With a big crochet hook, thick woolly yarn and about 20 minutes of your time, create a silent, charming assistant to protect your inner sanctum or someone else’s. It’s a nice last minute gift for someone who needs it.

The scrapbooking sections of craft stores have fun alphabet brads that you can use to create an instant message. Make more than one bearing different messages: one skein of the recommended yarn yields 2 or 3 Doorknob Butlers.

The best messages for this project are short and sweet (texting and email abbreviations can help). Besides “Nap Time” or “Sleepy Baby” seen here, some other possibilities are “Me Time” or “Spa Time” for harried moms; “Pls Knock” or “Stay Out” especially for teens; “Baby Zzz” or “No Waky” for a nursery. For a home office, maybe “At Work,” “Office Time,” “On the Clock,” “On Phone,” “Busy Bee,” even “Love You” when family feels neglected.

After using this pattern you will know (if you didn’t already):

• How to crochet around an elastic ring
• How to quickly turn a circle into a square or rectangle
• A way to create an offset opening within a crocheted rectangle
• A great use for alphabet brads

The pattern is written for newer pattern readers, so only a limited amount of pattern abbreviations are used.

Other Supplies Needed

• 1 ponytail elastic
• Alphabet brads