Valentines Day: Love Note Pillow

I found a great instructional blog post from Days of Chalk and Chocolate that shows how to make this super cute and easy Love Note Pillow!

Check out the step by step instructions at the following address:
http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/01/love-note-pillows-and-question.html

Happy Crafting and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

JessicA

Double Crochet & Shell Beanie with Flower

 

This double crochet and shell beanie is cute and feminine.  It is fairly fast to complete if you are already familiar with the stitches and have experience reading from a pattern.  It is great for a last minute gift as you can make it in a day.

This hat is good for beginners and intermediate crochet skill levels. If you are a beginner I would like to encourage to try this, I believe this hat is something you can do, it just might take you a bit longer.  

One thing that I have found to be helpful when I crochet are stitch markers.  In this pattern, it makes it easier if you can use a marker to identify the first stitch in your current row (when crocheting in a round pattern it can sometimes look like it all blends together if you're not careful).  

Do not fear if you don't have any official stitch markers because a short piece of yarn (in a different color preferably), a safety pin, a bobby pin, or even a paper clip will do the trick.

I also like to print out my patterns so that I can mark off each row that I've completed with pencil so I can quickly find my place on the pattern when I am either beginning a new row or starting my project again after it was put away.

The beanie is made in two parts, first you will make the beanie itself, and then you will make the flower.

DC & SHELL BEANIE PATTERN

For this project, I used a size H (5mm) hook for the hat I'm wearing in the photo above, but I will make it with a size G (4mm) hook next time to make it a little more snug so it doesn't easily fall off.  You might also try using the hook size recommended on the yarn you purchase. 

* The beginning of each row will start with 3 chain stitches and this will count as your first DC throughout the entire pattern.


* Shell Stitch = DC, DC in same stitch, Ch. 1, DC X 2 in same stitch.  (That ends up being 4 DC's in one stitch from the previous row)


Ch = Chain
St = Stitch
DC = Double Crochet
Sl St = Slip Stitch

To begin, place a slip knot around your hook with your yarn.

1. Ch 5, join to first st (with a Sl St) to form a small circle.
2. Ch 3 (counts as 1st DC - *you might want to place a stitch marker in the 3rd chain loop, it will help when you come to the end of this row - Continue to do this in the 3rd look of your Ch 3 at the beginning of each row), DC x 11 in the hole in the middle of the circle you made in row #1, Sl St in the third chain of the first DC (where you placed your stitch marker)- this will close off your row - (12 total DC)
3. Ch 3, DC back into the same space in row 2 that you did your ch 3, ch. 1, DC X 2 into same space (this counts as your first Shell St for row 3), skip next St, DC in the 2nd St from your shell St, DC in same loop, Ch 1, DC X 2 in same St, skip next St, Shell St in the 2nd St from your last Shell St, do this all around until you are back at the beginning. Sl St into the 3rd loop of your first DC (this is where your stitch marker should be) -(6 Shell stitches total)
4. Sl St into the next st., Sl St into the Ch. 1 space (the gap in the middle of the shell from row #3), Ch. 3 & place stitch marker (this will be the first DC of your first shell for row 4), DC in the same Ch 1 space, Ch 1, DC X 2 in same space, skip 2 stitches, DC X 2 in the large space between shells in row 3, Ch 1, DC X 2 in the same space. (Continue placing a Shell St in every Ch 1 space from row 3 shells and then again in the large space between each Shell St in row 3). When you get to the end, Sl St into the 3rd loop of your first DC -(12 Shell stitches total)
5. Sl St into the next St, Sl St into the Ch 1 space (the gap in the middle of the shell), Ch 3, DC in same space, Ch 1, DC X 2 in same space, skip the next DC St (from row #4), DC into the next DC loop following the Ch 1 space from row #4, DC X 2 in next DC St (this is your increase), Shell St in the Ch 1 space, DC in next DC st., DC X 2 into the next DC, Shell St. into the Ch 1 space, repeat all the way around until you get back to the beginning. Sl St into the 3rd loop of your first DC - (6 Shell stitches & 6 sets of 3 DC total)
6. Sl St into the next stitch, Sl St into the Ch 1 space (the gap in the middle of the shell), Ch 3, DC in same space, Ch 1, DC X 2 in same space (1st Shell), DC in next DC, DC in next DC, DC X 2 in next DC (this is your increase, so the clusters of 3 DC between shells from row #5 will now be clusters of 4 in row #6), Shell into the next Ch. 1 sp (the middle of a shell from row 5), DC in next DC, DC in next DC, DC X 2 in next DC, repeat all the way around until you get back to the beginning. Sl St into the 3rd loop of your first DC -(6 Shell stitches & 6 sets of 4 DC total)
7. Sl St into the next stitch, Sl St into the Ch. 1 space (the gap in the middle of the shell), Ch 3, DC in same space, Ch 1, DC X 2 in same space (1st Shell), (you should now be at a cluster of 4 DC from row 6 below) DC in next DC, DC in next DC, DC in next DC, DC X 2 in next DC (this is your increase, so the clusters of 4 DC between shells from row #6 will now be clusters of 5 in row #7), Shell into the next Ch. 1 sp (the middle of a shell from row #6), DC in next DC, DC in next DC, DC in next DC, DC X 2 in next DC (this is your increase), repeat all the way around until you get back to the beginning. Sl St into the 3rd loop of your first DC -(6 Shell stitches & 6 sets of 5 DC total)  **NOTE** Continue increasing 1 st on each following row (in the DC clusters after each Shell St) until you have a circle that fits the crown of your head out to the widest part of your head.  If you place the heel of your hands directly above your ears and stick your fingers straight up, the crown of your hat should just touch your fingers (if it does not, keep doing rows of increase until it does). Once the crown is the right size, take a note of how many DC's you have in the clusters between each Shell St, (this will be the number of DC you will use in row #8).
8. Once it is wide enough, continue with the same pattern of Shell St/DC that you used in row #7 only row #8 will not do the increase in the last DC of each DC cluster.  So if your last row was a Shell st, DC X 7, Shell St, DC X 7, etc... You will now make the next row exactly the same (with 7 DC's between each Shell St) until the beanie is the desired length.
9. You can either allow the beanie to be finished as is, or you can add 2 rows of 1/2 Double Crochet stitches and tie off and weave in your yarn end.

I found a great instructional video for this beanie on Youtube, it does not contain a written pattern but you can watch her crocheting each stitch and I think it will make following my pattern easier. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mQ6sQTu7Ko&feature=plcp&context=C3f8d423UDOEgsToPDskKq6nd0HMxUunFcsWxvVsF7

You can now choose if you want to leave the beanie as is or try to crochet a flower to be placed on the side.

ROSE FLOWER PATTERN

For this project I will make it with a size G (4mm) hook.

To begin, place a slip knot around your hook with your yarn.

  

1. Make a Ch about 2 feet long (approx 60cm or 24 inches)
2. SC in second Ch from hook, SC in next Ch, continue SC until you get to the end of the entire length of row #1. Ch 3, turn work.
3. SC in 3rd St from hook, Ch 3, SC in 3rd St from hook, Ch 3, SC in 3rd St from hook, continue all the way across until you reach the end, (if you don't have the exact right number of stitches left, it is ok because this end of the flower will not be seen, just be sure to SC in last St), Ch 3, Turn work.
4. DC X 3 in the large loop (created by the Ch 3 in row #3), Ch 3, Sl St into same large loop (this is the first petal), Sl St into next large loop, Ch 3, DC x 3 (in same space as Sl St), Sl St in same large loop, continue to the end of the entire length of your Ch's from row #1 (end with a Sl St in the last large loop).  Leave the last loop and then cut the yarn so that it is 15-20 inches long.  Place your hook back in the last loop and Ch 1.  Then pull that loop until the yarn end that you just cut comes through, pull in snug, this will tie off your work.  Then sew in the short piece of yarn into your project (sew it approximately 2" and then trim the remaining yarn with your scissors).
5. Thread the remaining long piece of yarn into a yarn needle (they have a larger hole to put yarn in).  Lay your project in front of you so that the long yarn is coming out of the left side.   Begin to tightly roll it onto itself, roll from left to right, make sure the bottom row of chain stitches (row #1) is staying even as you roll it.  Roll it about 3 times and then take your needle and sew from one side of the bottom SC through to the other and then sew it back to the other side, do this twice. 
6. Turn your project upside down so that the bottom is facing up (row #1 should be on top and row #4 on the bottom).
7. Start wrapping the remaining 'tail' around the middle of the flower (which you made in step #5), as you wrap, slightly lower the 'tail' so that your first row of chain stitches (row #1) is wrapping just below your row of single crochet (row #2) on the middle of the flower.
8. Once you've wrapped the tail about 1/4 of the way around the center part of the flower, stop wrapping it, twist the 'tail' petals slightly towards you so that it is almost perpendicular to the center part of the flower (this makes it lay flatter), and then use your needle to sew the 'tail' to the center.  Begin sewing from the center piece, going in to the bottom of the single crochet (row #2 on the center piece) and coming up through the chain (row #1 on the 'tail'). Continue slowly wrapping, twisting, and sewing, be sure to flip the flower over to the right side as you go along to be sure it is looking good.  Do this all the way around until you have finished the flower.
9. Keep the needle in your remaining yarn end and use it to attach the flower to your beanie.

Here is the instructional video for this flower by the same woman who did the instructional video for the beanie.  I really enjoy her video's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94vYpcZ3W64&feature=player_embedded#!

If you have any questions, please feel free to send them in the comment section below and I will do my best to answer them as quickly as possible.

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern and most of all that you enjoy your new beanie!

Ebroidered Baby Bag

This summer I made an embroidered baby bag for a dear friend who was pregnant with her 4th child.  I was new to the idea of embroidering, so this is not perfect, but I had fun and it was a nice personal gift to give.

To make a similar bag, you will need the following supplies:
 

• a canvas bag 

• If you are lucky, you can find them occasionally at the dollar store
• Another Option is to find them online.  I found some at http://cheaptotes.com/canvas_teachers_tote.html 
• Design Template - *See below
• Embroidery Floss (You select the colors based on your design)
• Embroidery Needle
• Scissors
• Fabric Disappearing Ink Pen (optional)

 
* You can either free hand your design on the bag, draw it in advance with a pencil or disappearing ink pen, or copy it with a printout of a picture and some carbon paper.

Once you've settled on a design, you will want to mark it out on your bag and select the correct floss colors for the project.

I have used pencil in the past for outlining, however this time I had a pen with disappearing ink so I used it instead.  (A hint if you use the pen, work in small sections because if you take too long to finish embroidering, your pen mark may have already disappeared.)

Because the bag in this photo did come from the dollar store, it was thin.  If I had to do it over again, I would have used stabilizer and I also would have used darker floss on the name (it is hard to tell but the name on the bag is Atticus...for my good friends new baby boy!).

In case you wondered, the design above was done mostly with a back stitch, but the heart was done with the satin stitch.  


Here is a link to a site with video tutorials for several different embroidery stitches, the site is called Mary Corbet's Needle 'N Thread. http://www.needlenthread.com/videos


Enjoy!

Mum Purse - Hand Ebroidery for Beginners

I decided to make a quick project to leave with my little Cousin Grace recently.  Since she is a little girl, what better project that a little purse?

You will need: 

• felt (I used dark grey)
• embroidery thread 
• I used 4 colors - white, blue, green, yellow, and thick dark grey (to match the color of the felt)
• a button
• an embroidery needle.

Directions:

• Cut the following shapes out of thick felt.  (The second shape is the same width and shape as the first with an additional length at the top with rounded corners for the top flap of the purse that will fold over and button to the front of the purse.)

• #1 (front)      
• #2 (back)

• 1.      Embroider the design on the front piece.  (I used white for the flower petals, yellow for the center of the flower, blue for the stem, green for the leaves, blue for the top edge border, and a matching thick grey thread for the strap)  Back Stitch the lines and use a french knot for the dots in the center of the flower.

•  2.      On the back piece, back stitch the border around the top edge and the buttonhole with white floss.

 

 

•  3.      With the right sides facing each other, place the front and back pieces together, aligning the bottoms.  Back stitch the side and bottom seams with grey floss.

   

• 4.      Back stitch the corners with grey floss.

 

• 5.      For the strap, cut two 5” pieces of grey cord and nine 60” pieces.  Lay the 60” pices side by side.  Secure one end by wrapping and then knotting a 5” pice around them.  Tape that end to a table or a counter as shown in the photo below.  Divide the pieces into three equal groups then braid them to within 1” from the end.  Secure the other end of the braid.  Sew the ends of the strap to the side seam with grey floss.

 

• 6.      Turn the purse right side out.  Attach the button to the front with grey floss.

 

I hope you Enjoy making this fun little purse, 

I know I did!

 

 Stitches Used:

Back Stitch

  

 

French Knot

 

This project was made from a kit that I purchased from a local craft store.  You can order the same kit with these instructions and all the supplies from 

at Dimensions Needlecrafts http://needlecrafts.eksuccessbrands.com/Product/Mum+Purse.aspx