We were attracted to the raw and primitive look of the “string bottle covers” in Erika Knight’s great book “simple crochet” (Clarkson Potter Publishers, 128 pages, $19.95) and made our first one following her pattern (Pages 82 and 83).
Knight’s book (it’s not new; it came out in 2003) is filled with great-looking projects for the home — leather floor cushions, twin boxes, lacy pillows. No offense to my Grandma or anyone’s, for that matter, but Knight’s crochet style is not your grandmother’s.
We quickly turned out one string vase and when we started in on the second (we had in mind a trio of varying heights), we realized that not all bottles are created equally curvy. So we winged it, and had pretty good luck.
So, inspired by Knight’s pattern, here we share our winging-it ways:
Elaine’s string vase
Materials
More Top Picks Headlamps
Kitchen twine, jute or garden twine available in hardware stores
Size J crochet hook
How to
1.
Chain about 33 stitches (wrap your chain around the base of the bottle and see if it fits; chain more or less to fit); slip stitch in first chain to join. Chain 1.
2.
Crochet a single crochet (sc) in each chain (with jute or stiffer materials, we found it easier to insert the hook into the back loop only); continue 1 sc in each sc until your vase reaches the top of the widest part of the bottle. (If your bottle gets wider than the base before curving back in, increase 1 sc every 4 stitches at the point the bottle gets bigger; continue until increase in bottle size stops.)
3.
When bottle starts getting smaller, decrease 1 sc (insert hook as to do a sc, yarn over and pull through loop then insert hook into next sc, yarn over and pull it through that second loop, then yarn over and pull through 3 loops on hook) every 4 stitches. (Note: You might have to change the number of stitches you do between decreases depending on the shape of your bottle. Keep slipping the “vase” over the bottle to see how it’s fitting.) When you hit the neck and the size of the bottle is constant, continue 1 sc in each stitch until you’ve reached the height of the bottle.
4.
Slip stitch in every sc for one round. Cut string and weave in ends. Voila.