Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Vintage Romance





Well,  I found myself in a situation recently that is similar to the one of me as a little girl.  I didn't know whether to "ran" or "clamb".  I had so many ideas, so many things to do, so many things I didn't know how to do . . . you get the picture. Of course, people watching the scenario wonder why you don't just make a decision, but that is not always so easy.

I decided to drop back and work on something that made me feel good, so I could relax for a while.  And as every crafter knows, no matter how much yarn or how many beads the people in your house think you have "hoarded," any new project deserves -- no demands -- new materials.  One can't just reuse and recycle all the time; one has to re-energize.  Ta da! (or is that A ha?) Off to Hobby Lobby!

I was drawn to the big balls of Bernat's wonderfully soft Handicrafter thread.  There were several lovely colors, but the "Touch" won my heart that day.  Ombre - different hues of the same color - has been trending for awhile now.  "Touch" - with different colors on the same thread - is actually variegated.  Both have always been special to me.  I suspect I share with most other crocheters the joy of colors changing in our fingers, and of choosing or designing patterns that highlight those changes.

The pink, blue, green, and white colors, are often used in crochet for baby, but I immediately thought of using this fine weight thread in something lacy, feminine, and romantic.

I think the bracelet, necklace, and earrings set turned out really pretty.  Here are the directions:

Materials:  

Handicrafter thread - Touch #34206
Steel crochet hook size 6
One 1/2 inch button for bracelet closure (can also string and bead chain attach toggle and clasp closure)
One large bead for necklace closure
One pair silver earrings wires
One silver "love" charm 

Stitches:

ch     chain
bch   bead chain
sc     single crochet
dc     double crochet
tr      treble crochet
fpsc  front post single crochet

DirectionsBracelet  [finished size 8 in.]

To begin, leave 5-6 inch end to attach button, ch 55

Rnd 1:  Sc in 2nd ch fr hk and in ea ch across, ch 1, 
             turn.      (55 sc)


Rnd 2:   Ch 2 across end of bracelet, sl st in 1st sc on 
              other side of bracelet; ch 1, sc in same sc, *  
              ch 3, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc, *  Rep * to * 
              across, end sc in last sc, ch 2, sl s in 1st on  
              1st sc other side of bracelet. 

Rnd 3:    Ch 1, sc in same sc, Rep * to * from Rnd 2 
               across and sc in last sc, ch 8 for button  
               loop, turn.

Rnd 4:    10 sc in ch 8 lp, sc in 1st sc, *(dc, ch 1, fpsc 
               in dc, tr, ch 1, fpsc in tr, dc, ch1, fpsc in dc)  
               [motif] all in next ch 3 lp, 2 sc in next lp, ch 
               1, 2 sc in next lp *  Rep * to * across, end 2 
               sc in last lp, sc in last sc, sl st in sc at the 
               end, work motif in ch 2 lp.

Rnd 5:    Continue across other side of bracelet:  sc in 
              1st sc, 2 sc in next lp, rep * to * from Rnd 4, 
              end 2 sc in last lp, sc in last sc, sl st in next    
              sc on end, work motif in ch 2 lp,sl st in next 
              sc, FO.  Sew button to bracelet end opposite 
              button loop.

DirectionsNecklace  [finished size 26 in.]

Follow directions and pattern as for bracelet except begin by chaining 88.

DirectionsEarrings 

To begin:  String earring wire facing away from you; Ch 7, slst to make a ring
Rnd 1: Ch 2, dc in ring, ch 1, fpsc around dc, ch 1
Rnd 2: TR, ch 1, fpsc around tr, ch 1  
Rnd 3:  DC, ch 1, fpsc around dc, ch 2; slst in next chain of ring (leave 3 chs unworked)
Rnd 4:  Slst ch, ch 1, bch earring hook facing wrong side, ch 1, sk ch, sl st last ch, FO  



Sunday, June 23, 2013

Patriotic Pendant Necklace

This is my first blog ever - YAY, of course - but what a journey it has been.  If you read my "Mama says" for this blog, you'll get it when I say that I may not be miserable, but I have been pretty unhappy trying to get to this point.  :)

For awhile there it seemed that crochet was a dying art, but when I started following crochet sites online I  was pleased to see that more and more young people are working in the craft. What was intimidating to me was the fact that although I've been crocheting for 50 years, I am a toddler when it comes to blogging.  To paraphrase Mama, I knew just enough to be confused and overwhelmed.  Enter my son (I knew he'd come in handy if I kept him long enough) my hero to the rescue.  He is helping me so much - wow! 

Anyway, here it is -- my first blog -- and with Independence Day coming up, I want to share the pattern for my Patriotic Pendant Necklace.

Size:  Pendant - 2 1/4 "     Chain - 24 "

Materials:  Artiste craft thread (Hobby Lobby) - 1 skein each red and blue; 2 skeins white
                   Steel crochet hook, size 8
                   6/0 Czech glass beads:  15 red, 15 white/clear, 9 blue
                   1 silver pinch bail; 1 silver toggle/clasp

To begin:    String on to red:  15 red beads
                    String on to one white skein:15 white or clear beads
                    String on to blue:  3 blue beads
                    String on to second white skein:  alternating red, white, and blue beads (6 each),
                    toggle, and clasp

Pendant:

With red, Ch 5, slst to form ring; ch 1 

Rnd  1:        9 sc in ring, join with slst in first sc, ch3, turn.
Rnd  2:        Bead double crochet (bdc) in same st, (dc, bdc) in each st around, join, FO.     [18dc]
Rnd  3:        Join white in any dc, ch 1, sc in same st; ch 3, sk bdc, (sc in next dc, ch 3, sk bdc, sc
                    in next dc) around, join in first dc, ch 3, turn.
Rnd  4:        (Dc, bch, 2 dc, ch 1, dc) in first ch 3 sp; (2dc, bch, 2 dc, ch 1, dc) in each ch 3 sp
                    around,  join, turn.
Rnd  5:        Join blue in any ch 1 sp, ch 1, sc in sp, ch 6, sk dc and bch to next ch 1 sp, (sc in ch 1
                    sp, ch 6) around, join, ch 1, turn. 
Rnd 6:         * (4 sc, 1 bch, 4 sc) in first ch 6 sp, 8 sc in next 2 ch 6 spaces*, Rep* to * around,
                    join, FO, attach pinch bail behind any blue bead.

Chain:

Step  1:        With second white skein, ch 1, attach toggle (basically a bch), ch 210, bch clasp.
Step  2:        Sl st in 60 ch, *bead sl st in next ch, sl st in next 4 ch, bead sl st in next ch* Rep * to
                    * until 9 beads are attached.
Step  3:        Sl st in next 9 ch, bead sl st in next ch, Rep * to * from Step 2 until last 9 beads are                      attached.
Step  4:        Sl st in last 60 ch, join, FO, weave in ends.  Pull chain through bail and center on the
                    10 sl sts mid-chain.  Wear proudly on the 4th!

Hope the directions are clear and easy.  Any questions or problems, please contact me.   Here are pictures: Too stinkin' cute, right?




                  
Click Photo to Enlarge