Two weeks ago it was 93° here in New York City. Now it is Poncho Time!
I am not partial to big crochet projects. They can be unwieldy to work on, and become heavier and heavier as they grow. I don’t know why I thought a poncho would be a quick and easy project. Easy? Yes. Quick? Not at all!
Nevertheless, my poncho is done and in time for fall. It is warm and comfortable.
I used a medium weight 4 Caron Simply Soft yarn and a size J hook. The project started at the neckline with a chain of 76 and worked down to the hem, growing with every row. It it is Back Loop Double Crochets with an increase at each arm and a double increase mid front and mid back. It is trimmed with a scalloped border at bottom and 3 rows of single crochet added to the neck with a small notch at neck front.
Pictured: That’s me wearing the poncho described above. Color is Minty Blue, according to Caron. At my feet is my usually shy 25-pound cat Ernie.
My granddaughters love their dolls. One has an Adora toddler doll she named Scarlett, a 20-inch tall doll that weighs a full 2 pounds! The other has the ever-popular Barbie doll. Both dolls need lots of care, and lots of clothes, naturally.
Pictured: This is Scarlett sitting pretty in her new crocheted dress. The dress has stripes of colors that blend gradually from reds to pinks to a bright yellow hem . The skirt is V stitches with a scalloped border.
Pictured: Scarlett has her back to us now. Don’t worry! She is not mad or upset. She is just showing us the back of her dress with button at the upper back. – Photos by Emilia, age 11.
Pictured: Barbie is wearing a fitted yellow dress with spaghetti straps. Not shown is the low cut back. Barbie has accessorized with a red hair ribbon. – Photo by Sidrah, age 9.
Pictured: A thick fuzzy crocheted dusting mitt is shown swiping dust from window blinds.
Sometimes things look way better than they really are!
Several years ago, I saw a youtuber demonstrate the use of a kind of yarn I had never seen before. It was Bernat Tizzy yarn. (Apparently, this particular yarn had been recalled in 2015. Nevertheless, similar yarns are available.) This is a chunky yarn with lots of little ends hanging off the main strand. The yarn is also variegated – a fuzzy yarn that changes colors too. This funky yarn was designed to create a product with lots of texture and color. It looked like fun. I ordered a skein.
I was excited when the yarn arrived and I began to work with it right away. I had never worked with any fancy yarn before so the whole thing was new to me. I tried to create the foundation chain, ripped it, and tried a few more times. After some time, I managed to complete that foundation chain and went on to try and work a single crochet in each chain stitch. After numerous attempts, I dropped the project. All I had created was frustration.
The other day I watched another youtube video, this one using a similar crazy yarn. The youtuber had made a dusting mitt. She raved about her project. The crazy yarn made a great duster, she said. It looked cute.
So I pulled out my skein of yarn that has been tucked away for years and decided to try again. I simplified the youtuber’s pattern though, and made a dusting mitt in the round – just one piece – no sewing, no fuss. And after an hour or so, it was done.
Pictured: A single strand of funky yarn in varying shades of pink. There are small pieces of yarn coming off of the main strand for the purpose of creating a thick fuzzy knit or crochet project.
This yarn is difficult to work with and I would never spend hard-earned money on such a type of yarn as this again. However, today it worked. Because of its thickness, I was able to feel my way even though the stitches were buried beneath the fluff. If there are errors, no one will ever know! And it is a dusting mitt; if there are errors, who would care!
My dusting mitt turned out great! It picks up dust easily from tabletops to window blinds. It goes in the washer and dryer. Best of all, I got rid of some crazy yarn that, until now, was just taking up space.
This simple crochet project helps to keep all of your crochet accessories in one place. It is portable, pretty, and handy. It requires only some leftover yarn.
Are you thinking gift yet?
Pictured: Crochet Caddy in a solid forest green color. It is about 5 inches wide and 10 inches tall. It is held closed by a small strap with a decorative 1-inch diameter white button.Pictured: Crochet caddy in open position. The inside is in view. It measures approximately 11 inches wide and 10 inches tall. Two stitch markers are in place on the upper left and a small scissors is tied in place next to them. Three threaded embroidery needles are in place on the upper right. Seven crochet hooks are held in place by weaving them vertically through the crochet fabric.
A longhand pattern for newbie crocheters and for ease of access with screen readers is available. Click on the link that follows:
When I want to see things, I hold them close, very close. Reading is possible if the letters are big enough and held close enough. But how long can I stay hunched over a book or a chart, or whatever? How long until my wrists and shoulders ache from holding up a heavy book or even a one-page instruction sheet? Not very long! It takes just minutes, sometimes just seconds, before my neck and especially my back start to ache unbearably. So I have found ways to hold things close, and at just the right height and angle.
So here are 9 ways I have found to hold things close.
Pictured: Silver phone stand by Belkin – one position only, but folds compactly for portability.
I bought this Belkin cell phone stand in 2012 and I still use it frequently. I like to keep my phone propped up with speakerphone turned on, especially for group conversations. There are times when I use it to support my iPad for skype chats. It is very small, just 3” x 5”. It folds up compactly and is easy to carry with me. I don’t think this particular one is still available, but you get the idea.
Pictured: An iPad held by a flexible black metal arm that is clamped to a table. The arm can move in any direction side-to-side and up and down.
I use this for applying my makeup, and fixing my hair. I use an old iPad that is no longer supported by Apple and so I can’t download any of the newer software. It has become my grooming station. I use a magnifier app to help with makeup, and the camera to snap selfies that I then enlarge (a lot) to check out the results. With this iPad holder, I can move the arm up, down, this way or that – exactly where I need it with just a light touch.
Pictured: Belkin tablet stand for great support of heavier tablets and more. It can be easily positioned up and down to any angle, including parallel to the table.
The tablet can be moved up and down to almost any angle and the tablet is always held securely. I like to place the iPad parallel to the table. Then I hang just the camera end over the side. I can capture documents by photo or scan and send them to my computer for enlargement and manipulation. This stand is sturdy enough to easily hold my iPad Pro. It also supports my big whiteboard (16″ x 20″) while I write notes and reminders.
Pictured: Bamboo book stand has 4 tilt positions and strong metal arms that can be positioned to hold your book in place with pages held flat.
I love bamboo because it is ecologically friendly. This book stand is super sturdy and holds even large or heavy books open so that the pages are flat. I prop this up to where it works best for me.
Pictured: Bamboo lap desk. The main section of the top can lie flat or be raised to tilt in 4 positions with ledge to keep a book or laptop from slipping. About 1/4 of the table remains flat to hold additional materials. A side drawer pulls out to store small stationary supplies.
More bamboo, and still loving it.
This bamboo laptop desk can be placed over he lap when seated on a chair or couch, or even sitting up in bed. I love the look and feel of this, its versatility, and its small convenient drawer. It can be used as a flat table or angled in four different positions.
Pictured: A lap table with 4 height positions and 4 tilt positions. It has guards to prevent items from slipping off the tabletop. Extra wide surface and super sturdy, yet very lightweight. Here it is on top of another table, where I like it best.
I call this my Tabletop Table because I use this versatile table on top of another table. I use it for close work, like drawing, or projects that will take me some time. With this, I have less bending forward to see what I am doing. I am more comfortable and I can work for longer periods of time. It sure saves my neck and back from aching. It has a large writing surface. This one measures 20″ x 12″ and there is a larger version also available. The legs can be extended in a choice of heights, bringing the material closer and closer to me as needed, and then the table can tilt to four different angles. This has become my favorite accessory.
Pictured: A small silver tablet holder. The base is flat on the table and rolls around the back and up in a fixed position to support the flexible area that actually holds the tablet. This part easily moves to angle the tablet.
My newest addition. This is a small tablet stand that I use to hold my smaller whiteboard which measures 11” x 14”. I keep it next to my computer. It makes jotting down notes or reminders easy-peasy. Plus, it is portable and adjustable and I can easily carry my whiteboard and stand from room to room as needed. This small tablet stand works great for me most of the time, and is one-quarter of the price (under $15) of the larger Belkin tablet stand I talked about above.
8. Recipe Holder
Pictured: A white plastic clothes hanger with 2 binder clips clamped on holding a large print recipe. It is hanging from a kitchen cabinet knob. This recipe is for homemade Play-Doh (for the kids to play with).
We used to call this a “Rube Goldberg” machine. It is a simple DIY, and one of my favorite things. It is a plastic (or wire) clothes hanger, like the ones you get free with purchase from department stores. Just clip your recipe to the hanger and hang in your kitchen work area from a cabinet knob or handle. If you don’t have a hanger with clips attached, how about using a couple of binder clips clamped onto a hanger you already have.
9. Arms
Pictured: The hug! Here the author is hugging a man. Okay, my husband.
When you want to hold a person close, it is your arms that are most appreciated. Hugs, everyone!
How many hats will I crochet before I figure out what I really want? Answer: A lot!
I have tried a lot of patterns in the last month. I even created several hats to completion that were quickly frogged. I thought I wanted a floppy summer hat. I was wrong!
I do not think crochet and floppy summer hats go together. Each hat was much too heavy. Some of them looked cute, but the weight was too much.
So I turned my attention to newsboy hats: a simple hat with a visor. Every one I found seemed to also be more appropriate for winter, according to the yarn used and bulky stitches. So I found one pattern I liked best and modified it.
I made a simple hat using 100% cotton for its breathability and worked double crochet stitches for the hat itself to keep the hat light and airy. I added a visor brim with several rows of single crochet by first adding a braid around the base of the hat to give the hat a better fit as well as a more interesting edge. And voilà!
Pictured: The author wearing the newly crocheted newsboy hat, front view.Pictured: The author wearing the newly crocheted newsboy hat, side view.
The longhand pattern can be found under the CROCHET tab on the menu at the top of this page, or just click HERE for the pattern.
The abacus was invented in approximately 500 BC. It functioned as a counting device for centuries. It dates back to a time when written numbers did not yet exist. Merchants used the abacus to track inventory; farmers used them to count animals returning from the pasture. The abacus has evolved and been adapted by different civilizations and groups over the centuries. Essentially it is rows of stringed wire within a frame with a set number of movable beads on each row and column.
I have a Cranmer abacus. I took a course to understand its function and how to manipulate the beads. I am just nerdy enough to have enjoyed that course. But, the course is over and I have this nifty counting device at hand. I found the perfect use for it.
My abacus is my stitch counter. It also functions as my line-by-line stitch instructions. It keeps my place, counts my rows, and shows me my stitch pattern. It is handy, lightweight, practical, portable, and fits in the palm of my hand. It does not rely on electricity or batteries, devices, or apps. It is the handiest crochet accessory I have used yet, second only to the hook itself.
My Cranmer abacus measures 6 inches wide by 3 inches tall, and is held horizontally. The beads line up vertically in columns. It is divided by an upper row of only one bead in each column and is separated from the bottom section by a bar. The bottom section has four beads in each column. Since crochet is usually worked from right to left, my bead arrangements follow that same pattern.
Pictured: My Cranmer abacus for my current project. It shows that I have completed 4 rows. The 5th row will be worked with 4 chains followed by a single crochet and this pattern will be repeated across the row. A crochet hook is shown above the abacus demonstrating the abacus to be about the same width as the crochet hook is long.
I use the top section to count rows. Every time I complete a row, I move one bead from the top section down toward the separating bar. When a second row is complete, I move the 2nd bead from the right down. After I have completed 10 rows, I mark the 11th row by returning to the far right bead and now moving it to the up position away from the bar. My abacus has 13 columns. I use the last 3 column of the top row on the left to count sections or other pattern-specific things.
Now the stitches. For these, I use the beads in the bottom section.
If I am crocheting a single crochet across the row, I move 2 beads up toward the bar in each column all the way across to the left. Two beads is my bead code for single crochet.
Pictured: Cranmer abacus. Top row has first 3 beads on the right moved down indicating completion of the 3rd row of the crochet project. The bottom section has 2 beads moved up in each row across indicating a single crochet is to be worked for every stitch in that row of the crochet project.
If I am working a double crochet stitch across a row, I move 4 beads up to the bar across the row. Three beads is my code for half-double crochet.
If I am crocheting a pattern, I indicate the pattern with one bead up for a chain stitch (to create a space between stitches) , two beads up for a single crochet, 3 beads up for a half double crochet, four beads up for a double crochet, and so on. If my pattern is 2 single crochets, 1 chain, and 2 single crochets, I move 2 beads in the first column, 2 beads in the second column, 1 bead in the 3rd column, 2 beads in the 4th column, and 2 beads in the 5th column. I can see or feel at a glance what the pattern across the row will be. (Pictured below)
Pictured: Top row – 4 beads down indicates 4 rows have been completed. Bottom section shows the pattern to be worked for the next row which is 2 half-double crochets, a chain stitch, and 2 more half-double crochets. This would be repeated across the 5th row.
I can count my crochet rows and stitches until the cows come home!
Men do it, women do it, even dedicated blind do it. So grab your hooks or your needles and let’s look at some tips to make yarn crafts more accessible, organized, and fun.
Pictured: Crocheted items include hotpad, hat with pompom, scarf, and towel holders.
Tip #1
Good lighting. A task light can be the best tool of all.
Pictured: A desk lamp with soft-light fluorescent bulb is designed for task lighting. The head can be positioned and directed as needed. This lamp is directed on a cone of red cotton yarn and a crochet hook with beginning slip knot.
Tip #2
Use chunky yarn and larger hooks and needles. Larger gauge materials are easier to work with. With some experience, common 4-ply yarn can be doubled and even tripled for some projects.
Pictured: Two skeins of red yarn. On the left is worsted weight and on the right is super chunky. The super chunky yarn is much thicker and requires a much larger crochet hook, as shown.
Tip #3
Use large print or audio pattern instructions. (Duh!)
Pictured: YouTube icon. YouTube has many crochet tutorials and patterns in audio format.
Tip #4
Consider loom knitting. Loom knitting can be easier to work with, especially for newbies, with fewer dropped stitches.
Pictured: A pink knitting loom with a pink knitted hat in progress.
Tip #5
Use paper clips as stitch markers. The colorful vinyl-coated paper clips work well with little or no snagging. The paper clips are also great as a place holder at the end of your knit/crochet session. Slip a paper clip through the last stitch, and even the cat won’t be able to unravel your work overnight while you sleep.
Pictured: Six paper clips, all vinyl coated, assorted colors.
Tip #6
Use plastic blunt-tipped needles for weaving in all those ends at project’s conclusion.
Pictured: Three blunt-tipped plastic sewing needles with large eyes for working with yarn.
Tip #7
Use a needle threader. Some needle threaders are better than others. The needle threader pictured below is my favorite. I have been using just one of them for years now. I have not needed to use any of the backup threaders.
Pictured: Three identical flat metal needle threaders. Each has a small hook on one end for threading embroidery threads and a larger hook at the opposite end for threading yarns of various types.
Tip #8
Keep a magnet in a small sewing box with your needles. This will save you from crawling on your hands and knees hunting for that dropped needle or pin. A magnet holds onto my needle threaders too.
Pictured: A small metal box with two magnets inside, one on the inside lid and one on the inside bottom. Paper clips and needle threaders are held in place by the top magnet, and sewing and embroidery needles are held in place by the bottom magnet.
Tip #9
Store project – all yarn, hooks, instructions, etc. – in a plastic bag or box. Keep a written or voice recorded record of yarn type and color, hook/needle size, and any special instructions. You might add the date in case it becomes a time capsule.
Pictured: A clear plastic zippered bag with crochet project, working yarn, crochet hook and written instructions inside. The instructions card says: Hat, Caron Simply Soft white, hook H, scrap colors #4.
Tip #10
Keep your working yarn in a container to keep the yarn balls from rolling around and onto the floor. A colander works well for multiple balls of different colors. A coffee can can be repurposed to fit the need, as can a shoe box or almost any other container.
Pictured: A colander with two skeins of yarn (one pink, one white) with yarn ends poking through colander holes from inside to outside. A crochet hook is seen with white yarn ready to be worked.
Bonus Tip
Replace your sewing straight pins with sewing clips. When you drop one without even knowing it, sewing clips are so much less painful to step on!
Pictured: Four sewing clips of various colors. Each clip is pressed open and clamps onto the fabric much like a miniature clothespin.
__________________________
The following products are presented for information only. They are not specifically endorsed.
Legally Blind 