Kitty cats...

These are kitty cats... made into a collar for a commission.   Ill be posting the pattern for the motifs as soon as i proofread it, but i pretty much made up the actual collar lace as I went and i dont know if Im that fond of it actially... i could come up with something better if I tried.    Overall, I'm happy with it, come back in a week for the cat head pattern.  (Actually, im thinking tje cat heads in black would be way cool)

Rose applique

This is the first rose/flower I learned to Make many years ago.  My grandmother taught it to me, and I have no idea where she learned it... 

I've never seen any others, but I suppose there could be an actual designer somewhere, I just have no idea where to begin looking for it.  

The rose is made in two pieces, then attached the side of a hat or whatever by putting a button in the middle and sewing it onto your project.  (I didn't have a button handy, so I just sat a dime in the milddle so you'd get the idea.)

This is made with regilar old knitting worsted, but any yarn can be used to achieve different sizes, just use the proper size hook.  

Actually, several of these in crochet cotton with pearl buttons in the center would look very nice around the collar of a dress or blouse.  

Large element:

* chain 5, in first chain work 4 trbl, ch 4, sl st into same st as trbls.  Repeat from * 5 more times.  6 petals made, Close ring by attaching to base of first petal with sl st.  Tie off

Small element.

#Ch 4.  In first st, work 4  dc, ch 3, sl st in same st as the dc.  Repeat from # 4 more times.  5 petals made, finish by closing with slst on base if first petal.  Tie off

Stack Elements, attach to.project with a button in center.

Simple, huh?

More skulls

Another skull

This pattern is one I found last March.  Its a free pattern from Lion Brand wool, pattern # 70464A.  Im only copying it here because the link in my old email keeps going wonky.  

It was originally meant to be made with a double strand of wool and a size P hook. 

I made it with a single strand of worsted and a size H.  And it turned out fine... 

Felted Skull
Lion Brand^® Lion^® Wool

GAUGE:

Exact gauge is not essential to this project.

NOTES:

1) Work with 2 strands of yarn held together throughout. Wind yarn into 2 separate balls before beginning.
2) Skull is worked from the top down in continuous spirals. Do not join or turn. Place a marker to indicate beginning of round and move the marker up as each round is completed.

SKULL
With 2 strands of yarn held together, ch 3; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Work 6 sc in ring.
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around - 12 sc.
Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around - 18 sc.
Rnd 4: (Hdc in each of next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st) around - 24 hdc.
Rnd 5: Hdc in each of next 8 sts, 2 hdc in next st (temple), hdc in each of next 6 sts, 2 hdc in next st (temple), hdc in each of last 8 sts - 26 sts.
Rnd 6 (Eye sockets): Work 2 hdc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, ch 9 (eye socket), sk 2 sts, sl st in next st, turn, sl st in last ch of ch-9 sp, turn, ch 9 (eye socket), sk 2 sts, dc in last 10 sts. 
Rnd 7 (Nose): Dc in next 11 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of next ch-9 sp, sl st in next 2 ch, ch 7 (nose), sl st in 5th ch of next ch-9 sp, sl st in next 2 ch, sk first dc after ch-9 sp, dc in next 4 sts, sk next st, dc in last 4 sts.
Rnd 8: (Sk next st, dc in next 4 sts) twice, sk next st, sl st in next st (first sl st of eye socket), sk next 2 sl sts, sl st in each ch of ch-7 sp, sk next 2 sl sts, sl st in next st (last sl st of next eye socket), hdc in next 5 sts, sk next st, hdc in next 2 sts.
Rnd 9 (Upper teeth): Hdc in next st, sk next st, hdc in next 5 sts, sk next st, sl st in next 2 sts; you are now at face of Skull; (ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sk next st, sl st in next 2 sts) twice, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sk next st, sc in next 4 sts, sk next st, sc in next 2 sts - 3 teeth made.
Rnd 10 (Lower jaw and teeth): Sc in next 2 sts, sk next st, sc in next 4 sts, ch 16, sk sts of upper jaw and sl st in 2nd sc after last upper tooth, turn, sc in st between last ch of ch-16 of lower jaw and tooth; working across ch-16 sp, sc in next 3 ch, sk next 2 ch, sc in next 2 ch, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, sk next 2 ch, sc in next 3 ch, sl st in next st between ch-16 sp and top tooth.
Fasten off, leaving a long end.

FINISHING
From WS, weave end around nose, pull to tighten and end off. Weave in ends.

Felting Wash by machine on a hot wash/cold rinse cycle with detergent and several pieces of clothing to agitate. Pull into shape and allow to dry.

 

Abbreviations
ch(s) = chain(s)
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
rep = repeat(s)(ing)
rnd(s) = round(s)
sc = single crochet
sk = skip
sl = slip
st(s) = stitch(es)

Last day making cotton candy.  Give me strength.  Ive been good so far... 

Tatted skull

Not too thrilled with this pattern.  Its a first try, free hand, making it up as I go.  A combo of crochet and tatting.   I was trying for one of those Mexican, Dia de los Muertos sugar skulls, and I kind of pulled off.

Not that bad,

seeing as I'm not as good at tatting as crochet, and I don't do that much shuttle and ball tatting anyway, I did pretty good.  But there are about 5 mistakes (at least)

Picture pendant

Start with a picture.  A photo is fine... and a magazine pic is good too.  Get a flat backed glass stone, a coat the back of it with E-6000 or superglue fix-all adhesive.   After it cures for a few minutes, press it onto the pic.  Twist or press (or both) So there's no bubbles then let the glue dry for at least an hour, but longer is better.  Overnight is best. 

Using thin scissors. Or a razor knife, trim around the edges. 

To crochet the setting, wrap a loop of thread around your finger, pull a loop through and ch 3.  11 dc in loop, pull loop tight. Sl st in top of ch 3 to close ring. 

Rnd 2:  ch 3, 1dc in same st, 2 dc in every st around, end with a sl st in top of begining ch 3. 

Rnd 3:  ch 2, working in back loops entire row, hdc in every st around, working.2 or 3 decreases evenly spaced.  Close and tie off.

Place more glue on bottom of stone.  Pushing ends of thread top inside center, force glued stone into cup, stretching  sides over edges.

Work cha and decorative stitch of choice in the free loops of the final round. 

Crocheted daffodil & pansy

I've never been that big on crocheted flowers.  There's a few reasons for it... one, no matter what you do, they're chunky looking and they don't look anything like a real flower.  They also remind me of bad crochet toilet paper covers from the 70's, the ones that little old ladies loved to decorate with....  Right up there with those crocheted dolls... pardon me while

cold shivers run down my spine...

But I have a particular project in mind, and it requires crocheted flowers.  So, I bit the bullet.  I had to look through about every crochet book in the house and several online sources, but I finally came up with something I could work with. 

 

 

 

 

The daffodil actually looks ok.  I put on the mesh simply because I was trying to figure out how it was going to attach to my project... that's not how I'm gonna use it though,  the pansy... well I went through about a dozen patterns before I came up with one that finished up pansy-ish enough for me, and this one will look better when it's got a yellow knot in the center sewing it to the project.  

I spent too long looking for those patterns and I don't want to misplace them,  so I'll be copying them  along with sources, and designers... we must give credit where credit is due. 

 

The daffodil was  originally part of a trio of patterns to be used as refrigerator magnets.   published in the April 1998 issue of Crochet With Heart (basically its a red heart yarn pattern) and designed by Terry Kimbrough.  (She had a pansy pattern also that is definitely acceptable, but I prefer the other one I found.  don't ask me why.  I'm just picky.)

 

Originally she recommended South Maid Cotton Thread, Lemon  Peel.  I don't know that it's manufactured anymore.  I used Aunt Lydias Bedspread Cotton in a pale yellow, I don't know the actual name of the color as the label is long gone... it's a size 10 thread though.  The  designer used a size 6 hook, I used a size 7, as I tend to crochet a little loose.  Whichever you're comfortable with. 

 

 

CENTER

Rnd 1 (right side)  ch 4, 11 dc in fourth ch from hook;, join with slip st  to top of beginning ch:  12 sts.

 

Rnd 2:  Ch 3 (counts as first dc, now and throughout), dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, (dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc) around; join with slip st to first dc:  16 dc

 

Rnd 3:  Ch 3, dc in next dc and in each dc around:  join with slip st to first dc. 

 

Rnd 4:  Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 2, (sc in next dc, ch 2 ) around;  join with slip st to first sc, finish off. 

 

PETALS

Rnd 1 (right side):  *ch 11 loosely, working in back ridge of each ch, sc in second ch from hook and in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 6 chs, sc in last ch; repeat from * 5 rimes more; join with slip st to free loops of first ch on first ch-11:  6 petals.

 

Rnd 2:  Working around Petals and in free loops of each ch-11,  * # sc in next ch, hdc in next ch,dc in next 4 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, slip st in next ch, slip st in end of Petal and in next sc, sc in next sc, hdc in next hdc, dc in next 4 dc, hdc in dc, sc in next dc  #, slip st in next 2 sts; repeat from * 4 times more, then repeat from # to # once, slip st in last sc; join with slip st to joining slip st, finish off. 

 

sew center and petals together.  using paintbrush apply a light coat of glue inside Center and let dry;   apply a light coat of glue to back of Petals and let dry. 

 

 

Believe me... it's actually a little bit easier than it looks...

 

 

The Pansy was  originally worked in knitting worsted, with a size G hook.   Again I executed it with Aunt Lydias Bedspread Cotton, and a size 7 hook.  each flower uses less than a yard of black thread, and a small amount of the color of your choice, 

 

I pulled this pattern from Liesure Arts, leaflet 2938 published in 1997, and Titled A Year of afghans, book eight... this is the March afghan.  (side note... I don't know if Leisure arts still does this Year of Afghans series, but they definitely should.  There's some very interesting  patterns and techniques in these books, and very clear directions)  The March design is credited to Carol Alexander and Brenda Stratton.  I don't know which actually came up with the pansy, but it's an interesting afghan altogether, although I didn't much care for the tweedy colors that were in style at the time... regardless, lets get on with it...

 

Materials: 

 

Bedspread cotton;  small amount of black and lt blue, or color of your choice

size 7 crochet hook

 

special stitches...

 

tr - (treble) YO twice, insert hook in st, YO and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.

 

tr tr- (triple treble)  YO 4 times, insert hook in sp indicated,m YO and pull up a loop (6 loops on hook), (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 5 times. 

 

With black, ch 5; join with slip st to form a ring. 

 

Foundation Row:  (right side) :  (ch 3, 2 tr, ch 3, slip st) 3 times in ring; finish off. 

 

Rnd 1:  with right side facing, join color with slip st in beginning ring: (ch 5, 4 tr tr, ch 5 slip st) twice in ring, ch 4, 4 tr in each of next 2 tr on foundation Row, ch 4, (slip st in next slip st, ch 4, 4 tr in each of nest 2 tr, ch 4) twice (bottom petals completed): join with slip st to first slip st. 

 

Rnd 2:  Ch 2 # (slip st in next ch, ch 2 ) 5 times, working in Back loops only (slip st in next tr tr, ch 2) 4 times, (slip st in next tr tr, ch 2 ) 4 times, (slip st in next ch, ch 2 ) 5 times #, sk next slip st, repeat from # to # once (top petals completed) slip st in next slip st, leave remaining sts unworked: finish off leaving a long end for sewing. 

 

With Yellow, add 5 straight stitches to Black on center bottom Petal of Foundation Row.  (note : not pictured, as I'll use those to sew to my project later.)   

 

And there we are.