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Simple Crochet Napkin Ring

Nov2

Here’s an easy pattern for a crochet napkin ring which gives you lots of creative options to make it match your decor or crochet this design in holiday colors.

Stitches used:

CH – chain

SC – single crochet

HDC – half double crochet

SL – slip stitch

Any type of yarn will work for this pattern.  My sample I used a 4 ply cotton yarn for napkin ring body and a size 10 thread for the edges.  I crochet body using a size G hook and the edging I used a size C.

Begin by doing 20 CH stitches.  Join with a SL stitch to form a ring  making sure your chain doesn’t twist.

Rnd 1:  CH 2.  Make 19 HDC in each chain stitch,  join round by making a SL into top of beginning CH 2.

Rnd 2:  CH 2, turn.  Make 19 HDC, join round by making a SL into top of beginning CH 2.

Rnd 3, 4, and 5:  Make exactly like Rnd 2.

Fasten off and weave your ends into your work.

Wow, you have a wonderful napkin ring just the way it is but the fun really begins now because you can do so much to personalize your project.  You could simply tie on a unique button with some thin satin ribbon centered in the middle of your HDC.  Or maybe you would like to add a small crochet rose or a different kind of flower design, or heart, or  star.  Making a design using sequins and beads is another creative option to give your napkin ring the personality that you are looking for.  The ideas are endless.

Using a smaller ply yarn for your accents will give you some nice depth or texture to your finished project.  For the holidays, think about using a bamboo thread that has some sparkle to it.

In my sample, I just edged the napkin ring in some red and green size 10 thread.    I began by making a SC into any of the HDC stitches.  Then I chained 3, made another SC in that same stitch,  CH 3.  Made a SC in the next stitch, CH 3, made a second SC in that same stitch, CH 3.  I continued in this fashion until I reached the end of the full round of the napkin ring then I fastened off.  Did the same stitches on the other side of the napkin ring using the other color.

If you would like a more sleek look, just do a SC in each HDC around the ring and fasten off.  I suggest using a size 3 or 4 ply yarn for that look.

This is also a simple project that a young person could easily crochet and make as a gift for someone special.  Crochet using a variety of different colors – shades of brown, green, yellow, orange, red – would look beautiful for a Thanksgiving table.

  • TIP:  When adding yarn for your edging, I like to make my starting place at the point where I joined each round.

HAPPY CREATING!!

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Trick or Treat Pumpkin Applique

Oct8

HAPPY

HALLOWEEN!!

I know Halloween is really just around the corner but I thought I would share these applique designs with you.  Here are fun pumpkin faces that can be created and appliqued to the front and back of a sweatshirt or a tote bag used to collect all those goodies for that special spooky night!!   This would be great to showcase on two cute Halloween pillows  for your home decor too.

Felt works great for this applique  –  doesn’t fray and is easy to sew onto your project  –  or whatever scraps you may have in your fabric stash.  Refer to the pictures shown here to design your applique or “be creative” and make a different pumpkin face using circles or squares for the facial features.  I made bubble type letters but you could use square-shaped letters if you decide to applique words.

My design is approximately 10  1/2″ wide by 11  1/2″ in length and my letters are about 2  1/4″ square.  You can make your pumpkin face whatever size you need to fit your specific project.  If you don’t want the words “trick or treat”, you don’t have to use them or maybe you want your applique to say “Happy Halloween”.   Have fun with this design and make it your own!!

My applique design was created using orange felt for pumpkin, black felt for facial features, green felt for stem and gold felt for letters.  Sketched my pumpkin onto tracing paper so I could see how it would fit onto my project material, which was a black tote bag that I made.  Then I drew the facial features to fit the size of my pumpkin.   Using the tracing paper as my pattern, I cut out my shapes from the appropriate colored felt.   I appliqued the pumpkin onto a black twill fabric, first, using a small satin stitch.  Then I appliqued the facial features, did the stem and finally the letters.  Added satin stitches to give the pumpkin some dimension. Here’s a link to how I use wonder under to prepare my pieces. https://stitch4ever.com/2012/06/05/attaching-fusible-adhesive-to-your-applique/

I hope you enjoy all the possibilities with this design and can make it work for your own Halloween projects.

HAPPY CREATING!!

  • TIP – Print out coloring pages for pumpkin designs or use coloring books to help with your patternshapes.
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Crochet Designing Tips – Working in the Round

Jul9

When designing a crochet project that will end up being a circle or needing a round bottom (“working in the round”), there are a few simple guidelines to follow so you don’t end up with a wavy coaster or a little bowl!!

Remember, when working in the round, you must increase  on each round so that your circle will lie flat.  If you increase too many times, you end up with a ruffled look and if you don’t increase enough, your circle curls in on itself  looking like a bowl.  The wonderful crochet world has developed a “simple” guideline to help you keep your increases in proportion with the growing diameter of your circle.

The suggested beginning circle for a SC (single crochet) design would be 6 stitches.  The beginning circle for a HDC (half double crochet) would be 8 stitches, for a DC (double crochet) begin with 12 stitches, and for a TR (treble crochet) it is best to begin with 18 stitches.

Once you have crocheted your beginning circle and joined with a SL (slip) stitch, place a marker so you know that is the start of your round.  Now for the next increase round, you will work two stitches of your choice into every stitch that forms your circle.

Again, join with a SL stitch, move your marker and get ready for your third round.  For this round, you will increase by working two stitches into every other stitch.

Repeat with your SL stitch, replace your starting point marker and begin your fourth round increases by working two stitches into every third stitch.    Your fifth round increases would be working two stitches into every fourth stitch.  Continue increasing in this pattern until your circle is as large and round as you want it to be.

By staggering your increases in the above fashion, the diameter of your circle will grow evenly and have a nice finished look.

Experiment with various types of yarns and different sized hooks to achieve a wide variety of crocheted circles.

Just imagine all the fun ways to use your circles — add them to clothing, make unique jewelry, update an old pillow or sweater or just use them alone as a wonderful coaster for that special cup of tea or coffee!!

  • TIP:  Crochet 4 CH (chain stitches), join with a SL stitch and within that circle begin your SC  –  6 CH for HDC  –  10 CH for DC  –  12 CH for TR.

HAPPY CREATING!!

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Adding a Crocheted Edging

Jun25

Crocheted edgings are another way you can personalize an article of clothing or update a home decor item.  You can just about take any stitch pattern you like and use it as an edging for whatever strikes your fancy.

The most important part of doing an edging is making sure that your stitch placement guides/holes are even.  There are several different types of tools available to make  those holes for you so that they are spaced evenly to give a wonderful finished look.  Check out the edgerydoo which looks like it does an excellent job of making small holes for you to crochet an edging along a blanket, etc.  Also, the blogspot called  At Home in English Valley used a Skip Stitch Rotary Blade to create small holes in a flour sack tea towel for crocheting a nice edge.

Another thing that I like to do as a foundation to crochet an edging on to is the lazy daisy or detached chain embroidery stitch.  This doesn’t require making any holes and you can embroider the stitch along the edge of almost anything.

Making the lazy daisy embroidery stitch

 

How the embroidery stitches look along the edge

NOTE:  I am left-handed so embroidery stitches are started from the opposite end of fabric from a right-handed person.  However, I crochet right-handed so the single crochet stitches are going in the other direction!!  That’s what happens when you are the only left-handed person in your household growing up.  No one could teach me how to crochet left-handed!! 

An important factor to keep in mind whether you are making holes for stitches or using an embroidery stitch for the foundation, is to plan for your stitch multiplier.  A stitch multiple is the number of stitches needed to crochet a complete stitch pattern.  Example:  if your edging pattern calls for a multiple of 3, you need to insure that your foundation row can be divided by 3 evenly.  Plus you will need to have one more hole or embroidery stitch for turning or corners if needed.

After you have your foundation row set up, I like to go around my entire foundation row crocheting a single crochet in all my stitches or holes (at this time, you can insure you have the correct number of SC for your pattern, increase in a stitch if you need to).  By doing this, you have a nice base to work from.  After completing your row of SC, then you are ready to begin the edging design you have chosen.

How it looks after completing a row of single crochet

Once you start crocheting edgings onto your projects, your hook will have a mind of its own!!!

  • TIP: If you are doing the lazy daisy embroidery stitch, use the same color crochet thread for the foundation row so that everything blends together.

HAPPY CREATING!!

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