DIY Network

Leather Tray Leather strips are crocheted into a flat basket with wooden dowels for handles. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-116

Julie Holtez shares a few tips on working with leather to create a fabulous dowel-handled tray. You have to start by warming up the leather to make it easier to work with, but from there you can just crochet normally to make the sides and bottom needed to put this tray together.

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Leather Tray

Materials:

100 yds. 2 mm leather cord (available at any jewelry-supply store or online)
crochet hooks, U.S. sizes L and N
large yarn needle
2"x10" dowel

Finished size: 8"x9"

Gauge: 11 sc over 13 rows = 5"

Notes: Leather cord can be very stiff. To make it more flexible, pull out a long cord and wrap it several times around your hand; roll the wrapped cord in your hands to warm it up a bit (I found that the red cord was naturally more flexible than the black or brown cord). To make finishing easier, weave in the ends as you go by working over them or weaving them in after each section is completed.

Abbreviations:
ch (chain)
sc (single crochet)
sl st (slip stitch)
st (stitch)

Short Side

Make 2, as follows:

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Ch 18 (figure A).

Row 1: Working into the ridge on the back of the chain, sc in first st and each st across. Turn (17 sc).

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn (17 sc).

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Fasten off.

Long Side

Make 2, as follows:

Ch 19.

Row 1: Working into the ridge on the back of the chain, sc in first st and each st across. Turn (18 sc).

Rows 2-3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn (18 sc).

Row 4: Begin first flap for dowel (figure B). Ch 1, sc in first 4 sts. Turn (4 sc).

Rows 5-10: Ch 1, sc in each st. Turn (4 sc).

Row 11: Ch 1, sc in each st. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing (4 sc) (figure C).

Go back to row 4 and, starting from where you turned, count 10 unworked sts across and insert hook into the next st, pulling cord through. Ch 1, sc in same st. Sc in next 3 sts. Turn.

Repeat rows 5-11 to make the second flap (figure D).

Bottom of Tray

Ch 19.

Row 1: Working into the ridge on the back of the chain, sc in first st and each st across. Turn (18 sc).

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn (18 sc).

Repeat row 2 until length of bottom measures equally to the short sides. They should measure pretty close in order for the tension to be tight enough to hold up the sides of the tray. Project sample was 20 rows long.

	You may find it easier to attach the dowels to the end panels before attaching the panels to the body of the tray, as shown.
	Figure E

Finishing

Begin assembly of the tray by whipstitching the foundation chain of one short side to the row ends of the bottom piece. When you reach the end, do not fasten off. Thread the cord up the end of the side. Whipstitch the row ends of one of the long side pieces to the end of the attached short side; then continue to work around, attaching the foundation chain of the long side to the bottom piece. Continue to attach the remaining two sides in this manner. Fasten off.

Working with one of the long sides with flaps, wrap one of the flaps around the dowel and, using the long tail, sew the flap down to the inside of row 3 (figure E). Pull the stitches tight to keep dowel in place; fasten off. Sew the second flap over the opposite end of the dowel, pull tight and fasten off.

Attach dowel to the second side of the tray in the same manner. Weave in any remaining ends.

GUESTS :

Julie Holtez
Website: www.skamama.com