Can or Bottle Holders: EZ Crochet Pattern

 Another previously published pattern, this one is great for beginners and a breeze for veteran crocheters!  Great for using up smaller amounts of cotton yarns, too.

To celebrate National Crochet Month, here are directions to make an easy can/plastic drink bottle holder out of scraps of worsted weight yarn.  I have made them in cotton and acrylic versions and I think that they are both nice.  I first made these because my mom asked me to make her a bottle holder that could replace the crumbling (and ugly) foam one that she had been using for a few years.  Below are pictures of the ones I have done:

What I used for this project:

*worsted weight yarn–cotton, acrylic or blend.  For the samples pictured I used bits of Sugar n Cream yarn
*hook the size to get you 3 hdc per inch–I crochet very loosely, so I use a G hook, but you might need to bump that up to an H or so
*stitch marker or a piece of yarn to mark rounds
sc–single crochet
hdc–half double crochet

Method:
Rnd 1:  Using the magic loop method (explained very well here on the Crochet Me site), 6 sc into magic loop
Rnd 2:  2 sc into each stich around–12 sc–do not join rounds, place marker to indicate beginning of rounds
Rnd 3:  *2sc into first stitch, 1 sc in next stitch*, repeat between ** around–18 sc
Rnd 4:  *2sc into first stitch, sc into each of next 2 stitches*, repeat between ** around–24 sc
Rnd 5:  Sc in each stitch around–24 sc
Rnd 6:  Sc in back loop only of each stitch–24 sc
Here the bottom of the holder is complete and from Rnd 7 on, you will be using hdc stitches
Rnd 7:   Hdc in each stitch around
Rnd 8 : Repeat Rnd 7 until piece is as tall as you want it; slip stitch to close and fasten off.

I made the bottle holders with handles a couple different ways.  I either crocheted a handle before ending off (instead of slip stitching to close, make a chain as long as you want, attach to opposite side of holder and then crochet in each stitch coming back and then slip stitch and fasten off).  Or, I did a last hdc round where I did a ch 2 instead of the beginning hdc and then a ch 2 instead of a hdc on the opposite side of the holder.  Then I made a separate cord by knitting an i-cord that could be slipped through the ch 2 spaces and then knotted to stay in place.  This cord could then be unfastened and removed.
I made these to fit the smaller size Aquafina bottles that my mom uses, but I found that they are stretchy enough to go around cans, larger bottles and even a few of my travel coffee cups.  I found the ones with handles nice to carry the travel mugs out to the car with!

Have fun with the holders or any other projects and keep crocheting!

Curly Whirly Worm Bookmark Pattern

Previously published on Librarynation.com, moved here for your crafting enjoyment!

Curly Whirly Worm Bookmark

What you need:

*Sm. Amount of dk or thin worsted weight yarn (examples were done in cotton)
*F hook
*Wiggly eyes of choice (optional-or use yarn or felt for worm eyes)
*Glue for wiggly eyes

NOTE:

This project uses the double base chain, which I think this is one of the best crochet tricks ever! If you are not familiar with this stitch, here is a video tutorial to assist you:
Art of Crochet Video Stitch Gude:
https://s.p9.hostingprod.com/@iamintheloop.com/artofcrochet/ssl/videos/dbch.php
****If you are uncomfortable doing the double base chain, just do a regular chain stitch instead!****

Abbreviations used:

ch–chain
st or sts–stitch or stitches
sc–single crochet
hdc–half double crochet

What you do:

1. Make 20 double base chain sts (or, a regular chain of 20 sts.)
2. Working back along the chain, work 2 hdc into third ch from hook (this is the tail of the worm)
3. Continue by working 2sc into each ch until the end of the row
4. Work 2sc into the loop at the end of the chain (this is the head part) and into the next 3 sts as you go around the worm; end with a slip st in the next st; break off and weave in ends
5. All that is left is to glue the eyes in place (or attach alternate eyes as you wish)
***If you want a longer worm, just make more starting double base chains. When I was working around the chains doing the head stitches, I worked over the end of the yarn, which is optional, but can make it look at little neater.

Kids' top search topics of 2009

According to Symantec's OnlineFamily.Norton, the following are the ten most searched terms by kids in 2009:

1. YouTube
2. Google
3. Facebook
4. Sex
5. Porn
6. YouTube.com
7. Yahoo
8. MySpace
9. eBay
10. You Tube

In case you were wondering, Wikipedia came in at number 11.

To see the entire list and a further breakdown of the statistics, see the article below:
Kids’ Top 100 Searches of 2009
http://onlinefamilyinfo.norton.com/articles/kidsearches_2009.php

Children's book lists: bestsellers and more

 Booklists and reviews that I have been using to keep up with current trends in children's and YA literature:

***The Brimful Curiosities blog has links to many lists of bestselling children's books including those of independent and online  publishers and Christian books:

Discover Bestselling Children's Books
http://www.brimfulcuriosities.com/2009/12/discover-bestselling-childrens-books.html

***About.com has lots of themed lists and reviews plus a children's book blog by subject guide Elizabeth Kennedy:

About.com Children's Books
http://childrensbooks.about.com/

Totally EZ photo frame craft, or what to do with Facebook photos

With many users posting their photos on Facebook and other social networking sites, you are probably able to stumble across a few photos from friends and relatives that you would like to frame.  Here are a few very easy photo frames that I made for gifts--each one cost around $2 or less to make with readily obtainable craft supplies.

The middle one was painted with craft paint and decorated with a pre-painted wooden word.  The left and right frames were covered with scrapbook paper.  The wooden frames are $1 or $2 dollars depending on size and were purchased at Michaels as was the wooden "Joy" which probably cost less than 50 cents.  Instructions for covering wooden frames with scrapbook paper can be found on the Team DIY blog.

I snatched two of the pictures from photos that were posted by friends and relatives on Facebook--they are going to be gifts.