Blue Ombre Crochet Basket

Before we had completed Phase #1 of our move, I decided that it was more important to make some decor for our new apartment than to packing boxes. So I settled in on the couch and pulled out some vintage yarn. I had been planning on getting rid of this yarn when we moved. While I enjoyed the colors, it was taking up too much room in my stash. I had three skeins of each color and they just didn't make the cut when up against beautiful wool. But when I decided to make this basket, I knew it was the poifect yarn.

Ombre is probably on its way out of style, but I don't care: I love it!!

"Why a basket?" You might ask. Well, while prowling through Pinterest and Ikea for clever ideas on how to decorate our new abode in style, I found myself being attracted to storage baskets tucked neatly under side tables. Now, some of those cute lil cubbys featured hefty price tags. But why?! They are just baskets!! Being savvy, crafty, and motivated by not wanting to pack, I decided to crank out some of my own baskets.

I crocheted with all three strands of each color together to make a nice sturdy fabric. I am very fond of the outcome: vintagey and useful. It also kind of has a beachy feel, which is fine by me. I have always wanted a breezy, nautical themed home. Even though it's the middle of winter. And I live in a landlocked state. And will be moving to another landlocked state. But hey. I have my dreams, and I'm sticking with them!

Think of all the things I can carry around in here!!

For the edging, I did reverse single crochet (aka crab stitch). I looove love love love the way this looks and the tight, corded edge it makes. I've used it on baby blankets before as well. It reminds me of the look of the edging on those woolen blankets from the Southwest. So chunky and nice. Mhmhmhmhmh. Edging.

Those tight stitches, yo

A close up of the corded edge

So much room for storage!!

Perfect for yarn stashing. And, as a plus, I can select matching yarn to stow in it. Decorating!!

I will probably use this basket to tuck some magazines and maybe a few skeins of yarn under a side table in our living room. I'm leaning towards one of Ikea's "Lack" side tables because they are so affordable and spiffy. Maybe in grey? Depends on what color couch we get, I guess. This pregnancy thing just makes me want to decorate everything. Is that normal? I'm not complaining, (because who doesn't like to have a cute living space?) but just curious if decorating counts as a nesting instinct.

Hope you all had a sweet Valentine's Day!! I know I did.

Yours craftily,
Carolyn
Linkin' up at these fine sites!

Knit Some Cozy Mitts: Free Pattern

Need a quick little project that is high in the cozy factor? With the temp dipping back down below zero here again, I did. My hands are ALWAYS COLD. ALWAYS. I have been wanting to make some mitts for a while now, and after seeing this free pattern by Carissa Knits I knew it was time.

While I have not been active online, I have been very active at home. Well, maybe not "very" active. But somewhat active. More active than I have been online, at least. As you can see by the pictures of piles of boxes and moving supplies that I'm not showing you, I've gotten a lot done. And that means I earned knitting time, right? Right.

Siiigghhhh. Moving is so messy.

 I used one of my fave shades of Caron Simply Soft. This saturated, jewel-tone teal is just yummy yummy for my eyes. I love it. I am sort of kind of making a blanket out of jewel tones like this. It's on hold though, so I stole the teal for these mitts.

 Another fun tidbit about this project: it was my first experience with cables!! I am smitten. I want to cable everything.

Socks. Underwear. Shower curtains. Pants. Sweaters. Vests. A box.

Everything.

 I also would like to note that I discovered I was doing "make 1"s wrong. I suspected it was incorrect when I was working on Sailor's Christmas present and ended up with a vampire-bite looking hole where I had done two m1's. I had increased stitches before in other projects, but had been with the knit through the back of the stitchy thing method. So I looked up how to ACTUALLY make one using the "raise the bar" technique. And look how clean it looks! That niiceeee lil row of new stitches. So proud.

This pattern is really quite easy. I would recommend, though, checking the sizing a bit. My hands are itty bitty baby hands, and these mitts are a lil too big for me. I prefer skin-tight, my-fingers-are-turning-purple gloves. You know, the kind that...fit like a glove. Right.

I don't fault the pattern with this, because my hands are freakishly small.

Give this pattern a try! Your hands deserve to be stylishly warm like mine are.

Happy Friday!!
-Carolyn
Linkin' up at these fine sites!