Here's the deal: I love to crochet. I love to spend hours working out crochet design problems. Most of the time I can rip it out three or four times and then, finally, solve the problem. But sometimes it just doesn't work. Like this time:
See, I wanted to do a happy sun for the cover. Odd numbers look better for most things, so I made five points (ahem, 3 versions of 5 points, to get them pointy enough...) Do you know what a 5 pointed sun is? A star. Yep. A happy faced star shining brightly in the cloudy daytime.
So, back to the drawing board. I had wanted this cover to be for a kid's bathroom, which made me think that I usually create my kid projects for Mims. I should do something different! I just recently got to hang out with my nephew, DC, and so I took some inspiration from him and decided to re-do the cover for a little boy's bathroom (or a really hip kitchen).
up&up
(Target Brand) Foaming Hand Wash Cover
Supplies:
100% cotton
worsted weight yarn, approx. 35 yards (I used Peaches & Creme in Bright
Aqua)
Small amount of 100% cotton worsted weight yarn for clouds (I used Bernat Handicrafter 100% Cotton in White)
Size G hook
Yarn needle
Small toy airplane
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
ch 29, sl st
to first ch to join round (29 st)
R1: ch 1, sc
in each ch around, sl st to first sc to join round (29 st)
R2-12: ch 1,
sc in each sc around, sl st to first sc to join round (29 st)
R13: ch 1,(4
sc, sc 2 st tog) 4 times, 5 sc, sl st to first sc to join round (25 st)
R14: ch 1, (3sc,
sc 2 st tog) 5 times, sl st to first sc to join round (20 st)
R15: ch 1, (3sc,
sc 2 st tog) 4 times, sl st to first sc to join round (16 st)
R16: ch 1,
sc in each sc around, sl st to first sc to join round (16 st)
Fasten
off. Weave in ends.
Clouds
Sm cloud
ch 9
R1: sc in 2nd
ch from hook, sc in each ch across (8 st)
R2: -do not
chain- skip 1 sc, sl st in next 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc, skip 1 sc, sl st , skip
last sc
Fasten
off. Weave in ends.
Lg cloud
ch 11
R1: sl st in
2nd ch from hook, sl st, 7 sc, sl st (10 st)
R2: ch 1,
skip 1 sc, sl st in next st, 3 sc in next st, sl st, skip 1 st, 4 dc in next
st, 2 sl st, skip last 2 st
Fasten off. Weave in ends
I got out my trusty hot glue gun and glued the airplane and the clouds to the cover. I know what you're thinking, "But I'm never going to be able to wash it when it gets dirty and gross!" and to that I say, "Yup."
I love recycling and reusing and keeping handcrafted treasures as much as anyone else, but I was faced with a challenge that made me question my priorities, and after careful contemplation, here's what I've come up with: I spent fifteen minutes crocheting a cover for a $1.50 bottle of soap, with $1 worth of yarn. I glued a $0.50 toy to the front (two for a buck at the dollar store! score!). So really, including the soap, we were dealing with $3.00 in materials. And, not to toot my own horn or anything, I think it turned out super cool. If I had seen that in a baby boutique, I would have expected to pay $35 or more for it EXACTLY THE WAY I GLUED IT. We have a very generous family friend that, if I had received that as a present from her, I would have assumed that she had spent at least $50 on it... Once again, glued exactly the way that I glued it.
I get really hung up on the idea that the things I create need to stand the test of time, but in this case, sometimes it's more fun to just finish the project and move on. I am confident that my sister-in-law is going to change the decor of DC's bathroom at least two times before he'll even be old enough to be able to stand at the sink and wash his hands on his own. This isn't an heirloom. It's a really cute soap bottle cover.
By the way, I really think you would knock the socks off of any baby shower by making this. It's so stinkin' cute in person, I hate to give it away...
xoxo
That is too cool!
ReplyDeleteLove that idea!
ReplyDelete