Great Sites For Crochet Bikini and Cover-ups That'll Make You Want To Start Hooking

Pinterest is a great place to find patterns for crochet as well as photos that may give you lots of inspiration or motivation to crochet.

Here are some of my favorite bikini pattern and inspiring photo links for bikinis and cover-ups for the beach.

Babyblog    This is  a Russian site and if you translate the page you won't, unfortunately, find a pattern for this suit but it's one the best I've seen and could be great inspiration to make a bikini similar or just like it.
 

Crochet Vs Ethnic: The call of the jungle   Not a pattern either but I really like the use of a lacy poncho over a crocheted suit for the beach or desert.  Only thing is, I wonder what my tan would look like if I wore a poncho like this all day.  

Kool Bikini Dot Com This item, the "Hand Crochet Bikini Cover-up" sells on KOOL Bikini site for $28.  Looking at it I am pretty sure anyone who knows how to crochet could probably make this look the same (or darn close to) the one you see below.  If anyone requests, I can try to come up with a very similar pattern (I don't want to infringe on anyone's copyright).  I chose this as a great site because it has tons of inspirational photos for an experienced crocheter to get ideas from.  

I chose this photo in particular because this skirt has lacing up the sides that are not just a fashion statement but they are functional and can be adjusted for nearly any body type.
  ( I also chose it selfishly for myself because it's the perfect cover-up to hide my old age sagging skin when I wear a swim suit, heh heh)

Revolve Clothing   lists the unikini (uni-kini) they call "The Throwback Crochet Swimsuit" for $175 and they are currently out of stock for this item.  Does that motivate you to pick up a hook??  Does me!  In fact I'm modifying a previously posted bikini top to something like the one pictured below but I'm "winging it" and didn't write a pattern for it.  It would be fairly easy for someone with crochet experience to use one of my bikini top patterns (find them by using the search box for this blog at the top right of any post) and then to add the bodice (between panties and top) and attach it to a bottom.  

You could even attach the top-bodice ensemble to a pair of swim suit or bikini bottoms you already own (fabric!) by embroidering a blanket stitch (click here to view tutorial on wikiHow) around the top edge of the bikini bottoms (this makes a loop for you to insert crochet stitches into). Then you are able to attach your crocheting to your fabric bikini bottoms (or a skirted bottom if you prefer) by using any of the smaller common crochet stitches such as a slip stitch or single crochet depending on the look you want to achieve.  A half double crochet might be a bit chunky depending on the size of your yarn or thread but would prove to be more sturdy than the other two stitches I mentioned.

Ok, that's it for now I realize there aren't that many on this list but I'll continue to post similar photos with links and I'll find some great sites or blogs that actually have patterns for you as well.  

I hope you've been charmed or inspired or motivated to begin a bikini or swim suit of your own.

Bye for now, God bless you and yours.

~ Cynthia 

Vintage and Antique Crochet Button Bracelets by Grandma Rupp

My grandma was a very crafty lady.  She and my grandpa lived in a mobile home community where there was a recreation room that held craft-type classes for the residents of the mobile home park.  I remember some of the things she made like Lady bug refrigerator magnets made from felt, bean bag frogs, the pattern I still have and still make one of these for a gift once a while; and she crocheted jewelry like rope necklaces made from tiny beads and very fine crochet thread, and...
My very most favorite of all her craft projects, these beautiful bracelets crocheted with antique and vintage glass buttons.  

Grandma Rupp's button bracelet #1

Most of the buttons are glass, some are plastic but still very beautiful

The inside view of Grandma Rupp's Button Bracelet - pattern coming soon !

I'm posted a lot of photos of the bracelets hoping you would be able to get the feel for the way they are made.  I haven't written a pattern for these yet, I'm still trying to find a way to get the buttons to be placed where I want them to be rather than where the button thinks its position on the bracelet ought to be.  It's a lot more challenging than it first appears because of the variances in size and weight of the buttons being used. 
Here's another button bracelet my grandmother made:

As you may be able to see that the only stitches used to make this bracelet are 5 ch st and a sc in the next ch 5 loop.  Looks easy right?

I tried to position the bracelet so you could see it at another angle and how it is constructed with simple crochet stitches

I like that you can see the stitches between buttons in this view, and that you can see my favorite buttons - the small multi-colored glass ones to the left and one toward the center of the bracelet

It ought to be noted that Grandma Rupp used an elastic crochet thread - where she found this foil-wrapped elastic thread I'll never know, I've been searching for something similar to it for a long time.  I find the elastic crochet thread fairly easily but I'd prefer to use something more fancy than the ones I've come across.   I think Granda Rupp's choice of the gold foil wrapped thread was perfect for the bracelets it really pretties them up even more than just the buttons which are beautiful in themselves.

Obviously the pattern is simple:  ch 5, sc in next loop, the question lies in the button placement so I am working on figuring that out.  It would be easier to see if I wasn't distracted so much so often, lol.  (2 dogs, 3 cats, a really cute physical therapist, a very handsome occupational therapist, a fairly tall, and dark and handsome registered nurse, and a social worker who all come different days, different times of the the week.  Oh yea, throw in phone calls and me catching up on stupid cell phone games. )  I want it to be easy so I'm probably making it too hard and when I get frustrated I have to put it down and walk away to clear my head.  A lot can happen to make me forget to go back to it and there it may lay on the dining room table for days, quietly waiting for me to finish what I started with it.  I'm not very good at sticking with one thing till it's done, I don't know about you but I have quite a few crochet projects waiting for me to "get back to them".

Hopefully a pattern will be coming soon, or one of you will figure it out so that the buttons lay nicely as they do on these bracelets and post it.  If that happens, please come to this post and share your pattern link in the comments below.

Thanks for coming with me for a blast to the past.  Have a blessed day!

Crochet Motif Patterns (Japanese)

I've been slacking on blog posting and the promise of Japanese crochet motif patterns.  Hopefully these will make up for my neglect, enjoy and let me know what you plan to make with one or more of these..

Note: If you want to print these out it's best to right click on the image and download it to your hard drive and print it from there.

Note (last one lol) if you pray and believe God answers prayers, please scroll to bottom for an important prayer request, thank you, God bless you.

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On a personal note; I  met a woman on the bus tonight, her name is Denise.  We got to talking and she ended up telling me a horrible story about her 6 year old grand daughter, whom she was heading up to see at the hospital near my house here in Las Vegas.  Long story short, apparently the little girl was pushed out of a two-story window by her aunt who had her for the weekend - and the little girl sustained major brain trauma and a massive skull fracture.  She's recovering quickly from two surgeries but the perpetrator in this case needs to be brought to justice for the little girl's sake.  God sees it fit to heal her, (Thank you God!) let's give God a little nudge (or a big one!) to make sure the person, whomever it turns out to be, who did this to her won't be able to hurt her or any other child again.  Thank you for your prayers, God bless you and .  *The little girl's name is Jalynn.*  Thanks again, I know God will hear our prayers.

Japanese Crochet Tiny Flowers

Here's a sampling of some of the Japanese Crochet I posted on Pinterest tonight...
I'm not posting the graphic pattern for it here because it doesn't fit the window because of the sidebars.  If you want the graphic pattern for these flowers go to my Pinterest page and find the Japanese Crochet board.  (Clicking the link will open a new window)  There you'll find the photo (same as below) Plate 48 and near it ought to be the Graphics Plate 48 which has the patterns on it.

Enjoy!  I think these are SO beautiful!  What would you use them for?

Japanese Crochet Flowers Plate 48

Have a blessed day!

Japanese Crochet - Tiny Flowers and Bows With Diagrams

I promised to post a few every day, here you go...  There's more on my Pinterest Board "Japanese Crochet".  It's probably easier to print from the Pinterest site rather than from this blog site due to the size of the .jpg file, running over into my sidebars.

I love these little flowers, so pretty.  I've made them using a size 6 or 7 steel crochet hook and size 10 crochet thread.  They can also be made using a size A or B hook and a size 3 crochet thread.  I haven't tried making them with a worsted weight (4) yarn but I'm sure they would come out fine using an F or G hook to keep the stitches tight and neat looking.

Enjoy!

There are many tutorials or directions for how to read diagrams, you don't have to be able to read Japanese to create these cuties. 

Japanese Crochet Motifs

I don't know about you but I'm fascinated by Japanese crochet.  They create such beautiful, lacy and sometimes intricate crochet, I just can't resist sharing it with you. 

If you don't already have a Pinterest account, go get one.  Really.  It's a great place to search for and then browse through thousands upon thousands of crochet images for inspiration.  I've found that most images on Pinterest for crochet are linked to a pattern that is usually free.

I've been posting my Japanese treasures on Pinterest.  You'll see images of beautiful edgings and motifs that have a graphic pattern that you can follow.  Most of the Japanese crochet is made using crochet thread.  You can use a size 10 crochet thread with a size 7 steel crochet hook or I like to use a size 3 crochet thread with a size B hook.  You can adjust your hook or thread according to the effect and size of finished product that you desire.

Most Japanese books are full of so many beautiful patterns and thanks to the graphics you don't have to be able to read Japanese.  The books also have many photo tutorials that demonstrate stitch techniques.  I promise you that a Japanese crochet pattern book is a great investment. 

Here's an example of a Japanese pattern I posted for you on Pinterest:

Pretty, right?  This is just one example of the beautiful Japanese crochet I have in store for you.  Go to my Pinterest page and look for the board called Japanese crochet. I just created this board so check back often because it will be growing everyday.  It is a painstaking task, to ready these images to post on Pinterest so it may seem slow but that's why.  I'll try to do a little everyday, like I said.  If you follow the board you'll be notified of a new pin, just make sure you have that option checked in your settings on Pinterest.

Hope you like this pattern page.  There's a lot more coming.

Have a blessed day, smile and bless someone else's day!

Crochet Pattern: Delicate Flower Motif

Delicate Flower Motif: Free Crochet Pattern
copyright 2012 by Cynthia J Luciene aka anitalite

Finished Size Larger Motif:  2 7/8"
Finished Size Smaller Motif:  1 1/4"

Materials:
size 10 thread in colors of your choice. I used pink for the color A and green for the color B.
size 6 steel crochet hook
large eyed needle for weaving in ends

Special Stitches:
TrTrCluster; (following ch 4) yo twice, insert hook into next st, yo, draw through st, (yo, draw through two loops) twice, *yo twice, insert hook into same stitch, yo, draw through stitch, (yo, draw through 2 loops on hook) twice, repeat from * once more, yo, draw through all 4 loops on hook. TrTrCluster made.
(It's easier than it sounds)
Tri-picot: (ch3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook)3 times, sl st into top loop and front post of sc just worked (previous to tri-picot) to close picot.

Instructions:

Using color A (pink), ch 7, join with sl st to form ring
Round 1: ch 1, 16 sc inside ring, join to first sc with sl st
Round 2:  ch 1, sc in same st; *ch 4, TrTrCluster in next st, ch 4, sc in next stitch; repeat from * 8 times; after last ch 4, sl st to beg sc to join.
Fasten off, weave in ends with large-eyed needle

Attach color B (green) at top of any petal with sc, (ch 7, sc in top of next petal) 8 times - at last ch 7, sl st into top of first sc to join.
Round 2: sl st into ch 7 loop, ch 1, (12 sc inside ch 7 loop) 8 times.
Round 3: sl st in next two sc (first two sc of next 12 sc group) ch 1, *sc in next 4 sc, tri-picot, sc in next 4 sc, ch 4, skip 4 sc (last 2 of same 12 sc group, first 2 of next 12 sc group); repeat from * around, ending with sl st into first sc made of this round.
Fasten off, weave in ends.

Space filler motif: (smaller motif - optional)

 With color A, ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.
Round 1: 8 sc inside ring, join with sl st
 Round 2: ch 1, sc in same as ch 1, *ch 2, dc-cluster in next st, ch 2, sc in next; repeat from * around, ending with sl st in first sc made.  Fasten off, weave in ends.
Attach color B to top of any petal with sc
Round 1: *ch 5, sc in next sc, ch 5, sc in top of next petal; repeat from * around (8 ch 5 loops); join last ch 5 to first sc with sl st
Round 2: sl st into next ch 5 loop, 6 sc in each ch 5 loop around, sl st to first sc to join
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Use this smaller motif to fill in spaces as you sew work together, if desired, depending on how you choose to put the larger motifs together.  It can be done in several ways, experiment and see which way you like best:

On The Crochet Menu: Another FBB

What's on the crochet menu today?  Another FBB (Fat Bottom Bag), one I hope to sell very soon.  Many ladies are presenting a great interest in the bags since my friend - who goes to the hospital for treatments for Lupus - brought her FBB I made her to the hospital and the nurses there saw it and wanted to see more of them.  The nurses told my friend they would like to have a FBB like hers, proving my point in my previous post that word of mouth is the best method of advertising.

Here's the latest addition to my FBB inventory (below) and following this post is a quick (and easy) photo tutorial on how I made the handles for it.  Let me know what you think in the comments below, your comments are always welcome!

I made the flowers and leaves using size 3 crochet thread and a size 3 steel crochet hook.  I tend to like the thread flowers better than worsted weight but it really depends on each individual bag that I make.  Each one has a personality of its own.

By luck the lining I chose matches the thread I used for the flowers perfectly.  The purples and blues are really pretty against the black body of the bag.  I found this material at Jo Ann's in the designer area of the fabric section.








I was disappointed in the handles at Jo Ann's that day and was shocked at the prices of them.  They've gone up quite a bit and my little cheapy stand by handle - the unfinished rattan round handles  that were $2.99 are no longer available there.  Only the finished rattan handles were there and priced at $5.99!  I wasn't about to pay that much for a rattan handle so I decided to follow my boyfriend's suggestion, to look for cords or braids in the trims section and make my own handles.  Below is what I did to make a 3/8" cording work as handles for this bag.  If anyone has any better ideas about how to make handles, please do comment below!  Anyway, here's what I did:

 Before cutting your twisted cording wrap scotch tape around the ends and cut in the middle of the tape so both ends of the cut are held in place and will not ravel.  I only purchased one yard of this cording for the handles at a couple bucks a yard.   I cut the cording in half and used half a yard for each handle.

To ensure the cording won't ravel, apply a good amount of glue to all ends and allow to dry well on waxed paper.
This will also make a barrier so when you sew the ends together the stitches won't pull through and come apart.

In a zig-zag pattern, using heavy duty thread and needle, sew the ends together.  Go all the way around the cording with your stitches so it doesn't wiggle with a gap or bend funny.  You won't be able to get the needle through the glue you applied earlier so just stitch on the other side of the glue barrier.  I enlarged the photo so you'd be able to see how I made the stitches for this.  It doesn't look very pretty but it serves a good purpose and it won't be seen when the bag is put altogether.

To make sure the corded handles didn't slip around while being used, exposing the ends stitched together, I tacked the stitched part of the handles to the bag's handle flaps smack dab in the middle of the flap. 

Now all that's left is to secure your handle flaps over the handles and you're done.



Please leave feedback in the comments below.  I appreciate your views and suggestions and conversation more than you know.  Thanks for stopping by, I hope I at least inspired you to make something beautiful today.

God bless you and God bless America - One Nation Under God... United we stand, divided we fall.
Ronald Regan said, "If we forget we are a nation under God, we'll be a nation gone under".

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 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 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: 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: Snowflake Success!

If you've read anything previous I've written about my crochet projects or checked out any of the patterns I've posted, you know I have never blocked or starched any of my work and I've crocheted plenty of projects in the last twelve months.  Why?  I'm guessing that by the time I finish a crochet project I'm so happy it's done I want it to be DONE and give it away before I make it look neat and perfect with blocking and/or starching it.   Lazy.  That's what my problem is, I get lazy and bored with the thought of ironing or waiting for starch to dry, or the horrid idea of wetting a doily for fear I would screw up all that hard work somehow. 


This snowflake didn't take very long to make, not like a doily does for me to finish, of course.  I decided I am not making these snowflakes to lay in a plastic storage box somewhere.  They are going to hang on our Christmas tree - and not ten years from now, I'm determined to cover our tree in December with many snowflakes, all having their own personality and style.  That means I have to starch and block them.  Yikes! 


Well, I did starch and block this snowflake, scared for some reason I would botch it up and would end up with trashing my snowflake and forget the whole idea of a snowflake covered tree.   Fearfully, I submersed the snowflake in starch and even squeezed it and rolled it.  It still looked like a snowflake after all that, so I blocked it and let the darn thing dry.

Today I sprayed it with Scotchgard fabric protector (which, so far, did not discolor the bright white crochet thread that I used to crochet the snowflake).  After adding fishing line I hung the snowflake on an ornament hanger (see below) I picked up on sale at our local hospital gift shop.  (Weird where you can find things for crafts and arts!)


Here's the final outcome of my fear and procrastination and the nervous wait for the snowflake to dry:  (Sorry - again - about the horrible photography!  I'm still trying to figure out this digital camera.)

FYI (in case you missed the previous post about this project)
This is Snowflake 41 from the Big Book Of Thread Ornaments by Leisure Arts book # 4795
(the link will take you to Amazon.com list of that book for sale)