Creative Crochet Jewelry, part 3

What's this? You could easily guess what I plan to do with this, but can you tell where I got? I didn't buy it, and it wasn't a common reusable material. Since I was excited to see if it fits, I didn't take a picture of the thing before I took it apart and prepared it for use. I also just assumed the owner isn't going to use it anymore :p

This metal was covered with a nice glossy paper, and I took it apart from the box that showcased the watch that my son bought for himself a year ago. I peeled off the paper and cut the sharp corners off. I tried it on my wrist and was happy that it would make a really cool bangle. Of course I was inspired by the examples in the book, Creative Crochet Jewelry. However, the designer used 100% metallic thread for the bangles, and I didn't have enough of it. I don't want to buy any more material since its always better to destash ;)

This black acrylic yarn with gold metallic (lurex) thread woven into it, will make great accessories for sure. My sister bought this in London a few years back. (Love you sis!)

Here's my WIP - just a simple single-crochet tube...

Finished projects in my next post ;)

Cute Tawashi crochet patterns

I now have 3 tawashi/scrubbie designs!
I simply named it cute tawashi designs...thanks to a good deal of inspiration and help from Chie. You can see her tawashi projects here.

Before I show all three, look here what I did with the Handy Tawashi pattern - I made some Handy coasters ;)

And now here are my 3 tawashi designs:

Flower Scrubbie

Handy Tawashi

And,

Foot Scrubbie :)

I made some using carpet yarn, it works well for dishwashing, esp. the flower scrubbie. I use the hand scrubbie to buff my nails to make it shiny ;)
Btw, the coasters were made with regular worsted weight yarn, crocheted with two strands held together.



The pattern is also available in my Ravelry store.

homemade brownies and crochet tawashi

Before showing my next FO, I would like to show you the brownies I made last week. I rediscovered this pan that I bought a few years ago, but haven't used.



My son again requested me to make some chewy brownies (I just made him some, the other week...). Its from the recipe written on the Nestle Cocoa label. My oven is small, so when I used a 13 x 9 inch pan, it almost got burned at the sides and still not done in the middle.
So for the first time I baked brownies in this pan, it came out just right - all of it! (Btw, I substituted some of the flour with ground oats - which I also sprinkled a little on top.)

And of course I served myself one with coffee. I think an occasional treat like this won't do harm ;)



And now, presenting my neat little FO:

Handy Tawashi

My second tawashi design! I hope to come up with a few more... I started with the Flower Tawashi, which inspired me to make this one.
I already have the two tawashis available for sale in my Ravelry pattern store, and in my Etsy shop ;)

Purse Keychain by Mary Jane Hall

Last week, I wanted to give to my 3 nieces visiting from Australia, a handmade gift that they will like. Just in time, these yarns arrived from my sis in London.



Lustre Fancy Yarn, distributed in UK by Wilkinson,
50% polyester, 50% acrylic.
It has a metallic look, so its hard to photograph. I loved working with it, its smooth and soft. (Though I had a hard time weaving in the ends with a large needle.)


These are the three keychain purses I made, I bought 2 pairs of fancy silver earrings, which I used to embellish the purse. I also bought 3 charm bracelets, to put in each of the purses, it was a nice gift!...but I think they liked the bracelets more :p



Yesterday, I made another one of the purse keychain, since I have one more of the earring to embellish it. I tried to get a good shot, but still...



So, I scanned it...

A beret cap with brim

I made this cap pattern after looking at the free patterns online and not finding one just right for my acrylic yarns.
A smaller cap with brim pattern is shown here.
For bulkier yarns, try this hat pattern at Garnstudio; or this cap pattern at crochetville; or this newsboy cap pattern.

Still can't decide which cap to make? Here's a very neat pattern with tutorial pictures: Newsboy Cap by Mary Jane Hall

Now here is my own pattern, which I think needs some improvement on the brim part.
If you come up with an improved version, hope you let us know.

Beret cap with brim Ravel it!
Designed by Mimi Alelis © 2006
Size: Medium to Large
Materials:
4-ply worsted-weight acrylic yarn, 4 skeins (35 meters each) Carmencita dark brown used in sample
Aluminum Crochet Hook size 5mm. (H-8)
Abbreviations
ss = slip stitch sc = single crochet hdc = half double crochet
st = stitch ch = chain fpdc = front post double crochet
Gauge: Rnds 1-3 is approx. 2 inches in diameter
Instructions
With 5 mm. hook and acrylic yarn, working in rounds, start with ch 4, ss to form ring.
Rnd 1: 10 hdc in ring. (10 sts) Note: Ch 2 counts as first hdc of each round. Always join rounds with ss. Crochet in back loops only, unless specified.
Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each st. fpdc on every alternate increase (20 sts) (5 fpdc)
Rnd 3: (1 hdc in 1 st, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (30 sts) Note: Fpdc on every fpdc on this and every following hdc round.
Rnd 4: (1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (40 sts)
Rnd 5: (1 hdc in each of next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (50 sts)
Rnd 6: (1 hdc in each of next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (60 sts)
Rnd 7: (1 hdc in each of next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (70 sts)
Rnd 8: (1 hdc in each of next 6 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (80 sts)
Rnd 9: (1 hdc in each of next 7 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (90 sts)
Rnd 10: 1 hdc in each of next 8 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (100 sts)
Rnd 11: 1 hdc in each of next 9 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (110 sts)
Rnd 12: 1 hdc in each of next 10 sts, 2 hdc in next) rep. around. (120 sts)
Rnd 13 - 18: Hdc around (120 sts)
Rnd 19: decrease 10 sts evenly. (110 sts)
Rnd 20: decrease 10 sts evenly. (100 sts)
Rnd 21: decrease 10 sts evenly. (90 sts)
Rnd 22 -25: Sc in each st around. (90 sts) Fasten off.
Brim
NOTE: ch 2 at beginning of each row does not count as a stitch.
Row 1: work the brim with 2 strands of yarn, join on the 11th stitch from where cut-off. ch 2, hdc on next 6 sts, 2 hdc on next st, hdc on next 17 sts, 2 hdc on next st, hdc on next 6 (33 sts)
Row 2 : ch 2, (hdc tog next 2 sts) twice, hdc on next 12 hdc, 2 hdc on next hdc, hdc on next 12 hdc, (hdc tog 2 sts) twice (30 sts)
Row 3 : ch 2, hdc tog next 2 sts, hdc on next 26 sts, hdc tog last 2 sts (28 sts)
Row 4 : ch 2, (hdc tog next 2 sts) twice, hdc on next 9 sts, 2 hdc on next hdc, hdc on next 10 hdc, (hdc tog 2 sts) twice (25 sts)
Row 5: ch 1, sc tog next 2 sts, sc across each st except on last 2, sc tog last 2 sts (23 sts)
Do not fasten-off, continue with slip stitch on side of brim, around cap and the other side of the brim.
FASTEN OFF. Weave in ends with needle.

Hats made from this pattern:
by Gene in California:
this was made with RHSS WW County Rose using H (5mm) hook

(photos by Gene, more of his projects here)

More photos of finished projects are on my photo gallery.


Update: April 1, 2007

New! Brimmed hat from japanese pattern:

This is made from WW acrylic yarn (approx. 100 gms.) using 5mm hook. The pattern chart is found in this book.

All my designs in one page - thanks to Ravelry!

Fun Fur projects

I've been thinking about what to do with the pretty fun fur yarns that were given to me by a lovely, though anonymous fairy at crochetville.(see previous post)
I'm still waiting for some creative ideas to come up...looking for free patterns and easy projects to inspire me.
(Last updated May 28, 2009)
Most of these free patterns are from Lionbrand
Furry Little Bag
Fur Panda Amigurumi
Evening Tote
Fun and Flirty Purse
Evening Wrist Bag
Eyelash Purse
Furry Pal
Fun Fur Flipflops

Want more free patterns using fur yarn? Type fur on CrochetPatternCentral searchbox to get the links to these free patterns:
Child's Furry Purse
Easy Fun Fur/Eyelash Yarn Scarf
Eyelash Fur Glove Cuffs
Fancy Fur Twisty Scarf
Fun Fur Cell Phone Holder
*Fun Fur Guitar Strap
Fun Fur Hood
+Fun Fur Hoop Earrings
Fun Fur Jacket
+Fun Fur Scrunchy or Bracelet
+Fun Fur Trimmed Poncho
+Fun Fur Vest
Fun Fur Vest
Fun Fur Water Bottle Holder
Fur Collar Jacket
Fur Ever Collar and Cuffs
Fur Out Shoulder Wrap
+Fur Panda, Amigurumi
Fur Pillow
Fur Sure Crocheted Tee Top
Fur Trimmed Bottle Cozy
*Fur-Trimmed Pet Sweater
Furbands
Furry Girl's Slippers
Furry Handcuffs
+Furry Little Bag
*Furry Mouse Toy
Furry Mouse Toy
+Furry Pal
One Skein Fun Fur Scarf
Simple Fun and Fancy Fur Scarf
Suh-Wif-Fur Loopy Dust Mop Cloth

Found also this site with more info on fur yarns and other novelty yarns
My fun fur project is coming soon...I hope...

See my fun fur scrunchies, fun fur scarf, furry cellphone purse, and a funky cellphone purse.