Using Sequins in Crochet

I love the look of sequins and I am always on the look out for more ways to work them into my designs. As you can see by the picture my gowns for the Large and Small Baby Bratz dolls are covered with them. (Patterns on my website: http://www.donnascrochetdesigns.com/)

Sequins are fairly easy to use in crochet.

What I like to do is space them apart with a single crochet stitch. That way there is more room between the sequins so they lay better (flater) and you use less.

Normally you'll see in the instructions of one of my designs using sequins: (sc, slide, sc) across. What I mean by this is make one sc stitch, work the next stitch, but before you yo and pull through the last loop you slide the sequin down to it and then complete the stitch.

This does two things. First it anchors the sequin firmly in the stitch so it won't move freely when finished. (Don't you just hate when you have to smooth the sequins out so they all lay falt and in the same direction? I do. And this prevents it.)

Second it places the sequin to the back of your stitch. This makes working a series of sequins in easier and will less chances to catch your crochet thread on them as you work. (Another hated thing.)

After working a row of sequins I normally do a roll of half double crochet. This spaces the sequins and you don't have to worry about keeping all the sequins to one side as you work as it is done for you by doing every other row.

I've found a hdc is just about right between rows. The sequins will still look like one continous flow, but again, saving you on the number of sequins you have to use.

Give it a try! Let me know how this works for you!

ww.donnascrochetdesigns.com

More Toys for Bumble Bee Bratz Play Set

That's right I've designed more toys for the Bumble Bee play set for the 4-1\2" Baby Bratz doll.

A friend and good customer of mine suggested I do more with the play set and you know me, I love a challenge!

Thanks LindaC!

So I came up with this swing and trampoline -- bee themed of course!

I love adding motion to crochet toys. The swing actually swings and supports the doll. My frist version of the swing had triangle supports instead of the square ones in the photo. To my embarassment, when I put the doll in the swing her head hit the dowel the swing was tied to and wouldn't move. Who on earth wants a swing that can't swing? Back to the drawing board!

You know, when you don't get it right the first it's not that you failed you just learned one more thing not to do!

I believe it was my third attempt when I got it all figured out. Not bad, sometimes it takes me a dozen or more times before I can get things just right. Aren't you gald I keep trying?

Well the trampoline was sooo much easier to make.

I did do a slide, but the crochet bees I covered the slide part with wouldn't let the doll slide. Back to the drawing board on that one! Oh well, Everyone needs a hobby, right?


www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

"Frank N. Stein" Picture Book

Hi!

This green fellow is Frank N. Stein and is the star of my latest picture book. The book has 17 illustrations and 15 pages. The book tells of all Frank has to go through to get ready to receive his guests. I’ll give you a hint, it entails the use of shoulder pads and platform shoes, as you have probable already guessed if you have looked at Frank N. Stein the doll crochet pattern.

You will get two versions of the same picture book e-mailed to you in pdf format. One version is full color and ready to read off the computer or print out. The second is a black & white version that allows the child to color the illustrations when printed out.

Find them HERE! Free!

Free Lilac Tassel Doll Crochet Pattern

LARGE TASSEL DOLL WITH STAND
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Baby wt yarn in White and Lavender, size E hook or hook to obtain gauge, 70mm porcelain doll head and hands, 5” diameter wooden circle, one 1-1\2” wooden wheel, 14” of 1\4” diameter dowel, antique gold paint, craft glue. 3” X 10” piece of cardboard and 3 charms.

Gauge: 6 sc = 1", 6 sc rows = 1"

STAND:
Glue wheel to the center of the wood circle and let dry. Paint it and the dowel antique gold. After the paint is dry, glue dowel in center hole of wheel.

BODICE:
RND 1: With lavender and E hook ch-36, sl st to from a ring, ch-1, sc in ea ch around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (36 sts)

RND 2-4: Sc ea st around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn.

RND 5: (Sc dec next 2 sts tog as 1, sc next 7 sts) around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (32 sts)

RND 6: Sc ea st around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn.

RND 7: (Sc dec next 2 sts, sc next 6 sts) around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (28 sts)

RND 8: Rep rnd 6.

RND 9: (Sc dec next 2 sts, sc next 5 sts) around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (24 sts)

RND 10-13: Rep rnd 6.

RND 14: (2 sc next st, sc next 3 sts) around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (30 sts)

RND 15: Rep rnd 6.

RND 16: (2 sc next st, sc next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (40 sts)

RND 17-23: Rep rnd 6. At the end of rnd 23 fasten off.

Glue top of bodice around doll head.

SLEEVE (MAKE TWO):
With lavender and E hook ch-4, sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Ch-1, work 14 sc in ring, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (14 sts)

RND 2-15: Sc ea st around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn.

RND 16: (Sc dec next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (7 sts)

RND 17: Sc next st, (sc dec next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (4 sts)

RND 18: (Ch-6, sl st next st) around, fasten off.
Insert hand.

COAT:
ROW 1: With white yarn & E hook ch-35, sc 2nd ch from hook, sc ea ch, ch-1, turn. (34 sts)

ROW 2: Sc 1st st, (ch-4, sk 2 sts, sc next st) across, ch-1, turn.

ROW 3-5: Dc 1st st, sl st to next lp, ch-4, * (sc, ch-2, sc) next lp, ch-4 *, rep bet ** across ending with sl st last lp, dc last st, ch-1, turn.

ROW 6: 2 dc next dc, work 3 dc in ea lp to last dc, 2 dc last dc, ch-1, turn. (28 sts)

ROW 7: (Dc dec next 2 sts, dc next 5 sts) across, ch-1, turn. (24 sts)

ROW 8: Dc 1st st, (ch-4, sk 1 st, sc next st) across to last st, dc last st, ch-1, turn.

ROW 9-11: Dc 1st st, ch-4, * (sc, ch-2, sc) next lp, ch-4 *, rep bet ** across to last st, dc last st, ch-1, turn.

ROW 12-14: Rep rows 3-5. At the end of row 14 fasten off.

COAT EDGING:
With white and E hook join in 1st st of row 1, ch-3, working in the end of ea row, 2 dc sa row as beg ch-3, 3dc end ea row across, fasten off.
Rep for other side of coat.

Glue coat around top edge of bodice making sure to center front opening. Glue at waist.

COAT SLEEVES (MAKE TWO):
With white and E hook ch-4, sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Ch-1, work 15 sc in ring, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn. (15 sts)

RND 2: Sc 1st st, * ch-4, sk 2 sts, sc next st *, rep bet ** around ending with ch-4, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn.

RND 3-9: Sc 1st sc, sl st to next lp, ch-4, * (sc, ch-2, sc) next lp, ch-4 * rep bet ** around, sl st top beg sc, ch-1, turn.

RND 10: Place bodice sleeve inside coat sleeve stretching to fit but not including last rnd lp edging, sc 1st st, sc in ea ch-4 lp around, sl st top beg sc, fasten off.
After rep for other sleeve, flatten finished sleeve at the top and glue to the coat making sure to cover shoulder of doll head.

FINISHING:
Wrap lavender yarn around piece of cardboard 125 times. Make the tassel by cutting a length of yarn and tying to the top of the lp yarn. Measure down 2” from center tie, wrap another piece of yarn around tassel several times and knot to secure. Slide tassel over dowel, trying to center. Slide doll head with coat over dowel until head reaches top of dowel. Glue charms to center of coat and at sleeve and hair if you like

Bodic detail (above) and Stand (below)

I've always like the looks of tassel dolls, but never knew exactly how to display one so I can up with this quick little stand.

What I like best about it is how you don't need any wood working skill to make one.

Everything was found at my local craft store and best of all, all it took was glue to put it together!

http://www.donnascrochetdesigns.com/

Idea Behind My Design of Beumble Bee Play Set for 4-1\2" Bratz Dolls

Hi!

I'm often asked where I get my ideas from.

First I want to say that what I do is design crochet patterns, not re-make a crochet pattern that is all ready floating out there in the world.

When I start thinking of a new project I start looking at things that are out there in the non-crochet world. Like at Home Stores, Clothing Stores, Toy Stores, etc.

I want a challenge. I want to take something that has never been seen in crochet before and translate it into a pattern that most people who crochet can easily follow and make one of their own.

With this said, I'll get back to the Bumble Bee Play Set.

Have you ever heard of the cartoon "Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends?" It is on the cartoon network and I love it. Edwardo is my favorite character which has absolutely nothing to do with the play set by the way.

Anyway, in one cartoon the entire gang at Foster's went to this play-pizza place. I won't bore you with the story line, just that it was a hive shaped pizza place and they had this guy dressed up in a bee suit to meet and greet.

And that's it...

My inspriation for the bee hive play set.

I have to admit it doesn't really make a lot of sence and maybe I watch too many cartoons--Never!--but that's how it works for me. I see something. It gets sucked into my head along with the tons of other things floating around in there, some times they bump into each other and an idea is born: Bratz Doll = Bee Hive and some times it is just strange up there, but I enjoy it.

Come along to my website: http://www.donnascrochetdesigns.com/ and see what other strange things you can find there.

Who knows, maybe you'll even suggest an idea or two!

Ideas For Flag and Stars Garland

Here is my latest Christmas design:

I've gone Patrotic with this red, white and blue themed Flag and Stars Garland!

But you can do more with this than just make a garland for your tree, mantel or stair railing.
















You can turn the flag and stars into ornaments by using red, white and blue ribbon, knoting a loop at one end and gluing the flag or stars on.




You can also make decorations for the plants in your home by glueing ribbon onto 18" wooden skewere (found in most coooking isle of stores). Add chenille stems you wind around a pencil and then polk them down inside the plant.








They also make great package decorations or additions to wreaths!

More Color Changes

I call this Cherries Cuff Bracelet.

See how just a background color can change the look?

This is one of my new patterns for the month of
HERE is the pattern! Free!

Color Changes, The Easiest Changes To Make

Plain black and white cuff bracelet, right?


Not so if you just change the colors up!

This cuff bracelet is easy to make.

You'd be supriced at how easy it is to make a simple change in a crochet pattern and get your own look!

Imagination and experimentation can do wonders for a plain looking pattern!

This is one of my new patterns for August.

Come by

Find the pattern HERE! Free!

Free Beaded Necklace Crochet Pattern

Free Beaded Medillion Necklace Crochet Pattern


MATERIALS NEEDED:
Size 10 crochet thread in Light Blue or a color to match your beads, size 7 crochet hook, large eye beading needle and 20 oz of size E mix color beads.

FINISHED SIZE: Medallion 2” across. Necklace is 22” long.

MEDILLION:
With lg eye beading needle on crochet thread, thread on 168 beads, remove beading needle, with 7 hook ch-3, sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Ch-1, work (slide bead hdc) 8 times in ring, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn.

RND 2-3: (2 hdc next st, hdc next st) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (12 sts)(18 sts)

RND 4: * (slide bead, hdc) twice next st, rep bet () next st *, rep bet ** around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (27 sts)

RND 5: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (36 sts)

RND 6: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 3 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (48 sts)

RND 7: * (slide bead, ch-1) 3 times, sk a st, sl st next st, * rep bet ** 15 times, rep bet () 6 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 8 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 10 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 12 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 16 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 12 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 10 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 8 times, sk a st, sl st next st, rep bet () 6 times, sk a st, sl st next st, fasten off.

NECKLACE:
With Blue thread and lg eye beading needle thread on remaining beads in the bottle (about 272), remove beading needle, with 7 hook and leaving a long tail, (ch-1, slide bead) 136 times, sl st top medallion, rep bet () 136 times, ch-1, fasten off. Knot tails and trim ends.


http://www.donnascrochetdesigns.com/

Large Eye Beading Needle and Crochet

Large Eye Beading Needle, just what is one and why use it instead of a large eye regular needle.

Whenever I use beads or sequins in a pattern I design I always state in the "materials needed" a large eye beading needle.

To the left you will see a picture of a large eye beading needle next to a sewing needle large enough to take size 10 crochet thread.

The large eye beading needle is thinner than a regular sewing needle or tapestry needle and usually pointed on both ends instead of just one.

A regular sewing needle has a very specific size "eye" or opening where the thread is to go through. If you need a bigger eye for a thicker thread you will then need a bigger needle.

And that was always the problem when I went to thread the beads or sequins onto my crochet thread. If I had a needle with an eye large enough to take the crochet thread then it was too thick to take the size E beads or sequins I wanted to use.



I naturally went to a larger size bead. It worked, but the bead was heavier and I didn't get the look I was after and until recently, sequins all had the same size hole, unless of course you wanted to make the hole bigger...one by one...yeah, me either.

Then I found the large eye beading needle. As you can see in the picture to the left, same needle as before, but what an eye!

No matter how thick the string, yarn, cord, whatever, it always fits!

Because the beading needle is basically just two pieces of thin wire connected at each end you can use size E beads and sequins on size 10 crochet thread without a problem.

I love them! Except when I polk myself in the hand because both ends are pointy--which happens to me a lot, but I've also stabbed myself with regular sewing needles so deep I bleed as well. In other words, its probably me not the needle at fault.

Large Eye Beading needles can be found in the bead and jewelry isle in most craft stores. Just look for the area with the findings and you'll find an entire array of beading needles.


http://www.donnascrochetdesigns.com/

Story Behind Giraffe Afghan

My parents live in Tennessee, I live in Ohio and my brother lives in California. We recently had a bit of a family reunion-if you can call it that. I was looking through old pictures with my mother and we came across one of my brother-about 6 or 7 on his training wheel bike with an indian headdress on.
I asked mom if that was what my brother wanted to be at the time-an indian and she said. "No, he wanted to be a giraffe."
I though she was kidding. She wasn't. At the time he wanted to grow really tall and the tallest thing he could think of was a giraffe.
Funny how things like that stick in your mind.
With nothing else much to do I started an afghan. After getting the background complete and with that giraffe comment in mind, I decided to do a girafe afghan. By then my brother had arrived and asked what I was working on.
So I told him, a giraffe.
He said it didn't look like a giraffe.
Of course it wouldn't, I was working on the spots, which he said didn't look muck like spots.
Of course not, they weren't sewn together.

I'm use this this, because nothing I ever I have evered designed started out looking like the finished piece, but he just kept asking!

So Lanny, here is my giraffe afghan. See the spots?

See the Giraffe?

How about now?

More Ideas For Crochet Patches

MORE IDEAS FOR CROCHET PATCHES!

Everyone knows you can add patches to jeans, shirts and jackets, but how about adding some to a purchased purse.

Or how about using one as a tie back for your curtains. Great way to personalize your home with your hobby!


Instead of crochting the patch in DMC or Crochet Thread how about you do it in 4 ply yarns!

You'll get the same detail and look but at a much larger size. Then you could....

Use the patches as a decortive motif to a pillow or even as the center in a quilting square!

Just use one and you have a matching coaster!

Add them to a hat--purchased or crochet!

To decorate a baby's bib!

Add a decorative touch to guests towels. Not only would they look nice a your powder room, but would make a nice gift as well.

Great to decorate a purchased pair of socks!

There are many ways to use crochet patches! Just let your imagine run loose! Add then to sachets, doll dresses, place mats and table runners--go wild!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

Free Crochet Pattern Child's Sun Hat

SIMPLE CHILD'S SUN HAT CROCHET PATTERN

MATERIALS:
4ply yarn in any color you like, H hook or hook to obtain gauge and needle to take yarn.

GAUGE: 5 hdc = 1-1\2”, 5 rows hdc = 2”

FINISHED SIZE: 7-1\2” across top and 28” around outside of hat.

HAT TOP:
ROW 1: With yarn and H hook ch-16, hdc 3rd ch from hook, hdc ea ch across, ch-1, turn. (14 sts)

ROW 2-5: 2 hdc next st, hdc to last st, 2 hdc last st, ch-1, turn. (16 sts)

ROW 6-15: Hdc ea st across, ch-1, turn.

ROW 16-19: Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc across to last 2 sts, hdc dec last 2 sts, ch-1, turn. End row 19 fasten off. (20 sts)(18 sts)(16 sts)(14 sts)

SIDE OF HAT:
ROW 1: With yarn and H hook ch-12, hdc 3rd ch from hook, hdc ea ch across, ch-1, turn. (10 sts)

ROW 2-60: Hdc ea st across, ch-1, turn. End row 60 fasten off.

With needle and yarn sew row 60 to row 1 to form a circle. With yarn and H hook evenly sc through both thickness of top and side of hat around, sl st top beg sc, fasten off.

BRIM:
RND 1: With yarn and H hook join in end of any rnd of bottom of side, ch-1, work 2 hdc in end of ea row around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (120 sts)

RND 2-4: Hdc ea st around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. End rnd 4 fasten off.

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

Free Baby Bib Crochet Pattern

SIMPLE BABY'S BIB

MATERIALS:
Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn in color of your choice and size F.

GAUGE: 4 hdc sts = 1”, 5 rows hdc = 1-1\2”

FINISHED SIZE: 6-1\2” across widest point X 7-1\4” long

BIB:
ROW 1: With yarn and F hook ch-18, hdc 3rd ch from hook, hdc ea ch across, ch-1, turn. (16 sts)

ROW 2-11: 2 hdc next st, hdc ea st across, ch-1, turn. (17 sts)(18 sts)(19 sts)(20 sts)(21 sts)(22 sts)(23 sts)(24 sts)(25 sts)(26 sts)

ROW 12-19: Hdc ea st across, ch-1, turn.

ROW 20-23: Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc ea st across, ch-1, turn. (25 sts)(24 sts)(23 sts)(22 sts)

ROW 24: Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc next 3 sts, leave remaining sts unworked, ch-1, turn. (4 sts)

ROW 25: Hdc next 2 sts, hdc dec last 2 sts, ch-1, turn. (3 sts)

ROW 26: Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc next st, ch-1, turn. (2 sts)

ROW 27: Hdc dec next 2 sts, fasten off. (1 st)

ROW 28: With yarn and F hook join in end row 23, ch-1, work hdc dec in sa st as beg ch-1, and next st, hdc next 3 sts, leave remaining sts unworked, ch-1, turn. (4 sts)

ROW 29-31: Rep row 25-27.

RND 32: Evenly sc in ea st and row around outer edge and working 3 sc in only st row 27 and row 31, sl st top beg sc, fasten off.

TIES:
ROW 1: With yarn and F hook join in 2nd st of 3 sc group, ch-1, sc sa st as beg ch-1, leave remaining sts unworked, ch-1, turn. (1 st)

ROW 2-68: Sc only st, ch-1, turn. End row 68 fasten off.

Rep at other 3 sc group.

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

A Tip to Better Help Consistency in Gauge

Anyone who has ever crocheted knows how important gauge is. It affects the size of your finished project. But what if your problem is consistency in your gauge?
There is really no easy way to teach someone this other than to tell them to crochet and you'll soon learn how to hold the yarn so that your stitches come out uniform.
That's all well and good so long as you aren't like my thirteen year old daughter who tried to make a square pillow and ended up with a very oddly shaped triangle with the same number of stitches at the end as when she began.
I never could explain tension and holding the yarn so that she understood. So I came up with this solution:
I threaded a bead onto her yarn. It was big enough that the yarn could easily pass through it, but still small enough she could easily keep it between her pinkie and the palm side of her hand. By doing this it forced her to keep a constant grip on the bead thus enabling her stitches to become regular row after row.
It worked for her and I hope it can work for other struggling beginners!

Why Use DMC Pearl Cotton Instead of Crochet Thread?

Why use size 5 DMC Pearl Cotton thread inside of size 10 crochet thread?
Both are close in gauge when crocheting.
Some of the newer versions of crochet thread are as soft as the DMC, though not all.
The answer is simple: color variety.
With crochet thread you can find one maybe two colors of blue, pink, green and yellow, but rarely at the same store. They usually have white, black, red, green, pink, purple and maybe yellow or recently I found orange.
DMC almost always have five or so skeins in varying hues of the same color. Si if you want to make a necklace to match a favorite dress or shirt you're more likely to find it using the DMC Pearl Cotton than in the crochet thread.
DMC is found in the needlework-cross stitch-embroidery isles in most craft stores. The hanging ones are ususally the size 5 thread with size 8 and 12 in balls underneath. They are the twisted skeins usually hanging on a peg board. You will need to untwist the thread and roll it into a ball so it doesn't tangle when you try to use it, but each 27 yard skein makes a ball about the size of a quarter and is fairly quick to untwist and roll.
That brings me to the other reason I like the DMC thread: the 27 yard skeins.
Crochet thread is usually found in a 250-350 yard range, which is great if you are making something large but over kill if you're just making a necklace.
Sure crochet thread will work, but there are more color variety with DMC Pearl Cotton.


P.S. If any one is wondering why I no longer put the color numbers I use for my designs samples it is because I want to encourage you to go out and look at all the colors out there and then pick the one that you like best.


www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

Changing Faces on Baby Stackers Crochet Pattern

What are the differences between these crochet animal heads?

Lets take them one by one.

The Dog head versas the Bunny head.

Both have the same eyes, same muzzle and nose. The size of the head is the same, only the colors used and the ears are different.

The Dog head versas the Bear head.

Both use the same eyes and nose. The muzzles are different. The dog has two small muzzles sewn next to each other while the bear only has one large one. Again the only real differences are the colors of yarn used and the ears, but if you look closely to the bear's ears you will notice how simular they are to the shape of the eyes and are really one in the same.

Last is the Dog head versas the Cat head. Again same eyes and nose, but different ears and the cat has a few stitches of embroidary of its muzzle instead of the sewn on one of the dog.

Can you tell where I am going with this?

Use your imaginations! Just because you see an item being used in one way doesn't mean you can't change it to suit your needs. Don't like dogs? So change it into a cat. The person you are making this for has their nursey done in bunnys, so change it into a bunny.

Nothing is ever written in stone.

Change the colors you use.

Change the type and weight of yarns.

Take it and put it to a totally different use. How about sewing one of the heads onto a body you've sewn and stuffed. Or use them as soft balls for a baby to play with. Or get really bold and string a bunch of the heads together and use it as a scarf this winter.

My point is take it and run with it!

Somethimes running with scissors is okay.

Just don't mistake getting crative with someone's pattern and then calling it your own or you could end up with a lot of problems leagelly.

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

What is 4 ply Yarn?

A new person to crochet recently asked me what the 4-ply yarn I stated I used in my pattern meant and if it had anything to do with gauge.
4 ply is the weight of the yarn or thickness and is also called medium . It really means 4 strands of thinner yarn have been twisted together to produce that yarn. You find the weight of the yarn usually just above the name of the yarn something like: Worsted - Medium - 4. Worsted means several strands of thinner yarn have been twisted together to make up the yarn. Medium is the over all thickness you'll achieve in your finished piece and 4 is the number of worsted yarns
4 ply is a weight more commonly used in crochet. One of the easiest to find brands of 4 ply yarn is Red Heart. Usually Wal-mart, Joanns, Michaels, etc have a large variety of colors . I always like to list the weight or type of yarn I used to make the item from the pattern so if it is a special type of yarn you know that up front.
There are of course thinner and thicker yarns available. If you substitute a thinner yarn like a sport weight--3 ply-- you'll end up with a smaller finished piece than what the pattern states. Like wise a thicker yarn will get you a larger finished piece, but I really don't recommend switching as not all patterns can tolerate the change and you may lose some of the details that attracted you to that pattern in the first place.

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

Free Cabin Afghan Crochet Pattern

IN THE CABIN


Easy to make and fast. Time break down: Each block takes approximately 20 minutes to make. The required 42 blocks would average 10 1\2 hours. Then you needed 2 1\2 hours to sew the blocks into rows and the rows into the afghan. Finishing the afghan with the simple edging would again take about 2 1\2 hours, totaling the time invested to: 15 1\2 hours.

MATERIALS:
19 ozs. Red Heart 4-ply yarn in Claret, 18 ozs. Red Heart 4-ply yarn in Navy Fleck, needle to take yarn and J hook or hook needed to obtain gauge.

SIZE: 40" X 48"

Gauge: Motif is 6" X 6"

MOTIF:
ROW 1: With J hook and yarn, ch-20, sc 2nd ch from hook, sc across, turn. (19 sts)

ROW 2: Ch-3 (1st dc), (dc, ch-2, 2 dc) sa st as ch-3. * ch-1, sk 2 sts, keeping last lp on hook, 3 dc next st, yo and pull through all lps on hook (cluster st completed), ch-1, sk 2 sts, (2 dc, ch-2, 2 dc) next st (shell completed), rep from * 3 times, turn.

ROWS 3-9: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch-3, (dc, ch-2, 2 dc) sa sp, * ch-1, cl around front post of next cl, ch-1, work a shell in next ch-2 sp, rep from * 3 times, turn. Fasten off at the end of row 9.

Make 21 blocks in Claret and 21 blocks in Navy Fleck.

With Navy Fleck yarn and needle sew the blocks tog in 7 rows of 6 blocks each alternating to get a checker board pattern. To emphasize the afghan’s texture, sew all Navy blocks turned on their side and the Claret blocks right side up.
Sew all seven rows tog to form the body of the afghan.

EDGING:
RND 1: With Claret yarn and J hook join in side of any block on afghan, ch-1, evenly sc around ea side and work (2 sc, ch-2, 2 sc) in each corner, sl st top beg sc, turn.

RND 2: Ch-3, dc in ea st around and work (2 dc, ch-2, 2 dc) in ea ch-2 lp, sl st top beg ch-3, turn.

RND 3: Rep rnd 2, fasten off.

RND 4: With Navy Fleck and J hook join in any st on edging, ch-3, dc ea st around working (2 dc, ch-2, 2 dc) in ea ch-2 lp, sl st top beg ch-3, turn.

RND 5: Rep rnd 2, fasten off.



Here is a close up of the blocks. I love the texture the stitches form and if you alternate the way you turn the blocks you can get a woven look to your afghan.

Enjoy!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

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 !

http://www.donnascrochetdesigns.com/