Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Basket Flashback

I've heard tell that LSD is the gift that keeps giving, unsolicited-trip wise. Of course, that is only what I've heard... It would have to be as all my brain malfunctions have much less illicit sources: microwaves, bad perms, a tour through post-graduate education...

My point?

Oh! yeah... I think attending public school actually gouges its mark deeper into the brain than any silly pharmaceutical ever could - no matter how groovy. (Please, stop mentally referring to me as Grandma - the correct term is "Geezer-tina, the square".)

Anybody remember these?

Photo lifted from http://www.flickr.com/photos/24337417@N07/3551598758/

Seems like a lot of people do, and apparently with some sort of wistful sense of nostalgia. I've seen them appear in magazines and vendor sites being touted as the coolest new/old organizational tool. Even to the extent that there are shiny spanking new reproductions being made to catch the imagination of the retro-chic set that don't want to deal with rust or metal labels. Hey, more power to you all.

Me? I must be the only person in the world that snapped a tendon from the force of the knee jerk upon seeing their return. Wire locker baskets!

It was one little article about how to tame your fabric stash with kitschy fun storage solutions. Never has it been clearer that one person's gentle fond memories of school gym time past can be another person's hard, sharp smack to the back of the head... memories of school gym time past.

The term "un-athletic" couldn't even begin to describe me during those far distant days of grade school. Physical Education class was a special treat. In a time before the term "athletics" PC-ed "PE" from the vernacular, I had gym class. Fifties-era styling in an off-campus remote location. Dank, dark locker rooms. The smell of wet hay that I now know to be the unmistakable aroma of aging sweat and damp concrete floors. I'm pretty sure the locker room wasn't quite the medieval cave I remember, but then again, it was in a part of the country that is still today in the grip of cute and cuddly McCarthyism. Just because no photos exist of a rack or iron maiden doesn't mean they weren't there.

So what is my point anyway?

Nothing really. I just had some post-traumatic behavior to stave off and I find whining to be cathartic.

Still and all, I always kind of liked the metal label system on the baskets. Very ... well, uhm, organized.

Oh well, crazy is as crazy does and the dichotomy of melodramatic tendencies reigns supreme.

Hook on!
C

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Two-Color Swirlies

Wow. That could be the intro to something pretty disgusting. Relax. It's wholesome.



Ok, so maybe it's a little unsettling. ;-)

I believe I've mentioned before that I love Halloween. I may have also mentioned that I greatly enjoy crocheting spirals. But something that may not be known about me is that I like to animate stuffed animals... and now it is caught on film. yikes

I thought I'd post the pattern for the hats just in case anyone else might like to play dress up with someone small and accommodating.

Enjoy


Two-Color Swirly Cap
CA Lira 2009

*Also available with chart at Ravelry*



Yarn: Sugar n Cream - hot orange, black,1 ball each (completes both hats)
Hook: size G/6, 4.25 mm
Gauge: 16dc = 4” = 7 rows
Notions: 2 stitch markers of different colors or styles
Abbreviations: chain (ch), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc), stitch (st), back loop only (blo)


Adult

Circumference: 21” - but stretchy
Height (crown to base): 8” - fits to just above eyebrows

Worked in back loop only unless otherwise specified
Worked in continuous rounds without joining
Either color can go first – just stay consistent

1) With A, ch 2, work sc, hdc, dc into 2nd chain from hook, place “A-marker” into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

2) With B, in same ch as step 1, work sc, hdc, dc, place “B-marker” into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

3) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 2 dc in back loop only (blo) of next 2 stitches (of color B), pull long loop, remove hook

4) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 2 dc in blo of next 6 stitches (of color A), move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

5) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 2 dc in blo of next 10 stitches (of color B), move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

6) Repeat step 4

7) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc in next st, 2 dc in following st (of color B)} 12 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

8) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc in next st, 2 dc in following st (of color A)} 12 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

9) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st (of color B) 18 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

10) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st (of color B)} 18 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

11) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 3 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 24 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

12) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 3 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 24 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

13) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 4 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 30 6 times, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

14) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work [1 dc into each of next 4 sts, 2 dc in following st (of both colors)} 30 6 times, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

15) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 36 sts, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

16) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 36 sts, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

17) Repeat step 15

18) Repeat step 16

19) Repeat step 15

20) Repeat step 16

21) Repeat step 15

22) Repeat step 16

23) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off

24) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off, weave in all loose ends




Child

Circumference: 19” - but stretchy
Height (of sides): 5 ½” – fits to just above eyebrows

Worked in back loop only unless otherwise specified
Worked in continuous rounds
Either color can go first – just stay consistent
Work same as adult size up to and including step 12

13) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 30 sts, move A-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

14) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 dc into each of next 30 sts, move B-marker into front loop of last st worked, pull long loop, remove hook

15) Repeat step 13

16) Repeat step 14

17) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off

18) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off, weave in all loose ends

19) Repeat step 15

20) Repeat step 16

21) Repeat step 15

22) Repeat step 16

23) Return hook to long loop of A, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off

24) Return hook to long loop of B, adjust loop to fit around hook, work 1 hdc into each of next 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, slst to next st, end off, weave in all loose ends.