loopy boa

I used the book shown in the sidebar, So Simple Crochet, for the pattern to this. But you don’t really need a pattern; just find instructions for the loop stitch. Make a chain the length you want the boa to be. Make as many rows as you like using the loop stitch on both front and back sides. That’s it! So easy and it only takes 1 skein. I don’t see why you couldn’t do this with the knitted loop stitch just as easily.

mary jane slippers

I adapted a pattern I found here.

coffee cup cozies

I made these as a gift for some friends.

purple washcloth

My friend Tamar gave me some beautiful soap–anise & lavender! It makes me feel calm just to smell it. I decided to crochet a washcloth just for this soap.

a fabric screen door

I have wished for a screen door for the kitchen/back doorway so I could let the blessedly cool morning air in without confusing the bees. I hit upon the idea of making a curtain of fabric that is actually meant to be used to make laundry hampers. I originally bought the fabric to use in the garden in place of bird netting. (It worked really well for that.) This fabric is 60″ wide and very cheap-99 cents/yard!

I am pleased with how it turned out. I wasn’t precise in measuring the length, so there’s some slack on the side away from the door hinges. This works perfectly because you can go in and out without removing the curtain, even though it is fixed with curtain rods through the top and bottom hems.

Here’s how it looks from inside the house:

And here’s how it looks from outside:

two moleskin dresses

I made two moleskine dresses and a jacket to match one of them. The patterns I used are shown at the right.

The pattern for the brown dress isn’t dated, but it looks like the 1960s, doesn’t it?

Here’s how it turned out.

The blue fabric is actually an even color, but I took the photos in the garden and there were shadows.

Luckily, I found the perfect button in the button box, and there was only one.

mobius wrap

Here is a project I call a mobius wrap. It is a simple crocheted (could be knitted or even made of fabric) rectangle that is twisted once and then joined, like a Mobius strip. For this one, I used the begonia stitch.

peach dress with tote

I made this dress with a pattern dated 1965. In those days, dresses were designed for women with curves(!) I used the second piece of fabric my friend gave me from her grandmother’s stash.

When I finished it, I had just enough fabric left over to make a matching tote–so I did. The tote features (what else?) yo-yos.

same pattern; two different dresses

I made two different styles of dresses from this pattern. The first one is in red gingham. It has the bow details suggested by the pattern.

I really like the princess line of the dress and the full, twirly skirt.

Here’s a close-up of the bow details.

The second dress is made with a pink knit fabric. The pattern didn’t specify knit as an option, but it worked well. I didn’t need the zipper, so I saved myself a step.

I thought the bows would work better with this fabric, but they turned out to be awkward and inelegant. Casting around for another option, I recalled this blog entry on Sew Mama Sew! about yo-yos. I thought I’d give it a try.

I like how it turned out.

Here’s a close-up of the yo-yos just after I made them.

And do you notice that spool of thread? A wooden spool of thread that cost 29 cents!

I’ve had this thread a long time.

an A-line sundress

I love the fabric of this dress! It looks like a quick sketch of flowers painted in the 1960s. I think I got this fabric at the thrift store.

An A-line like this is perfect for summer–loose and cool.

Here’s a close-up of the front detail.