DIY tutorial - Crochet Jersey Bracelet!

Did you know you can crochet with tissue? Yes, you can! For this bracelet I used soft jersey tissue, but you can try to make it with any other tissue you like.
All you need is:
* 2 inches (5cm) wide and approximately 47inches long (120cm) piece of tissue;
* big crochet hook (mine was 8mm or L).

Leave 2 1/2 inches long tail and start to crochet chain stitch.

I worked 13ch. And then fasten off.

Remaining tail must be as long as the first one (for a better look). Now simply make a double knot using the tails you have and that's it! Your bracelet is ready! And the possibilities are endless. You can make them using different tissue, you can make it longer and use as a belt, or a headband. Enjoy! :-)

Soon I am going to share another (big) project you can make with tissue and crochet hook! :-)

DIY tutorial - Felt Heart Garland

I know I am a little bit too late with this tutorial, Christmas is just around the corner, but it is better now than never. Actually this kind of decoration can be used for many occasions - Valentine's day for example, or a birthday party!  

So, let's begin.

Materials: 

* yarn (the best is to use 100% wool (or it should contain at least 80% wool otherwise it will not felt). The weight of yarn depends on you, just keep in mind thinner yarn you use smaller hearts you get. I used DK weight yarn.

* crochet hook - as I worked with DK weight yarn I used 3.5mm crochet hook

* tapestry needle (it should be quite big, it will be easier to work with it)

* beautiful scrapbooking paper (optional, you can skip this and add any other ornaments to your garland if you like)

* glue (I used universal one, which glues everything) 

* scissors

for felting:

* bowl with hot water

* washing up liquid 

* a little bit of patience :-)

Crochet hearts:

Row 1: Ch3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in last ch, turn

Row 2: Ch1, 2sc in each sc, turn

Row 3: Ch1, 2sc in first sc, sc in each of next 2sc, 2sc in last sc, turn

Row 4: Ch1, 2sc in first sc, sc in each of next 4sc, 2sc in last sc, turn

Row 5: Ch1, 2sc in first sc, sc in each of next 6sc, 2sc in last sc, turn

Rows 6-10: Ch1, sc in each sc (10sc), turn

Row 11: ch1, sc in next 4sc, turn

Repeat Row 11 two times more and fasten off.

Turn the work and join the yarn in first sc working ch1, sc in same st as ch1, sc in each of next 2sc, turn

Repeat Row 11 two times more to shape the second half of the heart. Fasten off.

Make two.

Put both hearts together and work evenly sc around them (doesn’t matter where you start). While you work sc around the hearts try to hide all tails between the stitches. Leave 1 inch long space (don’t cut the year, you will have to close it later), and using this space fill the heart with cotton. 

 

When it is done, work sc till the end to close the space and fasten off. 

Now hide the tail inside the heart, insert the hook as shown in next photo, yarn over and pull it inside.

I would suggest you to make as many hearts as you need and then continue with felting. I made six hearts.

Felting:

One way to felt is to machine wash in hot water, adding towels to the wash for added friction. I don't suggest to do it with these hearts as in this case the result will be unpredictable and you don't know which shape your hearts will have when you get them out of machine. That’s why I suggest hand felting.

STEP 1

Prepare a bowl of hot, soapy water – washing up liquid is perfect! Leave all hearts to soak in the water for a few minutes.

STEP 2

Take one heart at a time, hold it between your hands and rub hard to create friction. Dip it in the water time after time and continue rubbing. If you get tired leave it in the water and take a break. Then continue rubbing until the heart gets thick and stitches disappear. You can make as many breaks as you need, just add hot water and some more washing up liquid every time. Do it with all hearts. You will see at the end you will need just a few minutes for each one.  

STEP 3

When you are happy with the result, rinse the hearts in the clean water. Let them dry. 

Stars: 

I cut 5 stars from scrapbooking paper. I suggest to paint the star on the wrong side of the paper and then cut it out.

Finishing:

Now cut the strand of yarn as long as your garland should be + 20cm or 8inches to make the loops at both ends to hang your garland. I decided to make my garland 1.5m long, so I cut 1.70m long strand. Thread the needle with the strand you just cut. Take a heart and draw the strand through the heart as shown in the picture below. 

Leave 10cm long tail (to shape a loop later), and work a stitch on your heart to fix it where it is and to prevent it from moving. Make it twice. 

Do it with all hearts leaving between them equal spaces (think that in the middle of each space you will have to attach the star, or whatever you want). Also on another end leave 10cm long strand to shape a loop. 

Take a star, in the center put glue (very little) and put on it the strand (take care about distances between the hearts, they should be equal) and cover it with small piece of paper.

Actually later I realized that it would have been better to cover it with exactly the same kind of star, so you would have a beautiful star from both sides, but I left it as it was as I was going to hang it on the wall anyway.

Repeat it with all stars.

Now the last thing you should do is it to shape the loops on both ends of your garland. Thread the needle with one end, draw it through the heart (at the same point where the end was coming out), shape the loop, and work twice a stitch at the same point to fix it. Then draw remaining tail through your heart and cut it. I hope this makes sense and here are the photos how I did it. Make the same with second end.

Well, I hope you will enjoy making this garland and Happy Holidays! :-) Other tutorials coming soon! Stay tuned. :-)

How to wear a scarf?

I even didn't know there were so many different ways how to wear a scarf. :-) The video is awesome! Must design some new scarfs to wear them in all possible ways! :-)

How to make a non-slip sole?!

This is second most common question you ask me. Read about first one here:

Sure there are many different ways how to make a non slip sole. Most common are:

1. Instead of crocheted sole use suede sole. It means you have to cut the sole from suede, then with big needle you make the holes all around it, so that you can insert the crochet hook in them (you have to make as many holes as needed to work each stitch of first round of upper part). When it is done, you simply skip instructions for the sole and start to crochet the upper part.

2. Sew on something on the sole - it can be anything - pieces of elastic, trim (with trims take care that they are not slippery by themselves), as I did on my Felted Ballet Flats. 

3. My favorite - paint something on the sole! There is a magic product - fluffy puff paint! I used this one, but there is very big choice of them in craft shops or ebay and amazon. I used the one which puffs only with the heat, but there are also others which don't require any heat setting. 

I will explain you how to use it.

1. First of all crochet the sole. Make two soles, like this you will save time. I fasten off the sole, then I simply open the fastened loop and continue to crochet upper part. Be sure that you will not need to make any modifications for the sole.

2. Take the puff paint and paint with it something on the sole - it can be simple dots, or funny faces, whatever you like.

3. Now wait 4 hours (or follow the instructions if you use another kind of puff paint) till the paint gets dry. Don't wait much longer than suggested, because then the paint gets too dry and doesn't look that good.

4. Take the iron and heat the sole (I did it on max heat, but take care and don't burn the sole) from the wrong side (don't iron on side where is the painting!) In this way the paint must puff! You have to be patient and heat it for at least one minute before checking the result, as it needs time to puff.

5. Now the soles are ready and you can work on upper parts. :-)

Have a great weekend!