Tuesday, September 29, 2009

new boots call for new boot laces

I know I've been slacking on the blog posting but the wedding is a beast onto itself and has taken over! Just one week to go now......
boot laces
In the mean time I got some awesome boots, they are like knee high converse hightops (although they are Airwalker brand and, well, knee high)
I wanted to make some funky boot laces to go in them, first I went out and got myself a set of sock DPN's sizes 00-1. I planned on making I-cord laces, but the yarn I wanted to use was worsted weight, not lace, sock or even sport would prolly have worked. I-cords were too thick with this yarn (peaches & creme, pink lilac colorway) and wouldn't fit through the grommets.
So I decided to crochet a set. I planned on jut a single row of SC stitches long enough would be good. When I started to work them up I realized that I loved the way the plain foundation chain looked. So I whipped up two sets. (and I don't recommend a 13hr crochet-a-thon my finger tips are sore!)
boot laces (4)
boot laces (3)
Pattern:
One set is just plain foundation chain, the other set worked up as follows:
(both sets worked with worsted weight yarn on a size E hook, one size down from recommended hook size)
Work a foundation chain as long as you want your laces to be, I took out the original laces and just held them together to measure, I made them a little longer than the original laces because i like the big bow. My laces wound up about 115-120inches long (remember these are for Knee High boots)
So you work the foundation chain to the desired length, then you work single crochet stitches into the back of each foundation chain stitch. Now I DO NOT mean back loop only, though that may look pretty neat-o if you'd like to try it. I mean the "camel hump" on the WS(wrong side) of the chain, that lil horizontal bump that looks like it connects the stitches.
When you reach the end just fasten off, you can wrap the ends in tape (maybe give it a lil melt), paint the tips with clear nail polish, if you used acrylic yarn you could just give it a lil melt on the end (this will only work with acrylic yarn, if you used organic you'll just burn up the end and ruin all that hard work, plus it will smell like burning hair in that room for like a week, ask me how I know)to give yourself a "tip" (don't now the technical term and I'm too lazy to look it up). mine are un-tipped at the moment, ha vent decided how I'd like to seal them up yet.

I plan on making lots more laces of varying colorways, the I-cord set is still planned, just for a little later. Now go forth and make funky shoe laces, and please share pics if you do, I'd love to see what you guys can come up with!

4 comments:

  1. Oh! Cute honey! Those are adorable!

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  2. This is something I would love to teach my daughter someday, if I could remember how to do it! :)

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  3. I love your strings! Nice. Check out http://www.kneehighconverse.com! Pretty dope site!

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