Why risk the boyfriend sweater curse when you can just make this kick-ass, 4-hour Scarf?

Vickie Howell Collection ROCK (40% Soysilk/30% Fine Wool/ 30% Hemp; 100m/50gr) in colors:
MC 3 balls Thom (brown)
CC-1 1 ball Trent (grey)
CC-2 1 ball Siouxsie (purple)
CC-3 1 ball Joan (black)

Size US N (9mm) crochet hook
Tapestry Needle

Approx 5” x 89”

2 sts. per inch, in dc using double strand

Yarn is double stranded for this project!

DIRECTIONS
With MC, loosely ch 181.
Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook and to end. Turn. (178 sts.)
Row 2: Join CC-1, ch1, sc in next st and to end. Turn.
Row 3: Ch3, dc in next st and to end. Turn.
Rows 4-7: Repeat last 2 rows, twice more.
Row 8: Join CC-2, ch1, sc in next st and to end. Turn.
Row 9: Join CC-3, Ch3, dc in next st and to end. Tie of.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Block, if necessary.

VHC ROCK Yarn is available at your local yarn store or Yarn.com. Go to www.soysilk.com for an updated list of retailers.

Pssst!.. Hey, Canadian knitters & crocheters--did you see ROCK featured on HGTV Canada's show, She's Crafty?

Hemp is great for season-less projects, warm in the winter, cool in the summer. This scarf works up quick in blocks of color and the hemp gets softer the more you wash it!

-1 skein each of two different colors
Hemp For Knitting allhemp3
100% long hemp fiber, 165yds per skein
MC = aubergine, color 27
CC = sprout, color 19

-crochet hook US F (3.75mm)

55" long x 1.75" wide

gauge: 6 sc = 1"
not crucial

Note: When changing colors, just tie a double knot with both yarns, leaving a 2" tail. This will give the scarf the tails shown in the photo along the long edge.

For a wider or longer scarf, add more stitches in the beginning chain and work more rows!

-with MC, ch 13, work 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each to beg (10dc)
-ch 2, turn, 1 hdc in each across
-ch 3, turn, 1 dc in each across
-join CC, ch 3, turn, 1 dc in each across

You might question the idea of a crocheted apron, but this is not your mother’s apron!  This is an apron with style that reaches beyond the kitchen. You can wear the piece apron-style with it open in the back or you can wear it open in the front like a jumper. Also, it can be worn as a fashion statement, or it can be worn for practical purposes as a “true” apron in the kitchen or garden. Finally, you can wear this garment year round! Wear it in the winter with a sweater under it or with a tank in the summer.

An added bonus is that this apron design supports a sustainable environment. I chose to use hemp, which is one of the most sustainable fibers. According to information from Lanaknits Designs Hemp for Knitting, hemp is one of the strongest and longest-lasting fibers. The plant (cannabis sativa) that hemp comes from is one of the world’s best renewable resources. It can grow just about anywhere, including on land that is otherwise unusable for other crops. Interestingly, hemp does not require pesticides or herbicides because insects do not like it, and it grows even more rapidly than weeds.

This is a simple piece to crochet. It includes only a few different crochet stitches and easy color changes. The wrap style is practical for a tunic-length garment as you can sit down and not worry about quickly stretching out a hand-crocheted item.

• MC: Hemp for Knitting, All Hemp 6, DK Weight, 100% hemp, 165yd/150 m per 100g/3.5 oz.,  color – Avocado, 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) skeins
• CC: Hemp for Knitting, All Hemp 6, DK Weight, 100% hemp, 165yd/150 m per 100g/3.5 oz.,  color – Sprout, 1 skein
• US G/6 (4mm) crochet hook
• Darning yarn needle
• Stitch markers
• 2 – 0.75” (2cm) buttons
• Sewing thread to match chosen buttons

This apron is designed to be fitted with little ease, but it must be able to be “wrapped” over your bust and underarm area. Measure directly under your arms and bust. Take the largest measurement of the two, and use this measurement to decide which size to make.  

Sizes: XS [S, M, L, XL]

Chest (to fit the following chest sizes): 28 [32, 36, 40, 44]” /70 (80, 90,100,110) cm

Actual Finished Measurements: 39 (44, 49, 54, 59) includes 11 (12, 13, 14, 15)” overlap/ 97.5 (110,122.5,135,147.5) cm includes 27.5 (30, 32.5, 35, 37.5) cm overlap

Total Length (including straps): 29 (31, 32, 33, 34)” / 72.5 (77.5, 80, 82.5, 85) cm

16 sts/9 rows of dc = 4” (10cm)

The apron is crocheted in three easy steps:

1. First, a rectangular piece is crocheted side to side primarily in double crochet from just over the bust to the midthigh. This piece forms the main body of the garment. The main body is crocheted from the right center back across the front to the left center back.  
2. Next, stitches are picked up from the top edge of the main piece. These stitches are worked in half double crochet for several rows to form a border at the top of the bust.
3. Finally, thick straps are created by continuing to crochet from the front over the shoulders to the back. There is an overlap in the back to create the “wrap”, and the straps are secured with buttons.  

Right side rows begin at the top edge, or bust, of the apron. Wrong side rows begin at the bottom edge, or hem, of the apron.

Turning chain does not count as a stitch.

Special Stitch Pattern:

Subtle waist shaping is incorporated with several inch-long darts in the waist area in four strategic places. These darts are created by changing the stitch pattern in the middle of the row from double crochet to single and half double crochet.

Main Body

Begin at Right Center Back

Being a bag-obsessed girl, I’ve always wanted to try crocheting a bag with hemp yarn.  It’s not only a durable fiber but it comes in way cute colors. On a recent trip to a not-so-local yarn store I found some hemp yarn that was half hemp and half wool. It looked perfect for playing with. I tried to conceive of a brilliant design on which I could test the yarn, but I had nothing.

One day, the zipper on my wallet broke. I needed a replacement quick. With Valentine’s Day looming ahead I worked up a heart design and grabbed the hemp. You could say that for all my grand intentions the conception of this pouch was a little half-hearted.

• Hemp Yarn, (55% Hemp, 45% Wool, 200 yds/skein) 1 skein Black, 1 skein Red
• Size F/3.75 mm hook
• Small yarn needle
• Zipper

5" wide x 3.5" high

3.5 stitches and 4 rows = 1 inch

When changing colors, always change the yarn when there are still two loops of the last single crochet stitch on the hook. Finish the last yarn over with the new color.

Always pick up the new color and drop the old color on the wrong side of the fabric.

Use one turning chain at the end of each row. The turning chain does not count as a stitch.

This stylized cat-toy is a real quicky to make, and the hemp string really holds up to even kitten-style rough housing.

• Ecolution Fine Hemp Twine (0.8 mm diameter, 325 yds/297 m, 2.3 oz/65 gm) – 1 ball natural.
• Stuffing material: Any kind of stuffing is fine (cotton balls or leftover bits of yarn, for example), but I prefer pieces of cellophane or mylar because they make crinkely noises that cats seem to like. A really excellent source of mylar is from the windows of envelopes from bills and junk mail. Recycling at its finest! Add catnip as desired.

US Pattern Notations Used
ch = chain
st(s) = stitch(es)
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
dec = decrease

Not *that* kind of hemp! This is a fine drapey twine that crochets up nice and tight with a smallish hook – flexible enough to wrap around a pony-tail, but stiff enough to hold its shape.

Included here are two stick-barrettes, one hair tie, and a Möbius hair band – a new *twist* on the old scrunchie.

• Ecolution Fine Hemp Twine (0.8 mm diameter, 325 yds/297 m, 2.3 oz/65 gm) – 1 ball each white, purple, and burgundy.
• Hook size US D/3 (3.25mm)
• Hair stick (5” dowel, chopstick, crochet hook, etc., for stick barrettes)
• Elastic hair band, about 2” diameter (for Möbius band)

US Pattern Notations Used
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet