Crochet hand warmers

Now the nights are darker and the wind is up, its time to get knocking up some quick fixes to warm me up. Last night I made these crochet hand warmers. I made them using some really pretty yarn that changed colour as I went along. This means that they will probably go with everything, which is always a good thing!

Here are some pretty pictures of my hand warmers...

Mmmm Warm and Snuggly x

Patches

I recently purchased some denim dungarees and I have made them my comfy crafting clothes. They are really comfy but not a lot to look at, so I decided they needed an update. I went for some crochet patches. Just teeny tiny versions of granny squares and flowers that I stitched to the front.

To find out how you crochet a granny square, have a little looksie here. But crochet flowers are even more simple!

Here is how you put them together...

Tools you will need:
* Yarn
* Suitable crochet hook for your Yarn

Recipe (UK terms):
1. ch 6 then sl st to the first ch in row

2. dc 16 times into circle, sl st into first dc on row

3. *ch 2, 1tr into next 2 sts, ch 2 sl st into next st. Repeat from * 4 more times. Fasten off and you are done!

I am planning on adding more as time goes on, maybe some fabric patches too. The yarn I used was this really beautiful cream with a little added sparkle. Cute!

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A Day Out and a Quick Make

This weekend was so glorious and sunshiney! It was beautiful. So I had to take advantage so me and my man went for a walk along the canals in Birmingham and for lunch at a lovely Italian restaurant. It was lovely, and I only burnt a little...

I love taking a walk along the canals in Birmingham, there is so much character and history around there and the atmosphere is great.

I even treated myself to a scrummy raspberry meringue which didn't last very long.

I also made myself a little bracelet using lots of natural fibres. I love all the friendship bracelets that you can get around in the summer. But why spend £8 when you can make many for a lot less!

So I raided my stash and found five different colours of linen threads, red, orange, cream, brown and black.

To be honest you can use whatever threads to make your bracelets. My bracelet is only thin because I used these thin linen threads. I would also recommend embroidery threads. That is what most friendship bracelets are made with. I measured out 50cm of each thread twice. So in total I had 10 strands. But you could have as many colours as you fancy just make sure you do two strands of each!

Tie a knot at the top leaving enough threads at the end to be able to tie your bracelet. Then using a safety pin I pinned the threads to a cushion and spread them out, the two blacks in the centre, brown either side then cream, orange and reds on the outside.

To make the bracelet take the left red strand and move into the centre between the two blacks. Do the same with the red strand on the right side and move it over the top of the red strand in the centre, repeat with the orange strands and carry on going until you reach the desired length.

When you get to your desired length tie a knot and tie your two ends together around your or a friends wrist or ankle. I love the chevron effect and so easy with no knots or fussiness. Easy!

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Woven Placemat

This week I made a loom! It was really easy to do and got me so excited to create some of my own woven pieces! My frame is 16 x 11inches so I thought that would be the perfect size for a place mat. So I gathered my equipment and went to work.

I took some cream and beige cotton embroidery threads and tied it to one of the nails in the corner. I then went up and down the loom hooking the thread around each nail at the top and bottom until I got to the end and I tied it off. Make sure you keep it very tight to make the weave tight.

Then take yarns, threads, jerseys, whatever you want to use and go for it, weaving in and out of the embroidery threads, and when you get to the end of the row go back the opposite way! The great thing is that every single one is unique and special!

I went for blacks, greys, creams and greens and even incorporated some jersey yarn that I bought from my local haberdashery. The end product is beautiful, even if I say so myself!

Pin-ups

Lately I have had a real crush on all things woven, Navajo, western, Aztec whatever you want to call it. I love the natural fibres used and I really want to know all about Peruvian weaving and the natural dies that they use.
Here are some crafts, makes and ideas of different degrees of skill for you all to peruse. Some beautiful things...

Arrows

 Clutch Bag

Wall Hanging

Dip Dyed Baskets

Dream Catchers

Hope you like them too! 

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Butterfly

I have been super busy in my outside blog life lately, so much so I have not had time to spend time with a needle or a hook! So tonight I decided to sit down for ten minutes and design a pattern to brighten someones day.

Photo Courtesy of Google

One of the people closest to me loves butterflies, and when you know how to crochet something, you can make hundreds of them! So I can now fill their life with butterflies.

What you need:
* Some beautiful yarn
* Crochet hook to match the yarn size
* Scissors

How to make a butterfly:
1. Make your slip knot, chain 4 and slip stitch together. (a magic circle works well with this piece too, depends on how you like to start off your crochet rounds)

2. Ch 5, triple treble, double treble, treble, half treble, sl st then ... ch 2, treble, double treble, half treble, sl st then... ch 2, double treble, treble, half treble, sl st then... ch 2, treble, double treble, triple treble, ch 5 , sl st. Then tie off and tie the two lose ends together (these form the antennae).

You are done! 

I think these would look great dip dyed with an ombre effect! Beautiful :)

Photo Courtesy of Google

Pin-ups

Because of a little project that I am working on, I have had nothing but crochet on my mind this week. (That isn't all true, because I am on holiday by the sea, and that is mostly what I have thought about). There are so many different things that you can do with crochet, and all of these pins are great and mostly beautiful pieces.

Doilies

Cushions

A summery dress

Some slippers

Bunting

Small patches to mend a split in a favourite piece of clothing

What is your favourite piece of crochet? Or style?

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Yarn Bomb

Today I took a big step in growing in confidence. I took the idea from the Voluntary Arts Week Craft Bomb. I have looked at other peoples yarn bombs throughout the past few years and wished that I could do something like that. Spread a little beauty through nice things. I love taking a walk through a park or somewhere and coming across something nice. The Eden Project is amazing for things like that!

So what have I done today? Well, I used my rose pattern and knocked up a few roses in different bright colours that would stand out. Then I linked them all together on a long chain. My mistake was that I didn't scope the area first. If so I would have measured the area first and known exactly how many flowers I would need. I then went for a walk in a local park area and found a lonesome tree looking for some attention. It was surrounded by some beautiful pink flowers so I decided to add more colour and strung my flower chain around a branch. I could have done with a step stool but that might have given me away! :) Have any of you ever done anything like this? I would love to see pictures!

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Wedding Presents

Today one of my oldest friends has got married to a really lovely lady. He was always a really lovely guy to me and I have very fond memories of him in my life. So I didn't want to get the usual toaster or vouchers so I decided on something a little more special. Something that I could make to bring lovely memories in the future. So here they are...

I made two of these knitted dolls and just made up patterns to make their clothes. Hopefully they will stay apart of their family forever more!

I wish them every bit of luck for the future in everything that they do!!

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Knitted Doll

Say "Hello" to my little knitted friend! Her name is Sarah. I am making her for a special little project that I am really excited about :)
I want to share the pattern with you because everyone should have a little knitted person in their lives! It would be a great gift for a little girl, for her to practise making clothes! Getting a bit carried away probably with my dreams!
Sarah (using 3.25mm needles) comes up at around 22cm tall and 24cm from fingers to fingers.

So what do you need to make one of these lovely ladies?
* Yarn (I used Sirdar's Country Style wool blend DK in shade Palest Pink 0391) - you need less than one ball
* Needles - 3.25mm in this case but obviously the bigger the yarn the bigger the doll
* Stuffing
* Sewing needle

How do I make Sarah?

Body (make 2)
Cast on 16 stitches.
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Row 3: K1, M1, K14, M1, K1 (18sts)
Row 4: Purl to end
Row 5: K1, M1, K16, M1, K1 (20sts)
Row 6: Purl to end
Work in Stockinette stitch for a further 12 rows, finishing with a WS row.
Row 19: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K14, K2Tog, K1 (18sts)
Work next 3 rows in Stockinette stitch
Row 23: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K12, K2Tog, K1 (16sts)
Row 24: P1, P2Tog, P10, P2Tog, P1 (14sts)
Row 25: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K8, K2Tog, K1 (12sts)
Row 26: Purl to end
Cast off.

Head (make 2)
Cast on 12 stitches
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Row 3: K1, M1, K10, M1, K1 (14sts)
Row 4: Purl to end
Row 5: K1, M1, K12, M1, K1 (16sts)
Row 6: Purl to end
Work in Stockinette stitch for a further 10 rows ending on a WS row
Row 17: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K10, K2Tog, K1 (14sts)
Row 18: Purl to end
Row 19: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K8, K2Tog, K1 (12sts)
Row 20: Purl to end
Cast off

Leg (make 2)
Cast on 11 stitches
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Repeat rows 1-2 14 more times (28 rows in total)
Row 31: K1, M1, K9, M1, K1 (13 sts)
Work 3 more rows in stockinette stitch
Row 35: K1, M1, K11, M1, K1 (15sts)
Row 36: Purl to end
Cast off

Arm (make 2)
Cast on 7 stitches
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Row 3: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 (9sts)
Row 4: Purl to end
Row 5: K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 (11sts)
Row 6: Purl to end
Work a further 26 rows in stockinette stitch
Row 33: K2, SL1, K1, PSSO, K3, K2Tog, K2 (9 sts)
Row 34: Purl to end
Cast off

When you have finished all your pieces, trim and weave in all loose ends, press and block to the correct size. I sewed all my pieces inside out and turned the right way around before stuffing them, then sewed up the open side and stitched all the pieces together. Head onto body, arms and legs onto body. Then all she needs is a face. Sometimes this can be easier to do before you sew the two head pieces together, but it depends on the detail of the face.

I have used this pattern before to make a memory for a friend from her wedding day and made a little knitted and crocheted couple. It took some work but it was well worth it!

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Crochet Basket

Recently I have been noticing that there have been some crochet containers and boxes popping up in the shops. For example these, these or these, which are all a bit boring and quite expensive. So when I have a gap in my new bookcase to fill, and could do with some kind of basket to put my current project in, what more can I do but make my own basket?!

So I went to my inspiration finder (Pinterest) and found a gorgeous basket pattern. I love the colours with the ombre effect! But I decided to go for a simple black and white colour scheme. I used Patons Fab Big yarns and size 10 crochet hook for my basket. It is brilliant! I am hooked and I am going to make lots of them, maybe even a big one to put me in! Woo!

What would you keep in your basket? X