Kitchen And Shopping Items Handy And Unique
While there has always been interest in making items for use in the home, it has never been stronger than now. Whether you are making something for your own home or as a gift, I’m sure that you’ll find the set offered here quite unique.
This set actually can be divided into two parts. First, we have the kitchen items: an apron, dish towel and dish cloth. The second item is a handy shopping tote. Following are some general ideas about needleworking for kitchen and shopping pieces, along with specific hints for these patterns.
Cotton is an ideal fiber for kitchen use. We have chosen a nonmercerized cotton that is soft and durable. It also absorbs water better than a mercerized cotton yarn, which has an applied finish. Cotton can be laundered easily and will wear well with continuous use.
Although we use the towel and cloth for kitchen use, you might consider making them for the bath.
While the apron fits most people, you can alter it slightly to fit a specific person. It’s very easy to make the ties and the neck loop longer or shorter.
Match the colors you use to your own decor or the decor of the recipient of the gift. Red and white are crisp and bright tilelike colors that will liven up any kitchen. How about using white with a strong blue or black?
When you crochet using two contrasting colors, remember to crochet over the color not in use as you work.
These patterns use the most basic stitches. The apron and towel are both done all in single crochet using a large hook. The dish cloth features a simple single-double crochet stitch. Work the tote bag in double crochet.
The only shaping techniques you need to know to work these pieces is how to work an easy decrease and increase. To work a decrease in either single or double crochet, you simply pull up loops in two stitches and work those stitches as one stitch. To work an increase, you make more than one stitch into a single stitch. The decrease and increase used only adds or takes away a single stitch at a time.
Have you ever added pockets to a crocheted garment? If not, learn to do it using our easy apron. It’s a very effortless process once you try it.
The pockets are really worked in two distinct steps. First, you create an opening for the pocket on the piece. This is done by working across a number of stitches in single crochet, chaining a certain number of stitches for the pocket opening, working some more stitches in single crochet, working a second pocket opening and then single crocheting to the end. On the next row, you work single crochet stitches on all stitches, including those loops created by the chain.
The second step is to add the pocket lining once the piece is complete. Go back to the opening and work single crochet stitches along that opening. The pocket lining flap is worked even for 5 inches. Both linings are then sewn on the wrong side.
For fun kitchen use, there are a number of crocheted options. The kitchen ensemble includes a colorful apron, dish towel and dish cloth in bright poppy red and white. The all-purpose tote bag comes in stylish black. All pieces are worked easily in single and double crochet using a large size H (5mm) crochet hook. The yarn is a durable, 100 percent worsted-weight cotton.
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