the wheels started turning a few months ago after stitchy mc yarnpants announced that her book was coming out. there was much rejoicing of course. and sucking up. (because of course who doesn't want to be chummy chummy with a published author. ) and finally, inspiration. others are inspired by nordic patterns, complex lace, beauty in nature, gorgeous yarns. i'm inspired by scary clowns made of red heart and the nausea inducing yet oddly comforting granny square.
i present to you my latest crochet incarnation ... "The Kitschy Kozy."
made of non-kitschy patons classic merino, the kozy can also be crocheted in red heart (preferably). i used odd balls of paprika ("shag carpeting" rust), dark olive ("avocado"), old gold ("harvest gold"), chestnut brown ("ugly fake wood paneling" brown), and red.
would you like a kozy to protect your museum of kitschy book? it's really quite simple.
the front and back of the kozy were made of 4 4-rowed granny squares stitched together. how big your squares end up being depends on your gauge and the yarn you're using, so experiment. with the right side of each panel facing you, on one side of each panel, single crochet an even number of rows so that the the total number of single crochet rows is as wide as the binding of the book is wide. sew the binding edges together so that wrong side of each panel are facing eachother. then starting at one of the binding edges, single crochet around the whole mess. i needed to only crochet 1 row. again, depending on the size of your squares, you may need to crochet more rows.
to attach your kozy to your museum of kitschy stitches book, make 2 chains that when pulled taut are long enough to reach from the top edge of the book to the bottom and attach to the single row edging.
to create a tie closure, to keep your book closed, make two chains and attach one to each panel opposite the binding side. then tie.
voila! you're done. and your book is protected and decorative at the same time.
You are so freaking awesome! This totally made my week. I can't wait to make one, or twelve, now that you've unloaded all your acrylic yarn on me. :) I love that you had to make it our of wool because I have all your Red Heart. Classic!
*smooch*
Posted by: Debbie | August 14, 2006 at 10:17 PM
quite fab! My parents *just* got rid of the avocado kitchen appliances that they bought before I was born...during the Nixon Administration, D'oh!
Posted by: Heather | August 14, 2006 at 10:39 PM
If I crocheted (yes, you are reading a plea for a lesson in here somewhere) then I would *totally* make one of these for my book.
Totally.
Posted by: elisa | August 15, 2006 at 06:05 AM
This. Is. Hilarious.
Posted by: Marcy, Not Blogless | August 15, 2006 at 07:51 AM
Dude - You are SO retro. Awesome! Takes me back to my teenage years...and all the granny hot pads I crocheted my Mom. :) Although I used Aunt Lydia's rug yarn - it lasted longer than Red Heart. ;)
Posted by: Bron | August 15, 2006 at 07:52 AM
Gosh, I need to learn the crochet. This is so cool, M!
Posted by: Lolly | August 15, 2006 at 08:22 AM
Fantastic! The perfect cover for Debbie's book!
Posted by: Carole | August 15, 2006 at 08:27 AM
That's awesome. I'm a bit scared that you actually had all of THOSE colors in your stash. Just how old is your stash?
Posted by: Kat | August 15, 2006 at 08:35 AM
Hee hee!
Posted by: Chris | August 15, 2006 at 09:18 AM
You seriously rock.
Posted by: Bookish Wendy | August 15, 2006 at 09:40 AM
Geez, you're clever. The book should have come packaged like that. Like the Northern Exposure DVDs that come wrapped in little orange parkas. How cool would that have been?!
I actually like a well-done granny square. A friend of mine has an afghan of tiny squares (3 rounds each, I think) in jewel colors with black borders. It's fantastic and I want one just like it! :-)
Posted by: Beth S. | August 15, 2006 at 09:47 AM
Really nice! I love to meet a knitter who crochets too!
Posted by: Carol | August 15, 2006 at 10:01 AM
Could you BE any cuter?
Posted by: Kellee | August 15, 2006 at 10:19 AM
Scary, yet perfect.
Posted by: Martha | August 15, 2006 at 10:57 AM
you are marvelous.
Posted by: melanie | August 15, 2006 at 01:14 PM
Wow. You are amazing. And I love how you went with the "classic" colors!
Posted by: meg | August 15, 2006 at 01:21 PM
I love the kozy! It reminds me of the blanket my grandmother made for me in 1979!
Posted by: Kristin | August 15, 2006 at 03:08 PM
Very cute cozy. I just wish that I could crochet well enough for granny squares.
Posted by: Jaime | August 16, 2006 at 04:47 AM
I really need to learn how to do this (crochet)! :)
Posted by: maggie | August 16, 2006 at 06:47 AM
That is AWESOME! Maybe Stitchy will want to put out a special edition covered with that! How cool would that be?! Also, congratulations on kitty coming home and you wheel!
Posted by: scribblesnbits | August 16, 2006 at 01:23 PM
Ok, that book cozy? Is such a hilarious and freaking cute idea!
I wanted to post the other day about your cat coming back but my computer was being a butt. Anyway, I'm glad the furball is back home :)
Posted by: laurie | August 17, 2006 at 06:04 PM