Birdies Crochet and Craft: My Draft Dodger

NOTES OF INTEREST:

Just Crochet/Craft Idea's: It's been a very long time since I have posted anything to my Blog. Due to family and life in general, I got a little detoured. I will try to get time to type up some new entries. I have created a lot of items, gave them away and did not take pictures or type them up. We lost both of our boys this year. Jiggy in March and Stubby in July. We have a new friend her name is MayBee (due to the fact that we weren't quite sure about keeping her). She's 4 years old and full of energy. I make her Kitty Strings with yarn, it was such a hit, I donated some to the local animal shelter. I'll try to put them on the Blog next week. As usual, if you have questions about crafting or crochet, I will answer them under the post where you leave the comment. Thanks for stopping by. Birdie

News of interest and/or Fun:
All your yarn web sites have Free patterns and great yarn buys. So check them out. My favorite finds to date are Red Heart Yarns, Lion Brand and Lilly Sugar & Cream Cotton. Also don't forget the craft stores, like Michael's or Joann's, they also have free patterns in their yarn section and some great books for sale.

Also GO TO... ALL FREE CROCHET or FAVE CRAFTS, They always have new Free e-books and lots of patterns and crafty things. and remember they also have ALL FREE KNITTING too!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

My Draft Dodger

Broom Handle Draft Dodger

Get rid of the draft that comes under your door and enjoy the flowers you know will be coming in the spring.

Materials:

Old used broom or mop handle, cut in half and remove all hardware from poles. Mine was ¾” thick and 22” long for each half. You will slide these into the outer parts of the rectangle when finishing. If your handle is larger you can adjust the length and/or width later.

1 skein Kelly Green, medium worsted weight (#4) 3.5 oz./apx. 170 yd, for rectangle

Leftover sport weight: 4 colors of your choice (I used, yellow, red, tan, navy) for flowers

Yarn needle

Crochet hooks: size L for main rectangle, size G for flowers

Rectangle for poles:

With size L hook, Ch 66

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn (65 sc)

Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in second sc and in each sc across, turn (65 hdc)

Row 3: Ch 2, hdc in second hdc and in each hdc across, turn (65 hdc)

Row 4 – 18: Repeat row 3 (65 hdc)

Row 19: Ch 1, sc in each hdc across, fasten off, weave in ends. (65 sc)

Flowers: Make 12

Using the 4 colors of sport yarn, mix up the centers and outside areas so that each flower is different.

With size G hook,

Ch 3 with first color, join last ch with slst to first ch to form a circle.

Row 1: Ch 1, do 4 sc in each ch around, fasten off center color (12 sc)

Row 2: Join outside color and Ch 1, weaving in center color, 2 sc in each sc around (24 sc)

Row 3: *Ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc, repeat *around and join with a slst to bottom of first ch 3, this creates the 12 petals, fasten off, weave in ends.

Finishing:

**Take pole and lay it on the long side of rectangle to measure, roll up the pole from the outside/in, mark this row for sewing seam to make a tube for the pole. (Mine came out to 7^th row from edge). Sew the seam and weave in ends. Repeat ** for other side. Sew one end of each pole tube closed. Place the poles inside tubes and make a tie for each open end of 50 chains to tie ends together in a bow, (this keeps the poles from sliding out). Attach the 12 flowers with the center color yarn, going across 1 pole, facing out, about every 5 hdc (so they face out like the picture). Weave in all ends.