Crocheted Chignon Cover

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There are no bad hair days if you have one of these! Easy to make. You can make a lot of them in different colors and be armed with help for when you need it.

Chignon Cover

With C hook and · 10 crochet thread, color of your choice,
ch 6, sl st to form ring.
Round 1- Make 16 sc in ring. Sl st to finish round.
Round 2- 2Sc in each st around. Sl st to finish round.
Round 3- Ch6, skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, ch 3, * skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, rep from * around, last 2 dc, skip 3 sts in between. Finish round with ch 3 and joining onto first ch 6 chain.
Round 4- 1 Sc and 1 hdc in 1st ch of ch-3 space, 3 dc in next chain, 1 hdc and 1 sc in next ch. Skip dc in previous row, 1 sc and 1 hdc in 1st ch of next ch-3 sp, 3 dc in next ch, 1 hdc and 1 sc in last ch of space. Rep around. Slip st to close round. Petals formed all around.
Round 5- Ch 7, 1 sc in between first 2 petals. *Ch 5, 1 sc in between the next 2 petals. Rep. from * around. 11 loops formed.
Round 6- In first loop, make 1 sc, 1 hdc, 2 dc, 5 Tr, 2 dc, 1hdc, 1 sc. Rep around in each loop, slip st to close.
Round 7- Slip st across 7 sts to center of 1st shell. Ch 8, 1 sc in center of next shell. * Ch 8, 1 sc in center of next shell. Rep from * across. Slip st on top of middle of last shell to finish round.
Round 8- Ch 5, skip 3 ch in 1st loop of chains and make 1 sc in 4th ch of loop. Repeat around. Sl st to join to last loop.
Round 9- Ch 5, 1 sc in middle of next loop, rep across. Rep round 9 till you reach round 13.
Round 14- 5 sc in each ch-5 loop, 1 sc in middle sc of prev. round.
Rep around. Fasten off.

Times are challenging. Do you feel discouraged sometimes? "In nature itself are mesages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorn are covered with roses." Steps to Christ, page 10.Would you like to read this book for free? It is the second most translated book in the world andone of the most beloved books by Christians around the globe. Printed in more than seventy languages, and bringing encouragement and inspiration to men and women for generations! Read it for free online:
http://www.stepstochrist.us/
Another site where you will find important answers to soul questions.
http://www.bibleuniverse.com/home.aspx
http://www.bibleinfo.com/
http://www.amazingfacts.org/Default.aspx
Need encouragement, comfort or cheer? Look in here!
http://www.frontiernet.net/~rexfam/kingfam1_001.htm
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Looking for Bridal Shower Ideas?

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Are you a hostess looking for a special way to put together an upcoming bridal shower? Why not consider a theme? That way all your efforts will be coordinated and the result will be beautiful.
Sometimes, the bedroom and the bathroom are forgotten when people buy gifts, and the kitchen gets the lion's share of the gifts! So, why not do a Bed and bath theme? Or if you would like to include the kitchen, why not a bed and breakfast theme? Once you have the theme figured out, the ideas will flow freely.
Depending on what you consider would be the budget that is available when you put all the guests together, ask the bride-to-be if there is a special gift she is hoping to get and maybe all of you can get together and pitch in for that one special gift.
If she doesn't, just either pass around a list of suggestions or let each guest bring her own gift suited to the theme. Or, if the bride has registered for gifts at a store, go and check out what she has listed as her wishes for the particular area of your theme and secretly agree with the guests to fill out those gifts, if possible or to give her things along those lines. That way you'll save her from getting a lot of things she doesn't need or want, or too much of the same thing.
Choose invitations that follow the theme you have chosen for the party.
As wedding favors, you could give away lovely candles of all shapes, small bottles of cologne, or little gift baskets filled with a combination of hand-crocheted washcloths, bath oils, shower gels, miniature soaps, bath salts and even a nice foot brush. For your game prizes, you could choose a gift certificate to a crafter's bath shop in an amount you feel is affordable.
When it comes to gifts for the bride-to-be, you have plenty of options: sheet sets, a nice comforter for their bed, monogrammed towels, scented candles, special lingerie. Again, there are so many possibilities for your guests to choose from,that if the bride is aware of the shower and has registered at a local store, you may want to include her list of requests for the area covered by your theme when you send out the invitations.
If you are choosing a bed and breakfast theme, cookbooks, a sandwhich maker, a food processor, frying pans, and nice kitchen gadgets can be interspersed with cute crocheted towels in her kitchen colors, or crocheted potholders can go with sets of pots and pans. A person who gives her a toaster, could add a nice crocheted cover to the gadget, again, in the bride-to-be's kitchen colors.
If you are holding a Tea Party Bridal Shower: Start the party at teatime and serve fancy sandwhiches and rolls. To decorate the table, put silk flowers in crocheted teacups or purchase a beautiful crocheted and handpainted teapot, like one I have available for you here. After the party, you can give it a s a special gift to the bride-to-be for her to decorate her kitchen or breakfast nook.
Talk with the guests, if you have a group of crafters among them, see how many things could be handmade among the gifts that could be added to the list of things she's already expecting. For example, If you are holding the bed and breakfast theme party, you could think of dish towels, crocheted aprons, placemats, napking holders (someone buying silverware might add handmade napking holders or crocheted "pockets" for tableware.)
Whether you are holding a bed and breakfast shower (which gives you a lot of options for gifts for the bedroom or for the kitchen) or a bed and bath party (which again will give more latitude since you are not confined to either room and can buy for either), you could combine thick purchased towels with crocheted hand towels, you could add crocheted lace to store-bought towels to make them special. Pile them into bundles and wrap them with pretty ribbon or put them in a basket with scented body lotions, nice soaps, bath gels, loofah sponges, bath salts and fragrant bath oils, with this beautiful Mediterranean-Style Pineapple and Shell Lace Mitt! You'll my FREE pattern below:
Mediterranean-Style Pineapple and Shell Lace Mitt
Materials: Sports weight cotton, color of your choice and size "F" hook.
Pineapple--Front side of Mitt:
Row 1-Ch 10, dc in 2nd ch from hk,ch2, 2 dc in same ch space, ch3, skip 2 ch, 7 dc in the 3rd ch,
ch3, in the l
ast ch space, make 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc. Ch 4, turn.
Row 2-In the ch 2 of previous row's shell, do 2 dc, ch 2, 2dc, ch3, on top of the 7dc-middle shell, do 7 dc with a ch 1 in between each. Ch 3, in the middle of the last shell from previous row, do a 2 dc, ch2, 2dc, ch 4, turn.
Row 3-In the middle of the first shell, make 2 dc, ch2, 2dc, then ch3, now make 1 sc in between the dc in the ch1 space of prev row, then make a ch 3, and repeat across the central 7-dc shell (5 ch-3 spaces made). Ch3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc in last shell of row. Ch 4, turn.
Row 4-2 dc, ch2, 2dc in the middle of first shell as before, ch 3, in the middle of the first ch-3 sp, make 1 sc, ch 3. Rep across. (4 ch-3 spaces made). Ch 3, 2 dc, ch2, 2dc in the middle of last shell of row. Ch 4, turn.
Row 5-Make
first 2 dc, ch2, 2 dc shell, ch 3, now in the middle of the first ch-3 space of the pineapple, make 1 sc, ch 3, then in the next ch-3 space, make 1 sc, ch 3, rep across the pineapple (3 ch-3 spaces made). Ch 3, Make your last 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc shell in the middle of the prev shell. Ch 4, turn.
Row 6-Make first shell of 2 dc, ch 2 , 2 dc, ch 3, in the middle of the first ch-3 space of pineapple, make 1 sc, ch 3, then in the next one, make 1 sc, ch 3, rep across. (2 ch-3 spaces made). Ch 3. Make the last 2dc, ch 2, dc shell of row. Ch 4, turn.
Row 7- Make first shell as before, ch 3, in the middle of the 1st ch 3 sp from prev row, make 1 sc, ch 3, skip the next ch 3 space and go straight to the middle of the 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc shell of prev row and repeat it. Ch 4, turn. (Pineapple is formed.)
Rest of Mitt's front: Row 8-Make your first 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc shell. ch 4, 1 sc in the middle of the only ch 3 space on top of your pineapple, ch 4, 2 dc, ch 2, 2dc in next shell. Ch 4, turn.
Row 9-Make first 2dc, ch 2, 2 dc shell, do not make any chains in next ch 4 space from prev row, across from central pineapple, 2 dc ch2 2dc (with no ch sts in between) rep on the other ch4 space of prev row. Make your last 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc shell of the row.
Rep this row 5 more times. Sc all around twice. Fasten off.
Back of Mitt
Row 1-Ch 24, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook and across row. Ch 3, turn.
Row 2-1 dc in first st and across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 3-1 sc in nfirst st and across.
Rep rows 2 and 3 for a total of 21 rows from row 1 to last.
Sc all around. With right sides facing each other and wrong sides facing you, sew all around. Fasten off.

Times are challenging. Do you feel discouraged sometimes? "In nature itself are mesages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorn are covered with roses." Steps to Christ, page 10.Would you like to read this book for free? It is the second most translated book in the world andone of the most beloved books by Christians around the globe. Printed in more than seventy languages, and bringing encouragement and inspiration to men and women for generations! Read it for free online:
http://www.stepstochrist.us/
Another site where you will find important answers to soul questions.
http://www.bibleuniverse.com/home.aspxhttp://www.bibleinfo.com/
Need encouragement, comfort or cheer? Look in here!
http://www.frontiernet.net/~rexfam/kingfam1_001.htm





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How to Make a Sweater Without a Pattern---Part 3 The Summer Strip Shell

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More than a pattern, this is a formula that will liberate you and teach you to make your own garments as you want to.
It works as follows: You follow simple tips every time, changing the stitches you use, the yarn or thread appropriate for the season of the year you are making the garment for, adapting the hook size to the yarn thickness and you have an endless amount of tops you can make for yourself and for others!
Materials you'll need:
brown paper
scissors
measuring tape or long rulet
top or favorite sweater with good fit
pins
marker or pen
crochet hook (for the garment on the illustrations, I used crochet hook size 1)
crochet yarn or thread, I happened to use No. 10 crochet thread
Stitches of your choice, you can really have fun here picking stitches you always wanted to use.
Tip: the best ones are the ones that are already "tailored" for a block or granny square, you work them
just as the pattern says, but you do not end the blick but keep on going upwards, forming a strip.
One of the ones I used for this top I came up with on my own. But you can use whatever stitches you like.
Procedure:
Lay your favorite top on a clean table and measure it across. Write down the measurement. Then measure
its length and write it down. You will need to keep an eye on those measurements to make sure your garment is not wider nor narrower than that. And to insure that it is the length your like. Then you are going to lay a sheet of the brown paper under that top and carefully pin the top to the paper so that it will not move, then you will trace it all around. Remove the pins and the garment and return it to your closet or drawer. Cut out the pattern you just outlined on the brown paper and write down the measurements you took previously, so that you can keep an eye on length and width as you work, and you are set to start.
To begin, choose a block that could easily be converted into a strip. Pick up the thread and hook that are appropriate and begin, is that simple. For my specific strips I simply chose a stitch that started
with chain 26 loosely and I started the pattern in the 2nd ch from hook, and in each st across, making it 25 sts across. Although it would have originally been meant for granny a square-style block, I continued crocheting upward until it formed a strip.
My first and 2nd strips reached from the bottom of the top shell to the shoulder (you make 2 identical strips, one for each side of the front--2 more for the back if you are not going to crochet across the width of your pattern like I did.) Then, you make 1 for the center, which will go from the bottom of the top you have outlined to the beginning of the neckline which you drew on the brown paper schematic. As you finish each strip, pin them in their appropriate places on the brown paper and make sure you've got a fit.
Leave them there until you have all the components for your garment. Pin them with the wrong side facing you and when you are done with all of them, you can easily crochet along the edges or join them raw, if you wish.
If you are going to make the front and the back identical (which is the easiest path to follow--make 2 identical strips, one for the center front and one for the center of the back. I just made another use of my guide top and just crocheted across and upwards until I reached the back of the neckline and worked on both sides of that space to form the shoulders on either side.) Once you have made your strips, if you want to, you can makde 4 rows of sc on each side of the edge, like I did, using a contrasting color, and sew them together using that color. When you join the strips that form the sides of the top (back and front, sew loosely so that the garment won’t "pull", and of course, sew only until you reach the space you have marked out for the armholes, skip that area and then join the shoulders.)
Make a nice shell edge around the neckline, armholes and the bottom of the top. You can even make a nice ripple edging at the bottom for a decorative effect. Finish off, trim all the threads and you've got a new top!
I like granny square tops. But to tell you the truth, sometimes, one doesn't have the time to do all of that joining of blocks! This is a nice alternative. If you make all your strips in the same color or use a variegated, and join also in the same color, it doesn't even look that much like strips! Fiddle with it, you can get a ton of different variations to this simple pattern or formula.
Hope this is the beginning of a lot of beautiful things for you!
If you want to crochet across like I did, make a chain 2 sts longer than the width of your schematic, hdc in the 3rd ch from hook and on each ch across, and keep on going upwards, following exactly the tracing of your schematic.

This is part 3 of a series of tutorials, if you would like to get the 3 parts in a net PDF package, FREE, click this link to download it: Microsoft Word - How to Crochet a Sweater Without a Pattern Parts 1 to 3 Publish at Scribd or explore others: How-to-Guides & Manu pattern free tutorial


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In the midst of all the problems that are common nowadays, there is a place of refuge and solace, near to the heart of God. I invite you to find it. One great place to start is by reading about how much He loves you! The little book Steps to Christ, a favorite of millions, judging by its many printings is a great way: Read it for free online:
http://www.stepstochrist.us/

Need encouragement, comfort or cheer? Look in here!

http://www.frontiernet.net/~rexfam/kingfam1_001.htm

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Wedding Budget Savers

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In no time at all it would be June, the favorite month for weddings. Are you planning a wedding on a budget? It is suggested by some planners that to save money you stay away from expensive flowers such as roses, lilacs and orchids and choose the simpler flowers such as daisies, carnations, mums, baby's breath and gladiolus. Avoid a wedding date that is near a big flower-buying holiday.You can also ask your flower arranger to use less flowers and insert a lot of bows in between the foliage as "fillers" in "pocket" spaces, making the bouquets less expensive. If you want to save some more in the church decor, why not make the inexpensive heart CroMander and use it to decorate the pews? You can use satin ribbon or 2 strands of white and gold or white and silver number10 cotton crochet thread, add pearls and glass beads, gold or silver beads, and sew a pretty white satin or metallic bribbon to hang it from and you have saved money right there, use white ribbons to tie in between one pew and the other and decorate the center aisle where the bride will walk through and you're done! See link to FREE pattern below.
Use silk or dried flowers instead of fresh ones in table centerpieces and add ribbon bows and some heart CroManders also. If you are using little girls as your bridesmaids, you can use the original pattern for the round CroManders, using large, floristry balls as the core of the CroManders, and then fill them with Irish Crochet Roses with seed pearls or glass beads at their centers. These crocheted pomanders with a ribbon sewn to the top will be delightful and delicate and at the same time, way less expensive than a regular florist pomander! You can also give them away as keepsakes as reminders of your special day. If you are planning your wedding on a budget, you must cut cost somewhere, especially if you are thinking about having site flowers for the ceremony, a gorgeous bridal bouquet, wedding party flowers, flowers for your parents and his parents, and reception centerpieces and floral displays. If you run that up, it can take a big chunk out of a limited budget. If you are afraid that Irish Crochet hearts might look rather home-made, don't be! It all depends of how good a crocheter the person who makes them for you is. My mom and I made all the blue roses for my sister's wedding favors and they were gorgeous! Talk to the person, tell her what you want and you'd be surprised at what lovely things could be made for you. If you consider that there are people spending anywhere from $1275 to $2751 on flowers alone according to a site on the internet, these kinds of arrangements look better and better. Besides, as I said, you can make them as exquisite as you want to, going from simple little seed pearls all the way to Swarovski crystals at the center of the Irish Crochet roses, you could even do the leaves all beaded up!

According to an online wedding budget calculator, flower expenses could run like this in the USA on 2009, (these are the highs and the lows for a fabulous wedding):

New Mexico
Flowers: $1275 to $2108
Gifts and Favors: $640 to $1059

Washington State
Flowers: $1576 to $2602
Gifts and Favors: $791 to $1306

Montana
Flowers: $1316 to $2192
Gifts and Favors: $660 to $1102

North Dakota
Flowers: $1352 to $2253
Gifts and Favors: $678 to $1132


Minnesota
Flowers: $1643 to $2713
Gifts and Favors: $825 to $1363

Oregon
Flowers: $1424 to $2373
Gifts and Favors: $715 to $1190

Idaho
Flowers: $1317 to $2196
Gifts and Favors: $661 to $1102

Wyoming
Flowers: $1444 to $2405
Gifts and Favors: $724 to $1208

South Dakota
Flowers: $1383 to $2306
Gifts and Favors: $694 to $1158

Iowa
Flowers: $1470 to $2449
Gifts and Favors: $739 to $1230

Michigan
Flowers: $1626 to $2673
Gifts and Favors: $816 to $1342

New York
Flowers: $1730 to $2796
Gifts and Favors: $869 to $1404

Maine
Flowers: $1474 to $2456
Gifts and Favors: $739 to $1233

Ohio
Flowers: $1543 to $2556
Gifts and Favors: $775 to $1284

Pennsylvania
Flowers: $1565 to $2574
Gifts and Favors: $786 to $1292

Virginia
Flowers: $1726 to $2785
Gifts and Favors: $866 to $1398

West Virginia
Flowers: $1285 to $2142
Gifts and Favors: $646 to $1076

Indiana
Flowers: $1528 to $2543
Gifts and Favors: $767 to $1277

Illinois
Flowers: $1677 to $2751
Gifts and Favors: $842 to $1383

Missouri
Flowers: $1430 to $2359
Gifts and Favors: $719 to $1184

Kansas
Flowers: $1525 to $2511
Gifts and Favors: $766 to $1262

Colorado
Flowers: $1708 to $2785
Gifts and Favors: $858 to $1397

Utah
Flowers: $1463 to $2431
Gifts and Favors: $735 to $1221

Nevada
Flowers: $1569 to $2615
Gifts and Favors: $788 to $1313

California
Flowers: $1726 to $2771
Gifts and Favors: $866 to $1391

Arizona
Flowers: $1485 to $2449
Gifts and Favors: $745 to $1230

Texas
Flowers: $1421 to $2333
Gifts and Favors: $713 to $1171

Louisiana
Flowers: $1235 to $2057
Gifts and Favors: $620 to $1034

Mississippi
Flowers: $1213 to $2022
Gifts and Favors: $609 to $1016

Alabama
Flowers: $1342 to $2235
Gifts and Favors: $675 to $1123

Georgia
Flowers: $1398 to $2307
Gifts and Favors: $702 to $1158

South Carolina
Flowers: $1351 to $2251
Gifts and Favors: $678 to $1130

North Carolina
Flowers: $1459 to $2420
Gifts and Favors: $732 to $1217

As you can see, crocheting your pew decorations, your wedding favors and the decorations for your table settings will be a big help. That will free up money for the fresh flowers that you would like to add to the whole decor and for your bouquet, your parents' and your future parents-in-law corsages, etc.
Variations:You can buy silk flowers and take them apart and hot glue some of the silk flower petals all over the CroManders and then sew the Irish Crochet roses on top. You can use silk flower leaves as foilage also to make the foliage "fuller."

If you would like the free pattern for the pomander-style CroManders, which you could make a lot larger simply by using a florist circle as the core of the ball, here it is:
http://craftybegonia.blogspot.com/2009/03/cromanders-part-2.html

If you would like to use the heart CroManders to decorate the church pews and to scatter around as part of the decor, here is the free pattern:
http://craftybegonia.blogspot.com/2009/04/heart-cromander.html

Free instructions on how to make pew bows:

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/makeabow.html

Think about putting a spray of Irish crochet roses in the middle of the bow. Lovely!

Whether you are making your own flowers or taking the pattern to someone else to make them for you, can find a selection of books on Irish Crochet complete with many flowers and leaves, including roses, free to download as PDF files for you to print at this site:

http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/completelist.htm

In the midst of all the problems that are common nowadays, there is a place of refuge and solace, near to the heart of God. I invite you to find it. One great place to start is by reading about how much He loves you! The little book Steps to Christ, a favorite of millions, judging by its many printings is a great way: Read it for free online:
http://www.stepstochrist.us/

Need encouragement, comfort or cheer? Look in here! http://www.frontiernet.net/~rexfam/kingfam1_001.htm

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