Crochet Ripple Rug circa 8Os

Voila the Ripple rug that I did in the 80s. This one has been stuffed in the back of a cupboard for a while now as zig zag crochet became crass. I remember doing this one when the kids were young. I like the effect of the rainbow. Basically this was all odds and sods and I somehow managed to get a pattern in the way the colours worked.

The stitch is a simple treble or double crochet as the Americans would say. I can't believe I ever did this. There is no way I would take on something of this size again. Those rows are quite long - 300 stitches across, and 164 rows of 10 up, 2ch, 10 down, miss 1 and then up again. The zig zag ripple gives the fabric a bit of stretch. This rug used to be a favourite for sleepovers when the kids were little. Now it is stuffed in a cupboard. I am sure it will have a few more days of glory if I hang onto it.

It is worked in 5 ply yarn which is hard to come by now, and double knit or 8 ply seems to have taken over.

Any hoos thanks for looking!

Happy Bottle Bags - free crochet pattern

Happy Bottle Bags
(c)crochetroo 2006 please respect my copyright
Here is a pattern for some Happy Bottle Bags which I have designed with Christmas in mind.

The pattern hasn't been tested, and you may have to experiment with different types of yarn. I have used Carnival , or Magnum 8ply. The cheeper the yarn the better as the tough scratchy stuff works up pretty stiff which is perfect for these bags.

I think they look rather cute and sure provide a special touch to the gift bottle of wines that seem to be about at Christmas. While I have provided some basic instructions you can experiment with your own colour combinations.

These two work nicely on a bottle of Jacob Creek red, and Brown Brothers Crouchen Riesling. These two would have to be amongst my favourite Australian wines.


I have provided instructions below in both Australian and American terminology so make sure you use the correct ones. While the pattern is copyright, I don't really care what you do with the finished product as long as it isn't sold in commercial quantities. Christmas is a time of giving and I would encourage you to enjoy making these with that in mind.

Happy Bottle Bags (c)crochetroo
Australian Instructions

8ply, double knit, worsted weight yarn, Size 8 or 4mm hook

Step 1: Make a base.
Base is worked in rounds; join with slst at end of each round.
1. 4ch ring, then 3ch (counts as first tr throughout), 11tr into ring, slst into start ch = 12tr
2. 3ch, 1tr same place, 2tr each st around, slst to join = 24tr
3. 3ch, 1tr same place, (1tr next st, 2tr next st) around = 36tr

4 or Row 1 of the side. 3ch start then 1bptr in each st around, slst into start ch = 36tr post.

Count your stitches. You should have 36tr around.

Step 2 Make the sides.
Use alternating colours to get a Christmas effect.

Pattern options
Always have at least 3 groups of 2rows of dc in each bag. This adds stability to your bag otherwise it may get too stretchy.

A. Plain Treble
3ch, 1tr next 35st around, slst into 3start ch

B. Plain Double Crochet
1ch, 1dc next 35st, slst into start ch NOTE 2 rows of dc = 1 row of treble.

C. V Stitch
3ch, 1tr in same st, * miss 1st, 2tr next st around slst into start ch.

D. Crossed Treble
Start 2nd st from end, 3ch, then 1tr in st before, miss 1st, 1tr next st, then 1tr in missed st before. Work around crossing your stitches. 1slst finish into start ch.

E. Shell
R1. 1dc in start st, *miss 1, (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) next st, miss 1 then 1dc next st. Continue from * around finishing with slst join.
R2. Work start 1dc in 1ch sp between trebles, work (1tr 1ch 1tr) in 1dc of prv row.
If following shell with a plain tr row, work 3tr into each 1tr sp, and 1tr into each 1dc.

F. Lattice
4ch, * miss 1tr then 1tr next st, 1ch from * around slst into 3start ch = 18posts and 18 spaces around

Work 16 rows up side, counting 2dc rows as 1 tr row. You may need more depending on the size of your bottle.

Step 3: Make the Bottle top
Work 2 rows dc
1row plain tr
1row of lattice
1 row tr
2rows dc
1row tr then work a final row of 1ch, 1slst around.

Step 4: Finish off
Make 2 lengths of ch each 20 inches/ 50cm.
Weave one through lattice row and knot ends, Weave second piece of chain through alternative spaces and knot on opposite tide of bag. This will give you 2 ties to pull up and tie in a bow. Add decorations if you wish.



Happy Bottle Bags
American Instructions
(c)crochetroo
8ply, double knit, worsted weight yarn, Size 8 or 4mm hook

Step 1: Make a base.
Base is worked in rounds; join with slst at end of each round.

1. 4ch ring, then 3ch (counts as first dc throughout), 11dc into ring, slst into start ch = 12dc
2. 3ch, 1dc same place, 2dc each st around, slst to join = 24dc
3. 3ch, 1dc same place, (1tr next st, 2dc next st) around = 36dc

4 or Row 1 of the side. 3ch start then 1bpdc in each st around, slst into start ch = 36dc post.

Count your stitches. You should have 36dc around.

Step 2 Make the sides.
Use alternating colours to get a Christmas effect.

Pattern options
Always have at least 3 groups of 2rows of sc in each bag. This adds stability to your bag otherwise it may get too stretchy.

A. Plain Double Crochet
3ch, 1dc next 35st around, slst into 3start ch = 36

B. Plain Single Crochet
1ch, 1sc next 35st, slst into start ch = 36 NOTE 2 rows of sc = 1 row of dc.

C. V Stitch
3ch, 1dc in same st, * miss 1st, 2dc next st around slst into start ch.

D. Crossed Double Crochet
Start 2nd st from end, 3ch, then 1dc in st before, miss 1st, 1dc next st, then 1dc in missed st before. Work around crossing your stitches. 1slst finish into start ch.

E. Shell
R1. 1sc in start st, *miss 1 (1dc, 1ch, 1dc) next st, miss 1 then 1sc next st. Continue from * around finishing with slst join.
R2. Work start 1sc in 1ch sp between trebles, work (1dc,1ch ,1dc) in 1sc of prv row.
If following shell with a plain dc row, work 3dc into each 1dc sp, and 1dc into each 1sc.

F. Lattice
4ch, * miss 1dc then 1dc next st, 1ch from * around slst into 3start ch = 18posts and 18 spaces around

Work 16 rows up side, counting 2sc rows as 1dc row. You may need more depending on the size of your bottle.

Step 4: Make the Bottle top
Work 2 rows B: plain sc
1row A: plain dc
1row F: lattice
1 row A: plain dc
2rows B: plain sc
1row A dc then work a final row of 1ch, 1slst around.

Step 5: Finish off
Make 2 lengths of ch each 20 inches/ 50cm.
Weave one through lattice row and knot ends, Weave second piece of chain through alternative spaces and knot on opposite tide of bag. This will give you 2 ties to pull up and tie in a bow. Add decorations if you wish.

Yep the bottles are now empty! I didn't drink them alone. Boy how I love the Brown Brothers wine. It is a spectacular drop.



Happy Crocheting!

Wombats - Marsupial Madness

Well say G'day to the wombats! These are pure marsupial madness and took a bit of figuring out. Creating a wombat in crochet is no easy task.

They had the geat potential to look like a blob. The first version looked a bit blobby, then ratty, then doggy, but I am pleased with the end result.

I found that by changing the yarn and hook size I could vary the size. The speckly baby came out very cute.

Wombats are marsupials and closely related to the koala. They live in burrows and live on grass.

They are nocturnal, so aren't seen out and about much. They can swim, and believe it or not they have square poo! Not sure how that happens but cuboid droppings are a good sign that a wombat is about.

Wombats are stout, sturdy animals and live in burrows. Like the koala they are marsupials. They grow to about 1.3 metres in length, and can weigh up to 36 kg. They have a large, blunt head with small eyes and ears, and a short, muscular neck. Their sharp claws and stubby, powerful legs make them great diggers.

They have a reputation for being sleepy and a bit dim. For this reason blobby, dopey people often get the nick name Wombat. I remember a kid at school who was known as "Wombat".

Thanks for looking!

(c) copyright crochetroo patterns available at etsy - click the button in the links.

Housewife hussy in a crochet apron!

I eventually took the time to get the dolls down from the top of the cupboard to see if the apron would fit.

This doll was one of my teenage dolls when I was a little girl. Her name is Maria and I loved her so much. Her hair grows, and she has a button in her tummy to make it longer. I had forgotten I still had her. One thing in being a hoarder!

Maria must be about 40 now. Her hairstyle is vey 60s. I didn't keep any of her clothes, just the doll. I remember my Mum making her a beaded wedding dress. I have no idea what happened to this. So today Maria is naked under the apron, and is a bit of a desperate housewife! What a hussy!


I also tried the apron on the dishwashing liquid bottle. My boys thought I had completely gone nuts. This is Kitsch at its very best (lol).

The smaller aprons with the yarn were too small. I think you would need to make the neck loop longer and maybe have 2 separate lengths so you can tie the apron on.

I think the acrylic yarn is just the thing for this as it will wash well.


That is my silliness for the week. I hope you have fun with these.