Blooming Tube Necklaces

And, here they are! The blooming / flowering tube necklaces!

Making the tubes flower is extremely simple and what a game-changer! 

Now, I am even more tempted to try out the innumerous possibilities they offer.

I played with the two types of flowers as well as with the wooden and crocheted beads to create these lovely (nursing) necklaces.

 

The simple crochet tube pattern was upgraded with the pattern for these flowers, without change of the price. Find the pattern on etsy and ravelry.

The Cora Top - pattern release

Happy first day of fall! 

However, it seems I am still not done with summer because I wanted to show you another of my lace blouses. This is Cora. Made in a wonderful coral cotton yarn, using a repetitive and mesmerizing shell pattern.

 

More about the technical side of the pattern in my shops on: etsy, ravelry and payhip.

Playing with Tube Necklaces

Happy Monday crafty friends! 

As you can see from the pictures, I had yet another interesting play with my crochet tube necklaces. When I made the Freya necklace, I got that itch to bring these to a new level and make them more appealing. And it happened with a new batch of blooming tube necklaces.

 

I decided to freshen up my existing tube necklace pattern by adding the blooming instructions, which I believe is the touch that was truly needed.

As I am still editing some parts, the full reveal will be tomorrow.

Crochet Swatches Tagging

  

Making pattern swatches is what I love doing when I am in-between projects. It gives me peace of mind to see the yarn I want for a project works good with a certain pattern. 

 

After I make the swatch I always add a tag of the following things:

* Brand of yarn

* Weight  of yarn

* Hook size

* Gauge  (I sometimes leave this out if I want to try it with different yarn and relevant hook)

* Name of pattern / pattern repeats

Tagging swatches is extremely helpful when determining whether a pattern is suitable / good for a crochet garment for example. If I am not satisfied how a swatch looks like with a particular pattern, I try bigger (or smaller) weight of yarn. For me, the most important information on the tag is the pattern repeats, and that info has saved my nerves from wrecking on multiple occasions. 

Do you make swatches? What method do you use to note down / record swatches' essential information?

 

 

 

 

What I Have Pinned Lately #23

Via

Happy Monday, crafty friends! Starting the week with some inspiration. 

Enjoy the selection (click on the VIA wording under the picture to be taken to the respective designer / creator).  

Via

                                                                             Via

VIA

 

Keira Filet Crochet Top -pattern release

 

The Keira Top is made in the filet crochet technique. 

used 200 gr of Alize Diva (silky effect- Beige/167) which is lace yarn, so to acquire thickness and make it a DK size, I doubled the yarn to make this top. If you don’t want to work with doubled yarn, I recommend using Alize Diva Plus or any DK yarn and a 4mm hook (US G-6 / UK 8).

Content of yarn: 100% Microfiber Acrylic. Skeins come in 100 gr– 3.52Oz, in 350 mt-383 yds. You will need about 200 grams for this top. When finished, the top has a nice stretch.

Gauge: 8 cm / 3.14” of double crochet work measured in center of first row

Used terms in American terminology: chain (ch), chain space (ch-sp), slip stitch (sl st.), skip (sk), double crochet (dc), 3-ch picot, 4-dc bobble stitch

Other: tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Length of finished top/ tube without ties for the model in the pictures: 38 cm (14.96”) across 22 cm (8.66”) down. Ties: each is 34 cm (13.38”) long and 3.5 (1.37”) wide.
Fit size: The top is worked as a tube, so work / repeat the given pattern until you can wrap and close the tube around your bust. Further instructions below. Model’s size in the photos: S 

 

The pattern is in my etsy, ravelry and payhip shops.  

End of Summer Sale

 

Hello crocheters!

I am having an end of summer sale in my shop. Get 25% off  of patterns as well as physical items but NOT pattern bundles. Use code ENDOFSUMMER or simply click here - the discount will be automatically calculated. The offer is valid to the end of September. 

Do drop by to see if you find anything interesting. 

The Calypso Bag - pattern release

 

Let me present to you my Calypso bag. In this one I combined my love for bobbles and crosses to get this unique texture. 

The written pattern is accompanied with numerous pictures for easier comprehension. The bag is not lined so, it does not come with lining instructions.

Yarn and hook: DK yarn of your choice (150 gr) and a 4.00 mm hook. Tapestry needle for sewing the bag and weaving ends.

Used terms (American terminology): chain (ch), chain space (ch-sp), slip stitch (sl st), skip (sk), double crochet (dc), crossed double crochet (X), bobble stitch.

Instructions for the bobble stitch: https://www.yarnspirations.com/row-en/how-to-crochet-bobbles.html

Finished measurements: : 31 x 31 cm (12.20” x 12.20”) of bag’s circle body with the band.  

The patterns is in my shops: etsy, ravelry, payhip. 

Crochet Ear-Pods Holder - free pattern

 

Eva wanted me to make her a holder for her earpods, and since yours truly is always up for a new challenge - this is the result!

Below you can find the pattern how to make one. 

Please note that: The written  pattern in its entirety and the step-by step photos are for personal use only. All property rights belong to Maya Kuzman of The Little Treasures. You can sell finished items from this pattern. 

What you need:

1) DK yarn in 2 colors (Phil Cotton 4) and a 3mm hook

2) sewing needle and matching thread 

3) small button or bead for closure

Crochet terms in American terminology: chain (ch), stitches (st.), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), half-double crochet cluster, double crochet (dc), 3-ch picot.

Measures: 8x8cm.

 

 

Foundation and round 1: In color A, ch6 and join with 1st st. to make a ring. In ring, ch4 (counts as one dc+ 1 chain), dc1, ch1. Repeat this pattern 6 more times. There should be 8 dc sts in this round. Sl st with 1st st. to end round.

Round 2: Ch2 (counts as the 1st hdc) and make a 2hdc-cluster. Ch3 and make a 3hdc-cluster in the ch-space between the dc-stitches of the row below. Repeat this pattern around. You end the round with a ch3 and a sl st into 1st st to close round.  

Round 3: Insert color B, and repeat round 2.

 

Round 4: Insert color A, and ch3 (counts as the 1st dc), then dc3 in first ch-space and dc1 in the cluster-stitch. Repeat this pattern around. Sl st with 1st st. to end round. (32) 

Round 5: Insert color B, ch3 (counts as the 1st dc) and dc1 in all stitches around. Sl st with 1st st. to end round. (32)

Round 6: in same color, ch3 and make a picot, sk1 and sc1 in next st. Repeat this picot pattern around. Sl st with 1st st to end round. Front part is done. 

 

Back part pattern: 

Foundation and half-round 1: In color A, ch4 and join to make a ring. Next, ch2 (counts as 1hdc) and hdc7 in ring (8). Ch2 and turn work. 

Half-round 2: hdc1 in 1st st, and next hdc2 in every stitch (16) Ch2 and turn work.

Half-round 3: hdc1 in all sts. (16). ch1 and turn work.

Half -round 4: sc1 in all sts. (16) When you come to the bottom part (where the initial foundation is), sc1 across so as to even that foundation part. I sc1 in all sts. except the foundation ring where I sc2. It amounted to 8 sc sts in total for that bottom part.  This is the bigger closure piece (we are making something similar to a kangaroo pouch). Work tails.

 

To make the smaller piece, repeat the above pattern but do not work  half-round 4. Work the tails. Thread a needle and sew the smaller piece first. Turn the holder with the back up. Start by positioning the smaller piece immediately below the picot round and sew it on in such a way that the thread will not show on the face side. Once done, position the bigger piece on the other side (it has to be opposite the smaller one) and sew it on. The bigger piece will overlap the smaller one. 

Now you can see that our back is bare. I wanted to sew a small pearl bead on the smaller piece and use that foundation ring as the loop for the bead, but Eva was not up for the idea so we left it as is. I think that a cute tiny button would be just lovely to add. 

Holder flower pattern. We put a small flower at the top and to make it, ch5 and sl st in 1st st (it resembles a picot), ch5 and sl st again in the 1st st (of the second ch-5). Repeat this to make 5 petals and when done just sl st with the very 1st st of the row to close it. Work tails and your flower is done. Sew it on top of the holder.

As Eva's pods were not available for the pictures we used Jacob's earphones and we had to roll the cords nicely so as to fit inside. They fitted, but I feel that a bigger holder is needed for them. So, if you want to make this for such earphones, then I suggest you use heaver yarn and a bigger hook in order to make a big enough holder. 

Looking at it, I am sure it could be also used as a key-chain or a bag decoration. 

Crochet Spin Necklaces - pattern release

Inspired by my wind spinner I posted about last week, I pursued the idea further and made these necklaces. And the process of creating them was fun! I only wish I had more time to explore more color combinations....

I also tried the pattern with ecru as well and  was happy to see the effort of working with a tiny hook was worth every stitch. 

 

The pattern is in my shops:  etsy, ravelry.

 

Funny Crochet Quotes

 

Happy Monday crafty friends! Let's start the week with some laughs.

I have a huge collection of these funny crochet quotes that always cheer me up and make me laugh. Hope you like them too.

Crochet Wind Spinner - free pattern

Happy weekend guys! Today I have the perfect weekend project for you!

The crochet community has been charmed with these wind spinners, and I readily jumped on the bandwagon and made some for my nieces and nephews. 

Now, before we begin with the pattern, I want to say that the spinners in these pictures  are quite short (foundation: 31 chains) and are taken as an example. 

To make an effective spinner, you have to have a foundation of at least 50 chains (more are recommended).

Important: The pattern is for personal use only. All property rights belong to Maya Kuzman of The Little Treasures.

What you need:

 *sport yarn in 3 colors and a 3mm hook. 

* tapestry needle for weaving ends

* (optional: beads, tassels, etc.) 

 

Used stitches in American terminology: chain (ch), stitches (st.), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc).

 

 

 

Foundation and row 1: (leave a long tail) In color A, ch71 and starting from 2nd st. sc1 in all stitches across (70). Cut yarn and leave a long tail. Do not turn work. 

Row 2: with crochet work face up, insert color B in 1st st.,ch3 (counts as the 1st dc) and dc1 again in same stitch. Dc2 in next and all remain stitches of the row (140).
Cut yarn and leave a long tail. Do not turn work. The work is already shaping up.

Row 3: with crochet work face up, insert color C in foundation row, ch10 and sl st in the 1st st of the second row. You can skip adding the loop, which is for hanging purposes and start crocheting right into row 2. Ch3 (counts as the 1st dc) and dc1 in the same st. Dc2 in next and all remain stitches of the row (280).This is also optional. You can cut yarn and weave the row 3 tail here, or sl st to get to the foundation row, cut yarn with a long tail (as I did).

 

 

Tie all tails together into a tight knot. Here you can add a tassel, or string beads on the tails and tie a knot at the end to secure the beads not to fall down once you are done.

 

 

 

What do you guys think? Have you made any or are you inspired to make your first one?

I was immensely inspired by the shape so I made some cute necklaces, but I'll show you those some other time.

Have a nice weekend!

Alize Diva Yarn Review

 Important:  I have not been compensated by Alize Yarns either financially or materially in return for this post. The opinions and products featured in this post are 100% my own.

I have been in love with Alize Yarns for years, but decided to try their Diva yarn with silk effect for the first time for my "Nymph" collection. What can I say? It was  love at first stitch! 

Diva yarn is a super fine weight yarn that is perfect for delicate lace clothes and jewelry. The microfiber acrylic gives it a super soft silky effect and makes it durable. Diva is anti-allergic and extremely pleasant on the skin. The colors are vibrant, they do not fade or leave lint. Whatever you decide to make with it, it will make any project glamorous!

Description

Blend:               100% microfiber 

Ball weight:    100 grams (3.53 ounces)

Length:             350 meters (383 yards)

Hook:                 3.5mm (E)

Have you made anything with Alize's Diva? What's your experience?