kids catch toy made from old coke zero bottle

Recently my parents and one of my brothers visited me here in Tanzania and at the site.  I wanted to do something special with the pre-school as part of their visit so I had a plan to make catch toys from old coke zero bottles that Lynda from my church told me how to make.  The basic idea was to make one for each kid and tell them to practice with them counting how many times in a row they catch it so they inadvertently practice their counting.

Here is a couple of videos of the kids playing with them and then I will walk you through making them.

I tried making them from diet pepsi bottles as well but the shape of the coke zero bottle makes it easier to define the cut you need to make.

You will need the following to make one. 

empty plastic coke zero bottle with cap
a foot of yarn (yarn works better than string but both will work)
one hole punch
pair of small scissors
a foot of electrical tape or if you want to decorate it some the small duct tape rolls in color designs.
retractable blade utility knife

Step one:  remove the cap and set it aside.  remove label and discard.
Step two:  cut the bottle in two at the top line of where the label had been.

Step three:  take the top part you cut off and put it on the bottom with the screw top down and use tape to attach to the main bottle body.

Step four:  use one hole punch and punch hole in side of bottle

Step five:  use scissors and punch hole in top of cap.

Step six.  attach cap and bottle with string.

Crochet Bag Pattern

Crochet bag pattern

While I was making this bag I was using scrap yarn folks from the states sent over to me last year so I ran out at some critical points and I am not totally certain how much there was to begin with if it was not a new skein so I have guessed at some of the items.

This bag features pockets for magazines or instructions and the inside of the pockets are stitched so it can hold your crochet needles and scissors. The two main compartments will hold your skein of yard upright so you can pull from the end as you crochet.

I made the project in panels and then sewed them together.  I normally sew up the seam first then back down to make sure it is secure.

Stitches used: 

DC=Double Crochet

SC=Single Crochet

Ch=chain

Outside Main Panel-Make 2 of these

I used 2 skeins of Blue Camo Stripe “I Love This Yarn” 5 oz skein.  (this was used on the outside main panel, outside end panels and handle as well as top crochet and sewing outside panels.

Crochet Needle I-9

1^st row chain 38 across

2^nd row DC in third hole then DC in each stitch then chain 3 and turn-35 DC stitches across (counting the chain 3 at the beginning)

3^rd-25^h row DC in 2^nd hole then DC in each stitch then chain 3 and turn-35 DC stitches across

26^th row DC in 2^nd hole then DC in each stitch to end and tie off.  -35 DC stitches across

Outside End Panel-make 2 of these

I am using the Blue camo stripe still

 Crochet needle I-9

1^st row chain 23 across

2^nd row DC in third hole then DC in each stitch then chain 3 and turn-20 DC stitches across (counting the chain 3 at beginning)

3^rd-25^th row DC in 2^nd hole then DC in each stitch then chain 3 and turn-20 DC stitches across

26^th row-DC in 2^nd hole then DC in each stitch and tie off.  20 DC stitches across

Outside Bottom Panel-make one of these

I was running low on the blue camo stripe so I found some Red Heart Coffee Café

Crochet needle I-9

1^st row chain 21 across

2^nd row SC in 2^nd hole from needle then SC across then chain 1 and turn-20 SC stitches

3^rd row -40^h row-SC in each stitch across then chain 1 and turn- 20 SC stitches

41st row-SC in each stitch across and tie off.

Inside main panel (magazine pocket)-make 2 of these

I don’t know what kind of yarn this was.  I do recommend something that is easy to tell apart from the outside panels when you sew them together it will be easier.  Also I am sure what I am about to describe is some type of known stitch but I don’t know the name of it I just came up with it to make the needle holders and scissor holder.

Crochet needle I-9

1^st row chain 38

2^nd row DC in third hole from needle then DC in each stitch until end.  Chain 3 and turn (35 stitches across including the starting chain 3)  This must be in multiples of 3 to work.

3^rd-11^th row DC in 2^nd hole and DC in each stitch after chain 3 and turn-35 stitches across including starting chain

12^th-20^th row-  3 DC in 3^rd hole from needle skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch then skip next 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch skip 1 stich then 1 DC in next 3 stitches (this makes sewing the middle panel in easier) then skip 1 stitch and 3 DC in next stitch skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch, skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch, skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch, skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stich, skip one stich and 1 DC in end stitch, chain 3 and turn

21^st row 3 DC in 3^rd hole from needle skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch then skip next 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch skip 1 stich then 1 DC in next 3 stitches (this makes sewing the middle panel in easier) then skip 1 stitch and 3 DC in next stitch skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch, skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch, skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stitch, skip 2 stitches then 3 DC in next stich, skip one stich and 1 DC in end stitch then tie off.

place needles in holes created where the 3 DC go in one stitch and the scissors in the large holes beside those 3 DC

Inside middle panel-Make 1 of these

I used the same unknown yarn as the inside main panel

Crochet needle I-9

1^st row chain 23 across

2^nd row DC in third hole then DC in each stitch then chain 3 and turn-20 DC stitches across (counting the chain 3 at beginning)

3^rd-20^th row DC in 2^nd hole then DC in each stitch then chain 3 and turn-20 DC stitches across

21^st row-DC in 2^nd hole then DC in each stitch and tie off.  20 DC stitches across

Sewing panels together.

I start with the inside middle panel to the two inside main panel.  I sew the sides of the middle panel to the middle of the main panels by using the middle single DC stitch on the rows that have the skipped stitches. (the 17^th stitch)

After I sew the inside panels together then I sew the outside main panels to the outside end panel and the inside main panel.  Lay them on top of each other.  The first sewn corner should be from bottom end panel, outside main panel and then inside main panel.  The inside panel should be set so it is one row from what will be the top of your bag.  I was able to do this on two ends then the other two I flipped it inside out to sew them together remembering to reverse the layout.  I sew the bottom panel on last to the outside panels only

Handle:

After I have sewn the panel together I start at one corner of the top of the bag and single crochet around the top starting at one end of the main panel and going across that main panel first so I will end my sc row on the end panel. 

That SC row becomes the foundation for the handle and first row.  Chain 3 and turn

2^nd row. Decrease DC then 1 DC.  Repeat 6 times then 1 DC in last stitch chain 3 and turn-14 stitches

3^rd row Decrease DC then 1 DC Repeat  4 times then 1 DC in last stitch chain 3 and turn- 10 stitches

4^th row-Decrease DC then 1 DC repeat 3 times   chain 3 and turn 7 stitches

5^th row-Decrease DC then 1 DC repeat  2 times chain 3 and turn 5 Stitches

6^th-30^th row DC in 2^nd hole and 1 DC in each stich- 5 stitches (please not if you want more handle keep going)

31^st row-2 DC in 2^nd hole, 1 DC in next repeat 2 times- 7 stitches

32^nd row-2 DC in 2^nd hole, 1 DC in next repeat 3 times- 10 stitches

33^rd row-2 DC in 2^nd hole, 1 DC in next repeat 4 times- 14 stitches

34^th row-2 DC in 2^nd hole, 1 DC in next repeat 6 times- 20 stitches

Work each stitch into the sc stitch on the opposite end panel and tie off.

Giraffe applique card

Giraffe Card Applique Instructions  (Giraffe in Swahili is Twiga)

Crochet Needle size D

Yarn Kenyan 4 ply color yellow

Abbreviations:

Ch=chain

SC=single crochet

St=stitch of previous row

DECST=Decrease Stitch single crochet style  *insert needle in next st from needle and yarn over and pull through st then insert needle in next st and yarn over and pull through st.  and the two loop on the neele*

1^st row:  slip knot then Ch 17 turn and sc in 2^nd hole from needle (note do not work in tail of slip knot-it will become tail for giraffe)

2^nd row: sc in each st turn and ch 1 (this is the back leg and body)

3^rd row:  sc in 1^st 6 st turn and ch 1

4^th row:  sc in 1^st 4 st then 2 sc in st 5 then sc in st 6 turn and chain 1

5^th row  sc in 7 st turn and ch 1

6^th row:  sc in 7 st turn and ch 1

7^th row:  sc in 7 st turn and ch 1

8^th row: sc in 1^st 5 st 2 sc in 6 st then sc in st 7 chain then ch 21 turn and sc in 2^nd hole from needle  (this is the neck)

9^th row:  sc in 28 st  then chain 11 turn and sc in 2^nd hole from needle(make sure as you come back to the body you crochet in same direction as before-the neck    should be opposite of the leg you did in the first  and second row) (the chain at the end is the front leg)

10^th row:  sc in 37 st leaving the last (will be the giraffe horn) turn ch 1

11^th row:  sc in 4 st turn and ch 1

12^th row:  sc in 4 st turn and ch 1

13^th row: 2 DECST in 1^st 4 st turn and ch 1

14^th row DECST in 2 st tie off and work in tail down neck.

Use a brown magic marker to make hoofs at bottom of legs, color in horns and put random spots along legs, body and neck.  Use black magic marker to make eyes and mouth

Lion’s Head Card Applique

Lion’s Head Card Applique

Needle Size D

Yarn Kenyan 4 Ply-a little small for the size D but I have difficulty handling the smaller needles

Abbrevations

Rd=Round

SC=Single Crochet

ST=stitch (previous round crochet)

HDC=Half Double Crochet

DC=Double Crochet

Start with Magic Circle

Rd 1—6 sc in magic circle

Rd 2—2 sc in each st total 12 sc

Rd 3—*1 sc in first st 2 sc* in next st repeat between * total 18 sc

Rd 4--*1 sc in first st 1 sc in next st 2 sc in next st* repeat between * total 24 sc

Rd 5--*1 sc in each of first 3 st, 2 sc in 4^th st* repeat between * total 30 sc

Rd 6--*1 sc in each of first 4 st, 2 sc in 5^th st* repeat between * total 36 sc

Rd7—1 sc in each of first 5 st; In 6^th st 1 HDC, 1 DC, and 1 HDC;  1 sc in next 5 st; in 12^th st 1 HDC, 1 DC and 1 HDC; 1 sc in next 11 st; in 24^th st 1 HDC, 1 DC, 1 HDC; 1 sc in next 12.  Total 42 st

Partial Rd 8—1 sc in each first six st; in 7^th st 1 HDC 1 DC and 1 HDC; 1 sc in next 7 st; in 15 st 1 HDC, 1 DC and 1 HDC.  These should line to be at the previous round DC.  1 SC in 16^th st and tie off.

Mark two larger parts as ears with magic marker and then eyes snout and mouth. 

Put fringe in all stitches except ears.

Use standard glue stick to apply to card of your choice.

Elephant Card-Asante Tembo

This is my Asante Tembo card which means thank you an elephant in swahili.

I am not great at generating patterns but here is my attempt to do so:

Elephant Card Applique

Needle Size D

Yarn Kenyan 4 Ply-a little small for the size D but I have difficulty handling the smaller needles

Abbrevations

Rd=Round

Ch=chain

SC=Single Crochet

ST=stitch (previous round crochet)

YO=yarn over

Body

Magic Circle

Rd 1—6 sc in magic circle

Rd 2—2 sc in each st total 12 st

Rd 3--*1 sc in 1^st st 2 sc in second st*  repeat between *  Total 18 st

Rd 4--*1 sc each in first 2 st then 2 sc in third st*  repeat between *  Total 24 st

Rd 5--*1 sc each in first 3 st then 2 sc in fourth st*  repeat between *  Total 30 st

Rd 6--*1 sc each in first 4 st then 2 sc in fifth st*  repeat between *  Total 36 st

Rd 7--*1 sc each in first 5 st then 2 sc in sixt st*  repeat between *  Total 42 st

Rd 8—1 sc in each first 16 st;  {start first leg}  chain 6 turn and starting with 2^nd hole from needle sc in 5 chains, 1 sc in each of next two st in body using this as the chain on the leg turn and sc in each st of the leg, ch 1 turn and sc in each st then sc into body {this completes the first leg}; 1 sc in each of next 6 st of body then {start 2^nd leg} }  chain 6 turn and starting with 2^nd hole from needle sc in 5 chains, 1 sc in each of next two st in body using this as the chain on the leg turn and sc in each st of the leg, ch 1 turn and sc in each st then sc into body {this completes the second leg}, 1 sc in each st back around to start of 1^st leg.  Tie off with long tail.  Weave tail back up outside stitches of body to leave a tail for the elephant.

Head

Magic Circle

Rd 1-6 sc in magic circle

Rd 2—2 sc in each st total 12 st

Rd 3--*1 sc in 1^st st 2 sc in second st*  repeat between *  Total 18 st

Rd 4--*1 sc each in first 2 st then 2 sc in third st*  repeat between *  Total 24 st

{start trunk}Ch 16 turn and in second hole from needle sc in each of the ch stitches, sc into st of head and tie off. Weave tail into head center {trunk finished}

Ear and attaching the body to head.

Make as slip knot pull it off hook.

Place head over the body with trunk opposite tail.  At top part of head work needle through both head and body from the head side.  Hook slip knot and pull through both body and head.

*Work needle with slip knot on it through head and body again from head side and YO and pull through body and head and through slip knot. *  Repeat between * 4 times

On  bottom side of head pull string around and CH 1 turn and sc in each of 4 st

Ch 1 turn and 1 sc in first 2 st then 2 sc in next stitch then 1 sc in last st. ch 1 turn

1 sc in 1^st st then 2 sc in each of next two st then 1 sc in next two st ch 1 turn

1 sc in 1^st 4 st then 2 sc each in next two sc then 1 sc in last st.  tie off. Weave in end.

Use glue stick to attach to card and magic marker to draw in eyes and mouth and color end of trunk

The Barnabas Bear story

The journey of Barnabas Bear from idea to a full time missionary bear in Tanzania started in the summer of 2010.  While recovering from heart surgery, I started to crochet (again if you count the small stint I did as a child with my Grandmother teaching me).  I did this for a couple of reasons:  1) The prayer shawl outreach ministry was one of the few I had not spent time with mainly because they met while I was at work, 2) Good way to hang out with my Mom, 3) I wanted something useful to do other than watch TV while recovering and this was something low stress.

Barnabas Bear

Create Your Badge  
While as part of the group I asked the question one day what they gave to kids who were sick or in hospital.  The answer was prayer shawls.  I thought surely there was something more kid friendly we could do so I went searching for patterns and gave my hand a try at making a stuffed bear.  Let's say he had a lot of character-a lot of character! But one look and one of the ladies named Lynda took off with it and started making some.  She put some of her first ones in our silent auction for kids related ministries.  I bought a handsome brown bear with just a bit of sparkle to him.  He had the hat and backpack with a little Bible that featured a verse from every book of the Bible.  

That Christmas, she gave me one that looked exactly like the one I bought except the sparkle in the yarn.  Some time next year I took a morning off work and went back to crochet group with a wild idea.  I wanted to make the bear a missionary bear to go with me and others on our mission trips and use him to tell the story to children.  Now he needed a name. We all felt Barnabas Bear was the best because of the way it rolled off the tongue but also because Barnabas means "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36).  

But we did not stop there, or should I say Lynda did not.  We had two mission teams going overseas that year.  One to Peru where we went every year and one I was leading to Tanzania which was the first time for our church.  So a fundraising idea came to mind.  Lynda made over 100 of the bears for us to take on the overseas mission trips to give out to children we were working with.  So we sold "plane tickets" for the bears which allowed the person who bought their ticket to name the bear and fill out a card for the recipient.  It was a major success with every bear being sponsored for his plane ticket.

One of the great things about even teenagers in the countries we go to.  They are not shy about getting a stuffed animal, they love it.  High school kids could be seen playing with their bears.  

From there we created his facebook page, more little bears were made, the bear I had bought that looks just like Barnabas was no longer a "backup" but joined the mission bear team as Timothy.  Not long after that we had Phoebe their first sister.  Bears were given to Fire Departments for using with traumatized kids, local groups, homeless kids and continued to travel overseas.   To date I know over 500 bears have been given away.

Many people enjoyed working with Barnabas and his friends over the years.  One of the really fun things was to create VBS sheets where we took pictures of the bears acting out a Bible story and used verses under each picture.  This way wherever we go we just get a Bible in their language and trade out the verses.  We did a story of Barnabas preaching from the wall (a small concrete wall at my brothers house) like Jesus' sermon on the mount where Barnabas convinced the bears to go with him on mission trips.  My personal favorite was when I tore said wall down for my brother I got kazoos and stood the bears up with the kazoos in their mouths like they were blowing trumpets around the walls of Jericho. Even did a Good Samaritan version.

The great thing about Barnabas is that he breaks down walls for me.  I am a natural introvert and would probably not meet half the people I do without him.  Visiting Machu Picchu in Peru a Japanese couple came up and wanted to take a picture of Barnabas with their stuffed animal that went everywhere with them. 

Lately one of the folks here a South Korean missionary has loved getting Barnabas out and playing with him every time the group got together.  So I made her one.  My bears still have character, not as much as they used to but still not quite symmetrical.  The smile on her face was well worth the small amount of effort to make it.  If you have a missionary friend or maybe someone who works with kids a lot it might be a big help to make them one.

Crochet Class in Nduguti

It has been a couple of interesting weeks in Tanzania.  Due to my computer being stolen, I am pretty far behind getting items posted to my blogs.  Because this particular story will include some of those travel stories that everyone loves I am doing it first.

The founder of Full Dimension Ministries, Rev. William Makali has been doing what we call Teaching Training and Evangelism Classes in two locations of the Iramba Valley.  This is the same valley our medical and school facilities are located. While at one of the sites called Nduguti, a pastor mentioned wanting to start a program that not only gave women a chance to earn extra money but also would help to build community among women of different churches and families.

William suggested the crochet class that I had done at our site and in Singida.  So at the beginning of all our adventures is this class.  We had 11 ladies sign up.  Each was given a crochet needle and two skeins of yarn to work on the projects taught in class as well as to practice at home.  The total cost for these items was 30,000 Tanzanian Shillings or $18 US dollars so not a bad deal.  I printed at my cost some sheets with drawings showing how to complete some basic stitches, how to turn a row, how to make and increase rounds.

I arrived at our site in Yullansoni early that morning after the normal 1.5 hour mini van ride with 20 something other people in the mini van and 1 hour and 15 minute motorcyle taxi ride called a piki piki.  Then William took me to Nduguti on the sites piki piki for an hour and a half over some of the very roughest roads still around in Tanzania, a country full of tough rocky roads.  As always William wanted to have lunch before we started the class.

The first class was about basic stitches like Chain, Single Crochet and Double Crochet, how to work in rows to make squares and rectangular projects.  Our biggest challenge was the difference between turning with single and double crochets and how you skip the first hole on a double crochet.  I had them practice all three stitches on simple dish/wash cloth patterns.  Normally I talk about how a stitch is done while they look at the drawings, then I go to groups of two and have them watch me do it several times, then all three of us do the stitch several times together, then I watch them do a row.  I move around the class doing this until I feel everyone has it.  One thing I find interesting is they all like to wrap the yarn around one of their fingers several times to keep it under control.  I showed them some other techniques for holding needle and yarn but they all liked that one even though they have to stop a lot to re-wrap their finger.

After our first class was over, William and I headed back over the rough roads to our site getting their just as the sun was setting.  A total of almost 6 hours of travel over the dirt and rock roads of Tanzania.

The next class was held that weekend so they would have several days to practice their stitches at home.  This time I got up at 5:30 am to ride a piki piki to the local bus station (a Balbao tree) to catch a bus to Nduguti.  This is one of the larger buses that normally have 40 or 50 seats and typically have close to 80 or 90 passengers.  It finally arrived at 8:30 am and was full so standing room only for the almost 2 hours it took the bus to get there.

We started with only about 9 students but then everyone showed up as the class went on, but several early showers had to leave early so they did not make the photo.  The young man in the front is the child of one the students and he loved Barnabas bear.  Hear is a video of them playing together:

The second class focused on using our stitches from before to do rounds and specifically we worked on newborn hats and we asked they donate those to our medical clinic so we could give them out on a newborn's first checkup after being born.  

We had some difficulty with the concept of closing a round and then chaining three to start a new round of double crochet.  I thought it would be the pattern of increasing the rounds in an even pattern.  But no they kept chaining three and then closing the round.  At first I thought it was how I explained it but after going around an making sure everyone not only saw me do it but I watched them do it correctly I would find they went back to chaining before closing shortly after.

One of the most important concepts I tried to get across is that crochet is something fun to do together in a low stress setting-no deadlines.  I explained how many churches had groups that got together and crocheted together to make items to give away or for sale.

After the class and managing to get Barnabas back from his new friend. I went to get the next bus that would take me to Singida.  The local bus stop was only a 10 minute piki piki ride and then the bus was supposed to arrive at 2 PM for which I was 40 minutes early.  It arrived an hour and half late.  Then the trip that should take an hour actually took 3 hours fortunately I had a seat for this ride as it was very rough again especially when the driver did not know all his gears and was often going so fast he would slide into the concrete barriers before bridges.

Life here is a lot of fun.

Here are some pictures of the class:

New Program in Tanzania-Crochet Baby Hats

The first baby hats being made my individuals in Yulansoni, Tanzania

One of the things I wanted to do when I started teaching folks here in Tanzania to crochet was to help them make items they could use, could help others, to help their families and to possibly sell and generate income.  Recently in a discussion with the founder of Full Dimension Ministry in Tanzania, William Makali about encouraging more women to give birth at our clinic and to take advantage of our midwives and doctor on staff sparked an idea.  

Teach them how to make baby hats which everyone around here uses (they keep their babies wrapped and bundled regardless of the temperature outside).  So the idea took this shape:  as part of the class they make an newborn hat and learn how to make other sizes.  The newborn hat would be given to the clinic to be distributed to children our doctor or midwives help deliver.  
This provides many benefits starting with Tanzanians helping Tanzanians and it not being a program with outsiders making things for them.  Why is that important-for any type of ministry to really succeed it requires an approach that allows the people you are trying to help to both build themselves up and help their own community.  Despite the people of Tanzania I work with being a strong people with dedicated family lives that we should envy in the USA, they have not always had the access to items to make their lives better.  If you question the effects of being a crocheter give it a google under crochet health effect and check some of the results.

Another benefit is that it helps our medical clinic with incentive for expecting mothers to use the medical knowledge available to them and their children.  The last big benefit is that the crocheters can make sizes for older children and give, trade or sell them at their choosing.

These are the kind of programs that make me excited to be involved in mission work.  Simple, hopefully as effective as we think it will be, and integral to a community working together to make themselves stronger and better than they would be if we just did things for them.

I do want to say a big thank you for the starting needles and yarn to help kick this program off from Mauldin United Methodist Church's Prayer Shawl ministries.  This allowed us to propose this program without cost to the ministry (taking it away from other areas) or to the people wanting to learn.  

Soap Saver

So certain things are really important here in Tanzania.  One of the big events i shared with everyone on Facebook was the purchase of my very own bath bucket to use in the village area.  There I take a bath in the latrine that has only the latrine hole in the floor (yes it is a squatter) for water to drain in.  This is the only place to take a bath on site and you basically stand over or near the hole and pour water on yourself from the bucket.  The soap up and wash it off with the water.  

After I had finished with the small soaps from various hotels and was about to purchase a regular bar of soap to use at the  village I was thinking about everything else I have seen on that floor of the latrine (both ladies and men's side).  I realized that even though soap is technically self cleaning and I am a person not normally afraid of a little dirt, that I had no desire to use that soap again if it was on that floor or it could be just like the flashlight in 2006 when I was sick in the middle of the night and lost my grip on the flashlight.  There was a strange glow from the bottom of the latrine for several days after that.  Once it goes in the hole it is gone.

So I decided to make myself a soap saver.  I did a simple design so others may have come up with the same design on their own but I just did this on the fly one afternoon.

I used some of the yarn the group from my church sent me on a spool so I don't know the type or weight and a G size crochet hook.  I made mine to the bar of soap I was taking out so you may need to adjust the size if your bar is different.  

Chain 12-in the second chain from the hook SC in one side of the chain.  I do this until the end and then work the other side of the chain creating a round of 20 SC.  This is round 1.

For Rounds 2-15 I do not join the end of the round with the beginning but just keep going.  SC in each stitch for every round.

Round 16-SC in every stitch but join the last round to the beginning stitch in the round with a slip stitch

Round 17-Chain 4 then DC in second stitch from where you started chaining.  **Chain 1-skip a stitch and DC in the next stitch  Repeat from ** until you get to the beginning chain and slip stitch into the third chain of that begininng set of this round.

Wrist strap- Single crochet into both the remaining chains of that beginning stitch to anchor the strap.  Then I chain 50, and cut a long tail-at least 4 inches.  Weave the chain in and out of the openings of round 17 (this allows you to cinch up the sack basically).  Then I wrap the strap around my fist and SC in the chain where I can make the end chain met back to the rest.  I then SC in the next 5 chains, tie off and weave in the end.  This allows me to slip it over my fist to my wrist and cinch up the soap in the soap saver.

Variations-make a longer chain and loop for going around your neck or to hang on a shower head.

A good week for Crochet in Tanzania

My main blog www.steveandbarnabas.blogspot.com talked about this being a good week in Tanzania and I wanted to share how that translated into the crochet work being done.

First was the great news that as Rev. Makali was going around to set up Training classes for local pastors, he found out that news of our crochet classes at the medical clinic had spread to other areas and they were interested in having classes at the same villages as the Training classes.

Then a couple of the ladies who had gone through the classes shared some of their work:

The one of the young ladies tried to describe a cap she wanted to make.  the best I could figure out was that she wanted to make a beret type hat.  Having never done a beret and not having internet in the village I decided to just try and make one using some of the scrap yarn sent by my church in the US.  I think it actually worked out well and was the entire ball of scrap yarn.

That week I also got to make my first Frisbee from the nylon string sent by my church and a newborn hat in a dog theme.

So it was a fun week of crochet in Tanzania.