Getting back to normal

It's been a busy month, September.  And here we are, 10 days into October and I'm realizing Christmas is only a couple months away.  My father-in-law passed about a week after my last post, and the emergency trip to the East Coast threw things off for a while.  Just as we were getting back into the swing of things, the first school term ended for the kids, so we're on a two-week fall break now.  I find any spare moments I have are spent trying to keep up with orders from my Etsy business.

I recently finished a book called "Serve God, Save the Planet" by Matthew Sleeth, M.D. If you are a Christian or hold similar beliefs, it's worth a read.  His premise is that we are called not only to look out for God's creation (i.e. the natural world) but for the people on it.  Ultimately, his book might be summed up with the phrase, "Live simply, so others can simply live."  Some of what he does is beyond me right now, but I think small steps are important!

We finally broke down and subscribed to our local garbage hauling service's recycling.  We had good intentions to buy our own bins and haul it to the recycling station, but after almost 5 years, we never had done it.  Already in four days, we've only emptied the kitchen trash twice, instead of nightly.  I'm still looking for ways to reduce our trash, but it's a good start.  (We also compost all food, and I'm starting to compost certain paper and cloth products.)

I've also started putting up all our dry goods in canning jars rather than leaving them in bags and boxes.  An Epic Ant Invasion that only ended when the ants went underground to hibernate, despite my best attempts to eradicate the nest, meant a constant struggle to keep them out of the food.  Hopefully the jars will slow them down!

The labels are from Bright Swan Creations in Ontario, and are super simple.  I used a chalk paint pen and it wipes off with water.  You just let the "paint" dry for a few minutes and you no longer have to worry about smudging. (Though if you look closely, my "ancho" chiles look like "ancha" thanks to a husband impatient to clear the countertop!)  The labels are basically strong vinyl stickers, so they peel and stick perfectly.

Finally, I wanted to share this article, which goes back to the "Live Simply so others can Simply Live" principle: Life in a Degrowth Economy.  Even our governments around the world are starting to see we need to change our consumption, which is good news as long as it helps the individuals in those countries become more aware and desire to change!

Basic Heavy Duty Potholder Crochet Pattern

So I thought I was pretty smart when I came up with this pattern several years ago.  Then I discovered that many other people are as smart as I am and were smart before I was! :D  So the idea is not unique, but I've still written it up so anyone who wants to can make their own heavy duty potholder.

Basically, it's a densely crocheted cotton potholder, doubled up and seamed around the edges using crochet stitches.  It's useful and pretty, and heavy duty utilitarianism at its best.  These things can practically be used in blacksmithing!  (Okay, well, maybe not, but they are very protective. :D )  I take these potholders from the kitchen straight to the dining room table where they are also trivets for the serving dishes.  So it's handy to have a few hanging around.

It's really simple to make these; even if you just have a basic knowledge about crochet, you can do this. Admittedly, I'm a fast crocheter, but I can make one of these in an evening while watching TV.  You can adjust the size by adjusting the number of stitches you chain at the beginning.  I like to have a really big one around for larger pots and pans - especially when it's on our antique wooden table and it's hot!

You can also find this pattern as a free PDF download on my Ravelry design page.  If you would like to use this for a class, I just ask that you drop me a line and I'd be glad to provide you with the PDF version of my pattern.

I'd love if you would drop me a note at my Mulberry Fibers Ravelry group or make a Ravelry project page for your potholder!  I love to see what people create.  If you aren't a part of Ravelry, it's a great resource for all things knitting and crochet, with hundreds of thousands of patterns, forums where you can ask questions and chat, and a fun (if a bit neurotic) way to catalog all your yarnie projects and stash.

Materials:

Approximately 150 yards of worsted weight cotton yarn.

Finished Size:Finished size using gauge below will be approximately 8 ½” by 8 ½”.

Gauge:

Gauge is unimportant for this pattern, however, as written, you should have an approximate gauge of 3 ½ st per inch to get the sizing above.

Hook:

Suggested hook size:  US I/5.5mm

Instructions:

Chain 29

Row 1 (set up row):  In the second chain from your hook, single crochet (sc) 1 time.  Single crochet (sc) in every chain across.  Make one chain (ch) and turn your work.

Row 2: Single crochet (sc) 1 time in every single crochet from the previous row. Make one chain (ch) and turn your work.

Repeat row 2 approximately 68 more times, until, when folded in half widthwise, your work measures the same on each side (a square).

When your work, doubled, is a square, cut your working yarn and pull it through the last chain.

Finishing:

You are now going to seam your work together with crochet stitches to form the thick potholder with an insulating air pocket.

Fold your work in half again, this time using pins or clips to hold it in place.  Line up the rows to keep it even.  Attach your working yarn at the fold, and single crochet (sc) evenly across one side. 

When you reach the corner, single crochet (sc) three (3) times in the same space. 

Single crochet (sc) across top. 

At the corner, again, single crochet (sc) three (3) times in the same corner space. 

Finally, single crochet (sc) across third side.

Now all four sides of your potholder are closed.

Create the loop: without cutting your yarn, chain several times, tightly.  Once the chain is long enough for you (a minimum of 2”), slip stitch (sl st) into the fold of your potholder, next to the last single crochet (sc).

Cut yarn and pull through.

To weave in any ends, simply use your crochet hook to pull them to the inside of the potholder.

Other options:

-Crochet two squares instead of a long rectangle and use the finishing technique on all four sides instead of three.

-Make your potholder larger or smaller by adding or subtracting from your beginning chain.  (33 stitches chained makes a very large, nice potholder for commercial cooking!)

- Use up your scrap cotton – ends can be crocheted over using a new color, and then tucked inside the potholder.