Kitchen String


Materials
  • 50 yards (46 m) 100% cotton medium-weight kitchen string in white
  • Size 3.5 mm (E/4) hook
Instructions
Closed Base
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc into ring, sl st in first sc to join - 6 sc.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st in first sc to join - 12 sc.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) around, 2 sc in last st, sl st in first sc to join - 18 sc.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, (sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, ending sc in last st, sl st in first sc to join - 24 sc.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in each of first 3 sts, (2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts) around, ending 2 sc in last st, sl st in first sc to join - 30 sc.
Rnd 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, (sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, ending sc in each of last 4 sts, sl st in first sc to join - 36 sc.
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in blo of each st around, sl st in first sc to join.
Rnds 8-10: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st in first sc to join.
Basic Mesh Pattern
Rnd 1: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), sk next 2 sts, (dc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts) around until 3 sts rem, dc in next st, hdc in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join - 12 squares.
The joining hdc creates the last sp of the rnd and sets you up in the correct position to begin the next rnd in the center of the last sp.
Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), (dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2) around until 1 sp rem, dc in last ch-2 sp, hdc in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join.
Rep Rnd 2 until desired height.
Last rnd: Ch 1, 2 sc in sp created by joining hdc, work 3 dc in each ch-2 sp around to end, sc in same sp as the first sc, sl st in first sc to join.
Fasten off and weave in any loose ends. Follow Finishing instructions to stiffen fiber.

Jute


Materials
  • 50 yards (46 m) lightweight jute twine in brown
  • Size 5.0 mm (H/8) hook

Instructions
Work Closed Base as for Kitchen String vase through Rnd 5.
Next rnd: Ch 1, sc in blo of each st around, sl st in first sc to join.
Continue to work sc through both loops for 3 rnds.
stacked Mesh Pattern
Rnd 1: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), sk next 2 sts, *dc in each of next 4 sts, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts; rep from * around, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join.
This is a basic square pattern; replace an occasional ch-2 with 2 dc in each of next 2 ch sts to form random blocks of dc sts.
Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), (dc in next dc, ch 2) around, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join.
Rep Rnd 2 until desired height.
Last rnd: Ch 1, sc in same st as sl st, sc evenly around working 1 sc in each st and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, sl st in first sc to join.
Fasten off and weave in any loose ends. Follow Finishing instructions to stiffen fiber.

Finishing (for all three projects)

Using 3 parts fabric stiffener (glue) to 1 part water, pour enough glue mixture to cover the bottom of a plastic bag. Place the cylinder in the bag and squish to cover the surface with the solution. Remove the cylinder and pat with a paper towel to remove excess glue. Bend a piece of plastic mesh into a tube to make the form, or use a glass big enough to help the cylinder keep its shape while it dries. Insert the form, smooth the piece to the desired shape, and set in a warm place to dry completely. It should only take a couple of hours to set.

Variations

You can stitch up the bases with almost any fiber, including jute, twine, and cotton thread.
Make the vases larger or smaller by adding or removing rounds of increases to change the width and adjusting the rows to change the height.
Experiment with the mesh patterns, using taller stitches and additional chain stitches to create larger spaces.