Deck Out Your Dorm Room Part 1: Loopy Rug (Crochet)

Many of you are likely going off to college next fall. Some of you might just be in the mood to redecorate a bedroom or a current dorm room. in any case, this is the series for you! I've been working on crafts to decorate a plain Jane room and turn it into something awesome, all with yarn!

First up, the lovely Loopy Rug!

While the loop stitch is fairly easy to learn, I recommend being comfortable with regular crochet before you start trying to get this.

Here's what you'll need:

I used several colors of stash yarn, namely Caron Simply Soft, because it is cheap and I am in college.

You will need one ball (6 oz) of each for the rug pictured:
White
Dark Country Blue (dark blue)
Passion (purple)
Sage (green)
Watermelon (pink)
Blue Mint (light blue)


You will also need a size H/8 hook and a tapestry needle.



Starting with Passion (purple), cast on 62 stitches. Chain one, turn.
Row 1: Here's where you do your first row of loop stitches.


To do the loop stitch:
Hold the yarn in your right hand like so:

Stick your hook through the next stitch as if to single crochet.

Grab the yarn farthest from your hook, closest to your fingers without actually being wrapped around them.

Pull through the stitch that's on your hook so you have two loops. You should still have yarn looped around your pointer finger.

Again, grab the yarn furthest from your hook, but that is still apart of the loop around your pointer finger.

 Pull through both loops on hook. Drop the yarn on your pointer finger, and it becomes a loop!

Do the loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.

Row 2: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 3: Loop stitch all the way across. Switch to white, chain one, turn.
Row 4: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 5: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to watermelon (pink). Chain one, turn.
Row 6: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 7: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 8: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 9: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 10: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 11: Loop stitch all the way across, change to Dark Country Blue, chain one, turn.
Row 12: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 13: Loop stitch all the way across, switch back to watermelon, chain one, turn.
Row 12: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 14: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to white, chain one, turn.
Row 15: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 16: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 17: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 18: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 19: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 20: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to sage, chain one, turn.
Row 21: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 22: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 23: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 24: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 25: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 26: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 27: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 28: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to blue mint, chain one, turn.
Row 29: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 30: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 31: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 32: Loop stitch all the way across, switch back to sage, chain one, turn.
Row 33: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 34: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 35: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 36: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to passion, chain one, turn.
Row 37: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 38: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to white, chain one, turn.
Row 39: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 40: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 41: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 42: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to dark country blue, chain one, turn.
Row 43: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 44: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 45: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 46: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to blue mint, chain one, turn. 
Row 47: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 48: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 49: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 50: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 51: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 52: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to watermelon, chain one, turn.
Row 53: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 54: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 55: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 56: Loop Stitch all the way across, switch to white, chain one, turn.
Row 57: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 58: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 59: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 60: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 61: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 62: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 63: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 64: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 65: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 66: Loop stitch all the way across, switch to passion, chain one, turn.
Row 67: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 68: Loop stitch all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 69: Single crochet all the way across, chain one, turn.
Row 70: Loop stitch all the way across, cut yarn leaving a 6" tail, pull through to bind off.
Weave in all loose ends.


There you have it! That's the body of your rug! You can leave it as is if you are putting it down on carpet, but I have a laminate floor in my dorm so I need to add some traction, so it doesn't slide all over the place. I did that by making random squiggles on the bottom with a hot glue gun, but you could also sew on a rug gripper type thing.

Easy As pie Cabled Headband-Knitting

So you've been practicing your cables, but you want to actually make something with that nifty trick? Well, this headband is a PERFECT beginner project! It is easily decorated by sewing on something like a button or a crocheted flower, but it looks adorable on its own as well!

What you'll need:
A small amount of worsted weight yarn
Us size 8 (5mm) needles (I used two of my double pointed needles)
Cable needle or extra double pointed needle
Tapestry (yarn) needle
Scissors

Cast on 12 stitches
row 1: knit
row 2: purl
row 3: knit
row 4: purl
(this is better known as the stockinette stitch)
row 5: Knit 1, slip the next five stitches onto cable needle, knit the next five, knit the stitches on the cable needle, knit 1.




row 6: purl
row 7: knit
row 8: purl
row 9: knit
row 10: purl

Keep repeating rows 5-10 until headband is big enough to fit snugly around your head. For me, this meant I had 16 cables total. Cut the yarn.

Seam ends together.

Ta-dah! You've just finished your headband. You can now choose to leave it as it is, or you can add decorations like a flower or a button, as I said earlier. Go forth and wear your headband with pride!

A Long Time Gone

...




Please forgive me.


I have an excuse! I graduated high school a year early and am now in college.


Yay?


Anyway, I have some wonderful stuff going on!

I have been working on some colorwork charts for knitting, as well as hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters, and socks. As for crochet? Well, it's about the same, minus the socks, and the colorwork. Please look forward to that!

As a special treat, I plan on sharing some more tips on getting started with things like double pointed needles, circular needles, and the like. Also, I have been working on some videos of my projects. Anyway, lots of good things are coming!


So, please forgive me for being a typical first time blogger. I do want to help spread the magic of yarn to everyone!

Hooks and Needles and Yarn, Oh My!

As I am shifting through my patterns, trying and testing them to make sure I don't need to make corrections, I realized that I use some similar types of yarn and some similar hook and needle sizes. So I decided to compile a list of what I commonly use, to help some of you newer crafters when shopping, and to help some people interested in my designs know what they will most likely need for my next project.

As far as yarn goes, I have two favorites. They are the Lion Brand Homespun yarn,
6.00 oz./170 g (185 yd/169 m)
98% acrylic, 2% polyester
Weight Category 5 (Bulky)
This one is for more experienced crafters, because it can be more dificult to work with. It does, however, work up quickly in both knit and crochet. It is very silky and soft, with pretty color variations. It is also very warm, which makes it perfect for hats and scarves.
The other favorite is Caron Brand Simply Soft.
It is 100% acrylic
Weight Category 4 (Medium)
The yardage and what not varies depending on the kind you get.
This yarn is perfect for beginners and experts alike. It is relatively inexpensive, yet looks and feels more high quality than most yarns. It comes in tons of colors ranging from white to neon, so you're sure to find what you want. The projects made from this will tend to be smaller and not work up as quickly, but it is easier to count your stitches and what not.

There are other kinds of yarn I like, some that you need to find a specialty yarn store to buy even, but those are the two I use most often. You can find both at stores like Hobby lobby, Joann Fabrics, and Michael's.

Hooks and Needles
As far as these go, the kind of yarn you are using will determine what size you need in needle and hooks. But I'll tell you what size you'll need for the two yarns above.
For the Homespun yarn, I use a K/10.5 crochet hook and a size 10 knitting needle.
For the Caron, I use an I/9 hook and size 8 needles.
What needles you use also depends on how tight or loose your stitches are. If they turn out too tight, you a larger size hook/needle. If they are too loose, use a smaller size. This is especially important on things like hats and mittens and sweaters, because if you do it too big or too loose, they won't fit right. But in projects like scarves and my little iPod cozy, it doesn't really matter so long as it works.

I hope these descriptions were helpful to you. When I first started to crochet, I had no clue what yarn to use and I was often too shy to ask for help, so I know I would have loved something like this. My first yarn shopping trip was a disaster, I got a boucle yarn and its texture made it hard for me to count the stitches, the rows, everything. My final project looked like something had eaten the edges off. So I recommend that any beginners stick to a non-novelty yarn, and try to use things like the caron, you know, regular worsted weight yarns.

That's all for tonight, happy stitching!

A Little Update...

Hey! Sorry for the wait for a new post. I have been wrapped up in finals at school, and my pattern making has taken a hit and been replaced with studying. But I finished finals today, so a new pattern (a Holiday one none the less) will be up before the end of the weekend! But thanks for reading, knitting and crocheting.