May 08, 2009

Piano Hot Pad Crochet Pattern

Piano Hot Pad pattern found HERE!
It's 8" X 8-1\2" and made from just three parts.
Quick and easy to make and put together.
Great for the piano lover in your life!


www.donnascrochetdesigns.com




April 12, 2009

How To Crochet Around a Pop Tab Using a Half Double Crochet






You begin with a base of half double crochet (hdc) stitches.
Yo (yarn over) as you would making another hdc.






Insert the hook through the next stitch.
Place pop tab on hook.





Yo again.






Pull though pop tab and stitch.






Yo and pull through all loops on hook to finish the stitch.








Attached pop tab.




www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
www.freepatternsdonnascrochetdesigns.com

March 23, 2009

How To Make a Sewn in Lining for a Crochet Purse



How To Make a Sewn in Lining for a Crochet Purse.















You begin by figuring out the size of the lining you will need. First measure from the inside top to the bottom of the purse. Then measure around the inside circumference of the purse. You will get a measurement something like: 7" X 20". Now add a 1\2" seam allowance to this: 8" X 21". Cut this from the fabric you are going to use as the lining. Sew short ends together, taking the 1\2" seam allowance, forming a tube.








Pin a 1\2" hem around one edge of the lining.







Pin this to inside edge of purse and sew in place.











Turn the purse inside-out and sew a line of basting stitched (long running stitches) to hold the bottom edge of the lining to the bottom of the purse. Turn right side out.




On a piece of cardboard out line the bottom of the purse and cut out.







Lay cardboard on a small piece of batting and trim the batting until only 1\4" extends from the edge all around.











Rep with your lining fabric.















With craft glue, glue the lining to the back of the cardboard using tape to hold it in place until dry.
Once dry, remove the tape and glue the finished bottom the the inside bottom of the purse.
















How To Make a Drop In Lining For a Purse

How to Make a Drop in Lining for a Crochet Purse.


















I call it a drop in lining because it isn't completely sewn into the purse, top and bottom. You can pull it out.








You begin by measuring the depth of the purse (from the inside top edge to the bottom. Then you measure the circumference around the inside of the purse. You will have a measurement something like: 7" X 26".

You now add a 1\2" seem allowance to that measurement, so it's now 8" X 27". Cut that size rectangle from the fabric you will be lining the purse with.



Fold the rectangle in half so that both short end meet. Pin and sew a 1\2" seam.







Make a pattern of the bottom of the purse by drawing around it and then adding 1\2" for seam allowances. Pin the bottom to one long edge of lining. The purse I am lining has a square bottom so I had to be careful pinning around corners.






Bottom completely pinned to bottom lining.






Lining sewn together.








If you wish to add a pocket, now is the time to do it. Decide how big of a pocket you would like, cut two out of fabric, pin wrong sides together and sew leaving a space for turning. Turn pocket to right sides, sew opening closed, pin and sew to lining.





Pin under a 1\2" hem around outer edge of lining--hem is always to the wrong side of what you are making.







Drop the lining into the purse, wrong sides together. Pin in place and then sew lining to purse.








Picture of finished lining in purse.









Lining has been sewn to the purse, but can still be pulled out.






March 22, 2009

Question of the Week

This week I have decided to remove all Pdf attachments of my patterns on my free web site. Like a lot of you out there I rely on my numbers and ad hits to help off set the costs of my web site. Since adding the pdf's my numbers have gone way down to the point where I need to take action.

As of right now, I do not plan on replacing the pdfs.

So the Question of the Week is more like an opportunity of you out there who would like to comment about the pdf removals.

Let me know what you think.


www.freepatternsdonnascrochetdesigns.com
www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

How To Line an Envelope Style Purse

How To Line an Envelope Style Purse


Lay the body of the bag out flat. Cut a piece of fabric about 1\2" larger than the body of the bag.


All around the outer edge of the fabric pin a 3\4" hem to wrong side of the fabric. At this point lay the pinned fabric back on the body of the bag. You want the fabric to cover the wrong side of the bag, but still leave 1\4" of less from the outer edge so when you sew the lining and fold the bag the lining does not show.

At this point you can press the hem in of the lining or if you are lazy like me, just leave the pins in and skip the pressing.


Now you are ready to make the pockets. Determine how big of pockets you want to make by how much room there will be left on the inside of the purse when finished.
In my case the purse I am lining is 7" wide, so my pocket will have to fit between that 7". I decided on a 6" wide pocket the was 4" long. Adding seam allowances the cut pocket will be 6-1\2" X 4-1\2", allowing a 1\2" seam allowance.
I want two pockets for my purse so I cut out four 6-1\2" X 4-1\2" squares.

Pin Wrong sides together.



Sew around the outer edges of the pocket leaving room along one long side for turning.
Turn the pocket right side out.



Sew the opening at the bottom closed. You will want to press the pocket at this point to make it easier to handle.






Go back the the pin hemmed lining. Lay out the pockets on the lining in the position you would like them to go. At this point it is necessary to go back to the purse so you can determine where you want the pockets to go.
I laid it side by side with my lining and folding it (the purse) into it's ultimate size to decided where the pockets should go on the lining.
Pin the pockets in place making sure mark where the opening the the pockets should be. After all you don't want an up-side-down pocket in your purse.
Sew in place.


Lay the finished lining onto the purse, wrong sides together, pin and sew in place.




Once the lining is sewn you can finish constructing the purse.




































March 08, 2009

How To Make a TRC Stitch in Crochet

How To Make a Trc (Treble) Stitch in Crochet!

A Trc stitch is a lot like a Dc (Double Crochet) stitch in that you have multiple loops on the hook and you keep yo-ing (yarn over) working 2 loops off at a time until the stitch is complete.



You begin by yarn over (yo) until there are three loops on the hook.





You then inset the hook into the stitch






Yarn over








Pull through and you have 4 loops








Yo




Pull through the first 2 loops on the hook







Yo




Pull through the next 2 loops on the hook






And finally yo






Pull through the last 2 loops on the hook finishing the stitch.