Tunisian Stitch Egg Cozy

My grandmother, Patt, crocheted projects using a lesser-known stitch called Tunisian crochet or Afghan crochet stitch. It is also known as “the knit stitch” as it works like knitting a row: pick up every stitch in a row, then decrementing the row (see this video).

My grandmother made thick crocheted blankets using two colors. One would feed on the left (used every-other row) for the front and the other would feed from the right for the back.  The picture below was white on the back and variegated on the front (which shows through on the back).

This egg cozy reproduction is made in best likeness to her original Tunisian stitch Egg Cozy.  It took me a stinkin' long time to find the stitch (does it look knit or crocheted???) and the right yarn (you will have to go to the right yarn shop).  Here is a side-by-side view of the chicks.  The paler one on the right is the original.

Grandma's Egg Cozy 
Materials: Pale yellow chunky weight yarn, size M crochet hook or size to produce a chick 3” wide by 3 ½” tall, red felt, needle and thread.  Time: About 15 min to crochet and 15 minutes needlework.

Instructions: Chain 18. Tunisian crochet 8 rows (down and back). On 9^th row, slip stitch 5 stitches, pick up next 8 stitches and leave remaining 5 stitches. Tunisian crochet 3 more rows and finish off. Sew raw edges together, leaving bottom open for egg. Cut 1”x1/4” red felt and scallop one edge. Sew onto top of chick's head. Sew on little red felt eyes and a 1/8” orange felt diamond for a beak.

 

Happy Easter!

Gifts From Clara Freidman

Thank you Claire for the beautiful handmade and tied blankets and crocheted booties.  They are fantastic!

Crocheted Blankets

The first picture is a blanket crocheted by my sister-in-law Michelle.  The picture doesn't do it justice because it really shines.  And it's really warm.  And it's quite a bit bigger than the second blanket.  The edging is fantastic so I had to take a close-up picture of that.  I'm hoping this turns into one of those blankets that the baby can drag around until he's too old for it ;)

The second picture is the blanket I crocheted for her youngest boy when he was born almost 5 years ago.  It's in excellent condition.  I wish I'd used shinier softer yarn for all the work that goes into making these.

Baby Girl Gift Basket

I made this blanket and baby girl dress a couple years ago for Kristy. 

 

Then I packaged it in this gift basket with hair clips, a bib, an ABC book, socks, lotion and cookies.  The idea came from the floral design class my college roommate and I took together.  Only I don't think I had a floral arrangement in this basket.

Socks and a Beanie

Knitted Socks

This sock pattern is Bluebells from "Booties, Booties, Booties."  I used sock yarn, which is weight -1- and a size 3 set of knitting needles.  But it turned out too small so hopefully it will fit for the first week or two.  I'm going to make another set of socks that are much larger.

Crocheted Beanie

I made up this pattern for a crochet-thread beanie.  I'm going to line the inside rim with something soft.  The bottom rim is a puff stitch.  It's still not long enough but I ran out of thread.  This is 18" round, which according to growth charts should fit in the 9-12 month range.

Crocheted Edge Burp Clothes

This is a "double post stich" meaning you do a double crochet, then do it in the previous stitch, then go foreward 2 stiches to start again.  I realized that there is a difference in crochet threads.  Next one I'm going to use the heavier brown like the beanie.