Crochet Bracelet!

Just to show you that the pattern really does work, here are some photo's of my bracelet! (pattern found here!)
I know there are two white beads together, but I wanted my bracelet to look unique :)

Also, I've just finished making this crochet collar which has turned out beautifully, it really was a lovely pattern!

This week I'm...

... Making crochet beads!
I saw some pictures a while back of cute crochet bead bracelets, and began scouring the internet for patterns, but once I got the wooden beads I needed to cover I realised I'd need to create my own pattern to fit them. So here it is, and you can adapt it to the size of your beads (mine are these, approx.20mm in size). For this I used Patons Smoothie DK yarn that I split into half - there were originally 6 strands, however I only used three. Luckily, this means you get twice as much yarn in a ball! ^_^

Using a 4mm hook

R1: Ch 5, slp st in first ch (4)

R2: 2sc in each (8)

R3: *sc, 2sc* 4 times (12)

R4-7: sc in each (12)

Put the bead in the crochet cover - It's a little tight at first, but it should fit in nicely.

Switch to a 3mm hook.

From now on crochet only in the loops facing you!

R10: *sc, dec1* 4 times (8)

R11: dec once more, and then slip stitch into the next front loop. Fasten off, and there you are!

If your bead is bigger, increase the amount you chain in R1, for example to 7 (so you have 6 stitches). R2 would then be (12), and R3 (18).
If your bead is smaller, I'd suggest using a smaller hook, as you don't really want to have any less stitches.

My weekend

On saturday it was my mum's (54th - shhh!) birthday! And as I'm a little low on cash lately, I've made her presents and card this year.

I'll start with the coasters;

A couple of weeks back, mum bought a new table cloth, and personally I thought it looked a little bland. And out beige coaster didn't go with it at all anymore. This I when I started searching around for some coaster patterns online, and came across these! They were perfect. I made a few changes to the pattern, but nothing major, and started crocheting immediately :) The first took me nearly an hour to do (whilst watching Gilmore Girls), but by the end I was knocking them out every 20-25 minutes!

I needed something fancy to stand them on when they weren't being used, so my step-dad handily whipped up a little stand -

I'm actually very proud that I got them finished on time!

I was inspired when I saw One Sheepish Girl's embroidered journal page to start using embroidery on card/paper, so I jumped at this chance to use it! I drew my (simple) design onto a piece of card and eagerly got started, not thinking to take a photo of the design itself *sigh*.

It looks very plain and amateur-ish to me, but my mum liked it and that's all that matters :)

Now as this post is getting long, I'll limit the amount of pictures coming up.

On the sunday, for mum's birthday treat, we went on a very looooong journey to Chatsworth House. But when we got there, it was really worth it. It was beautiful!

And this picture has to be my favourite, even though it has nothing to do with the house itself!

I hope you had as good a weekend as I did!

One Sheepish Girl Giveaway // Win a Set of "Keep Calm and Carry Yarn" Cards!

Giveaway // Win a Set of "Keep Calm and Carry Yarn" Cards!

I just love these cards - Meredith from OneSheepishGirl just has way to cute a taste!
If you're not following this blog already you must be crazy, but it's not too late to start now!

This is only my second giveaway; I entered the one from All About Ami a week(ish) ago to no avail, but I won't give up hope. Good luck to all of you out there entering!

All work and no play.

Okay, I guess the Olympics and my birthday don't really count as "work", but they do take a lot of effort. Which means less effort can be spent on crafting! :(

Luckily, I did manage to find some me-time amongst all the craziness, and somehow ended up making a new phone case. I saw one on Instagram (of which, I am now addicted) by "usakichi07", and she/he had a picture of the pattern for the anchor (shown below).

Not sure where to start,  I adapted my pattern from one I'd seen by All About Ami. I made a chain of about 15 (I think) using a 3mm hook and White Smoothie DK wool. I crocheted (?) all around the chain to do a row (30 stitches). I did this for another three rows in white -

Then I joined in with a dark red for another three rounds to get the 'sailor' look:

And I just kept going and going until the case was big enough for my phone!

I then made the anchor in white wool (which I stupidly forgot to take a picture of) and then started to make a navy back drop:

Sorry for my nails, they looked atrocious, but I wasn't about to get nail varnish on my new case now was I? :P

So after sewing on the badge, which wasn't easy, I have a lovely new phone case with a slightly wonky anchor on that I have to admit - I'm proud of :)