Dressed-Up Wine Bottle
Quick! Where’s that wine bottle bag that I’ve been stashing in my bag ‘o bags? Of course, it’s never there when you need it! Reynolds Saucy Sport in black, and a couple of wooden beads to the rescue!
Materials: 1 skein Reynolds Saucy Sport Cotton,50 grams, 123 yds, or any sport-weight cotton yarn, Size G (5.00) crochet Hook, Yarn Needle, 2 large beads
Ro 1: Ch 4, 11 dc into 4th ch fr hook, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of 1st ch 4.
Ro 2: Ch 2, dc into join, 2 dc into ea st around to 1st ch 2. Join. (24 dc)
Ro 3: Ch 3, dc in join, 1 dc in next dc, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc** Repeat from * to ** around to 1st ch 3, join. (36 dc)
Ro 4: *Ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in next st** Repeat from * to ** around to beginning. Do not join.
Ro 5: to end: *Ch 3, sc in next 3 ch sp** Repeat from * to ** around for length of bottle to neck.
Collar: *Ch 3, work 5 dc in next 3 ch sp, sl st into next sc** repeat from * to ** to end of round. Fasten off, weave in tail.
I- cord: Ch 76, sl st in 2nd ch fron hook and ea ch across. Fasten off. Weave in tails.
Thread I- cord through mesh at neck and sew beads onto ends of cord.
This project took me about an hour to make.
Copyright Carol Wolf, March 2012
Design Dilemma Solved
It’s funny how inspiration comes in so many different forms. Sometimes I can just look at a piece of fabric or an item of clothing in a department store and be instantly inspired to crochet a very specific thing. I imagine the finished product with the proper yarn, hook, and embellishments. More often, though, I am intrigued by shapes. Those of you who follow Wolf Crochet know that I am all about modular and unstructured clothing. I love the idea that a piece of fabric can be square or circular and still drape over the human body in an attractive way.
Which brings me to the present situation. I have this beautiful Tempo yarn for which I spent $80 despite the sale. The nature of the yarn is such that the resulting fabric must be open, airy and very draped. I’ve investigated all manner of available patterns on Ravelry and Crochet Pattern Central. All the Tempo projects on Ravelry are densely worked. I have even set my hand to the Blue Waves Vest. Although this pattern is gorgeous despite the blue yarn, it’s something best left for another time. Somehow I was not loving any of it.
After swatching the heck out of this yarn I’ve come to the conclusion that the lacy patterns are either too stiff on a small hook or too holey on a large one. My last resort was a plain half-double crochet stitch using a big hook (L). This finally did the trick. Turned sideways, the half-double crochet looks almost like a small trellis pattern and it drapes beautifully. The construction will be modular, just two long scarf-like strips joined together and flung over the shoulders. Openings left for the head and arms–maybe open in front, maybe not; we’ll see. I want something that can be worn loosely over a T-shirt in the spring and summer without feeling like a full-fledged sweater. The photo below doesn’t do this yarn justice.
What to do with Green Baby Yarn?
My dear mother-in-law, who will be 90 years old in July, makes baby blankets for Project Linus. Her blankets are beautiful and have been featured in the art showcase at Oak Crest Village. She keeps a scrapbook filled with photos of the babies who have received her blankets along with letters of thanks from the parents. Every so often I place a large order with Hersschners and she gets a big box of yarn in the mail. Somehow, I never noticed that she wasn’t making blankets with the pastel green. When I was at her apartment today I discovered at least 6 skeins of green baby yarn squirreled away. She begged me to take it off her hands. Now those of you who know me, know that I do not make baby clothes. Somehow, I just don’t like fiddling with the tiny pieces. In addition, I don’t know a single baby! I’m thinking of using this yarn for charity crochet, chemo caps, shawls, etc. I just hope that the color will not be too far out. Any comments?
Olivia
March 23, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Beautiful wine bottle cover!!! Must make one.
I love soft green, and think it would be lovely in just about anything – baby blanket, baby tote, hats, sachet bags, scarves, vest, puppy sweater, slipper socks, lace shawl.
Wolf Crochet
March 24, 2012 at 3:09 am
Thanks for the suggestions Olivia. I saw a beautiful wrap in Chemo Caps & Wraps by Annies Attic that I think I will try.
Thelma
March 23, 2012 at 7:04 pm
It’s funny that a lot of people don’t like green on babies yet the Wool Companies still make it..I love green all sorts of green as it looks and makes you feel cool.
May be a blanket with a couple of other colours???????pale orange or lilac or pink
Wolf Crochet
March 24, 2012 at 3:07 am
Thelma, somebody recommended Annies Attic Chemo Caps & Wraps to me and I must agree that this book is loaded with great projects. They are just as useful for those of us lucky enough to be healthy so I will get to work on some of them. I think I’ll pick up a couple of those other colors you suggested too
Lany
March 23, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Oooh that tempo wool is really pretty!! Is it soft?
And the wooden bead stash! *want!*
The wine bottle is really clever, am going to bookmark this in case I ever need it!
Wolf Crochet
March 24, 2012 at 3:04 am
Lany, the Tempo has some softness to is but it is a bit coarser than Paton’s Grace. The little nubs on it are very soft. As far as the wooden beads go, I bought this whole box a Walmart for about $5. A real bargain and they are quite nice.
Lany
March 24, 2012 at 6:41 pm
It sounds lovely!
Might try to get my grubby little mits on some of it!
Aw it’s a pity Walmart aren’t over here!
jery
March 23, 2012 at 10:07 pm
I love that green color. It reminds me of the beginning of spring. When things haven’t quite got all the sun they need but they are popping out anyway. I am sure you will thing of something stunning to make with it.
Wolf Crochet
March 24, 2012 at 3:02 am
Thanks for your input jery. I actually like that color myself but I wasn’t sure about in acrylic yarn for winter.
Jeanie
March 23, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Many-many people like green! whip up those skeins into wearables and they will be loved!
Wolf Crochet
March 24, 2012 at 3:00 am
Okay Jeanie! I’ll do just that!
Jeanie
March 25, 2012 at 7:14 pm
You have been so encouraged about the green yarn! I use acrylic yarn to make hats as it gets cold where I live and they are warm, but have made some with part wool or washable wool and of course
they are warmer, but no one will turn down a hat from me! and later tell me how much that hat has
been a blessing! You do beautiful work! Bless your chartible heart!
Wolf Crochet
March 26, 2012 at 4:27 am
Yes Jeanie, I have so much yarn that I started a shawl. I intend to make hats and hand-warmers too. I checked on the Lion Brand Yarn website and there are two places in my little town, less than a mile from my house, that will take the items. I’ll get busy over the summer and by winter, I should have a nice collection. I still have so much other scrap yarn left also, some of which is wool.
geralynww
March 28, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Hello there…just stumbled upon your blog and really like that bike chain pattern…will try it soon. As for your green yarn…Crafting for a Cure is always accepting baby hats, blankets or booties for preemies and newbies in hospitals all over Canada and the US. They currently have a big drive going on—the deadline is April 15th, maybe too soon for you, but they have these drives at least 3 times a year. I think the green would be lovely for baby things as it is a unisex color!
Wolf Crochet
March 29, 2012 at 3:31 am
Thank you for the tip geralynww! I thought green was a good baby color too but my mother-in-law didn’t think so!
Joy
March 29, 2012 at 9:46 am
hmmm…perhaps a nice baby-sized Crazy Crocodile Afghan. Half the size of the original pattern on Ravelry with just 3 or 4 rows of crocodile scales. I can see it now. That’s a very pretty color, by the way, and any baby would be lucky to have something hand-made.
Wolf Crochet
March 30, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Now that’s a good idea Joy. I haven’t tried the crocodile stitch yet myself.
eryl
May 3, 2012 at 8:00 am
hi, if i can ask for your opinion. i have these 4 balls (2 colors@2 balls each) of a nice katia cayenne yarn. kinda look alike with the tempo yarn you used for the vest. so it’s not a plain straight yarn that easily go with crochet. and the fact that there’s only breien needle size on the instruction made me rather lost. lol. coz i’m not familiar with knitting. can you crochet this type of yarn? what can you make with the yarns i already have? i was thinking of combining those 2colours into a bolero one but i’m not sure if i can use it when it’s hot here. (i live in a tropical country) thx in advance. ^ ^
Wolf Crochet
May 4, 2012 at 5:24 am
eryl, you can crochet any yarn that can be knitted. Even if it has little nubs on it, it can still be crocheted. You do not say how much yarn is in the balls. I think that a very lightweight bolero or shawl in an open stitch would be best for your warm country. Find a lacy pattern or use a very big hook. I used an L hook(11) but you could also use an larger one. If you use a big hook, you can just single crochet or half-double crochet and get a very lacy effect.
Cesca Aquino
July 17, 2012 at 11:38 am
BEAUTIFUL!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Wolf Crochet
July 17, 2012 at 4:48 pm
You’re welcome Cesca!
Sarah Lilienthal
August 28, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Hi there! I was looking over the pattern for the wine bottle cozy and see that you have listed the hook size as G or 5.00 mm. I am a newbie to crochet, so perhaps I am just naive, but my hooks associate G with 4.25 mm, and H with 5.00 mm. Which one should I use?
Wolf Crochet
August 29, 2012 at 4:51 am
My old eyes are not as good as they used to be Sarah. The hook size is G which should also be 4.50mm! Thank you for calling this to my attention!
Nicalaine
December 1, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I am making the bottle covers for Christmas gifts. LOVE the pattern. I am using Red Heart Super Saver and an H hook. I used sparkly yarn for the ties. Very pretty! Thank you!
Wolf Crochet
December 1, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Great Nicalaine! I’m glad they are working up well!