Crochet 3DS Case

Today I was just sitting around, messing with yarn(as usual) and listening to music(also usual). I was thinking about opening and Etsy store, and what inventory I would have if I did eventually open one. I've seen 'cozies' and 'jackets' for all kinds of electronics. Just yesterday, one of my RSS Feeds, Knitting, posted a link to a super cool tablet cozy. I thought it was really cool, because it's got this funky looking color working design. But what would I do with it? I don't have a tablet. I'm not very good at Fair Isle type knitting anyway. Then it hit me- 3DS case! I can work with two colors in patterns with crochet better than with knitting(I can knit stripes, and that's about it as far as color patterns go). And I had the perfect yarn for it, too! I was getting excited, I would get to try a new technique, make something I'd actually use, and get rid of some of my yarn from my huge stash- it was the perfect plan!

The Front

The Back

 I decided to work the pattern in a peach colored yarn. It was just sitting in front of me, waiting to be used...
Then I thought about contrasting colors. Black? Green? White? Blue? Brown? Brown was the ticket. It looks kind of desert-y, LOL.

I was working through the first three rounds when I thought about a pattern design, the little 'stairs' you see in the photo. At first I was just going to do stripes and maybe slap some appliques on there, but that was to plain. Plus, I really wanted to try something new.

A close up of the 'stairs'

So when I got to round five, I was like, "Forget stripes, I'm doing something different!" And away flew the hook and yarn! At first I just wanted a checkerboard pattern, but as I was working in the round and not turning, the pattern slanted. Which is perfectly fine with me, because it made the super cool pattern you see here! I used a button for the closure. This is a fairly easy pattern, but I'd recommend having some experience with working two colors.

Stairway 3DS Case

Materials

Size G hook
Worsted weight yarn in two colors
Yarn needle
Button
Sewing needle
Thread

Main Color(referred to as MC) : Peach
Contrast Color(referred to as CC) : Dark Brown
Round is referred to as Rnd

Using MC, ch 30, sl st to first ch, being careful not to twist the ch

Rnd 1: ch 2, hdc in each ch around, sl st to first hdc, 30 sts
Rnds 2-5: ch 2, hdc in each hdc around, sl st to first hdc, 30 sts
Rnd 6: Using MC, ch 2, hdc in next 3 hdc, *using CC, hdc in next 3 hdc, using MC, hdc in next 3 hdc, repeat from * around, sl st to top of first hdc.
Rnds 7-10: Repeat Rnd 6, starting with opposite color. For Rnd seven, you would start the round with CC, for Rnd 8, you would start with MC, and so on and so forth.
Rnds 11-15: Using MC, ch 2, hdc in each st around, sl st in first st, 30 sts, fasten off

Congratulations, you've completed the main body of the case! Now all that's left to do is add a flap, a bottom strip, and a button!

Bottom Strip(The strip of brown at the bottom of the case)

Using CC, sl st to bottom of case.

Rnd 1: ch 2, hdc in bottom of each hdc around, sl st in first hdc, 30 sts
Rnd 2: ch 2, hdc in each st around, sl st in first hdc, 30 sts, fasten off.

Flap

Using CC, sl st to any st on the TOP of the case, ch 2

Row 1: hdc in next 15 hdc, ch 2, turn, 15 sts
Row 2-4:Repeat Row 1
Row 5: hdc in next 6 hdc, ch 2, sk next 3 sts, hdc in next 6 hdcs
Row 6: ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, 3 sc in ch 2 sp, sc in next 6 sts, fasten off

And that's it! All you have to do is weave in the ends and sew on the button, and I'll leave that to you!

Getting back on topic, Etsy stores! What sells? I see a lot of listings, and not a lot of stuff selling. At least I don't think so. I'll probably make some earrings, I have some fingerless gloves, and some awesome circle bracelets. I'll have to go through all I have, but I'm stocking up inventory now, so I don't run out to soon. If I start a store, that is. Which I probably will, once I have enough inventory. So it basically circles back around to the same thing, inventory. What would you buy? Half a dozen roses? A Queen Anne's Lace scarf? An amigurumi bear? A Triforce? Children's toy play sets such as food/cooking sets? Hats? I really don't have a clue! Then there's the whole issue on pricing. What you have to factor in, the time it takes to make a project, the cost of materials and such... I saw a tiny strawberry ring listed for eight dollars! For that price, I could make my own, thank you very much! Granted, there is some cool stuff on Etsy, like a Celtic Braid Cuff Bracelet. Yeah, it looks cool, but I have nothing that matches it, and it seems kind of large. Am I going to spend twenty five dollars on it? No thank you! And patterns! People try and sell patterns for three or four dollars a piece, when I can basically look at whatever it is I want the pattern to and mimic it! Yeah, I might sell a few patterns, but I'm not going to sell them for four dollars! I'd really like to hear your feedback on this. Thanks for sticking with me through this super long post!

Tried this project? I'd love to see pictures!