Sun and Moon Earrings

Sun and Moon Earrings
These are the notes I took for a friend, not a true pattern, so please bear with me and PLEASE feel free to ask questions!

They are really pretty simple and once you get the thread onto the earring, it’s not much different than any other crochet. I used two hoops of different metal-tone, with the silver being slightly larger due to the optical illusion of size given to the Sun earring with the stitches being outside the circle. The Moon would seem puny in comparison.

You’ll work with the right side facing you, even when you turn the work, it just seems to work out like that. I used a size B hook and size 5 crochet thread. Make a slip stich just like you always would but with a tail at least two inches long, then slip the hook inside the circle and under to catch the thread around the earring. Pull up a loop, catch the thread and pull through to make the first single crochet stitch.(You’re sort of treating the earring like it’s your foundation chain, and you’re making a row of single crochet on it.) Continue in this way until you have the desired umber of stitches. (There may be another or better way to do this. This is what I stumbled on in my experimenting and it works, so I keep using it. :))

For the Sun, I used 40 stitches, but any number divisible by five works; I’ve used this pattern with as few as 15 stitches and as many as 180. It always looks great. :) You want to use enough stitches that they are close on the earring, but not so many that the stitches on top are curving around themselves. After you get your first row onto the earring, ch one and turn then begin this pattern going back the other way: sc, dc, tc, dc, sc. Don’t be afraid to pull your stitches tight. If you allow the second dc and sc to go loose, you don’t get that nice bump on the surface. Once you get to the end, break thread, pull through the last loop and tie this end to the beginning tail. Snip close and superglue the knot for security.

For the Moon, you are going to begin the same way, only you don’t want enough stitches to cover the earring. I made enough to cover half the hoop in the same manner as the Sun. When you get to the end, turn work (do not ch 1 before turning, this creates a little bump in the end where you want it to be smooth), sk next st and sl st for the next four stitches. From here you will sc decr across until the last four or three stitches, depending on how many you have at the end. When you get to the end of that row, repeat it one more time. Your stitches will be very tight and you’ll want to begin moving them to the side of the hoop and finally toward the inside. Once you complete the third row, finish off and weave in ends. Slide the stitches to the inside of the hoop (this is easiest if you bunch them up first), then slide one end all the way to the top of the hoop and spread the rest out along the hoop to create the crescent shape. The thread will be taut. Try to get the stitches spaced evenly and the shape of the Moon will follow. Be sure to superglue your knots for security once you’re happy with the shape.
Please don’t sell this pattern or products made from this pattern, or redistribute this pattern. Thanks!

BB and thank you!!
~Jeannie

Oh, No! Streelers!

Here's a free pattern for all you HP hookers out there. By that, of course, I mean Harry Potter fanatics that also crochet. :) I developed and debuted this pattern on my group on Ravelry, Harry's Happy Hookers. It's for a Streeler, which is a magical creature from the world of Harry Potter. Check out the links for more info.

On to the pattern!!

Oh, No! Streelers!

Streelers are giant magical snails from the world of Harry Potter. They have many unique properties that make them interesting, but their color-changing nature is what makes them fun to stitch up!

Materials List:
 as many scraps of variegated WW yarn as you can get your hands on and want to change through during the project. (I used four different colors for the dark Streeler and three for the light),
 a G hook,
 some stuffing,
 eyes of your choice (optional, I didn’t use any in my sample),
 a tapestry/wool/darning needle

Note: I don’t usually join rounds, so work in a spiral unless otherwise noted. A stitch marker is helpful to mark the 1st st in each row, so you know when to stop.

With color A:
Row 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6)
Row 2: 2 sc {aka sc incr} in each st, around (12)
Row 3: (sc incr in next st, 1sc) around (18)
Row 4: (sc incr in next st, 2 sc) 5 times, then sc and dc in same stitch, dc, tc (24)

After Row 4:



* * From here you will begin to work in rows back and forth, as with a flat piece
Row 5-8: sc in every stitch (24), ch 1 at end of row, turn (after row 6, I changed to a new yarn)

After Row 8, the other side is completely open, with no spiraling back or anything:



From the open side, after Row 8:



* * From here, you will being to work in a spiral again, moving from this outside edge, toward the center.
Row 9: ch 4, dc, dc, sc around (24)

The beginning of Row 10, to start decr, you place your hook in the top of the ch 4 and just continue in a spiral:



Row 10: (sc decr, 2 sc) around (18)
Row 11: (sc decr, 1 sc) around (12)
Row 12: sc decr around (6)
Break yarn with a tail long enough to weave through the last six stitches to pull tight. Weave in ends or pull to middle and lightly stuff the first piece, just enough to give it shape, but not distend it or cause the stitches to stretch and show the stuffing.

Complete, first side:



Complete, other side:



Complete, from the bottom, shows opening:




With Color B (or C if you changed colors halfway through the first piece): Ch 2, in 2nd st from hook, 6 sc (again no joining, just spirals for me) (6)
Row 1: (sc incr, 1 sc) around (9)
Row 2-12: sc around (9)
It is easiest to stuff this as you go along, but remember to not stuff too tightly.
Row 13: (sc incr, 2 sc) around (12)
Row 14: (sc incr, sc) around (18)
Row 15: sc around (18)
Row 16: (sc decr, sc) around (12) If you are using safety eyes, place them now. Don’t forget to stuff!
Row 17: sc decr around (6)
Break yarn, leaving a long enough tail to weave through last six st and pull tightly to close. Weave in ends.

Both pieces, with ends woven in and stuffed.



Next, we will start putting the pieces together. First, sew the shell onto the back of the body, like this:



Continue sewing around the shell. When you get to the head, you will bend the head back, creating a curve in the body, and sew a little higher up on the shell to pull the head up.



When you’re done sewing it on, it should look like this:



Next, we are going to add a foot to our little guy. With your final color of yarn, you will pick up stitches along the bottom of the body. To determine where to pick up stitches, turn your toy over and find the center line of stitches; you will pick up stitches on either side of that line. To find where to start from the top, count down four rows from the first increase row in the head.



You will sc 9 stitches onto the body, going toward the tail, ch one, then sc 9 on the outside line of stitches, moving back toward the head. Ch 1, turn work. Working back along this line of stitches, work 2 hdc in each st, including the ch 1 in the middle. Here is how it looks once you are finished picking up stitches and ready to start with the hdc:



And here it is once you are finished with the foot, from the bottom:



Here’s our little guy so far!



One last step and he’s (or she’s) complete! Taking a piece of scrap yarn, ch 10 and tie of, clipping the ends close to the knots. Then, thread your hook between two stitches on the top of the head:



Use your hook to thread that chain through the top of the head to make his little antennae.



Finished! These little guys are so quick and fun! The bottom Streeler is made with sc around the foot. It’s up to you; both will make it stand.



Please note: I am in no way affiliated with JK Rowling or the world of Harry Potter (thought I wish I were!), and I am not profiting from this pattern, so please be kind and don’t use this pattern to sell, especially under the name of Streelers. Feel free to share this pattern, but link to my blog or the pattern card on Ravelry.

Thank you and Enjoy!
~Jeannie

Virtue: A Cabled Bookmark

Hey there! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I had a wonderful Mother's Day and I got some knitting/crocheting done, too! Rock! More on that tomorrow...

I want to share the bookmark design (my first design ever) that I mentioned in a previous post. It was being featured in the Monthly Bookmark Knit-Along Yahoo! group, and I didn't want to give it away before everyone there got first dibs t it. :) A million thanks to Briley for allowing such a new designer to offer her design, then testing it and actually using it for the group. That boosted my confidence more than you know!

I called this bookmark Virtue because I made about three of them as gifts before I ever wrote it down, just keeping the pattern in my head. So, I had to be very disciplined with counting stitches and rows. You can also make it's cousin, Vice, by merely removing the cables. So much easier!

Here is the pattern!

Virtue Bookmark

(I'll get a picture of Vice up soon, too.)

This pattern is a great introduction to cabling. While it looks pretty impressive, and the cables are big and obvious, there are only six cabling rows in the entire piece. Such is the power of cabling! It just goes to show that one simple technique can really revolutionize a piece.

Materials:

Crochet thread, size 3 (or something similar)

Size 3 needles

Cable needle

Scissors

Special stitch:
Cable 6 in front: slip three onto the cable needle, hold in front, purl 3, and purl 3 from cable needle.

Abbreviations:
k-knit
p-purl

Cast on 18

Rows 1-3 (and every even row throughout) knit across.

Row 5 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 7 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 9 k3, p2, k1, cable 6 in front, k1, p2, k3

Row 11 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 13 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 15 k3, p2, k1, cable 6 in front, k1, p2, k3

Row 17 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 19 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 21 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 23 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 25 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 27 k3, p2, k1, cable 6 in front, k1, p2, k3

Row 29 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 31 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 33 k3, p2, k1, cable 6 in front, k1, p2, k3

Row 35 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 37 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 39 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 41 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 43 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 45 k3, p2, k1, cable 6 in front, k1, p2, k3

Row 47 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 49 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 51 k3, p2, k1, cable 6 in front, k1, p2, k3

Row 53 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 55 k3, p2, k1, p6, k1, p2, k3

Row 57-59 knit across

Block.

Please feel free to use this pattern for your own personal use and link others to this pattern. I also give permission to use this pattern to make items to sell at school craft fairs, church bizarres, or other non-profit charitable fundraisers. Please do not sell this pattern or reproduce it for distribution without my express permission.

Because she did such a great job, I asked Jody, a member of the KAL, if I could use a picture of her bookmark in my blog to show how she worked it up. Please note, she cabled to the back and she used sport weight yarn. I just wanted to show you that you don't have to follow my, or anyone else's, directions exactly. You can make something beautiful when you break the "rules!" I want to thank all the members of the KAL for trying my little pattern. Thanks!!

My very creative Mom suggested after receiving the first Virtue I ever made, that it would make a great headband if it were longer and attached to some wide elastic. Great idea, Mom!! To do that, repeat rows 15 through 26 one more time before moving on to rows 27 to the end. Block it, back it if you need to with fabric, sew some elastic on, and you have a cute headband.

I hope you enjoy it!

BB!

~Jeannie

Are you addicted to lip balm? I am!

And, I'm addicted to making these cute little crocheted lip balm holders! Seriously, ever since I saw these beauties on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/KAshmore/chapstick---lip-balm-holders I was determined to come up with my own design. And, since then, I've made six of the plain, and I just finished the flower. I'm so happy with how they've turned out and how fun they are to make, I thought I'd share the pattern with you! So, I proudly present:

Crocheted Lip Balm Holder

If you love lip balm like I do (my current obsession is Burt's Bees with Peppermint Oil... Yay!), you keep it everywhere: in your purse, on your desk, in both bathrooms, next to your bed, a few more in your purse. You never want to be without some instant moisture for your lips. The only place I can't keep it is in the car as I live in the South and already it's so hot that lip balm will melt in my pocket on the way to the car, let alone in the console! So, something I could attach to my keychain is just what the dermatologist ordered! Also great for attaching to a back pack, gym bag, water bottle holder, just about anywhere you need a little lip-aid. You could even lengthen the tube and use it for those purse-sized hand sanitizers: http://www.germattack.net/. As always, I encourage you to experiment: use beads or other embellishments, use a crazy yarn, make it bigger or smaller to fit what you need, make it in camo colors for your little boy, make ten and have glove-less fingers instead of fingerless gloves! :D I'm thinking of using this for finger puppets, too.

Materials:

See the following link for the yarn I used. I love their yarns! http://www.peaches-creme.com/

4-ply Worsted Weight cotton yarn in your choice of colors. The plain holder looks great in ombres. For the examples pictured, I used 95 Red for the plain holder, and 51 Apple Green (color A) and 165 Daisy Ombre (color B) for the flower design.

Boye crochet hook USG 6/4.00MM

Scissors

A keyring, lanyard clip, or other findings for attaching your holder to your keys.

Abbreviations:
ch-chain
sl st-slip stitch
dc-double crochet
sc-single crochet

Base row: Ch 4, join with sl st in the first ch to form a ring. for the flowered version, this is done in color A.

2nd row: Sc nine times into the ring, join last st to the first with sl st. I usually pull the tail of thread through the center at this point and trim so it lays on the inside.

3rd row: Sc in the back loop of each st. At this point, you will not join the last to the first st, but just keep spiraling around. Be sure to crochet into the back loop if you want it to look like mine; this places the ridges on the inside and provides grip. Otherwise, have fun with it! Crochet until the length of the tube is about 2 and 3/4 inches long, or it fits the tube you are trying to carry.

Now you can decide which version you want: plain or the flowered.

Plain: all that's left is to finish. When the tube has reached the desired length, ch 5, sc into the next st in the body, then sl st in the next st and fasten off. Weave in the ends and attach the key ring or clip you choose to the five ch sts. Good job! You did it! Add your favorite lip balm and off you go!

Flowered: When the tube has reached the desired length, ch 5, sc into the next st on the body, then join color B and sc in each st around once. Now you are going to form the petals: ch 6, dc in the 3rd st from the hook, then dc in the next 2 sts, sc in the last st. At this point you are back to the base of the chain, so use a sl st in the next st on the body to stablize the petal. Repeat 8 more times, for 9 petals. Fasten off, weave in ends, and attach the keyring to the five ch sts in color A. Viola! You now have a cute, silly, fun holder for your lip balm! I hope you love it!

Please feel free to use this pattern for your own personal use and link others to this pattern. I also give permission to use this pattern to make items to sell at school craft fairs (wouldn't they look great in YOUR school's colors?), church bizarres, or other non-profit charitable fundraisers. Please do not sell this pattern or reproduce it for distribution without my express permission.

I'm an Avon Representative, and I love giving their seasonal lip balms with gifts, and I'm looking forward to making some of these to go with them. I may even stitch the recipient's name on them, and use these as the gift tag! This would also be a fun party favor, shower giveaway, teacher's gift, or Secret Santa gift.

Have fun and enjoy it!

One little disclaimer before I go: I probably won't be writing here every day. Lately, I've been excited about learning new thigns and creating my own patterns. I'm sure it will taper off, so please don't be disappointed with me if I miss a few days here and there! :)

BB!
~Jeannie

My first blog... and my first crochet pattern. Whew! It's a big day! ;)

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I started a blog to keep a listing of my original fiber art patterns. Then I realized that I'd probably use it for a lot more than that, so really, expect anything here. If it's important to me, I'm going to write about it at some point. I hope you will find it fun and sometimes enlightening.



To start off, here is a little pattern I worked up today while trying to design some crocheted earrings for bellydance. Please feel free to make these for yourself, link interested folks back to here or share this pattern. However, I will be making these to sell in my local bellydance community, so please don't sell this pattern, reproduce it without permission, or make these earrings to sell without my express permission. If you make these and love them, please tell me! Share a photo, especially if you use a crazy thread or add embellishments like beads. If you find an error, for the love of all the is holy, PLEASE let me know! I'd hate for folks to be confused or unhappy with the results because of a silly mistake I made. Also, please bear with me as I just learned to crochet last month.



Ok, here we go!

Crocheted Kuchi Earrings

I designed these earrings to look like the beautiful, heavy earrings of the Kuchis people in Afghanistan. Those earrings are made of pot metal with bits of glass embedded in them like mosaic. I wanted something substantial, but light, that I could make in any color or metallic finish. After searching for motifs on the Internet that might work, I decided to try my hand at designing something myself. This is the result.



Materials:

Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Thread, number 5, Natural/Pearl

Boye crochet hook: B/1-2.25MM

Scissors

Two French hooks or other earring findings of your choice



Abbreviations:

ch-chain

sl st-slip stitch

dc-double crochet

sc-single crochet



Picot: ch3, sl st through 3rd stitch from the needle.



Base row: Ch 5 and join with sl st to form a ring.



2nd row: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *dc into the ring and ch 1, repeat from * 6 times, dc (8 in all). Turn



3rd row: Ch 3, dc 2 times into every space across (15 in all).



4th row: *Ch3 to form a picot, sc in next stitch. Repeat from * across (13 picots in all). Fasten off and weave in ends.



Repeat for second earring. Attach to hook by slipping the center loop into the open ring of the hook. Viola and congrats! I hope you love them!



BB!

~Jeannie