Knitted Christmas balls

I was given a chart of knitted Christmas balls and I had to make a few, of course :) Those with snowflake pattern are 19 loops per needle at their widest but are decreased immediately. The white ball with red ornaments is 15 loops per needle at widest but has 5 rounds of same wideness before decreased thus ended up bigger.

Then this reindeer pattern ball is much bigger with 23 loops per needle and has a running reindeer on every second side and standing reindeer on the other.

 



The original chart had 15 loops per needle at its widest.

How-to:

k = knit
yon = yarn over needle

Cast-on 12 loops and divide on 4 needles. (3 loops per needle)

1. row: *k, yon, k, yon, k * x 4 = (5 loops per needle)
2. row: knit the whole row
3. row: *k, yon, k, k, k, yon, k* x4 = (7 loops per needle)
4. row: knit the whole row
5. row: *k, yon, k, k, k, k, k, yon, k* x 4 = (9 loops per needle)
6. row: knit the whole row

... Continue in same fashion until you reach the widest part i.e. 15 loops. Then knit 5 rounds before beginning decreasing.

Decreasing: knit two together the same way as you increased earlier on every second and penultimate loops so that there's always a knit at the beginning and the end of each needle. Then knit entire row in between of each decrease as you did when you increased. Continue until you have 3 loops per needle remaining. Now cast off the beginning before filling the ball. Fill the ball with cotton and cast off.

The loop to hang the ball is crocheted from the same yarn.

You can adjust the size of the ball and do whatever pattern you want by adding or making less rows. Just remember the loop number per needle is always uneven.


Joyful week!

Happy Father's Day! (in Finland)

Woolen stockings again... another man's stockings in Santa's sack waiting for Christmas :) These are size 43 / 9 (US) / 8,5 (UK). The gray snowflake pattern goes around with 4 flakes on each round.

Then, as I was looking other people's blogs, I found this wonderful paper snowflake window decoration from Mummon Pajukori Villa Tuta's blog with a link to a guide that is here.

And this is how it turned out from ordinary copy paper.

Have a relaxing Sunday everyone and Happy Father's Day to all dads in Finland!

Crochet earrings

I was asked to make special earrings of a famous old licorice label mostly know as Licorice Pete or Black Pete (not from Donald Duck comics) here in Finland that originated from 19th century doll called Golliwog either from UK or US by Florence Kate Upton.

And here they are about a 50 cent (euro) coin size. Made with 1.5 (7 US/ 2"/42 UK) crochet hook. Have to change how I made them though as 12 cs (US)/ dc (UK) are too much at the beginning to close the circle tight enough, thus these have a hole in the middle. Also used red felt to make mouths as it didn't look good with red thread.

Joyful weekend to everyone :)

Warmth to fall :)

Days have been bleak and cold while knitting stockings but those will warm nicely for sure once I get them done!

Here is one pair of man's woolen stockings size 40-41 (EU) / 7.5-8 (US) / 7-7.5 (UK). Making them as Christmas gifts to parents etc. Need to make at least 4 more pairs, from which the next are almost done :)

The other of my two sweethearts wanted to add himself in the picture as he came very curios of what I was doing on my bed cover. And of course he just had to lay down on the stockings! So had to pull them under him :)

Have a nice Sunday everyone!

Forever project - a "mitre"

Started knitting a kind of a mitre a year ago and decided to continue it. Back then I only made the beginning of the cap and about 3 pattern rounds (ca. 15 rounds). This is how it's now (picture) but that's not even the halfway! The plan is to make it ca. 145 to 150 cm long so it would reach the knee area as my friend wants it. In other words, a forever project with my knitting speed :)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Crocheted earrings

Weekend is approaching nicely and then I'll have time to try out my brand new sewing machine! In the meanwhile here are some earrings that I've crocheted.

Used different yarns and both size 1 (10 US, 4 UK) and 1.5 (7 US, 2"/42 UK) crochet hooks.

 

 

 

The ones on red background I made for myself. No starching used and the earring hooks are nickel-free silver.

Have a lovely fall evening everyone!

More owls :)

Weather is being gentle with warm and sunny fall days, now only thing that's missing is fall colors ^^

Anyways... another owl crochet. Couple years ago I bought this gorgeous owl necklace and just thought how would it be, if crocheted. So with silver yarn and size 1 (10 US, 4 UK) crochet hook, decided to give it a try. Should have used either size 1.5 (7 US, 2"/42 UK) or 2 (4 US, 1 UK) as the silver yarn was kind off "stiff" and rough so that the small hook unraveled the yarn from time to time.

This is how it turned out though and I'm not quite pleased with it.

Probably should have done eyes and beak to give it a better look. But I think I'll try doing it again with a different, more delicate, yarn. In any case, the head was done using same technique as in Hoot! post but the body and wings are made from chain stitch chains following the necklace pattern. I must admit, the necklace is much more beautiful looking!

That's all today!

Hoot!

Some years ago owl patterns became fashionable in Finland and since that the owl theme has been strong even today ^^

So here are some crochet owl key-chains that I've done from Novita Kotiväki crochet yarn and size 1.5 crochet hook (7 US, 2"/42 UK). The white owl is made from Novita Kalalanka (6 stranded). All in all, I've done about ten of these little owls with various color combinations :)

The guide is from "Kauneimmat Käsityöt" -magazine. Tried translating the guide the best I could but I have no experience with English crochets guides, thus apologizing, if it's confusing.

Small owl guide

Abbreviations :

st = stitch

ch st = chain stitch

sc = single crochet (US), dc = double crochet (UK)

sl st = slip stitch

hdc = half double crochet (US), h tr = half-treble (UK)

dc = double crochet (US), tr = treble (UK)

tr, trc = treble, triple (US), d tr = double treble (UK)

bk lp = back loop

ft lp = front loop

rnd = round

Materials:

- Crochet hook 10 - 2 (US), 4 - 2/0 (UK) depending of your preference and yarn thickness.

- Crochet yarn

- cotton for batting

Attention! Using US abbreviations first and UK ones within ().

1. rnd: Choose a color (e.g. yellow) and crochet 8 sc (dc) on starting circle.

2. rnd: 2 sc (dc) to 1st. sc (dc), 2 hdc (h tr) to next sc (dc), 1 hdc (h tr) and 1 dc (tr) to next sc (dc), 2 dc (tr) to both 2 next sc (dc), 1 dc (tr) and 1 hdc (h tr) to next sc (dc), 2 hdc (h tr) to next sc (dc), 2 sc (dc) to rnd's last sc (dc) = 16 st.

3. rnd: Change to another color (e.g. light brown). 1 sc (dc) to 1st. st, 2 sc (dc) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 2 hdc (h tr) to both 2 next st, 2 dc (tr) to next st, 1 tr (d tr) to each 4 next ft lp and bk lp, 2 dc (tr) to next st, 2 hdc (h tr) to both 2 next st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 2 sc (dc) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to rnd's last st = 28 st.

4. rnd: 1 sc (dc) on each stitch the whole round.

5. rnd: Change to another color (e.g. brown). 1 sc (dc) to next st, 1 hdc (h tr) and 1 dc (tr) to next st, 2 tr (d tr) to next st, ch st, 2 tr (d tr) to next st, 1 dc (tr) and 1 hdc (h tr) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 2 sc (dc) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 1 hdc (h tr) and 1 dc (tr) to next st, 2 dc (tr) to next st, 2 tr (d tr) to each 8 next st, 2 dc (tr) to next st, 1dc (tr) and 1 hdc (h tr) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 2 sc (dc) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 1 hdc (h tr) and 1 dc (tr) to next st, 2 tr (d tr) to next st, ch st, 2 tr (d tr) to next st, 1 dc (tr) and 1 hdc (h tr) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to rnd's last st = 50 st (+2 ch st). Fasten off (cast off).

Crochet another one just the same to be a counterpart.

Eyes:

1. rnd. 6 sc (dc) to starting circle. (e.g brown yarn). Leave about 1½ inches of yarn from the start hanging.

2. rnd: Change color (e.g white). 2 sc (dc) to each st the whole rnd = 12 st. Fasten off (cast off), but leave about 1½ inches of yarn over.

Make another eye just the same and attach them to the 1st owl using those 1½ inch yarns. This one will be the front part of the owl.

Finishing:

Either embroider a beak (e.g. orange yarn) or crochet a small triangle and attach it below the eyes. Then crochet the two owl parts together as follows (e.g. yellow yarn): 2 sc (dc) to left ear's ch st, 1 sc (dc) to each 6 next st, 1 hdc (h tr) and 1 dc (tr) to next st, 2 tr (d tr) to next st, 1 dc (tr) and 1 hdc (h tr) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to each 22 next st, 1 hdc (h tr) and 1 dc (tr) to next st, 2 tr (d tr) to next st, 1 dc (tr) and 1 hdc (h tr) to next st, 1 sc (dc) to each 6 next st, 2 sc (dc) to right ear's ch st. Fill the owl using cotton. Continue 1 sc (dc) to each 5 next st, 15 to 20 ch st (chain for hanging), 1 sc (dc) to each 4 next st, 1 sl st to rnd's last sc (dc). Fasten off (cast off).

Claws:

Change color (e.g. orange). Count 8 st from the left wing's bottom and crochet as follows: *1 sc (dc), 3 ch st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 4 ch st, 1 sc (dc) to next st, 3 ch st, 1 sc (dc) to next st*, rep *-* once. Fasten off (cast off).

The owl is ready ^^

Also made cats from the owl guide by leaving the wings and claws off and enlarging the ears with dtr (tr tr) and tr tr (quad tr). Made the mouth and snout with ch st and added whiskers. The tail doesn't show in the picture but it was done in S-bend with ch st and sc (dc) ^^

Have a wonderful and sunny fall day!

To a dollhouse

Had a long break from crafts in general but have finally delved back into doing various stuffs!

Made some dollhouse canopy bed frames in 1:12 scale (metric system) from narrow, square wooden sticks and couple children's outdoor swings during July-August. Now just have to find some suitable fabrics to finish those beds :)

First a white canopy bed with rounded headboard and end.

Then black and brown canopy beds without rounding. All 3 beds are glued together and not for playing.

 


And two children's outdoor swings in blue and green. The swing robes didn't end up 100% even but then again, they aren't always that in real either :p

The robes are knotted and glued to metal circles bend from thin metal thread. Two of such circles on each robe at the top (8 per swing) to enable real swinging - naturally it would have been easier to just buy small circles used in DIY jewelries! Just like the beds, these glued swings can't handle playing - decorations only.