Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! There's so many Swatches!

Moving right along with what to do with them all, we come to what to do with more than a dozen at a time.  The obvious idea that we can all see is...........AFGHANS!!!!  These can use from 2 dozen up to 9 or 10 dozen.  You decide how many based on how big you want it to be and how big the blocks/squares are made.

OK.  Now that that has been said.  Let's come up with more ideas.

1. Bathmat:  Take a dozen in a 3 x 4 pattern of swatches/blocks that are 6 - 12 inches each in cotton.  
2. Welcome Mat:  Take another dozen in a 3 x 4 pattern of swatches done in jute, clothesline, rope or twine.  These fibers will stand up to some abuse.  The swatches/blocks should be at least 9 inches.
3. Heating Pad Cover:  Take 24 blocks/swatches in a 4 x 6 pattern.  Fold in half.  Seam along 2 sides.  Put buttons on half of the third open side and crochet along the other half of the open side and add some chain loops to fit over the buttons to act as button holes.  Insert the heating pad and button.  
4. Slippers:  With a dozen swatches/blocks you can make 2 slippers 6 swatches each that resemble booties.
5. Jacket or Coat:  With another 4 - 6 dozen blocks/swatches, you can make a coat or jacket of any size.  With tiny 2 inch granny squares you can make a baby cardi.  See this post for the basic layout.  To make this a longer coat, add more rows to the body.
6. Poncho:  With three and a half dozen (that's 42) swatches/blocks, you can make a poncho.  You can line them up in a diamond pattern or a very long rectangle to make the poncho.  It's up to you.
7. Rocking Chair Back:  With another two dozen in a 4 x 6 pattern and a couple of ties, you can make a wooden rocker back more cozy and comfy or cover a worn back.  Be sure to measure your rocking chair so you know your back will fit.
8. Contoured Bath Rug:  With a dozen more swatches/blocks that are 9 inches each arrange in this configuration.   Make it from absorbent cotton so it's easy care and can be warm to your feet in the middle of winter.
9. A variable number of squares or rounded grannies to fit your window, make a chevron shaped valance to add interest to a window that doesn’t need to be fully covered.
10. With 19 squares and some lining fabric, you can make a rectangular tote bag, 6 on each side and the rest are the gusset (sides and bottom to make it more usable).  Line for stability.  Add purchased handles or strap.
11. With 30 tiny thread squares sewn together into a long ring, you have a fancy lanyard for a convention name badge or scissors.

Now that's another 20 dozen or more swatches or granny square blocks used.  Leave comments with other ideas.  I'd love to hear them.

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! What can I do with them all??

Last month we discussed what to do with just a few swatches.  This month let's talk more about this.
Four is a great number of swatches and can be so very versatile.  What ideas can you come up with?  Here are things I came up with or have seen online over the years.

1. Book mark:  Like last month use thread.  Seam 3 as before.  Crochet with a tiny hook around the edges, starting in the center of one of the short sides.  When you meet back up with the edging, chain for 6 - 9 inches and go around the last square.  Now you have a dangle.  Keep the dangle for a fancy swatch!
2. Dishcloth:  Using cotton, create 4 swatches or granny squares.  Coordinate the patterns or colors.  Seam them in the shape of a square and edge or not as desired.  
3. Pillow cover:  Do you have a square sofa cushion that is worn on one side?  Create a dishcloth using yarns that work with your décor and in a size that will fit your pillow.
4. Hot water bottle cover:  Use your favorite yarns.  Make 4 squares that are about 8 inches.  Seam into a square, then fold in half.  Seam one short end and the long side.  Add a tie woven through the other short end.  Slide the hot water bottle in, fill and cinch closed.
5. Eyeglass case:  Use non scratchy yarns.  Seam together to create a two layer thick tube.  Seam one short side.  Add a clasp to the other end if desired.
6. Doll blanket:  Depending on the size of the doll, seam the swatches together in a square shape.  The swatches should be a little more than the width of the doll.  This way the doll can stay warm.
7. Hot mat:  Need a larger mat to protect the table?  Platters for the holiday turkey, goose or ham require a larger hot mat/trivet than is generally available.  For this you will need to use cotton or wool yarn and several layers of felt.  Make your swatches 6 - 10 inches square.  Seam 2 together for each side.  Layer together with the felt in the center.  Seam or crochet around the outer edge.  Don't use acrylic yarn as it can melt depending on how hot your platter, pan, or baking dish is.

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! What to do with them all

I have swatches.  No big surprise there.  Most of mine go into a binder to be used for teaching purposes.  Again, not a big surprise to anyone, I hope.  However, I do remember back 20 years or more when I got my first knitting machine.  It was a Singer LK-150.  I liked that machine.  I took lessons to learn how to use it.  Most of the issues I had were not addressed in the training video.  I didn't oil it nearly enough.  Now back to the reason for this little side story.  I had swatches of all kinds of things I learned.  At first I kept them in the box.  Then I decided that I \would keep them for learning when I did those techniques.  Fast forward a few years, I didn't need the swatches.  The lessons had stuck.  I had all these swatches that were 7"x9" give or take.  I made an afghan.

But it got me thinking about granny squares and swatches.  What can we do with them all?  What ideas can you come up with??  I found quite a few ideas online over the years and come up with a bunch on my own too.  So let's start with 1, 2 or 3 squares. 

1 block.

1. Pincushion:  Stuff and sew into a rectangle or triangle.  Use wool with the lanolin still in to prevent rusting.
2. Coaster:  Use cotton.  No stuffing.  No sewing.
3. Sachet:  Fold and stuff just like the pincushion.  Saturate the stuffing with essential oils to either smell nice or keep moths at bay.  You can also stuff with dried flowers of the scent you want.  
4. Sleep pillow:  This uses a large swatch, usually 8x8 in a soft yarn.  Fold it in a triangle and stuff with cotton.  Add some essential oil.  A drop or two of lavender promotes sleep.  Too much and you end up with the jitters.  Add to your bed at bedtime keeping it near your head.  
5. Eye glasses case:  This also uses a large swatch, 6 - 7 inches. Fold in half, seam on 1 short and the long side.  Again use soft yarn that won't scratch the lenses.

2 Blocks

1. Potholder/Hot pad:  2 squares in wool or cotton.  No holes in the pattern.  Add some layers of felt the same size  (wool is nice for this since it doesn't burn or melt).  Crochet or sew around all the edges.  Add a hanging loop or not.  
2. Tote bag:  2 very large squares.  12 inches is a good size.  Seam on 3 sides or crochet.  Add a strap of whatever sort.  A braid can be used and can be custom fit to you.  You can also use a strap from a worn out purse.  Line it if you don't want to lose things.
3. Halloween treat bag:  Choose 2 Halloween charts, using either a fair isle or knit/purl pattern, that are the same size and work up at about 8 - 10 inches square.  Seam on 3 sides.  Add handles to the open end.  Trick or treat at will.
4. Vest:  This can be deceptively easy.  Choose the recipient.  I suggest a doll for starters.  Use a ribbon and across the top, tie together the front and back 1/4 of the way in from each edge continuing out to the corner.  Neck hole made.  To make the armholes, work down those sides to the bottom edge.  This can work until the child is about 4 years old or so.  They are usually not curvy.
5. Soap Sack:  Use cotton for this.  Hold wrong sides together.  Seam on 3 sides.  Weave a tie around the open side.  Insert soap slivers and scrub the dirt away.
6. Fingerless mitts:  Measure around the hand at the knuckles of the recipient.  The swatches used should be a square that meets this measurement and coordinate in pattern and color.  1 swatch.  Fold in half.  Seam from one end up 1 - 2 inches.  This is the part that is above the thumb.  Leave the next inch or two open for the thumb.  If the hand is very small, leave less.  Seam from that point to the other open end.  Repeat.

3 blocks

1. Bookmark:  Perfect for the reader in the family or your circle of friends.  Use crochet thread to make these not too thick so as to not break the spine of the book.  Seam together into a long rectangle.  Gift with a favorite book.
2. Hot mat or small place mat:  Use heavy wool yarn or cotton yarn for this in a larger size.  Seam 2 together, then add the 3rd centered over the seam to form a triangle.  Cheery colors look great in a kitchen.  Adding glass beads can bring an extra touch to these.