Organizing my yarn collection

Back in January of 2012, I opened my etsy shop.  My shop inventory didn't not include crochet items.  Mostly paper goods.  But through browsing etsy shops, I began to take noticed that crochet goods did really well on etsy.  So I bought a couple skein of yarn at walmart and from then on... my etsy shop blossom.  In the beginning, I was just thrilled with having the budget to buy 2-3 skein of yarn.  and then my yarn collection began growing.  I wasn't exactly sure of how to stash my yarn.  and sometimes I didn't.  I found myself shopping for yarn more and more.  As my shop grew and so did my yarn collection.  

I used the over the door shoe organizer.  which works for well for a while.  and then I used chest drawer you see below, but then it became inadequate, not enough space.

See the post

So now, this is how my stash looks

I bought these milk crate at Walmart sometime back.  I bought them for $2.50 each.  Now they cost over $5.  I was using them for miscellaneous stuff around the house.  I decided to put them together and form this shelving unit for my yarn collection.  I'm very happy with it.  I can clearly see, if I need any particular color or style.  I group my yarn based on brand, Red Heart, Impeccable, and Bernat.  I used a glass cookie jar for left over yarn and I also included my crochet books. 

the plastic bins to the left contains some of my completed project and other crochet goods.

and for more protection, I placed this sari on top of the shelving unit to help keep dust and stuff.

Crochet Basket

My stash of left over yarn is growing and needed more ways to organize it.  So instead of buying another plastic container, I crochet this basket.  Its very simple and fast to make.  I began with a round pattern in double crochet.  Increasing in each row, till I got the circumference that I wanted.  Then in each stitch I began a double crochet stitch following a single chain.  I repeated this step dc and ch 1, until I got the height that I wanted and added the handle.  the rim is single crochet and each row of single crochet I was decreasing every 7 chain.

I love how it turned out.

Crochet Yarn cozy, holder or carrier.

Today, I uploaded a new video on youtube on how to crochet a water bottle holder.  After uploading and viewing, Youtube gives you suggestions on other similar videos.  One of those videos is a tutorial on Yarn cozy.  I would have embedded the video here, but the Youtube user disabled that option.   But I truly love that idea.  I often carry my yarn with me to cafe to crochet and although I have a nice mesh bag to carry my yarn, I thought this idea would fit my needs very well.  I didn't copy the pattern, but came up with my own, because it was similar to the water bottle holder pattern that I just uploaded today.

It perfectly fits a whole skein of Red Heart Super Saver yarn.

I added a drawstring to enclosed the opening and a loop carry it on the go.

and here is the video tutorial for water bottle holder that I uploaded today on YouTube.

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e-Reader crochet Pattern with handle

Step by step tutorial for an e-Reader or tablet crochet pattern with handle.

I've been planning on adding this pattern to my collection and here it is.  It's very simple and perfect for beginners. I shot a video on how this pattern is done.

Below is the pattern in text

1.  begin with a slip knot
2.  chain 38
3.  form a circle with the 38 chain by connecting the ends with a slip stitch

Row 1 -  is a row of single crochet in each stitch.  completing the row with a slip stitch
Row 2 - is a row of double crochet in each stitch.  completing the row again with a slip stitch to form the circle

Row 3 - this is where you begin with a different color yarn.
draw in new yarn.  chain one and complete this row with single crochet in each stitch.  slip stitch again at the end of the row.

Row 4 - drop the white yarn and pick the purple and this row is a row of double crochet.

Row 5 - drop purple yarn and pick up the white yarn and this row is a row of single crochet.

Repeat row 4 and 5 until you have 6 rows of purple and 6 row of white.  this measurement is for Nook Simple Touch e-reader or Kindle Touch.  for any of the 7" tablet, you have to add additional rows but they have the same width.

Loop for a Button
on your last row, chain 2, sc in the next 9 stitches,
chain 18 and slip stitch in the same stitch that you began the loop.
continue to single crochet till end of row.  slip stitch once again to complete this row

Handles
chain 2, single crochet in the next 4 stitches, chain 18 

Crochet granny square toss pillow and throw

Although, I've been extremely busy, I  always felt like crochet is away out of stress and a form of meditation for me, so I go off and begin a project, not knowing what I'm intending to do.  The only way to begin  is by granny square. I had some extra stash of yarn and began crocheting an afghan.   and end up pairing it with a toss pillow.

had no specific color scheme in mind.  I just used what I got.  This is actually done with two strands of medium worsted yarn in two colors.

I used the largest crochet hook I have. It is size "P"

I only stop because I ran out of yarn. Maybe another weekend will help me complete it.  

I love how the toss pillow cover turned out.  The 9 granny squares, were not quite enough to cover the pillow.  So I added rows of single crochet and double to frame it.  

the other size of the pillow cover is done in corner to corner crochet stitch.  I wanted to get it done fast and I made the right choice. It as pretty quick.