Necklace With Crochet Thread ( Crochet Accessory #2 )

Hi everyone! I can finally introduce what crochet projects I made as Christmas presents. I'm going introduce an necklace that I made for my mother-in-law. 

 

I used three kinds of crochet thread for the necklace. I posted my evaluation of these crochet threads here.

My mother-in-law likes nature. I love the nature too, so we often talk about flowers, birds and butterflies. 

I didn't want to attach the threads to connect the butterfly, flower and chain together, because that doesn't make firm connection.  I made the flower first, and connected the butterfly to the flower with slip stitch while working on the top of left wing. This way is better, but I needed to plan the structure before I started making the necklace I also connected the chain to the flower with the yellow clear bead in the center of the flower.

Crochet thread is good for use with beads in crochet projects. Most beads don't have holes that are large enough for the yarn. When you want to use beads in your project, which use thick yarn, you can put beads through on crochet thread, and crochet with your yarn and the thread together.  This way you can place even tiny beads whenever you want in your project.  This can also give your project additional color.

Stitches that I used for the necklace.

Chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet.

Crochet threads that I used for the necklace.

• OMEGA  Nylon Thread : Yellow 
• Egyptian Crochet Thread : Light Gree 
• Red Heart Knit-Cro-Sheen : White
  

Three Ways Scarf

I got two interesting skeins of yarn lately.  I bought one at a shop for 1 dollar.

This yarn doesn't unravel, so I thought it would be good for making small things like accessories. The yarn also has texture like suede, and it's elastic.

I got the other yarn from my mother when I visited Japan last fall.  She is a great knitter, but she prefers sewing to knitting now.

This yarn is very fluffy, and suggests a USA size P/10mm hook. I didn't have that size, so I bought the hook to work with it. This yarn doesn't unravel as well.

I initially wanted to make a hand bag with these, but I realized that I didn't have enough of the fluffy yarn to make the hand bag I wanted. I also noticed that the fluffy yarn can show it's feature on chain stitches effectively, so I made this three way scarf!

 

I made long white trim with crochet thread, and put a chain made from the fluffy yarn on it.  Finally, I added another chain made with chain stitches and picots in pink. The scarf can be used as necklace or belt as well.

I'm thinking of making other accessories with these yarn.

 Stitches that I used for the scarf.

Chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet Picot.

    

Yarn that I used for the scarf.

 

• RED HEART Knit-Cro-Sheen : White
• GALA Mix Fiber : Pink
• ARAMIS Cosmetic : Light Pink

Ear Flap Hat

I wanted ear flap hat for myself since I moved to the U.S from Japan three and half years ago, but I couldn't find one that I wanted to buy. Most ear flap hats generally have a same design, which have two or three flaps on right side, left side and forehead, a pom pom on the top of the hat, and strings from the ear flaps. Basically, I didn't change the design on mine.

 

I used two granny squares as ear flaps. Making them trapezoid, I reduced some stitches on the bottom.of the pattern. Granny squares have holes that you can see through, so I lined them with white felt. 

I also used two corkscrews as the string. The corkscrew is one of my favorite patterns, because it's easy to crochet and it looks solid. I often use the pattern in my accessory projects. 

I used the same yarn as my last project, hand bag, so that the hat is made from left-over yarn as well. 

Stitches I used for the ear flap hat.

Chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, foundation half double crochet.

Yarn that I used for the ear flap hat.

• Lion Brand Yarn HOMESPUN : Borbon
• RED HEART Super Saver : Aran
• I Love This Wool : Sungold

Hand Bag

I've made a hand bag from left-over yarn. I always aim to use my left-over yarn. When I buy yarn, I'll choose yarn for a project, but left-over yarn in my yarn basket often gives me new ideas.

I have been trying to learn higher level stitches, and I chose Diamond Cross Trellis pattern for the front and back sides of the hand bag. This skill level is experienced, but if you practice a few times, I'm sure you can use it in your project! The tip for the pattern is to loosely stitch Font Post Triple Crochet.  I looped dark yellow yarn around the front post triple crochet.

I became interested in edging lately, because edging can make projects fancy or impressive, so I  worked edging on the cover of the hand bag. However, I wanted to add the yellow flower too, so I used a little free form around the flower.

I used white felt to line the inside of the bag. I didn't use fabric for two reasons; first I don't have a sewing machine, the other is that I like felt.

This was the first time I made a crochet hand bag. I took one week to complete, because I made the pattern at the same time. Of course I was working on other projects as usual. While I was working on this project, I got two more ideas for new hand bags, so I started working on one already! I look forward to introducing those projects soon.

Stitches I used for the hand bag.

Chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, front post triple crochet, 2 treble cluster, 3 treble cluster.

Yarn that I used for the hand bag

• Lion Brand Yarn HOMESPUN : Borbon
• RED HEART Super Saver : Aran
• I Love This Wool : Sungold

Christmas Costume for Duffy

Hi, it has been snowing here in Kentucky U.S.A. It's the sixth time this winter season. We usually don't have the snow in December, but it's good to have the snow. There is a bird called Cardinal in Kentucky. The male bird has bright red feathers, so they are really attractive in the snow!

I'm always working on some crochet projects, I'm now making Christmas presents and a hand bag, but I'm working on those projects without Christmas colored of yarn. Since I watched the Cardinal in my yard today, I wanted to make Christmas item, that's why I made this costume.

 

My Duffy is about 5 inches tall. I've made the dress, boots and hair accessory. Of course I used left over yarn for the costume. I initially wanted make a hat, but it was hard to have her wear it on her head. Her head is almost flat with large ears. Even if I make ear holes in the hat it will cover her eyes, so I decided to make the hair accessory instead.

I tried to take a picture of Duffy with the snow outside, but it didn't work. That's why I put her in front of the window.

Stitches that I used for the costume.

Chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, foundation half double crochet, half double crochet, double crochet.

Yarn I used for the costume.

I Love This Yarn Sport Weight : Red and White.

Yarn Evaluation 12/2010

Are you working on crochet Christmas presents? I am done with some, but I'm still working on one more. I'm sorry that I can't introduce my crochet Christmas present projects to you before Christmas. I will surely post those projects after Christmas. Coming soon!

I used some new yarn in my projects, so I'm going to tell you my evaluation of those yarn.

I Love This Yarn Sport Weight

Colors that I used :  Green, Red, Black, Ivory

Evaluation :★★★★

I used this yarn for Christmas Items. 

The yarn has soft texture and reasonable thickness, so I worked on a waffle pattern with it. The waffle pattern was finished successfully. However, I think that the yarn is not suitable to small projects, because the yarn can't show a detailed pattern. The price is low, so it's good to use it when you need a lot of yarn for projects.

OMEGA  Sinfonia


Color that I used :  Blanco

Evaluation :★★★

This yarn is made from cotton. It looks like spring and summer yarn. I made snowflakes with the yarn. The yarn string doesn't tend to separate, so it's good for detailed pattern. However, the yarn suggests a hook (USA size E/4), so even if you make small project with it, it will be lager than you expect.

 

CARON Simply Soft

Colors that I used :  Soft Yellow, Country Blue

Evaluation :★★

This yarn has a smooth and soft texture, and it's a little slippery. This yarn may not cause you to feel itchy. String often tends to separate, and had bumps on the yarn, so the bumps showed up on surface of project. I needed to buy those colors of the yarn for my project. I couldn't find a better color in other yarn brands, that's why I bought the yarn. I guess the yarn is suitable for blankets, but I might not use the yarn for my project any more.

Red Heart Knit-Cro-Sheen


Color that I used : White

Evaluation :★★★★

This crochet thread made from cotton. I made snowflakes and some different crochet motifs with the yarn. It's really good to work on small project and detailed pattern like lacework. This was the first time I used crochet thread, but I didn't have any problems.

OMEGA  Nylon Thread


Color that I used :  Yellow

Evaluation :★★★

It was hard to work on a crochet motif, which is one part of a necklace, with the thread.  This thread is very slippery. The yarn also tends to twist, but the yarn doesn't make project twist. I like the color, because it has gently shifting shades of the same color. I was afraid of using iron on the project to make it flat, because the yarn is not supposed to be ironed, so I covered the project with a cloth napkin when I used the iron. That way worked well.

Egyptian Crochet Thread


Color that I used :  Light Green

Evaluation :★★★

This thread is very very thin! I had a hard time to using it, but the thread makes the project feathery. I made a necklace chain with the thread. I'll keep using it for making accessories.

Have a wonderful time with crochet!!

Snow Flake

I made crochet snowflakes as Christmas decoration, and hung them from curtain rail in the living room. 

I got this pattern form Patons free pattern site, here. 

I used cotton yarn, which suggested a crochet hook (USA size 4/E) for the snowflakes, but it made them larger than I expected. I tried crochet thread with a thread hook (USA size 7) next time, and it made just right. I hung smaller sized snowflakes from Christmas lights on the kitchen cabinet. 

I used crochet thread for the first time, so I tried to make some different crochet motifs with the thread.

 I made a crochet neck lace too! It's really easy necklace, but it's cute for winter.

I just used purple leather for the necklace and a yarn flower with eight beads.

While using the crochet thread, I came up with some new ideas, so I look forward to introducing my new projects to you soon. I also want to use different colors of crochet thread.

Yarn and thread that I used for these crochet motifs.

• Red Heart Knit-Cro-Sheen : White
• OMEGA Sinfonia : Blanco

Winter Wreath

I got two wooden wreaths from my mother-in-law this year, and I made a crochet fall wreath with crochet pumpkin, butternut squash, leaves, two kinds of flowers and acorns. I really enjoyed making the wreath, and hung it from the living room wall during fall.

I've made winter wreath too! The winter wreath is simple compared to the fall wreath, but it looks gorgeous.☆

I made three crochet Poinsettias, and attached to the other wreath. I had planned to attach some snowflakes on it, but I realized that if I'd like to show the gorgeous Poinsettias, I should not attach anything else. I just used dried seeds pods around the Poinsettias. I like to use things from nature, because those are free and it looks warm. 

I'm going to tell you how I made Poinsettia. I made four green leaves, eight red leaves and three buds for each flower. I wanted the Poinsettia to look more real, so I wanted to change leave's size slightly. I actually made four different sizes of patterns for the leaves, but  there are two sizes of green leaf and four sizes of red leaf.  I also used different hook sizes to change the sizes of the leaves. 

After I made all sizes of leafs, I sewed four leaves together with slip stitch, so three groups of leafs made up each flower. I put all groups of leaf in center like flower, and turned it over, and then sewed roughly not to move leaves and to keep the leaves from rolling up. I tied three buds together with ten inches of yarn, and put it through the center of the flower, and then tied the yarn to the wreath.

I'll hang the winter wreath from the living room wall until February.

Stitches that I used for the Poinsettia.

Chain stitch, slip stitch, shingle crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, treble crochet.

Yarn that I used for the Poinsettia.

I Love This Yarn Sport Weight : Red and Green

Patons Grace : Lemon Lime