Chain and Single Stitch

I had an "AH HA" moment yesterday on my gift for my sister, and of course, I had to come share it here. The other night at the book club holiday party Renee's book Needful Things by Stephen King came wrapped in a fabulous felted purse. Everyone wanted that bag!! Renee said it was crocheted and felted. I had instantly assumed it was knitting. Knitting is completely out of my realm of possible hobbies. I have tried to do it before, my hands just will not move in the right way to knit and purl. BUT I can crochet!

So Renee shared the pattern with me the other night. I filed it away in the back of my brain as a project I would like to do for myself sometime. Until yesterday. When I suddenly thought... I should make one for Bonnie!! These are how they turned out. I went with a dark chocolate brown, oatmeal, and a rich plush red/orange blend. I should have taken a before and after of these. When you felt something (aka wash it in skalding hot water so it shrinks) it shrinks up by about half. These were HUGE before they were washed.

Crocheting, for me, is like playing the clarinet. I took clarinet lessons in elementary school for 3 years. I could play just fine but I couldn't read music. I played by ear. That is what crocheting is for me. I can make the stitches but I can't read patterns to save my life. So, my Mom helped me decifer the instructions for these. The one on the right is what the pattern actually said to do, the one on the left is my own variation on the pattern. Cool huh?

Time for a late morning breakfast sandwich... then we are all going to work together to get the house ready for tomorrow. No dustbunnies allowed in the corners on Christmas!