Making of My Father Socks

 My Father turned 80, last September (2001), we had quite a Birthday Bash for him. So, as part of his Birthday, I decided to make him a pair of socks out of Lion Brand Recycled Yarn. I did not finished them until April. And to honor Him on this Father's Day, I thought I will finally write a post on making of these socks.

Since this is Father's Day (June 17, 2012)  I will tell you one of the good things that my father did for us three kids. My Sister Connie was the oldest, then my brother Dan came 2 years after her and I came 2 years after him. Until I was about 8 or 9 I was known as Lynnie. My father use to tell us stories when we were very young of the adventures of Connie, Danny and Lynnie.

Best Father and Daughter times for me was when we were working on something together. It could be doing something like putting a wood floor on his old VW Beetle. However; I think the most important times was in making sure that I learn my telephone number and the Basic Math Skills.

I was lucky to grow-up when Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorders were around. My father set-up his Reel-to-Reel with a on going loop. He had me record our telephone number on to that loop and that is how I memorized it.  I believe I also learned the times table using that same method. Later on he taught me how to use a Sliding Ruler. Having the basic math skills down, helped me to score very high on my GED Math Test… even thou I did not have some of the higher Math Classes.

When I had a decision to make between Woodworking and Printing programs at Madison Area Technical College, he influence my decision in taking Printing, since I already had some skills on woodworking. I have never regretted that decision. Since that is where I met my Husband and partner in business,

This is before the first frogging (ripping out). Cuffs, Legs, Heel done. Gusset done on the sock at the right. Sock on the left needed to be frogged to the heel.

I found eventually I had to frog both socks and to use the Bobby pins to keep count of the stitches.

 After frogging, ready to get the gusset correctly done.

Making progress after the second frogging. The sock on the right is in the midst of the heel. One thing about crocheting is that you can keep going back to starting over until you get it right. Good lesson in learning patience without frustration.

Both socks now have the gussets done. Whew!

 




Close-up

Ready to start on the toes.

Just 1 more row to go on each.


This pattern was done out of Crochet!   January 2011 Issue. "Just Hangin' Out Socks", Designed by Janet Rehfeldt.




This was my second pair of socks done in this pattern. The other pair was done in some Bamboo Yarn and it came out way to stretchy.  This pair came out loose.

1st Pair Done in Bamboo.

To my Papa… Happy Father's Day 2012!

Cropped Bomber Jacket - V

Finished Sweater

This is the same pattern that is mention in the previous blog, Cropped Bomber Jackets. The original pattern was on the front cover of Crochet, September 2002 Issue. The Designer is Darla Sims. My main variation of Ms. Sims design was to add stripes into the pattern, instead of being a solid color (white).

On number 3 & 4, I added the variation of having a single crochet border edging to the body before putting on the ribbing, which made a border on between the pattern of the body and the ribbing.

On this version I did another variation. Which I will go into later on.

The yarns I used on this sweater is Bernat Satin. The below picture shows the colors in detail. From the bottom to the top: Soft Fern, Fern, Forest Heather and Lavender.

Front & Sleeves

Almost Finished Back

Body Finished

The picture on the upper right shows the new variation of 1/2 Double Crochet Row for trimming. I also added 1/2 Double Crochet Row to the bottom of the sleeves before putting on ribbing.

Waist Ribbing Done now working on the Right Font Placket.

Body ready to put trim on and Sleeves with Partial Cuffs.

'

Body with all the Ribbing Done,

Hook & Eye Closers

 

 

I left long strands of yarn to make sure on both the arms and shoulders to make sure that I least have enough thread to sew around twice. 

I hope you enjoyed this posting.

Taxi Filet Crochet Drawstring Tote Bag

A Belated Wish, I wish you all a Pleasant and Prosperous 2012. This is my first finish crochet project of the year.

In this Post I am going to describe my progress of making this bag. Sometime, in the future I will do a post on how I got to making this type of bag.

However; I will tell you that I keep trying to improve on the design of my filet crochet bags. The changes in this bag from my other bags is I put D-Rings and Hooks, Made a Longer Drawstring so to make it more of a knapsack then the other bags. I also change the stitch I use on the drawstring.



From the May 2007 issue of Games Magazine I took the picture of the Taxi from Paint By Numbers section and turned it into a pattern for filet crochet bag. Plus I add 2 Blocks per Row and Column to make 1 solid Block Border and 1 Open Space Block Border round the picture.Making the following…
Open Block is DC (double crochet American) Ch (Chain) DC 
25 Blocks + 4 Blocks = 29 Blocks per Horizontal Row
35 Blocks + 4 Blocks = 39 Blocks per Vertical Column

So the foundation row is (29 x 2) + 1 = 59 chain stitchs

 The First Side is done on a Horizontal Bias.

 
  Before Starting the Second Side I Do a row of Single Crochet with Long Single Crochet on the Edge of the first side to prevent large spaces on the edges.

Preparing for the Second Side

Doing the Long Single Crochet

single crochet

2nd Side Done - Which is done on a Veritcal Bias

 

 

Then I single/long single crochet a round the bottom edges of the 2 sides, before beginning the bottom of bag, which is done in single crochet rows.

After, doing the bottom I crochet the edge of the bottom and the other side edge of the first side. The third side is done on a vertical bias.

As with the other finished sides I crochet the edging of the third side.

The last side is done on a horizontal bias. At the end and beginning of each row I connected the other sides. Also at the beginning of the last side I crocheted the 2 D-rings in place.

After all the sides are done I make a graph a design to put on the top of the bag. This top is done in the round.  The last Row is not done in Solid Blocks it is actually done With Open Block and Solid Block, repeating. Also, instead of Double Crochet, I do Triple Crochet. This makes it so I can put through the drawstring. I also this time I single crochet the top before making the draw string.

This time I made the drawstring using the Afghan Stitch instead of single crochet rows. As I said in beginning of this post I made this drawstring extra long.

Showing the Drawstrings With Hooks.

 




I placed the Hooks on the Drawstring so that they would match up to the D-Rings on the bottom.

Tools I used to light up the inside of the bag for the first picture.

This bag was began with Black and White Double Strand Thread. Which is no longer being made. So I used Black and White #10 thread to finish up.

One Tip I learned using #10 thread in a cone I learned on this project is to turn the cone on its flat side and put it in an empty coffee can. This helps to avoid tangling of the yarn.

I hope you enjoyed this posting. If you would like to leave a comment, please make sure that you are linked into one of the various links to make comments with.