Crochet flowers

Further to this post, this is my craft of the day.. A crochet flower out of  copper wire and a crochet flower and leaf bracelet.

The easiest ever crochet baby sandals

These are so easy to make that you can easily whip up a pair in less than an hour. They're perfect for these hot days and are very comfortable for little feet.

They are basically two ovals with double crochet front and ankle straps and a button  for closure. 

The best thing about these sandals is that you can make the ovals (i.e soles of the sandals) longer, shorter, wider, thinner, to match your baby's feet. 

Here's how I made them. I used a size 4 crochet hook and acrylic yarn.

Round one :

Chain 15 (for longer feet chain more, for smaller feet chain less)

On the 4th chain stitch from the hook, 2 dc. ( leftover ch 3 counts as the 1st dc)

dc in the next ch and continue (1 dc in each ch st) until the one before last.

6 dc in the last ch. 

Don't turn. Continue down the other side.

dc in each ch until the last one. 3 dc in the last ch. Join with sl st to the top of ch3. (30 dc)

Round two:

ch3(always counts as 1st dc). Don't turn. dc into the same st as sl st. 2dc each into next two dc.

dc into next st. dc each into next 8 sts. 2 dc each into next 6 sts.

don't turn. dc into next st. dc each into next 8 sts. 2 dc each into next 3 sts.

Join with sl st to the top of ch3. (42 dc)

Round three.

ch3. Don't turn. dc into the same st as sl st. dc into  the next st. 

(2 dc into the next st. dc into the next st.)twice. 

dc each into next 9 sts. 

(2 dc into the next st. dc into the next st.)6 times.

dc each into next 9 sts.

(2 dc into the next st. dc into the next st.)thrice.

Join with sl st to the top of ch3.(54 dc)

For babies who are less than 3 months old, stop the oval here.

Round four.

ch3. Don't turn. dc into the same st as sl st. dc each into  the next 2 sts. 

(2 dc into the next st. dc each into the next st.)twice. 

dc each into next 9 sts. 

(2 dc into the next st. dc each into the next 2 sts.)6 times.

dc each into next 9 sts.

(2 dc into the next st. dc each into the next 2 sts.)thrice.

Join with sl st to the top of ch3.(66 dc).

Fold the sole lengthwise. At both ends, tie a marker at the exact middle of round four. One will be where the ankle rests and the other will be the middle toe point. 

Back piece:

Make a ch on a new yarn. From the marker count four to the right and draw the ch made, through it and ch 2 more. dc in the next 7 sts. The marker should come exactly between the 4tg and 5th dcs.

turn. ch3. dc each in the next 7 sts. 

Ankle strap:

Ch 15. dc in 4th st from hook and dc each in all ch. After the final dc is made, attach strap to back piece with sl st.

Front strap:

Make a ch on a new yarn. From the marker count 6 to the right and draw the ch made, through it and ch 15 more. Attach chain to 6th st from the marker on the other side with sl st. dc in 4th st from hook and dc each into all ch. After the final dc is made, attach strap to the sole with sl st.

Attach button to the back piece.To make  the other sandal, flip the sides and crochet straps. 

To wear the sandals, slip the button through any two dcs in the ankle strap where it fits snug.

Let me know if you have any questions.

dc: double crochet

ch: chain

st: stitch

sl st: slip stitch

Granny Blanket

I made this for my hubby who is in extreme cold climates these days. A simple granny square that goes round and round and round. A perfect stash buster. :)

The prettiest black flower necklace

 

Same as the last one. Actually this was done earlier.  & the necklace is not crocheted. Just braided yarn. I think the button on the flower looks nice. Don't you?

Book Baker out!

p.s As you can see, I'm using picnik at a rate here to edit my pics. It's a really cool site. (And no, they're not paying me to say it :) )

Simple crochet necklaces

Oh so pretty! If I may say so myself. Simple crochet necklaces how to.

Not only are these very easy to make even for a person who doesn't crochet, but they're also rather cute.

What you need

1. 2 balls of different coloured crochet yarn. (Or one, or more as you prefer)
2. Crochet hook
3. A string of matching coloured sewing thread
4. Needle
5. Youtube access (if you're like me)
6. Necklace clasp or large bead of matching colour

So Here's how to.

I just crocheted 4 long chains using both white & earth coloured yarn held together as one. If you don't know how to crochet, do what I did before I learnt how to. (Which is not much even now by the way). Take 3 long strands (2 2/1 times to 3 times) of intended necklace size (In this case 3 pairs of 2 different colours held together) and braid them as you would your hair. (if you're long haired)

By varying the lengths of the chains you can actually acheive a really nice effect.Take a piece of thread & sew the chains together at each end. Sew the necklace clasp accordingly or if you're using a large bead instead, sew the bead to one end & sew a loop to the other end of the necklace.

Now the flowers,

I learnt this by going through some crochet flower tutorial videos on youtube. But here's how they basically go.

chain 5
attach the last chain link to the first by slip knot
chain 3 (counting as the 1st doublie crochet), double rochet 9 around the ring and join
to make the first petal, chain 3 (counting as the 1st double crochet), 3 double crochet in the next stitch, chain 2 & slip knot into the next stitch.
Repeat 4 more times for 4 more petals.

Using a smaller hook will give you a smaller flower & using a bigger hook (Err, duh!) & using triple crochet (I think that's the word, correct me if I'm wrong people) will give you a bigger flower.

Trial & error folks. I tried to improvise first, before I thought to look in Youtube & that flower wasn't too bad either. Not great, but passable.

And if you don't crochet, hate crochet, but still like these necklaces, make fabric flowers (Cut about 6 to seven circles of fabric, singe the edges & stictch in the middle with a few beads- More on that later? Information overload eh?) & attach. Fabric flowers rock!

Happy crocheting everyone! :)

BookBaker out!

p.s
I just might give away a crochet flower necklace to anyone who can guess who it is in the pictures. (Or not)

p.p.s
Just so you know,  my craft resolution for the month is everything recycling polythene/plastic.  Pictures of what I made, later.