Mother's Day Gifts with Scrubby Sparkle Yarn

With Mother's Day just around the corner,  I thought it would be fun to gift the women in my life with with cheerful spa tokens to recognize them on this special day. I am lucky to have a daughter, several special friends, 2 sisters-in-law, and a daughter in law to be in my life. Since this year's collection has taken me considerably more time than I anticipated, my mailing date will be probably be tomorrow, and they will arrive sometime next week.  However, I am still smiling because each of these wonderful women will get a surprise special treat.  Last year I prepared an assortment of spa gifts with cotton and scrubby yarn from Red Heart.  I provided links and directions for facial scrub pads, fabulous flip flops, a head band to keep the hair out one's face, more abrasive scrubbers for callouses on the feet, and a small bag for soap.  One set was crocheted in aqua and white.  Another was prepared in peach and white.  For pictures and ideas please refer back to "Mother's Day Crochet" from April, 2017 in the archives.  Directions for scrubby pads  "Scrubby Art," can also be found in the April, 2017 archives.

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This year I am focusing on crocheted scrubby flower as well as spa gifts in purple and white.  Past collections have used cotton yarn and Red Heart Scrubby Yarn individually or together.  These yarns are ideal for spa gifts, but crocheting can be hard on the fingers. My cotton yarns of choice tend to be Sugar n' Cream by Lily or Premier Home by Premier Yarns.For me,my new addition is the Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle Yarn.  This yarn has a unique texture and yields a sparkle effect.  It is 100% polyester and comes in 3 oz. 174 yard skeins that are idea for scrubbies and other craft items.  Items made with the yarn may be machine washed on delicate,  Do not bleach or iron. The yarn feels like eyelashes held together on a cord.  Red Heart calls for a #8 knitting needle or an 5.5 or I hook.  Most of my pieces were done with a 4.5 (large G) or 5.0 (H) hook.

The Scrubby Sparkle Yarn is gentler to the touch than the original Scrubby Yarn and it is ideal for making flower scrubbies.  I follow the general pattern that I use for making my 2 and 3 layer blooms.
Layer 1:
Row 1:  Make a magic circle and crochet 6 stitches into the center.  Pull the yarn to close and join.
Row 2:  Make 2 single crochet (SC) into each stitch (12)
Row 3: Chain 3 and skip one stitch.  Single crochet into next stitch.  Continue around until you have 6 loops that will form the base for your first layer of petals. Chain 1
Row4:  to form petal crochet the following stitches in the first loop.  SC, CH, 3 DC,CH, SC,CH.  Move to next petal and continue as in first petal. When all 6 petals are complete join with slip stitch to bottom of first petal. If you are continuing with the same color pull yarn to the back of the flower SC around the post formed by the first petal.  If you are changing colors secure thread, cut and weave in end.
Layer 2:
Row 1: With same color chain 4 from the yarn you pulled through from first layer. If you are using a new color, SC around one of the flower posts and chain 4.  For either method.  Single crochet around next flower post.  Continue around as you did in layer one.Join to last loop, SC  in that loop, and turn work
Row 2:  For first petal, make the following stitches in the first loop:  SC, CH, HDC, 4 DC, CH, SC, CH to go into next loop.When all 6 petals are complete join with slip stitch to bottom of first petal.  If you are continuing with the same color pull yarn to the back of the flower SC around the post formed by the first petal.  If you are changing colors secure thread for row 2 , cut and weave in end.
Layer 3
Row 1: With same color chain 5 from the yarn you pulled through from first layer. If you are using a new color, SC around one of the flower posts and chain 5.  For either method.  Single crochet around next flower post.  Continue around as you did in layer two. Join to last loop, SC  in that loop, and turn work.
Row 2:  For first petal, make the following stitches in the first loop:  SC, CH, HDC, 5 DC, CH, SC, CH to go into next loop.When all 6 petals are complete join with slip stitch to bottom of first petal.    Cut and weave in ends.

For this collection I made an open mesh bag for holding soap.

I also made a cup cozy for holding a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea.

The last items for this purple collection were decorated flip flops.  I followed the Posy Ruffle Flip Flop Pattern by Lion Brand for covering the straps.  I made another set of Scrubby Sparkle flowers to accent the spot just below the toes.

Happy Mother's Day to all of my readers.  I hope that these pieces help you to make every day a spa day.  What items would you add to a crocheted spa collection?  I am open to new ideas.