Stripey Fingerless Gloves

 

I remember as a kid, my Dad used to say "if you hold Marie's hand she'll walk forever with you" … I think the same goes for Laney except now that it's mid winter, those little hands are getting super cold, so the solution was to make her some gloves.

So Laney & I made these. She picked the colours then proceeded to choose the order that they went in. She even sat with me & tried to crochet it herself but she's still a bit too young for the co-ordination side of that.

These fingerless gloves were made from my scrappy stash of 220, I really love this stuff as the colours are so vibrant.

No pattern was used. I measured the length that I wanted it (against her arm), then the circumference of the widest part (at her thumb knuckle) then measured from the top down to the base of her thumb as that's were I'd finish seaming for the thumb hole ..and yes, I crocheted this flat and seamed it together. Very easy and I think I need a pair now!

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Marie

Pie Time crochet van ....and my own errata for the pattern!

 

Confession: I crocheted this van for my son last year and wanted to see how he used it before doing a Show & Tell on my blog! 

Yes, he loved it and how does he use it? He stores his Shopkins in it and I think that is just the cutest thing! 

Am I glad I made it? Yes!  It was a challenge and I'd never seen anything like it, so I really enjoyed crocheting it.   It's actually supposed to be an ice-cream van but my son keeps saying he wants to have his own pie shop, maybe even a pie food truck - so I just had to turn it into one!

And now you want to make one too because it's just so cool, am I right?!  The pattern is from a book, grab it either here or here.

And what yarn did I use?  I used this yarn for the main body and for the smaller colour pieces I used these (super cute) balls.   Biggest tip, is for the materials, you need to use a sturdy cardboard like this, otherwise it'll collapse on you!

What do I make next?  I want to make my son something equally awesome for his birthday this year, so I'm thinking of this but I've first got to find the right colour blue for it, possibly this yarn or this yarn.

Now for the tricky bit: this pattern needed an errata.
When I started making the pattern, I had some major questions with the pattern that needed answers, so I contacted the publisher and the designer but received no response. I did manage to (eventually) find a errata but it wasn't complete and still left me with many questions unanswered. So in an effort to aid the next person that makes this, who may have the same questions as me, you may find some help below. I hope it helps you.

Question... what about a piece for the external rear (or perhaps you’d call it the external floor & back?).

This piece (& instructions) is missing from the pattern, so this is what I did:

~ With matching yarn colour to the first two panels, in my case green, crochet:
Chain 16 (check the width is correct to your other pieces)
Starting in 2nd chain from hook, 15dc across, ch1 & turn.

For the next 11 rows, dc across each row, ch1 at the end, then switch to cream or white yarn and crochet 11 rows - dc across as per previous rows (check that this matches your previous panels).

Question... why do I need to make 2 back panels? Wouldn’t I just need the shaped front panel & shaped back panel - why would I need an additional shaped back panel?

You don't.

Just make 1 x front panel which is the side of the van with the shop hole for the concession window and just make 1 x back panel which is the opposite side (but plain, with NO concession window) - do NOT make 2 back panels.

Question... for the hood & grill section.. rounds 18-22 states I need to dc into every stitch. Count 8 sts along .. line up the windscreen section etc … but which row do I actually attach the windscreen on - row 18, row 19, row 20, row 21, row 22?? So confusing! AND what exactly is a row - is it all the way around (over 40+) stitches or just back & forward & only 22 stitches?? 

I wish I had the answer for you here but I honestly couldn't figure it out properly. I just crocheted the piece looking at the photo in the book, I think I frogged this piece over & over again before I had something that looked like the cab of a truck.

Happy Crocheting!

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Marie

Wedgies for Joe

I just finished crocheting this cushion for Joe and he loves it!
This pattern was from a designer called '10 Hours or Less', so I of course, kept track of how long it took to make. 

So, how long did it take for me to make? …... the answer is ……..

it took just over 8.5 hours to crochet.   And those eight hours were broken up with half hour here, an hour there etc as I truly wanted it to be surprise and only crocheted it when I was home alone!

I really love the finishing row, it reminds me of (fabric) piping.

So, are you going to make one now? It'd make a great gift and now that you know it takes under ten hours to make one, you have no excuse!

Pattern here...  and remember to use the code: CraftyRie to get 20% off this pattern and any other of their patterns.

Yarn was: this blue, this green, this red, this beige, this white.
I think this cushion would look really cool in a yarn like this for the wedges as the slow colour change would just be awesome!

In fact, this cushion actually deviates from the pattern slightly … oops but hey, I'm calling it an intentional design element!

By the way, I totally adore my son as everyday he tells me yet another reason
why he loves his new cushion "I love how it looks like a flower" "I like how it's big & squishy" "I love that you used red because red is my favourite colour" "I love using it to lean on whilst I'm reading" etc etc

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Marie