Although it is January 6, 2016, we are still in the holidays at our house. Nearly a week into 2016, we still have the Chinese New Year to which we can look forward! We can cherish the poinsettia for months or years. We are still digesting events, and putting things back into place. We have spent nearly two months on the holidays, from before Thanksgiving to now. Needless to say, these holidays are extremely important to us, as others’ holidays are important to us, too.
Category Archives: Holidays
Two Christmas Placemats
The second of a two place-mat set is on the right, and the one photographed before is on the left.
Each placemat took about 10 hours to make, and I enjoyed crocheting them while I watched (listened) to TV, or listened to music. I used the same pattern, varying the location of some of the color blocks. Both were done with three strands with three strands of size 10 crochet cotton and a Boye size 00, 3.5 mm steel needle.The only downside to this activity, is that one sits while doing it.
They are about 15 inches by twenty inches by 20 inches. The one on the left is a little larger, and I attribute this to the fact that one of the strands in the border was a Herrschner’s size 10 cotton. It is very slightly thicker than the other size 10 cotton, which could have been one of several other brands. I needed to use the cotton of which I had enough to finish the color blocks, because if you use a different yarn, the color will vary, and the effect will be a bit different.
The gauge of a four inch by four inch square is about 19 double crochets by close to 10 or 11 rows
Not only are the dark green borders different here, but the one on the left is a bit more even, probably due to the slightly heavier cotton. Not only is Herrschner’s size 10 cotton a little thicker, it has a little less of a shine.
One of the joys of working with this size 10 mercerized cotton is the slight shine and drape of the products.
In contrast, kitchen cotton has a rather matte outcome, and is often stiffer.
Both of these cottons are machine washable, cool, gentle cycle, with flat pieces best dried flat.
January 6, 2016 update. Feedback was that somebody would have liked them better if there were four. I’ll make two more.