Rustic Felted Crochet Bowl with Handles

Officially Autumn when these colours come out!

Before we start, I have some exciting news! I have at last sorted out an Etsy shop and I am in the process of putting my samples in there for sale. The samples come from my magazine work, from my books and from other patterns that I have out in the market place. They are mostly one-offs and will not be repeated. If you are interested you will find them here.

A small selection of what is on offer in the shop

Any way, getting on with it! It is Autumn and that is my favourite time of the year! Here in Germany where we are surrounded by trees, I am waiting for the colours to change and in the mean time, we are enjoying misty mornings and the first wisps of wood smoke on the air.

I doubt that I will ever be reliably convinced that Summer is better than Autumn!

Thoughts are turning to hot chocolate and sweet pumpkin soup with croutons made from an organic Bavarian pepper cheese that I found at the market. Sigh.

you can never have too many truly useful homewares

I am also loving my yarn crafts all over again because somehow it feels natural to be cosying up in the evenings with a pile of wool, a warm and sleepy puppy and that aforementioned hot chocolate.

I say warm and sleepy puppy - what I meant was interfering little busy body with no boundaries or appreciation of personal space! Bliss!

Lately, I have been loving making crochet items which I then felt and if you are loving them too, there are a few links to my work on the Clover website where you can find more free patterns. You can find one here at the moment (keep watching that site too because there are more coming). 

keys, coins or anything that hasn't got  a proper home yet - a felt bowl is the answer!

These are so easy to make and better yet, I have automated the felting process so that there is no messing about in water (not really the weather for it). They go into the washing machine. Cool huh!

One of my favourite forest treasures.

So this method is easy and fun. I have a special autumn make for you this time - it is a handy shallow bowl and I have added some fun wooden handles- you need to go for a walk in the woods for those!

Colour! 'nuff said!

So what do we need?
- a few 50g balls of felting wool in earth tones. I am using Eskimo by Drops Design. I say a few because we need to change colours a couple of times. Pick your favourites.
-a suitable crochet hook. Mine is a Clover Amour crochet hook 
#8 (L)
- a large needle
-some natural jute twine
-2 sticks about 5" long and about the thickness of your thumb
-your usual crochet needs

Some colour inspiration - and don't be afraid to use black! It really makes the finished article more modern

Terms
This is a simple crochet pattern and suitable for confident beginners. 
ch- chain
ss- slip stitch
sc-single crochet (UK double crochet)

So far so good! So let's get on and make!

Choose your first colour. Start with a ch 4

Love this colour!

Ss to form a ring

It is a bit hard to see, but this is actually a ring! You can see the area in the centre there where the stitches will go.

Row 1: ch 1 (counts as the first stitch) and then sc 9 more stitches into the ring. ss to close (10 stitches)

The ring has opened up now. At the end, when we weave in the end, we can pull it a bit and close the ring up - this sort of make is very forgiving!

Row 2: 2x sc into each stitch and ss to close (20 stitches)

Right, we are off and running now so I will put another shot in when we have some meat on the bones!

Row 3: ch 1, sc into each stitch and  ss to close (20 stitches)

Row 4: ch 1, *sc into first stitch and then 2x sc into second stitch*. Repeat to end of the row, ss to close (30 stitches)

A stitch marker helps to see where to start and finish a row. But do count too so that you have a backup.

Row 5: ch 1 and sc into each stitch then ss to close (30 stitches)

Row 6: ch 1, *sc into first two stitches and then 2x sc into third stitch* and ss to close (40 stitches)

Row 7: ch 1 and sc into each stitch then ss to close (40 stitches)

As you can see, the increases help to keep the disk beautifully flat and the no increase every second row means that the circle is maintained.

Row 8: change colour and ch 1.Then *sc into first three stitches, 2x sc into the fourth stitch*, ss to close (50 stitches)

This method means no ugly 'step' where you change the colour.

Row 9: ch 1 and sc into each stitch (50 stitches)

Row 10: ch 1 and *sc into the first four stitches, 2x sc into the fifth* then ss to close (60 stitches)

Row 11: change colour and ch 1 then sc into each stitch (60 stitches)

At this point, you will have a big floppy circle with no real structure or resemblance to the finished article. Have faith!

Trust me, nothing like what it will become!

Rows 12- 15 sc into each stitch in a spiral (no need to fasten off each round. This is only done to make nice clean colour changes).

The sides will naturally curl upwards a bit since we are not making any increases now.

Although the sides will curl up, it is still nice and flat on the base.

Fasten off and weave in the ends. You will be able to tighten up the beginning circle when you weave in too.

Some people say that you don't have to weave in the ends because the felting process will take care of them. I still like to do it. I prefer to put a neat item into the washing machine.

Righto! Now you have this big floppy thing and it needs to be felted. Normally, this felting process is wet and time consuming. Not for us!

Quite big and sad looking. It will shrink by about a third, the colours will meld together and it will firm up beautifully.

Put the finished article into the washing machine at 50°Celsius and add a couple of towels or a pair of jeans. Add soap as you would for a normal wash. This helps the felting process.
When it comes out, it still looks a bit sad but here comes the fun bit - p-u-u-u--l-l-l (and none too gently) and mould the felt to a bowl shape. Curl the edges up and ensure that it has a nice flat base.
 

As you can see, the stitches are no longer really visible and it is a lot stiffer.

TIP: I like to find something like a bowl or any suitable shape and use that to give the bowl a shape.

Have a look through your house- there is bound to be something the perfect shape and size for the job.

Now leave it somewhere for about three days to dry thoroughly and it will stay in this shape.

Finally, sew the handles on. I have used a couple of found sticks because I love the idea of that lovely textural wool and natural wood together.

I love the wood and jute together with those amazing earth tomes. This is Autumn in a bowl!

And here we have the most rustic looking artisan bowl ever! 

These are so useful to have around the house. I guarantee that you will want to make more!

I do hope that you have enjoyed this tute. Remember to check out the Clover website for some more of my felted designs (and keep an eye on it too because more are added every week).
Happy Autumn!
Hugs
Debbie
xx

DIY Wash Mitts

Just like most crafters, I try to make everything and every new craft is an opportunity for more explorations and, above all, more money to go out loading up with all the deliciousness that the new craft offers.

The latest craze to have a seed planted in my more than fertile imagination is soap making. Chemistry orientated and quite beautifully varied, I am intrigued about making something that looks yum but will not tempt me to eat it. A strange way to enter another craft dimension but there you go.

So I have ordered a book or two and while I wait and then plan the equipment needed, I thought about my love of crocheting and what I could do with it. Like all crafters, I love a new idea.

In Germany, face washers are usual in a small bag form that you put your hand into. This is typically efficient and a great way to get clean. It is also good for not having to chase a face washer all over the place (maybe that is just me).

Everyone should try a German style wash mitt at least once!

Now I will ask you to bear with me here. I am not a crochet pattern writer  but rest assured, this is super easy and I am sure that you will know what to do. If not, please email or leave a comment and I will do my absolute best to help.

Okay, there are two very basic stitches used here, double crochet (UK) or single crochet (US) and half treble (UK) or half double (US). 

The idea that I had was to make a face washer that was a gentle sort and for that one I have used Drops Muskat cotton yarn. But then I thought about exfoliating too and decided that we could also make an exfoliating mitt with the same pattern but using a different yarn. So heading to the garden section, I have chosen a sisal for one and hemp for another which gives two versions of scratchy. I would think twice about using these two on your face but it certainly does the job elsewhere and you emerge from your ablutions tingling and ready to face the world.

So, to begin, for the cotton, use a #4 (UK) 6.00 mm J/10 (US) hook and chain between 30 and 40. It has to fit over your hand without stretching or falling off. 
Here is what it looks like on mine....

Goldilocks crochet, not to loose and not too tight.

Join the chain to a circle with a slip stitch and then crochet about 6 rows of double crochet UK (single crochet US). In the photo above, I have already done this. 

A few rows like this makes a nice edge to the mitt.

Now swap to a half treble (half double) stitch and keep crocheting in a spiral round until you have a mitt about qqqcm (qqq) long. 

It all goes a lot quicker once you swap stitches.

The end is open so turn it inside out carefully and close the bottom with slip stitches. Fasten the yarn end off and weave the end in
And there we go! A wash mitt.

I have added a leather tab with a brass Chicago screw to keep it fresh and modern

I love the addition of the leather tab. I found a job lot of leather scraps on eBay and cut strips from that.

The sisal and hemp ones are made to the same (so called!) pattern. 

I found a variegated  hemp on Amazon which looks nice when made up. The leather tab sets it off perfectly.

Hemp is just a little less abrasive than sisal but I still wouldn't use it on your face. Feet are a tinglingly different story.

I know that my Chicago screws are technically inside out (the flat surface is the 'best' one) but I like this better.

To be ultra thrifty, you can make a smaller version (and that is what I have done with the sisal version) and add a drawstring and bead toggle at the top and fill it with soap odds and ends. This one is especially good after gardening and the sisal really scrubs the dirt out of your hands.

Tough love mitt!

We need a softening lotion to finish don't we? Hmmm.....watch this space. Oh and don't forget to make some soap with me. That is coming soon too.

Soap coming soon.....

Love and hugs
Debs
xx

Spring in a Pot. The Edit.

I love winter. It is the most Hyggeligt time of the year for me but near the end of that hot chocolate high season, I find myself looking forward to spring. And that means some gardening.

I love my pot plants too and they have names and cute little homes (read: pots) and generally things that make my house an über comfort zone. Creating 'nest warmth' my German grandmother called it.  And I cannot think of a better name for it!

Sometimes, I get sick of the look of a pot (middle class problem alert) and a cover is the best way to change it quickly. I made a cover for this one while the dark days of winter were still upon us. I used Retwisst Spaghettiyarn in a delicious black and white stripe and a single crochet stitch.

Because the yarn is quite stretchy, make the pot holder slightly smaller than the pot and it will fit snugly indeed.

What a difference! Here is the before shot....

Not very sophisticated I fear! I made this for an American magazine about three years ago for a Children's Easter basket project and it doesn't really fit with what I need in my house.  The black and white is a little bit more grown up.

And you will notice that there is a cute pink tassel there too? With a touch of pale gold! How blissful! I thought that you might like to see how I made that.

You will need some matte cotton yarn in the colour of your choice. Pale pink is having a bit of a moment and goes so well with the black and white. I have also used an Anchor Artisan Metallic in a pale gold for the wrap. You will also need a piece of strongish cardboard about 7 cm x 10 cm (2 1/2 in x 4 in). A needle, some strong pink thread and you have everything!

Begin by wrapping the yarn around the cardboard about 30 times.

Tie off the top

Cut the bottom of the tassel to release it from the card (keep that card - I guarantee that you will make more of these!).

Tie the tassel off about 1cm (3/8 in) down from the top. It can be a bit more, just make sure that it looks nice.

With the needle, thread the long ends from the top and middle tie down into the tassel and trim the bottom level. Don't even THINK about cutting them!!!

Wrap the pale gold yarn around the middle tie and then secure the end inside the wrap at the back.

Use the other strong pink thread to secure the tassel to the front of the pot.

And you have a new home for your spring pot plant! Fifty thousand style points!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that you love making your pots over for the new season. See you next time.

Love and hugs
Debbie
xx