Small Purse in the Round, sort of…….

Here’s a fast and easy purse to make as a quick gift.  It’s as basic as it gets–rectangular base with the sides done in the round.  I’ve taught many friends over the years how to crochet and this is an excellent second project (after they create the first obligatory beanie, of course!)

Skill Level

• Easy

Supplies

• One skein of  chunky or bulky yarn in any color
• Crochet Hook Size N (9.0MM)

NOTE: The size of your purse will be determined by your yarn and hooks. The yarn and hooks in the supplies list will usually produce a purse in the following dimensions: 6″L X 5″H X 3.5″W. However the purse can be made in any yarn and appropriately sized hooks. For example, if you wish to use worsted weight yarn, you should use size H (5.00MM) hooks.

Stitches used

• ST(s) – stitch(es)
• CH – chain stitch
• SC – single crochet

Purse Base:

(The purse starts off by making the large rectangular base for the purse.  This is not in the round.)

Row 1: Chain 11.

Row 2: SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each CH across (10SC).  Turn.

Row 3-19: SC in each SC across. (10SC).  Turn.

Begin working in the round:

Rnd 20: Chain 1 (Chain 1 counts as 1st SC).  SC in the back loop of each SC around the entire perimeter of the rectangle.  (SC twice in each corner.) (55SC +CH1)

Rnd 21-30:  SC in the back loop of each SC around. (56SC)

Rnd 31:  SC in the back loop of the next 14 SC.  CH 10.  Skip the next 10SC.  SC in the back loop of the next 18SC.  CH 10.  Skip the next 10SC.  SC in the back loop of the next 4 SC. (36SC +20CH)

Rnd32:  SC in the back loop of the next 14SC.  SC in the back loop of the next 10CH.  SC in the back loop of the next 18SC.  SC in the back loop of the next 10CH.  SC in the back loop of the last 4SC. (56SC)

Rnd33-34: SC in the back loop of each of the SC around. (56SC)

 

Tie off and weave in ends.

This pattern is copyright by Nurdi Babi, all rights reserved. You may not copy or resell this pattern, however, feel free to sell any items made from this pattern.  Any resemblance to other patterns out there is purely coincidental.

Please feel free to contact me at nurdi.babi@gmail.com if you ever have any questions or concerns.

The Original Mr. Grei Grey Alien Crochet Pattern

You can also download a PDF copy of this pattern free from Ravelry.  Sign up is free:)

Skill Level

• Easy

Supplies

• One skein of lace weight yarn in grey
• Small amount of lace weight yarn in black
• Crochet Hook Size B (2.25MM)
• Yarn needle
• Stuffing material of your choice

NOTE: The size of your doll will be determined by your yarn and hooks. The yarn and hooks in the supplies list will usually produce a doll approximately 5-6inches in length. However the doll can be made in any yarn and with larger hooks (especially if you have trouble seeing smaller stitches.) For example, if you wish to use worsted weight yarn, you should use size H (5.00MM) hooks.

Stitches used

• ST(s) – stitch(es)
• CH – chain stitch
• SC – single crochet
• HDC – half-double crochet
• DC – double crochet
• TR – treble crochet
• SL ST – slip stitch
• SC2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together

Mr. Grei’s head and body are worked all in one piece. If you’re new to crochet, I highly recommend counting your stitches after each row just to make sure you’re on track.

Head + Neck

Rnd 1: Chain 2. 6sc into 1^st chain (6sc)

Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc around (12sc)

Rnd 3: 1sc, 2sc in next sc around (18sc)

Rnd 4: 1sc in each of the next 2sc, 2sc in next sc around (24sc)

Rnd 5: 1sc in each of the next 3sc, 2sc in next sc around (30sc)

Rnd 6: 1sc in each of the next 4sc, 2sc in next sc around (36sc)

Rnd 7: 1sc in each of the next 5sc, 2sc in next sc around (42sc)

Rnd 8: 1sc in each of the next 6sc, 2sc in next sc around (48sc)

Rnd 9-11: sc in each sc around (48sc)

Rnd 12: sc2tog, 1sc in each of the next 6sc around(42sc)

Rnd 13: sc in each sc around (42sc)

Rnd 14: sc2tog, 1sc in each of the next 5sc around(36sc)

Rnd 15: sc in each sc around (36sc)

Rnd 16: sc2tog, 1sc in each of the next 4sc around(30sc)

Rnd 17: sc in each sc around (30sc)

Rnd 18: sc2tog, 1sc in each of the next 3sc around(24sc)

Rnd 19: sc in each sc around (24sc)

Rnd 20: sc2tog, 1sc in each of the next 2sc around(18sc)

Rnd 21: sc in each sc around (18sc)

Start stuffing head.

Neck+Shoulders

Rnd 22: sc2tog, 1sc in next sc around (12sc)

Rnd 23-25: sc in each sc around (12sc)

Rnd 26: 2sc in each sc around (24sc)

Rnd 27: sc in each sc around (24sc)

Armholes

 

Rnd 28: sc in each of the next 8 sc. Chain 3. Skip 3sc. Sc in each of the next 9sc. Chain 3. Skip 3sc. Sc in final sc. (18sc & 6 chains)

Rnd 29: sc in each of the next 8sc. Sc in each of the next 3 chains. Sc in each of the next 9sc.

Sc in each of the next 3 chains. Sc in final sc. (24sc)

Body

Rnd 30: sc2tog, 1sc in each of the next 2sc around (18sc)

Rnd 31-40: sc in each sc around (18sc)

Stuff Body.

Leg One (worked in the round):

Rnd 35: sc in each of the next 4sc. Chain 1. Skip next 8sc and continue sc in each of the next

4sc. (9sc)

Rnd 36: sc in each of the 9 sc and chain 1 around. (10 sc)

Rnd 37-44: sc in each sc around (10sc)

Stuff leg.

Rnd 45: sc2tog over 2sc around (5sc)

Leg Two (worked in the round):

Pick up yarn in 7^th stitch of Rnd 35.

Rnd 35: sc in each of next 9 sc. Chain 1(8sc)

Rnd 36: (Begin round with Chain 1 from previous round still on hook) sc in each of the next 9sc and chain 1 around (10sc)

Rnd 37-44 sc in each sc around (10sc)

Stuff leg.

Rnd 45: sc2tog around (5sc)

Sew space between legs together with a yarn needle and matching yarn.

Arms (x2)

Rnd 1: Starting at one end, pick up yarn in one of the stitches along the arm hole.

You will sc in the round, three sc on bottom, one sc in the side of the arm hole, three sc on top and one sc on the final side for a total of 8sc.

Rnd 2-9: sc in each sc around (8sc)

Suff arm.

Rnd 10: sc2tog around (4sc)

Eye (make 2)

Chain 5.

Rnd 1: Sc in second chain from hook. Hdc in third chain. DC in fourth chain. Tr 7 times in

fifth chain from hook. Turn.

Rnd 2: DC in second chain. Hdc in third chain. Sc in forth chain. Leave a long tail for sewing

and tie off.

Sew onto face using yarn needle. Using a small length of black yarn, sew on small straight line for mouth.

This pattern is copyright by Nurdi Babi, all rights reserved. You may not copy or resell this pattern, however, feel free to sell any items made from this pattern.

Please feel free to contact me at nurdi.babi@gmail.com if you ever have any questions or concerns.

Your Tarot Card by Astrological Sign for the Week of 16 June 2014

And as always, if you’re interested in a more personalized reading, head over to my Etsy shop.

Gemini – May 22 – June 21
Queen of Cups ~ Theme for the week:  inner self—quickly assessing new situations/people, tuning into the thoughts of others, connecting to the greater world.

Cancer – June 22 – July 22
Two of Wands ~ Theme for the week:  originality & boldness–thinking outside the box, looking for innovative solutions, going your own way.

Leo – July 23 -August 21
Justice ~ Theme for the week:  decisions—taking responsibility for you actions, seeking the effect of your actions, gathering your facts to make a decision.

Virgo – August 22 – September 23
Three of Wands ~ Theme for the week:  taking charge–accepting leadership positions, taking responsibility in the absence of leadership, receiving a promotion.

Libra – September 24 – October 23
Queen of Wands ~ Theme for the week: energy—making a good first impression, approaching life with enthusiasm, radiating charisma and charm.

Scorpio – October 24 – November 22
The Sun ~ Theme for the week:  greatness–success, confidence, receiving awards/credit for your efforts.

Sagittarius – November 23 – December 22
Seven of Swords ~ Theme for the week: irresponsibility—not fulfilling your obligations, running away, being deceitful.

Capricorn – December 23 – January 20
Two of Cups ~ Theme for the week:  partnership–reinforcing existing bonds, creating a partnership, finding connections.

Aquarius – January 21 – February 19
Nine of Wands ~ Theme for the week:  stamina—choosing your actions carefully, continuing despite setbacks, pushing through.

Pisces – February 20- March 20
The Fool ~ Theme for the week: light-heartedness—going with the flow, taking chances, seeing where life takes you.

Aries – March 21 – April 20
Seven of Cups ~ Theme for the week:  disorganization—letting things go, being confused by choices at hand, procrastination in the face of looming deadlines.

Taurus – April 21 – May 21
Two of Pentacles ~ Theme for the week:  balance–juggling life’s demands, focusing on work/life balance, working on creating a healthier life.

I totally gave into the hype and downloaded “The Fault in our Stars”………

Do you like realistic stories full of true-to-life dialogue?

Do you like novels that pull you in and refuse to let go?

Do you like characters so well constructed that you miss them after the novel is over?

If any of the above describes you, don’t read “The Fault in our Stars.”

I recently gave into the hype and downloaded the novel to my Kindle.  After reading it, I’m pretty certain that author John Green missed his teenage years completely, and instead sprung forth from his mother’s womb fully formed as the mid-30’s man he is. Hazel and Augustus, Green’s main characters, are so witty, so understanding of each other that I had to keep reminding myself that these were two high school aged kids, and not a couple in their mid-thirties. Now, you must know, I love, love, love children and YA literature and even taught high school for a few years. Prior to that I was a teenager for about as long as everyone else and while this doesn’t make me an expert on teenagers by any stretch of the imagination I can tell you two thing with certainty:

1. Teenagers don’t speak like the characters in TFIOS.

2. Teenagers don’t act like the characters in TFIOS.

Even intelligent, terminally-ill teenagers. (That’s totally not a sentence, but I’m not fixing it.)

This lack of realism drives me up a wall, but that is just me. Thousands upon thousands of teenage girls love this book. There are so many glowing reviews of this novel that when I finally opened it up on ye olde Kindle, I was totally taken aback by its plain, blunt language. I could not get lost in it, nor could not connect to the characters.

But Green has to be doing something to obtain such a loyal following and that something is his leading male character:  Augustus Waters.  Augustus is everything any teenager could want in a “man”–attractive, considerate, smart, funny, romantic and dying.  Dying hero is the key here because a boyfriend who dies early on never forgets your birthday, nor does he ditch you after the prom to get drunk with the guys.  When your male lead dies early in the relationship, things are still in that blind fuzzy period where the present is all encompassing and the future is full and bright with the possibility of happily ever after.  Hazel and Augustus go through the pain and trauma of death but never the pain or trauma of living with the reality of each other, warts and all.

But who wants reality?  Bleh.  Teenaged girls will learn that soon enough. Good on Mr. Green for finding the winning combination without the creepiness of other hits in the YA world (Twilight I’m looking at you.)