Archives

A Wee Bit Irish

SONY DSC Almost Leprechaun time so I just wanted to share again my Shamrock pattern (free) since St. Patrick’s Day will be coming up soon.  This is a really easy pattern and is perfect to adhere a pin back for a cute clothing accessory or attach a small piece of a self-adhesive magnetic strip and you have a fun magnet for your refrigerator, etc. Turning it into a key chain charm with just a few extra chain stitches would be super so you could it hang from a backpack or zippered pouch.  Or just use it as a simple applique and sew it to a pillow, headband, cup cozy, napkin ring whatever you choose. SONY DSCSONY DSC Have fun with this design and I would love to see your pictures too.  Remember that the pattern is my own original design and selling it is not acceptable.  However, I have no problem with you sharing or selling your finished product.  It would be fantastic if you could refer back to this website if you post pictures on-line.  Thanks so much 🙂

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”   

Crochet Hearts

Just sharing some more ideas from my free pattern the “Fun, Little Crochet Heart Applique”.  SONY DSCSONY DSCSONY DSC Showing that changing the yarn type and weight and using a different sized crochet hook gives a whole different look to this pattern.  Actually, changing up your yarn and hook size is a creative way to experiment with patterns to see what happens. SONY DSCSONY DSCSONY DSC For the heart pattern, I added a chain loop and slide on a swivel hook to create a fun key charm.   For the bookmark, I added a chain tail to the heart.  These items were made using a size G hook and cotton yarn but try them out using what you have on hand.  I think a chunky yarn with a size I hook would be another fun look for this heart ~~ add it to a beanie!! Would love to see what you all create using this pattern and how this heart looks using different yarn/thread and hook sizes  🙂

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”

Newborn beanies for donation

Just thought I would take a minute and share some pictures of the newborn and preemie beanies that I have just recently made.  Will be donating these to one of our local hospitals. SONY DSCSONY DSCSONY DSC This is my own crochet pattern working from the bottom up.  Starting with a chainless foundation, then ribbing design and making crown from double crochets.  Nice deep ribbing provides great stretch for all the different head sizes and helps to stay snuggly in place. I have the directions in my head and I will definitely get them to pen and paper or is that keyboard to screen!!  Anyways, these work up very, very fast using a Size F hook for preemie and Size G hook for newborn.  My yarn was a category 3 weight. Enjoy and will share this pattern soon 🙂 SONY DSC

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”

Snowflake After Blocking

SONY DSC SONY DSC SONY DSC Here are a few different pictures of the same snowflake that I blogged about yesterday after completing the blocking process.  The first two pictures are showing it hanging from my shelf with just an ordinary paper clip.  But this nice thread and blocking procedure keeps it from needing any type of stiffening agent. As you can see all the little snowflake arms keep their shape perfectly.  The picture on the black fabric is laying flat.  This size would make a cool coaster or mug rug for that warm cup of tea during the winter months!! Now you can be creative and add some pretty, tiny pearl beads as accents.  Use a transparent/nylon beading thread and hang several from your windows or add to your Christmas tree as an ornament or an awesome gift tag.   Would make a lovely applique for a pillow or on the front of a little girl’s jumper.  The possibilities are endless. I am going to make several more ~~ maybe a winter garland to decorate my mantel.  Have fun with your snowflakes and would love to see a “snow and  tell”!!      🙂

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”  

Blocking Crochet Snowflake

Goodness gracious I just can’t believe this is Christmas week!!  I know everyone’s  crafty fingers and hands are “busy little beavers” trying to complete those projects, wrap presents, bake cookies, mail notes and cards, finish shopping, and thinking about squeezing in one more handmade item.  🙂 If you do have the time to create one more gift giving item or something special for yourself, I think I have an answer for you.  Check out this link for a very lovely crocheted snowflake pattern if you haven’t come across it before: http://bobbilewin.com/?s=crochet+snowflake It works up in a couple of hours.  I basically followed her pattern but I did make one change and that was the 3 picots at the end of round 4 ~~ I alternated with a picot cluster ~~ I made the 3 picots, then the 3 stem snowflake arm, then a PICOT CLUSTER,  then the snowflake arm, then 3 picots, all the way around.  So I have (3) sets of picots and (3) sets of picot clusters between my snowflake picot cluster arms or branches. I used a size 4 (2.00 mm) metal hook and Aunt Lydia’s Fashion 3 100% mercerized cotton crochet thread ~~ making my snowflake finished size to be approximately 4 1/2″ across.   Just purchased 100% Egyptian cotton thread from Handy Hands and really looking forward to working with it too. Thought this snowflake would be an ideal item to show you how I block my finished cotton pieces. This picture shows the completed snowflake right off my hook. SONY DSC Since it is small, I just blocked it on my ironing board using a folded thick beach towel on the bottom, layered with 2 cotton napkins and a hand towel between the napkins.  Thickness for my pins and to help with the drying process. SONY DSC  SONY DSC SONY DSC I use RUST PROOF stainless steel pins and very thoroughly soak my item with my spray bottle of water.  I do not wring or twist or pat dry.  I just laid the snowflake on top of my fabric pallet and started shaping the picots with my pin points and began pinning in place.  I just about put a pin each picot and picot cluster so that the snowflake will really have definition once dried.  I don’t think I will have to use any type of stiffening agent either.  Will know better once totally dried. The drying process should only take about one day ~~ possibly only 4 or 5 hours.  Will share a picture with you once dried so you can see the finished product.   🙂 I think this snowflake will be perfect as a gift tag, ornament for your tree or I vision several hanging at different lengths from my bird watching window.  I might even try size 10 and size 20 thread with a 6 or 8 hook to create different sized snowflakes too.   And the best part is that I can enjoy them all winter and they won’t melt!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”