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How to Crochet 5: Seaming Your Work

How to Crochet 5: Seaming Your Work
In this how-to series we could move right on from single crochet to the other stitches (double crochet, half double crochet and triple crochet) but I'm pausing to talk about "seaming" because if you want to make anything other than washcloths or rectangular scarves or afghans (which are all good) you're going to need to seam some pieces together. Seaming is a good skill to have and it can be the difference between a cute sweater looking handmade instead of homemade. I am going to share two different methods. Click to view the full tutorial. SEAMING WITH THE MATTRESS STITCH: You will need a tapestry needle to do the seaming, which is a large blunt needle and a big eye for threading the yarn. The mattress stitch is so fabulous because it's virtually invisible if you line up the stitches correctly. To start, cut a length of yarn about twice the length of your seam and thread your tapestry needle. You can keep these stitches loose right now--you'll pull them tight later. And right side:

Nibble nibble, hop hop Nibble nibble, hop hop Posted on Updated on If you are a regular follower you will immediately notice that these bunnies are very closely related to some particularly cute owls made recently. Right, on with the tutorial. Various scraps of yarn and a corresponding hook – I used 8ply and a 4mm hook.2 x 9mm safety eyes (or beads or buttons)A very small amount of black crochet cotton or embroidery flossA needle to sew your creation together with. Round 1: Make a Magic Circle and chain 3, then crochet 13 DC into the circle and pull tight, join with a SS to complete the round (14 DC). Round 2. Round 3. Round 4. The round goes like this: Chain 2, 2DC into next stitch, 1 DC into next, 1 DC into next, 2DC into next stitch, 1 DC into next, 1 DC into next, 2DC into next stitch, 1 HDC into next, Chain 1, SC into each remaining stitch around. Round 5. Round 6. You need to make two of these (they are the bunny front and back!). Ears. You can find more detailed instructions for the ears here. Muzzle.

DIY Picture Tiles - You Will Never Buy a Photo Frame Again Lately I’ve been having this huge urge to decorate the house. This is big news. I do not decorate. Arguably, one of the reasons why is because I. absolutely. hate. to. buy. mass. produced. decor. (Also, I can’t ever remember if pink and purple go together or not.) Anyway, this extends to photo frames. Nope. Long story short, I discovered this method of transferring my photos cheaply, quickly, and beautifully to something uncommon and unique. Tiles. The only thing that’s not particularly crunchy about this is that it uses Modge Podge or similar (and I’m not sure what’s in Modge Podge). It’s just grainy and doesn’t dry clearly. Boo. BUT, if you can overlook that one minor issue, I think you’ll love this. And it will be glorious. Here’s how you do it. First, you need to go to Home Depot, Lowes, or something like it. (FYI, I found that Lowes prices on tiles were cheaper than Home Depot. I like the stone tiles, because they have texture. So you pick out your tiles in the sizes you want. Go go go!

Standing Double Crochet - Joining Without the Slip Stitch and Chain! The Standing Double Crochet stitch is one I came to late – and I wish I’d known about it years earlier! It’s not a stitch that you’ll usually find specified in a pattern, and as such it has no standard abbreviation. What it is, is a technique – one that will allow you to start a new row on a crochet project without having to use the telltale “join with a slip stitch and chain 3” – and I can’t wait to share it with you! Video Tutorial: Standing Double Crochet – Right Handed Left Handed Photo Tutorial for the Standing Double Crochet Step 1: Hold the yarn end with the last two fingers of your hook-holding hand. So what do you think? NOTE: Several different people have now written to me, claiming that they invented this technique.

Zooty Owl's Crafty Blog: Starflower Mandala: Row by Row Two or so weeks back I posted my STARFLOWER MANDALA PATTERN The original plan was to provide photos of each row - but there was such a high demand for the pattern (long weekend = lots of crochet time) - so I decided to go ahead and publish with just the few photos of the first four rows!Hundreds (maybe thousands?) YAY! My original STARFLOWER MANDALAS were crocheted with Stylecraft Special DK and a 3.50mm hook, giving a finished Mandala of 33 cm in diameter. The Starflower Mandala in this post was made with Raeesah Cotton Soft DK and a 4.00mm hook, giving me a finished Mandala of 45cm in diameter. Yarn weights are referred to quite differently in various regions, so I thought I would also include this rather useful RAVELRY LINK for Standard Yarn Weights.Crochet Hook Sizes are also referred to differently - if you need to know which hook to use go and have a look HEREThe photos were taken at various times over the course of a few days - so there is a bit of variation in the colouring.

100 Ways to Repurpose Everything (Mega Roundup!) Think this title is a tall order? Well, you’re in for a post of epic eco-tastic proportions. So epic that you may need to give your computer or mobile device an extra moment to load all of our pretty pictures. Seeing as we love to repurpose just about anything under the sun, we’re celebrating Earth Day by serving up 100 of our favorite ways to upcycle, reuse, and transform everyday materials into creative new things to wear, hang on the wall, and give to friends. 1. Newspaper Party Hats: We’ll kick things off with a must for any celebration: party hats! 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61.

Neat Ripple Pattern Ahhhhhhhh look at all those hooky ripplesome ripples, aren't they glorious? I love crocheting this pattern, its relatively simple, rhythmic and soothing, but playing with colours in this way is also energising, exciting and a lot of fun. Well to me it is any road. there's something magical and mesmerising about the way the ripple effect makes the colours sing and dance next to each other, and it's a pattern I can see myself coming back to time after time. When I made my first ripple blanket last year (finished in August 2008), I followed a pattern in Jan Eatons book (the Soft Waves pattern), and it has to be said that at first this pattern was not plain sailing. So what I've done here for you is to write my own pattern. To start out, you need to crochet your foundation chain. Once you are sure you've got the right number of chains to begin (count carefully as you make them!) yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, bring hook back through stitch (3 loops on hook). Ok so far????

What is Knooking? What is knooking? Think crochet hook + fabric that has been knitted. Knooking has been said to be the new style of knitting, using a specially designed crochet hook. Why Use a Knook? The knook is a special crochet hook that helps you to create knitted fabric, without the worry of dropping stitches, as can be encountered with regular knitting. With a knook (hook), you create actual knitted stitches. Kooking is said to have originated in Japan. Names for Nook Hooks Super Miracle Needle (Japanese)Amazing Needle (American)Magic Needle Knooks are crochet hooks with the usual hook on one end but with a hole at the other end, that is threaded with a cord. If you've always wanted to knit, but like the ease of crochet, now you can do so, using a knook--a handy crochet hook that replaces knitting needles and creates knitted fabric.

Neat Ripple Pattern Ahhhhhhhh look at all those hooky ripplesome ripples, aren't they glorious? I love crocheting this pattern, its relatively simple, rhythmic and soothing, but playing with colours in this way is also energising, exciting and a lot of fun. Well to me it is any road. there's something magical and mesmerising about the way the ripple effect makes the colours sing and dance next to each other, and it's a pattern I can see myself coming back to time after time. When I made my first ripple blanket last year (finished in August 2008), I followed a pattern in Jan Eatons book (the Soft Waves pattern), and it has to be said that at first this pattern was not plain sailing. So what I've done here for you is to write my own pattern. To start out, you need to crochet your foundation chain. Once you are sure you've got the right number of chains to begin (count carefully as you make them!) yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, bring hook back through stitch (3 loops on hook). Ok so far????

How to Crochet: Double Crochet with Beads By Robin Beers – 19 Comments The materials you need are crochet thread or yarn, beads and a needle. I am using larger beads here so I use a tapestry needle to string them onto my yarn. Note: If you are left handed, just put your mouse over the photo for a left-handed view. First string the beads onto your crochet thread or yarn. Begin crocheting the desired number of stitches, pushing the beads down out of your way. Yarn over, then insert crochet hook into the next stitch. Yarn over, pull loop through stitch. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook keeping the bead in place. Now bring the bead up from the back to the front of the work with your finger and hold in place. (Bring it around both loops, not through them.) Keep the bead secure in front with your finger while you yarn over and pull through the final 2 loops on the hook to complete the double crochet stitch. This is how you add beads to your double crochet work! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

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