What is this?

I have these exact colours of yarn and I want to make some coasters/placemats and this pattern is so lovely but what is it? Is this crochet? knitting? embroidery? I can’t figure it out and can’t find anything online. If you know what this is or know of a crochet stitch that gives a similar result please let me know!

UPDATE: I know what this is.

Filed under: other, coaster, crochet, crochet stitch, flower, pattern, placemat, wool

Broomstick Lace Bracelet

This weekend I learnt broomstick lace. I saw a photo of a broomstick cuff on Ravely but the pattern just says “work 3 groups of 5 stitches of broomstick lace for the length of your wrist.” which wasn’t quite the level of detail I was hoping for!

As with the crocodile stitch I’d been putting off learning this stitch because it looked quite complicated and there seemed to be a lack of left-handed written instructions, and again once I got my head around it it was actually quite easy. The most useful instructions I found were detailed written instructions from dayliliescreative.com - as usual though the instructions are for the right-handed majority so I’ve created a photo tutorial here for all the lefties out there to even things up a little.

I think completing this pattern with a fluffy or highly textured yarn would be a bit of a waste – you need a nice smooth yarn that will show up all the stitches. Select your yarn (you don’t need very much for this small project – the finished bracelet with buttons weighs less than 10g) and a suitably sized hook – here I’ve used bamboo cotton and a 4mm hook. You also need something thicker – the broomstick from the name of the stitch. A thick knitting needle would be perfect because of the tapered point for sliding stitches on and off but I don’t knit so I used a 15mm crochet hook instead. The thicker your “broomstick” the longer the lacy clusters will be.

Step 1. Chain 15 and pick up your “broomstick”.

Step 2. Pull out the loop on the hook and place it over the broomstick. Using your hook work your way down the chain, pulling a loop of yarn through each chain and without twisting it placing it around the broomstick.

Step 3. Once you’ve worked your way down the whole chain you should have 15 loops around the broomstick.

Step 4. Turn the broomstick around so the length of working yarn is at the top. Insert your hook under the first 5 loops on the broomstick as shown below. Yarn over the hook and pull under all 5 loops. Yarn over again and through the single loop on the hook. This is a slip stitch completed just once at the start of every row.

Step 5. *Insert the hook under all 5 loops as before, yarn over the hook and pull under all 5 loops. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. *repeat 4 more times (5 stitches total)

Step 6. Push this group of 5 loops off the end of your broomstick.

Step 7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the next group of 5 loops.

Step 8. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the final 5 loops and remove the work completely from the broomstick.

Oh dear – it doesn’t look very lacy and swishy like all those lovely photos you’ve seen does it? Not to worry – pick up the work and hold it vertically so the starting chain is in one hand and the row of stitches you’ve just completed in the other.

Pull these rows apart to reveal the lovely loopy broomstick stitches. There’s no need to be gentle – the work should be quite solid and able to withstand some tugging. This is where using smooth yarn gives another advantage as straightening it up is much easier. If it’s being stubborn then pull on individual loops to even them up – again don’t worry about being rough – you can always pull them back – nothing will unravel.

Phew! That looks much more like it. Row 1 is complete and you should have 15 stitches.

Step 9. pull out the working loop and put it around the broomstick as you did in step 2. Just like step 2 work your way down the row of stitches pulling loops through the work and putting them on the broomstick.

At the end of the row you should again have 15 loops around the broomstick.

Step 10. Repeat steps 4 to 8 to complete this next row.

Continue repeating this process and after a few rows your work should look something like this:

From the couple of sites I looked at I think this is generally considered to be the front of the work but I much prefer the other side which seems more delicate and lacy:

Continue adding rows until the bracelet fits snugly around your wrist. I needed 9 rows. Fasten off and weave in ends.

You could add another row or two and simply slip stitch the work into a ring for a loose bracelet but I preferred it to be snug and actually think the buttons look good and will probably wear them facing out. If you want buttons then sew 3 onto the front side of the starting chain end. The loops of your last row will act as button holes.

Filed under: crochet, instructions, bracelet, broomstick lace, crochet, crochet pattern, instructions, left handed, pattern

Zombie Phone Case

I had a request from a friend for a zombie phone case and after a little bit of thinking this was the result. The thing that really makes it great, I think, is the hanging out eyeball and I can’t take any credit for that whatsoever – I saw it on an amigurumi bunny of doom at a blog called A Clockwork Angel and instantly knew it had to be the focal point of the phone case.
To make this case first follow the instructions for the flower phone case in grey (or green would look good) up to step 6. Go on, go do that now – we’ll wait for you….

Done that now? and your phone fits nicely inside? Good then let’s continue:

FASTENING STRAP

You don’t have to have a strap to close the top but I think the fact it’s on one side instead of central and that it hooks around the ‘good’ eye all adds to the creepy/quirkiness. Maybe there used to be a strap on the other side too but that eye just couldn’t take the strain….? If you want a strap too then stop your dc spiralling towards one side and chain long enough to loop down to the centre of the case while the phone is in it. Now dc into the next stitch of the case and slip stitch the next few stitches.

HAIR

If you have fluffy yarn like I did then change to this yarn and complete a couple of rounds of 1dc in each stitch – keep going until there is as much hair as you want. If you don’t have fluffy yarn then fasten off the grey yarn and you could tie lengths of a contrasting colour yarn around individual stitches on the top of the case and trim them into tufts. This will be more time-consuming but you have more freedom for the hairstyle – odd random tufts, male pattern baldness or a Mohican maybe.

FACE

If you are using a strap then the button eye should be positioned first and used as a basis to build the rest of the face. Put the phone into the case to locate the best position for the button so that the strap fastens easily and securely. For the popping out eye I used a small black bead inside a larger white bead but as you can see on the Bunny of Doom just a black bead looks great too. Thread the bead onto a length of pink thread or thin yarn and repeatedly knot the thread to create the eye entrails (or whatever they’re actually called!) until it is a good dangling length. Using black thread sew a patch opposite the button to act as an eye socket and pull the ends of the pink thread through either side of the centre of the socket. Tie the ends together and trim inside the case.

Finally using black thread again sew a mouth as shown in the photos or in any expression you like, I’m sure the options are endless!

Filed under: amigurumi, crochet, instructions, other, amigurumi, creepy, creepy cute, crochet, crochet pattern, easy, instructions, mobile phone case, zombie

Crocodile Scarf Head

The Crocodile scarf is finished! When I showed it to a crochet friend she said it was an adorable scarf for a child… “yes” I replied, “…a child…. yes…. that’s right…. that’s who it’s for…”

I shall have to remember not to wear it when I’m meeting her – she already thinks I’m odd for crocheting toadstools. She’s right though it would look very cute on a kid.

The detailed instructions and photo tutorial for how to complete the crocodile stitch and start the scarf at the tail can be found in my earlier post: Crocodile Scarf Tail. Check that out then follow the link at the end to come back here and finish off the head.

As a recap here are the general instructions for the tail (for detailed step by step instructions follow the link above)

I am using bamboo ribbon yarn that I’m not sure of the weight of and a 5mm hook which makes each scale ~2.5cm (1 inch) in width and height.

TAIL & BODY

row 1 (tail): 1 scale for as long as you like (I have used a chain of 8 scales for my tail)

row 2: increase to 2 scales

row 3: increase to 3 scales

row 4: decrease to 2 scales

row 5: increase to 3 scales

row 6: increase to 4 scales

row 7: increase to 5 scales

row 8: decrease to 4 scales

Continue alternating between 4 and 5 scales to a row until the body of the scarf is as long as you want it.

Now if you’re using thin yarn then I would recommend continuing until the work is normal scarf length – long enough to wrap around your neck at least once. If like me you are using quite thick yarn then the resulting scarf will be too thick to wrap all the way around. Instead I made a “tab” and sewed it to the underside of the head then you can pull the tail section through to secure the scarf wrapped just around the back of the neck (as shown in the first photo of this post).

For the tab chain about 15 and just complete a couple of rows of double crochet – it doesn’t need to be pretty – it won’t be seen. Then sew it to the underside of the head approximately where the eyes are.

Anyway whichever method you choose you first need to know how to complete the head:

After the body is as long as you want it end on a row containing 4 scales

HEAD

row 1: decrease to 3 scales

row 2: decrease to 2 scales

row 3: increase to 3 scales

row 4: increase to 4 scales

row 5: decrease to 3 scales

row 6: increase to 4 scales

row 7: decrease to 3 scales

row 8: decrease to 2 scales

row 9: increase to 3 scales

Fasten off and weave in ends.

TEETH

With much thinner white yarn and a small hook attach to the edge of the final row of scales. There are no proper stitches here so please excuse the lengthy descriptions of where to complete stitches – I hope it makes sense!

Step 1. chain 1 and dc into the same place you attached the yarn

Step 2. complete 5tr into somewhere halfway between the edge of the scale and the centre of the scale

Step 3. 1dc into the centre of the scale

Step 4. complete 5tr into somewhere halfway between the centre of the scale and the far edge of the scale

Step 5. 1dc between this scale and the next

you should now have 2 teeth attached to the first scale. repeat steps 2-5 for the next 2 scales until you reach the end – you should now have 6 teeth. Fasten off and weave in ends.

EYES

I tried a few different styles of safety eyes but they all made him look a bit sinister so in the end I used white felt and black thread. Experiment with the placement of the eyes to give him different expressions. Mine are placed on the middle two scales of the 4th row from the end.

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crochet pattern, crocodile, crocodile stitch, instructions, pattern, scarf

Bookmark Becomes Scarf

I liked the pink bookmark so much that I decided to make it into a scarf. It’s a thinnish lacy scarf – A summer scarf. If you don’t understand the concept of a summer scarf you clearly don’t live in the north of England. Summer here consists of a period of a few weeks where you can wear a slightly thinner coat. But an umbrella must, of course, still be carried at all times.

On particularly warm days a coat may be dispensed with altogether if you have a summer scarf as backup. It fits in your bag and can be whipped out when the inevitable clouds roll over. It provides some warmth while the lacy look allows you to cling on to the idea that you’re still dressed for summer.

I used DK yarn, a 5.5mm hook and I made a few changes to the bookmark pattern – instead of bullions I used double trebles (trebles in American terms). 15 of them at each end and 5 for each shell along the length. I couldn’t be doing with the tedium of working out what multiple of stitches the starting chain needed to be so I just chained as long as I wanted the scarf and when I got to the near the end of the first side of double treble clusters I skipped an extra stitch (or one less stitch, or whatever was needed) between a couple of clusters so that it matched up at the end. Then when doing the other side I just made sure the centres of clusters were opposite each other. you can’t tell at all that a few are not quite the same as the others.

I really enjoyed making a scarf ‘lengthwise’ – it felt much less repetitive than working in rows and I liked having a definite end – instead of looking at it every few minutes, wondering if it’s long enough and thinking “just one more row and then I’ll stop”…..

Filed under: clothing, crochet, crochet, instructions, lacy, scarf

Lacy Pink Bookmark

Today I made this beautiful bookmark. It was my first time crocheting with thread and using such a small hook. The smallest I have is 2mm but luckily this seemed to be the right size for the thread. I found it quite fiddly doing the bullions to start with but they got easier as I went along and it was definitely worth it in the end. After I finished I pressed it so it would lie perfectly flat between the pages.

The pattern is called Elegant Bullion Bookmark: click on the link if you want to give it a go. I did have to skip a few stitches on one of the rounds to make the pattern work out and then after I finished I found someone had posted a correction on Ravelry which is as follows:

• Round 1: Chain 54, not 56.
• Round 4: Either skip 1 ch when it says to skip 2, or work the chain 5s on round 3 as ch 7s.

The first part of the second correction sounds pretty much like what I did to make it work so do take note of those two points before you start.

Filed under: crochet, instructions, other, bookmark, bullion, crochet, crochet pattern, pattern, pink, thread

New Look!

I’m currently streamlining this blog a little – making it a bit more organised and hopefully pleasing to look at. So I thank you for bearing with me while I go through and alter posts/photos etc. to be displayed correctly in this new theme. Things are a little all over the place just now.

Filed under: Not crochet

Crocodile Scarf Tail

So this is where I’m up to with the crocodile scarf. I looked at a few different websites explaining the crocodile stitch and while everyone does seem to do it slightly differently once I got my head around the general idea it was actually very easy. I also discovered that my main issue with watching videos to learn stitches is that I get bored after about 10 seconds. Apart from videos there didn’t seem to be much of anything else and what there was was quite sketchy and vague. So for everyone out there like me here is a detailed photo tutorial of how I created the scarf so far….

Crochet terms are English as always so have a look at the conversion chart for the American alternatives. Also as I’m left-handed all the photos show the steps as seen by a left-handed crocheter - I’ll try to give written instructions for both left and right-handers but if you’re right-handed and struggling try flipping the photos and if you’re still confused then leave a comment or drop me an email.

Some of the instructions I watched flipped the work back and forth to create the scales however I found it easier to always have the front facing me and spin the work. Experiment and do whatever works for you though.

TAIL

Step 1. Chain 3

Step 2. tr into the 3rd chain from the hook.

Step 3. turn 90 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the tr from step 2.

Step 4. ch1 and turn the work 180 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the initial chains from step 1.

Step 5. ch2, slip stitch into the centre top of the scale. chain 2 and tr into the top of the scale again. This is the basis for the next scale.

Step 6. turn 90 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the tr from the previous step.

Step 7. ch1, turn 180 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the chains from step 5.

Repeat steps 5-7 until the tail is as long as you would like it. My scarf has 8 scales in the tail. Now we need to increase up to the width of the main body of the scarf….

INCREASING

Step 8. ch2, tr around the last tr of the scale

Step 9. ch1, tr into the centre top of the scale, ch1, 2tr between the first and second tr of the scale

Step 10. Follow steps 6 & 7 to create a scale around the 2 trebles you just completed

Step 11. We now need to attach this scale to the single treble from step 9. Turn the work 180 degrees so it is as shown in the photo below and insert the hook under the single tr as shown by the red arrow and slip 1 stitch.

Step 12. Keeping the work in this orientation follow steps 6 & 7 again to create a second scale around the chains and trebles on the other side (this can be a little awkward the first few times).

We are now going to increase again on the next row.

Step 13. ch2, tr around last tr of scale, ch1, tr into centre of scale, ch1, 2tr between the scales, ch1, tr into centre of scale, ch1, 2tr into 1st treble of the end scale.

Step 14. Repeat steps 10-12 to create scales around each set of 2 trebles.

To make the increase up to the full scarf width gradual we are now going to decrease on the next row before increasing again…

DECREASING

Step 15. ch2, sl st into the centre of the 1st scale, ch2, sl st between the first and second scale, ch2, tr between the first and second scale, ch1, tr into the centre top of next scale, ch1, 2tr between the next scales. Your work should now look like the photo below.

Step 16. Repeat steps 10-12 again to create scales around the sets of 2 trebles.

Now you know how to increase and decrease you can use the steps above to make the crocodile scarf as follows (if you have followed all the steps above you will have just completed row 4).

I am using bamboo ribbon yarn that I’m not sure of the weight of and a 5mm hook which makes each scale ~2.5cm (1 inch) in width and height.

row 1 (tail): 1 scale for as long as you like (I have used a chain of 8 scales for my tail)

row 2: increase to 2 scales

row 3: increase to 3 scales

row 4: decrease to 2 scales

row 5: increase to 3 scales

row 6: increase to 4 scales

row 7: increase to 5 scales

row 8: decrease to 4 scales

Continue alternating between 4 and 5 scales to a row until the body of the scarf is as long as you want it. Then check back for instructions of how to complete the head once I get to that myself :)

See you later alligator….

UPDATE: The scarf is now finished. Instructions for the head and finishing touches can now be found here: Crocodile Scarf Head

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crochet pattern, crocodile, crocodile stitch, instructions, pattern, scarf

Crocodile Scarf (in crocodile stitch)

Update: Instructions for the first half of the scarf are now available. And when you’ve completed that you can move onto instructions for the head and finishing touches. Enjoy!

I saw this pattern for a crocodile scarf on ravelry several months back – I bookmarked it and keep checking back but it always just says “pattern coming soon”. This is very annoying and so I have decided to take matters into my own hands! I really want to make this scarf but with no pattern I’ll just have to figure it out for myself. I’ve looked at a few videos of the crocodile stitch but I find videos hard to follow because everyone’s crochet style is different and they hold the work at different angles, twist the hook around different ways. I find written instructions with diagrams and photos of the steps much easier to follow but I’ve not found much of that (especially for left-handers) so I’m just going to muddle through and try to blog in detail as I figure each bit out.

The starting point is the diagram below - I’ll start at the tail and figure out how to increase as I go along.

Hopefully I’ll have the first part for you soon…

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crocodile, crocodile stitch, free, instructions, pattern, scarf