New Crochet Pencil Case

I have nothing too fancy to say about this pencil case.

The original one was used every week last year because I kept it in my bible study bag.  No more depending on my purse for pens (which can have anywhere from zero to ten pens on any given day).  One slight problem with the original case is that I used a pen to measure the length when I was making it and, sure enough, it was then about half an inch too short to hold a full sized pencil.  The sharp lead stuck through the crochet and either wrote on other things in the bag or poked things.

Needing something mindless to crochet the other night after finishing my shawl, I decided to make myself a longer pencil case.  As long as I was making a new one, I made it in the round (which I didn't know how to do when I made the old one) and made it to match my bible study bag.  I started after supper and finished before bedtime.  Crochet is pretty addicting and a great way to unwind and de-stress at the end of the day.

Little Black Dress...and a Crocheted Shawl for Modesty

This outfit started out as a win... then, not so much... then a win again.

Step 1.  Self draft a pattern for a comfy knit sheath style dress.

Step 2.  Construct dress from some cool textured knit.  Construction goes great - easy and it comes together smoothly (especially the self bound edges, which I sometimes find tricky with knits).  Thrilled with the dress.

Step 3.  Try it on.... hmmm.... a little too tight.  A bit too snug for my taste, too body hugging, borderline immodest for my standards.  BUMMER!

Close up of the self-bound neckline and armholes, as well as the interesting wavy textured knit fabric.  It is fully lined with plain black knit.  

Step 4.  Hey, I'm on kind of a crochet kick right now.  Maybe I could crochet myself a shawl to make the dress more modest and church appropriate.

Step 5.  Dress goes into closet to await shawl.  Crochet in the evenings on my shawl, trying to figure it out as I go without a pattern (after a quick internet search doesn't show me the exact shawl I'm envisioning in my head).

Step 6.  Shawl is done!  Love the stitch pattern I made up, love the soft yarn, not so sure about the overall shape of the shawl.

Step 7.  Get the dress back out of the closet.  Shawl on top.  Passes modesty standards and is very comfortable.   Still not sold on the shape of the shawl but it was a fun project and will be worn nonetheless.

The pattern I made up is a row of (US) treble crochet, followed by two rows of single crochet.  

Shells around the edges.  

I made increases at both ends of every row as well as some extra increases in the first sc rows at random places to make it a bit shorter and wider than a plain triangle.  

Overall: 

 ~  I like the shape of the dress, its just a little too clingy/tight to wear on its own. 

 ~  It is very very very comfortable.  :)  I think it'll turn out to be a great layering piece rather than a stand alone dress.  I can see making a bolero style jacket for over the top (fabric or yarn).   

The shawl is okay, not great.  I might try again with a different shape - maybe more of a 'capelet' than a 'shawl' next time.  The girls were asking to wear it before I had it finished so I'm sure it will get used as is.