skull

Merry Handmade Christmas 2015

We hope you all had a holly jolly Christmas. This year I, Dana, crocheted a few gifts…I felted a purse for my mom, made some lovely catnip filled mice toys for my sister and sister-in-law (well, for their cats anyway), and I crocheted a skull purse for my twin sister. For the latter two crocheted gifts I followed patterns created by fellow designers on the free membership site Ravelry.

This flat bag used nearly every inch of one skein of Lion Brand Vanna’s Glamour. I lined it and added a zipper. The handle is attached with a couple of buttons so the strap length is adjustable. The front and back panel are the same.

If you love skulls, there are a ton of great patterns on ravelry. I modified the Crochet Skull Scarf pattern by Karin Kaufmann. She modified a pattern from the Crochet Skull Shawl / Doskallesjal by Kungen Och Majkis.

My sister originally requested that I make the shawl…but I really wasn’t up to such a large project. A purse is something she can use year around. So I think my modified gift is a win/win.

Skull Pattern for Fauxchet Hook Rugging

Skull Pattern for Fauxchet Hook Rugging

This skull pattern was our first attempt to hook rug with the easyloop fauxchet tool.

We haven’t hook rugged for years….maybe even decades (that makes us sound old)! But it brings back fond memories of craft times with our mom and special pillows she made for us.

Skull Pattern

This skull and cross bone image we charted for this pattern would make a fun “keep out” sign for a child’s door or a fun pillow for his or her room. We considered creating a rug for a high traffic area.

Supplies:

Easyloop fauxchet tool
Latch Rug Canvas
Yarn – 2 skeins
(Pictured: Red Heart Super Saver – Light Raspberry, Tea Leaf)
Marker
Skull Chart

Instructions:

Referring to the skull chart, color all the “BL” bars with a marker. You now have two tones drawn out on your canvas.
Select your yarn color and start hooking! If you are using the easyloop tool, start at the top left corner (for right handed). With traditional hook rugging, you’ll start at the bottom.
Optional: cut loops and trim to desired length.

NOTE: If using the larger mesh and worsted weight yarn, try double stranded hooking with the easyloop tool to create a fuller rug.

Our Thoughts on Hook Rugging with the easyloop tool

Hook rugging is super easy with the easyloop tool. Since the technique uses a skein of yarn instead of individually cut lengths of yarn, hook rugging goes a lot faster! I love crafting…but I’m all about finishing projects quickly so I can start the next one!

The technique is very similar to fauxchet, but instead of going through loops, you are fauxcheting around the bar in the canvas.

This fauxchet video will show you the basic use of the fauxchet tool. And when you purchase the tool, there are instructions and videos for hook rugging.

Pros of hook rugging with the easyloop tool

Easy to learn
Fast
Less mess with using skeins instead of cut yarn
Creates loops instead of cut ends
More color choices available since skeins are used instead of cut yarn
Can create a mix of loops and cut yarn as desired

Cons of hook rugging with the easyloop tool

Creates loops instead of cut ends
Can knot up if tool is wrapped around bar wrong
Challenging to create loops of consistent sizes

I’m already dreaming about my next hook rug project. I’m definitely going to be using the easyloop tool. If you love to hook rug, you’ve got to try this tool!

More Fauxchet

To learn more about the easyloop tool, visit fauxchet.com.

Read our initial product review of the easyloop fauxchet tool.

Check out our FREE Fauxchet Patterns.