Welcome 2008!

Hello All!

It has been quite a while since my last blog post but I plan to remedy that.

I have been very busy designing lots of really cool earrings that have been very popular for the Christmas season. That is very exciting for me.

Just take a look and you can see just how versatile these lovely creations really are!

I've also been working on getting more traffic to my Online Catalog Store this year... my goal is be my own financially stable business by the end of the 1st quarter!
Go Me!

Ok-- New designs...

Crochet: The Rasta Scarf...Yep... Matthew requested a Rastafarian inspired scarf so I designed one and he loves it... making scarf number 2 for his friend now...

Free Pattern:
Level: Super Easy
Supplies:
Worsted Weight yarn- 1 skein each
black, red, yellow, green
I used Red Heart Super Saver and it worked up perfectly
Size I crochet hook

Pattern:
Using Black chain 50
Row1: Hdc in 3rd st from hook and in each st to the end, chain 2 and turn
Row2: Hdc in next st and in each across to end, chain 2 and turn
Row3: continue as Row2 until color block is 12 inches long ( Pattern Stitch)
When Black color block is 12 inches long change to Red yarn
Once that color block is 12 inches long change to Yellow until 12 inches long then change to green and once it is 12 inches long change back to black until 12 inches long.
Once final row is completed add one row of sc then secure and weave tails at beginning and end.
You scarf is complete and will measure about 5 ft in length which should be long enough to wear comfortably around anyone's neck.

Crochet Felting Tips

It has been a few weeks since my last blog entry so I thought I better put some of the info I have been preparing up!

So- first there are some tips on CROCHET FELTING that I have found helpful with my own experience. Please note that everyone has a way that works for them... try it and see what works for you. Experiment to acheive the individual look you are trying to achieve for your project. Then feel free to let me know what you made and how it turned out!
Secondly- I have a pattern for a crochet cotton felted ( or fulled) bag. It will not have the appearance of a wool bag, but then that is what gives it a sense of style and panache-- at least that is my personal opinion!
Enjoy and experiment and see what your imagination can do!

I have had some comments about the felting technique I use when crocheting. Please note that this is only with CROCHET FELTING and ONLY WHEN I USE 100% COTTON.
If using wool then the fibers will shrink a bit more densely and create a fabric with a solid appearance where the individual stitches will not show. With crochet felting the stitches will still be discernable, but very tight and kind of stuck together.


Guidelines that I use when crocheting to felt.

1-I make the item about 1/3 larger than I want it to be in the end.

2- Use only 100%cotton or if using wool make sure it is not "washable" wool which is treated so it will not shrink and therefore will not felt; and make sure the wool, alpaca, llama, cashmere, etc equal at least 75% of the fiber make up.You can use something with rayon or acetate or such as long as the predominant fiber is a natural untreated one.

3- If making something that will be used like a bag or an article of clothing use a hook size up one or 2 from the recommened size you can comfortably use with the yarn you are working with. If the packaging says to use an F hook then go up to a G or H.
Worsted weight and sport weight can take a G or H hook in a sc or hdc for a nice tight even felted appearance.

4- Make sure you put your item in a lingerie bag or stocking if putting it through a cycle in the washer since it is likely to stretch out in the spin cycle and may end up irregular in shape. And the fibers won't clog your washer's filter.


Felted Bag-

This is an easy to do project:
Using 100% cotton ( I use peaches & Creme worsted weight cotton) and a size G hook

row 1-chain 52, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining chain to the end ( 50 hdc) , ch 2 turn
row 2- sc in 1st stitch and in each to the end, chain 2 turn

row 3- hdc in1st stitch and in each stitch across to end, chain 2, turn

continue repeating row 2 and row 3 until fabric measures about 18 inches tall.

Felt the fabric in the washer in a stocking or lingerie bag or by hand.

I prefer by hand for one or 2 pieces and use a bucket or basin filled with scalding hot water with a small amount of detergent.
Wearing rubber gloves is the best advice against burning your fingers! Agitate the fabric really well– squeeze it, rub it against itself and really swish it about in the hat water. Let it sit for a few minutes then repeat the agitation again.
Remove from the hot soapy water and rinse under running hot water.
Wring out then lie flat on a bath towel folded in half. Roll the fabric up in the towel tightly sqeezing the water out as you go.
Unroll and repeat again until fabric feels nearly dry to touch.
Lay fabric out on dry towel to air dry.
You should see burs on the fibers where it looks like they have shredded and knotted together as they shrunk. This is the felted look and with cotton will not be as dense as with wool. You will still see the crochet stitches, but they will be very tight without space between.

Once the fabric is dry fold it in half lengthwise then stitch up the 2 sides.

To make a lining for the purse I like to use a handkerchief.
I get the 97 cent ones at Wal-Mart since they are inexpensive and large.
Open the hankie and cover the purse with it right side down.
Pin the sides closed and mark the top edge about 2 inches beyond the edge of the purse then remove from the purse.
Stitch up the sides leaving about 1.5 inches open at the top on each side then turn right side out.

For plastic or bamboo handles you can easily stitch them in place now using either needle and thread or yarn and a yarn needle.
Fold the edge of the fabric over the handle and stitch it in place so there is a handle on each side of the purse.

Now place the lining over the purse form with wrong sides touching and stitch the top edge of the lining down along the line where the purse handle was attached folding the top of the lining under about 1 inch as you go.
When that is completed just turn the whole thing right side out and you will have your finished felted purse
To dress it up add crocheted yo-yo’s or flowers to the outside or try crocheting over or wrapping a plain bamboo handle with the purse yarn or a contrasting yarn for additional flare.
I like to use solid colors for flowers on variegated yarns and variegated on solids so they stand out.
I also like to use brightly colored handkerchiefs for the lining for a nice contrast or a splash of unexpected color!

Enjoy!

Just a Little More Time...( Felted Tie Pattern)

How many times have you said that , or at the very least thought that very same thing? I seem to be thinking it and saying it too much these days myself. I have been trying to figure just exactly how to find more time in my days, but unless I decide to give up on sleep altogether I cannot see any way to add more hours to my day... maybe Congress could vote some more hours in for me? LOL!
I have been working on getting my craft room in some semblence of order, a daunting task indeed! But on the bright side I actually FOUND an entire bin full of yarn that I did not remember having!
I am working on several projects at the moment-- crochet, knit and cross stitch, as well as trying to get my online store launched. Still have not come up with a good name for it... My hand-crafted item site including Jewelry, Purses and accessories is called DHDesigns, but I was hoping to come up with something a bit more catchy for an online store. Hopefully I can come up with something that works in the next day or 2 and get my store opened!

I promised a FREE PATTERN so here is the first one. It is easy and requires no real gauge.
I used Paton's Wool in blue and it looked like one I saw at the Mall before Christmas that was on sale for 59.99.... It took about 1/3 of the ball of wool for this project.

Crochet Felted Teacher's Tie

Supplies:
Size H hook
Worsted Weight Wool of choice ( real wool not acrylic)

Chain 32, turn
hdc in 2nd chain from hook and each chain to end (30 stitches), chain 2, turn
continue this pattern until tie is 48 inches long
Final row sc across to end and bind off.

Finishing :
Place tie in basin of HOT water with 1/2 tsp of liquid dish soap. Squeeze and agitate the tie in the hot water for 6-10 minutes then rinse with warm water until runs clear. Roll tie up into a ball and squeeze as much water out as possible.
Repeat this process until there are no visible spaces between stitches so that tie appears to be made of a solid fabric. It may take 3 cycles of hot water and rinsing to acheive this depending on how loosely you crochet. The tie should be about 1/3 smaller than when you started if you have felted it completely.
When you are satisfied with your felting and have sqeezed as much water out as possible fold a bath towel in half then lay the tie out on the towel with the tie folded in half. Roll the towel up with the tie inside applying pressure to the towel as you roll. Do this several times to remove as much moisture as possible from the tie.

To dry the tie unroll it and block it so it is square on each corner and the sides are straight and let it dry over night. To finish use an iron set on wool setting and lightly press the tie by placing the iron on the tie for several seconds beginning at one end and moving it along the tie to the other end. Be sure to lift the iron and set it down in the next spot- Do Not Slide it along or it will make the tie look uneven or crooked along the edges.
Voila'! You have now made a hand-crafted wool tie comparable to those found in high end retail stores for upwards of 100.00!!!
Great for gift giving with a nice Tie Tack or Tie Clip