And The Class Goes On!

The crochet class that I started with way back in May is still  with me and going strong.  They have agreed to stay with me and continue their crochet lessons through September.  This is great because it will enable me to complete the required 30 hours of teaching for the second level in the Craft Yarn Council's certified crochet instructor program. It has been such a blessing to see them gain confidence and to take on more challenging projects.

I can now see the light at the end of the certification tunnel.  My last five lessons are in the hands of my reviewer, Barb Van Elsen.  I'll be on pins and needles until I hear that she approves of my work.

Her approval and the completion of 30 hours of teaching crochet will bounce me to another level in the CYC certification program.  An additional 20 hours of teaching will earn me "professional status" in the CYC certification program.  It has been a fun and rewarding  journey.

Toiletry Bag

My mother came to my crochet class last week as a special guest. I told her to bring along something to crochet.  She brought a small toiletry bag that she crochets for a non profit organization in Arizona that supports abused men and women. Every person receives one of these bags filled with toiletry items. My students were very impressed with the bag and the utility of such a bag. They began discussing  many ways the bag could be used and asked about the pattern.  Mom said she really didn't have a pattern, she just sorta made it up.  My students looked at me wanting to know if I could show them how to make the bag. I told them, I'd come up with something. Here is my bag which looks very similar to the bag my mother was working on.

And here is the pattern which I will also make available in Ravelry as a free download. You can search for me under designers as Mary Riley Hunt

Special Instructions: Do not join rounds. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round, move the stitch marker up each round as it is worked to mark the first stitch in each round.

Ch 41

Rnd 1: sc in the 2ch from the hook (place stitch marker) and in each ch to the end, do not turn, but continue to sc along the back side of the chain. (80 sc)

Rnd 2-24 sc in the back loops around for 24 rows or until desired height has been reached.

Rnd 25: at the row marker slip stitch next stitch, chain 4, skip next stitch, *dc in next stitch, ch 1, skip next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch in the 3^rd chain of beginning ch 4.

Rnd 26: ch 3, 2 dc in same stitch, *dc in next ch 1 space, 3dc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join to beginning ch 3 with a slip stitch. Finish off and weave in ends.

Tie:  chain 100. Finish off and weave around the ch 1 spaces in the bag. Add beads to both ends of the ties if desired.

Lesson Ten

I finally completed the last lesson in the CYC crochet certification program. Can I hear a drum roll please! The project package went into the mail today, and is headed to my reviewer Barb Van Elsen.

 

My lovely daughter in law, Dasny is modeling the vest. It is called Blue Waves Vest designed by Dora Ohrenstein.

 

Lesson Nine

Lesson Nine in the CYC Certified Crochet Instructor's program is on finishing techniques, namely seaming and buttonholes.

In This lesson I was required to plan  an intermediate class project to teach  the mattress stitch, the back stitch, and the slip stitch method for seaming.  I decided to use use granny squares for my lesson plans because everyone at the intermediate level should be familiar with the basic granny square and since granny squares are generally joined it seemed like a good fit. The actual joining is done in a contrasting color so the reviewer is better able to see the seaming techniques.

From left to right, is the mattress stitch, the back stitch, and the slip stitch

In lesson nine I also had to plan a project to teach button holes which included written instructions and a worked project.

Yoga Socks

My sister is a yoga enthusiast. Recently she gave me a pattern for yoga socks. The socks were made using Lion Brand Cotton Ease. I made the socks but wasn't completely satisfied with how they turned out.

Here is a picture.

This was enough inspiration, however,  for me to try my hand at designing yoga socks.  I purchased some Paton's Kroy sock yarn, measured my foot with a piece of yarn and started crocheting. Here is a picture of my first attempt with my own design.  It is worked in the round without joining.



My first attempt at my own design





I wasn't completely satisfied, and decided to try another pair this time, joining and turning the rounds, and I actually made a swatch to get a better count on the number of stitches per inch and rows per inch. The sock yarn this time is  Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Weight Yarn.  I shortened the distance a bit on the foot so that more of the ball of the foot is exposed to the floor.  I like the results, but I don't like that I can see the joins. Here is a picture, although you probably cannot see the joins.



My second attempt at my own design



I have more sock yarn, and I'm ready for a third attempt. I've decided to go with  a single crochet in the round without joining.  Stay tuned for a picture of the final sock design.



More Pictures from Crochet Class

I am so proud of my ladies in crochet class. These pictures were taken at our most recent class on June 30th.  Here is Dollie modeling the shrug that Lorraine made. Lorraine was too shy.  This pattern is a free download from lionbrand and looked great on both Lorraine and Dollie.

And here is a picture of Lorraine seaming the shrug, and Dollie working on a ripple stitch baby afghan.



Charlotte's Baby Afghan

April 15th my Great Great Niece Charlotte was born. I promised her mother, Kate  that I would design baby Charlotte a unique and special afghan  just for her.

Of course when I was designing and crocheting the afghan I didn't know if Charlotte was going to be a he or a she so the colorway is a nice spring color suitable  for a boy or girl.

The pattern is still in spreadsheet form. I haven't decided yet if I'll self publish the pattern or submit for publication to a crochet magaine.  The yarn is I love This Yarn, purchased at Hobby Lobby.

You can tell by the big smile on Kate's face that she was happy with the finished product.