Crochet Pattern: Grandma Rupp's Drawstring Ditty Bag For Little Girls

My Dad's mother, Luella Rupp, born in Louisiana, moved to Los Angeles and died here at the age of 89, was a craftsy gal.  She did everything from making felt lady bug refrigerator magnets, parrot earrings out of tiny little colored shells, to crocheting rope necklaces and button bracelets with tiny beads and antique buttons.  She also crocheted other things, like this cute little drawstring bag that she gave me when I was verrrry young, about 5 years old.  That makes this little bag almost 50 years old.  Wow.  It's pre-antique.  Holy crap!  That makes ME, well, never mind!!!! 
Please note pattern correction, make 12 motifs, not 20.
Thank you Kathy.

This little bag is simple enough for any beginner to make so here ya go, the pattern below:

Start with worsted weight (4) of white (or any color for main color A) and an F hook:

BOTTOM:
ch 5, join to first ch with a slip stitch to form ring
Round 1: ch 3 (does not count as a dc) Make 10 dc inside ring, ch 3,
Round 2:  2 dc in each dc around, (20 dc) until you reach ch 3, then ch 3,
Round 3: (2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next) around until you reach the ch 3, then ch 3,
Round 4: (2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 2 dc) around until you reach the ch 3, then ch 3,
Round 5: (2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc) around until you reach the ch 3 and then join to top of ch 3 with a sl st.  Finish off, weave in ends.


MOTIFS FOR BODY:
(make 12)  <----note been="" br="" corrected="" has="" nbsp="" this="">

With color of your choice as long as it's a worsted weight (4) for "flower middle", and using "F" hook,
ch 5, join with sl st to form ring,
Round 1: (working inside ring:)  ch 3 (counts as first dc) 2dc, (ch 3, 3dc ) three times, ch 3, join to top of beg ch 3 with sl st.  Fasten off, weave in ends.

Attach green worsted weight (4) with sl st in any ch 3 space for "leaves" and still using "F" hook,
((ch 3 (counts as dc) 2dc, ch 3, 3dc )) all in same ch 3 space, ch 1,  **(3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) all in next ch 3 sp, ch 1,  repeat from **two more times.  attach to top of beg ch 3 with sl st.  Fasten off, weave in ends.

Attach Main color A (white) in a corner ch 3 space with a sl st:
ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2dc, ch 3, 3dc all in same ch 3 space.  ch 1, ** 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, (3dc, ch 3, 3dc) all in same ch 3 space (corner), ch 1;  repeat from ** around, 3 dc in last ch 1 sp, ch 1, join to top of beg ch 3 with sl st.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

JOIN MOTIFS

Lay motifs in two rows of six.  Join motifs using main color, yarn needle, with whip stitch.  Using whip stitch, join motifs at ends to form a cynlinder.  Join bottom of bag to bottom row of motifs using whip stitch.
Weave in ends.

RUFFLE TOP

Join main color (white) to any stitch at top of bag.  Ch 3, 2 dc in same stitch, **dc in next 2 stitches, 3 dc in next stitch; repeat from ** around, join to top of beg ch 3 with sl st.  Fasten off, weave in ends.

DRAWSTRING

Using chain stitch, make two lengths of drawstring measuring 2 feet each.  Weave chained drawstring into top of bag with your hook or a large safety pin.  Tie ends of first drawstring together about three inches from ends and fray the ends to make a tassle effect. 
Do the same with the second drawstring so that when you pull on each drawstring, the bag gathers up and closes.

All done!  Isn't that just the cutest little ditty bag you've ever seen?  I have cherished mine through the years, having gotten it from Grandma Rupp when I was so young.  I used to carry it to church with me as a child.  Now I am going to pass it down to my grand daughter who is just the right age to have one of these.  It's a pretty little bag that can be passed down generation to generation that doesn't take a long time to put together.

Crochet Pattern: Beaded Scallop Earrings

Here's a free crochet pattern for my beaded scallop earrings.  It's been a while since I've made jewelry with thread and beads, this pattern is very easy and satisfying.  You can whip up a pair of these earrings in an hour or less!  I've gotten lots of compliments on them, I'm sure you will too.  They'd also make a great gift for a special friend, just because.

Beaded Scallop Earrings

by Cynthia J Luciene copyright April 2012
You may share this pattern freely using the link to this post, and you may sell anything you make using this pattern.  You may not, however, sell this pattern in any way or form.  Thank you for respecting the copyright and for giving credit where credit is due.

Materials:

Remnant of crochet thread size 10; two yards per earring should be plenty

7 small crystals or beads, 

1 larger bead or crystal (see photos)

1 pair of hoop earrings, approximately 1 1/8" in diameter

Size 6 steel crochet hook

Instructions 

(Note: for help "casting" onto hoop earring with a sc, please see tutorial HERE.  There is a photo tutorial at the bottom of the post at that link).

Before beginning, thread beads or crystals onto size 10 crochet thread in the following order, for each earring:

5 small, 1 large, 2 small  repeat this order for the second earring.  Now you have a total of 16 beads or crystals strung onto thread.

Begin: "Cast onto" hoop beginning with a slip stitch.  (see the tutorial mentioned in Note: above)

Row 1:  12 sc onto hoop;

Row 2: ch 1 turn, working into front loops only, sl st into first sc, Beaded HDC in next, sl st in next, HDC in next, dc, in next (beaded TRC, beaded picot, beaded TRC) all in next st, dc in next, HDC in next, sl st in next, beaded HDC in next, slip stitch in rem st.

Row 3: TURN, ch 3, beaded ch, ch 3, sc into next dc (just before beaded trc), ch 6, beaded ch, ch 6, sc into next dc (just after second beaded trc), ch 3, beaded ch, ch 3, sl st into last st of row 2.

Row 4: ch 1, turn; 4sc, ch 3 past bead, 4 sc on other side of bead (all in the ch 3-beaded ch-ch3 loop); in next ch sp: 2 sc, picot, 5 sc before next bead, ch 3 over bead, 5 sc, picot, 2 sc in ch sp after bead; 4 sc in ch sp before next bead, ch 3 over bead, 4 sc in ch sp after bead.  Join to Row 3 with sl st.

Fasten off weave in ends, repeat for second earring NOTE when making second earring, hold hoop in opposite direction you held your hoop the first time so you'll have one earring for each ear and not two right earrings two lefties - OR you can just pop the crystals or beads through to the other side, it's real easy to do that.

...On my jewelry tree, they fit right in.  ;-)


 Note:  My laptop got dropped ;-( and the screen broke so I'm not able to make a PDF file for this pattern as yet.  I ordered a laptop this morning and ought to be getting it very soon in which case I'll make a PDF file for easy printing, without all the gobbly-goop photos to soak up your printer ink.  ;-) 

Crochet Update: Mandala Throw: Finished!

For the past couple of weeks I've been working on the Blue Mandala Throw by Sharon Mullett Bowlsby as found in Crochet World magazine June 2011 issue.  (The link will open in a new window and is the link that will allow you to purchase the back issue of Crochet World magazine for $5.99).  The issue has many wonderful patterns in it so the purchase price of $5.99 is well worth the price and the link has a PDF download option so you can get your issue immediately upon purchase which I find not only convenient but necessary!  I just hate having to wait for something to come in the mail, don't you?  lol

Here's a photo of what the pattern's throw looks like:

I enjoyed working this pattern because I didn't have to keep referring back to the pattern for each round - once the initial round was done I could do the following rounds in the set on my own until the next set of rounds came due, so rounds 5-25 were done on my own (without the pattern in my hand!) and then rounds 28-50 the same way, without the pattern right in front of me.  It made the project go along real easily and also easy to carry around with me wherever I went with it.  Being a throw, not as big as an afghan, made it okay to bring along as well.

Here's some shots of my project from beginning to end.  I used Premier Everyday Soft Worsted for mine because of it's anti-piling, softness, and beautiful color combinations.  My little Chihuahua Baby wouldn't get off the throw for me to take photos so he's in some of them, the little stinker.  lol.

Why this is sideways I have no freaking clue!  lol

  

 

This color yarn is called Mint Chocolate Chip, YUM!  It's got lovely pink, brown, and greens in it.

Moving right along, rounds 5-25 coming along nicely.  It started to bunch up though, like there were too many stitches in the rounds but it all worked out nicely in the end so if you work the pattern just keep on keeping on in spite of the bunching.  You'll like the results in the end.

Just beginning rounds 28-50 now, the bunching has started to "mellow out" and the star is coming together.  I love the way this ombre yarn colors are patterned out in this project.  Seeing it in person really is best though, the camera (the camera operator!) doesn't do it justice. 

Just a bird's eye view of the same stage in the pattern as the one above...

Finally, my finished Mandala throw!  I love it, and can't wait to give it to my sister tomorrow.  Green is her favorite color and this has plenty of green in it as well as my favorite color, pink, in a subtle way as if to say we are always together.

The border was a bit tricky at first but after I figured it out and corrected a few mistakes in the written pattern, I didn't have any trouble with it.  It's an unusual border that I would like to add to another afghan or even washcloth of my  own someday.  For pattern correction, please see my notes on Ravelry.com for this project.  (link will take you to my project page on Ravelry)

Well, that's it!  What do you think?  It's the first afghan/throw that didn't take me more than a year to finish!  lol.  (Note my son's afghan took me 12 years to finish!!! lol)

Okaaaaayyy!!! One more photo of my throw and my ham bone puppy dog!  Ha ha ha.  Couldn't help myself.

Crochet Motifs: Putting It All Together

If a man empties his purse into his head no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

Benjamin Franklin US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

I've always wanted to crochet a top or skirt or handbag using motifs so I picked a motif pattern from a Japanese book I have called 300 crochet motif, edging.  I thought "This is going to be fun and easy and is going to look gorgeous."   An investment in knowledge would have been the better way to go, but not me.  I think I know what I'm doing.  Ha.

Let me tell you, it's not as easy as it looks!  Making the motifs was easy enough and went along quickly.  As soon as I had enough - or what I thought was enough - motifs to make a handbag with, I started sewing them together. 

This is what I ended up with because I didn't have a good plan in mind to begin with....

I mean, YIKES!  So I went on a search on the internet to see if I could find a pattern for putting all these together without having to ruin what I've already started....

I found several patterns that would accommodate what I already had laid out and sewn together...

This one looks very similar to what I had going so I'm working on following the lay out that was pictured on this blog:
Stitch And Chat. 

I've learned a lesson by all this, that I can't just crochet and expect everything to turn out easily.  I have to have a plan in mind besides just picturing something in my head.  I think in the future I'll make paper motifs and put them together first, making a pattern outline for my crocheted motifs.  Taking out the stitching after motifs were already sewn together was very difficult and nerve wracking.  I was fearful I would cut the wrong thread of yarn and ruin a motif or two.  A few times I pulled on the wrong loop when trying to take out a stitch and had to work the yarn back into the motif so it wouldn't hang like a dead leaf about to fall off a tree. 

I'm going to finish this bag, even if it kills me and it might do just that.  lol.  It's been a headache but once I'm done with this one I'll be able to make the next one (for my daughter) in no time at all.  I found crocheting the motifs was fun and easy and went along very quickly.  I'm really looking forward to the next motif bag because I know what I need to do now.  **take the time to check a pattern before just sewing motifs together and hoping I'm doing it right**  duh.

Will post the finished product as soon as I'm done (which at this rate could be in a year or so!  lol)

Crochet Tutorial: Seed Stitch

In an earlier post I mentioned the Soft Seed Stitch Scarf and Hat pattern and thought I would post a quick photo tutorial for the seed stitch for you.


After working a round of making stitches in the BLO (back loop only) of previous row :


sc in first st, dc in unused loop of next stitch:

 This photo shows how the unused loop of the stitch from the previous row lines up with the stitch above which you leave unworked.  You only work the dc into the bottom loop as shown below (hopefully)

Red arrows indicate where a dc is worked.  An "X" is where you do not work a stitch.  The white arrows show where the sc is worked.  Hopefully this helps.  Here's a few more photos that may help you see how it's supposed to look and one showing the dc pulled forward to skip a stitch and sc in the next..  (You skip the stitch that the dc would have been made in if you were working in  that same row.)

Above the photo shows end of hook pointing to the unused loop of stitch of previous row (between two dcs) - the loop where the dc will be worked. 

Photo above shows the dc just worked pulled forward (at the asterisk), exposing the stitch that you will skip and working the sc in the next stitch.

I hope this helps and does not confuse!

Good luck and have fun!

Crochet Pattern: Favorite Beanie For A Lady

Of all the hats I've made I think I like this one the best.  It's fast and easy to make if you already know how to do the cross stitch.  If you don't know how to make a cross stitch there are several video tutorials on Youtube but you ought to be able to figure it out from the written directions below.

If you haven't already guessed, the cross stitch is one of my favorite stitches to add a lacy, textured effect to my projects.  It works well with ombre and solid yarn colors, and can be substituted for other stitches in almost any pattern you might be following.

For this beanie I used the cross stitch to give it a more lacy, lady-like effect and it looks marvelous on.  It can be worn as most beanies are,

or the bottom can be turned up to make a cuff so more of your hair shows and giving the beanie an entirely different look.

Good Beanie, Bad Photography, Really Bad Hair

Pattern For Favorite Beanie:
(Note:  beg ch 3 of each round counts as a dc)

Using an H hook and worsted weight yarn (I use Painted by Red Heart - it's a pleasantly soft yarn in beautiful colors that my photographs do not do justice)

ch 5, join with sl st to fifth ch from hook to form ring
Round 1:  ch 3, 11 dc inside ring, join w/ sl st to top of beg ch 3 (12 dc)
Round 2: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in each st around, join to top of beg ch 3 with sl st (24 dc)
Round 3: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st) repeat ( ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 with sl st (36 dc)
Round 4: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 2 st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 2 st); repeat ( ) around, join with sl st to top of beg ch 3 (48 dc)
Round 5: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 3 st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 3 st) repeat ( ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 w/ sl st (60 dc)
Round 6: ch 3, dc in same st as joining, dc in next 4 st, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 4 st) repeat ( ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 w/ sl st (72 dc)
Round 7 - 10: ch 3, (dc in next st ) around, join to top of beg ch 3 w/ sl st (72 dc)
Round 11:  ch 3, (skip 2 st, tr in next, ch 1, tr in first skipped st)  repeat around, skipping last st and sl st into top of beg ch 3 to join.
Round 12: ch 3, dc in each tr and ch 1 sp around, sl st into top of beg ch 3 to join.
Round 13-16: repeat rounds 11-12 respectively

Round 17-18: ch 1, sc in each st around, join to first sc with sl st
Fasten off, weave in ends, enjoy!

Cross Stitch Up Close

When making the cross stitch, hold the stitches on the hook together as you're yo and drawing through, that way your stitches won't become super elongated when back tracking to the previous skipped stitches (the cross over stitch that makes the X).  Also, be careful about which tutorial videos you watch for this stitch.  Here's one that is for a dc cross stitch but it's done correctly with the same idea in mind.  With a dc cross stitch you use a dc instead of a tr and skip 1 stitch rather than 2.  I prefer the tr cross stitch, it's a much more dramatic effect and being the drama queen that I am, well, you get the idea.  heh, heh.

Crochet News: Hats Off To Christmas

...or should I say "Hats On To Christmas"?  I've been doing a lot of sitting in our dear doctor's office waiting with my son and my daughter (each having malfunctions of their very own), and while sitting for a few hours waiting to see our beloved doctor, I crochet to keep myself from going nutso. 

I purchased a big backpack-type bag at a thrift store for a few bucks and it works perfectly to carry all my stuff for crocheting in.  (Only problem is, a lot of stores won't let a person carry in a backpack to their store while shopping and want me to leave it at a register while I shop.  Yea, R-I-G-H-T!  So for shopping, the pretend Prada backpack-type bag stays home but for a doctor's office visit and trips to  friends' houses, perfect.)

Hats are in.  If they aren't, they will be by the time I get through with Christmas this year.  They are easy and fast to make and there are so many ways to make each one special for the person who'll be receiving it as a gift this year.  Last year it was Fat  Bottom Bags which everyone loved but since I line them and shop for just the right embellishment for them, they take up quite a bit of time for each bag to be completed.  The hats are more practical because of the small amount of time they take to make and since everyone is getting a homemade gift this year, that time is very important.  There's not that many days left before Christmas!  I figure a hat takes only a couple hours of non-stop work, including the flower embellishments.

Here's another hat I've been working on.  I've gotten many compliments on it which surprises me because I usually don't go out of the mainstream solid color for hats.  I don't like attracting attention to myself and stick to black or grey.  Just wearing a hat is going outside my box so a hat that is multi-colored and adorned with flowers is really going hog wild in my world.  heh, heh.  Seriously.

 The only problem I had with this hat is that the yarn is too soft and the sides rolled up instead of staying put.  It's okay apparently, like I said I got a lot of compliments on it.  I lucked out with the thread for the flowers matching the colors in the hat.  That was not planned, believe me.  I am a lame-o when it comes to matching or blending colors.

I think this is hat number ten.  But who is counting?  I'd better start counting or I may come up short for Christmas!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Crochet Pattern: Easy Elegant Hat Band

"A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armor, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothing and wearing a costume; it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat." (Martha Sliter)

I made another hat using this free pattern found on the Coats and Clark website: Decorated Crochet Hat & Scarf Project #WR1065 the pattern is a free PDF download direct from their site and suitable for crocheters of all skill levels.

I'm always looking for something to make my projects unusual and fancy as well as feminine and I think this hat band fulfills those requirements just fine.  I added the beads (purchased at Walmart, I'm pretty sure) after the band was sewn on the hat but the beads aren't necessary because the band dresses up the hat nicely on it's own, especially if you add a crocheted flower or three.  ;-)

 I started by measuring the circumference of the hat where you want the band to lay and start chaining your thread (I used a size three thread and an 11 steel hook) ending up with a chain that is in multiples of 6 plus 1 ch for turning.  (The stitch patten requires 6 stitches).  It's better to have the band be a bit too long than too short and make your hat bunch up.  You can always overlap the band where it meets, if necessary.  You'll end up making over 220 chains to begin, depending on the circumference of your hat.

For Row 1:  sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn
Row 2:  ch 3, **skip 2 sc, (dc, ch 5, dc) all in next sc, sk  2 sc, sc in next, repeat from ** across, turn
Row 3: ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 5, dc in fifth ch from hook, sc in next ch 5 loop, ** (dc, ch 5, dc) all in next sc, sc in next ch 5 loop, repeat across. After working sc in last ch 5 loop at end, work (dc, ch 2, dc) all in last sc of row 2. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Easy peasy?  Yes.  Just a bit time consuming at first but once you get past row one it goes along quickly and it ends up looking like you spent days on it.  ;-)

Crochet Pattern: Hat Junk

 "I myself have 12 hats, and each one represents a different personality." Margaret Atwood

Here's a hat I crochet, and patterns for the "junk" I added to it.  I wrote the patterns after I made the "junk" so if there's anything wrong with the patterns let me know but they're simple enough that you could probably do them on your own but just in case, or to give you ideas to make your very own "junk", here's my patterns...

For starters I crocheted the hat for which the pattern can be found for free PDF download from the Coats & Clark website HERE as t.v. project #WR1065.
  The hat is fun and easy to make, takes no time at all.  They go great with Fat Bottom Bags, by the way, in case you were thinking of Christmas gifts for someone special...  I gave a few sets of hats and bags away last year for Christmas and everyone said they really loved them a lot.  ;-)

Patterns For Hat Junk:


1.  (Can't remember where I learned this pattern a long time ago, will post credits as soon as I figure it out.  Posting from memory, as I crochet it from memory.)


This is for the swirly leafy thingies on either side of the rest of the hat junk:


With size 10 thread and size 11 steel crochet hook, ch 28.  sc in second chain from hook and in each ch across to last ten chains, then 2 sc in every other ch to end.
Row 2: ch 4, (skip 1 sc, dc in next) across (work will have bend in the end you increased sc's)
Row 3: ch 1, (sc in next dc,  3dc in ch 1 sp, sc in next dc) across end with sc in last dc .  Fasten off, weave in ends but don't trim  - use them to sew onto hat.


2.  White Flower: ch 6, join to first ch with sl st.  ch 4, (dc, ch 1) X 11 inside ring, join to third ch of beg ch with sl st.  Round 2: ch 1, (sc, dc, sc) all in next ch 1 sp around, join to  first sc with sl st.  Round 3: ch 2, sc in BACK of first petal made (in Round 2) using two dc posts, ch 3, **sc in back posts of next dc (in next group), ch 3, repeat from ** around, ending with sl st into first sc made.  Round 4: sl st into first ch 3 sp, ch 1, **(sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc) all in same ch 3 sp, repeat from ** around end with sl st in first sc made to join.  Fasten off, weave in ends.  Don't trim off center tail (beginning thread) so you can use it to sew flower onto hat.

That's it for now, I can't seem to bring myself to write anymore patterns right now, these were written before my mother passed away.  Another one I had written is for a hat band, posted following this post.  Thank you for your understanding, support, and encouragement in this very difficult time for me. 

cyndi

Crochet News: Flowery Snowflake For Mom; Free Pattern

Here's my first snowflake pattern, I made this for Mom with flowers, she loves flowers so much.  (And she's learning to love snowflakes, thank goodness!  ha ha)

Flowery Snowflake To Crochet
by Cynthia Luciene copyright October 2011


You may share the pattern but you may not sell it.  You may, however sell anything you make from this pattern.


Materials:  Size 11 steel crochet hook, size 10 (bedspread weight) cotton crochet thread


Instructions: ch 10, join with sl st to form ring
Round 1: ch 5 (counts as 1 dc plus 2 ch).  *dc inside ring, ch 2; repeat 10 times more, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 5.
Round 2: sl st into next ch 2 space, ch 1, *sc, ch 1, sc in same ch 2 space; repeat from * 11 more times, join to first sc with sl st.
Round 3: sl st into first ch 1 space, ch 12, * tr in next ch 1 sp, ch 7; repeat from * around to last tr then instead of ch 7: ch 3, tr into 4th ch of beg ch 12.
Round 4: ch 11 (counts as 1 tr + ch 7) ** all between () in next loop: (3 sc, ch 7, sl st into 6th ch from hook, *ch 5, sl st into same 6th ch; repeat from * three times = four petals made, ch 1, 3 sc ), ch 7, tr in next loop, ch 7; repeat from ** around until last sc worked and then instead of last ch 7: ch 3, tr into 4th ch of beg ch 11 to join.
Round 5: ch 9, sl st in 3rd ch from hook,
** ch 9 sl st in 8th ch from hook, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 11, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 8, sl st in 7th ch from hook, ch 6, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 8, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 9, sl st in 8th ch from hook, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, tr in next loop,
ch 16, sl st in 4th ch from hook, ch 7 sl st in 4th ch, ch 4, sl st in same 4th ch,
ch 12, tr in next loop, ch 5 sl st in 3rd ch from hook; repeat from ** around until last ch 12 then instead of tr in next loop, sl st into 4th ch of beg ch 9 instead. 
Fasten off, weave in ends.


Soak in liquid fabric starch diluted with water 50 %.  Squeeze out excess water, lay snowflake flat on dry bath towel and roll up tight to squeeze out even more moisture.  
Place waxed paper on top of box top.
Using rust proof pins, carefully pin the outer points of snowflake to the furthest positions they will go without disfiguring them.  I liked to make every other one roundish, the others pointy for variety (see photo).  
Allow starch to dry completely before hanging.
Store in tissue rather than plastic baggies so your snowflake won't mold.
I use a piece of fishing line for hanging on the tree, sometimes I add a red ribbon to the top of the fishing line.  For hanging in a window and when I can't find my fishing line (MIKE!) I just hang it with those suction cup thingys you can get real cheaply this time of year at the Home Depot or Joanne's.  
Beads and crystals can be added if they aren't too heavy.  I would keep heavier crystals toward the center of the snowflake where it's stronger and use seed beads toward the perimeter of the snowflake so the points won't droop when it's hung on the tree.

Have fun!  

Crochet News: Working A Cross Stitch Pattern Into Your Granny Square

I guess I was extra bored with making squares to enlarge my boyfriend's afghan (which will never be large enough for him!) and I got off on a creative tangent.  I presented myself with a challenge and for once I ended up with something I am proud of.


Today I pulled out my dog-eared copy of Leisure Arts little books #75009, Beginner's Guide Crochet Stitches and Easy Projects. 

I love this book when I want to refer to an old school stitch pattern.  The cross stitch is my favorite, and having a half-worked square made for my boyfriend's afghan that I didn't really feel like finishing, I wondered if I could incorporate my favorite stitch into this square that was burning the palm of my hand and seemingly making my hook shiver at the very idea of hooking another stitch for it.


I assured my palms and hook we'd not finish the square as usual but try something new and different and, well, a bit wild (for us, anyway) and we'd forget the afghan for now.  The other two of us cheered and danced about while I reviewed the cross stitch instructions to be sure it would work with the number of stitches on each side of the square I had started.  One side proved to be in a multiple of three stitches so I went for it, not caring if the others would be in threes or not.  I would make it work or die.  I simply could not make another afghan square right now, and that was final.


Here's the result of our experiment, the three of us (my palm, the hook and I) are very pleased with it:

I showed a closeup for two reasons:

1. I finally remembered how to make the macro setting work on my digital camera so I'm showing off,
and
2. I wanted to show anyone whose never made or seen a cross stitch just how very cool it truly is, in detail, um, closeup.  ;-) 

A tutorial on how to incorporate the cross stitch into your granny square is HERE or can be found in PDF format which is more printer friendly HERE

Crochet Tutorial: Working The Cross Stitch Into Your Granny Square

 Tutorial For Using A Cross Stitch Pattern In Your Granny Square
Before beginning please read instructions all the way through.


For same instructions in a more printer friendly format, go HERE  (free PDF download)

The cross stitch works in sets of three stitches so your rows must be in multiples of three.  The sides of this square are 12 stitches across, counting the middle stitch in the corner group.
That is important for later.


Instructions for cross stitch: 
Skip two stitches, tr in next stitch, ch 1, tr in first skipped sc (skip 1 sc going to the right and tr in next stitch to the right)

Start by attaching the contrast yarn at any corner with a sl st. and ch 4 (counts as a dc + ch 1)
Work the cross stitch across the side to the end.
**Ch 1, dc in corner st (last worked st), ch 1, dc in same st, ch 1, work cross stitches across side of square to end, repeating from ** around until you reach last corner.  After making last cross stitch on last side of square, dc, ch 1, sl st into third ch of beg ch.  If using contrast yarn, fasten off, weave in ends.

Attach contrast with a sc in ch 1 of cross stitch. (If not using contrast, ch 1, sc in next st)  Sc in each tr , dc, and ch 1 spaces across all sides in all corners as well.  Fasten off, weave in ends.










The photo below shows what the corner group looks like when finished.

You can make a more defined corner, of course, if you add two sc to the corner st of the square, which I did not do because I didn't think of it till I saw this photo and noticed how round the corners were.  I would put the two extra sc in the first dc of that corner.

The cross stitch makes a great border for a granny square or a wash cloth or dish rag.  If you're more talented than I you can probably add granny square rows following the cross stitch rows.

Crochet Review: Snowflakes Galore!

I stumbled upon a great site for snowflake pattern lovers everywhere!  Oh boy!  heh heh!  If you look around for snowflake patterns at all you may have already found it but just in case let me share it with you.


Snowcatcher's Snowflake Directory has a multitude of free crochet snowflake patterns that are beautiful and unusual.  I get tired of snowflake patterns that look just like the snowflakes I saw everywhere else.  These snowflakes are very unique and absolutely gorgeous.


There's a pink ribbon snowflake I would like to make that incorporates the pink ribbon symbol (not just tying a pink ribbon around the flake) into the pattern.  There's three dimensional flakes of several types, and beautifully colored ones as well.  There's solid flakes, lacy flakes and in between flakes.  There's beaded flakes and flakes without beads that don't really need beads because they're so pretty without the beads.


I am so grateful to people like the Snowcatcher for offering such beautiful patterns to us!  My favorites on this page are the Third Red Mug Snowflake,  the Pink Ribbon Snowflake,
and the Century Snowflake.   Go check it out and share which ones you like best, if you've made any of the snowflakes on this site, etc.  I am just about to start the Third Red Mug Snowflake - as soon as I post this~


Here's another snowflake I made - not from Snowcatcher's site, it's from Trish Kristoffersen's booklet South Maid #1410 Winter Jewels  Snowflake 6. Winter Lace:

PLEASE don't pay attention to my dirty windows!  hee hee! 

Crochet Review: A Great Snowflake Pattern Booklet

Last year I found a great snowflake pattern booklet called Winter Jewels: 16 Snowflakes To Crochet, a South Maid article J-14, Book 1410, CC-C.  (It's five books down in the list from that book link on her site and costs only $2.50 plus S&H from her site.  The South Maid books are listed under the Coats & Clark category)

The snowflakes in this book are designed by one of my favorite designers, Trish Kristoffersen and by ordering it from her website, I got it for a great deal and sent to my home within a few days of placing my order, autographed by Trish herself.  How very nice that was to see!


Here's Snowflake #6. Frosted Rose.  I added beads and crystals and more beads to the thread before I started the project.  The book says you can add beads and glitter later on but I happened to have some crystals I wanted to use and haven't had much luck trying to marry glue to crystal.  In fact, I could never get the glue to stick at all except to my fingers and anything else I didn't want it to stick to but that's just me.  It would probably work well for you. 
The lower photo shows the beads and crystals a bit better... I think...

I am finding the snowflakes in Trish's book fast and easy to make, and they come out really beautiful, are strong enough to hold up the little crystals I add to it.  They even look beautiful before I stretch and starch them (which I haven't done yet..)



Go check out Trish's website if you crochet - or even if you don't.  Her designs are outstanding and beautiful to look at and enjoy no matter what your crochet skill level is.

Crochet News: Snowflakes In September

As I said in an earlier post, Christmas is not that far away and now is the time to start making gifts and decorations.  Really, if you're more efficient than I, you probably started your Christmas crocheting months ago.  I normally put everything off till the last minute but after what I went through last year, trying to finish all the gifts I made at the last minute, I am determined not to put myself and my family through that stress again.  When I get stressed out like that my whole family suffers.  Not nice, but true.

I made this snowflake last night and finished it up this morning while Mom ate breakfast.  It's a gloomy day outside so Mom is sad today.  The weather affects her greatly I noticed.  On a sunny day she's up and cheery and smiley.  On a gloomy day like today she's down and out and can't say why, it's just that way for her.  Hopefully the sun will come out later on but until then we're stuck in the house so crocheting keeps me busy while we are confined to the living room again.

I may write out the patten for it, depending on requests I get for the pattern.  It'll be easy and won't take as long as the pattern I wrote for the bikini top, lol.  This one is beaded but easy enough it can be finished in less than a day.  I think it's kinda cool with the flowery middle that's round, turning into a squarish snowflake.  I wonder if snowflakes are ever square?  I don't know why they wouldn't be but I'm sure I can look it up on Google.  It seems like Google has links for answers to any question under the sun.


Off to Google, gotta find out more about snowflakes before I make any more of them.  There must be some kind of "snowflake rules" or something that a person ought to follow when making snowflakes, don't you think?


It's a low energy, high coffee intake kind of day so sorry for my babbling and rambling.  I'll start working on the pattern for this snowflake now, forget Google.  I am the creator of my snowflakes so I can follow any snowflake making rules I want and can make up my own rules as I go along.


Yea, it's a weird day alright, and it affects me a lot, which is very apparent in my writings today.  yikes.  Time to put away the keyboard.


Hope your day is sunny and warm,
cynthia

Crochet News: Snowflakes In The Works

 I found a beautiful snowflake pattern, well, actually two very similar patterns for snowflakes, in an old Crochet World magazine (12-2008 issue).  Since Christmas is coming faster than I am ever ready for, I decided to start my Christmas crocheting for decorations and gifts.

I haven't starched this yet, I'll wait till I have three or four snowflakes and do them all at once.  I just hate cleaning up anything at all so starching each one as I go along is something I wouldn't even consider.  heh, heh. 

The original pattern (which you may be able to get in the Dec. 2008 issue of Crochet World at your local public library, I'm thinking) did not call for beads but I am a lover of crystals and added them on my own:
Before I started this snowflake I counted the picots around the perimeter of the flake and noticing the group of three and then the single picot in between the 3-picots groups, I strung the crystals as follows:
(One tear drop, three small diamond shaped) six times.  I added the crystals to my stitches in the third ch of each picot so it would come out at the tip of each picot.
It'll be interesting to see if the starch I use will hold the crystals up properly.  I'll let you know about that after I block and starch it.

Sorry to bring up Christmas so soon, I can't help but wonder what everyone is making for gifts this year?  I have so many people to make gifts for I'd better get on the ball!

Crochet News: My Favorite Washcloth Pattern

If you've been following any crochet news you probably know that I found a fabulous washcloth pattern HERE and liked the pattern so much I used it to make my boyfriend an afghan for Christmas last year.  I'm still adding to the afghan because he wants it "King size" and right now it's only a double-bed size.  Hmph! 


I take my crocheting, anything I'm working on, everywhere I go.  Usually it's something small that doesn't require a pattern so I don't loose anything important.  One day I grabbed a ball of Peaches And Cream 100% cotton (which is what I'm using for Mike's afghan) and threw it in a bag.  I thought I had the right hook (H hook) but discovered half way down the road in the car that I had a "J" hook instead.


Needing to crochet because Mike was driving and I can't stand being in the passenger seat, wondering if he saw the old lady stepping into the crosswalk, wondering if he is going to stop at the red light or go through it - not that he would, it's just the way he drives that makes me want to stomp on the invisible brake pedal on my side of the car.  It stresses me out to see someone else drive so I distract myself with crocheting the entire car ride.  It has saved the relationships I have with my boyfriend, my daughter, and anyone else I've been a passenger with in my car.  lol.  Really.

Since I had to crochet to save my sanity I went ahead and used the J hook to make the washcloth pattern I have made so many of for Mike's afghan.  I'm really glad I made the mistake of grabbing the wrong hook because the end result was not suitable for Mike's afghan but it produced a beautifully soft, supple washcloth that is a nice large size for body washing. 

I've made several washcloths to give as gifts with body wash and lotions, but I always felt they were kind of "hard" feeling.  Using the J hook resolved this problem and made the cloth a bit bigger, which is great too. 
Once again, this is where you can get the free pattern:  Spa Necessities on the Red Heart website. 
Have fun!
cynthia

Crochet News: Free Pattern; Toddler Ballet Beret

When I missed my great-niece's third birthday party I felt so sad I had to do something constructive and creative to make myself feel better and to give my little niece a handmade gift by Great Aunt Cyndi.  (Emphasize the GREAT!  j/k)

Since Emma wants to be a ballerina (along with my grand daughter Madison and about every other  toddler out there!) I decided to make her a pair of ballet leg warmers (pattern coming soon!) and this little beret to match the leg warmers.  Winter IS coming, it's just around the corner and that means CHRISTMAS! (Let me be the  first to be so mean as to remind you how close Christmas really is, especially if you hand make all your gifts.)

Here's the pattern for the beret, as I said a leg warmer pattern to match is on it's way.

Make It In A Day:
Crochet Toddler Ballet Beret
copyright 2011
by Cynthia J Luciene

PDF download for this pattern is here
*Note:  You don't have to download the file, it is possible to just open it to view using Adobe Acrobat Reader.   (Choose the "view" option when the download  window pops up)
The file is hosted by Mediafire which has turned out to be a very reliable and stable file host for me...  And it's free, you don't have to register to download my files.

Have fun, send photos of your completed Ballet Beret projects to me HERE 

I can't wait to see my little great-niece wearing her beret and leg warmers with the ballet dress and tutu my mother got her for her birthday this year!

Crochet News: Bikini Top Pattern Finally Here

Finally, now that summer is almost over, I finished writing the pattern for the lacy bikini top, what I call Booby Traps.  heh, heh.  I'm trying to think of what to call the bottoms?  Butt hatches?  Not.  I dunno.  Anyway, here's the pattern for free, for the yellow top by request.

As I said in an earlier post, I don't recommend wearing the top like this, with a tee shirt underneath but I'm too bashful to show anymore skin than you see here.  heh heh.


(pattern is also available free of charge as a PDF download on HERE)


Please link to this page when sharing this pattern, thank you.











Lacy Bikini Top Pattern
aka
Boobie Traps
crochet
copyright 2011 by Cynthia J Luciene
You may share this pattern but you may not sell it.
You can however, sell anything you make using this pattern.

Materials:
1 Ball (less than 1) 100 % cotton crochet thread size 3 (I like Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet or Royale Fashion Crochet Thread because it has a nice sheen)
Size F hook

NOTE: Work in U-shaped rows
Terms: sc ; single crochet
dc; double crochet
ch; chain
dc group; 2 dc worked in same stitch
st; stitch
rem; remaining
Instructions: (Make 2)
ch 14
Row 1: sc in 3rd ch from hook and in next 11 chs across. 3 sc in 12th ch (end), turning work 90 degrees,
sc in each of the unused loops from beginning ch 14. ch 1, turn. (25 sc total in u-shape)
Row 2: 1 sc in each of next 12 st, 3 sc in next (middle of 3sc group in end), sc in each 12 rem st. ch 1,
turn. (27 sc)
Row 3: sc in next 13 st, 3 sc in end sc; sc in rem 13 st (29 sc) ch 1, turn
Row 4: sc in next 14 st, 3 sc in end sc; sc in rem 14 st (31 sc) ch1, turn
Row 5: ch 2 more, dc in same st as ch 3 – dc group made - , (skip 1 st, 2 dc in next – dc group made - )
repeat 14 times, dc in last st, ch 3, turn.
Row 6: (2 dc between dc in next dc group) 7 times, 2 dc in next space between dc group just worked
and next 2 dc group, 2 dc between next 2 dc, (2 dc between dc of next dc group) 7 times, 2 dc between
last stitch and turning ch 3. Ch 3, turn.
Row 7: sc between first 2 dc, (ch 3, sc between dc of next dc group) repeat around: 17 ch 3 loops. Ch
1. turn.
Row 8: sc in first ch 3 loop, (ch 3, sc in next ch 3 loop) 17 times. Ch 3, turn.
Row 9: sc in first ch 3 loop, (ch 3, sc in next ch 3 loop) 16 times. Ch 1, turn.
Row 10: sc in first ch 3 loop, (ch 3, sc in next ch 3 loop) 16 times. Ch 1, turn. (16 ch 3 loops)
Row 11: 3 sc in first ch 3 loop and in each ch 3 loop around.
Turn work so you can make following row using ends of rows 1-11.
(This will be the bottom edge of cup)
Row 12: ch 3, work 29 dc evenly across the ends of rows 1-11. Turn.
Row 13: ch 4 -counts as 1 dc plus ch 1- skip 1 st, dc in next, (ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next) across (14 dc
and ch 1 spaces) (This makes a “casing” for the tie that goes underneath the boobies.)
Row 14: ch 1, turn. Sc in first dc, sc in next ch1 space, (sc in next dc, sc in next ch1 space) 13 more
times across, sc in top of turning ch. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Ties
Measure your midriff and make a chain that long plus enough to make a secure bow tie in the middle of
your back. Everyone's trunks are different sizes, it's best to figure this part out yourself and to how
long you prefer the tie in back. I made mine quite long, which irritated me because the ends of the ties
tickled the small of my back. If they were too short the tie in back could come undone easily and then
your boobies would no longer be trapped! Yikes!
Once you've got a chain the length appropriate for you and before you weave the ends in, string one
end (single strand at end of your chain) into a yarn needle and use that to weave the chain length in and
out of the “casing” you made in Row 13.
Neck Ties:
Find the middle of Row 11 at the top of the cup (rounded side). This ought to be the space between 2
of the 3-sc groups.
Attach crochet thread with a slip stitch, ch 1, sc in same space and start chaining until you get a
satisfactory length to suit you.
Make a long enough chain that will reach from the top of the bikini cup, reach the middle of your neck,
and have enough to make a secure bow tie at nape of neck. I tried very hard to count how many chains
it took but was not able to keep track of my stitches, I am sorry. That's the way things are in my house,
lots of interruptions and needy humans and animals.
Repeat instructions above for other cup.
Weave in ends and you're done. Now you just have to be coordinated enough to get those ties tied
without help. Good luck. I found by putting the top on backwards, with the cups in back first, and
tying the bow for the middle of my back, turning the top around, placing the traps (cups) where they
should be, (and placing my boobies where they should be!) then I pulled the neck ties up and tied a
bow at the nape of my neck. Whew!
Enjoy your Boobie Traps! It is easy to make this bikini top larger (I”m SO jealous!) by adding rows
after row 11. Just keep working the chain 3 loops around in a u-shape as you'd been doing and you will
do fine. If you have questions about this pattern or any other I have posted on my blogsite, you can email me  HERE

For The Love Of FBBs!

F.B.B. = Fat Bottom Bag
This is a lined, purple FBB #2, with a few add ons that I'll explain below...

 

I just finished this FBB and I'm very happy with it, so much so that I decided I'll keep this one for myself.  I think I've made about twenty FBBs in all and have given away most of them, gladly so.  There's a few technical flaws I made when making this purple bag so I wouldn't feel exactly okay about giving it to someone anymore than I would give someone a dead plant for the birthday.  It's just not right, and could be considered downright mean.  heh, heh.  

Starting with the pattern which is found in the book called Stitch N Bitch Crochet; The Happy Hooker, I improvised a little bit because I had the yarn and hook but not the pattern so I was making it from memory and probably made a few or more mistakes.  

I purchased this embellishment at Joann's Yarn & Craft Store for a few bucks and thought I would also use the beads that came with the big purple shell heart but forgot about them and made the round buttons you see on each side with yarn.

I lined the bag (check out THIS LINK for a photo tutorial for lining the FBB, or see a few tips and photos about lining a FBB by me HERE.  One of the technical flaws in this bag are the way I stitched the lining.  There are ways to make the stitching look neater and less visible but I was too lazy to get up and look for different  thread and take out the entire side I stitched already.

For the cell phone/ID pocket (in photo above) I crocheted two rectangle pieces and slip stitched them together.   I used a bead that came with the large heart (outside bag) for a closure.


The handles I purchased were only $4.99 at Joann's and of the light, bamboo type wood and did not go very well with the silky, dressy looking lining and the outer embellishment.  Having already sewn the handles into the handle flaps when I decided this, I was trying to think of a way to make the handles match the style of the bag better. 
I am pretty proud of myself for thinking of using single crochets all around the handles, as many single crochets as I could squeeze onto the handles so no wood would show underneath.  Changing the handles in this manner made the whole bag come together nicely.  I am thinking of using a spot of glue here and there to anchor the yarn to the handle so it doesn't twist about but changed my mind when I realized the glue would just pull on the yarn and look funky.   =)   I made the photo below extra large in hopes you'd be able to see how the sc looks when worked onto a handle.  For a photo lesson about single crocheting onto a ring or bar, check out an earring pattern I posted HERE.  The tutorial for doing this is at the bottom of the Dangly Earrings post. 

If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments below, I'll do my best to answer you in a short time but keep in mind I have mental disorder issues and I am taking care of my mother who is seemingly worse every day.  Thank you for being patient and understanding while waiting for my replies.


signing off at a surprisingly reasonable hour of the night,
cynthia
p.s. Please check back soon, I'm working on designing bikini tops and bottoms for a company I am trying to get going and will post photos of my creations and possibly have a vote from my readers as to which one would be most desirable if you were to buy and wear one.