Pineapple Robe - more sizes!

OK... I promised this a while back and have been super side tracked since then BUT it is finally here.  I'm working out some options for making the Pineapple Robe in LARGER sizes!
***Please note that these sizes might not EXACTLY match up with apparel sizes you buy in the store... check all measurements I have listed in the sizing guide to be sure!

So for an XL/XXL size use a K hook.
Gauge with a K hook:  6 stitches and 6 rows = 2 inches
A:  28 inches
B:  58 inches (If repeated the full 5 times, if this is too long, lessen the number of repeats.)
C: 30 inches (If repeated the full 5 times, if this is too long, lessen the number of repeats.)
D: 13 inches
E:  17 inches

While making this sweater with such a large hook, the likelihood of the cotton stretching goes way up.  Read about cotton and shrinking it in the dryer in THIS POST.

Roll Top Backpack Variations

Hey all!  Finally done with summer school and my sis has left town... back to stitching I go!

Here are a couple variations on the roll top backpack.  You'll need to purchase the pattern for these tips to make sense (not a free DIY, here), but once you have the pattern, you will now have 3 ways you can make it (the original plus these 2 variations...)  You can buy the pattern on Etsy or Ravelry.

OK.

Variation 1:  The Mini Roll Top

Ok... in this case the general construction of the pattern is basically the same, but smaller.  To do this, stop the construction on the bottom piece when you hit 105 stitches for a super mini, or 140 stitches for a medium mini.  Then move up the backpack.  The pattern is worked in a series of 5 stitches instead of 7 stitches.  So for the first color change row (Row 3) you will do Color A in 4 stitches instead of 6.  Row 4 is the same.  Row 5 has 2 stitches in Color A instead of 4. Row 6 is the same.  Now skip to Rows 9 and 10 which are the same.  Then skip to Row 13 and do 2 instead of 4 stitches in Color C.  Row 14 is the same.  Row 15 has 4 stitches in Color C instead of 6.  Rows 16, 17, and 18 are all the same.  Keep that pattern going all the way up the backpack and save lots of time and yarn and make yourself a mini!

Variation 2:  The Flag Roll Top

This one is very similar to the original.  Use only 2 colors for the diamond pattern.  Then grab yourself a piece of graph paper and draw out the flag (or really any pattern you want) to incorporate across the bottom part of the bag.  Once the pattern ends, return to the diamond pattern described in the original pattern and repeat it until it reaches about 25 inches.  Boom.  You've made a cool bag.

Any questions or further description needed, send me an email!  Happy stitching!!!

TRENDING!!!

Holy Cow!  My email exploded yesterday!  Pineapple Robe started trending on Craftsy!  What a treat!  Thank you so much everybody!  Can you tell by all my exclamation marks how excited I am???!!!

I hope there will also be a lot of new followers for this blog!  We have a lot of fun on here!  Thanks for stopping by and reading!

IF you are a new reader, and you are working on the Pineapple Robe,  you might want to check out THIS POST that helps with the side panel section and THIS POST that gives you a way to alter the pattern to save a little time and yarn! Also THIS POST about working with cotton!

HOPE ALL NEW BUYERS HAVE A FANTASTIC STITCHING WEEKEND!  Thanks so much for brightening mine!!!

COTTON

It is summer.  Yesterday's high was 89.  If you are stitching anything right now you are probably reaching for your cotton, because that is the only crochet fiber we can even imagine wearing right now, am I right?

Summer school finance is over and now I'm taking an intro to textile science class.  Besides my brief panicking moments when I can't get my microscope to focus or can't get my nose to recognize the celery burning smell of nylon... I'm having a great time... and learning a lot.

Worsted Weight 100% cotton

Mercerized Cotton

Why do we love cotton?

It's abrasion resistant, so if you are using a nice cotton yarn it shouldn't pill (although some of the "I love this Cotton" yarn I don't actually love so much because it really does pill a lot... boo).  It takes to dyes really well if you're into that kind of thing.  BUT MOST OF ALL, it is super comfortable in the summer time and has a weight to it that makes it drape so nicely in skirts and dresses.

Why do we not love cotton?

Well, because like your favorite pair of non-stretchy jeans it can sag and stretch with use.  BUMMER.  I made my mom the Pineapple Robe for Mother's Day in the larger size because I wanted it to be loose and comfy for her to wear around the house.  My mom is a pretty petite woman and after wearing the robe for a week, it was dragging on the floor.  She looked like the queen of the house with a train running along behind her... but I don't think that's the look she was going for...

So, simple solution?  Wash that sucker.   Cotton is actually stronger when wet!  Pretty cool, huh?  So you don't need to worry about your yarn breaking in the wash BUT since we are human, and I don't always trust the strength of my stitches,  I hand wash anything I have made.  Then I pop it in the dryer for a bit.  AND BOOM... it's right back to the size it should be.

Why do I REALLY love Cotton/Acrylic blends?

A lot of times when I say to use cotton, I'm really using a cotton acrylic blend like Cotton Ease.  This yarn has all the benefits of cotton (nice drape, breathable in summer weather) without any of the drawbacks (the acrylic makes it light so it doesn't STRETCH so much and is less likely to vary in size when washed).  Now if we could just convince Lion Brand to make that stuff come in one pound discount balls, we could all save a ton of money because Cotton Ease ain't cheap.

What are the benefits of MERCERIZED cotton?

Mercerizing is a finishing process done to cotton.  It's a really cool coating that gives it some extra super powers.  It makes it a little shinier (more lustrous) which is sometimes nice.  It also gives your yarn a brighter more vibrant color, and increases its strength and resistance to mildew.  So if you are making the Sweetheart Swimsuit... it is worth it to have your cotton mercerized.

Why does all this matter?

When I first started stitching... I really didn't care what kind of yarn I used - I picked whatever was cheapest.  BUT the whole goal of Sans Limites Crochet is to enable y'all to make things that you actually want to wear... that look fashionable, NOT crafty.  Crafty is not always bad... but it's really fun to wear something and have somebody say, "Where did you get that?"  and you can respond, "I MADE IT!"  If you make a nice maxi dress out of a cheap, stiff, scratchy looking acrylic, it's not going to hang well, you won't feel awesome wearing it, and everyone will know you made it...  yarn choice isn't everything, but it sure does help!!!

Hope you are stitching happy!

Extra idea for The Pineapple Robe

You may have purchased the pattern to make the pineapple robe... it has been pretty popular which is pretty awesome - it's my favorite too!

So say you don't want to invest ALL that time and ALL that yarn...  Make a shorter version!

Repeat the pattern for the body pieces 3 times total on the back piece,  once to establish the collar for each of the front pieces, and then 2 repeats of the normal pattern after that, and two repeats of the pattern for the sleeves.  Now you have a nice short summer sweater instead of a robe!  YAY!  Stitch happy!