Keeping My Promises

   

Remember these?  I promised tutorials for these projects a week or two (or three) ago now.  So I'm here to keep my promises!

First Project:  Zig Zag Afghan
Gather Your Supplies:
Select your three yarn colors.  (I used Vanna's Choice brand yarn - Loved it!)  I used probably 15-18 balls of yarn total (including border).
Size G crochet hook
Scissors

Body:
Decided how many "zig-zags" you want your afghan to have.  Each little peak is about 3 or 3 1/2 inches.  Once you have a number multiply it by 14.  This is the number you need to chain on.
Turn and single crochet into the second chain from hook.  Single crochet in each of the next 5 chains.  *Single crochet 3 times into the next chain and then single crochet once into each of the next 6 chains.
(Summary:  By now you should have six single crochets leading to the little peak you just made with the 3 single crochets in one stitch.  You should also have six single crochets leading down from the peak to the valley that you are about to make.)
Skip the next chain and single in each of the next 6 chains.  Repeat from * until the end of your row.
Now chain 1 and turn.  Skip the first single crochet and single crochet in the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the second single crochet.  Single crochet in each of the next 5 single crochets (front loop only - this gives the blanket a nice ridged texture on both sides).  **Single crochet 3 times in the next single crochet (this should be the middle single crochet of the three in one stitch from the row before).  Single crochet in each of the next 6 single crochets; skip 2 single crochets and single crochet in each of the next 6 stitches - you should be heading back up to the next peak.  Repeat from ** until you have made the afghan the length you want it.  Switch colors every 6 rows.
(Don't forget = for the rest of the blanket, besides the border, you are crocheting in the front loop ONLY.)
Another Note: Try to crochet the ends of your threads in as you go...I only started doing that about 1/2 way through and weaving the threads in at the end was a PAIN!

Border:
(NOTE: For the entire border, stitch through both loops of the stitch instead of just the front loop)
Single crochet around the entire border of your afghan starting on a straight side.  Single crochet 3 times in each of the corners (make sure you are exactly in the corner).  On the top and bottom, (zig-zag sides) crochet as you did above for the body of the afghan (3 sc in the peak, skip 2 sc in the valleys).
On the sides you will have to just do your best to place the stitches.  Putting them too close together with cause the edge to ripple (not the end of the world considering it is a ruffled border anyways), and putting them to far apart will cause the border to pucker (really bad!).
*Join the circle when you come back around  to where you started and chain 3.  Double crochet 1 time into the first single crochet and 2 times into each of the single crochets down the entire side of the afghan.  Double crochet three times into the corner stitch (middle of the 3 stitches from the sc round).  Complete the top and bottom sides (zig-zag sides) using the same method you did with the single crochet round (and body of afghan) except using double crochets.  Finish out the round.  Repeat from * one more full round and then tie it off and cut your threads.  Weave them in and you are done!

(Note: I searched online for a pattern and used the ideas from a few.  In the end it was changed so much from the original patterns that it was my own.  The border I created completely by myself!)

Congratulations to anyone who actually completes this project!  You MUST link up a picture.  It is a huge accomplishment.

Project Two: Pleather Belt

Gather Supplies:
1/4 yard (or less) of pho leather
half the measurement of your waist of 2 inch wide black elastic
small metal buckle

Make It:
Cut two strips of pleather that are two inches wide.  To calculate the length of the two strips:

1. Take your waist measurement, divide it by 4, and add 1/2 an inch
2. Take your waist measurement, divide it by 4, and add 3 inches

Sew the short side (2") of each piece of pleather to one of the short sides (2") of the elastic.  It should look like  <pleather strip - elastic - pleather strip>  the pleather and elastic should overlap 1/4 inch on each side.

(NOTE: Test sewing on pleather ahead of time.  I ruined 2 potential belts because my tension was not correctly adjusted and everything puckered.)

See the following illustration for how to finish the buckle of your belt!

As always, if you have ANY questions, just leave a comment and I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.

Be blessed!