2014/35 Scrunchie from leftovers! Quick, free pattern

Jessie at Home uses ruffle yarn for this so there’s no actual crocheting involved (but you will need a hook). Dead easy and a useful way of using up scraps!

Click here for the photo AND video tutorials!

 

2014/33 Using elastic with crochet (2)

Following this post about using elastic with crochet to make a beautiful bridal garter, walkerwhimsy shows us how to make a headband with elastic, so that you don’t have to use ties or worry about getting the size exactly right.

It’s all UK double crochet and shell stitch – easy peasy! It looks very sweet and would be useful for using up bits and pieces of yarn. If you don’t have any hair bands, I crocheted a row of dc around elastic bands. You could also wrap ribbon or thread or yarn around them, too.

Click here for the pattern from Walker Whimsy.

Crochet + upcycling!

If, like us, you’re a bit of a greenie or you just like sewing, this one’s for you! This tutorial will show you how to make something from a scrap of fabric and a quick bit of double crochet! We love chopping up old t-shirts and turning them into other things, but are often left with perfectly good bits of fabric and no idea what to do with them. We don’t want to throw them out – and Jill Goldberg in sunny South Africa came up with this clever idea!

The possibilities are endless. With some carefully placed holes (and we’d love to know how you would make yours), you can crochet something fancy or cute or sophisticated or seasonal along the bottom (or top or side …).

Visit Jill’s blog to find out just how quickly you can make this.

Two patterns in one – a flower and a butterfly

Today’s pattern is a clever one. Marie at marie’smaking designed a lovely pattern to make a butterfly that begins its life as a flower. She has posted lots of clear photos to help us and little tips along the way. We’ve personally tried this pattern out today and it’s easy to follow, and produces beautiful little butterflies! We’re attaching ours to a pink beanie!

Chair socks – pattern translation

My craft area has taken over part of the dining room. Unfortunately a huge water leak meant I had to pull up the carpet. This leaves a bare lino floor and chairs that scrape on it so loudly, they make me want to scream.

Step in: chair socks from thevelvetbow! Hurrah!

These beauties can be whipped up in No Time Flat and only use TR stitches. Not only that, you can use leftover yarn because there are only six rows in each one.

So, wherever the pattern says DC, crochet a TR.

Done!

A new idea – crochet make up remover pads!

I genuinely hadn’t thought of this before. I’m a big greenie. I never buy things like cotton wool or anything disposable because green issues are really important to me, so having a teenage daughter who likes to slap on make up, I was very happy to find this pattern: reusable make up remover pads! Fab!

From moralfibres.co.uk, the pattern is very quick and simple. You could churn out a dozen of these while watching Eurovision Semi-Final 1 (guess what I’m doing? :P).

Little coin purse – leftover yarn project

 

This sweet little purse shouldn’t take more than an hour.

I made this cute little purse from wool scraps. I had a metre or two left, not enough to make anything significant but too much to throw away (I can’t bear chucking out wool!). To give you a sense of scale that’s a tapestry needle at the top of the picture – you know, the needle you use to sew in all your ends.

Here’s how to make it:

I used fat wool with a 6mm hook. Adapt as you please :>

Start with a magic ring. 6 dc (sc in US terms) into ring.

Row 1: dc (sc) all the way round into each stitch.

Row 2: 2 dc (sc) all the way round into each stitch.

Row 3: repeat row 1.

Row 4: repeat row 2.

Row 5: repeat row 1.

Row 6: repeat row 2.

If you like, you can stop at this point, or crochet a few more rows. To judge how big the purse will be, just fold your work in half. If you would like the top edge to be wider, repeat row 2. If you want it to be narrower, repeat row 1.

Once you are happy with the size, fold your work in half and start crocheting the edges together – but ONLY a third of the way across. Once you have crocheted a third, switch to slip stitching ONE edge only. If you crochet all the way across, you’ll have a purse with no opening! Slip stitch across another third, then switch back to crocheting the two edges together.

I sewed in a button, as you can see, but you could make a tie, leave it open, whatever you like. Your stitches will be loose enough so that you don’t have to make a button hole.

Tie off and sew in all ends.