Tropical Sunset Cuff Pattern

 

Hello all.

My newest cuff that I named tropical sunset. Name came naturally from the selected color combo and I do started imagining summer nights at the beach while choosing the colors for this one. 

As with all my bohemian cuffs, I played with all sorts of beads and sequins to make it unique and desirable. 

I am sure it would fit a princess from the Arabian nights.

Pattern in the works.

Easter Home Decorating Ideas

 

 

How is your Easter home decorating going? 

In our household it is different every year. I do use toys and decor I've bought during the years, but see that the place feels different every year, and every year I never miss to buy something small that would fit the existing menagerie. This year I also got a couple of ornaments from my mom - which I showed in my last post. 

When decorating for holidays, I am a person to have several places scene-scaped rather than have the whole house decorated. 

What about you? Do you overdecorate or not? 

Check out my Easter board for credits to  these images and more inspiration.

Easter Egg Flower Pods - free pattern

 

Back in 2013, I made my first Easter basket pattern which has been loved many times so far and it continues to rank well in my shop. The tradition of making egg cozies started then and there (and with a skip of a year or not )I am inclined to continue this tradition until I feel differently about it.

What is different this time is that this pattern is completely free. I always try to make unusual cozies and while brainstorming ideas I thought of a poppy pod. And it all started from there. So, let's make it!

 Egg Flowered Pods Pattern

For the cozies I used sport yarn and 1.9 mm steel hook.
For the flowers I used embroidery floss and a 1.7mm steel hook.
Also you need sewing thread and needle to sew the flowers on. 

The pattern below is for small eggs (53-63gr.).
Used stitches: chain (ch), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), single crochet 2 together (sc2tog), slip stitch (sl st).

Foundation: Ch 5 and join to make a ring.
Rnd 1:  sc 6 in ring.
Rnd 2: sc2 in all stitches (12)
Rnd 3: repeat rnd 2 (24)
Rnd 4: sc1 all (24)
Rnd 5: sc1, sc2 (36)

Rnd 6: rep. rnd 5 (54)
Rnd 7: sc 1(54)

Rnd 9: sc2tog (36)
Rnd 10: sc2tog (18) 
If making it with round 10 leaves you with a small opening, than repeat rnd 9 once more and end the pod there.
Don't cut yarn. You'll be making the leaves.

Before we start, please note that I made the leaves different and not two are the same in stitch count. For example, I made the first with 7 stitches, the next one 11, the third 9 and so one. The leaves shouldn't be very long because they will slop down. Also, while we are at them, when you are done, you can either wash them with a sprinkle of starch or spray them with fabric stiffener so that the leaves stay upright. 

Leaves
Ch 7 and starting from the second st from hook, sl st in first 2 st, then hdc1 in remaining 4. Sl st it in the next st, sc in the next to it. Sl st in the next and chain 11. Repeat the leaf pattern (sl st in 1st two st, hdc1 in remaining). Repeat making different sized leaves until you finish the round. 

Now onto the flowers. 

Using all the strands of the floss, ch 5 and sl st in the 1st st. Ch 5 and sl st in the 1st st of that chain. Repeat working this pattern until you have 5 such petals. Join the last one with the first one with a sl st. Tie both tails in a tight knot twice, thread the tails and weave them through. Work on the color arrangement.

 Thread a sewing thread and sew the flowers on. And you are done!

So, how do you like them?

I am going to gift these to my nieces and nephews this Easter. Maybe make some for my mom. She always makes an Easter village on her chest /stand in the living room so we'll see if these fit the scenery. 

Also I will be including this pattern as a gift with all my other paid patterns for Easter cozies if you are interested in having a printable copy, or as a free download on ravelry.

1.Easter Egg Basket 2. Easter Gift Basket 3. Easter Tulip Cozy  4. The Damsel and the Unicorn

On Old Cuffs and New Pendants

 

In my journey as a crochet jewelry and accessories designer, I've come to learn that some crochet pieces rank better than others. Such are my cuffs and bracelets which always strike a chord with a wide audience and instantly become best-sellers.

It is no secret I too love making them and wearing them dearly, regardless of the material they are made.  Which brings me to the cuff from this post.

This simple beauty was among the first ones made - cannot even recall if I have ever posted about it, but it is still one of the dearest. I (mostly) own every cuff I have ever made and though this one is followed by many beaded and awesomely decorated beauties, this plain and dull cuff remains a favourite.

Whenever I work on a new model of a cuff / bracelet - which I am right now, I always take out the old ones to remind myself of the patterns and I pay attention that no pattern repeats with the new cuff. Hence, it was then when I decided this oldie needs a slight refreshment without disturbing it greatly and added this pendant, which I think perfectly suits it. I added it by attaching it to the cuff with a jump ring so that I could easily take it off when the cuff needs to be washed.

Yes, it is a bit shabby and worn out, but I see it will be still loved in the future.  

My new cuff is already made, but I am a bit lazy with the beading. Hopefully, it will be done soon.

Monday Inspiration - 1950s

I love it when the week starts with a positive vibe and today was one such day! 

So, wishing you a happy start of the week, here's a snippet of inspiration for my collection, which I am glad to report is slowly building up. I don't rush it and work on it slowly and when my full time job does not drain all my energies (which it has - lately). This means I have no idea when it will be finished -time wise - but mid May sounds just about right. 

Check out my 1950s board to find the credits of all the images I've included here.

 

Sunrise Necklace - mixed media necklace

Spring cleaning my ever-growing crochet / craft stash, I came upon my embroidered patches and wanted to really use them - so here you are looking at one of my latest plays with embroidery floss. 

I attached the embroidered pendant to the crochet ties and added a motley ensemble of beads to make a visual continuity of it.

Cannot wait to use the others for some ideas I have swirling in my head. Let see how that goes.

Free Crochet Easter Decor Patterns

Crochet Sheep

Easter - the time of joy and celebration! It has always been treasured as such both in our household and on the blog.

This year, traditionally hand-picking projects from the internet, I leaned towards amigurumi Easter toys, which would be just great to use as Easter decor around the house and make children's excitement even greater.

 

Easter Chick

 Easter Eggs

 

Easter Bunny

More of my Easter roundups. 

Blueprint and the Power of Creating

 

The Baby Blanket That Will Never Be

Remember Craftsy?

It has experienced a makeover and now it changed into Blueprint. 

Their mission is simple: spread inspiration, offer expert instruction and supplies we need to confidently tackle any creative project from start to finish. They have certainly taken crafting to a new, exciting level. 

I was honored to be included into their top ten crochet blog list. Check it out here.

DIY T-Shirt Refashion

 

 

Hello, hello!

I've been wanting to show you this t-shirt refashion for quite a while now, even wanted to film a video of me refashioning it, but life laughed out loudly right into my face and here I am today with a plain old post instead. It is a super weekend project!

First let me tell you that I have plenty of plain cotton t-shirts which I usually wear with my crochet (tube) necklaces and for them a plain shirt is just the right thing. However, I got bored with this particular one. Many washings forward it turned from a sweet cookie like pink into this greyish / dusty rose hue, so I thought enough is enough and decided to uplift it. 

I didn't have a particular design for it. I knew I wanted to have a mix of crochet and fabric flowers, so I gathered my lefties. 

This post does not include all the exact patterns for the flowers, but check the ones I am linking below. 

 

Flower + Leaf Patterns

  

Tulle (or fabric / lace ribbon) rosette

Irish flower

Forget me not

Daisy

Mini Flower

Rosette

Crochet Rose

Six-Petalled Flower

Crochet Leaves

Crochet chain

Other (optional) materials: lace, ribbon, tulle, beads / sequins. 

Please note that the shirt should be of sturdy / strong cotton so that it can take the weight of the crochet ensemble, otherwise it will pull it down.  

1. When you have everything ready, design the look. Play and arrange everything you have, work them around until you are satisfied with the look. 
2. Next, pin everything down. First the pieces that will be the foundation. Sew them on. 
3. Then pile the rest on / around it, pin them and sew them. 
 

I could've added more flowers and make it richer, but this time I aimed at a more delicate and softer look, so I am satisfied how it turned out. 

Spring cleaning my closet I selected a couple of other shirts I want to try and refashion them too, but we'll see how that goes (threating life with my fist up!). 

Crochet Calculator

 Free Guadalupe Pattern

Have you had a crochet gift project on mind and wondered if you could get it finished on time? Especially when the holidays are pressing in? 
Well, fret and worry no more, because Love Crochet have the best tool for you!

Let me introduce you to their Crochet Calculator! It's an awesome tool that calculates how long it will take you to crochet projects by entering simple data like your skill level and hours you crochet in a week. Also, I must mention that they have a mind-blowing library of both paid and free patterns you would certainly like to browse through.

You can also find me"there. 

Have fun!

 

Crochet Top

Place Nationale - Inspiring Brand

 

It was at Anthropologie that I first laid eyes on these gorgeous creations in crochet and white work. Needless to say I was instantly in love. These lovelies popped up in my pinterest feed now and then and I drooled over them, imagining they were mine.  It was quite a while later I decided to pursue a link and discovered the brand behind it!

They are called Place Nationale and this is their story:

"We’re a proud British brand & split our time between the UK and France.
We got our start selling a curated collection of vintage clothes and antique lace fabrics in London's Portobello Market.

Our early collections sold in London were an assembly of antique and vintage laces, and the brand was quickly picked up by international retailers.

To bring Place Nationale to a wider audience we now use this knowledge to develop our own pure cotton fabrics - faithfully reproducing vintage laces and embroidery using traditional skills and techniques.

Our collections remain true to the authenticity & intricacy of vintage fabrics, and to the bohemian romantic 70s look that customers recognize and love about Place Nationale."

I am infinitely in love!

Follow them on instagram if you fell in love too!