Tuesday 20 November 2012

Free Chunky Crochet Cowl Pattern



Available for sale in my Etsy Shop

Very versatile cowl. Can be buttoned up many ways to accommodate different personal styles.

Loops and threads Country Loom, super bulky 6

Color A: Warm Cream
Color B: Kiss Me

Crochet needle size N, 13 US, 9mm

Used approximately 175 yards of each color (so around 350 yards total).

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
fpdc = front post double crochet
bpdc = back post double crochet

(for explaination of how to do fpdc and bpdc, go to http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-work-frontpost-doublecrochet-stitches.html  http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-work-backpost-doublecrochet-stitches.html)

ch 35

row 1: 1 dc in 3 chain from hook. 1 dc in each chain across. 32 dc's. chain 2

row 2: 1 bpdc in the first dc post, (1 fpdc in each of the next 4 posts. 1 bpdc in each of the next 4 posts) do this 3 times. 1 fpdc in the next 4 posts.  ch 2, turn.

row 3-5: same as row 2. Keep following the same pattern, fpdc in each front post, and bpdc in each back post. change to color B

row 6-9: same as row 2-5, chain to color A

row 10 on: continue same way, changing colors every 4 rows.

you can vary stripe size by changing colors most or less often, until your cowl is the desired length. I ended up with 13 stripes total.

last row: sc in top of each post across, tie off. I'm sure you could also slip stitch across to make it more similar to the beginning chain row.

I ended up doing 52 rows of dc posts total, with the chain row on one end, and sc's at the last end.

Find or purchase buttons (I used 4, one for each front post set) that will fit snugly through the stitches in the cowl. The ones I used are about an inch wide, and they easily fit in and out of the stitches. Larger buttons will work too, but will take more effort to put in and out of the holes.


Care Instructions:
Machine wash warm, gentle cycle.
Machine dry, low heat, delicate cycle.

I personally would hand wash it and lay it flat to dry. I'm too afraid to put that much work in the washing machine, haha.






Enjoy! Please don't sell any of the items you make from this pattern, thanks!!

Let me know if you have any questions, and please show me what you have made. :D

Thursday 16 August 2012

Sizzix Vintaj

So, I work at michaels, in the jewelry department, and I looooove jewelry! I kind of liked jewelry before I worked in the jewelry section, but mainly I just wore the junky claires or ardenes jewelry. It is soooo much better when you make it yourself! Or buy quality hand made items from someone. It just feels so much better. :D

Anyways, we got a new machine at Michaels and it looks so cool, I'd love to have it if I had the room and could afford it, hahaha. It's called the Vintaj, by Sizzix. It cuts, etches, and embosses designs into metal plates, such as the one in the photo above.




Beautiful designs! So if any of you have this machine and have tried it on jewelry, please show me what you've done and how you like the machine. :)

Rachael

Friday 27 July 2012

Giant Yarn Blankets



These are so cool!! I found a picture on pinterest of one, but none of the pics on pinterest have working links. So I decided to go searching the web myself!

http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/amaliachimera/110788046/DSC_0003_medium2.JPG


You can find more pics here


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5371304989_f3983393e6_z.jpg


Pattern for sale here


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oZXsTluFrEc/S-zSvXJ7ZUI/AAAAAAAAEfI/A-17KovDTUk/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-13+at+9.33.25+PM.png

It looks like she is crocheting with her hands, so cute!
Google sent me here for this pic, but when I went there, I couldnt find it, but it's too cute to not post!

Totally cute! I would love to make any of these! Very simple, you'd just need the right tools and supplies. :)

Rachael





Sunday 15 July 2012

Crochet Butterfly Tutorial

I found this wonderful tutorial on crochet butterflies and they turn out adorable!! The only thing is that the pattern is in UK terms, so I wanted to write it out in US terms--but here is the original tutorial



And these are the ones I just made:



I used embroidery thread/floss, and a 3.25mm / D hook.

Make a magic circle, or join a chain 6 together.


Round 1:

Make 4 groups of *3dc, 2ch, 3dc, 2ch*

Join with a slip stitch in the top of the first double crochet.

 Round 2:

Chain 3, then make (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) into the next 2ch gap
Make (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in the following six 2ch gaps.
In the last gap make (3dc, 2ch, 2dc) and join with a slip stitch in the top of the 3ch – the 3ch you made at the beginning of the round, acts as a double crochet. 
You should have 8 groups of (3dc, 2ch, 3dc)


Round 3:

8dc in the following 2ch (the peak of the 'petal') then a slip stitch into the next gap (the space between the two 'petals'). Repeat this all the way around until you have eight groups of 8dc.

Join with a slip stitch into the last space. Fasten off.  Leave the tail long enough to sew the butterfly together and to sew on the antennae.

Antennae:

Make a chain in the length that you’d like your antennae to be (remember it will be folded in half). Fasten off and sew in the ends. Fold it in the middle.
Fold the flower shape you've made, in the middle, to create a butterfly shape. 
Now use the tail left over to sew up the middle of the butterfly and to attach the antennae.

and voila! You have a cute butterfly for your hair, clothes, accessories--sky's the limit! Please go to maries making's blog for the picture tutorial and UK terms!

Rachael





Saturday 14 July 2012

Cute Crochet Tutorials, Patterns







I was cruising pinterest and I found some adorable crochet patterns I wanted to share!



crochet slippers pattern
Super cute! I love the colours. (I found the tutorial here)



Love this hat too! (Tutorial found here)


Cuteasabutton1



Beautiful flower--this is going to become a hair clip! Made by mikey from thecrochetcrowd (tutorial)






These will become hair clips too! (tutorial)


I hope you like them! Let me know if you've tried any of them and how they worked for you!

Rachael

Monday 9 July 2012

Passion For A Block World!

I LOVE minecraft!! So, I was cruising Etsy, and I wanted to share a few minecraft handmade items! :)


Enderman - Matte Print - 13"x19"

Enderman Print
 http://www.etsy.com/listing/96207534/enderman-matte-print-13x19?ref=v1_other_2

 Mincraft Inspired 3D Sheep Painting
 3D Sheep Painting, Affordable too!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/100999355/mincraft-inspired-3d-sheep-painting?ref=v1_other_2


Minecraft Sticker - Diamond - Light Blue Only
Diamond Ore Decal, so cute!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90037626/minecraft-sticker-diamond-light-blue?ref=v1_other_2

Cell Phone Cozy, I Pod Holder, Crochet Minecraft Green Creeper 

Creeper Phone Case
https://www.etsy.com/listing/103044402/cell-phone-cozy-i-pod-holder-crochet

Minecraft Enderman Charm, Figurine, or Pin-Back Brooch (1)

Super Cute! I want the one holding a creeper head!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/96887246/minecraft-enderman-charm-figurine-or-pin?ref=v1_other_2



Well I hope you like these! Let me know if you find any cool ones yourself!

Rachael

Sunday 8 July 2012

Lace Nails Tutorial - DIY

So, I found these really cute lace nails on pinterest yesterday!



http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/258745941060773407_mfvFmRfo_f.jpg









and I decided to do it, and take pictures along the way to show you how to make them!!

First, I bought some lace from Michaels, it comes as a ribbon

It was about 3 dollars with the coupon.

And then I cut out a rough nail shape from it with sharp fabric scissors


I painted my base colour on my nail that I wanted to show through--Pink in this case!! and then applied a clear coat as a base glue to glue it on. Then I pressed the lace down all around my nail neatly and made sure it was all stuck to my nail. Some parts wanted to stick up, so be patient!




Then trim off the excess with sharp precision scissors


And then apply a generous few coats of the clear coat again to really stick it on!!


Mine is the Revlon colour called Natural--it works great!


and tada!!! I just did one nail because... well.. I didn't have the patience to do all of them last night hahaha. But its super cute and really fun!! Pretty easy too, just takes a bit of patience!

And then to take it off, I filled my nail-polish remover cap with the remover and held my lacey finger in there for about 30 seconds and it peeled right off--so no big deal!!



The lace feels so neat on your nail--I couldn't stop touching it and feeling it and playing with it, hahaha and it stayed on there pretty good! It would have lasted probably at least a week on there. It wasn't snagging on anything at all.


 

Let me know how you did your nails and if you'd like to see a tutorial on anything else!

Rachael


Friday 6 July 2012

DIY Single Use Pouches For Ointments, toothpaste, etc! -- Tutorial

This is an awesome DIY that I found from pinterest! It's a great way to make single use containers for toothpaste, face cleanser, ointments, etc!! And so easy too!!



http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5318/5888240094_032851bc8a.jpg


Check out this guy's blog for step-by-step instructions to do it. :D

Awesome idea for traveling too! :)

<3 Rachael









Thursday 5 July 2012

DIY Fabric Stiffener

http://img2.etsystatic.com/000/0/5173127/il_570xN.173952430.jpg
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56170560/wedding-headband-bridal-hair-piece-lace

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/c/0/0/77/1/AAAADFWD4ogAAAAAAHcRPg.jpg?v=1254636854000 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/31988274/white-lace-headband-bridal-or-special

Magnolia ivory lace bracelet - product image

http://www.stitchesfromtheheart-ca.com/collections/all/products/magnolia-ivory-lace-bracelet
Gorgeous!!

So I've seen the lace headbands and they are so cute!! I totally want to make one, but I probably shouldnt spend more money on stuff such as fabric stiffener!! And then it hit me--there's probably a great tutorial on diy stiffener!! Here's the one I found and wanted to share!!

So all of these lace items maybe dont need a stiffener but I probably would stiffen them anyways haha so it doesnt go all wonkity!

 http://c1craftingagreenworldcom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2011/07/DSC06046.jpg

http://craftingagreenworld.com/2011/07/21/diy-natural-fabric-stiffeners/

And there's the tutorial! I will be trying this soon--I have the lace, and the materials for the tutorial ;) so I will keep you posted!!

Rachael

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Glitter Painting Tutorial Step-by-Step

Just finished an awesome project!! I enjoyed making it so much, that it never sat for more than a day untouched--which is amazing in this house hahaha.

Tada! Here, I'll show you how I did it!

You'll need:

Acrylic paint
A Canvas
Painters Tape
Glitter
Alenes Tacky Glue
Water
Container
Brush
A Surface (portable is best, I used a large piece of foam board)
A piece of paper


Paint your canvas your base colour--mine was black. This colour will show through the glitter when you take the tape off.


Tape it off however you want. I just randomly did it. Whatever feels good, just do it!!

Start painting in each section with the base colour of what colour of glitter you are doing.







I went into my glitter drawer and picked a few colours that I thought went together nice--although I am TERRIBLE at putting colours together *blush!*

Mix some alenes tacky glue with about a table spoon of water and mix it up well. I used an old face-scrub container with a screw top so I could close it up and go back to it later without having to remix glue every time.

K, here's a bit more step by step of the glittering and gluing.

Pink section

Pink glitter!

Brush glue into the section. Try to stay just over the edge of the pink. If you go much over onto the tape, its wasting precious glitter! I ran out twice--good thing i work at michaels so I was going there anyways today to work hahaha to pick up more!!

Dash the pink glitter all over the glued section. I do the edges first, then sprinkle all over the edges. I didn't have a ton of the pink so I had to tip the canvas on its side to pour the glitter onto a piece of paper to catch it, and then used the sheet of paper to sprinkle it back on again, and kept doing this until all the glue was covered.

Tada! A section all glittered up! I do all of each colour at one time. All the pink sections--let it dry for a few hours. All the blue sections--dry for a few hours--etc.
Dont do more than one colour at a time or bits of the wrong colour will get in the other colours' wet glue and be not cool!!

Now is the fun part!!


Peel off the tape!! This was ultra satisfying!! Peel carefully, because the glitter shakes shakes shakes off! Ahhhh I got it every where lol, my husband yelled at me many times during this project hahaha.


Voila! It's my new centre-main-ultra-awesome-favouritest-piece-of-art!! Anyways i hope this helped you make your own!! Let me know if you have any questions!!

Have you made a painters tape painting??

Rachael