When ideas collide in my untidy mind I end up with something like The Soap Sock. If you were a child in the seventies like me you might remember soap savers. They made use of those annoying bits of soap you end up with as your bar of soap becomes too small for use otherwise. Bars of soap have gone out of fashion now but I'm about to launch a campaign to bring them back!!
No not really! But the idea that collided with the soap saver began with the Greenpeace campaign to make us more responsible for the plastic bottles we use and reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the sea. Standing in the shower one day I realised that the simple bar of soap has been replaced by so many unnecessary products. Add to that the fact that the night before I had been reading Rohn Strong's 'Step into Crochet' sock book and this is what you get. A stretchy nylon sock that fits over a bar of soap to become a Soap Saver Scrubby Sock!
The stitch I am using is a Back Loop Double Crochet, which when worked in alternating rows produces a very stretchy ribbed fabric. I claim that my patterns are colourful and convertible, but this one is white! Well take a look at the Anchor thread, you can definitely go as colourful as you like. As for convertible, this pattern fits your average bar of soap, if you want to go bigger or small just increase or reduce the number of Foundation Double Crochet stitches and stop crocheting when you think it's big enough.
Finished size; (unstretched!)
6cm (21/2") x 9.5cm (33/4")
What you will need;
Approximately 40m of a No 5, washable metallised polyester thread, such as Twilleys Goldfingering or Anchor Artiste Metallic. 25g is about 100m.
2.5mm hook (size 4)
Tapestry needle
Stitch Marker
NOTES: This pattern is written in English Terminology, the USA Terminology is in brackets. I am using Foundation Dc Version 2, see my earlier blog post for the photo tutorial. The instructions are also below.
FDc - Foundation Double Crochet (Foundation Single Crochet for USA)
BLDc - Back Loop Double Crochet (Back Loop Single Crochet for USA) Work Double Crochet stitches into the back loop.
Slst - Slip Stitch
St - Stitch
YO - Yarn over
We will be working in rounds, but Turn at the end of each round. Keep your stitches loose, the idea is to make a stretchy bag.
Foundation Round:
Ch2, FDc x 13
[To make these stitches: place hook in chain St furthest from the hook, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 1st loop only; chain st made, YO and pull through both loops; dc made. For each subsequent St; place hook into chain St just made, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 1st loop only, YO and pull through both loops.]
Now working back down the other side into the chain Sts,
3Dc in the end chain, Dc in each of the next 11 Sts, 3Dc in the end chain, Slst to start. [13FDc, 17Dc]
Round 1:
Chain1, BLDc in same St, (I find it helpful to put a stitch marker in this first St to avoid adding extra Sts when I return to this point)
BLDc in each St around, Slst to start, Chain1, TURN. [30Dc]
Round 2-29:
BLDc in each St around, Slst to start, Chain1, Turn.
Continue repeating round 2 until your sock is big enough to stretch right over a bar of soap.
Loop Handle:
(If you don't want a loop, simply fasten off at the end of your last round.)
We are now going to make a loop by creating a row of Foundation Double Crochet.
Having 'Ch1' at the end of your last round, work back into the dc at the base of this St and simply create a row of 24 Foundation Double Crochet Sts. Slst back into original dc and fasten off.
Weave in your loose ends ensuring that you go backwards and forwards and don't restrict the stretchiness of the fabric. Trim ends. That's it, definitely no need to block this one! The mitt is now ready to use or gift!
Let me know what you think and add your creations to the Ravelry page.😍
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