Tag Archives: crochet thread

March 6, 2011 · 2:32 pm

Yarn Harvesting – Red Sparkle

Ok, so here is my first yarn harvesting!  This is from a red knit turtle neck with a metallic thread that runs with the yarn.  The metallic adds a nice sparkle, though I was worried that it would cause problems in winding, or a lot of breakage.  Fortunately this was not the case.


This is the sweater used as I was taking the seams apart.

           And now I have four skeins of red sparkle yarn.  What to do with it… hmm…  I’ve been thinking about crocheting a red tree skirt for the tree at Christmas.  I’ve got a good amount here, but I’m not sure if it is enough or not.  I’ll have to think about that.  But this much yarn would have cost me probably around $30 at my LYS (local yarn shop.)  I got the sweater for $4.

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March 5, 2011 · 9:37 am

Idea – Vintage Placemats

I have been having a really good time using the Word Press Tag Surfer lately.  I get to see a lot of different posts from other people with the same tags as those in my posts.  The problem is, seeing everyone’s wonderful projects gives me all sorts of really good ideas!  So today I thought I would actually start keeping track of those ideas for future projects in a new Category.  That way I don’t forget them!  Now knowing myself, I’m likely to build up lots and lots of ideas and never have time to get to them.  But at least I’ll have the option!

My first idea comes from a fellow bloggers post about a gift she received from her mother of some vintage placemats.   (Click on the photo to see her original post.)  They are just beautiful (and the lovely daffodils really piqued my yearning for spring.)

My idea is to get some vintage material from a thrift store and use it as the center of a doily/table-cloth/table runner or of course another placemat. 

I could use material from clothes or a dress, or whatever, and crochet the edging and make some really neat pieces out of them.

Don’t tell her, but I think my Mom might like a table runner like this.

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December 26, 2010 · 10:54 pm

Copy-Cat Pansy

I was visiting my husband’s family in Iowa for Christmas this weekend.  While there, my Mother-in-Law showed me some doilies she had picked up at a thrift store.  This multi colored pansy doily was one of them.  I had brought some thread with me to work on making some crocheted snowflakes and I thought this was so pretty I decided to try to see if I could replicate it.

This is what I ended up with.  It was such a lovely idea and I enjoyed the challenge of seeing if I could reproduce the piece.  I left both the original and the copy-cat version with my mother-in-law, but I will see if I can write the pattern down and add it here.

I will also be posting quite a few Christmas presents given this year.  I haven’t been able to post them until now because I wanted them to be surprises for the recipients!

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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November 29, 2010 · 1:01 am

Wedding Handkerchiefs

Another gift made for my wedding…  I wanted to make something for my Bridesmaids that they could use for  my wedding that would go with my colors and their dresses.  So I crocheted lace edging on handkerchiefs for them.  I found a unique hankie with their respective initials for each of them on Ebay and then used the same variegated thread for the edging that I had used on some of my candle holders. 

The pattern for these was incredibly simple.  The hardest part was crocheting the base stitches around the handkerchief, right through the material.  After that it was just a matter of chain stitches and single crochet stitches in the spaces those chains made, repeating this around the handkerchief until the desired width was achieved.  Believe it or not, this part actually took quiet a bit of time.

 I made my sister’s slightly different by using white thread for the lace and then using a single round of the variegated thread with picot stitches on the last row.

I also crocheted hankies for both my Mom and my husband’s Mom, each with their initials too.

I used a very simple pattern for these.  However, there are countless lace patterns out there that are more detailed and complex.  Have you done lace edging for a handkerchief?  I would love to see pictures if you have!

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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November 28, 2010 · 2:42 pm

Pattern – Candle Holders

Materials:

  •  Glasses – These can be any liquor type glasses either purchased new or found at a thrift store.  The sizes included here are 21/4 inches and 31/4 inches in diameter.  Taller glasses may also be used if desired.
  • #10 size crochet thread. One spool will make at least three small covers.
  • Size 6 (1.80mm) crochet hook
  • Scissors

Gauge: 5 rows dc = 1 inch.

 

Instructions: Written for 21/4” diameter holders, with optional rows for 31/4” diameter.

Row 1: Ch 3.  Join to first ch with slip stitch to form a ring.  Ch 3 (counts as first dc of next row now and throughout.) 8 Dc in ring.  Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 2: Ch 3.  *Dc in next dc, ch 1* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 3: Ch 3.  *2 dc in first ch 1 sp. Dc in next dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 4: Ch 3.  Dc in next dc. *Ch 1, dc in next 2 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 5: Ch 3.  *2 dc in first ch 1 sp. Dc in next 2 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 6: Ch 3.  Dc in next 3.  *Ch 1, dc in next 4 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 7: Ch 3.  *Dc in next 4 dc. 2 dc in next ch 1 sp* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Optional Row 1 for 31/4” Diameter Holder: Ch 3.  Dc in next 7 dc, ch 1.  *Dc in next 8 dc, ch 1* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Optional Row 2: Ch 3.  Dc in next 7 dc.  *2 dc in next ch 1 sp. Dc in next 8 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.  (Continue with Row 7.)

Row 8: Ch 3.  Dc in next dc and in each around. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Repeat row 8 until the base of your glass can be covered and you have enough rows to form a base.  I repeated 3 times on the small glass and 6 times on the large glass.  This is a personal preference.

Lattice Row 1: Ch 4.  Skip next 2 dc, dc in next dc.  *Ch 2, skip next 2 dc, dc in next dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Lattice Row 2: Slip stitch in first ch 2 sp, ch 4. *Ch 2, dc in next ch 2 sp* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Repeat Lattice Row 2 until your entire glass is enclosed when the cover is slid on. 

Top Row: Ch 3. *2 dc in next ch 2 sp, dc in next dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.  Finish off.   Trim and weave thread ends.

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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November 28, 2010 · 12:44 am

Candle Holders

This piece is one that I designed myself, and it was also for my wedding.  We needed 30 center pieces for the tables at our reception.  We really couldn’t see buying 30 floral arrangements that would just die, so we looked to the artistic front.  Fortunately, each of us has some sort of artistic side…

My husband collects vinyl records.  He has hundreds, maybe thousands of them.  So we went through them and picked  out the wedding and love themed albums.  Here are a few examples. 

My Dad made some really great wooden stands to hold the records and painted them a metallic silver. We placed one on each of the tables along with some “diamond confetti” and rose petals.

But, getting to the crochet part…

My Husband-to-be was now represented so I tried to think of something I could crochet to add to the centerpiece that would not be too casual or country for a formal wedding.  I came up with candle holder covers that we could put a tea-light in! 

I made this so simple and cheap.  I went to Goodwill and bought 30 small liqor type glasses.  I don’t think I spent more than $15.  I bought different shapes and patterns, they didn’t all have to be the same.  To make the covers, I used two different colors of thread, a dark blue that matched the sash on my wedding dress, and a variegated pastel that matched my bridesmaids’ lavender dresses. 

The covers were made with double crochet stitches, using increases to form the base, and then a combination of  double crochets and chain twos to create the rest of the cover wich was then easily slid on. Click HERE for pattern instructions.

These candle holders also doubled as gifts to some close friends and family members, as we told them to feel free to take a few off the tables as they left our reception that evening.  I even saved a few myself as keepsakes from our special day.

Stitched in Love,

Tatha


 

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