Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Delicate table runner in easy little pineapple stitches



 Sweet Little Pineapples (table runner)



Glad I took a picture of this before I delivered it to the lady that ordered it. How I love the little pineapples formed in this stitch, they look so delicate and regal. The stitches work up so easily you don't wanna put your project down until you're done. It is one project that is absolutely not gonna end up as WIP that gathers dust in a bin in the recesses of your basement, yeah, I have those long, boring and dragging project ;)  but this one, nope. Once the first row of little pineapples are formed, you will keep going. The stitches build up so fast you are done in 4-5 days. Isn't it a good idea to gift for mom's, daughter's or friend's table, vanity or wine cabinet? It is absolutely! Nothing beats a gift made with so much effort. You can get the pattern in my ravelry store or in my website

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-little-pineapple

https://lynscrafts.com/yarnstore/patterns-for-sale/716-sweet-little-pineapples-table-runner-crochet-pattern.html


The table runner definitely makes a gorgeous statement! So, go ahead and make yours too!

https://lynscrafts.com/yarnstore/patterns-for-sale/716-sweet-little-pineapples-table-runner-crochet-pattern.html


Saturday, February 27, 2016

Heliconia: A crocheted piece of tropical paradise

It's been a long time since I came to my blog!  I have plenty of things to say about my crocheting, well for that long absence, as if my blog has gone AWOL, things have piled up! but that is because I have been creating and designing a lot of patterns. I also went in hibernation to think of things to make and to find inspiration. Sometimes, you need to create something unique, and original. If it's not original, because there probably are a gazillion of it out there in the internet already, at least make it look real or life like. 

Speaking of "unique", my list is full. I have a very looong to-do list and have been working the list for a while now. But, you know, you pick the ones you want to make because you have a vision in the recesses of your mind that urges you to make it now or lose it. It's now or gone! Alright, so I imagined living in an island where all the pretty contrasting colors of the tropical flowering plants abound. One of the flowers on my imaginary island is the Heliconia.

So, off I go asked my bae Google, my gal pal Pinterest, and her cousin Flicker, and the rest of the gang for inspiration. I lost my mind to the explosion of beautiful colors! Immediately, I grabbed my hook and arranged stitches together. No, that's bad,another try, oh, horrible!  next try, and next, and next and next, dang, I almost gave up. I couldn't get it right!  One day, I was making something, turned the piece upside down, ohhh eureka! this one is like the one I wanted to create! So, I discovered the stitches for my Heliconia by twist of the wrist!


 By twist of the wrist, I have made it!                                          
                                                                  


Mr. Wiki said that there were 89 species of the genus Heliconia and 350 varieties. Some are edible, like bananas, while others are decorative. Dude google talked about the taxonomy of Heliconia. The attractive orange with yellow and green edging is called bract, bracts are analogous to leaves and homologous to petals. This trait makes them attractive because they resemble flowers. The axis on which the bracts are attached is called rachis, this rachis is either bend downward to look like a pendant, or so it just goes up, hence erect heliconia. The arrangement of bracts in succession creates inflorescence. So, a bunch of bracts arranged in succession on a rachis is the whole inflorescence. 

                                                                     

I created the whole plant so I can put something in the large vase I bought. Well, that vase was on sale at %80 off so I grabbed it and took it home. I was glad I got that vase.
                     
                                                                    

To make a pendant Heliconia, you need floral stem. They are available in most craft stores, they are either bleached (white) or stained to look natural. I have to wrap mine with floral tape because the floral stems are very smooth and floral wires slide on them without wrapping it with tape first.  These floral stems are really long, you may need to cut them to the length you want.

 Heliconia leaves are massive like bananas so I used the largest or biggest yarn and hook I can handle
 but making sure it will not be too loopy. I will have to work some magic to make a tree out of yarn.

                                                                  

So there you go, pendant or erect Heliconia! You can make it too, the pattern is very easy to follow. It has photo tutorial and stitch diagram to help you. You can purchase the pattern in my online store https://lynscrafts.com/yarnstore/patterns-for-sale/631-heliconia-crochet-pattern.html 
or in my Raverly shop http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heliconia-2http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heliconia-2






























Saturday, April 12, 2014

Flowers in the Wild


Flowers abound,now that it is Spring,  some have names that I know of, some are not familiar at all, but then, they all look pretty and too adorable not to capture in crochet.
I know of the African violets, I know of purple zinia and anemone, and some purple primrose too,but some are too far different from the one I crocheted, will just call  them flowers in the wild. They come out everywhere around this time, so dainty and vibrant!

I enjoyed making them, that I couldn't stop until my little basket was full. I tried to think of other projects  I can use them as is, so I came up with this little idea. So, that gives you the flower pattern as well as the ref magnet project. It is totally up to you how to use them, you may choose to  add them on a dress, embellish them on a hat, or drape them in your blanket or afghan. So many possibilities!

So, here you go;

Flowers in the Wild 





Term:  US

Hook: B/2.25mm
Yarn: Balinese cotton yarn Fine/Sports
For suggested yarns, visit:
http://lynscrafts.com/preshop13/
Diameter of flower:  3 inches
Note:  Picot- CH 2, ss in first CH.
           Picot- CH 3, ss in first CH

Make the Magic Ring,
R1:  CH2, 5 HDC into ring, ss to close (6 HDC)
R2: **CH8, ss in 2nd CH from hook, SC in all the remaining stitch, ss at the base of CH, ss to the next stitch* Repeat **to* You will end with ss in the last stitch, and a ss in front of the first petal spine. (6 petal spines made).
R3: SS in first stitch followed by SC, HDC and DC, DC, TR and DC, DC and HDC, SC, picot. Repeat stitches in reverse order to complete other side of petal. SS in front of next petal spine and repeat 5 more times to complete all 6 petals. FO

Work the center of your flower, use any color you desire or rely to element of contrast or harmony of color.

Wrap the yarn around your hook, ** insert hook in the very center of the flower, pass through in front of the petal, yo, ss and picot* repeat until you have 5 picots. SS one more time and do standard picot (CH 3, ss in first chain) leave 4 inches tail, cut your yarn, thread the tail into your tapestry needle, sew it in the very center, through the bottom of the petal, secure and FO.


You can create variation in color or use variegated yarns, it creates a wilder look





Ref Magnets



To make these ref magnets, you will need tape magnets or small circular magnets, and permanent adhesive. (Be careful in using the Extreme Power Thick adhesive, it is skin bonding and eye irritant, use with care and away from small kids).

First, crochet a small circular piece for blocking:  MR, CH 2, 9 HDC into ring, ss to close. CH1, SC in same place, 2 SC in all the stitches around, ss on CH1, and FO.

Glue the blocking piece at the back of the flower, allow it to dry. Cut a small amount of your magnetic tape, and glue it on the blocking piece, allow to dry. Now, you have a flower ref magnet, make more to make your ref vibrant, or to sell in your next craft fair.

en español
Flores en el Salvaje
Por Marilyn Smith © 2014 All Rights Reserved
Traducido en español por Marilyn Smith

Facil
Termino:   US
Gancho:    B/ 2.25 mm
Hilo:         Algodon Fino
Diámetro de la flor :  3 pulgadas
Notas: 
Piquito de 2 cadenas
Piquito de 3 cadenas
Abreviaturas:
pp-    Punto Pasado
pb-    punto bajo
pma- punto medio alto
pa-    punto alto
pad-  punto alto doble


Hacer que el "magic ring" o anillio magico,
R1: Subir con 2 cadenas,   luego poner 5 pma en el anillo, pp en la parte superior de cadena 2. (6 pma en todo)
R2: *Subir con 8 cadenas, pp en segunda cadena del gancho, pb en cada puntada, pp en la base de la cadena 8, pp en la siguiente puntada* y repetir de *a* 5 veces mas. (columna 6 petalos en todo). Terminar con pp en la ultima puntada, y pp en frente a la primera columna de petalo.
R3: PP en la primera puntada, luego ponerlas en cada puntada; pb, pma y pa, pa, pad y pa, pa y pma, pb en la ultima puntada y piquito de 2 cadenas (punta). Repeta los puntos en orden inverso para completer el otro lado del petalo.  PP  en frenta de la proxima columna petalo y repita 5 veces mas para hacer los 6 petalos.

Para trabajar el centro de su flor, utilizar cualquier color que desee, es posible que desee contar con el elemento de contraste y armonía o. Es todo depende de ti


 Bueno, hacer esto; envuelva el hilo alrededor de su gancho, * inserte el gancho en el centro de la flor, pasar a través de en frente del pétalo, recoger hilo, punto pasado y piquito de 2 cadenas* repetir de *a* 5 veces mas, punto pasado una vez mas y piquito de 3 cadenas, cerrar.  Dejar 4 pulgadas de la cola.  Ahora, utilizar aguja de tapiz para coser la cola en el centro de la pétalo, a la parte inferior de la flor, fijarlo bien. Cortar la cola extra.

                                            
                                                 Mi referencia a las abreviaturas de la puntada 


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                                                    from Carol Seaba of Iowa