I was watching this documentary on birds the other day and I would share but I might scare some of you away, so I won't. Anyway, they were showing all these birds and their breeding grounds were just covered in waste. Bottle caps, corks, plastics. It was by the ocean, so I am assuming the waste was washed ashore. It was so sad though, because of the amount of birds that were dead from consuming bottle caps, corks and plastic.
We can't put our bottle caps in the recycle bin, so I am always trying to find a way to re-purpose them. Needless to say, I have two extra large glass cylinders just filled with bottle caps.
Today, I am going to share with you how to make crochet bottle cap spiders. I know, the legs are kinda long, but they are to hang all over the side of house and door for Halloween this year. If the kids want them, they can grab one. They can trim the legs, if they like.
Supplies Needed:
1 plastic bottle cap (I'm trying to use the smaller ones, but the juice and milk caps would give a more proportioned spider.
4 ply yarn of your color choice (I choose the black for Halloween but whimsical bold bright colors would be different)
4 fuzzy sticks ( the fine wire covered with fuzz)
Beads, buttons, wiggly eyes and floss or nylon thread to attach (I don't know the size I used because I use materials from broken costume jewelry. Just pick the size that works for you.
F/5 3.75mm Hook
The pattern I am giving is basic and you will need to modify the rounds based on the size of the cap. The cap I am using is a standard soda bottle cap.
This is in American Standard Terms.
Ch = Chain
Rnd = Round
Sc = single crochet
YO = yarn over
Here we go:
Ch 2
Rnd 1: Sc in the second chain from hook (5 times), do not join (5 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc from the previous round (5 times), do not join (10 sc)
Rnd 3: 2 sc in each sc from the previous round (10 times), do not join (20 sc)
Rnd 4: 1 sc in each sc from the previous round (20 times), do not join (20 sc)
Rnd 5: 1 sc in each sc from the previous round (20 times), do not join (20 sc)
At this point, test and make sure that the crochet rounds you have made cover the outside of the bottle cap. Place the cap inside the crochet rounds you have made. You should see only the opening to the bottle cap. If you are using a smaller bottle cap, you may need to only do one round of 20 single crochet. If you are using a larger bottle cap you may need to do another round or two of 20 single crochets. Just make sure that when you place the bottle cap inside of your crochet rounds that the last round you completed goes up to the top rim or just a little over the rim on the cap.
Now to decrease:
Rnd 6: Place the hook through the next sc, yo, pull through, place your hook through the next sc, yo and pull through, you should have three stitches on your hook, now yo and pull through all three stitches. You will need to do this 9 more times for a total of 10 sc decreases.
At this point, when looking at your work, you are starting to form a ball, go ahead and place your cap into this ball with the rim at the top of your last crocheted round.
Then what I do is I fill the inside of the cap with scrap yarn cuttings that have been treated with lavender linen spray. This is optional, but it puts out a fresh scent and it also keeps any moths or fiber eating bugs away. If you opt to do this, go up to the top where my, search this blog is, and type in, linen spray. This will give you the mixture I use. I just soak my scrap yarn cuttings in a little bit of this and let them dry out in an enclosed container. You could use any scents that you like. I just don't like bugs all that much.
Rnd 7: Once you have the cap inside the ball that you have made, with or without the yarn scarps, you will continue to decrease until closed and then fasten off and weave your yarns in. Usually this is about 5 more sc decreases.
Attach your beads with floss or nylon thread for the eyes. I attached the eyes in between the third and fourth round. It's really up to you, the placement of the eyes determines what kind of spider you will have. Scary, whimsical, goofy, etc.
If you want your spider to be fuzzy, take a hard bristle tooth brush, and brush the yarn until it gives you the affect you are looking for. If you don't want fuzzy, then you are ready to attach the legs.
Take four of the fuzzy sticks and run them through the center bottom of the spider, capturing a couple of the stitches. Twist the fuzzy stick twice to secure. Now you can form the legs. I think the picture shows this well enough for you to follow. You can always trim the legs down at this point. I always curl the ends just a little bit to give the spider stability, so it can stand without support
Here is a sample of one with shorter legs and a larger cap that I attached to a mini top hat.
The mini top hat pattern was designed by Petra:
Here is where you can find many of her great patterns:
http://zoomyummy.com/
I get side tracked with her beautiful photography, so go to my pattern shop, or you may be there all day. I am sure she wouldn't mind.
And then of course here is a spider that is not fuzzy.
You can sell the products you make from this pattern. If you could just give me credit, by linking back to this blog, it would be greatly appreciated.
I would like to see some colorful and whimsical spiders. Please be sure and share your creations.
Hope you enjoy and know that you are possibly saving a domestic or wildlife species today.
Debra
If you are having difficulty following any of the instructions, I am available to guide you through it. I appreciate the feedback.
