Going Around in Circles Bracelet - free crochet pattern

Going Around in Circles Bracelet

A stylish design for use with variegated or multicolored threads or yarn.  Any thread or yarn will do, using the appropriate size of hook.

Materials: Size 10 thread and size 1.5mm hook

Finished size: approximately 6 inches

Note: Circles are crocheted in a spiral, and worked one after another. Do not join rounds and do not cut off thread, unless specified.

Bracelet

Leave about 8 inches tail at the beginning, to be used for sewing button later.

First circle

Rnd 1: Ch 2, 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook, do not join but continue to the next rnd. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around, sl st on next st. (16 sc) Continue on to

Big circle

Rnd 1: Ch 6, 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (16 sc)

Rnd 3: (Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next) repeat 4 times, with right side facing, sl st on the same st as the last st of previous circle, (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next) repeat 4 times, sl st on the next st. (24 sc)

Small circle

Rnd 1: Ch 5, 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each of the next 4 sc, sl st on the same st as the last st of previous circle, 2 sc in each of the next 4 sc, sl st on next st. (16 sc)

Continue making circles, alternating big and small, until you have 12 circles or until desired length.

Loop for button closure: Ch 12, sl st back to the base of the ch, sl st in each ch around. (Check to see if loop fits the button). Fasten off and weave in end.

Sew the button on the first circle.

Crafty stuff update

Denim projects

Aside from crochet, I also enjoy sewing projects, especially when using recyclable materials such as used denims. There's a good supply of this material from thrift shops nearby. However, not all are cheap. To maximize the cost and minimize waste, recycled denim projects are up on my crafting list...and fortunately I got another custom order to make use of denims.
This time around I'm using what is left from the jeans after I have cut off the legs for the placemats. The placemats are the main products ordered from me for a small restaurant which opened a year ago here in Quezon City (see previous post). They were quite successful in their venture, now they need more placemats! They're also ordering Christmas ornaments in the form of denim stars ;)

This looks simple to make, but if you're making a hundred pieces with just one pair of hands, it takes more than patience to finish. With a deadline to meet...I should be working on it double-time now. But wait! Halloween is near and I just got the urge to crochet a spider!

Spider charm

Occasionally, I'd crochet small projects using cotton thread...I try to make it detailed as much as my hands and eyes can manage. This is the first spider that I made, and I quite liked it though it needs some improvement...maybe I'll post a pattern soon... :)

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a blessed All Soul's Day celebration.

Random Crochet Stuff

Catching up post on some recent crochet stuff...

Here's a little teddy souvenir item I made for my nephew's 1st birthday last July. It is made from a Ravelry designer's pattern (details here)
I made up the number 1 figure and the scarf. This is only 2 inches tall ;)

Little Teddy Souvenir

Some simple bracelets made to use up leftover yarns and materials. The first one using coins with holes...the pattern is free and can be found on my FB page.

The next one is just a simple ch and sl st bangle - using a garter cord...project details on Ravelry

Since halloween is near...and if you're looking for a simple halloween accessory, there's a free pattern I made a few years ago - Just Got Stitched-up Choker, pattern here. I'll be making a few more of these to sell on my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/mimicrochet

Lastly, I've just picked up my order from Bergere de France yesterday, though the package was marked received at the P.O. on Aug 26 (12 days after they shipped it), I only got the Postal notice this week...and as if they purposely delayed it - since the Postal/Customs fee is now P100., which is a 100% increase effective this week :p. Hello Postmaster General :/

Bergere de France

The yarn is Bigarelle - very nice!! I love the natural texture of cotton and linen combined...and it has a fresh outdoor scent ;) The items are reasonably priced...though the shipping for this cost me around $25., flat rate for international shipping....so I should have ordered more yarns :p Then again it was so hard to choose which yarns I would actually end up making a project. These two skeins are enough to knit the top on the cover of the magazine. Hope to be able to make it!

Pineapple Motif Earring - free crochet pattern

Pineapple Motif Earrings - free crochet pattern

by Mimi Alelis

Materials

Cotton thread size 10, or size 20, or even finer thread, approx. 5gms.
(sample shown is made from Aunt Lydia's classic crochet cotton thread size 10)
Crochet hook size 1.5mm
Pair of non-allergenic earwires

Motif
Note: Ch 3 at the beginning of rows count as dc.
Leave an 8-inch tail at the beginning for attaching the earwire.
Row 1: Ch 4, dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 2, 2 dc in same ch, turn.
Row 2: Sl st in next dc, sl st in ch-2 space, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same space, turn.
Row 3: Sl st in next dc, sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp (shell made), turn.
Row 4: Sl st in next dc, sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, dc in space between the two shells of previous row, shell in next ch-2 sp, turn.
Continue rows 5-15 following the diagram below.
Finishing:
At the end of row 15, fasten off and weave in end. Sew on the earwire using the tail end at the beginning.

Note: Complete written instructions in downloadable pdf, now available (for sale) on Ravelry.

Pineapple motif earrings using Altin Basak size 50 cotton thread

Time for change...with some crochet, some sewing, and probably some knitting ;)

Nowadays there are so many lovely free crochet patterns on the web. For me, there is not much need for more crochet patterns; on the other hand, there are so many opportunities for trying out patterns that are already available. I don't want to miss out on so many wonderful designs!
Btw, I highly recommend Pierrot Yarns patterns since local cotton thread can be used for most of their designs.
I also like Garnstudio patterns so much, but most of their patterns use yarns that would be difficult to substitute with cotton thread. If one can purchase the yarns stated in the pattern, so much better!

I still have a few surprising designs coming up, though ;)...
but for now here are some of my recent projects:

this bag from Pierrot Gosyo. I'm halfway on this, but I'm modifying the main bag pattern since it isn't working for the yarn substitution I made. But I liked the doily appliques so much, and followed the pattern.

This cellphone case I made to fit exactly the phone I'm using. The pattern by Lydia Busek is customizable. Details on this post.

My sewing project, T-shirt shrug with crochet insert.There's not much sewing here though...more details here on Ravelry.

And lastly, here's a quick and simple fashion makeover I made using yarn and upcycled T-shirt (the bottom part of the T-shirt shrug!), and a bit of crochet. More details here.

Coin Bracelet - a free crochet pattern

I came up with this design for want of something to do with our flimsy 5-centavo coins. Since it had a hole in the center, I thought to crochet sc's into it and it seemed to work. Try it and see ;)

Pattern can be found here on Facebook.

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 ;)

Creative Crochet Jewelry, part 2

Creating your own crochet jewelry, even if you're not so inclined - is much easier when you have the right materials, tools, tricks and inspiration. That's why picking the right book that will inspire is important. I'm  grateful for this book and consider it a blessing to receive. (See previous post.)

Now for my first inspired project here's my Flowers and Pearls bracelet.

I used: Cannon thread with metallic
Crochet hook size 1.75
The pattern I followed is the bracelet on p. 29. I wanted to make it all silver, but I didn't have the right material, so I used a partial ball of white cotton thread with silver metallic. The flowers turned out a bit bigger than the model in the book. So I made only 6 flowers, instead of 7. 
My pearls were also bigger. 
I did not attach a clasp, but sewed the flowers together and sewed it onto a white garter. I'm glad it came out the right size and just stretches a little to slip in and out of my hand.

Choker and Doily Crochet Patterns

Free Pattern - Flower Choker


click here for pdf pattern


Pattern for Sale - Poinsettia Flower Doily and Coaster


click here for more details

Same pattern, made with size 10 threads.

Blogiversary giveaway

Hi everyone! I'll be celebrating my 2nd blogiversary on May 17. Yay! I did not want to let it pass without something to remember it by. After all its sort of becoming a tradition among us bloggers ;)
I accidentally came up with an idea for a blogiversary contest...
Well, the idea for this design came from one of the newsletters from a yarn company, which I subscribed to by email. I saw a model with a crocheted flower choker with a few beads in the center. Simple and cute. I made several, using different size of hooks and varying stitch counts. Here are two of my finished necklaces. I modeled the smaller one, its too close to my neck...(I dont have a model's neck, so I blurred the photo ;)

I'll be giving away a flower choker to two lucky visitors of my blog. Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win :D
One more thing, if you can tell or guess where I got the idea for this design, I'll give a prize too. The first one to give the correct answer will be an instant winner. The contest ends when I draw and announce the winners on May 17.

Crochet Necklaces

Hi! You might not have noticed I was gone, I was away from the computer for 4 days! I have gone to a 4-day vacation to Hongkong, it was great! I'll share some pics later.
Had a lot of catching up to do, in housework and in crochet, of course!
Just in time, I got hold of Rachel's necklace patterns as soon as it came out!
Here's the first pattern I tried, its named Multi Strand Magic Necklace, I did it in black, the first one with dark green beads. And I did another one with some variation, I replaced the crocheted dc's with additional pearl beads.





Another necklace I just made - the Petal Pendant Necklace! I used Cannon size 8 and 1.5mm(no.5) hook.


I would love to try all of the neckwear patterns, I'll be buying or hunting more beads later this week :D

Update: I wore the Petal Pendant necklace when I went out today to mail some packages at the P.O. My friend there noticed it right away and kept saying it was pretty and she couldnt keep her eye off it...I took it as a compliment, and I gave her the necklace! Taking a closer look, she said I was really good in crochet. I told her it was designed by a friend ;)

When I came home, I couldnt wait to make another one. I wanted to make it in different colors. I made one in the same color as above and another one in lavender:

Flower Earrings

Here's another mani di fata-inspired creation. I used Anchor perle cotton and 1.25mm hook for these.





Flower Keychain