowl was whipped up as an extra for LeapFeetFirst in the Asheville Adventure Swap.  It's made of sari silk ribbon yarn, that is made from worn out saris that would otherwise end up in landfills.  They are rescued, sliced, stitched, and dyed, and given new life as yarn.  Both colors came from Darn Good Yarn.  I'm not sure what the purple one is, since I bought it as part of a sample sale, and it didn't have any info with it, but the turquoise is their 'Indian Brushstrokes'.  The pattern was also from DGY, and came free in one of their yarn-of-the-month boxes.  It can be found in both knit and crochet HERE. 

Treasure Keeper Pouch

I received my Darn Good Yarn of the Month box yesterday. The pattern was so simple and cute that I whipped it right up after dinner last night!  It only took about 45 minutes while watching tv, and best part is that the yarn won't disappear into my stash since it was used right up.  I love how it accidentally stitched up with beautiful swirling stripes!  Sadly there wasn’t enough yarn to make the drawstring as the pattern indicated, so I used some purple leather cord and amber glass beads from my stash to finish it off.  Actually, I think I like the purple leather cord better than I would have liked the yarn chain.  The yarn is Darn Good Yarn's 'Darn Good Fancy Twist' in the colorway Pink Flamingo.  It's a worsted weight silk spun with a strand of black lace weight silk.

The pattern was in the box, and is simply called the Treasure Keeper Pouch.  It doesn't seem to be listed on their website, or I'd link to it.  It will go to a friend who has been playing D&D lately, to use as a dice bag.

Stash Busting Ear Warmers (For whenever winter finally arrives in the South)

While it is currently 64 degrees here in TN (in freakin' January), I am certain winter will eventually arrive.  So I decided to whip up an ear warmer for those early morning walks with the pup on the days that it's chilly.  The received a skein of grey speckled tweed silk Called Stormy Day, from Darn Good Yarn's month subscription box back in November, and looked for an ear warmer pattern that I would have enough for.  I found the Irving Ear Warmer pattern, and tried it in the grey silk, only to discover that 50 yards was really not even enough for 2/3 of the pattern!  So I frogged it, and dug through my stash for something I might have more of.  Turns out I had 2 skeins of the same yarn in Oceanic Blues that I bought from their sample sale a few months ago.  Plenty to remake the Irving pattern.  It's chunky and soft.  :)

It's somewhat hard to see in this picture, but by using front post dc and back post dc, the pattern creates ridged stripes. 

Since I really had my heart set on making something in grey, so I decided to see if I could do anything else with the Stormy Day skein.  I ended up making up my own pattern.  I simply chained enough stitches to go snugly around my head.  Then I added 2 more chains, and started doing rows of double crochet.  I managed 5 rows of dc, and ran out with just about 7" of yarn left, just enough to stitch the ends together.  Then I used the leftover Oceanic Blues to add 2 rows of decorative slip stitching through the first and 5th rows.  Yay for 2 quick and easy projects, and for busting some stash!

Wild Birds of Paradise Silk Scarf

This was a really quick little project.  I started it on Christmas Day, while waiting for all the rest of the family to arrive at my Mother in Law's house, and finished it last night.  The pattern is the Naturally Southern Scarf, and the yarn is Darn Good Yarn's DK weight silk, in Wild Birds of Paradise.  I had received a skein of it in their yarn subscription box, and loved it so much that I knew I wanted to make something larger with it.  When I checked my account, I had enough points saved up to get a $25 gift card, plus the lovely curiousfae sent me a $10 credit from them that she wasn't able to use, so I paid next to nothing for it.  I love the deep raspberry, teal and turquoise, and how they are offset by the bright cheerful yellow.  Also the silks used in their yarns are waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill, but DGY rescues them, and then provides fair wages to women in India & Nepal, allowing them to work from home and support their families. 

Infinite Rainbow Scarf

A few weeks ago, I made a rainbow ripples neckwarmer from some silk roving yarn that I received in my monthly subscription box from Darn Good Yarn.  A friend saw me working on it, and freaked out over how much she liked the colors.  Clearly, it had to go to her!  But I wanted to add something like a hat to go with it, afraid the neckwarmer alone wouldn't go with anything else she might have, so I contacted DGY, and asked if I could buy another skein.  The customer service person directed me to their regular listing for their worsted weight silk roving, in 'watercolors'.  The picture didn't look exactly like my yarn, but I figured if customer service told me that was it, than that was it, and that perhaps someone working on the website had photoshopped the picture to look a bit more vivid. So I ordered 2 skeins.  When they arrived I was very sad that they were not at all the same color.   But rather than cry over spilled yarn, I decided to find a different way to use it up to make something bright and cheerful.  This is the result.  The pattern is the Dragonfly Infinity Scarf (aka Double V-Stitch Infinity scarf) by Alyssa on Undeniable Glitter.  Since I was working with a limited amount of yarn, I made it a bit narrower, just 3 full-shells in the middle and 2 half-shells on the ends.  Wrapped twice it sits up close to the neck, rather than hang down over your boobs, but is still plenty loose for comfort.

*Also, I just got new glasses, and I'm trying to get used to them.  Every time I see myself in them I think I look like me, but in some sort of disguise.  Like this is my Clark Kent look...

Rainbow Ripples Neckwarmer & Silk Sari Bowl

I signed up for a subscription box from Darn Good Yarn a few weeks ago, and got my first box on Friday.  The yarn that they sent was a worsted weight silk roving, that is created from silk waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill.  The yarn is fair trade, and helps women in India & Nepal support their families.  The pattern they sent to go with it was for a ripples neckwarmer. 

I normally don't work with silk, but I really enjoyed this quick little project.  I started it after dinner on Saturday night, and finished early Sunday morning.  I would link to the pattern, but it's not up on their site yet. The whole piece is about 20" around, and 6-7" wide.  The colors are so cheerful that it was a joy to work on. 

When you sign up, or place a regular order from them, you can choose to add a 'mystery item' for an additional $5, that is normally sold for $15.  Since I always like surprises, and I like being pushed out of my comfort zone craft-wise, I added the item, and waited to see what came.  My mystery item turned out to be a beautiful roll of wide sari silk ribbon. 

I searched their site, and found a great pattern for a bowl made out of the same ribbon, so I whipped that up yesterday.  The pattern called for a 10mm hook, but I had only a 9 or an 11.5.  The 11.5 kept catching on the work, so I switched to the 9mm hook, which worked much better, but still it was harder than my poor hands liked.  While the project was small and should have been very quick, I had to take breaks to rest my hands.  It had nothing to do with the ribbon, it is just hard to crochet through while keeping your stitches very tight so the bowl will stand up on its own. 

All in all I'm very happy with how it came out, and I'd gladly make another one in future, after my fingers rest up a bit.  Here it is holding 2 large apples and 4 good sized tangerines.  It's currently on my desk, holding some healthy snacks for hangry afternoons in my new studio.