New Crochet blanket – Burgundy & Gray Tote Finished

I got sidetracked for the last couple weeks with my new crochet blanket. The yarn is quite a lovely and soft texture, however, trying to find the middle-pull end was most frustrating. I finally, started with the outside end of the skein and wound it in a ball. It took me a few hours over the course of a day, between housework, to wind the over 1000+ yards.
Since I wound the yarn into a ball, I’m having an enjoyable time making the blanket. I still have over 200 rows to go. Thankfully, it’s a C2C stitch pattern and the last half of the blanket pattern rows will get shorter and faster to finish with every row. (Did that make sense. 😀 )
Yesterday morning, as I picked up my crochet blanket to work on, it occurred to me, that perhaps, I should put it down for the day and try and finish my Burgundy & Gray Tote Bag.
And that is what I did.
It took me the rest of the day, while also doing my housework, to finish it. I finished it right before supper time.
It turned out quite nice.
It’s large enough to hold my laptop.
It has 2 zippered pockets, one large and one medium size.
I decided not to put a closure on it (at the moment) I might later on, if I see that one is needed.
And with this finish, I can get back to happily crocheting on my latest blanket.

Wishing you all a weekend of pleasant temperatures and happy thoughts.

 

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Tote Bag Handle – Practice crochet project

I’m using the ‘Knifty Knitter’ icord spool loom to make the handles for my Burgundy and Gray Tote Bag. Well, right now, that’s my plan. If they don’t look good, I’ll make some other kind.

For the first time, (as best as I can remember), I bought a ‘crochet kit’. It’s C2C pattern, (but not the C2C block stitch pattern I usually use.) called ‘On the Bias Square Afghan’.
I’m practicing with scrap yarn before I use the yarn that comes with the kit. It’s a good choice on my part, because, as you can see in the picture, I’ve got quite a few mistakes on my practice piece. I’ll start on the actual Afghan when I’m more comfortable with the stitch pattern. I’m looking forward to making it.

Happy Crafting!


 

Another Finish – Checkered Tote Bag

This ‘Checkered Tote Bag’ was one the unfinished projects that was in my ‘Sewing Project Bag’ because it needed a lining.
I originally started this tote-bag way back in 2019 when I first got my ‘KB All-In-One’ loom. I mentioned it in a post, 3-8-2019 ‘Random 5 For Friday
I finished the basic body pieces by the end of March 2019, but I didn’t join all of them together. I rolled them up with the yarn, put it in a bag and stored it in a drawer. I did that because, I wanted to put zipper pockets in it and at that time, zippers were not in my skill level. I’m so thankful I’m finally able to set zippers fairly well.
Like my other tote bags:
‘It has a zipper-pocket on each side inside. One side zipper-pocket is big enough for my 8-inch kindle fire and the other side pocket is big enough for a mobile phone and some other small stuff.’ (Yep, I cut and pasted that bit from my other post. 😀 )
I put a tasseled icord closure on it. I made the icord using 2 pegs on my KB Loom. I’m using button flowers at the moment to tether it to. The flowers don’t look too bad. I might keep them or I might change them when/if I find different buttons.

Wishing you all a pleasant rest of the week.


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Project in Progress – Burgundy and Gray Tote Bag

Here’s my crochet project in progress. It’s going to be a bit bigger than my other 2 totes. I’m using 2 strands of yarn. I got bored with the 2 strands of gray color yarn. I changed the second strand to burgundy instead of continue using the second strand of gray.
Not sure how it will look when it’s finished, but I’m liking the colors together. So, we shall see.

Wishing you all a terrific Thursday
and a great rest of the week.


 

Another finish – Bright Tote Bag Lining

2013-brighttote
I’ve finished another project from my sewing project bag. I made a new liner for a tote bag that I made back in 2013. This Bright Tote Bag was the first big loom knit project I made. I used a Martha Stewart knitting loom. I single-crochet-chained every inch of yarn I used. It took a long while, but it was really enjoyable and worth the effort. Making this tote bag project helped me better my loom knitting skills.
The stitch pattern is what I call a ‘basket-weave’. I’ve heard it called a tile stitch and a cobblestone stitch. Doesn’t matter what it’s called, it was a fun stitch to do. I think it looks pretty good for my no-pattern first attempt at a loom knit project.
I’ve always liked the look and colors of this tote. I’m happy with the beads and oblong toggle button, both of which I sculpted out of polymer clay.
However, I never liked my open-pocket lining (lower left side of the collage-photo). Since I’ve figured out the method for setting zippers in the pockets in linings, I decided it was time to replace the lining in my old Bright Tote Bag.
It has a zipper-pocket on each side inside.
One side zipper-pocket is big enough for my 8-inch kindle fire and the other side pocket is big enough for a mobile phone and some other small stuff.
I’m ever so much happier with my old Bright Tote Bag now.

Wishing everyone a happy week of sunshine and smiles.