Here’s a simple little pattern for a crochet measuring tape cover to enclose your retractable tape measures with pretty sock yarn scraps and a button or two! Who wouldn’t love the addition of a perky little daisy to their needlework notions?
Materials:
Retractable Tape Measure
Size 2 Metal Crochet Hook
Sock Yarn Scraps
Retractable Measuring Tape
Button(s)
Darning Needle
Abbreviations:
Ch – chain
SC – single crochet
HDC – half double crochet
DC – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
Directions: US Crochet Terms Used
Bottom:
Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as first DC of round here and throughout),DC 15 in 3rd chain from hook. Slip Stitch in top of first ch 3 to join.
Round 2: Chain 3, DC once in same stitch, then DC twice in each stitch around. Join with sl st in first ch 3. (32 DC)
Round 3: Chain 3, DC in same DC, (DC in next DC, DC twice in next DC) around. DC in last DC. Slip Stitch in top of first ch 3 to join.. (48 DC)
Sides:
Round 1: Chain 2, HDC in each DC around, going through the back loops of the DC’s in previous row. Do not join.
Round 2: Chain 2, turn. (wrong side facing) Going through both loops of previous HDC’s, HDC around. Slip Stitch in top of first ch 2 to join.
Top:
Round 1: Ch 3, turn. (right side facing). Going through the back loops of HDC’s in previous row, (DC once in next HDC, DC decrease in next 2 stitches) around. DC in last HDC. Slip Stitch in TOP OF first ch 3 to join. Fasten off.
Place measuring tape inside cover, lining up opening with retractable tape. Attach flower colored yarn, ch 1 and SC around. join with sl st in first sc.
Flower:
Row 1 of Petals: Ch 5, skip 2 stitches (sc, ch 5, sk 2 stitches) around. SC in last SC.
Row 2 of Petals: In next chain 5 space: (SC, HDC, 2 DC, HDC, SC). Repeat in each chain 5 space around.
Slip Stitch in next SC of previous round. Ch 1 and working in SC’s of previous round, SC decrease around. Join with slip stitch in first SC decrease.
Repeat Row 1 and Row 2 of Petals, but on second row of petals, only skip one SC between chain 5 spaces. Join in first chain of first chain 5 space. Slip stitch into SC of previous row. Ch 1, sc decrease around.
Ch 1, SC decrease around. Join with slip stitch to first sc decrease of round. Fasten off.
To make leaf at end of retractable tape:
Pull out tape. With darning needle threaded with yarn, puncture tape just below metal or plastic end, and thread needle back through this hole on other side, which makes yarn wrap around one side of tape, from one side to the other. Repeat on other side to make yarn wrapped completely around tape.
Using hook, pull up a loop with the working yarn from below the horizontal strand of yarn on the end of the tape measure and DC ten times around tape, enclosing end of tape measure. Join last DC to first with slip stitch.
Chain 3. DC decrease around. DC in last DC Join in first ch 3 with slip stitch
Chain 1. 
Going through both thicknesses of stitches, SC across row (4 stitches) Turn, chain 1, pull up one loop in each SC across and pull yarn through all loops on hook. Fasten off. Glue or sew button to middle of flower. Weave in end.
Download Ups-A-Daisy Measuring Tape PDF Pattern
© Copyright 2012 Simply Notable
Fine Print: We are absolutely flattered that our crafty friends would want to make cute items from our original copyright patterns to sell in their online shops or brick and mortar stores. We are thrilled to grant that permission. We do, however, request that anywhere the item is for sale, (on each and every online listing OR on each item in your brick and mortar store that a Simply Notable pattern has been used), that you link back to us here at Simply Notable so others can enjoy the same free pattern you utilized. When you sprinkle the Simply Notable love back our way in the form of links, it lets us know how much you appreciate the free patterns we’ve shared. The only hard line we draw here at Simply Notable is that the free patterns themselves absolutely cannot be sold.
That is really sweet. Is it difficult to hold though – I was thinking of making one for my mama’s birthday but she’s getting arthritis in her hands so I’m not sure…
Well, it’s just a retractable tape measure with a crochet cover – I don’t think it’s hard to hold, but then again, I don’t have arthritis… guess it depends on her level of difficulty grasping things.
Only one way to find then… lol.
Adorable pattern! This one may have me dig out my crochet hooks and try to hone my rusty crochet skills.
Thanks Susan! Glad we could inspire you to break out the crochet hooks. 🙂
Love this idea! Hope you won’t mind me linking up at Tangled Happy tomorrow. Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
Always appreciate a link, Sara. Thank you! 🙂
Wow that’s super cool, I really really have to try this! So Cute ideas og nice photos. Have a lovely day!
Thank you! Enjoy!
I so enjoy your blog and wrote a blog on your pattern for the crocheted topping for the measuring tape! How clever to design this and offer a free pattern! I hope you dont mind my blogging about this! 🙂
I love to read both your postings from Mom and Daughter! Thank you for sharing!
Carole
Imagination Station
Hi Carole, I was just trying to reply to your blog post when I saw there was a pingback from your site but it wouldn’t allow me. Said I had to be logged into WordPress. Anyway, here is what I said:
Hi Carole,
Thanks so much for sharing our pattern on your blog. I love that you can relate to the random postings of mom and I but it’s no wonder, we seem to have a bit in common. 😉 It’s so funny because I too owned a cloth diapering business prior to becoming a blogger. I was in business for about 11 years and had such great fun with it. I started to lose interest once my littlest one was out of diapers and then decided it was time to give it up. I still sew them for family, of course! 😉
Thanks again,
Carli
Hi Carli!
Not sure what a ping is or how I did that? Here is a direct link to the page. http://carolekn199.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/a-blog-and-a-flower-design/
I hope it does the Daisy pattern justice! 🙂
RE: the ping…..I may have put a link in to set that off… LOL… not so techy here….
I will check into that.
Carole
It definitely made me smile. I love that we have so much in common. 😉
Carli, you were able to read the post then from the link above. I am so sorry for all the confusion. I have been reading about the pings and I think it pings because I added the links back to your site. It enables you to see that I have linked back to your blog. This is the first time I have linked to a blog so was not sure how to do this. Didnt mean to cause confusion. (But I did haha) Anyway I am learning as I go along! Hugs from PA,
Carole
Definitely going to do this. Possibly tonight…
I was wondering what size crochet hook you used to make the measuring tape covers. I would like to make them as favors for
our annual Hospice tea party. Have to start now cause I need a
couple hundred!!
Hi Theresa,
Mom used a size 2 metal crochet hook. A couple hundred sounds like a daunting task but they will be beautiful set up on the party tables! Enjoy!
Wow!!!!!!!!! I’d LOVE to see the photos of your finished ups-a-daisy’s! 🙂