Crochet Bowl Love
Contain yourself!
And anything else you want because the bowls have arrived – and there are, of course, more where they came from. Some greys, a few moody blues and some bright picnic colors will all be arriving in the coming weeks.
Where can you use a crocheted bowl? Anywhere!
They're great for holding hair ties, barrettes, bobby pins, earrings, rings and necklaces. Use them in the bathroom for cotton squares, or a safe place to put your jewelry while you wash your hands. I even have one on my desk at work – because really, anything looks a bit more pleasing and less utilitarian when it's in a hand crocheted bowl – even paperclips. The medium and larger sizes also make great catch-all bowls for entry ways, nightstands, and coffee tables.
If you're looking for a color or size you don’t see in the shop yet, contact me and we'll make it happen.
New to the Shop - Crochet earrings
The earrings have landed!
This design is one of my oldest and continues to be one of my favorite. I crochet them using cotton embroidery thread so they're super lightweight, but they come awesome colors and that gives them great personality. They're perfect for brightening up an otherwise neutral outfit or to coordinate with the colors you're already wearing
I'm excited to start offering these earrings in fun, bright colors. Fire Red is shown here and there are more colors to come.
I'm thinking blue, maybe an orange, grass green even...any colors you'd like to see these earrings in? I have a teal pair in regular rotation in my accessories that I always get compliments on.
Butterflies for Birdie
For various reasons, my grandmother no longer travels.
She is a woman, named Birdie who no longer flies (or takes any other transportation that will carry her outside of her about-town radius from her home). Well, a little while back I made some butterfly earrings for a friend - if you follow me on instragram (kuumba60) you probably saw this photo:
They were a big hit and put me in a butterfly zone for weeks. I was making butterflies left and right, big ones and tiny ones...lots and lots of tiny ones - with nothing planned for them. Then, a few days into my butterfly frenzy, my mom comes over and sees my butterfly bowl and tells me that my grandma love butterflies.
How perfect is that!
So, this is for my grandma...
and these...
ready to fly!
She has a small counter that she reserves just for decorating according to the seasons and holidays. I hope this butterfly garland will add some color to her spring/summer display.
Side note: Isn't that great spool? I bought it, along with a few other antique spools from Gone To Texas.
Crochet Bowls
I am in the middle of some serious bowl making mojo right now.
First there were my little trinket holders - how could some thing so functional, be so adorable?
Then yesterday I just posted my new Memory Bowl in the shop.
It's a bowl made from your receiving blanket (or you can have one made for a friend, a child, a niece a nephew...pretty much anyone who's ever been a baby).
But wait, there's more.
Here's a preview of the containment joy I'm going to unleash (yes, unleash) over the next few weeks.
...and I haven't even mentioned the colors yet.
Yes, yes! there will be color.
The fate of the i-cord
Early last month I posted a video tutorial demonstrating how to make a crochet i-cord. They're fun and easy to make but after you make one, then what? Well, there are plenty of options: purse handles, pilow edging, bracelet, necklace.....
but my favorite so far is one that my kids really love:
Classic Granny Square How-to
First things first: how do you make a granny square?
I'm so glad you asked!
Make a foundation chain: Chain 1, join with a slip stitch (I tend to use the a magic ring instead - video tutorial is in the works)
Round 1: Ch 5, (3 DC into ring, ch2) x3, 2DC into ring, slst into 3rd chain of first ch5
Slst to corner and begin Round 2
Round 2: Ch 3, (dc 2, ch2, dc 3) into corner. *Ch1, skip over 3 dc from previous round, (dc 3, ch 2, dc 3) into corner* Repeat * to* two more times. Join.
Slst to corner and begin Round 3
Round 3: Ch 3, (dc 2, ch2, dc 3) into corner. *Ch1, dc 3 into ch1space from previous round, Ch1, (dc 3, ch 2, dc 3) into corner* Repeat * to* for each side. more times. Join.
That's it!
If you want to make a bigger square all you need to do is repeat this pattern:
Corners: dc 3, ch 2, dc 3
Sides: *Ch1, dc 3 into ch1space from previous round*
You can change the personality of your granny square by using different types of thread, different color patterns - the possibilities are innumerable.
The bottom left granny square has 5 rounds, and a simple border. I used cotton thread, and then lightly starched it.
In my hand is a keychain size granny with 4 rounds, along side a granny blanket with 30 rounds (I think).
Granny Square Love
Everyone loves a granny square.
Coming this weekend is the first post in a granny square series that will include a picture tutorial, a video tutorial, giant grannys, tiny grannys... Fun with granny indeed!
First, here's a little bit of granny square love to hold you over:
Mini granny square garland from peaqo.
Granny square purse from knittingcate
Granny circle placemats from purlbee
Granny square rings as seen on earl and cookie
There's so much granny love out there. If you're on pintrest do a quick search and you'll be instantly overwhelmed - in a good way :)
Crochet Icord - Tutorial
Written instructions are nice, and pictures are very helpful, but video - that's where it's at!
Here's my first video tutorial, enjoy (and let me know what you think).
Craft Hope
It's one thing to craft. It's another to craft hope - out of yarn, out of fabric; hope. It's great.
Craft Hope is one of my favorite organizations. Over the years I've been able to participate in a few different projects - Craft Hope for Haiti, scarves for foster kids, and bracelets that made their way to Russia.
Now there's a new project (project 16 to be specific) - Beanies and Bags!
Can you knit, crochet, sew? If so, Craft Hope is spear heading the collection of beanies for children undergoing cancer treatment and pillowcase sized "overnight" bags for their trips to the hospital.
For more information (where to send everything, when to send it by) take a look at Craft Hope's Littlest Warrior post.
Ok.......GO!
