Welcome March... Cup Cozy Basket

 Bye February! So far this year has been a large improvement over last year. I have been crocheting 2 Hours most days, while over lunch and watching Hulu or Netflex. 

This month's WIPP, will be cup cozies. I am designing one. I will be sharing my progress on this post (hopefully daily).

Baraboo has one of the busiest State Parks in the Nation, with a lot of  trails. The Ice Age Trail goes right through the park also. Also; the Baraboo Area has a lot of dog walkers. So I thought a Cozy that is also a Basket that can be hang from a belt or a fanny pack, would be an ideal thing to design and make for sale at Sunday Market.

To make it more basket like, I am putting a bottom and making the sides tall enough for a coffee traveling mug or sport bottle. It will have a built in handle, that a belt can go through. I am using a K (6.5 mm) Susan Bates Hook and Ribbon Yarn.

CUP COZY BASKET

Row 1: In either a Slip Knot Loop or Magic Circle, Chain 2 (1st dc), 7 dcs. - 8 dcs

I have a hard time with making a magic circle, so I usually just make a slip knot with a large loop. Then pull the loop tight after putting stitches in loop.

Day 2 & 3

After doing Row 2 of DC's, I did not like the curl-up of the stitches, so I went back and change to sc for the bottom.

So the revision is now...

Row 1: 8 sc in a magic circle or slip stitch loop. - 8 sc

Row 2:  2 sc in each sc. - 16 sc

 

Row 3: (sc, 2 sc in the next) 8 times - 24 sc

Should be 4" circumference.

Row 4: Chain 2 (doesn't count as dc) dc in back loop - 24 dc

Row 5:

Chain 2, dc in back loop 2 times (will use the front loops to start handle later), dc in both loops for the rest. - 22 dc with both loops, 2 dc with back loop = 24 dc.

New Year (2024) Beginnings and the Topsy Turvy of 2023.

 I see that I didn't blog the whole year of 2023. I am not surprised since most of the year was a dooser. There was some good things that happened. 

My niece Zoe had her Bat Mitzvah, Which I am glad to say Zoe is one young woman who is intelligent and wise. I enjoyed selling at Baraboo's Sunday Markets I could attend. September was the last one, since October weather was pretty bad. It was a good selling day and bonus my sister Connie showed up.

I really appreciate how my sister Connie can handle hard stuff of life. Last April, the downstairs tenant of the 2 Flat my mother left Connie was murdered by her boyfriend. Connie drove out from California, stopping in Albuquerque see my father and his partner; to take care of getting the apartment ready for the next tenant. The nice thing was I got to spend some time with her, since the place is in Madison..

On the way back to California, Connie again stopped in Albuquerque to help deal with putting Laura my father's partner in Hospice care. Sorry to say Laura died within 2 weeks of being placed in the Hospice. On her trips to take care of new tenants for her rentals in Nashville and the Upstairs of the Madison flat she stop in Albuquerque and helped my father with various things. I wished I could have been more of a help.

Most of the 2023 for me was dealing with what we believe now was Stress Related illness for my husband. I appreciate the grocery store, we shop at most of the time for caring and being  very helpful. They had to call in the EMT several times, because of spells that Ray had while shopping. The first time I was grateful because it got Ray to be checked by a Doctor.

Ray was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure. For while there he was prod and scan for various things. All things came back normal for his age. I must say so far this year he seems to be getting back to his old self. 

Now to get back to what I am doing crochet wise or Cloakroom stuff. Starting with this month's WIPP (Works In Progress Project).

I notice from my experience at the Sunday Market that Scrubbies were a good seller. So January's WIPP is Scrubbies and Dish Cloths. Pictured is the second Scrubbie Pouf. The first one I made I am personally using to try it out. Love it by the way. I ran out of the yellow yarn while making the second one.

The third one I am working on now, I am making the base/backside with scrubby yarn, so that it has the soft puff on front side and a scrubby on the back side.

Front of 1st Pillow

Back of 1st Pillow

Back of 2nd Pillow

Front of 2nd Pillows

December's WIPP is Pillows. This is because both Ray and I found the bucket seats of our SUV were uncomfortable for us. We find both of our butts tend to sink down. The pillows help to raise us up properly. Whoever designed the buckets seats must have been tall and lean, because they sure are not comfortable for this middle age short person.

The pattern is my own design. I choose to do the fronts a 4x4 Waffle Stitch using Triple Crochet Post Stitch. The back is Double Crochet Stitch. I am adding a strap on the second to hold the pillow in place. After I finish the strap on the 2nd Pillow, I will be adding strap on the 1st Pillow.

November Brings New Beginnings

 The last few months have been quite Topsy-Turvy for me. Because of the way things were going for Thrifty Prints, Inc., we decided it was time to quit the printing part of Thrifty Prints. The last straw for my husband was the Printing Press breaking down, which brought on some stress health issues. Since we made the decision and subsequently after we got a handle on shutting down printing part of business; Ray has perked up more.

We both are looking forward to new enterprises. Ray's is Thrifty Ray's Worm Farm and Rabbit Ranch. He has had earthworms for a few months now. Last month we went up and picked up a young Doe and Buck Florida White Rabbits. While, I am planning to make Cloakroom Creations more than a "Egg-Basket" Business.

Last Sunday was my second Baraboo Downtown's Sunday Market. (Yes, that is Ray setting there) I did not sell anything, but I am taking it as a very good learning experience. I differently will be back to sell next spring to sell at the Sunday Market. The Markets are on the Last Sunday of Every Month, from May to October. From what I saw, is that the vendors who have been selling for quite awhile, had built up a cliental. My neighbors at the left was selling soy-based candles, and I noticed that they were selling to previous customers. 

Which makes me think that maybe I should sell, other things besides crochet items. Like other then crochet craft kits. As a child coming to age in the 70's, crafts were a big thing. Since it seems like 70's have become the vintage era, these days. I thought; Why don't I bring back some of those crafts that I enjoyed. I have mind of one now, but I will keep it quiet until I get the kinks out.

Yesterday, I posted on Facebook the Rustle Park Sun Hats that I have in my Etsy Shop. Since, yesterday and today's mail brought no mail for TPI to take care of, tomorrow I will probably again post more things I have to sell on Facebook, before posting them in my Etsy Shop. I am hoping to do more of this in the coming days.

Now to update on what my WIPP are that I have not said... September's is Back Scrubbers, October's is Draft Stoppers and this months Baskets.

Well, it is getting late and so until next time be well and safe. Hope you all had a Great Halloween.

Continuing Being Topsy-Turvy

 I keep trying to get blogs out in the beginning of the month. But with the way my life is it ends up being late in the month or into the next month. I guess that is Life!😆

For the last several months, I have been using Sundays as my getting Cloakroom stuff done. I do this lazy, so it is restful than stressful.

This morning while watching CBS Sunday Morning and having a very slow Sunday Brunch, I crocheted on some more of the Pillow-top. Today, I have also made the decision to go with Venmo as my Payment App to take for payments. I even have the downloaded Venmo App on my Phone. 

I have decided to forgo this years WIPP theme of housewares this month. Since August seems to be the month when Catnip is headed out perfect for toys, I will be making catnip toys, that is until the catnip around here is gone. Then I will change August WIPP to Pet stuff. I have made several of the Octo Cat Nip Toy, a Ruthie Smith design, so far.

I have finished one Sunny Garden Area Rug, a Tracee Fromm design. I am almost finished another one.

Also this afternoon, I email the Downtown Baraboo  about being a vender for Last Sunday of the month Market. I am hoping that this Sunday can try to sell my wares at the Market. That is why I decided on the Venmo App. 

I choose Venmo because the App and set-up is free. The transaction fees are low. They are connected to PayPal.

A Bit of Autobiography

 It has been a very Topsy-Turvy May and June for me. I meant to get out this blog at each month. However; when I meant to start a new blog post, I see that I let time slip by and did not get to it.  It does not help that I am still in the midst of dealing with work for Thrifty Prints, even if both Printing and the inner circle Mail Order industries are down in the dumps. 

It is very bittersweet for me that Thrifty Prints is on a down turn. It is hard to give up something you have done all your adulthood (43 years in my case), even thou you are burnt out.

I was just 19 when we started Thrifty Prints, Inc. I met Ray at Madison Area Technical College (which now is Madison College) in the Graphic Arts program. We sat by each other from the first day and nobody was surprised when we came back from Winter break and were engaged. 

When I went in to the Printing Program at MATC, I had just spent the previous year at an Alternative High School program. It was at Woolman Hill a Quaker Educational Retreat just up the road from historical Deerfield, Massachusetts.

I came to Woolman Hill to work on to be ready to take the GED. Which I did and got high scores on each test. Since I had enough High School credits from my Freshman and Junior years of going to Malcolm Shabazz High School, that I was granted a Wisconsin High School Diploma. Shabazz was at the time was one of the two public alternative schools in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Between Woolman Hill and Shabazz, I lived with my sister Connie in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. While their I  did my Junior year at Carolina Friends School. I believe my dream as a Toy Maker got it blossomed when I was at CFS.

I remember when I was going to Shabazz I made washcloth puppets and cat toys and tried to sell them at a flea market. Only had a little success at it.

While I was on the Hill, I wrote to several toy companies seeing if they had a Toy Maker apprentice program, No such luck. So, when I got accepted to MATC for the fall of 1978, I had to decide between Woodworking and Printing programs. After talking it over with my Father, I decided that I would go for printing. Since, I had experience with all kinds of woodworking through doing things with my father, class at CFS and being on the carpentry gang at the Hill.

I was thinking that I would use my experiences in Graphic Arts to make Printed Paper Toys. Which I giving great thought of doing again under Cloakroom Creations. Along with more crocheted toys.

I started Cloakroom Creations about 10 years ago as an "Egg Basket" Hobby Business. That is I started it to help support my crochet expenses. 

My interest in Crochet and crafts started when I was ten. Arts and crafts is way for me to help deal with the hard and good times of life. Crochet is my main craft and stress reliever.

May's WIPP is Plant Hangers. I had a commission for them from the owner of Eclectic Treasures for some for her office place. I started with Rosa Plant Hangers by Kristi Simpson from Happily Hooked Issue #64 July 2019. Then I went to Hanging Herb Holder a Design by Salena Baca from Happily Hooked Issue #17 - August 2015.

June's WIPP is Give Yourself A Hand Oven Mitt a Cara Louise Reitbauer from Pattern Pack Pro Issue November 2019. I really love doing these in the past and have given them as gifts. 

This month's (July) WIPP is rugs or mats. Starting with Sunny Garden Area Rug a Tracee Fromm design from HH VIP Exclusive June 2022. 

Wishing those who sees this before 4th of July… Have A Safe and Pleasant Holiday Weekend.

Wow! Already finished a Dust Mitt!

 My first Dust It Off Dust Mitt, a Design By Ashley Edmonds from Pattern Pack Pro July 2020

Instead of doing the Mitt with Bernat Pipsqueek, I did it with Teddy from Hobbii. I have already tried it out and washed it. On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the top ranked. I would give it an 8. This because of it not being solid base. This might be due to hook size I did it in. I think I will use a smaller hook on the next one.

Otherwise, I am very happy how it turned out. I am looking forward to having a lot of these made for sell soon.

Finally, my first Reusable Dust Mop Cover, a Design By: Julie Forsey from
Happily Hooked Issue #85 April 2021

I also tried this one out and washed it. On the scale I give it a 6. As I mention in the previous blog the cotton I used was not the best. I do however; like how it work on my own floors. I have started the second with a better cotton and larger hook and I find a much better quality.

Will show more progress on WIPPs sometime next week. Until then Keep Safe and Healthy.

End of March Progress on WIPPs

 Usually, I struggle every month to make the self imposed deadline of going through the 12 WIPPs. But, this month I even finished 2 days ahead of time. I took pictures of each progress of WIPPs as I finished them for the 12th round. Starting with this months WIPP here are the photos of each WIPP.

Reusable Dust Mop Cover a design By Julie Forsey found in Happily Hooked Issue #85 - April 2021

I am about 1/2 way on the length I need for this first one. The cotton I am using is Premier Cone. I have used other colors of this brand. I find that White Premier Cotton does tend to split very badly. I am glad that this is my sample to try out and not one I am going to sell.

On this sample I am using a 4.5 mm or Size 7, Tunisian hook instead of the Size I/9 or 5.5 mm. My plans are to try and see if I can tighten up the space of larger hooks. For other samples.

Bathroom Organizer a design by Ana Dyakova found in Happily Hooked Issue #33 - December 2016

On this second version, I have gotten the bottom pocket done and divided lines sewed in. On this version instead of double crochet the 17th and 34th stitch I chained twice on the Back from Bottom to the 13th row and 17th to the 25th rows.  On the pockets I did middle of the 3rd & 6th fan on the odd rows. This made for an easy to line-up for sewing up the divisions. Also on the 17th row I slipstitch cross to make a ridge to lineup the top pocket.

Saint Jo Pillow a design by Erin Medley found in Pattern Pack Pro Issue  June 2018
with Pocket for Feet put in.

As you can see I finished the first one and started a second one. I can tell you it does keep my feet warm and cosy, while giving cushion.

From a challenge made by my husband, I am changing January's WIPP from small pillows to a Queen Size Pillow-top for a mattress. I will be blogging about this on a separate blog SCCS Adventures in Crocheting Furniture. My first blog is up now.

Cropped Bomber Jacket a Design by Darla Sims found in Crochet! September 2002

I finished a little bit more of the right front placket. I also found some frog closers on Ebay store Patchwork Panda.

Mannequin Heads basic design by Mel Garcia Tello.

The completed shown heads are 0 - 3 mo & 3 - 6 mo. The one I am working on is 6 - 12 mo. My latest addition to these heads are the ears. On the 3 - 6 mo., I also put in a pouch made out of nylon stocking filled with uncooked white rice at the neck base as a weight. I will be doing this from now on.

On the Hat, I decided to frog it and start over with a smaller hook. The ribbing was getting to long. The matching scarf, I used up the yarn I was using, so that is the WIPP I am dropping this month.

Top - Rainbow Heart Personal Pouch a Design by: Laima Akams found in Pattern  Pack Pro November 2021

Travelers Wallet, of the wing design by me.

After finishing the wallet for my husband, I went back to the pouch. You start seeing the hearts of this mosaic crochet.

I guess I forgot to get the picture of the oven mitt that I am just finishing off. 

Welcome Mat a Design by: Rachel Alford.

Almost finish the last E. Almost ready to crochet the border.

Taylor Gloves a Design by: Pam Dajczak, Sincerely Pam;
Found in Happily Hooked Issue 14 May 2015

Working on the palm of the second glove.

Lace Tent a Design by: Heidi Hengel Nieling, Found in Happily Hooked Issue 78 Sept. 2020

I finished the 3rd and last panel. Now to put the border on it. I found out one of the others panels didn't get the last row on it. 

Well that is the complete round. April's WIPP is Dust It Off Dust Mitt a Design by: Ashley Edmonds, found in Pattern Pack Pro,  July 2020. Until next time stay safe.