Crochet on the Go Part 1

I have a lot of appointments. Sometimes I feel like I am in a different doctor's office several times a week. My life revolves around me waiting.

So, to keep myself busy, I crochet. To be honest, I can crochet all day long if I didn't have responsibilities like kids. (sigh)

Be productive, Wendy. Do something good with your hands Wendy.

That I can do!

 I was gifted A LOT of cotton yarn to help with animal rescue projects and any other projects I could find. And the mission began. What a perfect mini project for a waiting room or any other quiet time I can steal.


I have a beloved friend that works with the homeless. Along with other volunteers, her and her family makes hundreds of sandwiches and then on Sunday evenings, they serve members of their community that are struggling. It's humbling to know that a sandwich could be their only meal that day. It got me thinking about what I could do with my hands and yarn that could help too? I started to research and I kept running across soap sacks, soap socks, etc. In a nutshell, it is a small 100% cotton bag that you can use by putting a bar of soap in side and washing. A two-in-one for showers. They are great for traveling, camping, and even better for those who are consistently on the go and need to save space.

Many didn't know at first what I was talking about. I get it. You hear soap sock and the first thoughts are what does a sock and soap have to do with one another? But then you see one and it makes sense.

See? Told you it would make sense. This little 3 1/2" by 5" cotton bag is versatile to say the least. You can use them not only for soap but I have made them for my kids when we go to the beach and they go treasure hunting. With the solid bottom you could even use this for your purse for makeup, coins, you name it. Best part? Cotton is very durable. Wash and repeat. 

Supplies:

• 1 ball of 100& cotton yarn. (I am currently using Peaches & Creme Gold)
• Size H or 5 mm hook
• darning needle (I love my Clover needles)
• a pair of scissors
• a stitch marker (or something to hold your place like a safety pin or a piece of yarn)
•  Bag to hold your supplies. The bag I am using is from a twin pack I got at Wal-mart with a strap for my wrist. 

Measurements: 3 1/2"x5" 

Time: 30-45 minutes 

Skill level:  intermediate beginner

Stitches to know:

sc- single crochet

ch- chain

hdc- half- double crochet

sl st- slip stitch

ch sp- chain space

sc2tog- single crochet 2 together

increase sc- 2 sc in same stitch

If I had to use a scale for level of difficulty, I would label this a 2.5.

You will be working in the round which is a learned skill. I hope I explain it well enough to make it super easy. Once you get the hang of it, the sky is the limit.

From time to time, you may lose a stitch or gain a stitch, and for that you need to know sc2tog or increase sc to make sure your count equals up and the drawstring you need to know how to work a magic circle. 

Working in the round is referred to working in a circle or up and around the chain. We will work up and around the chain. 

Start with chaining 12

Row 1:sc in the 2nd chain from the hook

sc in next 9 ch

in the last ch , sc 3

from underside of ch, sc in each of the next 10 ch. 

apply 2 sc in starting ch and sl st to close

Row 2: ch 1

apply sc in ch sp and sc in each st around (24 stitches) sl st to close

Row 3-6 Repeat row 2

When you start working row 2, you project should start to curl in on the ends. Think canoe. If it doesn't, it should by row 3. If it doesn't, you will need to start over because you probably have gained a stitch (most likely in the corners).

Row 1-6 form the solid bottom. For soap use, it keeps the little pieces from falling out. Same goes for whatever you are using it for. 

This is what it should look like at the end of Row 6

Rows 7-13 are referred to as a modified moss stitch. If you don't know what the moss stitch is, I will do another pattern later for a cotton washcloth. It is a combination of ch stitches and single crochet. Very strong and durable combination.  We are going to do half-double crochet instead of single crochet. This allows the bag to breathe and dry easier. It also gives it a texture that helps with scrubbing. 

Row 7: chain 3 (counts as 1 hdc and ch 1) skip next chain, hdc, *ch1, sk ch sp, hdc* ch 1, sl st to 2nd ch at the beginning. 

row 8: ch 2 (counts as hdc) hdc in next st *ch 1, skip ch sp, hdc* sl st to starting hdc.

Row 9-13: repeat 7 and 8 2 times and row 7 one additional time (maintain 24 st)

The body of the bag is almost complete!  

Row 14: ch 1, sc in ch 1 sp, sc in each st around, sl st to close (24)

row 15: repeat 14

Now is time for the hanging loop. 

Row 16: ch 10. insert hook at the base of the starting chain (see below)

insert hook in next ch (to the left of the ch 10) and sl st through all the loops on the hook. sl st to next st and fasten off

Now the body of the bag is complete! Weave in all your ends and let's get started on the drawstring. 

Create magic circle and put 10 hdc in circle. 

tighten magic circle and secure tail.

Flip circle over

Insert hook into the back of a hdc post, sl st

move across the circle and insert hook into the back of a hdc post and sl st

This will allow the ch we will create to start at the middle of the circle

Next: ch 40

Put stitch marker on at the chain 40. Pull working yarn and weave the drawstring in and out of row 13.
Pull a few yards of working yarn through so you can finish the draw string.

Remove stitch marker, and sl st to 2 ch from hook, crochet 10 hdc in space. sl st to close and fasten off leaving a long tail.

 With long tail: flip circle to the wrong side (see first magic circle instructions)
insert needle through hdc post, lay chain draw string cross the center of circle, st through the chain, into hdc post and secure tail. cut remaining tail

Pull remaining working yarn back from the bag.

And you are complete!

This is my first written pattern, so forgive me if it's wordy. Positive feedback is greatly appreciated. 

With one ball of Peaches & Creme, you should be able to complete 3 socks. Save the remaining yarn for future projects. 

Happy Crocheting!

Wendy

PS: I bought a 22 pack of Dial Gold bars of soap at Sam's Club for less than $10 in February. 22 socks and 22 bars of soap would retail around $30. If you can't crochet, may be help a crocheting friend and help with supplies. 

SOAP SOCK

PATTERN AND SUPPLIES ONLY:

Supplies:

• 1 ball of 100& cotton yarn. (I am currently using Peaches & Creme Gold)
• Size H or 5 mm hook
• darning needle (I love my Clover needles)
• a pair of scissors
• a stitch marker (or something to hold your place like a safety pin or a piece of yarn)
•  Bag to hold your supplies. The bag I am using is from a twin pack I got at Wal-mart with a strap for my wrist. 

Measurements: 3 1/2"x5" 

Time: 30-45 minutes 

Skill level:  intermediate beginner

Stitches to know:

sc- single crochet

ch- chain

hdc- half- double crochet

sl st- slip stitch

ch sp- chain space

sc2tog- single crochet 2 together

increase sc- 2 sc in same stitch

Start with chaining 12

Row 1:sc in the 2nd chain from the hook sc in next 9 ch in the last ch , sc 3 first ch (creating the corner), from underside of ch: sc in each of the next 10 ch. 

apply 2 sc in starting ch and sl st to close (24 st)

Row 2: ch 1, apply sc in ch sp and sc in each st around (24 stitches) sl st to close

Row 3-6: Repeat row 2

Row 7: chain 3 (counts as 1 hdc and ch 1) skip next chain, hdc, *ch1, sk ch sp, hdc* ch 1, sl st to 2nd ch at the beginning. 

row 8: ch 2 (counts as hdc) hdc in next st *ch 1, skip ch sp, hdc* sl st to starting hdc.

Row 9-13: repeat 7 and 8 2 times and row 7 one additional time (maintain 24 st)

Row 14: ch 1, sc in ch 1 sp, sc in each st around, sl st to close (24)

row 15: repeat 14, sl st to close

row 16: Is the loop only!  ch 10. insert hook at the base of the starting chain insert hook in next ch (to the left of the ch 10) and sl st through all the loops on the hook. sl st to next st and fasten off

Drawstring:

• Create magic circle and put 10 hdc in circle, tighten magic circle and secure tail.
• Flip circle over. Insert hook into the back of a hdc post, sl st tomove across the circle and insert hook into the back of a hdc post and sl st to close.
• ch 40
• Put stitch marker on at the chain 40. Pull working yarn and weave the drawstring in and out of row 13.Pull a few yards of working yarn through so you can finish the draw string.
• Remove stitch marker, and sl st to 2 ch from hook, crochet 10 hdc in space. sl st to close and fasten off leaving a long tail. 

With long tail: flip circle to the wrong side (see first magic circle instructions)
insert needle through hdc post, lay chain draw string cross the center of circle, st through the chain, into hdc post and weave in remaining tail to secure tightly.
trim tail and you are complete