Drawing Money Purchased Patricia Kristoffersen Book

Posted on May 21, 2018December 19, 2018 by Kitty

Not too long ago, I was lucky enough to be the winner of a drawing for $100! Since it was luck and all, I set out to do the wise thing and splurge, lol. I had been eyeing many Patricia Kristoffersen books on doilies for a while and decided to buy one. It was a difficult decision, but I chose, Doilies with a Twist. There are six wonderful patterns in the book. I crocheted, Ruby, which is on the cover. My fanciful dream is to eventually collect all of her books. They are fairly expensive and difficult to find, sadly. However, there are individual patterns for sale on Ravelry.

Patricia Kristoffersen Books

Patricia Kristoffersen

As you can see from the first picture, I stocked up on Lizbeth yarn. This was the first time I used the yarn for doilies. Before, I mainly used it for Irish crochet and jewelry. After using it there, I realized how durable and lustrous it is. It can be unraveled over and over again without pilling or separating. I’m not trying to sell it, I just really think it’s a great product. In my opinion, it is better to pay a little more for good yarn than to pay less for something that will fall apart in your lifetime. Especially since there is so much effort, time, and love involved in making each creation.

Patricia Kristoffersen Doilies

Patricia Kristoffersen

From left to right, I crocheted Windsor Round, Peacock Pride, and Ruby. The first two are from my other Kristoffersen book, Absolutely Gorgeous Doilies. For Peacock Pride, I tried incorporating Lizbeth’s new Metallic yarn into size ten thread. At first, it was a little tedious getting the hang of the texture difference. After one round, I was able to easily work it. I LOVE Metallic Lizbeth yarn. I can’t wait to start making some jewelry with it! Even though the company says that Metallic is comparable to size 20 thread, it worked really well with the size ten I used. The colors I used for each from left to right are Golden Yellow Lt, Ocean Turquoise Lt with Gold Dust, and Purple Iris Lt.

Kristoffersen Doilies

Patricia Kristoffersen Doilies

In the near future, I want to thread more Metallic yarn through the Peacock Pride doily. I think more Gold Dust and some Iridescent would be pretty. There will be lots of experimenting!

My First Crocheted Afghans

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Kitty

All my life I was surrounded by handmade afghans, but I never tried crocheting them myself. During the cold months last year, I decided to attempt my first. Instead of going with a traditional square or rectangle pattern, I went with a circular one I found on moogly. Not only did I think it was nice to have a round afghan, but I also loved the pattern.

First of Two Afghans Second of Two Afghans

After crocheting for as long as I have, I thought I knew most things pertaining to the subject. Turns out that I had much more to learn! Gauge is extremely important when it comes to making afghans. Every person is different in how they crochet, so it’s critical to find your gauge for the pattern. I needed a much bigger needle than suggested. Unfortunately, K is the largest size I have, so I had to crochet super loosely to make it work. The pink afghan was my very first attempt, and it is a puny example because of my tight crocheting. For the second attempt, I tried much harder. It was comical for me to crochet at the tautness needed for the pattern. After three tries for the gauge, I was able to finally continue. Somehow, I still ended up with a couple extra skeins of yarn! Oh well, that yarn will definitely not go to waste.

Crocheting Afghans

First of Afghans Afghans

The Circle of Love Afghan pattern is a lot of fun to crochet. It was a little strange at first, but I got the hang of its parabolic nature eventually. Choosing the colors for the pattern is one of the best parts. Knowing how to change colors is a must for this pattern, as well as knowing the front post double crochet. It is the FPDC that gives the pattern its neat shape and body.

Little Crocheted Angels Brighten Christmas

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Kitty

With Christmas just around the corner, I decided to crochet a few angels. My grandma used to crochet them for the family. I loved them as a child and got to pick out ones that were special to me. I still enjoy them, and they make really nice ornaments. She let me have her crochet pattern book that I will keep forever. It’s called Angels by Becky Stevens, and it was published by Leisure Arts.

Crocheted Angels

Before Grandma gave me her book, I found a few free patterns online. I finished one large and two small angels from some of those I found. After crocheting, I felt they needed more color. So, I laced ribbon through the wings and dresses. There are several more designs I would like to try:
Peace on Earth in Oombawka Design by Rhondda
Angel in Flight Ornament by Priscilla Hewitt
Angel Bells by Sue Childress
Victorian Vintage Ornament by Tammy
Tree-Topper from Patons
Treetop
Cute Poofy Skirt from Crochet ‘N’ More
Little One from Crochet ‘N’ More
Mini Treetop by Julie A Bolduc
Little Bobbles by Julie A Bolduc
Lora’s Angel by Lora Johnson
All of these patterns would make great ornaments for the tree or any space that needs brightening.

This year, I crocheted using different colored thread instead of just white. The metallic, silvery thread is very pretty but difficult to use. So I only made a small angel with it. Some of them could use some hair, but they are cute enough without it. Even though each pattern is unique, it is still possible to customize each angel more by adding ribbon and halos.

Victorian Pattern Crochet Angels

Thread angels can be starched or left as is. For a more sparkly effect, add glitter during the stiffening process. I usually prefer not to stiffen them though because it makes cleaning easier.

Crocheted Angels

Crochet Coaster of the Turtle Variety

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Kitty

This crochet turtle coaster I found at Amigurumi Today is easy to make and useful for saving furniture surfaces. It requires knowledge of the magic circle and some basic sewing skills. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any brown yarn, so I went with two shades of green. Also, I didn’t have any safety eyes, but I was able to substitute yarn to act like embroidery. Most patterns suggest leaving a long end when finishing a part in order to sew it to the whole. I have experimented, and it has never successfully worked for me. Instead, I prefer to leave a short end and use either yarn or thread to sew together the parts. Thread is usually better than yarn, especially if the colors match well, because it fastens tightly.

Turtle Coaster Yarn

After crocheting all eight pieces, it’s best and convenient to sew all of them but the shell onto the belly. By doing it that way, all stitches and ugly threads will be hidden underneath it. Before sewing the head to the body, I semi-embroidered the eyes and mouth. This method helps me center everything better. When I first saw this pattern, I wondered if it would be all right to use acrylic yarn because of the heat issue. Then I realized that it’s not a potholder, so any heat coming off of cups shouldn’t melt the material. The turtle coaster ended up being much larger than I thought it would be, so it could be a cute little potholder. If making it into a potholder, I would use cotton yarn to avoid melting or flames.

Turtle Coaster

I think the coaster turned out really cute! There are so many other cute and free patterns available at Amigurumi Today. The site is definitely a must for any crocheter. Everything is categorized nicely and described in great detail. So, whether you’re just beginning or are a pro, it’s a great site.

Turtle Coaster

Amigurumi Fun with a Kitty and a Couple of Dragons

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Kitty

Amigurumi is a Japanese art involving crocheted or knitted stuffed toys. The craft has been around for many years in Japan, and only started to become popular in the West around the 2000s. Now, it is still very popular because there are thousands of patterns and creations available, and the numbers keep growing. I first learned of amigurumi in 2012 when I started getting back into crochet. Since then, I have made a few creations. Many of them I have given away to friends and family. There is nothing quite like making a gift for a loved one that comes from the heart and is customized. Whether you make amigurumi for yourself or others, it is a very rewarding hobby.

Yarn Pile

While being a rewarding hobby, amigurumi is also a challenging one. I do not like sewing parts together because it is tedious to me, but it has to be done in this craft. So, I finally sucked it up and decided to make a cute cat. I found a great pattern and tweaked it to suit my tastes. There are so many different ways to detail a stuffed toy and truly make it your own. It took me a while to lose the timidness that came when I thought of changing a pattern. After gaining more needlework skills, it has become fun to change it up instead of scary.

Amigurumi Kitty Legs Amigurumi Kitty Parts

Amigurumi Kitty Eye Inspiration

Kitty Ear

For the eyes, I made my own pattern because I think they should be green. I used Lizbeth yarn size #20 for the irises and pupils. After I finished crocheting, I folded the ends of the eye parts towards the back and glued them. I then glued the eyes to the head using Fabri-Tac.

Amigurumi Kitty Eyes Pattern

Make two irises and two pupils
To make the irises, use a size #8 crochet hook, ch. 11, turn
sl. st. in 2nd ch. from hook, sc in next ch., hdc in next ch., dc in next 2 ch. (one in each ch.), trc in next ch., dc in next 2 ch., sc in next 2 ch., turn
sl. st. in next 2 st., sc in next st., hdc in next 2 st., dc in next st., sc in next st., sl. st. in next 2 st., finish and cut yarn.

To make the pupils, use the same hook, ch. 4, trc in first ch., finish and cut yarn.

After finishing the eyes, I decided to add some hearts to her ears by embroidering them. Since I’ve been looking at lots of crochet edgings lately, I thought it would be nice to change the skirt of the dress from the original pattern. It was a lot of fun making this kitty!

Amigurumi Kitty Finished

Amigurumi Oriental Dragons

When I first made an account on Ravelry, I found the most awesome oriental dragon pattern. Gail Hovanec came up with it. It wasn’t free, but it was well worth the price. It takes some intermediate knowledge of crochet to complete, as well as a great deal of patience. There are so many different parts to sew on correctly. Finding the eyes was a lot of fun though.

Amigurumi Dragon

Necklaces Can Be Made with Crochet

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Kitty

Necklaces are worn to show off the neck and a person’s unique style. They come in a variety of materials as well. Because I enjoy crocheting so much, I thought it would be nice to incorporate that hobby into jewelry-making. Edging and lace patterns have been around for a long time, and to me, they always seemed boring. Not only that, some patterns appear too fragile to add to certain things. However, after looking at so many different kinds, it became clear to me that they would be perfect for chokers. Chokers are making a comeback now because of the movie, Suicide Squad, starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Her necklace has caused a rekindled interest in them.

Necklace

When crocheting necklaces such as the choker, make sure that the length of the finished piece is 14 inches. That measurement is the standard. If you want to be certain it fits, it’s always a good idea to measure your neck before starting. Some patterns make it easy to determine gauge, while others keep you guessing. It was easy to find the right length with the above border pattern because of the way a border follows logically. Lace is sometimes a different story. The pretty bow necklace pictured below was crocheted by using a lace pattern. It was not very cooperative because the pattern gathers up some, making it shorter once it’s finished. I had to start from scratch after my first attempt was two inches too short.

Necklaces Can Be Made with Border Pattern

Using a book that my aunt just got me, I decided to make a choker. The book is called, The Complete Book of Crochet Border Designs: Hundreds of Classics and Original Patterns by Linda P. Schapper. There are so many great designs to choose from that I will be making many necklaces in the future. I chose pattern #7 on page 21 for today. Unfortunately, I cannot share the pattern because it is copyrighted. But I can show my work for inspiration. For this choker, I used glass beads. When using beads, always put them on before starting a pattern and make certain there are enough. It was a bit tedious getting all the beads threaded because of their tiny holes but worth it for the look.

Border Crochet Book and Necklace Border Pattern Necklace

Crocheting Beads Ribbon Necklace

Puff Stitch, Floral Earrings with Free Pattern

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Kitty

The puff stitch (puff st) is used in crochet to add dimension. In this case, I used it to make flower petals for earrings. It can be tricky to successfully get your hook out from under so many loops, but after a while, the task becomes easier because practice makes perfect. One of the neat things about the puff stitch is that it can be made as puffy as desired. There are many patterns that would benefit from that, especially rugs. However, I am talking about earrings today.

More to Come Puff Stitch Flower Earring Supplies Puff Stitch Earrings

So, the last time I brought up earrings I teased one of the above pictures. Since tinkering with them, I decided they needed more. While puff stitches are pretty, they appeared so bare and alone. Some greenery was needed. There are many leaf patterns available online, but I wanted this pattern to be strictly original. So, I came up with a pattern for a stem and leaf that aesthetically fit my flowers.

Flower Earrings

Puff Stitch Flower

Key for Terms:
slip stitch (sl. st.) single crochet (sc)
chain (ch.) puff stitch (puff st)

Make 2 or 4 flowers depending on if you would like the earrings to be double-sided or not. Use a size 12 hook with #20 Lizbeth thread.
Wrap thread around a size 8 hook, or whatever equivalent-sized item is necessary for the center of the flower, 12 times. Then sl. st. to secure the circle.
Sc 6 times into the ring and sl. st. together.
*Ch. 3, sl. st. in next sc*, around, then sl. st. into ch-3 space and switch colors.
Make a puff st with a total of 14 loops on hook, sl. st. to close then ch. 3 and sl. st. into same ch-3 space. *Sl. st. into next ch-3 space and make puff st* 4 more times. Sl. st. into first ch-3 space and finish off. I tried to make the puff st stand the same height as a double crochet.

Leaf and Stem Pattern

Key for Terms:
slip stitch (sl. st.) single crochet (sc) treble crochet (tr)
chain (ch.) half double crochet (hdc)

Make 4 leaves total and 2 stems. It’s best to make the leaves first because they will be attached to the stem as it is crocheted. To make the leaves:
Ch. 6, then sl. st. in 2nd ch. from hook. Sc in next ch., hdc in next ch., tr in last two ch., ch. 1
Sc 3 times alongside tr just made (since a tr is 3 stitches long) and in each stitch around until the tip is reached. Sc in tip, ch. 2 then sl. st. into top of sc just made (2-ch. picot made), sc in same space, then sc around. Sl. st. into top of first sc and finish off.

To make the stem:
Ch. 4, then sl. st. through base of first leaf, keeping in mind which way is front. Ch. 1, then attach the second leaf in the same way. Ch. 12. Sc in 4th ch. from hook, in next 9, in space between leaves, and in the last ch. Finish off and hide loose ends.

The glue I use is amazing for projects like this. No sewing is necessary for this pattern because of it. The puff stitch earrings will hold well and can be washed. Some ironing may be required to flatten the stem and leaves the correct way for hanging properly. These earrings are about 1 1/2″ in length.

Puff Stitch Flower Earrings

Crocheted Cat Toy with Free Pattern

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Kitty

A crocheted cat toy is just the ticket for happy kitties. Store-bought toys can be pricey, and they have strange manufacturing odors. By crocheting cat toys, I ingrain my scent onto the yarn. This makes the toy especially tantalizing to my cats. I have three of them: Bubbles, Saxophone, and Sprinkle. They really love playing with yarn, so I decided to come up with a pattern.

Cat Toy Materials

Cat Toy Pattern

Crochet Legend:
sl. st. = slip stitch
ch. = chain
sc = single crochet
inc. = single crochet increase (2 stitches in 1)
dec. = single crochet decrease ( 1 stitch in 2)

Using a G-size hook,
Ch. to desired length, ch. 1 ( I did 265 ch. for reference)
Sc in base of first ch. stitch on opposite side and each ch. until the end, ch. 1
Sc on other side until the end, then sl. st.
Ch. 6 and sl. st. on the other side, ch. 1
Sc 6 in ring, ch. 1
Inc. in ring, sl. st. together and ch. 1 (12 stitches)
*Sc in next sc, then inc.* around and sl. st. together and ch. 1 (18 stitches)
*2 sc in next 2 sc, then inc.* around and sl. st. together and ch. 1 (24 stitches)
*3 sc in next 3 sc, then inc.* around and sl. st. together and ch. 1 (30 stitches)
Sc in each sc around 5 times, making sure to sl. st. and ch. 1 at the end of each row (5 rows) (150 stitches)
*3 sc in next 3 sc, then dec.* around and sl. st. together and ch. 1
*2 sc in next 2 sc, then dec.* around and sl. st. together and ch. 1
*Sc in next sc, then dec.* around and sl. st. together and ch. 1 (Stuff at This Point)
Dec. around to finish ball. The cat toy is done now, or more can be added. I added some free-style frills for extra enjoyment.

Chain 6 at End Single Crochets Joined for Ball Second Row Increase Third Row Fourth Row Fifth Row Start of Decrease Stuff at This Point

Free-Style Additions to Cat Toy

Before finishing off and while at the base of the ball, Ch. 18, sl. st. in 2nd ch. from hook and in each ch. down. Sl. st. in same space and in next sc. Ch. 26, dc in 3rd ch. from hook, dc 8 more in same ch. for a 10-stitch popcorn. Sc down the rest of the row and sl. st. in same space. Sl. st. in next sc and repeat the first row. Ch. 18 and make a 3 dc cluster in 3rd ch. from hook, ch. 2, 3 dc cluster in next ch. sl. st. in the rest of the chains and in the same space. Repeat row one again. Sl. st. across the diameter for extra support. Leave a long tail when finishing off so that there is extra string.
Optional: For added strength, sew the top part where the single crochets meet the ball. Keep the ball as centered as possible and the string from bunching.

Sew for Added Support Finished Cat Toy

After finishing the cat toy, I decided to try it out with my kitties. They each smelled it and batted it. Maybe next time I could add some catnip. I’d say the cat toy was a hit though because now they take turns dragging it around the house and kicking it.

Bubbles Playing with Cat Toy Sprinkle Playing with Cat Toy Saxophone Playing with Cat Toy Sprinkle Enjoying Cat Toy Bubbles and Sprinkle

Crochet Cute, Summer Earrings Easily

Posted on May 22, 2017May 23, 2017 by Kitty

There are quite a selection of styles concerning crocheted earrings. They can go from casual to formal with a few picots or the addition of beads. Crochet is, after all, a very versatile hobby. All it takes is a small hook and size 20 thread to get the right size. Crocheted items have always been popular since their invention. What better thing to crochet than earrings for style that will last?

Earrings

So many different ideas started popping in my head when I glanced at Pinterest, and those just concern earrings! That site has a knack for stirring creative thoughts. Most trendy pairs go for around $10. Two balls of yarn can go for under that easily, and the glue is trivial because of the use it will get. With 210 yards on each skein, that’s a lot of earrings. Plus, creating your own pair makes them that more unique and tailored to you.

Using beauty products (mascara bottle and eyeliner cap) can help to make jewelry. By wrapping yarn around the products, you create a ring that is the base for the earrings made here. No needle is necessary for connecting the two rings. Just use a slip stitch to join them. The best place to join them is where the larger circle is finished off so that all loose ends are near each other for gluing. If two colors are used, there is no need to fasten off on the larger ring. Just pretend there is a color change, making sure both rings are front-side up, then slip stitch to secure the connection.

Pattern and Pictures for Summer Earrings

Mascara Bottle Making Base Rings for Earrings

As pictured above and to the far left, those are the materials I used. A pair of pliers will be needed to open and close the fishhook earrings over the crocheted loops. Wrap the yarn around both beauty products 18 times. Then take a size 8 hook and make a slip stitch to secure the ring. Single crochet 40 stitches into the larger circle and slip stitch into the first single crochet to finish the round. For the smaller circle after wrapping, single crochet 20 times into it and slip stitch to close the round. After that, chain 3 and double crochet into the same space that was slip stitched. Connect the two using a slip stitch. Cut the yarn and glue the loose ends. The length of the joined circles is about an inch and a half.

Those ideas I mentioned earlier will find their way to DaintyKitty eventually. So, stay tuned for more in the future. Maybe I will have to try my hand at a really formal pair.

More to Come

Pretty Crocheted Tulips That Never Fade

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Kitty

Tulips

When I began looking for floral patterns for my spring purse, I came across a beautiful one for tulips. It’s one composed only of symbols, but it is straightforward. Handmade-Paradise.ru is where I found it. The website is in Russian, but navigable because of the universal language of crochet. These tulips are especially tiny because of the thread and hook used. It takes quite some patience and an eye for detail to make these, but I think they are worth it.

Tools Used

Pictured above are some of the tools needed. This was the second time trying to work with these flowers, so I ended up needing more tools before finishing the project. Here is a complete list of what I used:

Size 8 Hook

Size 20 Lizbeth Yarn

Scissors

Flush Cutters

Floral Wire Gauge 22

Sewing Needle

Fabric Glue

Crocheted Flower Parts

Nylon Flat-Nosed Pliers

Tulip Symbol Pattern

Before putting the tulips together, the parts must be constructed. Below are the symbol diagrams for the leaf, stem, and fringed tulip parts. Crochet one stem and one leaf, or two, if desired. Then crochet both parts of the tulip. Start with a green color for the base of one of the petal layers. After round 3, switch from green to whatever color is desired for the tulip. The second petal layer can be crocheted all with the same color chosen for the tulip.

Tulip Stem and Leaf Symbol Pattern Frilled Tulips Symbol Pattern

Below are some pictures of the process of construction. First, I took the solid-colored petal layer and put the floral wire through two different holes so that it was centered. Then I took the green petal layer and pulled the center hole over the doubled wire. After making sure the petals were positioned properly, I used flat-nosed pliers to crimp them in place. I twisted the wire as best I could for added security. At this point, I took the stem piece and slip-stitched it around the floral wire. Once I got to the end of the stem, I used the flush cutters to cleanly cut the wire. Then I sewed the leaves onto each stem and glued the ends to avoid fraying.

Tulip and Floral Wire Tulip How To Twisted Wire Starting Stem Time to Cut Wire Tulips Ready for Leaves Glue Time

This project was very enjoyable, and now I have a pretty, non-fading bouquet. The basket below is one I crocheted from a pattern I found on snowcatcher.net. That site has been my go-to for years when it comes to snowflake patterns. There are other gems like the basket as well. The wonderful lady who comes up with the patterns offers a PDF booklet for donations. There are some patterns in the booklet that are not on her site. It’s definitely worth a look.

Tulips in Basket