Working on a Crocheted Doll by Sue Pendleton

The crocheted doll by Sue Pendleton I started months ago is screaming for attention!  I finally found the started doll, threads and pattern at the same time.  So before I lose something, I started working on it again.  The doll is really cute!  So far the body, arms and head are made.  Currently I'm working on the clothes.  Can't wait to finish it and put up a picture.

Cleaning and sorting had to wait a bit.  But I have finally started sorting through the beads!  I've sorted two boxes so far.  Once the beads are sorted into colors I will start sorting by type and size.  Putting away the beads is a big job.  Then I want to start making jewelry for the Fair.

Yesterday I found two Barbie dresses that are close to being finished.  Unfortunately I don't have matching threads to finish them.  Lee said to make the missing sleeves in another color.  The blue dress is fine without sleeves or I could make the sleeves that match the underskirt.  The red dress really needs sleeves and I don't have that color of red thread.  They are both pretty but I really love the red dress.  It will feel great to finish them and have more clothes for Barbie!  Hopefully it won't be hard to find the red thread.

 

Blue crocheted dress,

 

Red crocheted dress.

 

Haven't Posted in a While

Recently I have been pushing myself to get the craft area cleaned up and organized.  It is really coming together after a lot of hard work.  Most of the work has been sorting through stuff.  But it has been hard to do especially the bending down part!  But it has been worth the effort!  Being able to find supplies is wonderful and gives me more crafting time.  This lovely Barbie sweater set was in with the doll making supplies, I made this years ago.

 

Knitted Barbie sweater set.

 

Mountmellick work at padding stage.

In the last few days I have been working on the Mountmellick embroidery. It is coming out very well but being whitework is hard to photograph.  Apparently part of Mountmellick is heavy padding.  The padding starts with seed stitch, then two layers of satin stitch and then a final layer of satin stitch.  All the layers make the embroidery quite thick and the fabric needs to be strong.  The pattern I'm doing is Dog Roses and Blackberries, from "Mountmellick Embroidery" by Pat Trott.  It is a beautiful pattern and I may try making it as a Crewel embroidery next.  I thought it would be really pretty having the same pattern with and without color as matching pillows.  The curtain scarf I've been working on has finished edges in crab stitch now.  I plan on adding a border in crochet lace and maybe a few crocheted flowers, all in white of course!

The last couple of weeks I have also been doing research on Hedebo embroidery.  Hedebo seems to be an obscure form of embroidery.  It is a form of white work that is roughly similar to Schwalm.  When I'm finished I will post links to the few links I've found.  While doing all this research I found the best site www.archive.org  Some libraries having scanned out of copyright books and made them available for downloading in several formats.  I've had lots of fun at the site getting access to old books.  This is especially helpful when researching needlework.  So many embroidery and lace instructions are hard to find in modern books.  In fact I had to purchase two magazines from 1906 and 1916 to find detailed hedebo instructions.  Hedebo was already obscure by the early 20th century.

With some luck I hope to make a tutorial on Dorcet Singleton buttons.  I've made a few and want to make a set for a shirt.  These will have to be washable so it limits the supplies and embroidery used.  Button making is really fun and a good skill if you make 16th century style clothing!  Now to get back to some research!

How to Make a No Chain Start in Crochet Tutorial

This is such a clever way to start crochet projects without making a foundation chain.  It doesn't work for all projects but many projects especially afghans it does.  One of the biggest reasons that I gave up making afghans is the starting chain.  Sometimes more than 200 chains to just get started and then a few extra just in case you miss counted.  Then I found the chainless start in a 19th century book and I'm so happy I sat down and learned this trick.  The tutorial is for making a row 1 of double crochets.

Step 1:  Make a slip knot and tighten it around the hook.

Step 2: Chain 4, the first chain loop takes the place of the chain start and the three make up the first double crochet.

Step 3: Yarn over insert hook in fourth chain from hook.  Yarn over and pull through, there will be three loops on the hook.

Step 4:  Yarn over and pull through 1 loop, 3 loops will be on the hook. The loop you just pulled through becomes the foundation chain for the next stitch. 

Step 5: Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, 2 loops remain.

Step 6: Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, stitch is now completed.

Start of next stitch.

Step 1: Yarn over and place hook in the bottom of the last stitch.  In the picture you will see that I left the chain stitch loose so it was more visible.  Yarn over and pull the loop through, 3 loops on hook.

Step 2:  Yarn over and the pull thread through 1 loop, 3 loops on hook.  This is making the foundation chain for the next stitch.  You can think of this as making the original starting chain while crocheting the stitch.

Step 3: Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, 2 loops remaining.

Step 4: Yarn over and pull though 2 loops, 1 loop on hook.

Step 5: Repeat the second set of steps 1 through 4 until you have the correct number of stitches for your pattern.



Need chain spaces?  It is easy.

Step 1: Chain number of chains in pattern  This example will use 1 chain space.

Step 2: Yarn over and place hook in the bottom of the last stitch.  Yarn over and pull the loop through, 3 loops on hook.

Step 3: Now yarn over and pull through as many times as need for chain spaces in pattern.  In this example we will use 1 extra space. Yarn over and the pull thread through 1 loop, yarn over and pull through 1 loop again creating a chain one space and the foundation space for the next stitch.

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, 2 loops remaining.

Step 4: Yarn over and pull though 2 loops, 1 loop remaining.

I hope that these instructions are clear enough and someone finds it helpful.

Edging for baby socks

Finished baby sock edging

I love making baby things!  But somehow I never seem to finish them before the baby has grandchildren.  So I love this idea that a friend showed me, crochet edged baby socks.   All you need are a package of 0 - 3 month socks some crochet thread 10 or perl cotton size 8 and a hook about a size 4 or comfortable for the size thread.  My friend then adds plastic beads but that worries me for baby socks but they are cool looking.  So I just doodle edgings.  To make the edging make a slip knot and push the hook through the sock, yarn over and pull a loop through the sock, chain 1 and then evenly stitch single crochets around the sock.  If you slightly stretch the sock it is easier to get the hook in the sock.  Also if you look for the perl stitch and place the single crochet in each perl it is easy to get them evenly spaced.  I don't bother to count stitches.  Slip stitch into the first single crochet.  Chain 1 and then place a single crochet in the first single crochet of previous row.  Skip two single crochets and place five double crochets in the next stitch.  Skip two stitches and single crochet in the next stitch, repeat around the sock.  When there are only two or three repeats left count the stitch left and adjust your stitching.  For instants I had one extra single stitch so I skipped three stitches instead of two at the end.  Then slip stitch into the first single crochet to complete the round.  End of and run the thread ends to finish.  Place several in a basket or use to decorate a diaper cake.

Small Beaded Purse

Small Beaded Purse

The small purse fits easily in my hand

A while ago I was challenged by the local craft store to make something from a yarn called Spangle made by Premier Yarns.  At first I thought of couching it onto a scarf, but couldn't think of a design.  So while looking through my latest aquisition of beads I found that the yarn perfectly matched the turquoise crystal beads.  So I started crocheting two round circles to make into a purse.  The beads I used were size 6 roundells.  It took almost 300 beads, mostly because I used double crochet stitches adding two beads to each stitch.  All I was trying for was two beaded flat circles.  So after several tries I ended up with this pattern.  String beads on yarn or thread.

When crocheting beads like this they appear on the backside of the work, this is normal.  I used a G hook beause the Spangle yarn is thick like a size 3 thread.  Use a thread and hook that will support your bead choice.

Round 1: Chain 6 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 2: Chain 1, bring up a bead. chain 1, bring up a bead, chain 1 (This will make the first stitch a chain 3 with two beads.  Make a beaded double crochet into the ring 11 times. Connect with slip stitch at begininng of  row.  (Beaded double crochet: Wrap twice around hook, place hook in ring or stitch, yarn over and pulled loop up, [three loop on hook] push bead up to work, yarn over and bring yarn through two loops, push another bead up and finish double crochet by yarning over and passing yarn  through last two loops.)  (12 double crochets)

Round 3: Chain 3 as before adding two beads.  Two double crochets in each double crochet in round 2.  Slip stitch into chain stitch at beginning of round 2. (24 double crochets)

Round 4: Again start with chain 3 adding two beads.  Then 3 double crochets in each stitch.  Slip stitch into beginning chain. (72 double crochets)  The purse I made only had two double crochets in each stitch because I ran out of beads!

Next I took and secured the ends and then with the right sides together sewed through the two circles using wildfire thread 12 lbs.  I left half the circle open and tied off the ends.  Turning the circle right side out.  Next I placed the purse clasp over the open edge and sewed remaining edge to the holes in the clasp.  I also added two buttons to hide the original chain 6 loop.  I wanted to use a silver chain for the necklace but I didn't have one strong enough for the weight of the purse.  So I made a beaded chain using random beads the same color of the purse but with different shapes.

I learned a great deal from this project.  First that beads are really heavy!  The weight pulled the circles into an oblong.  Next time I will try this with size 6 or 8 seed beads.  Also I got the purse a little off center when I was sewing it together.  I would also add another round to the circles because only a small lipstick or rolled up money will fit inside.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,  if you try this I would love to see pictures!

Crocheted Wire Necklace Tutorial

How to make a crocheted wire necklace.  First you will need to decide what kind and color beads you want for the project.  I like to make my necklaces very open and lacy so almost any bead types and sizes will work.  However keep in mind that soft gemstones and pearl can get scratched because of the wire rubbing against them.  That said you can use just about anything and this is a good project for odds and ends.  If you want to include heavy gemstones or glass beads try using small ones to minimize weight with a few larger beads for accent.  The joy of this design is it floats around the neck.  Once you have chosen a color for the beads find a complimentary metal wire in gauges 24 to 26.  You can use a heavier gauge but much lighter and you risk the wire not supporting the beads.  If you use sterling silver I suggest dead soft and gold half hard.  The half hard gold is harder to work with but will stand up better.  So let's get started, please be patient this is my first tutorial.

Step 1

In whatever order you want including random, place the beads on the chosen wire.  Place on more then you think you will need.  The number of beads will vary acording to size and spacing between beads   I do not cut the wire off the spool. 

Lots of beads strung on wire spool

Step 2

Make a loop on the end of the wire and twist to close  If you are using a crochet hook make sure the loop is large enough for the hook.

Step 3

Just as you would make a crochet chain with thread, start pulling the long wire through the previous loop.  Then you will start pulling up beads and just continue to make a chain.  This I do in a pattern so when the chains are woven together the beads are more evenly spaced.  So for the first strand I make one loop and then pull up a bead and make a loop  Then two plain loops and then another beaded loop.  Making the loops large will create a lacy looking necklace.

Step 4

Keep making chain loops until you have the length you want  I usually stop at 18 inches but that doesn't make a very long collar length  This project is made with 24 inch chain strands and it makes a generous length and width after braididing.   When you have the length you want cut the wire with wire cutters and leaving 4 inches of wire.  Then wrap the wire around the last loop to end off.  For the next strand make two chain loops at the beginging and then start to add beads using the same pattern.  This offsets the beads by one loop.  The third chain strand is made the same as the first.

Step 5
 
Once the chains are finished take the ends and wrap them together.  Then using a three braid technique loosely braid the strands together. If you decide to shorten the strands after finishng, the wire can be cut with wire clippers and the wire end wrapped around the last loop desired.

Step 6
Once the braiding is done wind the ends like at the begining so that they hold together.

Step 7

Now the fun comes!  By gently pulling the braid apart it makes the piece shorter and wider.  It also looks lacier!  Sometimes it looks better pushing a bead into another place on the braid.  Just follow the wire loops move the bead under the wires.

Step 8

The necklace is done except for a clasp.  One finish is to buy a clasp with cone ends.  All you need with that is to cut the ends and glue them into your cone.  Or use plain cones and make a loop through the cone and attach a clasp.  Or the way I finished mine which is to make a loop at each end attaching the ends to rings for an s-clasp.  Below are instructions and pictures for the s-clasp

Step 9

In the picture below I am foldng the wire over a long nosed tool.  Anything flat with a 90 degree bend should work, so you don't need a tool, the edge of a hard counter may work for you. 

Step 10

Once the wire is folded over you will need a round nose plier or something like a dowel.  I like to wrap wires around knitting needles or even a pen or chopstick.  You are going to place the dowel on the opposite side of the bent wire.  Then bend the wire around the dowel  forming a circle. 

Step 11

It is important at this point to remember to add the ring from the s-clasp before the next part.  With the s-clasp ring in the center of the loop you have just made start to wrap the wire to close the loop.  Holding the loop between two fingers or a pliers helps. 

 Step 12

Once the wire is wrapped at least a couple times clip off the rest with a wire cutter.  Repeat on the other end and slip the rings onto the s part of the clasp.  That's it!  As you can see from the pictures the hardest part is putting on the clasp.  So if you don't want to try the s-clasp, try the cone clasp and jewelry cement.  Any craft store will be glad to help you find the right supplies  If you are in the Santa Maria CA, come to the best Beverly's Crafts ever! Though this can be made without tools except wire cutters the tools do help and can be purchased from craft stores as kits some as low as $7.00.  This project cost $1.99 for the clasp, approx. $5.00 in wire and the odds and ends beads around $4.00, $11.00 total isn't bad for such a lovely necklace  This project took about 2 hours to make.  Just remember to let the necklace lay flat when not in use.  I like to decorate the square flat cigar boxes to hold them in.  If you find a better way to better explain the project, pictures or spelling please let me know!