hannicraft

5.14.2013

Crochet Frog Applique {pattern}

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A few months ago my cousin sent me a picture from a pair of baby shoes with frog applique, that she wanted for Lili. I made a quick google search for a pattern, but didn't find any. So I tried to figure out how to crochet the applique.

I must confess, that the shoes are still not ready, because the first try turned out too small for Lili's feet. And now as she is learning to walk, she needs for professional shoes. So I will use these frogs later for another project. If you have any tip what should I make with them, share with me!

Materials:

- a few yards of DK weight yarn (or any weight by your choice) in green, white and red

Tools & notions:

- G / 4.00 mm hook

- safety eyes
- needles

Instructions

The Head

Chain 4.

R1 Ch2, make 1hdc in the 3rd st from the hook. Hdc 1 in next 3 sts. In last (corner) st make 4 hdc's. On the back side of the beginning ch-4 make 1 hdc in next 3 sts, make 2 sts in last st. Join to the top of the beg ch2 with a sl st.

R2 Ch2, make 1 hdc in same place. 1hdc in next 3 sts, 2hdc in next 3 sts, 1hdc in next 3 sts, 2hdc in next 2 sts. Join to the top of the beg ch2 with a sl st.

R3 Ch1. In next st make: 1sc, 2hdc, 1sc. Sl st in next 2 sts. Next st make: 1sc, 2hdc, 1sc. Sl st around to the first st.

Eyes

Magic ring. Ch3 and make 11 dc's in the ring. Join with a sl st to the top of the beg ch-3.

Finishing

Emroider the mouth with red yarn. Sew on the eyes placing the safety eyes into the middle of the white circles.

Happy crocheting!

Sharing on my favourite linky parties:

Mop It Up Mondays @ I Should Mop the Floor ♥ More the Merrier Monday @ DIY Home Sweet Home ♥ Craft-O-Maniac Monday @ Craft-O-Maniac ♥ Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative ♥ Make Something Mondays @ Sarahndipities ♥ Topsy Turvy Tuesdays @ I am Topsy Turvy ♥ Share it Linky Party @ The Winthrop Chronicles ♥ Hooking on Hump Day @ My Merry Messy Life ♥ Off The Hook @ Daisy Cottage Designs ♥ Wow Us Wendesdays @ Savvy Southern Style ♥ Somewhat Simple @ Somewhat Simply ♥ Friday Flair Linky Party @ Whipperberry ♥ I love Fridays Linky Party @ Petals to Picots ♥ Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest ♥ The Crochet Boulevard @ The Crochet Boulevard ♥ Link your stuff @ Annemarie's Crochet Blog ♥ Nifty Thrifty Sundays @ Nifty Thrifty ♥ Think Pink Sundays @ Flamingo Toes ♥ Craft Schooling Sunday @Creative Jewish Mum ♥ DIY Project Parade @ DIY Showoff ♥ Colorful @ The Crochet Boulevard

4.29.2013

April WIPs

There is a pretty busy month behind me: I worked a lot, started a language course and we made a little trip with my husband. It was also busy in my mind and heart. I am so emotional nowadays, I feel that I need to do some changes, but don't know the 'what' and 'how-to', I just feel, there is something wrong around me. It freakes me out and makes me depressed.

But I am crafting a lot, because I want to make my days a little bit nicer.

I have finished a cardigan this month. See my WIP and modelled pictures on Rav project page. Lili turned to one this month, so I also joined to my CAL to complete a chickie pillow for her. For the ultimate cuteness see my pictures from her.

I have started a new bag project.

At this point it may remind to a tablecloth:

This weird circle will be a hippy bag for the Summer: colorful and very roomie. Currently it doesn't look like a bag, but trust me, it will be a bag! I wanted to gift it to my brother's girlfriend, but I have realized, that she prefers neutrals. So I will keep it to myself.
Honestly it is a little bit boring project: I am making just hdc's around. It is a perfect travelling project, but doesn't use up my crafty energy.

Now I am working on redecorating our apartment, there won't be big changes, but every home need some refreshment sometime. So now I push my energy to uplift it with some organizing and new accessories.

I did the organizing part while I was doing the Spring cleaning. Now I am making new throw pillows for the living room. Our living room is very masculine: dark shades of brown and green, dark wooden furnitures, leather couch and lot of metal things with lime green wall. I must break down this darkness.
For the pillows I chosed an ecru fabric (80% cotton, 20% viscose) and brown fabric paint.

The paint I chosed is chestnut brown, matches perfectly to the living room:

I am making a few pillows with different patterns. To one of them I would like to paint an owl. I want just one owl pillow, more of them would look too childish in our very masculine living room. I made four sketches:

I think I will make a hundred more until I find the right one. I don't know yet, if it will be a big, detailed owl or a small one sitting on a branch. These are pretty simple sketches, because I don't want to risk, painting fabric is not easy since it is almost impossible to make corrections. So after I chosed the right one, I will have to make a perfect template and then start to paint. Please keep your fingers acrossed for me, I haven't painted from years!

I can't wait Wendsday to see all the your running craft projects!

Linking to:

and

Keep Calm & Craft On hosted by Frontier Dreams

4.17.2013

First time using bamboo

I am working on a big knitting project now as I mentioned in my latest WIP post. It will be a cardigan - the first I have ever made! It is almost finished, now is under blocking. {If you would like to see some peek visit my project page.}

Somehow this Spring is the season of the first things for me. I few weeks ago I completed my first triangular shawl. I was dreaming of a classy lace shawl from a while, but was waiting for the right time to start it. Our 4-day trip in March seemed the right time to work on this project - of course four night wasn't enough to complete a shawl, but at least I kept my hands busy.

The pattern I chosed is a very popular free pattern on Ravelry - I decided to play safe and wanted a doable pattern. So I downloaded Holden Shawlette from Mindy Wilkins. Great, well written instructions, easy to follow, repetitive motifs, so it was a perfect choice for our travel.

About the yarn I can't talk in superlatives. I used Alize Bamboo Batik Design. Well, bamboo is not my favourite fiber. Although it is so soft, I just don't like slippery materials and bamboo doesn't have a good memory - it looks worn very easily.

This picture has been taken after a few times wear, the edges are curling. The picot edging totally disappeared and I am sad about it - all of that blocking work for nothing...

Although I am not 100% satisfied with my first triangular shawl and with bamboo yarn, I am sure that I am not done with it, I will give to bamboo an other chance :)

4.04.2013

Basketweave Purse

I have finished my handbag a couple weeks ago and enjoy it so much! Currently I use it as a project bag to carry my knitting when I am out of home. It is so soft and big enough for a bigger running project (currently I am working on a cardigan).

The basketweave pattern is not mine, you can get the instructions from here.

Materials:
- 3 skeins DK weight yarn
- U.S. 7 / 4.00 mm needle
- for lining approx. half yard of wool fabric (optional)

Gauge: I didn't make gauge, it is not that important.

Notions:
- tapestry needle
- sewing thread

Instructions

Front and back

Cast on 96 sts. (The total number of stitches must be divisible by 4.)
Start to work following the basketweave instructions until you reach desired length. I made 72 rows. Bind off and sew the ends.
Make two pieces for the front and back of the bag.

Sides and buttom

Cast on 150 stitches and with stockinette stitch knit a 4' (10 cm) wide stripe. Bind off.
The size of your front and back pieces may differ from mine, change the number of stitches fitted to your bag's size.

Assembly

Block the pieces before sewing.
Sew the pieces together with your desired method. I used tapestry needle, but if you feel more comfortable, grab your crochet hook and slip stitch the pieces together.

You may line your bag. I recommend to use some tighter fabric, like wool or felt to have a nice fitting. I used a deep purple wool and closed with a magnetic clasp.

Maybe linking to these parties:

3.18.2013

March WIPs

There is no better timing than the last winter week to finish my current WIPs. I must confess something: I have too many running projects at one time. But I am not alone with this problem, aren't I? Sometimes I just jump into an other project without finishing the previous one.

Well, I am having my basketwave purse still unfinished. Just the last step is missing. I chosed the lining and during this week complete it. There will be a purple wool fabric inside: so warm :)

I have my first shawl in progress: just 3 rows more to finish:

I started to crochet a miniature chicken gang for Easter following my pattern. {Sorry there is no picture about the buddies, post comes soon.}

Started an ultimate stash-busting project: entrelac. But I decided, that I would hibernate it for a couple weeks. I realized I don't have enough time to complete it.

Last week I ordered some yarn and purchased a pattern for a very pretty cardigan. I am starting it.

Meanwhile I am hosting a CAL on Ravelry for my chicken pillow. It runs until 15th April, for the first five ravellers the pattern is free, for other participants the pattern is 50% off. (If you want to crochet it, there is no better timing.)

Can't wait to see what are you working on!

On Wendesday I will link the post to these fabulous WIP parties: