Crocheting at American Idol!

Its’ been a really fun 2 days.  My daughter, Ashley, is trying out for American Idol and we made a strafing run from Missouri to Dallas Texas in 9 hours so she could be here and audition.  Yesterday we stood in line for 3 hours in the wee hours of the morning to get registered and I was really glad I had my crocheting with me.  I made 2 washcloths and started a third one that I will finish tomorrow as we are there for auditions.

The washcloths are for Shriners Hospital for the parents of  the children needing surgery who stay at the parent’s wing.  You can either make them as wash cloths or you can double them over and crochet them together on the bottom and sides and add a drawstring to make them into soap sacks and add a bar of soap.

Here is how to make the washcloths – Chain a row as wide as you want the cloth.  Do two rows of half double crochet, then do two rows of double crochet but crochet alternating around behind and in front of the dc stitches  to give a raised texture to the cloth instead of crocheting in the top of the chain.  Alternate the two rows of hdc with the two rows of dc and finish with 2 rows of hdc.  I like to do a slip stitch all the way around the edge of the cloth to stabilize it but you don’t have to.

Remember that the cloth will shrink after it’s washed so make it slightly larger. I use 100% cotton yarn. Wal Mart carries a nice line of cotton yarn – my favorite is the variegated colors.

Closeup of stitches - crochet