Magnets and Crochet

I love toys and I love to crochet, but I was unhappy with what you can do with them (toys) or maybe it would be better said that I was unhappy with what you can't do with a crochet toy. I've added wheels to make cars rollhttp://donnascrochetdesigns.com/page190.html (car) and http://donnascrochetdesigns.com/page202.html (wagon)--very elememtary stuff there--and I've done inside-outs. Inside-out toys are toys that are one thing, turn the entire piece inside out and they are another. http://donnascrochetdesigns.com/page193.html (hippo into a lion)and http://donnascrochetdesigns.com/page110.html (Easter egg into a bunny-one of a series). Now I'm incorporating magnets, but they have given me a bit of a problem.

I’ve tried several different brands of magnet and have found that the craft magnets found in most craft stores are not strong enough for this project. You need a magnet that can attract through two layers of crochet material and still stick to one another.

The best I’ve found is HM or House-Mates Hardware 3\4” disc magnets. I have found them at both Home Depot and Lowe’s in the screw\nut\bolt isle. Normally I resist giving such exact information as products change and businesses change what they carry, but in this insistence I think it’s best because what it easily found in most craft stores will not work in this project. You need a magnet that is strong enough to make that same magnet next to it flip to the correct pole (positive they come together, negative sides they repel) and stick together.

I hope this little bit of information has proved helpful. I know I for one can't wait for my next crochet\magnet project !

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Ribbon Ring Belt Crochet Pattern

MATERIALS:

7- 10 yd reels of 1\8” wide Spool ‘O Ribbon in Light Blue, 9- 3” diameter brass rings, about 96- 6mm cracked glass beads in blue\pink, large eye beading needle, 1” split ring, 7\8” swivel hook, size H hook or hook to obtain gauge, needle and thread.

GAUGE: 6 sc = 1”, 5 rows sc = 1”, one reel of ribbon covers 2-1\2 rings

FINISHED SIZE: 3” wide X 40” long

RING:
RND 1: With ribbon and H hook work sc evenly around ring to cover, sl st top beg sc, fasten off.
-Make 9 (if you like to make the belt longer add more rings; shorter, remove rings.

JOINING RINGS:
ROW 1: With ribbon and H hook join in any st on covered ring, ch-1, sc sa st as ch-1, sc next 5 sts, leave remaining sts unworked, ch-1, turn. (6 sts)

ROW 2-6: Sc ea st across, ch-1, turn. End row 6 sl st to corresponding sts on next ring, fasten off.

NEXT RING:
ROW 1: With ribbon and H hook join in st next side of ring that is across from 1st st row 6 of previous join, ch-1, sc sa st as beg ch-1, sc next 5 sts, leave remaining sts unworked, ch-1, turn. (6 sts)

ROW 2-6: Sc ea st across, ch-1, turn. End row 6 sl st to corresponding sts on next ring, fasten off.

Rep next ring until all 9 rings are attached tog.

FRINGE:
With large eye beading needle thread beads onto a reel of ribbon. Knot one end of ribbon and slide four beads down. Measure down 10” and cut ribbon. Knot second end and slide 2 of the four beads to this knot. Make 9.

Knot one end of ribbon and slide four beads down. Measure down 6” and cut ribbon. Knot second end and slide 2 of the four beads to this knot. Make 18.

Place ribbon in center bottom sts of ea ring by inserting hook, fold ribbon in half, pull thought sts, insert free ends in this lp and pull tight. Ea ring gets 3 beaded tassels: 6”, 10” and 6”.

With needle and thread sew swivel hook to the end of belt centering it on ring. Decide where you want to fasten or close the belt and sew split ring here to wrong side of belt.

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Free Crochet Pattern: Chenille Rose Purse

MATERIALS:
1 skein Lion Brand Thick and Quick chenille yarn in Periwinkle, K hook or hook to obtain gauge, needle and thread, small amount of cardboard, four 21” pieces of 26 gauge florist wire, 150 6mm crystal beads and 150 6mm pearl beads.

GAUGE: 2 sc = 1”, 2 rows = 1”

FINISHED SIZE: 5” X 8”

FLOWER:
Ch-3, sl st to from a ring.

RND 1: Ch-1, work 12 sc in ring, sl st top beg sc, do not turn.

RND 2: * (sc, hdc) next st, 3 dc next st, (hdc, sl st) next st, * rep bet ** 4 times, sl st top beg sc, do not turn.

RND 3: * Ch-3, sl st behind 2nd dc of 3 dc group worked rnd 2, ch-3, sl st behind next sc work rnd 2, * rep bet ** around, do not turn. (8 lps)

RND 4: Sl st to next lp, ch-1, (sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc) in ea lp around, sl st top beg sc, fasten off.

PURSE:
RND 1: With K and periwinkle ch-8, sc 2nd ch from hook, sc next 5 ch, 3 sc next ch, turn piece so you are now working across the bottom of foundation ch, sc next 6 ch, 2 sc last ch, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (18 sts)

RND 2: * 2 sc next st, sc next sc, 2 sc next st, sc next 6 sts, * rep bet ** twice, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (22 sts)

RND 3: 2 sc next st, sc next 7 sts, 2 sc next 4 sts, sc next 7 sts, 2 sc next 3 sts, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (30 sts)

RND 4-7: Sc ea st around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn.

RND 8: (2 sc next st, sc next st) twice, 2 sc next st, sc next 9 sts, (2 sc next st, sc next st) twice, 2 sc next st, sc next 10 sts, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (36 sts)

RND 9-10: Sc ea st around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn.

RND 11: * Sc next 10 sts, (2 sc next st, sc next st) 3 times, 2 sc next st, * rep bet ** twice, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (44 sts)

RND 12-15: Sc ea st around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. At the end of rnd 15 fasten off.

PURSE BOTTOM:
Rep rnd 1-3 of purse. Fasten off at the end of rnd 3.
Cut a piece of cardboard to fit piece. Turn purse inside out and with needle and thread sew wrong side bottom to wrong side of purse at the bottom inserting cardboard as you sew.

HANDLES:
Hold 2 of the 4 piece of wire tog and twist about 3”, then twist the 3” into an lp. On one wire thread 74 crystal beads. Thread 74 pearl beads on the other wire. Loosely twist the beaded wires tog all the way down to the wire’s ends. Twist remaining ends of the wire tog to form an lp. Rep with other wire and beads. Sew lps of handles to inside of purse with needle and thread.

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