Christmas Gifts: Lace Bookmarks

So, I decided to take up lace work back in July and August, and I decided that the easiest projects to start with would probably be the smaller variety. A bit of searching on ravelry revealed quite the number of patterns to make lace bookmarks, so I printed them out and started on it. I worked with size 1.5mm and 1.8mm hooks and I did size 10 threads, size 20 threads, 2-ply laceweight threads, and embroidery floss. The floss was by far the most bulky to work with, but it always produced good results. Not to mention that 25yrd of floss is cheap, and easy to pick up in a variety of colors.

Here is what I made:

There are another 4 or 5 that I made but aren't in this shot, and I will try to remember to get pictures of those and upload them. From left to right, the patterns (though modified) are as follows:
Icicle Bookmark, Glittery Bookmark, Quickie Bookmark, Fan Bookmark (in embroidery floss), Maui Stitchgrid (see below), Butterfly Stitch Bookmark, Shell Bookmark, Freehand Filet Pattern, Fan Bookmark (in 2-ply laceweight), Goddess Blessed Bookmark

Maui Stitchgrid



Christmas Gifts: 90 Minute Scarves

So here are the scarves I made for my maternal grandfather and great-grandfather! The pattern is so simple and it works up super fast.

NEW TO CROCHET? I don't make my own videos, sorry. So check these out: http://learntocrochet.lionbrand.com/

My Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Economy
Soft Navy + Shaded Dusk  and  Cafe + Shaded Brown*
*This color no longer includes the turquoise that it used to.

Grab your size 11mm (or larger) crochet hook, and 2 skeins of coordinating yarn.
You will work the 2 strands together as 1.

Ch 12, then Triple crochet (Yo 2x before inserting hook) in the 4th chain from the hook, and in every ch across.
For each following row: chain 4, and triple crochet into each stitch across.
Make it as long as you want (i use up the whole skein) and then add a single crochet border around all 4 sides before fastening off. Finish with a fringe on the ends.
Voila!


UPDATE 11/8/11: I've just added the pattern for a matching 30-Minute-Hat! Check it out! You'll use the same 2 strands that you worked with in the 90-minute scarf for a quick and easy matching hat!

PATTERN VARIATION:
I had several people ask me if they could do the same thing with a bulky or super bulky yarn, and the answer is yes! I prefer Lion Brand Homespun yarn and a 10.0mm hook. You will work with one strand only, as opposed to two, and I reduced the sts to DC's instead of triple crochet stitches, so if you still ch 12 for the base, you'll dc in the 3rd ch from the hook, and in every ch across. I used up almost the whole skein and it made a nice soft, long scarf. I used the remainder to add fringe!


**Ok, so I shouldn't feed the trolls, but to all of you who keep asking on allfreecrochet.com, the photos at the top were taken on my chiropractic table (much like a massage table) as it was the only surface that was available at the time. I never had ANY idea that my pattern would go any further than my local craft group, let alone become the most popular pattern on their site. Kthnxbai**

Humane Society Blankets

We finally finished all of the blankets that we were making for the humane society!
Here are the blankets that I made (with a lil help from Sam & Crystal):

Here's all of the blankets we made:

So a couple of us went over to the Humane Society to drop of the blankets, and they were SO touched! They were so incredibly excited that we were giving them new blankets handmade just for them that they let us give them to the puppies and kitties right away!

Steampunk Winter Masque

Had the chance to go to a great event at the Crack Fox in downtown STL. My steampunk outfit is still a work on progress, but I couldn't pass up the chance to wear that awesome lace mask I made a while ago.


I added a clock gear to the center of the lace choker I had made a while ago:

I also took out my trusty glue gun, my box of random steampunk crap, and some feathers I had hiding in my craft drawer from a mask I made years ago. Voila! I feathered headpiece.

So here is steampunk costume 1.0

There is much yet to do. I have an underskirt already, I just chose not to wear it. And I need to make a shrug, plus finish my backpack. Any other ideas guys???

Little Boy Blue

So Adina had her baby this morning, so now is as good a time as any to post the cute little set I made for her baby boy. I gave her the set a few weeks ago, but never ended up posting it. The hat pattern came from the Stitch N' Bitch: The Happy Hooker Book (which is an ESSENTIAL for anyone learning to crochet. I highly reccomend it!). The Bootie Pattern is one I found through Ravelry. Turned out super cute!

On a side note, I have caught up on all of my Christmas presents! Well, at least the premeditated ones. After the Black Friday Sale at Micheal's, I decided to make a few more things. I already have gifts for those people though, so the deadlines are a bit more flexible. I am, however, looking to make a non-crochet item for myself to wear to bellydancing classes. Check out Franken-choli!

Zil Mufflers

So, Vicky got me turned on to Tribal Style Bellydance, and now I find myself wandering around the house playing my zils to practice. My teacher, Jennifer, suggested zil covers to silence them a bit so that I don't terrorize the cats and dogs (but its so much fun!). Of course, my response was, "I can make that!"

And so I did.

The pattern is one I must have found through Ravelry ages ago, and I bookmarked the website with tons of bellydance stuff for vicky.

And here's how it turned out:

Halloween Crafts

So I finished these things a while back, but didn't want to post pictures until they were officially unveiled at our halloween party.

Here is my roommate Jenny with her Corgi-WeinerDog Kodi. I made his Candy Corn pet costume as a heavily modified version of this pattern which I found on Ravelry. Kodi is a lil chunky, so instead of working the yellow section in rounds, it is a belt that buttons at his belly. He didn't mind the costume at all and wore it all night.

My costume was the Liquor Fairy! I made garters that would hold flasks to match the shirt that I made from scrap fabric in my bin. The shirt pattern is from the new Generation-T book. I also crocheted the bandoleer and belt using a granny square style pattern, which allowed me to take the little holsters I made for the liquor bottles and slip those in between the shell stitches. I made the wings out of old beer boxes my bar tending friend Angela brought home from the bar for me. I made my tiara out of bottle caps, by drilling small holes in them and then using wire to secure them together. My wand is just a dowel with paint, ribbon, and a shot glass

November-December Hiatus

So, as usual, I put most of my crafting on hold during the month of November to participate in the National Novel Writing Month (aka Nanowrimo) where the challenge is to write 50,000 words of original fiction during the month of November. Ya know, on top of everything else in my life. This year, the challenge is doubled, since I have National Board Exams on Nov 12-14 and I refuse to start writing when I should be studying. So in an effort to become an awesome doctor, I won't be able to start writing until November 15th. 50,000 words in 15 days. Bring. It. On.

Aside from that, I am also putting any available craft time towards making christmas presents for friends and family. I can't just go shouting to the world what presents I am making for everyone. So no pictures or posts about christmas presents will be made until everyone gets their gifts, small as most of them will be.

I am still (slowly) working my way through the Humane Society Blankets, and seeing as those will be due to turn in at the beginning of December, I would like to get a picture of all of those to post. However, thats about all I will have time to work on aside from Boards, Nanowrimo, school, christmas gifts, clinicals, and the elusive opportunity to sleep.

Piece of cake.

Hats and Midterms

This week has been an eventful one, and thus I have done considerably less in the realm of projects. I had midterms all week, and then I had my wisdom teeth out yesterday, right after my last midterm. However, I still had time to get some things done.

As the weather gets cooler, I get more requests for hats and gloves and scarves. I hate making gloves, so I will probably put those off until people harass me into it. In the mean time, I made a hat for Sam on Sunday evening. It is a single crochet hat worked in a spiral. Pretty simple, but definitely warm and cozy.


While I was recovering in bed yesterday, I got a chance to finish the hat for Ali's early christmas present. I let her pick any pattern she wanted out of my "Stitch & Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker" book, and she selected the "Springtime in Winter" hat pattern. The yarn I had to work with was thinner than what I normally work with, so I used a smaller hook and added some extra stitches where necessary. Turned out pretty cute I think!

I'm back to working on the Humane Society blankets this afternoon, going to try and get a few more finished before boards roll around.

Grocery Bag Yarn

So I have been showing off my Grocery-Bag Bag that I made using old disposable plastic bags that you get en mass from the grocery store, and everyone seems in disbelief of how I turned grocery bags into workable "yarn". We all have them, by the dozens, and despite the number that get recycled as trash can liners, and lunch bags, and any other number of re-uses, we always seem to have plenty more to spare. So turn them into yarn! Using a sizable hook (at least 10mm) you can make bags, or anything else your imagination can come up with.

How to Make "Yarn" from Grocery Bags:

Take the bottom of the bag in your right hand, handles in the left, and stretch it out. Then, using sharp scissors, cut the bottom off of the bag, so that you remove all of the seams. Throw away the bottom of the bag. Keeping a trash can handy for the scraps is ideal.

Cut the bag into 1" pieces, moving from the bottom of the bag to the handles. When you reach the handles, make your last cut just below them (where the plastic still goes all the way around) and throw away the handles.

Continue until you have cut all the bags you have. It takes approximately 35 bags to make a grocery bag. I prefer to sort them by color so that each ball of "yarn" will be relatively consistent. When you are done cutting, grab one of the chunks and spread it out. You will find that you have a loop. Take 2 loops and slip-knot them together. Now slip-knot on another loop of plastic. Then another, then another. When they are all assembled, wind them up into a ball and secure the end with a pin.

Halloween Crochet

I have been working still on a number of projects, and that's always the way it goes. I have tabled my Avalon Sweater at least until I get some more things checked off my list. I have completed 2 blankets for the humane society, but I plan to keep working on those and using up as much scrap yarn as I can in the process. Ali wants a hat for her early-christmas present (no point in waiting until christmas when she'll have graduated already) and maybe a doggie sweater for her cute little Sadie (the Cavalier cockerspaniel).

I made Kodi (Jenny's weiner doggie) a candy corn sweater for his halloween costume. I worked my own pattern, but I used a pattern I found on Ravelry for inspiration. Kodi's has more of a belt and button method around his belly because he's a little chunky.

I was at a loss for my own halloween costume. The concept is easy: I'm going to be the Liquor Fairy, everyone's favorite halloween fairy! So I have spent the last year collecting bottlecaps and little mini bottles of rum and vodka and such to build my costume. I wired the bottlecaps together to make a tiara, but I was stuck on how to attach all the little bottles onto my belt. I wanted to be able to remove them at will and serve them to people. So, I decided to play to my strengths and crochet! Each bottle sits in a little round base, with a strap that carries up to the neck of the bottle and around. I think it should work. Now I just have to finish all the little crochet liquor holsters, and figure out where, besides the traditional belt, I will attach them to my costume.

Sunday Afternoon Scarf

So, April asked for a handmade scarf, and since I had this new 11.5mm hook (which I bought for the Grocery-Bag Bag a little while back) I decided to do a nice chunky scarf with it.

I asked her for some colors that she liked, and bought 3 different skeins of the Red Heart Super Saver, my all time favorite (cheap) yarn. One skein black, one pink, and one that was a gradient from blue to purple to green. I used all three yarns together as if they were one.You could also do this with only 2 strands for a less bulky scarf.

The Pattern:
Started with a Ch14, and then 10 triple crochet across. Turn, ch4, triple 10 st. rinse, repeat. Until the damn thing is long enough to go from my ankles, around the back of my neck, and back to my ankles. Then I added a single crochet border around the outside, using just the black, and added fringe on the ends. Tah dah!

Red Wings Hat

So, I created the pattern for this hat a long time ago, and finally decided to try it out. My plan was to be able to make these are christmas presents for my friends/family who are big Wings fans, but I'm not sure how much I'm loving the colorwork on the front. I think my white yarn should have been bulkier, and like I said, I'm not sure if I like it, so feel free to share your opinion! Is this a craft disaster??

Red Wings Hat Pattern

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
(1 skein red, 1 skein white with plenty of each left over)

Hook: 6.5mm

Size: Men's Medium to Large
(adjustments for making a smaller/women's size are listed within the pattern)

Additional Supplies: 2-3 Stitch Markers, Yarn Needle

With Red, Ch 4 and sl st in first ch to join.

Round 1: Ch 1, 9 sc into ring, sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join. (10 st)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in 1^st st, 2 sc in each st around, sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join. (20 st)

Round 3: Ch1, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next st, 2 sc into following st* repeat from * to * around. sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join. (30 st)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in the next st, 2 sc in the following st, *sc in each of the next 2 st, 2 sc in the following st* repeat from * to * around. sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join. (40 st)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each of the next 2 st, 2 sc in following st, *sc in each of the next 3 st, 2 sc into the following st* repeat from * to * around. sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join. (50 st)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in each of the next 3 st, 2 sc in following st, *sc in each of the next 4 st, 2 sc into the following st* repeat from * to * around. sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join. (60 st)

(For slightly smaller sizing: Ch 1, sc in each of the next 8 st, 2 sc in following st, *sc in each of the next 9 st, 2 sc into the following st* repeat from * to * around. sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join. 55 st)

Round 7-13: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join.

(Smaller sizes, stop at row 10)

Join White yarn. Mark center of hat (between 2 sts) and place a marker 13 st away from your center point on either side. These markers indicate the boundaries for the below chart (markers are the last sts inside the chart).

Rounds 14-24: Using red, ch1, sc in each st to 1^st marker, follow chart between markers, continue with red from the 2^nd marker until end of the round. sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join.

 

Next 2 Rounds: Using red, ch 1, sc in each st, sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join.

Final Round: Usng White, ch 1, sc in each st, sl st into ch 1 that began the round to join.

Embelishments: Using yarn needle and white yarn, add lines to complete the logo.

Cold Classroom Shrug

So, the classrooms at school are always ridiculously cold. And ironically, its usually worse in the summer when the AC is cranked up. I promised Vicky a shrug to help keep her shoulders warm, though admittedly, that was about a year ago. Last week she presented me with a partly used skein of purple yarn and told me to have fun with it.

I used a pattern that I found on CrochetMe through Ravelry: Maui Shrug

Turned out pretty cute I think! I may have to re-use the fan stitch pattern for a scarf or something.

Just keep crochetting....

As always, too many projects in progress. Working on a shrug for Vicky out of the skein that she gave me. Its looking pretty cute, and I am about half-way. To my surprise, the partly-used skein seems to have enough on it to make the shrug as the pattern calls for, plus I may be able to make the sleeves a bit longer how Vicky wants. I do have a bit of black yarn that is the same fuzzy texture, and I plan to edge it all with some black shell stitches.

I finished the first of the blankets for the Humane Society, and I have put that task on hold while I finish Vicky's shrug (that I have been promising her for ages) and since it is finally getting chilly, I think she can make use of it as soon as its finished.

I am also still in progress on my Avalon sweater, but it too is on hold while I work on everything else. I would like to get it finished so that I can wear it by Christmas, but then again, I have plenty of other things to work on before then. I always like to have some kind of crochet project to sit and work on while with the rest of the family on Thanksgiving, so maybe that's when it will get finished.

Goodwill - The Steampunk Store

So Mandy went to her goodwill, and had some great steampunk finds of her own. Here's what she picked up and he take on things:

The skirt is darker than it looks in that picture.. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It has some nice details. It's full-length, goes down to my ankles.

 

The white ruffle shirt is pretty thin, and a bit see-through. Would be best layered with something else. Has a high neck.

The medium black ruffle shirt picture [left] doesn't do it justice either. It would look good underneath a corset or something.

The brown jacket [right] is a small as well, and has a really pretty brocade-like pattern. It's one of my favorite finds.

On the small black shirt, I'm not thrilled with the bow, but I think it could be fixed up to be something really cute. Maybe replace the bow with some sort of broach or something. Don't know.

Too Many Projects, Never Enough Time

So, I did manage to finish my recycled grocery bag, but I am still in progress of working on my Avalon Sweater (http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/avalon/avalon_1.html) using the giant 1lb ball of yarn donated to me by Donna. She couldn't stand working with it, and I can understand why. Though, since the sweater has such an open pattern, I'm usually crocheting into chain spaces which makes life easier.

I am also working on blankets to donate to the Humane Society. The animals there have metal crates, and they only get blankets if someone donates them, since they leave with the animal after use. I'm working together with some of the girls at school, since our Professional Development professor agreed to give us community service credits for our effort. We also found out about a Rabbit Rescue in need of similar donations, though they require 100% cotton, since the bunnies will chew on their blankets.

Went to Joann's and pick up some inexpensive cotton yarn and a few skeins of the Red Heart Super Saver yarn. Then I cleaned out my yarn stash and pulled a few half-used skeins of varying god-awful colors that I don't ever see myself using again. I figure this might be a good chance to try out some new stitches, since the animals won't be picky about how pretty they are in the end. But at least for my first blanket, its a giant granny square pattern.

If you do want to donate to your local humane society, call them in advance and make sure they are accepting donations. If you are really nice, ask them what sizes they need. I had patterns for some 1' diameter round mats for small dogs and cats that I was planning to make and donate, but when I called, they said they were in need of something approximately 2' square. Easy enough to make exactly what they need, and you know some poor little dog is gonna be able to cuddle up with it right away.

Grocery-Bag Bag

So this is not a specific pattern, but more-or-less a really cool concept. I was reading somewhere on how to turn non-conventional materials into workable "yarn". The easiest materials are obviously fabric or natural based, but the concept of turning old plastic shopping bags into yarn appealed to me. I always have tons of them lying around the house because I refuse to throw them away, but I haven't found many uses for them other than trash bags and the occasional lunch-sack.

So here is how it goes:
Take the plastic grocery bag by the handles and pull the bottom part so that its stretched out long. If you bunch up and grab the entire bottom in one hand this works well. Cut off the bottom of the bag, trying to get high enough that you cut off all the bottom seams. Throw that section away (hey, there had to be some waste). Now move up the bag, cutting off 1"-2" chunks. If you un-wad the chunk it turns out to be a loop of plastic. Work up the bag and stop just below the handles. You can throw the handles away too. Now take the loops and slip-knot them into one another to create a really long strand of slip-knotted plastic loops. That will serve as your "yarn".

Making the bag:
I used an 11.5mm hook, and I don't recommend anything smaller. I started with a ch14 and worked in a spiral upward to build the body of the bag. The stripes resulted because I ran out of bags and had to acquire more from friends. Total I think the project took about 35 bags: 9 for the bottom, 12 for the white stripe, and another 14 or so for the top.

Crochet Lace Mask

The below pattern is my original. Please let me know if there are any errors. Feel free to use it for charity, personal, and theatrical use. Please do not sell for profit.

Yarn: 2-ply lace weight

Hook: 1.5mm

Additional supplies:  
about 12” of 20 gauge wire
pair of needle nose pliers
wire cutters
Needle and matching thread
1” wide ribbon, approximately 2 yards
Small swatch of matching fabric, ribbon, or swatch of crochet made with your yarn.

Abreviations (US):  Sl st = slip stitch; Ch = chain; Sc = single crochet; Dc = double crochet

Trc =  triple crochet

Begin by cutting the length of wire in half. Take each half of the wire and fold in over on itself to make a loop. Twist the loop shut to make an oval approximately 1”x 2”. The twisted end will be the inside corner of the eye of the mask.

Each of the eyes is crocheted separately, however the pattern is the same for both.

Eye Pattern:

Round 1: Sc loosely around the wire, beginning at the inside corner (twisted section) and working around. This took me 65 sc, but depending on your stitch size, you may have to add more to make sure that the wire is completely hidden. Sl st in 1^st sc to join.

Round 2: Ch2. 1dc in each sc for 27 st. *2dc in the next sc, then 1dc in the following sc* Repeat * to * 4 more times. Then finish the round with 1 dc in each sc until you are back at the twist. Ch 2 and sl st in the 2^nd ch of the ch2 that you started with to join.

Round 3: Ch3. 1 trc in each dc of the previous round for 28 st. *2 trc in next st, then 1 trc in each of the following 2 st* Repeat * to * 2 more times. Then 1 trc in each dc of the previous round until you are back at the twist. 6 dc in the ch2 space made during the previous round. Sl st into 3^rd ch of the ch3 that began the round.

Round 4: Ch1. *Skip 2 st, trc in next st, ch3, sc into the trc you just made. (trc, ch3, sc into the trc) in each of the next 5 st. skip 2 st, sc into next st.* From * to * should create an arch with picots on the edge. Repeat from * to * 2 additional times.

2 Completed Eye Pieces

Skip 2 st, trc into next st, ch3, sc into the trc you just made. Now. (trc, ch3, sc into the trc) into the SAME stitch again. In each of the next two st, (trc, ch3, sc into the trc) twice. Skip 2 st and sc into the next st. This creates the same arch, but over 3 st instead of 6.

Repeat the original arch, from * to * above, 3 more times. The last arch will be partly worked over the twist, in the dc st you made in the last round. end with a sl st into the ch 1 that began the round, and fasten off your yarn. 

Once you have made both eyes, use the excess wire to bind the two eye pieces together. Leave enough space for the bridge of your nose. Depending upon the size of your face, this may mean that the lace of the two eyes is touching, overlapping, or even separated completely leaving exposed wire. If they overlap and you are happy with that, go ahead and stitch them down. Otherwise, you can crochet the center medallion pattern below and sew that over the wire at the bridge of the nose.

Center Medallion (not pictured):

Ch10, sl st in 1^st ch to join

Round 1: Ch3, 27 dc into loop

Round 2: Ch4, (dc then ch1) into each dc of the previous round

Round 3: Ch1, into each ch 1 space of the previous round (sl st, ch3, sc)

Outside Edge:

Round 1: Working from the front of the mask, attach your yarn to the third picot from the center top of the nose bridge on the right (the eye that will be over your left eye when its on.)

Ch 12, then sl st into the 3^rd picot on the other side of the nose. *Ch 1 and sl st into the next picot. Ch 12 again, and skip the next 4 picots, then sl st into the 5^th.* Repeat from * to * Instead of ch1 to get to the next picot, ch 16, then sl st into the next picot. Ch 12, skip the next 4 picots, sl st into the 5^th. Again, you with ch 16 and sl st into the next picot. These loops will hold the ribbon when the mask is finished. Repeat from * to * 3 more times until you have made it around back to the center (between the eyes) at the bottom. Ch 1 and then sl st to the other eye, then resume your * to * pattern. After 3 repetitions, ch16 instead of ch 1 between the picots that separate your ch 12 spaces (as you did on the other side). Ch 12, skip 4 picots, sl st in the next. Ch 16 again, sl st in the next picot. Then resume your * to * pattern.

Sl st into the picot that started the round.
(You may have to fudge it a little bit during this round, since everyone's overlap at the nose will be different. If you don't think its going to work out, try a ch 11 skipping only 3 picots)

Round 2: In each ch12 space (3sc, ch3) 5times, then 3sc. Sl st in each ch1 space to move to the next ch 12 space. In the ch 16 spaces that you made as ribbon loops, sc22 times. When you reach the point where you started, fasten off.

Weave in all of your ends, then sew or glue a small scrap of fabric, ribbon, or yarnwork on the inside of the mask to cover any exposed wire near the bridge of the nose.

Cut your 2 yards of ribbon into 4 equal lengths. Each should be sewn onto one of the ch16 loops. Press and starch your lace mask, and try it on! The wire is bendable, so it can be custom molded to fit the wearer.

More Lace

So I have been working to create my own pattern in order to make a lace mask to match the choker I recently tackled. Its a bit of a challenge, seeing as I only started doing lace-work back at the beginning of August. I have to say though, starting with a small project like a bookmark was a good plan. Some of the bookmark patterns on Ravelry are really cute, and even show you how to add a button or clasp to turn them into a bracelet.

I tried looking on ravelry and all over the web to find a crochet pattern for a mask, having seen an AMAZING tatted mask a while back. I don't really want to pick up tatting for the sole purpose of doing an expert pattern, but I am pretty experienced with crochet, and I figured I could handle that. But alas, no (free) patterns to be found.

Anyways, I'm killing my fingertips trying to work and re-work this pattern, and I'm hoping to get about 75% done with it by the end of the day. Hopefully the pattern will work, and the glorious pictures will be posted. I hope.

Drunken Battleship

This post is completely unrelated to the current steampunk projects, but I have had a lot of requests for how to make it.

The finished game is played just like traditional battleship, but with shot glasses or beer cups as the game pieces.

SUPPLIES:
1 Tri-fold display board (35.5"x46", with folds at 11.5" in from the sides)
1 Piece of foam posterboard that is 1/4" - 1/2" thick
2 Pieces of  regular poster board
20 Shot Glasses (up to 4 different colors)
50+ Pushpins (2-4 different colors, minimum 20 of each)
Permanent Marker (or large-scale printer capability)
Glue Stick
Mass Quantities of Alcohol

CONSTRUCTION:
Begin by cutting your tri-fold display board in half, separating top from bottom. Dimensions will now be 46" wide x 17.75"tall.

Cut your foam posterboard to 23" x 17.75" and glue this in between the two pieces of tri-fold board so that they are back-to-back.
Print the image to the right or draw it onto both sections of the tri-fold board.
Take both pieces of regular posterboard, and cut them to a minimum size of 17.75" x 23". It is easiest if you cut them to fit the table you intend to play on, as the game board can be scaled.
Print the Image to the right, or draw it onto both pieces of regular posterboard. You may scale the image, but make sure each square is big enough to place a shot glass into, and that the whole board is no wider than can be hidden by the tri-fold board.
If you can, I recommend laminating or otherwise protecting these individual pieces of posterboard, as this is where the shot glasses will be set, and drunk people tend to spill a little.

TO PLAY:
Set the tri-fold set-up in the middle of a table. With the outside flaps open, it should stand up on its own. Place the laminated pieces of posterboard in front of each side of the tri-fold.
Separate your push pins so that each player has 2 colors, with at least 20 of each color. Push one pin into the "Miss" dot, and one into the "Hit" dot to establish a key for the players.
If you have different colored shot glasses, the best approach is to give each player different colors to represent each ship. (ie: 4 blue, 3 red, 2 green, 1 yellow). There is no need for the colors to match for each player. I bought a multi-color set of plastic shot glasses from the grocery story for $3, and I used 2 sets. We also used 2 shot glasses per player to put the push-pins in.
Have a pitcher on hand filled with a mixed drink for people to fill the shot glasses with, because you won't want to use straight liquor (for long, at least). We also kept paper towels on hand for the inevitable spills.
Players will mark hits and misses by pushing pins into the board between them (hence the foam board in between). And sunken ships are marked by pushing a pin directly into the foam board layer from the top.