Mug Rugs

Green Apple Crochet Mug Rugs

R35 a pair

Ideal for teacher appreciation gifts at this time of year.

To place your order, email me :-)

Simple bookmarks - Pattern

It's been a while since my last post. Although that doesn't mean no crocheting has been happening!

In fact, I've been quite busy crocheting some simple bookmarks as giveaways in the Gift Bags at my mom's annual Fashion Show.

For those of you who don't know me personally, my mom teaches Sewing and Design and has established her brand, Silent Sewing Academy.  Every year, at around this time, she showcases her students' designs.

There were 100 guests and each guest at the event received a Gift Bag filled with gifts, magazines, samples, and vouchers. I decided to create some bookmarks for the Bags, just to get CrochetBTW 'out there' and also to let the ladies know about the Crochet for Kids lessons I'll be giving in the Summer Holidays (in December, here in South Africa).

On the little pamphlet which accompanied each bookmark, I promised that the pattern for the bookmark would be available for free on my blog, like ALL my patterns are :-)

There's a Pictorial below to help you :-)

So, without further ado, I give you the...

~
SIMPLE BOOKMARK PATTERN

You'll need:
Small amounts of wool in 2 colours - I used Double Knit, 100% acrylic 
A crochet hook to match your yarn - I used 4mm

Begin with Colour A, ch 4 and join with a ss to form a ring.

Round 1:  Ch 2 and work 11 htr into the ring.  Fasten off.  [12 htr]

Join Colour B into any st and ch 3, 2tr in same st, *3dc in next st, 3tr in next stitch*.  Repeat from * to * till the end.  Join with ss to 3rd ch of the initial 3ch in this round.  DO NOT FASTEN.

Ch 40 for the 'stem'.  Leave a 5cm tail and fasten off.
~

TADA!!!

Let me know what you think!

If you are interested in the Crochet for Kids lessons, please contact me :-)

.

What I've been up to...

Hey there,

I know it's been a while...I thought I'd pop by and let you know what I've been doing.

Well, I very seriously considered opening an Etsy shop to fund my yarn addiction!  And so, I've been working busily on some inventory for the shop.

First up, is the Chunky Lapghan / Baby Afhan in the most seductive chunky yarn I've worked with.  The blanket measures 31" (+- 80 cm) square and is an ideal baby shower or mature birthday gift.

I chose Elle Timber in the colourway Goldenrain.  Isn't it gorgeous?

The blanket weighs approximately 500g and it took me about 12 hours to complete over a weekend. 

Next up are some earrings I 

made... These adorable star earrings which are available in different colours.

I also made these pretty bookmarks for an order.  There were actually 6 in total, all with different coloured embellishments.  They turned out lovely!

That's all for now.  I'll share more once I've taken photos of the rest.

Till next time, stay peaceful!

Slow blogger + Bookmarks from scrap yarn

Hello.  I'm Waheeda and I'm a slow blogger.

I've come to accept I am a slow blogger.  That's thanks to FarahLin, a fellow Instagrammer.  She keeps a lovely blog.  You should visit it some time.

I noticed a badge on Farah's site and realised there are more like me in the world.  I am not alone at all!  I blog about my projects, some complete and some Works in Progress (WIPs) and sometimes I don't blog at all, probably because I'm busy with crochet or I'm living life or I'm crocheting...  You get the idea.  (The badge is borrowed from another fellow blogger who keeps the blog Knotted Cotton.)

~

I've realised, the past few days, that I am in need of some bookmarks.  Two, in fact.  One for Little Guy's bedtime story books and the other to bookmark my own readings.

Here's what I came up with.  What do you think?

CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

 

I used up some of my scraps for these and I think this is a good project for that.

 

The designs aren't complicated and I'm sure a beginner crocheter will manage just fine.

 

Book-Bunting Bookmark



CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

 This is simply 3 granny triangles joined together.

Granny triangles (make 3, or as many as desired):
In a magic circle (or ch3 and join to form ring), ch 2, 2dc, ch 2 and 3dc. Then repeat (3dc, ch2, 3dc) twice.  Join to 2nd ch of initial 2ch.  Fasten off.
Round 2:  Join new colour into any 2ch space.  (WORK BOTH YARN ENDS INTO THE STITCHES) ch 2, 2dc, ch2, 3dc.  Then repeat (3dc, ch2, 3dc) into each 2ch space.  Join to first dc and fasten off.
Round 3:  Join new colour into any 2ch space corner.  Again, work all yarn ends into the stitches.  Ch2, 2dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1.  Then, in next space, *(3dc, ch1).  Then, in next corner **(3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1).  Then in next space * and in next corner **. Till end.  Join to first dc and fasten off.

Once you have as many triangles as you need, you have to join them.  Do that by doing this:

Ch10 (only if you want to keep a tail in your bookmark), dc into one corner of first triangle.  Make sure your triangles are right side up when joining.  Then dc along that one side of the triangle. 
When you come to the end, ch3 and dc into one corner of the next triangle.  Continue in this way until all triangles are joined.
If you'd like to keep a tail at the end, make a few more ch.  Then ch2 and join new colour.  Dc back along your chain, working into the dcs on the triangles.
You could make your bunting strap as wide as you'd like by simply working more rows of dc.

There you have it!

 

CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

Lollipop Bookmark

Pentagons are worked in a similar way to the triangles, except that you obviously need to work in more angles (ch2) into your starting ring.

In your starting ring, work (3tr, ch2, 3tr) five times.  Join to first treble and fasten off.
Round 2:  With new colour, join into any 2ch space.  Work (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in every 2ch space.  Join to first treble and fasten off.
Round 3:  With new colour, join into any 2ch space.  Work *(3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) into the 2ch space.  Then **(3tr, ch1) into the next gap.  Then work * into the next corner, and ** into the next gap till the end.  Fasten off.

For the "stick", join yarn into any corner and chain as many as you need to make your stick the length you like.
Then ch 2, change colour, and work dcs back down your chain.  Work the final dc into the corner of the pentagon.
Then ch1, change colour back to the first colour and work slip stitches up your stick.  At the end of the stick, fasten off.

Weave in all ends and you're done!

CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

Remember to block your project and apply a good steam or a light press for the best results.  Also remember NOT to let the iron touch your project directly, especially if you're using Acylic (like I am).  I usually use Hubby's handkerchief to protect my smaller projects.

I'll leave you with a few more pictures of the bookmarks at work...

CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

CrochetBTW:  Bookmarks

 Till next time... Soon hopefully! :-)

Stay peaceful!

Zig zag edging for V-stitch blanket

Hello there

I haven't done much crocheting lately. With balancing work, family and studies, I hardly find the time (or energy) any more. So no new projects...

BUT

I have completed the lap blanket Aunty Zee gave me, so there are some things to be grateful for :-)

If you remember, all it needed was a little TLC and an edging to finish it off.

I decided to do a zig zag edging to go with the V stitches in the blanket. 

Pattern repeat, as follows:

*1 slst, 1 dc, 1 htr, 1tr, 1 htr, 1 dc*

As you can see, the corners worked out beautifully.

 

It drapes so well, too.

And two more pictures to leave you with...

Braided bag strap

Hello

Today I'd like to share a bag strap.

I made this to finish my Houndstooth bag.  Remember that?

I made a simple strap like this:

Once that was done, I attached D rings and stitched them onto the bag...

And voila!

My new Houndstooth bag, ready to wear.

Till next time,

Stay peaceful 

:-)

No-Sew: T-Shirt to Handbag with adjustable strap

Hey there,



CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial (No-sew)

Today's not a crochet day for me.  Instead, I've decided to share a DIY project... but first, some background info...

Every year, East Coast Radio hosts The Big Walk:  a 5, 10, 15 or 20km walk along the beach / coast area here in Durban.

Last year, I walked the 5km with my brother and sister, with the intention of increasing the distance each year.  However, this year Hubby is joining us and he's doing the 5km so I decided to do the 5km with him again.

The fun thing about The Big Walk is THE GOODIE BAG!  Lots of little samples, an entrance ticket to the East Coast Radio House & Garden show next month and a T-Shirt for the walk...  Well worth the entry fee.

Now, I don't wear T-shirts because I dress Islamically with Abaya.  But, I love incorporating the Big Walk T-Shirt into my race-day outfit.  Last year, I cut up the T-Shirt and wore it as a Hijab (a head covering).  Pity I don't have a pic of that.

This year, I already have a beautiful head scarf which matches my trainers EXACTLY, so I looked for another way of incorporating the T-Shirt...

And here's what I did:

T-shirt to bag (with adjustable strap):  No sewing required

1. Fold the T-Shirt down the centre, making sure all edges meet neatly.  Note: I always request the largest size T-Shirt available so that I have more 'fabric' to play with.  This year it's a XXXL.

CrochetBTW:  T-Shirt to bag tutorial

2. Working from the bottom of the T-Shirt, mark a line +- 7cm from the edge.  This will be the bag strap.  Then, mark another line above that.  Mine was marked at 18cm from the edge.  This will be the base of the bag.  Depending on how deep you'd like you bag, adjust the placement of this mark.

CrochetBTW:  T-Shirt to bag tutorial

3.  Cut along the first marked line.  I used zigzag scissors for the cutting.

CrochetBTW:  T-Shirt to bag tutorial

4.  Working on the larger piece, slit the side seams as high as the second marked line.  This picture shows the four layers slit.

CrochetBTW:  T-Shirt to bag tutorial

5.  Keeping your slits approximately 1" apart, slit the bottom of the T-Shirt until the marked line.  This is the base of the bag, and will become the frilly bit you see in the pictures.

 

CrochetBTW:  T-Shirt to bag tutorial

6.  Making sure all the layers are neatly lined up on the sleeve hems, mark a cutting line about 1cm above the hem.  Cut it out.

 

CrochetBTW:  T-Shirt to bag tutorial

 

7.  Once you cut open all the little pieces to create a long strip and 2 short ones, this is what it should all look like.

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial

 

7.  Next to close up the base of the bag without sewing, tie 2 or 3 knots on each corresponding strip.

 

CrochetBTW:  T-Shirt to bag tutorial

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial

When you're done, check to see if there are any holes between the knots.  If there are, tie some knots using two adjacent strips so that the hole is closed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what you'll end up with:

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial

 

8.  Next, pleat the fabric from the neckline to the end of the sleeve, along the shoulder seam.

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial

 

9.  Using one end of the longer strip, tie a secure knot (with a bow, if you like).  Do this to both shoulder seams.  You could adjust the length of the bag handle here, but I kept the handle as long as possible by using only a minimum amount of the strip to tie the knot and bow on each end.

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.  The bag is taking shape now.  All you need to do is close up the sleeves.  Do this with the 2 shorter strips.  Simply, bunch the sleeve fabric together and secure it with a short strip.

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial

 

11.  Ta-dah!

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial (No-sew)

 

The bag can be worn with a long strap...

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial (No-sew)

 

Or with a short strap...

 

CrochetBTW:  T-shirt to bag tutorial (No-sew)

And that's that for today!

 

I'll let you know how the walk goes tomorrow.  The atmosphere was amazing last year.  I'll share some pics with you next time.

 

Till then,

 

Stay peaceful.