Longaberger inspiration baskets

Crochet Earrings

It's been a cold, windy, cloudy day here in the midlands of South Carolina.  Right now it's a whopping 48 degrees!  But, when the 100 degree days get here in a few months I'm sure I'll be wishing for this coolness again!  Spring Fever has a hold on me now!

I wanted to share some designs I've been working on and get some feedback.  I have been trying to make some items quickly so I can begin selling on Etsy, so small things like earrings and hair ties have been my obsession lately.  These are my own designs and I hate to say it, but I am scared to death to put them up for sale!  What if no one buys them?  Does that mean my designs are no good?  Or my color choices?  It's all a learning process and I need to dive in. 

Please share your thoughts, I would welcome all of them.

New Completed Project

ALPINE SHAWL Designed By Cristina Mershon in Cascade Ultra Pima.  http://cascadeyarn.com/patternsFree/DK234_UltraPimaShawl.pdf

I fell in love with this pattern from the second I saw it.  So perfect for spring, and I have the fever bad!  So, I decided to make this for myself.  I had some cotton thread that had been hand dyed for me several years ago that I still had not put to use.  I ended up doubling the yarn and using it.  My version is below.  My neighbor now wants one, in the same color.  Koodoes (sp) to the author for her talented pattern and for her generosity with the share for free!

Good Day!  Today, we got up early and went to several yard sales in the pouring rain!  A couple I looked up didn't open because of the weather, but I sure hit the jackpot at one that did.  The woman having the sale was a retired art teacher and she had a ton of crafty "leftovers" that I scooped up on for cheap!  My boyfriend was not too happy, but he carried it to the car for me anyway...such a gentleman!  I think once I get completely organized and develop my Etsy shop and make some sales that it isn't just more sxxx taking up space (those are his words).  He's a good egg though and does support my efforts.  I can't blame him if he wants to see some fruits of our labor.

I am finding that I am spending a lot of time on researching items I want to make and sell, like getting ideas on Pinterest, and other web sites, as well as trying to learn the whole crux of blogging and building traffic.   I am also not a big chatterbox and generally choose my words carefully or don't speak at all, so I am having to learn how to communicate.  I'm not always silent by any means, but the process of learning over the years that always speaking my mind is not always in my best interest has caused some, well, introversion.  I also just don't think people always want to hear what I have to say.  In the course of my research, I am also reading other blogs, looking at trends of the DIY world, and trying to become more communicative.  Any thoughts or ideas from any one reading this would be very much appreciated, you know, any tips or tricks.  I love to share and will be happy to reciprocate.

Well, thanks for reading.  Hope it's not raining where you all are!  And, just so this post is not so boring, I am including a picture of some hair ties I made the other night.  Hope you enjoy!

Eight Pointed Star Motif Free Pattern

Eight Pointed Star Motif.

This is a small messenger bag made with two of these motifs joined by the strap.  I haven't lined the bag yet, can't seem to find the time...lol.

I've been working on the pattern, testing and retesting, to make sure I had it right before I posted.  (Yes, I'm a little OCD).  I also tried in different colors, and yarn types.  The bag above is made from worsted weight cotton.  I like to use cotton for bags and baskets. 

Please forgive my horrible photography.  Not one of my best talents!  Anyway, this square is made from some leftover yarn, Red Heart Super Saver, but any worsted acrylic or other material will do.

Special Stitches:

2 Double Crochet Cluster (2DCCL):  YO, insert hook into indicated stitch, YO, pull through stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook, 2 loops remain, YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, pull through stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook twice.

2 Double Crochet Cluster (3DCCL):  YO, insert hook into indicated stitch, YO, pull through stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook, 2 loops remain, (YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, pull through stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops on hook), repeat (),  4 loops left on hook.  YO and draw through all loops.

Note:  Chain 3 at the beginning of row counts as DC.

Note:  This square is worked in the round.

Yarn Weight:  Any worsted weight

Hook:  I used size "I"

Pattern:

Chain 3, Join with Sl St to first ch.  Ch 3, do not turn (counts as DC here and throughout).

Row 1:  15 DC in circle created by joined ch 3.  (16 DC).   sl st in top of ch 3.  ch 1.

Row 2:  SC in same st as sl, ch 3, *skip 1 dc, sc in next dc, ch 3.  Repeat from * around.  Join with sl st to first sc.  You will have 8 sc and 8 ch 3 spaces.

Row 3:  Sl st in 1 ch 3 space.  ch 3, 3 dc in first st of ch 3 just made.  *Skip next sc, sl st in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in first st of ch 3 just made.  Repeat from * around.  Join with sl st in first sl st.  You will have 8 "star points".

Sl st in each ch of 1st ch 3 of previous row.  You will now be working on the tip of each star point.

Row 4:  Ch 5, *sl st in top of next star point, ch 5.  Repeat from * around.  Join with sl st in top of first star point.  Ch 3.

Row 5:  Sl st in first ch 5 sp.  2DCCL in same ch 5 sp,, ch 1, 3DCCL in same ch 5 space, ch 1, twice.  *3DCCL, ch 1 in next ch 5 sp.  Repeat from * around.  Join with sl st to top of 2DCCL.  ch 2 (this counts as first HDC of next row).

          

Row 6:  Ch 2 counts as 1st hdc.  Hdc in next stitch (ch 1's count as a stitch), sc in next 7 stitches, hdc in next 2 stitches. Next st should be a star point.  *dc 2 times, ch 2 dc 2 times in same stitch. Corner made.  Hdc in next 2 stitches, sc in next 7 stitches, hdc in next 2 stitches.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  In last stitch, which should be a star point (all corners should be made in a star point), dc 2 times, ch 2 dc 2 times in same stitch.  Join with sl st in top of ch 2.  Ch 3.

Row 7:  Ch 3 counts as first dc.  DC in next12 sts.  *In ch 2 sp, DC 3 times (corner).  DC in next 15 stitches.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  In last ch 2 sp, DC 3 times.  DC in next 2 stitches, join with sl st to top of chain 3.  ch 1.

Row 8:  Ch 1 in first st (same st as sl st).  Sc in next 13 stitches.  *3 sc in middle dc of 3 dc corner, sc in next 17 stitches.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  3 sc in middle dc of 3 dc corner, sc in next 3 stitches.  Join with sl st to first sc.  Fasten off.



Good Morning.  I am not so good yet at posting here.  I have been obsessed with the actual creation of crocheted items, designing, and surfing the net to get ideas on blogs, selling my handmade creations and figuring out this Google +.

I posted a picture the other day that appeared on my Google + page, but not here on my blog.  I have been unable to figure out how to move it here, so I will make a new post.

One of the motifs I have been working in is the 8 Pointed Star.  I featured it earlier in the blog but never followed through.  This particular block was made into a purse by creating another block and attaching with a handle.  It needs to be lined.

I worked the pattern again perfect it for acrylic yarn (the above being made with cotton) and added color.  So what do you think?  I am in the process of updating the written pattern with step by step picture.  As soon as that is finished, I will post - probably by tomorrow.  Thanks so much for looking!

The Long Awaited Larger Basket!

So many of you have been so patient.  Well no more patience required.  I was a little overwhelmed at the response I received from my first postings.  Thanks to allfreecrochet.com for posting my patterns!

Unfortunately, I didn't realize that some folks would be requesting more or would even look at my blog to begin with!  Many, many thanks to all who downloaded my pattern and left such wonderful comments.  I promise to be more vigilant with my postings!

Pattern writing is new to me.  I have always been able to "whip something up" as I needed or wanted it, but I had never attempted to write it down.  I sincerely hope that there were nor will there be any problems reading the patterns I share, but if there are, please let me know and I will make corrections!!!

Well, on to the pattern for the larger basket.

The first basket I posted was small and a little more colorful than the larger one, but feel free to make any color changes or combinations as you like.  I worked the larger basket with 4 strands of worsted weight yarn held together, so the sky's the limit with color.

There really isn't any guage, but the approximate dimensions of the larger basket, let's call it the seaside basket because of the color, are 11 inches wide by 6 inches tall.  Changing the number of strands of yarn, the weight of the yarn or the hook size will change the dimension of your basket. 

SEASIDE BASKET

Materials:

4 strands of worsted weight yarn (I used cotton, but acrylic will also work)
Size P crochet hook.

Bottom:

Begin with ch 4 (I found this too big to use the magic loop) and sl st in 1st stitch of ch to form a loop.  Ch 1

Row 1:   8 single crochet in the beginning loop, join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 2:   Sc 2x's in each sc around, (16sc).   Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 3:   Sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc around (24sc).   Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 4:   Sc in first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc around (32 sc).  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 5:   Sc in first 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc around (40 sc).  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 6:   Sc in first 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc around (48 sc).  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 7:   Sc in first 23 sc, 2 sc in 24th st, sc in next 23 sc, 2 sc in last stitch (50 sc).  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Sides:

Row 1:   In back loops only, sc in each stitch around.  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 2:   Sc in each st around.  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.  Repeat this row 7 more times, or until you are about 2 inches from desired heigth of the basket.

Rim:

Row 1:   Ch 8.  sc in next sc.  skip next 5 sc, sc in next stitch and in each of the next 19 stitches (20 sc).  Ch 8.  skip next 5 sc, sc in next stitch and in each of the next 19 stitches.  Join with sl to top of first sc.  You should have 20 sc, 5 skipped sc, 20 sc and 5 skipped sc.  The chain 8 on each side forms the handles.

Row 2:  Sc in each stitch around, including each ch (56 sc).  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.

Row 3:  Reverse sc in each stitch around.  Join with sl st in top of 1st sc.  Cut yarn and pull through last loop.  Weave in ends and you are done!

Hope you enjoy!

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