Hello Friends! Is it snowing where you are? Here in north central Massachusetts we are in the middle of the second big storm of the new year (a blizzardette you might call it). Of course snow days mean plenty of time for making. That's why I want to share this sweet little heart pattern with you. Made in just four rounds, you can crochet a whole pile of them in one snowy afternoon. The original pattern was posted a few years agoin this post. I found that no matter how many times I made it, I would loose my place in the pattern. To make it easier, I edited the instructions so they are written out stitch by stitch and line by line. Now it is much more user friendly! These hearts motifs are incredibly versatile and can be made with any yarn / hook combination. I've used worsted wool to make coasters, sewn two together to make sachets, and even made them out of thread and glued them to cardstock to make very special valentines! The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Give it a try and have some fun! I'd love to see what you come up with. Be sure and share your creations with me on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me. Until next time friends, Be blessed and stitch with love!
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Greetings Friends! This is one of my favorite projects, and I know you're going to like it too! I'm all about finding new ways to use what I have around the house. I'm not really a hoarder, but I hang on to a lot of things that I think might have potential - someday. This earring holder is a perfect example of turning forgotten items into something special. For a long time I had the idea about making some sort of holder for all of the earrings that I have.using a picture frame. Writing an article for the Craftsy Blog about different ways that you can display your crochet work gave me a chance to do some experimenting. I tried wrapping string around cardboard and sliding it in a frame, but it didn't have the look I wanted. Eventually I stumbled across a piece of crochet lace. It actually is one of my early pieces of thread work that I had abandoned. A mistake in the border made it unusable for it's original purpose - a pillow top. But, when I held the lace together with one of the old frames I knew I was on to something. The glass was missing and the finish flaking off, but it had an undeniable charm. It really was easy to put together. I found a piece of fabric (actually an old skirt) that matched the lace. I wrapped it around a piece of cardboard I cut to fit inside the frame. Then I stretched the lace over the fabric and laid it inside the frame. It fit nice and snuggly. The front looked perfect, but the back was a big mess. No one will ever see it, but things like that really bother me! I secured everything with packing tape. Then I cut a piece of cardboard from a cereal box to cover the back. I used craft adhesive (a super strong epoxy like glue) to attach the cardboard to the frame. I clamped it all together and let it dry overnight. Now I have a lovely place to display all of my earrings. One of my favorite things about making jewelry is having pieces that match or complement pretty much everything in my wardrobe! My shabby chic lace holder now proudly sits on top of my bureau making all my earrings easy to see. Now the hard part is deciding what pair I want to wear! Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me! Until next time friends, Be Blessed and Stitch with Love! Using things you have at home, make a mini blocking board that's perfect for stiffening your small crochet lace pieces!Greetings Friends! Having the right tools is important to any craft or hobby. However, that often means spending money! If you're like me, that's not always an option. and even if you have the means to buy what you need, that doesn't help you when you want it right now! When you're blocking or stiffening crochet lace you don't need a giant blocking board. You also may not want to get the stiffening solution all over your "good" board. Why not make one? I've used this method throughout the years with great results. Here's what you do:: 1) Gather your materials. You need: A flat(ish) box - maybe a few inches high. The size of your box, is the size of your board, so consider what you'll be blocking. Some extra pieces of cardboard (I cut up another box). Make sure it's the nice corrugated cardboard, not the flat stuff from a cereal box. Scissors, tape and a disposable plastic table cloth. For some reason I have a stash of these table clothes. Not sure why, but there you go! Don't have one? Don't worry, I've also used aluminum foil, wax paper and plastic wrap. 2) Cut your extra cardboard the same size as your box. This gives your board stability and makes it easier to push the pins into. I used two layers and then secured them with tape on each side. 3) Wrap your box. Cut your table cloth so it will cover the box a few times. (If you're using foil, plastic wrap or wax paper use a few layers. They'll last for several uses, just make sure you secure it tightly.) Wrap it up just like a present! Tape the ends firmly and voila! you're ready to get busy blocking those ornaments! That's all there is to it. I think having the right tools is important, but it's so easy to stress over having the same one that the "professionals" are using. Let's not get caught up in the gadgets! We're creative people, right? and when we can make our own that does the same thing - I say hooray! After all. it's about the making and the end result., not about the tools!
Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me! Until next time friends, Be Blessed and Stitch with Love! Greetings Friends! Welcome to the Christmas season! Now that Thanksgiving (in the US) is only a few weeks away we are feeling it in earnest. In this (sometimes) overly politically correct world I often feel afraid to say the "C" word! Since I work with the public, I'm conditioned to say, "Happy Holidays" and "Enjoy the Season"! So boy am I excited to have the opportunity to shout it out loud in today's post about Edie Eckman's new book Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home & Tree. Rest assured you'll find projects that cross over and would be appropriate in any holiday home, but for the most part this one is about decking the halls for the big day - December 25! What's inside: stockings, ornaments, garlands and more Edie is one of my favorite designers. I've come to rely on her books for their bounty of information and consistent quality. This collection does not disappoint. Although there are only 18 patterns, they lend themselves to being made with different yarns in various colors for unlimited versions of the original. This is a pattern book - not a how to book, and while the lesser known stitches are clearly explained, a basic knowledge of crochet is needed. The Hearth section features 9 unique stocking patterns. It is my experience that many crocheters underestimate their skill level and shy away from anything not labeled "beginner". The small size of these projects offers a great opportunity to be bold and try something new! The Peppermint Pinstripes Stocking has the look of complex colorwork and is actually made using just the single crochet and chain stitch! The Flame Stitch Stocking is intriguing and looks quite complicated, but according to the instructions it is, "easy to learn and works up in a snap!" Here's a look at what I made: I always like to try at least one pattern from a book I'm reviewing. This time I made a few! I started with one of the mini mittens from the Advent Garland. This is such a fun pattern. Mini mittens and stockings to count down the days to Christmas! I found it easy to follow and an excellent way to use bits and scraps of leftover yarn. Next I made snowflakes. There are several to choose from. Some are made with thread and others with yarn. This is another example of the flexibility of the patterns. I love to make snowflakes and then stiffen them with glue. I use them as ornaments for the tree, to decorate gifts, or include them with cards. Charts are included with all of the snowflakes, as well as with many other patterns. Finally I made the Small Angel Ornament. Although the pattern calls for 2 strands of extra fine merino held together I opted for thread. As you can see, she came out just fine. A wee bit smaller, but lovely just the same.
Are you ready for some Christmas Crochet? |
Greetings! Before I get started I want to take a moment to thank all of you who participated in the recent giveaway. I'm very thankful for the relationships that I've established with the various publishers. Through their generosity I've been introduced to many talented designers and I love being able to "pay it forward" by sharing with you not only the books but notions that I make and collect. It's always a great experience and has helped me connect with some amazing people! |
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