My take on chill pills

I was asked if I could make a chill pill by a friend.. I hadn't seen any up to that point but knew right away how I wanted to make mine.. quick and simple... what a fun idea to use up some scrap yarn.. so I set down my embroidery and and made a few ..

I have since seen some really cute ones, some with little faces, but much bigger than what came out with, so if you're looking for a bigger one do a quick online search, there seems to be quite a few out there..

They can be made with just about any size yarn and coordinating hook.. most of my scrap yarn is worsted weight so that's what I went with.. I had started with blue and white but the blue came up a bit short so I grabbed the next larger ball in a solid color, pretty sure it's mulberry by Red heart.. mix and match all your scraps

 

10 yards approximately of worsted weight yarn for both colors

G / 4.0 mm hook

yarn needle

exact gauge is not essential to this project

worked in a spiral so don't join throughout 

written in American terms

ch = chain 

dec = decrease, I use a invisible decrease described below with photos however you can use any decrease you like

inc = increase, two stitches in indicated stitch

sc = single crochet

sts = stitches

* * = repeat instructions between as many times as indicated

1 ) ch2, sc 6 times into the first st to form a circle ....( you can use a magic circle or any other startup for circles that you prefer) place a marker for easy   round counting, moving it along as you go

 

2 ) inc in each stitch ( 12 stitches )

 

3 ) *inc, sc1* repeat to end of round ( 18 stitches )

4-10) sc all stitches .. I tried making some with 8 rounds of sc but personally I think the slightly smaller one looks better..

after you reach the last sc,  stitch slip stitch into the next stitch, cut yarn and fasten off .. keep yarn tails on the inside, no need to weave in these

 

 

11-17 ) Picking up the next color put a slip knot on your hook, place your hook through the stitch three stitches before your last stitch, this will be the new starting point of each round so place a stitch marker in this stitch when the stitch is completed

 

    

                                              yarn over and pull up a loop,

yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook to complete the stitch

 

 

 

sc until you get to the slip stitch of the previous round,sc in the top of that stitch

 

 

  being careful not to single crochet in the bottom of that stitch but going to the next stitch, for beginners it can be a bit harder to spot and easy to add an extra stitch here, sc as normal for the rest of the rounds

 

This round starts the two decrease rounds

18 ) *dec, sc1* to end of round ( 12 sts ) see below explanation of  dec

 

I use a invisible decrease, do this by sliding your hook through the first loop only of the next stitch then repeat with the following stitch without doing a yarn over for either,

 

then yarn over and pull the loop through both loops on your hook

 

Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook decrease completed

After the first decrease round add your stuffing

19 ) dec to end of round, cut yarn leaving about 6 inches, fasten off, place yarn tail on yarn needle,

weave with through front loop of each stitch, pull snug 

 

Take your needle down through the center of the stitches you just pulled tight and pop out the side, go back in ( keeping to the same color as tail ) and pop out again on the other side, cut yarn close to the side of chill pill

 

 

I did a quick back stitch in contrasting color to spell out chill

That it your done

Sewing again

 Been picking up fat quarters when I see them on sale/clearance.. now the Halloween ones are out so I had to get a couple of packs of those, right ;)

some I plan on using for small quilts or pot holder and such but I thought I would keep mask supplies in stock just in case.. if for no other reason than personal use.. as it turns out sales on the limited number I have in my shop are ticking up again.. 

 I pull out the fat quarters to start ironing them.. 

when I buy them I spray them down with rubbing alcohol, after removing the label.. never do it the other way around... trust me on this... makes a mess of the glue ..Ugh 

 Let dry then spray with water and iron on high heat.. tightens the fibers up nicely but takes a fair amount of time to "dry" them with an iron.. especially with the high humidity not common in our area

personally I like masks, two January's running now I haven't had the flu..  or major allergies either spring.. we've been using them for yard work, cleaning out the chicken coop, painting anything that normally sets off our allergies, but I didn't think to put one on before ironing the new fabric.. why do people feel the need to scent everything anyhow.. 

add the wet weather to that, after a few hours of ironing .. I had way more than I realized ( clearance price of 25 cents a fat quarter for puppies and hearts and some pretty animal prints that will make a cute baby or lap blanket ) ... playing with a rotary blade or doing anything that was so detailed was out of the question at that point..

 to pass time while working on crafts I run YouTube videos, gave up cable and regular television years ago  ...  YouTube craft videos is a favorite pastime of mine.. 

this time I put in quick sewing projects.. stopped in the middle of pulling out the fat quarters to make a cute bag pattern I saw being made..

 

scrunchies are apparently a thing again.. 

I have never worn one, the last time I had my hair in a ponytail was like preschool.. when I couldn't get away from my mother fast enough lol

 normally I find it a painful experience .. I have super fine hair, lots of it but so fine it takes a tight band to keep it in place .. 

seeing all of these different techniques for making scrunchies with minimal cutting involved, with all my fabric sitting in front of me.. I had to give one a try.. 

Made a blue one using amounts called for... it was fun to make, fairly fast although I used the ladder stitch to close up the opening as I was not using a coordinating color of thread.. was just playing around so didn't bother .. even at that it was pretty fast.. nothing like doing the out of sashay yarn.. now that took time .. 

 

             not too bad for using black yarn

 

 

 took three wraps.. or is it twists .. around my hair to hold but it did hold.. without pain.. 

That of course meant I needed to try again, so I shortened the amount of elastic but added to the fabric both by two inches.. 

Having the Halloween fat quarters in front of me and intending it to be for me I had to go with skulls... with a black background.. so closing the opening was super quick this time.. using the method of seaming and stitching the elastic together at the same time, just leaving a small side opening to finish off.. 

 

left a bit of a flat seam but not real noticeable when wearing, only took two twists .. perfect .. 

 

 

side by side comparison of size and closing seams.. 

Got called outside to help out so I only got one done, but wore it for hours without an issue.. dang too bad I just cut off about 9 inches of my hair lol..

I am so going to be making more of these