Flower-Kissed Vases & Pots - crochet appliques

 

I worked my fingers off, but looking at these beautiful and joyful flowered vases, I feel the effort was truly worth it!

This is my newest pattern - a collection of flowers, leafy accents, a vase and a pot appliques. 

The tutorial contains the patterns for 3 types of flowers (daffodils, daisies and wild flowers) along with several leafy accents, a vase and a pot. These can be used on clothes, hats, bags, blankets, cushions, etc.

The arrangement of the applique flowers and leafy accents depends entirely on one's personal aesthetics. They can be made pouring out of the vases, or arranged in a more simple manner. It leaves place for imagination to take over, and involves a merry play with the arrangements for the best look to be achieved. 

The pattern is in my etsy and ravelry shops. 

 

Spring Meadow - free crochet necklace pattern

 

 

It's been a while since I've made some necklaces, and the nature has been so ravishing, it was easy to get inspired. Cue - my Spring Meadow Necklace.

 

Before I share the pattern, please note that: The written  pattern in its entirety along with the photos are for personal use only. All property rights belong to Maya Kuzman of The Little Treasures.

 

Yarn and hook: sport yarn of your choice and colors (I love working with Phil Cotton #3 and Tango) and a 3 mm hook (UK11) (US 10/3). Note that you can use whatever yarn size/ weight (and relevant hook for that weight ) you like/have at hand. That will only influence the size of your flowers. Hence, smaller weights will yield tinier flowers, heavier weights will yield bigger flowers.

Stitches (American terminology): chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), single crochet 2 together (sc2tog), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc).

Other: tapestry needle for weaving ends, sewing needle and thread for sewing the filaments, and scissors.  

 Night Cap Flower Pattern:

Foundation and round 1: Ch4 and join to make a ring. Sc4 in ring. (4) 

Do not slip stitch to end rounds.

Round 2: sc2 in all sts. (8)

Rounds 3-4: repeat round 2 (16) (32).

 

Round 5: sc2tog all. (16)

Round 6: ch3 and sc in 1st st. Ch3 and sc in next st. Repeat this pattern around. (16 ch-spaces)

Round 7: When you finish the last chain in round 6, ch3 and sc in first ch-sp. Next, ch3 and sc in next ch-sp. Repeat this pattern around. When done, sl st into 1st ch-sp to end round (16 ch-spaces). This flower is done. Work the tails. 

Filament pattern: (leave longish beginning and ending tails) in contrasting color, ch12 and sl st in last st from hook. 

 

Insert filament through flower center, turn flower with the back up, thread one tail and slide it through (the closest) flower stitch. Do so with the other tail. Tie both tails in a double knot. Cut excess tails. If you don't want the knot to be seen (and I show that later), you can sew-cover that part with a small patch (cloth or felt), or sew the filament in the center so that it doesn't show at the back.

Bell Flower Pattern: 

 

Foundation and round 1: Ch4 and join to make a ring. Sc4 in ring. (4) 

Do not slip stitch to end rounds.

Round 2: sc2 in all sts (8).

Round 3: repeat round 2 (16).

Round 4: sc1 in all (16)

 

Round 5: sc1 in first 2 sts, then sc2tog. Repeat this pattern around (12).

Round 6: Ch3, sk1, sc in next st. Repeat this pattern around. There are 6 ch-sps in the end. 

Round 7:  sl st into 1st ch-sp, and in that ch-sp, ch1 (counts as 1st sc), hdc1,sc1. Sl st into next ch-sp and repeat this pattern. When all ch-spaces are filled, sl st into 1st ch sp to end round. Work the tails. 

When working on your bell flowers, for diversity, make some of them without adding round 7. 

 

Necklace chain pattern: 

The necklace has a leaf and a loop for closure. For the leaf, ch7 and sl st into 2nd st from hook, next sc1, hdc1,dc1,hdc1, sc1 (one side is made), ch1 (and work the other side of the leaf in reverse pattern), then sc1, hdc1, dc1, hdc1, sc1, sl st in last st. The leaf is made. Now, ch40 (you may want to make the necklace shorter / longer, so here add / reduce chaining stitches), take the bell flower, insert the hook at its back, yarn over and make a sl st, continue chaining 10, attach the night cap flower (the same way as you did with the bell). Ch7 (or 10) and attach another bell, and so on. You can work on your own flower arrangement or use the picture of mine to create the exact one.

If you want to stack several bells together, then make 2 chains between each of them. Below, my arrangement again.

 

When you are done adding flowers, ch50 and then sl st in the 10th st from hook to make a loop. Try to see if the leaf goes nicely through it. If the loop is too big, than reduce the stitches for it (instead of 10, try with 8 or 7). 

 

I hope you enjoy working on this necklace and if you have question with the instructions, feel free to drop me a note in the comments.

The downloadable pattern is in my shops: etsy, ravelry.

Cross Stitch on Crochet - trends

Source: Pinterest

Another crochet trend that really gives my heart fuzzies is cross stitch on crochet.

The most used motifs are flowers - roses to be more specific, and although a doubled effort is involved in creating these pieces, it is truly worth it. 

To have the best results in creating such a piece, dense stitches like single crochet and half double crochet should be used so as to make the crochet a suitable canvas for the cross stitching. 

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Source: Pinterest

If you want to try your hand at this, try the free tutorials below (click on the links under the pictures).

 

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The Travelling Postcard by Shabby Art Boutique

Back in August 2020, Kerryanne from Shabby Art Boutique started a wonderful project called The Travelling Postcard. 

The idea behind it is/was to connect crafters around the world and share some love and joy during harsh Covid times. 

 

The original postcards were sent by Kerryanne, and out of the three, just one - this one, remained travelling. Once you receive the postcard, you are assigned a person to send it to next, along with some goodies so as to bring a smile to the person receiving it. 

The goodies in the photos were included along with the postcard in an amazingly decoupaged envelope, and I cannot tell you the excitement I felt while opening it, and going through each of them. They are absolutely gorgeous (THANK YOU PAM!). You know how I love to have catching backgrounds/backdrops for my photos, and these lovelies will be loved, treasured and creatively used.

Crochet Techniques: Bosnian Crochet

Paid Pattern by Svetlana Gordon

What is Bosnian crochet? 

It is a simple slip stitch crochet technique where the slip stitches are worked into either the front or the back loop only. Thus, the fabric created is not only thick, but exceptionally warm too. 

This technique was traditionally used to make socks, slippers / feet warmers, mittens and hats.

 

The hook employed in this type of crochet is an unusual one. It has a long, flat and fat body that slopes down at the neck/hook. The reason for this is that you pull the stitches over the body to create a bigger loop, because if you tried slip stitching, then you know the stitches tend to get very tight and small with regular hooks.

Here's a video of how it is done. 

Although now popular around the world, in the past Bosnian crochet (originating from Bosnia, of course) was most widely practiced in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. It also goes by the names of Shepherd's and Dutch knitting.

Free socks pattern by Donna Druchunas

My grandma used this technique to make us house slippers. However, I've never tried it myself, because slip stitches are tedious and I get easily tired working them. 

Have you done anything in this technique? 

                     Free scarf pattern by Vashti Braha / Image credit: txgardener  

Daphne Cuff Pattern

This is the Daphne cuff. The newest addition to my cuff collection. This romantic, Victorian inspired cuff has a simple mesh foundation and cascading, ruffled edging. Depending on your preference, you can leave it bare, or add flowers and beads for decoration. 

The sample cuff is made for wrist circumference of 16 cm / 6.29” wrist circumference; however, I have included information how to make it a custom fit.

Technicalities
Yarn and hook: 10-15 grams of sport yarn in four colors (brand and color of your choice) and a 3mm hook (UK11) (US 10/3)

Other: Sewing needle and thread. Bead(s) and a button for closure. Pins (optional)

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

Its in my etsy and ravelry shops.

Crochet Appliques: Flowers and Vases

Good day, beautiful people!

One of my future crochet plans includes making enormous crochet flowers. Ever since I wrote about these crochet trends, the idea has been wildly swirling in my head and I cannot shake it off. So I started with medium-sized flowers to see if the idea is still good to go, and I am happy to report it is. 

Also, come spring, I want to have a new flowery applique pattern made (like this one), and I created vases for my flowers. 

 

Uhm...the bottom one looks more like a flower pot rather than a vase, but let's not be hair-splitters :)

 

Stay tuned for more flowery posts!

Crochet Picots Make Everything Richer

One of my favourite touches to add as edging to whatever crochet project I am finishing on, is picots. These tiny, pointy peaks make everything more cheerful, richer, lively and appealing. But maybe this is just my perception as I have often witnessed crocheters detesting them. Yes, they are tedious to crochet and maybe some people get bored, but I don't. 

It always amazes me how a simple chain can yield so much beauty.

Three-chain picots are the ones I use the most, five-chain being the wildest I have ever gotten. 

If you are wondering how to crochet a picot, it's quite easy. You chain a number of stitches and then slip stitch in the last stitch (of that chain) from the hook and voila! A picot is made.

Here's a selection of my picotted work. 

 

How do you feel about picots?

The Wonderful World of Crochet Potholders

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 Although a necessity in the kitchen, potholders can also raise the aesthetics of it to another dimension. They can turn a mundane and plain kitchen into an art gallery. 

 

History books point out that the textile potholders were not invented until mid 19th century. Before they came up on the scene, tongs, towels, rags, or apron corners have served to protect hands from hot dishes and cooking utensils. 

The first potholders were typically small 6-7-inch squares of fabric or woven fibers that were stitched with designs and phrases. Later, housewives started making them out of yarn, using different shapes, stitches and colors, which made potholders not only a staple tool, but also an eye-pleasing decor. 

 

Sadly, I have no crochet potholders (I use oven mitts), but I would gladly make some to decorate my kitchen walls. Do you use crochet potholders?

 

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