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Saturday, February 28, 2015

Crocheting everywhere

Hello,

My little Angel has got a rather busy social life. We are lucky enough here; there are lots of activities for little ones to choose from, and for reasonable price. When she was smaller, I usually had to participate as well – swimming classes (more like water exercising) and art classes (more like drawing, gluing, cutting etc. under professional supervision). Angel loves it all. Now I’m just taking her where she needs to be and waiting and crocheting. At first I was getting puzzled looks, but I think they got use to it now. It’s unusual in this country that a “young” woman is crocheting. They are all picturing very old ladies siting in front of the fireplace (I love fireplaces, but I don’t consider myself old yet – I don’t think I ever will). I think it’s time to change that. Ok, I’m just going to try.
I have to admit I’m officially a crocheting addict. I take my yarn and hook, and sometimes knitting everywhere.
I was always putting my crocheting to different bags and purses, sometimes forgetting to take extra yarn or needle or scissors, so I made myself a tote bag for my crocheting only. I can carry it over the shoulder or in my hand and it’s in my favorite grey color.



I made simple pattern for you. I hope you find it as practical as I did.

Grey tote bag pattern






You need:
For size cca 40cm x 40cm [16” x 16”]
I used 220 grams of 100% acrylic yarn, but any yarn would be fine as long as it would suites your purpose. You can make the tote bigger or smaller by adding or removing the rows.
H/5mm and G/4mm crochet hook
Tapestry needle




Terms/Abbreviations: I used US terminology
ch    chain 
slst  slip stitch
sk    skip 
sc    single crochet
dc    double crochet 
st     stitch 

Tote: 5mm hook
Start with 38 chains + 3ch (counts as a dc)
Row 1: Ds to every ch (39dcs)
Row 2 – 26 : ch3, turn, continue according to the chart below 


















































Row 27: ch3, 13 dcs, sk 11 spaces, ch 10, 14dc’s, turn
Row 28: Continue the same way, crochet 13 dcs into 10-ch space from previous row (39dcs).
Row 29: 39 dcs




Turn the bag and start at the bottom again. The original row of chain is your starting point. Repeat rows 1 – 29.















Sides:
Crochet the sides together with row of scs ( usually 2scs in to dc from side) from the right side.

Row 30: Make row of scs all around the top of the bag. (78scs).












Handle: 4mm hook
6scs from the right side, *ch1, turn, 6scs*, keep repeating **– I did 106 rows. You can adjust the handle by adding or removing the rows.








Finishing: 
So there it is. A simple tote bag, and in moderation this pattern can be used for all sorts of totes, bags or purses.
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3D flower pattern

















































Size cca 8cm/3,2”

You need: 
Couple of meters of any suitable Yarn 
Crochet hook (I used G/4mm)
Yarn Needle
Nice buttons or beads. Simply anything you would like to decorate your flower with.

Terms/Abbreviations: I used US terminology
ch    chain 
slst  slip stitch
sc    single crochet
st     stitch 
beg  beginning
MR  magic ring


























You need to make three separate flowers:
Bottom flower:
Start with MR or ch 4, slst into first ch to form the ring
Row 1: ch1, 12sc in MR, slst., do not turn 
Row 2: *ch16, slst in next sc*, repeat**, ( 12 16-chain loops )
Fasten the ends

Middle flower:
Start with MR or ch 4, slst into first ch to form the ring
Row 1: ch1, 12sc in MR, slst., do not turn 
Row 2: *ch14, slst in next sc*, repeat**, ( 12 14-chain loops )
Fasten the ends

Top flower:
Start with MR or ch 4, slst into first ch to form the ring
Row 1: ch1, 12sc in MR, slst., do not turn 
Row 2: *ch9, slst in next sc*, repeat**, ( 12 9-chain loops )
Fasten the ends




Finishing: 
Put the flowers on top of each other. Sew them together. Add a nice button or a bead to the middle. You can make the flower bigger or smaller by adding or removing the ch stitches. And there it is, simple, pretty and quick to do. You can use it for all sorts of projects. 






If you come up with any problems or difficulties, write to me, I’ll be more than happy to help.

Have very nice weekend 
Clara

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Big Granny Purse

As a promised, I put together my version of granny purse finally.
I got inspired by Stripped bag I found on Ravelry.



















































Big Granny Purse Pattern

Size really depends on type of material and size of hook you using, which is up to you.

You need: 
I used 1100 grams (2425lb) / 3410 meters (3729 yards) of 100% cotton suitable for G/4mm crochet hook
Crochet hook E/3,5mm for edges and H/5mm for the body of the purse
Yarn Needle 
Round Bamboo handles 20cm / 8” 
Nice buttons, little flowers or beads. Simply anything you would like to decorate your purse with.

Terms/Abbreviations: I used US terminology
ch       chain 
slst     slip stitch
sc        single crochet
dc       double crochet 
st        stitch 
sk       skip

Purse body:

























Ch5, sc into 2nd ch from the hook, sc into next 3 st
Round 1: ch3, 2dc in same st, ch1, 3dc, ch1, 3dc all into same place to form the corner, ch1, sk 2ch, 3dc-ch1-3dc-ch1-3dc into last st, ch1, sk 2ch, slst in 3rd  ch from starting group of chains.
Round 6 - 41: from now on I repeated round 1.
All together I made 41 rounds, randomly selecting 10 colors.  Finished size of the rectangle was cca 83cm/ 78cm (33”/31”).


























 

Before I crocheted the edges, I put a lining in the purse. I used soft 100% t-shirt cotton and sewed it in by hand. Be careful not to sew the lining right to the edge – you need little space to finish the edges. You can use sewing machine, or just do not line the purse. It is optional.

























I started with the sides following this pattern chart, but I did 10 rows of sc’s only - 3cm/1.2” high. I didn’t like to fold it.

For the handle I made 14 rows of sc’s - 4cm/1.6”high. The height of this piece depends on how thick are the handles you have. Leave a long end to sew the piece around the handle.


























Now the purse is ready to be decorated. I used this flower pattern, but feel free to be much more creative than I was. I just thought there are enough colors on my purse.



















































If you come up with any problems or difficulties, write to me, and I’ll be more than happy to help.
Clara

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentines day

Thank you all for visiting my blog and wishing you all a Happy Valentines Day.

























I’m sending you all my heart.

Angel and me arranged some Valentine flowers for you too.


























































As you can see the winter was rather generous on snow this year.

























It makes it so much fun to travel to nursery these days.



















































Finally I have finished my knitted heart shawl. The length is 150cm/60’’and height is 90cm/36’’. It was big challenge for me since I’m really not a knitter, but I liked it. I even think I may do some more knitting in future, but crocheting is crocheting, at least for me.













































































Inspired by all the heart business around me, I made my own pretty heart.






































Pretty heart pattern





























1) Crochet 17 sc’s around 2cm/0.8’’ ring. (I used simple key ring). Slst to finish the round
2) Ch2, dc in the same stich//4tr in next // tr in next // 2dc’s // hdc in next four //dc-ch-tr-ch-dc in next //hdc in next four // 2dc’s in next // tr  in next //4tr in next // dc-ch2 in next // slst.
Leave a long tail so you can add a bead, bell, or anything else you wish to decorate your heart with.

And I also found another lacy heart chart, which may interest you.

Another heart chart

















































Another heart chart – small heart
Cca 9 cm ( 3,6“) high.

You need:
Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet (size 10), or any kind of suitable cotton
Crochet hook 1.25mm – 1.5mm
Tapestry needle

Chart Key
space   (ch 1, skip 1 sts, dc in dc)
block   (dc in dc, dc in next dc or in next space)

Stitches used: (US terminology used here)
(ch)      chain 
(dc)      double crochet 
(slst.)    slip stitch 
(sp)       space    

Row 1: ch 25 
Row 2: dc into 4th ch from the hook, 4dc in next 4ch, 8 spaces, dcs in last three ch, turn
Row 3: ch 3, 2dc in next two dcs, 8 spaces, dcs in last five dcs, ch 6, turn,
Row 4: dc into 4th ch from the hook, 3dc in next 3ch, dc in last dc of previous row (that’s how you increase) and continue according to the chart. 
Row 12: slst. over 4 dc from previous row (that’s how you decrease), ch 3, dc in sp, dc in dc, dc in sp, dc in dc and continue row 12 and the rest of the lace according to the chart.
Repeat as many times as needed, until you reach the length required.
*********************************

Another heart chart – big heart
Cca 16 cm (6,4“) high - The size may vary slightly depending on type and/or thickness of thread you using

You need:
Any kind of cotton suitable for 2mm crochet hook 
Tapestry needle

Chart Key
space   (ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in dc)
block   (dc in dc, dc in next dcs or in next spaces)

Stitches used: (US terminology used here)
(ch)      chain 
(dc)      double crochet 
(slst.)    slip stitch 
(sp)       space    

Row 1: ch 35 
Row 2: dc into 4th ch from the hook, 6dc in next 6ch, 8 spaces, dcs in last three ch, turn
Row 3: ch 3, 2dc in next two dcs, 8 spaces, dcs in last seven dcs, ch 8, turn,
Row 4: dc into 4th ch from the hook, 5dc in next 5ch, dc in last dc of previous row (that’s how you increase) and continue according to the chart. 
Row 12: slst. over 6 dc from previous row (that’s how you decrease), ch 3, 2dc in sp, dc in dc, 2dc in sp, dc in dc and continue row 12 and the rest of the lace according to the chart.
Repeat as many times as needed, until you reach the length required.

If you come up with any problems or difficulties, write to me, I’ll be more than happy to help.
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Lots of love to everybody, and not today only.
Clara


Saturday, February 7, 2015

Filet borders

Good evening,
I can’t help but share with you my newest retro style bag/purse I just finished. I found the pattern for something similar and I had to do it. It took me less than week, crocheting and sewing until late at night, just to finish it.




























I’m getting together my own pattern and I promise to post it as soon as I finish it.
It’s beautiful; I’m so exited.


Filet charts No.1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The following two patterns for filet crocheting are worked in a little bit different way than the standard borders or laces.

























Filet flowers chart (no.1)

























Cca 10 cm ( 4“) high.
You need:
Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet (size 10), or any kind of suitable cotton
Crochet hook 1.25mm – 1.5mm
Tapestry needle

Chart Key
space/window   (ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in dc)
block   (dc in dc, dc in next dcs or in next spaces)

Stitches used: (US terminology used here)
(ch)      chain 
(dc)      double crochet 
(slst.)    slip stitch 
(sp)       space    

First you have to measure the length of the shelf or the space you need the lace for. Do as many ch as needed plus 12ch on each end – the 12ch are optional. You need 60ch for one flower. 
Start at the bottom left hand corner as marked with the arrow, and follow the chart, repeating the pattern as marked.


























Filet roses chart (no.5)

















Cca 9,5 cm ( 3,8“) high.
You need to work as above


















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The next three borders/laces you just repeat the pattern as long as needed for your project.

No.2 chart /Cca 4,5 cm ( 1,8“) high.
No.3 chart /Cca 4,5 cm ( 1,8“) high.




























You need:
Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet (size 10), or any kind of suitable cotton
Crochet hook 1.25mm – 1.5mm
Tapestry needle

Stitches used: (US terminology used here)
(ch)      chain 
(sc)       single crochet
(dc)      double crochet 
(slst.)    slip stitch 
(tr)       treble crochet
(dtr)     double treble crochet







































































































No.4 chart /Cca 5 cm ( 2“) high.

































































If you come up with any problems or difficulties, write to me, I’ll be more than happy to help.
Have nice evening 
Clara