Christmas Hanging Ornament

 

So, after making the puffy little stars in the previous post, I turned them into this cute little decoration. It looks better in real life than in the photo, the lighting is not great but you get the idea. 

I took the stars, made a bow and rastened them all together. The bow is just two rows of hdc to a suitable length and then two slip stitch chains along the length to contrast. It looks quite sweet just like that, but I added the bells by making chains and then single crocheting round them to neaten and reinforce them. I added another ribbon in the contrasting combination just for kicks. 

It looked very pretty hanging on the door as in the photo. I'm quite happy with it. It's not sales quality, but I may make more for my etsy shop...

Oh, My Stars!

Following on from my previous post, the crocheted baubles, I have also made some very sweet little festive stars. They would look lovely as gift decorations, as part of another festive creation, like Christmas stockings or a decorative wreath. 

      

Starting with my favoured 'magic circle' I made 5 bobble stitches with a ch1 in between each. Pull the circle tight

Second round, in the centre of the top of each bobble: 3dc, ch1, 3dc, ch1. (Makes a small pentagon) 

third round: around the first ch1 in the previous round: corners of pentagon) 3dc, ch3, 3dc. In the second ch1(flat side of pentagon): slip stitch. 

The first part (3dc, ch3, 3dc) creates the points of the star, the second part anchors these and I think gives better definition and makes the points more pro I ant than just going from one point to the other without the slip stitch inbetween. 

To complete these stars, I completed two each, used single crochets to stitch them together and stuffed them. I added a ch12 and secured the end with a slip stitch to make a loop for hanging or otherwise securing depending on how they might be used. 

Christmas is coming!

Ok, I've been playing with crochet baubles this week, cute cuddly decorations that can be used to embellish gifts, home made stockings or even just hang about the house or on the tree. 

 

I started with a 'magic circle', 20 hdc and pull tight. You could do the usual chain and do the hdc around that, but you can pull the circle tight, which I find is great for making stuffed items. For the first round I just hdc all the way round, 2nd round: one hdc in each of the first five, hdc twice in sixth, hdc one in the next five, two hdc in the next one and so on to the end. Repeated this for each of the following rows till there was 40 sts. Then did 4 rounds of 40 hdc. I reduced in a similar way for the next 3 rounds or so till I got back down to 20 st. (Hdc 5, decrease in next 2 sts, 5 hdc...) then one round of 20 then final round reduced in first 3 sts, next 3 sts etc till the end. Leaves a little hole, make sure right side is facing, if not, turn inside out and stuff. 

You can decorate anyway you like really. I did simple single crochet stripes and tried to make them look like regular plastic ones by putting a white top and loop on the top, just two rows of sc and a chain of 12 for the loop. This closes the top and just makes them look a bit more authentic. 

Crochet Button Flowers

 

So cute! I had a pack of 'craft buttons' in my sewing box, a mixture of different shapes and sizes and styles, all variations of red and some of this left over yarn from the bias scarf I made a few weeks ago. With the buttons with big enough holes, I could just crochet through the them then chain 3, do this 4 times and then join up as a ring around the button. Second round, DC 6 around each chain of three and slip stitch to pull petal into shape. 

For smaller buttons with smaller holes I just threaded the yarn through each hole and then used these as anchors for the chain around the button. 

They look very pretty in real life and would make lovely embellishments for hair clips, hair bands, hats etc, or even brooches/wrap pins. 

Crochet Cast On

I've decided I love the crochet cast on method! 

crochet cast on

 

It gives a lovely soft edge to scarves and shawls and items that don't require a stretchy-type top. I'd probably stick to my traditional for socks, sleeves etc 

It's also great if you are planning a crochet edging, makes it simpler to pick up stitches...

Red and Black Sculls

I have a friend, she is currently coming to the end of chemo for the treatment of breast cancer. She is a special lady, so strong and independent, a tiny lady that likes to wield a blacksmith's hammer on the weekend. For over 12 months she has fought hard to retain her identity and not be defined by the illness she is in combat with. Over the winter I wanted her to keep the chills out and have a real comforter of a scarf for those days when she needed to bunker down at home. I found this pattern: Solid Body Scull Scarf on stitchnoir.com and thought it was perfect for her - red and black with sculls, it's her to a tee! 

 

I made two panels of three sculls and crocheted them together so that the sculls sat upright on both sides when the scarf is worn. 

I used one (and a bit) of one of those 'one ball one scarf' balls of yarn, they are 150g and I used a little more, but essentially your scarf can be as long as you like - it's yor scarf after all! 

I also used an over sized hook which gave a looser, softer feeling and the sculls looked better than when I tried with the correct size for the yarn being used. 

It took a bit of getting used to, but once I understood it, it was a great pattern, I enjoyed making it and it was quick too! 

Textured Buttoned Cowl

In an attempt to improve my crocheting skills, learn new techniques, I scoured Pinterest and Craftsy for ideas and became totally cowl obsessed! I had some beautiful yarn (Moda Vera Hudson) and thought it would be perfect for a chunky, snugly cowl. I was drawn to the buttoned style due to it being versitile and could possibly look different every time it was worn. 

  

I didn't have any buttons that I liked, so I crocheted some out of left over yarn. 

I created a magic circle, a number of double crochets into it. Pulled the circle as tight as possible and hey presto. The number of double crochets dictate how firm/strong the button will be, the more the better. They can be embellished to strengthen them with stitching, embroidery etc. 

This cowl can be purchased from my Etsy shop, TheWarpedShed. 

The pattern for the cowl itself came free from Craftsy.com:

Row 1 - Chain 100

Row 2 - 3rd chain from hook blo DC all across. Chain 2, turn

Row 3 - DC in blo above 1st DC and all the way across (make sure you DC in last stitch which is the chain 2. In the last chain 2 go through both loops. Not just back loop) chain 2, turn.

Row 4 - DC in blo above 1st DC and all the way across (make sure you DC in last stitch which is the chain 2. In the last chain 2 go through both loops. Not just back loop) chain 2, turn.

Row 5 - BPDC (Back post double crochet) Around first DC 2 times. Skip next DC and repeat BPDC 2 times every 2nd DC. (last chain 2 just do DC through both loop. Chain 2 turn

Row 6 - BPDC 2 times around second BPDC skip next BPDC and repeat across (last chain 2 DC through both loops.) Chain 2 and turn.

Row 7 - BPDC around First BPDC FPDC (Front post double crochet) around next repeat to the end. (Again make sure to DC through both loops of last chain 2) chain 2 turn

Row 8 - HDC in blo above first BPDC. HDC in blo in every stitch across. (make sure in last chain 2 go through both loops with HDC) Chain 2 turn

Row 9 - repeat row 8 HDC in blo each stitch across including last chain 2 turn, chain 2 Row 10 - repeat row 8 Again
Rows 11, 12 and 13 - repeat rows 5, 6 and 7
Rows 14, 15 and 16 - repeat rows 8, 9 and 10.

Rows 17, 18 and 19 - repeat row 5, 6 and 7
Rows 20, 21 and 22 - repeat rows 8, 9 and 10
Rows 23, 24 and 25 - repeat rows 5, 6 and 7
Row 26 - DC all across in blo don't forget last chain 2, chain 2, turn Row 27 and 28 -Repeat row 26

Finally, 1 SC all around your cowl to give it a nice finish. Do 3 SC in each corner, tie off your ends and weave them in. add your buttons where you want them. And your done.