Braided Scarflet

Materials:

Red Heart worsted weight yarn Coffee (1 skein)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Black (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Carrot (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Cafe (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Buff (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Warm Brown (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Cherrycola (variegated) (1 skein)
Crochet hook size H
1 large safety pins
Scissors
Blunt needle (to weave in ends)
Measuring tape




Scarflet Back-
With Coffee, ch 20.
Row 1- 1 dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 3, turn. (18 dc)
Row 2- 1 dc in each dc across. Ch 3, turn.(18 dc)
Rows 3 to 23- Rep row 2. Ch 3, turn.(18 dc)
Row 24- 1 dc in each dc across.Ch 3, turn. (18 dc)
Braid Portion-
Strand No. 1-
Row 1- With Coffee, work 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. Ch 3, turn (counts as 1s dc of next row).
Row 2- 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 3- (You will be working on these 3 sts only until you complete this strip for the braid) 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. Ch 3, turn.
Rows 4 to 22- 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, Ch 3, turn.
Row 23-1 dc in each of next 2 dc. Fasten off Coffee.DO NOT weave in tail.
Strand No. 2-
Braid Portion-
With Carrot, repeat rows 1 to 23 as for Strand No. 1. Fasten off but DO NOT weave in end.
Strand No. 3-
Braid Portion-
With Black, repeat rows 1 to 23 as for Strand No. 1.Fasten off but DO NOT weave in tail.
Strand No. 4-
Braid Portion-
With Cafe, repeat rows 1 to 23 as for Strand No. 1. Fasten off but DO NOT weave in end.
Strand No. 5-
Braid Portion-
With Buff, repeat rows 1 to 23 as for Strand No. 1. Fasten off but DO NOT weave in tail.
Strand No. 6-
Braid Portion-
With Warm Brown, repeat rows 1 to 23 as for Strand No. 1. Fasten off but DO NOT weave in end.
Repeat all these strand on opposite end of scarflet.

Braiding- (DO NOT BRAID TIGHTLY!)
1- Cross Black strand over Cafe strand.
2- Cross Buff over Black and Cafe over Carrot strand.
3- Cross Carrot over Buff strand.
4- Cross Black over Warm Brown and Coffee over Cafe.
5- Cross Coffee over Warm brown, Cafe over Buff and Carrot over Black.
Secure the strands in this position with a safety pin so that the braid will not come unravel.

Repeat these steps on the opposite side of the scarflet. Do not worry if some of the strands are longer and others shorter, we will take care of that. Put a safety pin on this side also. Set aside scarflet for a little bit.

Gathering strap:
With Cherrrycola, ch 5.
Row 1- 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ach ch across. Ch 1, turn. (4 sc)
Row 2- 1 sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. (4 sc)
Rows 3 to 29- Rep row 2. (4 sc)
Row 30- 1 sc in each sc across. (4 sc.) Fasten off Cherrycola, leaving long tail to sew with.

Now, unravel the portion of any strand that is longer than the others until it matches the same size left over on the
shortest strand. Fasten off and weave in tail in all strands. Measure their length with a measuring tape is you need to.
(In my case, all my strands were 3-1/2" long.)

Rings- With CherryCola, Ch 5. Slip st to join rnd.
Rnd 1- Ch 2, make 11 hdc in ring. Sl st to join rnd. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Back Securing Strap-
With Cherrycola, chain 11.
Row 1- 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fasten off. Sew this small strap to the back of the end of the scarflet that is opposite
to the one that has the Gathering Strap, to help to secure the end of the braided section iwth more safety, so that with use, it will not fall apart.
With small, fir firm stitches, which are as invisible as possible, secure the braid to its current position before you take off the safety pin.
As you sew, intertwine the ends as naturally as they seem to you, without twisting them. With tiny stitches, sew the sides of the strands to one another to keep them together.
Make sure your stitches are firm but as invisible as possible! Fasten off and weave in ends. (10 sc)

Match strands of this side of the scarflet to each other and to the size of the ones on the opposite side. (Use measuring tape to make sure.)
Sew the woven sides to each other as you did on the other side. Both sides will be slightly different, but that's the joy of handmade things!
Make the rings and attach them as seen in photos. Fasten off, weave in tails.

Done!

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Bible Promises for the Unemployed1

How to Crochet with Knitting Needles Tutorial--- 2

Last week we started a series of lessons which I hope iwll open to you a whole new source of wonderful stitches whihc you canuse for scarves, granny squares, sweater blocks, and much, much more! We started learning how to use knitting needles with a hook, to create stitches!

This week we will learn the Knit Stitch, which will come very much in handy later on in our lesson series.


For the sake of brevity, we will only cast on 20 stitches like we did last week, but if you are making a block and would like to match it with other block which you have already made, simply crochet enough stitches to match the width of your already existing blocks and knit up until you match their size. You can also continue up all the way to make a scarf, or triple the amount of stitches to make yourself a small pillow for your bed or for your couch. We are only practicing, but as you learn, don't be afraid to apply what you have learned to actual projects you would like to make.
Note- Remember that the width of your block or strip will be the same as the amount of chains you make for your starting cast on.

(Photos show the front and then the back of the knit stitch fabric.)

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn of your choice
1 set knitting needles size 5
1 crochet hook size F

Let's begin.
Ch 20. Using a crochet hook size F, insert last loop left on crochet hook into knitting needle after you finish your chain, then *insert hook into next ch and pull up a loop of yarn, insert that loop into first knitting needle, pull gently on yarn to adjust loop, rep from *with all chains made until you have 1 loop hanging on the knitting needle per chain made. (20 loops on needle)

Knit Stitch-
To start the knit stitch, which is one of the two basic stitches in knitting, you will follow some of the steps we learned last week, the only difference is that last week, for the Garter Stitch, we did knit stitch in the front and in the back, this time, we need to do the knit stitch in the front and the purl stitch in the back. This is how you do it:
Row 1- (Right Side) With working yarn to the back, insert hook from front to back into first loop on knitting needle, pull up loop, insert into second knitting needle. Rep across, adjusting tension of loop as you insert it into the knitting needle. (You just made a "knit" row)
Purl Stitch-
Row 2- (Wrong Side) Placing working yarn in front, insert the crochet hook from back to front and with hook facing downward, pull up a loop and insert that loop in second knitting needle.
Rep across. (You just completed a Purl row.)
Rep rows 1 and 2 for pattern. This will form the Stockinette Pattern.
Practice these two rows until you get them down pat. Remember, I've got something planned and I don't want you to miss out on it, so learn them well!

If you require more information than this, please refer to last week's illustrated tutorial.
You can find it here:

http://craftybegonia.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-crochet-with-knitting-needles.html

Do you sometimes feel discouraged? Do you feel that life is very hard for you and that you need or would like to have encouragement that is not fluffy, but based on something solid? Check out this beautiful blog!
Drops of Joy and Sunshine

How to Crochet with Knitting Needles Tutorial---1

I have long loved the enormity of knitting stitches and their wonderful possibilities and yearned for some way of adapting them to crochet. I have purchased books that promised to teach me the technique of how to convert knitting into crochet and have not gone too far with them for one reason or another. The tutorial series that we begin today will not make you promises it cannot keep. I will not tell you that we will convert crochet into knitting because that is impossible since both are entirely different and even have different gauges and produce different results. What we will be learning is a way of making some beautiful stitches that look knitted and which you can use in some projects you would want to make. Learning this technique will also open for you the possibility of adapting other stitches you might have access to, so that you will have almost unlimited possibilities! This is for those of you who always want to be learning new things and want to keep your craft fresh and interesting!

Note- If you would like to use other sizes of hooks and knitting needles, you must experiment and swatch before you start a project.

Materials-1 set of knitting needles Metric size 3.75, US size 5, UK/Canadian size 9
1 crochet hook size F (3.75 mm)
Worsted weight yarn of your choice (for practice, it could be scraps)

Beginning- You could use either one of the following ways to mount your stitches onto the knitting needle to start practicing:

1- Leaving a length of yarn hanging at the start approximately 4 inches longer than the size of your swatch, make a slip knot as if you were going to begin crocheting.
2- Insert that slip knot into the knitting needle, wrap the yarn from the ball or skein you are using around your left thumb, then grasping the yarn firmly between your palm and back fingers, turn your thumb so that the back of it is facing you, insert the knitting needle, front to back through the loop that has formed by twisting your thumb, slip your thumb out of the loop, while at the same time you pull the yarn downward to close the loop around the knitting needle. Repeat step 2 as many times as needed to form the stitches you will need. Working yarn must be on the side of the tip of the knitting needle when you're done.

The second way in which you can do is my favorite. Frankly, I find it easier and you will never have too much or too little yarn hanging at the beginning!
1. Make a slip knot and start a normal crochet chain. Make as many chs as you will need to complete your swatch or the ammount of stitches you will need.
2. Insert every ring of the chain already made into the knitting needle. Working yarn must be on the side of the tip of the knitting needle when you're done.

Basic Knitting Language and Abbreviations-
K= Knit
K1= Knit 1 stitch
P =Purl
P1= Purl 1 stitch
YO= Yarn Over
Yf= yarn in front (can also be written: YiF or Yfwd= yarn forward)
Yb= yarn to back
S1= Slip 1 stitch, usually done with needles tip to tip or in a purlwise manner
PSSO= Pass Slip Stitch Over
K2tog= Knit 2 sts together (decreases 1 stitch)

Knitting and purling are the basis of all knitting stitches, with variations, if you know how to knit and purl, you can make an endless variety of beautiful stitches.
We will not be making garments in these tutorials, but I will teach you how to make swatches of stitches you could later use. You can also make your swatches longer and make scarves out of them. You can make perfect squares and use them for afghans of for any granny square-style project, combining them with regular crochet stitches or just using knit-crochet kind of stitches, it is up to you.
To learn our basic stitches, we will be making an even number of sts.

Casting On- With F hook and worsted weight yarn, ch 20.

Insert last loop of chin into tip of knitting needle. Then, taking your F hook, insert the hook into the next ch and pull up a loop, insert yarn of pulled loop into tip of knitting needle, pull yarn to adjust size of stitch. Rep till all your chain has been worked and you have 20 loops hanging on the knitting needle. This is what they are supposed to look like:











Knit Stitch- This is one of the two basic knitting stitches. Now that you have cast on your 20 sts, you will turn the knitting needle so that the back is facing you, as if you had finished a row in crochet and were going to work across the back to make the second row, only that the cast on does not count as a row but as it were, as the basic "chain" or foundation of your stitches.
Row 1- Insert hook vertically, and pull up a loop, insert that loop into the tip of the second knitting needle. Now insert your hook sideways in next st, wrap yarn around hook and pull yarn through loop on knitting needle, with loop on hook, insert that loop into the second knitting needle, adjust loop so that it will not be too loose. Repeat this same step all across the row.














Ridges-

Take a look at your stitches, you will notice that you have a row underneath that is make of "knit" stitches, which formed naturally when you
did your cast on, and 1 row of "purl" stitches. This is the beginning of your ridges.
Row 2- Insert F hook in first loop on knitting needle and pull up a loop, insert that loop in second knitting needle. Insert hook in next loop hanging on knitting needle and pull up a loop,
insert that loop formed into second knitting needle (these are knit sts you are making), rep across. Now all your stitches are loops hanging on the second knitting needle.
Row 3- Rep row 2 across second knitting needle.
Continue repeating rows 2 and 3 until you have the length you want for your swatch or until you have learned these stitches by heart. The pattern will form ridges which in knitting terms are called "Garter Stitch".
This stitch will make a very nice scarf also a pretty square for any afghan or for a top made in the old-fashioned granny square mold.





Cast off- To cast your stitches off the knitting needle to complete your swatch, or your granny square, proceed as follows:
Insert hook in first loop hanging on knitting needle and pull up loop, yo, insert hook into next loop in knitting needle and pull loop through both loops on hook in a slip stitch fashion, insert hook into next loop, pull loop and bring that loop through both loops on hook, continue in this manner until you have only one loop left on the knitting needle, insert that loop into your hook and fasten off as you usually do for crochet.


















You just learned how to do garter stitch using a hook assisted by knitting needles!




.....................................................
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Drops of Joy and Sunshine

Craftybegonia's Textured Cotton Washcloth

Materials:
Worsted weight cotton
Size "F" crochet hook

With worsted weight cotton yarn and F hook, ch 35.
Row 1- Make 1 sc and 1 dc in 2nd ch from hook, skip 1 chain, 1 sc and 1 dc innext chain and rep. acrocc. End with 1 sc. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2- Make 1 sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 3, rep row 1.
Row 4- Rep row 2.
Repeat these 2 rows alternately, until you have competed 33 rows total.
Sc all around your washcloth.
Leave as is or make the edging as follows:
Edging:
Ch 4, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1 in the same space, skip 2 sc, 1 sc, skip 2 sc, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1 in next sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc, *skip 2 sc, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1 in next sc, rep from * around. Fasten off.

Enjoy!

The story is told of a policeman that was one day walking his beat and he said a boy with a mirror directing the sunlight into one of the upper windows of a highrise. He got suspicious and approached the boy asking him if he wanted to annoy somebody. The child pointed to the window and told the officer that his brother was sick and couldn't come out and that every once in a while he came out and pointed the sunlight into his window so that he could see the sun, because they lived in the side of the building that didn't get the sunlight.
Your life can reflect to others the love of God. Give a smile, a word of cheer, a little warmth as you pass by the road of life.

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

Textured Back Scrubber

This is a beauty for your shower! Easy to make and relatively fast too.
If you are making a basket of bath or shower things to give away as a gift, this is a great addition!

Textured Back Scrubber
Materials: 1 cone worsted weight cotton, color of your choice
Size H crochet hook (5.00 mm)

Special stitches: Front Post Dc: Yarn over, insert your hook from the front to the back and then then to the front again around the vertical post (which is the upright part of the dc you are working on), yarn over and draw your yarn through as you would for a normal dc, yarn over, and complete your dc.
Back Post Dc: Yarn over, insert the hook from the back to the front on the right side of the post to the left, working around the vertical post, yarn over and draw the yarn through, yarn over and complete your dc ad you normally do it.
Note: Each ch 3 counts as first dc of next row. Every Ch 1, counts as 1 sc.
Base row: Ch 22, make 1 dc in 4th ch from hk, and in every ch across. Ch 3, turn.
Row 1: Make 1 front post dc in 2nd dc of prev row, make 1 dc in next dc, *make a front post dc in next dc from prev row, make 1 normal dc in next dc, rep from * to end of row. Ch 3 turn.
Row 2: Make a back post dc in 2nd dc of row, make a normal dc in next dc, *make a back post dc in next dc, make a normal dc in next dc. Rep from * across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 alternatively until you have completed 44 rows, without counting the base row.
Make 2 rows of slip stitch.
Row 48: Ch 1, make 5 sc across the row, ch 1, turn, make 5 sc, ch 1, turn. Repeat until you have completed 10 rows. Fasten off.
Row 49: Skip 8 stitches and make 1 sc in next st, and next 5 sts. Ch1, turn. Make 5 sc across, ch 1, turn. Repeat until you have completed 10 rows. Ch 1, turn. Make 5 sc across, then ch 8 and sc 5 sts on the other side to finish the row. Ch 1, turn.
Row 50: Sc 5 across, then sc 8 across the chain you made in the prev row, 1 sc in each ch, then 5 sc to finish the row.
Rep row 50 5 more times.
You have formed the "handle" with which you will hold your back scrubber.
repeat on the other end of your scrubber and 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

Crocheted Chignon Cover

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

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

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

Your Hook Called: It Wants Your Fingers Back

Summer is coming and you want to crochet but your creativity has hit a wall. Let’s see if these few tips will break through it.

1. Start with color. Get your patterns and look for one that you like and want to follow, but don’t necessarily want to immitate to the smallest degree. Well, think of a basic color you like: Brown, Tan, Black, Navy or White. Then, add a splash of color: Orange, Yellow, Lime or Fuchsia. And take it from there. You can add two more colors. Like for example, if you are making a top, and you want checks or stripes, you can do Navy, white and Lime, and even add a dash of yellow. It would look happy and still be cool for summer because of the blue and green. If you want something a bit more hot, start with a chocolate brown, add tan, a bright yellow and a bright orange like pumpkin.
If your real favorite is red, but you don’t want an all over red piece, and you are tired of red and white, and you have already done red, white and blue. Try red white and lime, or red white and yellow. Even red and natural. Or red, ecru and black.

2. Texture. If you don’t have a pattern, try my formula for making a sweater without a pattern and do blocks of different, rich textures that please your eye. You can make them in different shades of a family of color like: cream, sand, ecru, taupe, and combine them all. You will end up with a pretty top you can wear with just about any color of skirt of pants.

3. Shape. If you want to try something different. Buy yourself a Sew Easy pattern for a nice top. Cut it out and transfer the pattern onto brown paper (that way it will not break as you work on it.) Then choose a shape. Let’s say a triangle or an octagon or a hexagon. Make as many motifs as needed to fillout the outline of your pattern and make little motifs like rounds, for example, to fill in the gaps and you’ve got yourself a new piece!

4. Mixed-Crafts. Do you know how to knit as well as to crochet? Then combine both. Add gorgeous cables to your crocheted pieces. True, you can make them in crochet as well, but there are many more Aran stitches for knitters and you would have a lot more variety to choose from. Do you know how to embroider as well was to crochet? Combine them.Make blocks that are solely sc and then embroider them with pretty lazy daisy stitch or any other stitch you prefer.

5. Top/Bottom Contrast. Finally, there’s another way in which you can change the simplest of shell patterns. Do the top in one stitch, let’s say hdc, and the bottom in shell stitch, cables, a ripple stitch or even in lacy motifs. The contrast will make the garment interesting.

Hope these simple tips will get your creative juices flowing again.
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Craftybegonia: Handmade That’s Down to Earth

I won’t kid you, making items handmade is not always easy. It is time consuming, and materials are not always the cheapest, especially if you are a craftster or artist who, like us, likes to use the best to produce the best you can. We try to make items as pretty as we can, and as affordable as we can, because we want you to enjoy them, and yet quality and uniqueness means a lot to us.
Introducing Affordable Handpainted and Handcrafted Wallhangings Each Piece Unique, Not Two Alike or Repeated.
Many interior designers who want to stay in a budget would be interested in these beautiful handpainted wallhangings. Also, any homeowner who delights in beautiful items would also.
Take a look at them up close. You will not be disappointed!
http://craftybegoniagallery.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-more-gorgeous-handpainted-wall.html

Real love is one Person: Jesus! If you want to get to know Him better, there's no other book like Steps to Christ. A sweet, short, beauttiful book. Read it online for FREE, here: http://www.stepstochrist.us/

Tips, Tricks and Problem Solvers. . .

As the title of my entry says, I would like to share some tips, tricks and problem solving advice.

From Boring to Beautiful-

Let's say you have crocheted a doily, but after all your trouble it did not come out the way you wanted it. You wanted something a bit fancier and more elegant. Here are some suggestions you can follow to add some pizzazz to it:

1. Depending on the design of your doily, you may add some embroidery to it. 2. You may add some ribbon to it. 3. You may add some pearls or beads to it. Crocheted beading is easier by far than embroidery beading. At least I find the latter one more difficult. But if you have come to the end of a project and would like to apply beads to it, by all means, get yourself a good quality sewing (I prefer polyester quilting quality thread) of the same color as your project, purchase the beads that would go best with it and just carefully sew them on, taking care that the stitches will not show.

Holes in Hats- That has happened to the best of us! You are making a nice winter hat and when you sew it all up it has a gaping hole at the top! Well, I am here suggesting some creative ways to cover that hole. 1. Make a pompon and place it on top of the hole. 2. Make a flower and sew it in such a way as to cover the hole. 3. Make a butterfly and use as the flower above. 4. Make a huge tassel and use it to cover the hole. 5. Make a bow with grossgrain ribbon and attach it to the top.

All Those

Yarn Ends!- Let's say that you like to crochet or knit in color combinations, and are making winter hats again. You hate the job of having to deal with all those yarn ends at the end of your project. Well, this is an easy way to deal with that, pull them all out with a crochet hook, a the top of the hat after you have closed it, and braid them! You can also turn them into tassels.

Do you feel discouraged or down sometimes?

Do you think that life is being hard on you? Well, stop and look arount you! "In nature itself are mesages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorn are coverd 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 and one of the most beloved books by Christians around the globe. Printed in more than seventy languages, and bringing encouragement and ispiration 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

Fun Tassels to Decorate your Projects

I learned to make tassels as a child when, at school, I learned to make tassel dolls. They were fun and easy to make so I have always liked tassels.They can be very complex though, and I am learning how to make those, but for now, I will share here a couple of the simplest tassels.If you are going to use them for a project, color coordinate them with that pillow, afghan or purse handle you are going to hang them from. There are many kinds of tassels, some can be used to decorate the zipper of a toiletries bag, others can be put in the corners of a crocheted, knit or embroidred pillow, or on the corners of an afghan or poncho. Some are so decorative that they can be used on curtain pulls, on ceiling fan pulls, and on the handles of purses. I want to share with you some fun tassels that you can make. For simplicity's sake and because we are in winter, we will be using yarn. So these are the materials you will be needing: Worsted weight yarn of at least 3 different colors which coordinate with a project you want your tassel to embellish. A pair of scissors. A piece or cardboard about 4 inches wide.

Two-Toned Tassel-

You can make this tassel in a combination of yarns, or threads, you can even start it with thin ribbon, ricrac or thin lace and then continue it with yarn and make it as fancy as you want to, depending on the use you will be making of it. For example, if you are going to use it to decorate something in your home like a curtain tieback, or to put it on the corners of a table runner, or on the edges of a stole, you select the materials according to the use you will be making of it.

1. Choose the color you want for the longest part of your tassel and begin with that one. Hold the yarn firmly around the piece of cardboard you have cut to the specific width you need and start winding the yarn around it over and over, but not too tightly, until you have wound it around 26 times.

2. With a contrasting color, and taking care to stay on top of the previous color of yarn, wind the yarn 20 times.

3. With your third contrasting yarn, cut a length twice as long as the suspension cord you want for your tassel (the cord from which it will hang), fold in half, make a knot on one end and twist with your two hands going in opposite directions, one end of the cord going forward and the other end going backwards, until the the cord is twisted. Tie another knot at the other end. Slip your cord under the yarn still in the looping cardboard, making sure you get your cord underneath ALL of the yarn. Tie your cord as tightly as possible. Make a knot.

4.Wind the same contrasting yarn that you used for the cord around the tassel 15 times. Make a knot. Then, taking a crochet hook, pull the ends of the yarn inward so that they will not be seen.You now have a simple but very nice two-toned soft tassel. you could leave it like that, but let's go one step further. . .

Tied-Tassel-

Divide the contrasting yarn already on the tassel in 4 eaqual sections as if it was hair. Take some small portions of the contrasting ayrn with which you tied the tassel and tie these small sections, making small knots at the back of each. You can leave the hanging cords at the sides or snip them according to your liking.

Tufted Tassel-

To make this tassel, follow the steps to the two-toned tassel above, then just measure about 1 1/2 inches and snip the contrasting yarn off and you have your tufted tassel! If you use two contrasting yarns, like for example, a chenille yarn and a nice softer yarn for the tuft, you can get very nice effects. Hope you like this short tutorial. You can make a lot of different tassels. Use these for bookmarks, put them at the end of the zipper of your toiletries bag, tie one to the knob of a set of drawers, you name it!

There is nothing as comforting as the love of God! May I suggest that you take some time to read Steps to Christ, a small but wonderful book!Has led millions to Christ and has kept millions close to Himin their Christian walk.You can read it here!

http://www.stepstochrist.us/