In hooping, breaks are when you quickly change the direction of your hoop while you’re hooping. In this great tutorial, katiebug0376 explains breaks from a beginner’s point of view. I’m still trying to get a handle on arm breaks while chest hooping, but this video helped a lot.
We all have our own opinions, but I’m a strong supporter of President Obama and his bid for reelection. And after I heard about his staff’s homebrewing efforts, I knew I wanted to make him a beer cozy, to show my appreciation for all his hard work these past handful of years.
To make the cozy, I first crocheted a red, white, and blue beverage cozy. Then I cut the logo out of felt and hand-stitched each piece together. The felt badge is attached to the cozy with flexible glue.
I mailed two cozies to the White House, so the President and Michelle can kick back and enjoy an frosty Ale to the Chief together. I know it could take ages to get make it through the bad-mail-detection department, but it can’t hurt to send it on its way, right?
I can’t afford to donate much to Obama’s campaign, so I wanted to offer a couple cozies for sale as a fundraiser. There are only a few available, but you can find them over at my Etsy store.
However, if you want your own beverage to proclaim its support for Obama, you can make one yourself! Just download this PDF tutorial for instructions.
Go Obama!
A couple years ago, I went on a camping trip up on Guanella Pass. It was Labor Day weekend, and at over 10,000 feet, it was pretty chilly in the evenings. I was crocheting next to the campfire, and my friend Mike asked me to make him a mitten.
”Just one?” I asked.
”Yeah. My beer keeps freezing to my hand.”
So of course, I did my best to make him a mitten. But I was just learning to crochet and had never worked without a pattern before. After a few failed attempts, it dawned on me.
”Hey, Mike?”
”Yeah?”
”Can I just make the beer a mitten instead?”
And so, the crochet beer cozy:
After years of making these things, I’ve perfected the pattern. It stretches to fit both a can and a bottle. It protects your frosty goodness from the hot sun, and prevents frostbite on cold mountain evenings. And best of all, it’s easy to make!
I think this is a great beginner project, and you only have to know a handful of stitches: chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), double crochet (dc), and half double crochet (hdc). So let’s do this.
First, you’ll need to collect supplies. I like to use worsted-weight acrylic yarn because it won’t shrink and it’s machine-washable. This pattern is designed for a J10/6.00 mm hook.
An aside: do you say “cozy?” Or “koozie?” Or “koozy?” Or “mitten?” I always thought they were called “cozies,” but Mike insists on “koozy.” I’m going with “coozy,” in an attempt to please everyone. Or no one. Hard to say.
Anyway, start by making a magic ring:
Double chain (dc) directly into the ring 10 times (10 dc + ch = 11 st). Be sure to overlap the tail as you work.
Grab the tail and pull gently to close the magic ring.
Join with a slip stitch (sl st) to finish the round.
Chain (ch) 3 to start the second round, then 2 dc into the next stitch.
2 dc in each stitch around, and one additional dc in the base of the chain for a total of 22 dc.
Join the second round with a slip stitch and ch 2 to begin the next round. 2 half double chains (hdc) in each stitch around for a total of 22 stitches (21 hdc + ch = 22).
At the end of each round, join with a sl st and ch 2 to begin the next round.
At this point, you’ll be able to see the structure of the coozy take shape. Keep going for 11 rounds up from the base. If you forget how many rows you’ve done, just count! In the center photo below, I’ve done 9 rows – 2 more to go! As you can see on the right, there’s only a small seam visible up one side.
When you finish the 11th round, join with a slip stich, cut the yarn, and pull through. Tug gently to tighten, but not too hard…you don’t want to cinch the top of the coozy too much!
Thread with a large needle and weave in the ends. Carefully off clip the ends closely. And you’re done!
And that’s how you make a…
These things are super easy to make and you can customize them however you like. And of course, if you don’t feel like making your own, check out my Etsy store! In fact, you can even buy this neon green one!
Early summer, we blindly chose some neat looking plants at the nursery and plunked them in the ground in a bed that’s under our second story deck. And they all survived the summer!
The poor bed is in a bad spot. It gets blasted for a few hours of high-altitude sun for a few hours each morning before being abruptly plunged into deep shadows.
These little pink ones did pretty well, but I wish I could remember what they are! Vincas, maybe? I deadheaded them a couple times, and they’ve been in full bloom all summer.
The catmint did pretty well too, though it didn’t grow as tall as some I’ve seen down the hill.
Bruce was dying to get some coral bells, so we purchased this cute little “Chocolate Ruffle” variety. We put in the ground, and immediately, half of its leaves withered up and fell off. Seems to be doing okay now, though.
This lupine was the Boy’s selection. It flowered once, and then sprouted a teensy second bloom later in the summer.
These bleeding heart ferns were the only thing in this bed before this summer. I think the little one in the front is an off-shoot of the one in the back, but I’m not sure.
These hostas are in nearly complete shade, but they’ve been doing just fine.
Well, except this one. The dog slept on this one.
And this poor thing is a mess. But I think it’s supposed to look like that.
All in all, I’m calling this summer’s adventure in landscaping a success! Now if I can only get some vegetables to grow next year…
I have a lot of hobbies, and many of them, I’ve taught myself. Thanks to the internet and my local public library, I’ve learned to crochet, hoop dance, cook, manipulate photos, create graphics, sew, needle felt, and much, much more. There are endless tutorials, books, videos, and websites out there – why don’t you learn something new and different?
In my new Guides section, I’ll share some of my favorite learning tools. Check back often to see what’s new!