Crochet Valentine’s Day Treat Bags

I volunteer as a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor at the local elementary school once a week. I wanted to put together a little something for the kids for Valentine's day. 

These little bags are quick and easy to make and they use only a small amount of yarn. I am filling mine with candy, but these would also be great for small toys, stickers, erasers, etc.

Size:

The finished bag is 3 ½” wide and is 4 ½” high. You can easily adjust the size of your bag by changing the hook size, using a different weight of yarn, or increasing the length of the foundation chain.

Needed Materials:

Crochet Hook Size H

Worsted Weight Yarn Main Color – 20 g (bag)

Worsted Weight Yarn Coordinating Color – 5 g (drawstrings and heart)

Tapestry Needle

Gauge: 

4 1/2 sc = 1”

The gauge is not really important for this. I crochet tightly, but this gauge made a 3 ½” x 4 ½” bag.

Bag:

Using the Main Color, Ch 16

2 sc in 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in 13 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. Do not turn. Working on the opposite side of the foundation ch, sc in next 13 ch, join. (30 st) You may want to place a marker on the last sc to help you remember where the round begins.

Row 1: Sc in each sc around. Continue to sc until the bag measures 4” tall or about ½” less than your desired end height.

Drawstring Row: Sl st to join, ch 1, (sc in next sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc) around, join. (10 - ch 2 spaces)

Final Row: Ch 1, (sc in each sc, 2 sc in each ch 2 space) around, join, fasten off.

Drawstring (Make 2):

Using the Coordinating Color, make a chain until it is about 16” long. Fasten off.

Heart:

Using the Coordinating Color, Ch 3

Row 1: (2 dc, 1 hdc) in the 3^rd ch from the hook. Turn. (4 st)

Row 2: Ch 3. 1 dc in each of the (2 dc, 1 hdc), 2 dc into the top of the ch 3. Turn. (6 st)

Row 3: Ch 2. 1 dc in 1^st st, 2dc in next st, sl st in next st, 2 dc in next st, (1dc, 1hdc) in next st, sl st into the top of the ch 3 of row 2.

Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Finishing:

Starting at one side of the bag, weave a drawstring through the ch 2 spaces. Starting at the other side of the bag, weave the other drawstring through the ch 2 spaces. Knot the ends of the drawstrings.

Sew the heart onto the bag using the long tail.

Weave in all ends.

Abbreviations:

Ch = Chain
Dc = Double Crochet
Hdc = Half Double Crochet
Sc = Single Crochet
Sc2tog = Single Crochet Two Together
To make it easier to print, you can download a pdf of the pattern.

Have a happy Valentine's Day! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope that you are able to spend some time with your family and friends!

There are many projects to come on the blog for the upcoming year!

Scrap 2x4 Halloween Monsters

I wanted to make some new Halloween decorations, and I wanted them to be fast and easy to make. I decided to make these little monsters out of scrap 2x4 blocks. I had all the supplies on hand, so they were completely free!

Needed Materials:

Scrap Wood Blocks - I used scrap 2x4s and 1x2s, but you could use 2x3s, 2x6s or any other scrap wood you have laying around.

Paint

Wood Glue

Scraps of fabric (for the mummy)

Here is how I made each of my monsters.

Step 1: Cut your wood

You can cut your blocks to be whatever size you want. I rummaged through my scrap bin and used scraps that were 3"-5".

Step 2: Sand

Ensure that everything is sanded smooth.

Step 3: Paint

I did not use any kind of template. I just drew on a design with pencil and then painted it. You could also do a search for templates and then trace them on.

Step 4: Glue on extra parts (if applicable)

Step 5: Enjoy your Bootiful Halloween decorations!

Frankenstein

Use your wood block and cut two small blocks from a 1x2 for the bolts. You could also use a dowel, screws, or bolts.

Mummy

Use your wood block and paint on the eyes. Then, wrap the scrap fabric around the board, gluing it on as you wrap. I tore strips from an old pillow case, but any kind of scraps that you have laying around would work.

Jack-O'-Lantern

Use your wood block and cut a small block from a 1x2 for a stem. You could also use a dowel or even a stick.

Ghost

Nothing extra is needed for this one. Just paint it!

Black Cat

Use your wood block and cut two triangles from a 1x2 for ears. The eyes I painted are not the greatest, but they work for me. I had originally painted on a nose, mouth, and whiskers on my cat. But then it looked too friendly, so I painted over them. Now I think it looks like Batman. Oh well, he is kind of scary, too!

These scrap 2x4 Halloween monsters are inexpensive, quick, and easy to make. They would make a great kid's project. The kids could personalize the monsters anyway that they want.

Knit Operation Gratitude Scarf

The company that I work for encourages the employees to volunteer. Every month or so, a group of knitters and crocheters choose an organization to make items for. Last month, we made item for Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude sends care packages to Veterans, Wounded Warriors, First Responders, and U.S. Service Members that are deployed overseas. They accept many different types of donations, including hand-made scarves and hats.

I decided to make a textured diagonal scarf. This pattern is very simple, yet looks nice. Operation Gratitude accepts any pattern, as long as it is 5"-6" wide and about 48" long. They also prefer subtle colors.

If you would like to learn more about Operation Gratitude or how you can help, be sure to check out the website operationgratitude.com. If you are interested in making a knit or crocheted item, be sure to check out their specific requirements.

If you want to see more of my other knitting and crocheting projects, check out my Ravelry project page.

DIY Kid-Sized Adirondack End Table

My brother recently moved into a new house. I wanted to make a little something for the two kids. I made this cute Adirondack set.

I built the two chair's and table using Ana White's plans. I built one of these chairs last year for a charity event. If you want to see the details for that, check out my Building a Kid-Sized Adirondack Chair for Charity post.

Here are the steps that I took to build this end table.

Needed Materials:
1 - 2" x 2" at 6 feet
2 - 1" x 3" at 6 feet
1 - 1" x 2" at 3 feet
1 1/4" Kreg pocket hole screws
1 1/2" Finishing nails
Wood glue
Paint or Stain

Needed Cuts:
4 - 2" x 2" cut at 17 1/4" (legs)
4 - 1" x 3" cut at 9 1/2" (aprons)
2 - 1" x 2" cut at 9 1/2" (side supports)
1 - 1" x 2" cut at 10 1/4" (stretcher)
5 - 1" x 3" cut at 14 1/2" (slats)

Step 1: Make the cuts. I used my miter saw for all my cuts.

Step 2: Drill pocket holes into each end of the 4 aprons, 2 side supports and the stretcher.

Step 3: Using the pocket hole screws and wood glue, attach the aprons to the legs.

Step 4: Using the pocket hole screws and wood glue, attach the side supports to the legs.

Step 5: Using the pocket hole screws and wood glue, attach the stretcher to the side supports.

Step 6: Using the finishing nails and glue, attach the slats to the top.

Step 7: Fill the pocket holes with putty and sand everything.

Step 8: Paint or apply finish of your choice. I used Rustoleum spray paint.

Step 9: Enjoy! To give you an idea of size, my nephew and niece are 1 and 4 years old.

You can find more details and the full plans to build this Adirondack end table on the Ana White website.