Crocheted Halloween Bath Set

So, I have been saying I would put some original crochet designs on this page for quite some time, and I'm finally doing it.

I wanted to give my nieces and nephew something cute for Halloween. Candy was out of the question, because they will end up with more than any child needs. So, I thought this little bath set would be fun.

The spider web washcloth is just alternating rings of white and black with surface slip stitches to complete the look (and add some extra texture for scrubbing!) The spider is two rings joined around a round cake of soap. The legs are made during the joining. I want to add some sort of facial detail, but I haven't decided what yet. I'm thinking of using hot-glue to attach some googly eyes.

The great thing about these is that the pattern is such a simple repeat that you just work until they are the size you want. No worries about gauge, or correct number of rounds!

To make the set you will need:

• cotton yarn (any kind), about 1oz (if using worsted weight) black and small amount of white (or another CC yarn)
• crochet hook sized appropriately for yarn
• scrap of waste yarn to mark beginning of rounds
• round cake of soap- any size (smaller is probably better for a child)
• yarn needle for hiding ends
• your own creativity to add eyes to the spider

Abbreviations used:

• ch- chain
• slst-slip stitch
• sc- single crochet
• dc- double crochet
• rnd- round

Spider Web Washcloth

1. [with white] ch2, sc 6x in 2nd chain from hook, changing to black, join to first sc with a slst, ch1
2. 2sc in each sc around, changing back to white, slst to first sc, ch1-12sc
3. [sc in 1sc, 2sc in next] around, join with slst to first sc, ch1-18sc
4. [sc in first 2sc, 2sc in next]around, changing to black, join with slst to first sc, ch1-24 sc
5. [sc in first 3 sc, 2sc in next] around, changing to white, join with slst to first sc, ch1-30sc

continue in this manner, increasing each round by 6 sc (the # of sc in the first round) making every third round black, and all other rounds white (or whatever CC you choose) until cloth is desired size. End with a black round. Cut and secure yarn, hide ends.

To add the spokes of the web:

hold black yarn to the back of the cloth, from the front insert crochet hook through the first ring of black sc. Pull yarn through cloth to the front and attach with slip knot to the hook. Insert hook into next row of sc and slst. continue to move out toward the edge of the cloth in this manner, keeping your line of slip stitches as straight as possible until you reach the end. Cut and secure yarn (I knotted the yarn tightly at the edges, as I thought they looked better extending over the edge a bit). Repeat this process around the cloth, as many times as it takes for your striped cloth to become a web.

Spider Soap Sack

note- You want to have your cake of soap handy while making this, as it will be used to judge the size to make your piece.

I expected that the young children I am making my Halloween bath sets for will not use these for a second season, so I completely sealed my soap sack, if you want to be able to re-use this you want to adapt the pattern to allow for changing the soap cake.

With Black chain 2

1. sc 6x in 2nd chain from hook. join with slst, ch1
2. 2sc in each sc around. Join with slst, ch1

Just as with the washcloth, but with no colour changes continue to work in rounds, increasing by 6 sc each rnd. Holding the fabric on top of your round soap, it is the right size when it just begins to extend beyond the edge of the soap all around. Cut and secure yarn, hide ends. (this is the bottom of the spider. For the top repeat this process, making sure that the same number of rounds (resulting in the same number of sc in final rnd) are worked, but DO NOT cut yarn- you will continue to work in rounds as follows:

next rnd: ch3, DC through the back loop in each sc around, join with slst to first sc

now holding your spider top over your soap, the DC round should cover 1/2 to 2/3 the thickness of the soap. If not repeat the previous round until it does (you want the fabric to stretch over the soap, but not too tightly). Once you have the sides the right length place soap in between the two pieces and begin to slip stitch them together. The outside edges should have the same number of stitches, so you will slip stitch 1sc to 1dc with no extras. When the first 1/3 of the round is joined [here is the best point to adjust pattern for a reusable soap sack-you could skip this portion of the joining and just lace up this section later] you will begin the legs as follows:

• slst into next st, chain 10, slst in 2nd chain from hook and each chain following until you are back at the base of the spider (if your legs are too short add more chains, just be sure to use the same number for all 8 legs)
• slst in next st
• slst in next st, chain 10-repeat previous method to return to spider base
• slst in next 2 sts, chain 10-repeat previous method to return to spider base
• slst in next st
• slst in next st, chain 10-repeat previous method to return to spider base

your first set of legs is done, continue to slst around to last 9sts, repeat above process. Cut and secure yarn. Hide ends, and use your creativity to embellish your spider's face.