That Crafty Bear

Hoot

eleighb — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:21:26 +0000

Hoot

Hoot hoot!

Berry Scarf (because it reminds me of blueberries)

eleighb — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:17:17 +0000

I started this project in 2007 and it has haunted me for four years. The particular cable/eyelet pattern I chose to undertake is a difficult one. Two kinds of cabling that have to be a mirror image of one another, plus a cable in the center, surrounded by double yarn-over eyelets. I don’t know what I was thinking. While beautiful, this pattern is very easy to mess up. One mistake and I was ripping my rows to start over. It instilled in me a hesitation to work on the scarf for fear of making a mistake and losing months of work. I was only able to produce about three feet of material which is not enough for a proper scarf. Sadness.

One day, I found the solution I was looking for. While browsing some scarf patterns online, I came across this. “How clever!” I thought. I decided to forgo the long scarf I originally set out to make, cut my losses, and turn my three feet of material into a V shaped scarf by simply sewing the ends together. The result is extremely satisfying.

Knit with #8 straight needles; cable needle; and Caron Simply Soft in Heather

The pattern can be found in Knitting Little Luxuries by Louisa Harding.

The Head sporting the scarf.

My head sporting the scarf.

Pattern close up.

Easy and Versitile Cowl

eleighb — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:42:13 +0000

This cowl pattern is easy and knits up fast. I used size 15 straight needles with Lion Brand “Hometown USA” bulky yarn in Washington Denim.

Pattern: CO 30 stitches. Work in garter stitch until piece becomes long enough to wrap around your shoulders when stretched, more or less 50 rows. Bind off needle. Fold piece in half and weave edges together with either a tapestry needle or crochet hook. (Note: This yarn was too thick for a tapestry needle, so I used a size N crochet hook.)

When you’re done you’ll have a big tube which, when folded different ways, can produce a number of styles.

Classic cowl. Pulled to the front but basically even all the way around.

Variation on the classic cowl. Chunky in front, less coverage in the back.

Shoulder wrap.

Hooded.

Is your face cold? No problem! Hooded with face mask.

Have a hat but your face is still cold? No problem!

Or, you could be Lady Gaga fashion forward and just rock the tube.

Inspiration for this project can be found here.

Slouchy Hipster Hat

eleighb — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:44:35 +0000

Hey, Hipsters. Your fashion sense is contagious. I knit a slouchy hipster hat, but you’ve probably never heard of it.

The hat is knit with Caron Simply Soft using #8 16″ circulars and #8 double points. It’s a basic slouchy hat pattern embellished with YO eyelets and 2×2 ribbing.

Front

Side-ish

Top

Back (that white spot is a flaw in the yarn, not lint)

I initially knit this hat so I could explore e-textiles and LEDs but I decided this style of hat probably isn’t the best design to support an arduino; the ribbing isn’t very tight and the weight of the arduino and battery pack would pull the hat off my head. So, into the box of winter gear it goes.

More e-textile business to come!

Plastic Bag Bag

eleighb — Mon, 30 May 2011 19:41:34 +0000

Saving the world one grocery bag at a time!

There’s a trend in crafting that involves up-cycling reusable materials into fashionable and functional items. In the spirit of recycling, I’ve crocheted a beach bag out of plastic grocery bags! Thanks to my parents and Joe and Haidee for the bag donations!

Most of the pictures can be clicked on for a larger view.

I’m often overrun with plastic bags. Sometimes they get re-used, sometimes they don’t.

To start, flatten out a plastic bag as neat as you can.

Fold it in half over and over (hot dog) until it is approximately an inch to an inch and a half wide.

Cut it into 1 inch strips.

When unrolled, the strips should be circles of plastic.

Loop the strips together and pull tight.

Continue looping the strips together to make a long chain. This makes up the plastic bag “yarn” (Plarn).

A big ball of PLARN!!!

The bottom of the beach bag.

Progress! Incorporating different color bags.

Complete beach bag! If it gets sandy, I can just rinse it out!

Click here for the bag pattern.

Pear Scarf!

eleighb — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:48:02 +0000

Who doesn’t love fruit?

My D&D pal Amber asked if I could manage to make a pear scarf similar to one she’d seen on Etsy.com. After some Facebooking around, my crochet buddy Judy gave me a photocopy of a pear scarf pattern from a book she had, and the fun began!

Click on pics for a larger view.

Pears (halves and wholes) pre-assembly

“The Head” sporting the scarf. Nice for chilly spring days in Long Beach!

Whole and half detail. So much fun to make!

Because she’s so nice, in exchange for the scarf, Amber gave me this book!

There’s an bacon and eggs scarf in here that I’m totally going to tackle. Thanks, Amber!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!!

eleighb — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:55:41 +0000

My brother Joe turns 31 this weekend! Yay for birthdays! Last weekend I was pondering what present I should get him. As I pondered, I came across this blog and the madness began! I crocheted Michaelangelo, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!! I remember watching the TMNT cartoon with Joe when we were kids, so I thought it would be the perfect gift.

Click on pics for a larger view.

Turtle yarn.

It looks like a turtle massacre, but it’s just turtle parts pre-assembly.

Turtle noggin. (A friend commented that it looks like an avocado, and it does! Anybody need a crocheted avocado? I’m your woman!)

Turtle arms, complete with biceps!

Watch out, Shredder! It’s Mikey, dude!!

Defending my kitchen cabinets

Happy Birthday, Joe!!

I HAVE MADE SOCKS!

eleighb — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 04:31:57 +0000

My New Year’s Resolution this year was to successfully knit a pair of socks. I think this is the first time I’ve ever followed through on a New Year’s Resolution! Yay!

I knit these socks for my awesome Momma.

The heel is the hardest part. I had to rip and re-knit three times before I got it right. Once I figured it out on the first sock, the second sock was no problem.

Knit to the toe and decrease!

One complete, one in process. I ran out of Frenches Yellow, so I substituted Honey Mustard. They’re modern socks!

Finished!

Lightbulb Cactus Update

eleighb — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:41:41 +0000

If you recall the Lightbulb Cactus from the summer of 2010, I’m sure you’re desperate to find out the fate of that tiny cactus specimen in its experimental environment.

Well he’s doing just fine! Albeit a bit deformed. I hope he makes it full circle one day. :)

Click on the pics for a larger view.

A Handmade Christmas

eleighb — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:58:19 +0000

This Christmas was a handmade Christmas! I made everyone’s gift this year and it was probably the most satisfying gift giving I’ve ever done!

My brother Ian is a big Dodger fan, so I knit him a classic beanie with an LA logo embroidered on the front. It helped him nurse the wound he’s been carrying since the Giants won the World Series.

I made a color fade twist rib beanie for my brother Joe. It’s knit with two strands of yarn held together, so it’s really thick and soft. (Pattern by Vicki Howell)

I made a slouchy bobble hat for my Sister-in-Law Haidee. It’s a more feminine beanie and fits comfortable and loose without falling off. (Pattern by Vicki Howell)

Mom bought Dad a Kindle for Christmas so I knit a case for it! The pattern includes a chain-link cable and a loop/button closure so the device won’t fall out. (Pattern by Vicki Howell)

I made a frilly scarf for Mom. She’d seen and liked another scarf I made for my cousin that had a frill like this at the end. Now she has one of her own!