NEW, ORIGINAL, QUICK, SIMPLE, SOFT Spider stitch crocheted stretchy hairband pattern!!

Hi All!
These hairbands are really quick and fun to crochet.
Here are the instructions to crochet them:

MATERIALS: Cascade Fixation (98.3% cotton, 1.7% elastic). This yarn is ideal for this project as it makes a very soft and stretchy hairband, very comfortable for those fussy tweenies and teens and it comes in some great girly colours and also in black and dark purple. 1 ball makes two hairbands.
**** 1 x 4mm (US-size G, UK and Canadian-size 8) crochet hook. Using a smaller hook will make a smaller hairband as seen in above photos. Please use the size hook you are most comfortable with using. A 4mm hook suited me the best, it may not suit you. Exact gauge does not matter so much with the finished size in this project.
**** 1 x knitters and tapestry sewing needle big enough to thread this yarn.

INSTRUCTIONS: (Please note: These instructions are written using U.S. crochet terminology).
Ch 17 loosely leaving an end long enough to sew hairband together later on.
Row 1: (right side): Dc in fourth ch from hook (3 skipped chs count as first dc) and in next 2 chs, ch 3, tr in next ch, (skip next 2chs, tr in next ch) twice, ch3, dc in last 4chs.
Row 2 and 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc, now and throughout), turn, dc in next 3dc, ch3, skip next ch-3 space, sc in next 3 sts, ch 3, dc in last 4dc.
Row 4: Ch3, turn; dc in next 3dc, tr in next sc, (ch2, tr in next sc) twice, dc in last 4dc.
Rows 5 and 6: Ch3, dc in each stitch across, including chs, (ie you do not need to put hook into the actual ch stitches themselves just dc "under and around" each of them).
Repeat Rows 1-6 six times or until desired length.
You should have two thread ends left.  To finish off; sew in one of the ends and use the other to hand stitch the two ends of the hairband together neatly with a flat seam using a sewing needle, as described above under "materials".
Copyright: CateW 7th November 2011

All the Best and Happy Crocheting!
CateW :0)

Picture of my crocheted cloche hat with Irish roses and tips.

Hi All!
Here are a couple of  pictures of one of the crocheted cloche hats I made for my charity stall.

Crocheted Irish Rose cloche hat.

A closer up view which shows the stitches better.

These are quick to make. The pattern for this came from  the book "Crochet Hats!" by U.S. author Candi Jensen. The pattern I used is on page 76 "Retro Flowers" I added a picot edge for mine and used a different pattern for the flower ie an Irish Rose and stitched 6 x 4mm pearls into a ring in the centre of each rose.
I crocheted mine out of Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply. You can order online from them and they will ship to overseas in the U.S. or U.K or wherever. You could substitute DK or sportsweights yarn for this and use a 4mm (or size US G/6 or size UK 8) crochet hook.

All the Best and Happy Crocheting!!
CateW :0)

Picture of my yarn necklace, LINK to free pattern for Lion Brand Trellis yarn necklace and how to substitute different brands of trellis yarn to make your own.

Hi All!
Here is the Link to a free trellis yarn necklace pattern, as I have made many times from Lion Brand and also other finer types of trellis yarn, for my Fred Hollows charity crafts stall. See picture of one my attempts below. See below tips for using alternative brands to Lion Brand as Lion Brand Trellis Yarn is now discontinued.
LINK: http://store.knitting-warehouse.com/trellisnecklace.html
This site has a nice picture of one made. There are other patterns around that are exactly the same but easier to read and better set out but this one has the good photo.



I made this one from another brand of Trellis yarn ie not Lion Brand as this brand is now discontinued.

I have also used Sirdar Fireply,Twinkly Trail from JL and Eros II from Plymouth yarn company. There are also others out there. These alternatives are usually thinner in width than Lion Brand and have a more crinkled look when made up. It comes in many lovely colours including many multi-coloured trellis yarns not just plain colours.

Fortunately I was able to track down a few balls of Lion Brand Trellis Yarn before it was impossible to get and I worked out measurements, which I will share with you now, for each of the seven lengths of chain stitch required to make up this necklace. Here they are starting from the longest length: 

Make one length of chain stitch to each of the following lengths, with a crochet hook is the easiest (and I don't think it matters if the yarn twists as you go but by all means keep it untwisted if you want a slightly smoother look); 65cm (about 26 inches), 55cm (about 22 inches), 45cm(about 18 inches), 40cm(about 16 inches), 35cm(about 14 inches), 30cm(about 12 inches) and 25cm (about 10 inches).

Then follow the instructions using the pattern I have given at the store.knitting-warehouse website, URL as above, to construct it. In this way you can substitute any Trellis yarn brand and still get the lengths right.

Another tip: Once the lengths are all crocheted I find it is easier to tie the ends up together in a knot evenly if you lay them out flat in ascending order in front of you on a table first, ie smallest chain at the top, longest chain at the bottom with the ends as close together as you can, then tie them together in a slip type knot but pull the ends totally through.

**** Please note: This necklace can be made without a crochet hook if you prefer not to use one.

Enjoy!!

All the Best and Happy Crafting!!

CateW :0)



KIDS CRAFTS for holiday time.

Hi All!
I've just completed a successful week of kids crafting with some very happy and satisfied young crafters.
One of our young students, only six years old, made six memory wire bracelets and a witchy-poo card in the two-hour session!! Once she got the knack of how to hold and thread the wire with the beads she was away, there was no stopping her!
Here's some pics of the crafts Carrie (not her real name) and I made with the kids:



We made memory or remembrance wire beaded bracelets with the kids. These are not the actual ones the girls made since they took they're bracelets home with them.
What they did make was pretty spectacular.



Beady aliens. Using some glow-in-the-dark beads can add some real interest.



This is a sample of the Witchy-poo card we made. We made a simplified version with our kids; ie without the round cutout and magic spells at the front.


If you're from Melbourne, Australia, good quality memory wires are available for a good price from "Theos Discount Crafts" at 3 Macquarie Place, Boronia. Another Melbourne stockist is "Spacetraders" in St Kilda and you can order from them online.  If you're from overseas a search in Google or another search engine for "memory wire" or "remembrance wire" should bring up some stockists that will sell online to you or look out for it at your local craft supplies stockist.

The Witchy-poo card features a turning wheel held in place with a brad. Inside the little round window on the front of this card are written magic words and spells so the card can be used as a game; ie  kids can take turns turning the wheel so that a new magic spell or word appears which the child can cast or act out.

I sourced my pony beads (9mmx 6mm) for the Beady aliens online through e-Bay. The patterns for these came from a Beady kit I bought years ago. This kit, as far as I know, is no longer available unfortunately but give the kids an idea and they'll run with it creating they're very own alien beady designs. You can use scooby plastic for these but I just used some thin plastic tubing I found at a hardware shop. It's exactly the same sort of stuff just heaps cheaper.

That's it for now!
All the Best and Happy Crafting!!
CateW :0)

Three of my original crochet patterns added to PATTERNS page!!!

Hi All!
I have just added three of my original crochet patterns to the PATTERNS page of this blog. These patterns are for instructions on how to tailor make a crochet teddy bear's or doll's tu-tu, as posted below, a thread crochet pattern for wedding/Christmas mini bells and a beaded milk jug or creamer cover ( both of these thread crochet patterns are not posted here on the main page but can be accessed on the PATTERNS page of this blog). All patterns include pictures.

Enjoy!
All the Best and Happy Crafting!!
CateW :0)

How to tailor-make a crocheted tu-tu to fit any teddy bear or doll.

Back & front views of both two-strapped and halterneck versions of crochet bear/doll tu-tu.

Hi everyone!

Finally I am posting one of my own crochet patterns; instructions on how to tailor make a tu-tu for teddy bears or dolls.

Cate's crochet tu-tu dress pattern for Bears and Dolls.

Hook size: Select whatever size hook is appropriate for the yarn you are using.

Note: This pattern is written using Australian/British crochet terms. American crochet terms written are in brackets.

Starting with the waistband:

Make enough chains to fit around Bear's/doll's waist.

Do not join.

Ch1, turn, dc (sc) in each chain to end. Do not join.

Bib:

Hold waistband around bear's/doll's waist with opening at the back. Place markers on top of waistband at right and left hand side of bear's chest to mark points to crochet between for tu-tu's bib. Slip stitch to 1st marker.

Ch1, dc (sc) to next marker and continue thusly in rows between the markers until desired length is reached, approximately up to bear's neck. Do not finish. Do not turn.

Shoulder strap (make 2):

Continuing from the top corner of the bib; Make as many chains as will reach over the bears shoulder to top of waistband at the back, directly below the shoulder. Attach shoulder strap you've just made with sl.st being careful not to twist it.

Ch1, turn, dc (sc) along shoulder strap in each chain to end. Sl.st to top corner of bib and finish off.

Attach thread to other corner of the bib and make 2nd strap to match first. 

Skirt:

Rejoin yarn onto bottom edge of wasitband. Ch1, 2dc (2sc) into each unused loop of foundation chain to end.

3ch, turn, 2tr (2dc) in each dc (sc) to end.

Repeat last row until desired length is reached.

Note: Some experimentation may be necessary to achieve the desired degree and placement of frilling on the skirt. Multiple stitches into a single stitch in every stitch of the skirt's row will result in frilling. No more than three stitches into every stitch would be necessary. Where you place this frilling and how much of it you create is up to your particular preference.

Finishing Off:

Sew in all threads except the last one made, then sew up the back seam of the tu-tu, up to and including the waistband, with this last thread.

Variations:

A halter neck can be created by positioning a single shoulder strap to the correct length back around the bears neck and attaching it to the front of the opposite side of the bib with a bead or decorative button, do not attach strap to bib with a slst. The strap consists of a row of chains, turning and crocheting dc's (sc's) into each chain as described above for shoulder strap. To facilitate the bead or button a small loop must be incorporated into the end of the strap.

Copyright: Cathy Weaver, June 13th 2001

Well I do hope some of you can get some use out of these instructions.

All the best,

CateW :0)

Link and my pics of great crocheted FINGERLESS GLOVES pattern.

How to wear the fingerless gloves.



The lacy fingerless gloves I crocheted for my Fred Hollows Charity stall as per URL given below. A very nice pattern and very simple to crochet.

A close up view of the stitching.

Hi All!

It's been quiet here for a while. I haven't posted anything here for a time since I've been busy working on items for my charity crafts stall for The Fred Hollows Foundation: crocheted Lotus neck scarves, crocheted necklaces made from "ladder" or "trellis" yarn, crochet beaded sun hats, mini magnets, paper dolls, and crocheted long fingerless gloves. 

I found a good pattern for crocheted  fingerless gloves called "lacy fingerless gloves at http://crochetme.com/media/p/94426.aspx

It's an easy pattern and you can alter the size to fit anyone or any gauge yarn by adjusting the numbers of stitches you start with ie it has to be a multiple of 8 plus 5 for the pattern to work.

I will try and add a photo of the things I made here onto this post at a later stage so please look back here later.

All the Best and Happy Crafting!!

CateW :0)