Learn Ginantsilyo By Project

You can only learn crocheting by actually making a project!

Free Pattern: Square to shrug

[Learn Ginantsilyo By Project]

What the project is about: crocheting a square fabric then transforming the square into a shrug

One of the skills I learned as a crocheter is creating simple lace patterns. More often than not, when doing this, you want to see the effect of the lace so you crochet bigger, if you are like me who often experiment on creating laces and doesn’t know what project to make the swatch for, then let me share how i transformed a square into a shrug.

Square2Shrug:

Violet Square To Shrug Front

Square to Shrug Violet Shrug Free Crochet Pattern

Square to shrug Black by oriane1394 of Ravelry.com

Skills to learn:

Creating a lace swatch
Making the square into wearable crochet – a shrug

About the yarn:

I bought the yarn from http://craftandme.com, my favorite overseas yarn supplier. I used the violet soft cotton from the picture below. What I like about the yarns bought from this store is that they are really very soft and the cotton is untreated hence, you do not get the stiff feeling of the familiar mercerized cotton yarn brands we usually have here in the Philippines. I only used one big ball of yarn since that’s only what I have from my stash.

Soft Cotton from www.craftandme.com
colors violet and fuschia

Yarn and hook: soft cotton of bulk weight using 4.0mm crochet hook (US Size).

The pattern consists of the usual combination stitches:

4dc open shell with 1 ch
3dc closed shell
crossed Fpdc (Front Post Double crochet) with 1 ch
3 dc cluster.

These stitches will be described more in the section: Special Stitches.

Materials:

4.0mm hook
Soft Cotton Thread Bulk Weight approximately 100g

Violet Yarn Bulky Soft Cotton

Gauge:
5 chain is approximately 1 in.

Special Stitches:

4dc open shell with 1 ch (4DC Open Shell) – Make 2dc on next st, ch 1 2dc on same st.

3dc closed shell – Make 3dc on next st.

Front Post Dc – YO, then put the hook from front to back, between the stitches, around behind
the DC and out before the next stitch then complete the DC as normal.

3dc cluster: (Yo, insert hook in next st, yo draw yarn through st, yo, draw yarn through two
loops on hook) 3 times. yo, draw yarns through 4 loops on hook.

Crossed FPDC (2 crossed FPDC with 1 ch in between): This stitch is worked over an area of three stitches. To begin, skip two stitches, Make FPDc on third stitch. Ch 1, Make FPDc on
the first st that was skipped.

stitch diagram legend for square to shrug

Instructions:

Foundation Chain: Ch 122.
Row 1, 25: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) , ch 2 skip 2 ch, dc on next ch. Repeat until last ch. Turn
Row 2-4, 22-24: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), ch 1, 2 dc on same st. skip 1dc. *Make a 4dc open
shell on next dc*. Repeat across except for the last st. Make 2dc on last st. ch 1, dc on same
st. turn.
Row 5, 9, 13, 17, 21: ch 3(counts as 1 dc), * ch 5, dc on next ch sp*, repeat * across. Turn.
Row 6, 10, 14, 18: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) * ch 3, make 3dc closed shell on next dc of previous
row, ch 3, dc on next dc of previous row*,. Repeat * across. Turn
Row 7, 11, 15, 19: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *ch 3, make crossed FPDc on next 3dc cluster of
previous row, ch 3, dc on next dc of previous row* Repeat * across. Turn.
Row 8, 12, 16, 20: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), * ch 4, make 3dc cluster on crossed FPDc of
previous row, ch 3, dc on next dc of previous row* Repeat * across. Turn
Finishing: Slip stitch ends (13 stitches from ends [each four corners]) together to form the sleeves.

Square to Shrug Stitch Diagram –>Click Image to See Original Size

Free Instructions: Wrist Band with Button Applique

[Learn Ginantsilyo by Project]

What the project is about: crocheting rows of dc to form a band and make a bracelet out of it

One of the skills I learned as a crocheter is to incorporate crochet in jewelry/accessory making. I used to sell beaded accessories during college so I have a decent background on designing accessories. If you appreciate the beauty of threads against your skin and you look at the stitches as intricate designs for adornment, then let me walk you through with how you can turn simple rows of dc into a wrist band.

WristBand with button applique:

Violet Wrist Band with Buttons

Skills to learn:

crochet rows of dc
create a wrist band

About the yarn and button used :

The yarn i used is bought in Bodega sa Rosario, Pasig. It has the same texture and luster of embroidery threads commonly used in cross stitching.

Materials Used for making crocheted wrist band

I used the buttons with this kind of back. These buttons are given to me by a local store for tailoring needs. The owner got fond of me when i keep looking for unique stuffs in her store, so she gave me a lot of single piece buttons on her stock.

Buttons used

The actual project instructions:

Materials:

8 metal links
1 wire with loop at end
buttons
Chrochet Thread (texture is like the DMC Thread used for cross stitch).
2 metal bars
1.6 mm crochet hook
needle (big)

I bought the metal links, bars, and wires at Quiapo. The metal bars costs around 20Php/pack (contains 10), the links and wires are around the same price.

All in all, the materials came cheap. It took me less than 30 minutes to create this accessory.

Instructions:

Make a knot on one of the bar findings/connector. This servers as your first sc on your row

Tighten the knot

Make a knot around one metal bar. And tighten it.This will serve as your first sc.

Make 8 sc around the chain like this:

First row of single crochet

Turn around. Chain 3 (serve as 1 dc). 8 DC into each next sc.

Second row of 9 dc

Create 9 rows with 9 DC.

Cut the yarn with a scissor, We will have to sew the yarn into the second metal bar with a needle.

Sewing the other end

The crocheted wrist band

Attach 3 metal links on each side of the metal bars. Then connect the 3rd links from both sides with the loop of the our wire.

Putting the links and improvised hook

Form the wire into a hook.

Improvised Hook

Attach three links in each side on the other metal bar. COnnect the 3rd links with another metal link. Connect the fourth link and the button using another metal link.

With Buttons Attached

If you want to order a blouse of the same kind, kindly leave a comment be

Things to do with a crocheted chain: Improvised Headband

Improvised Headband

Materials needed:

Variegated Pink Wool and Pink Cotton Yarn

Materials for the headband

YARNS (of course!) – I used a variegated pink wool (bulky) and soft cotton
Plain black headband
A hook (4.5 mm)
Adhesive tape (Double sided) – Glue STick is much better, mind you.
some leaves to accentuate
button for the flower applique
needle

Using the variegated wool yarn crochet chain to cover the entire length of the head band.

Cover the headband with the crocheted chain. Put it in place using an adhesive tape. It is much better to glue it with a glue stick, but my glue gun’s at home back in the province so i have to improvise.

Create a 5 Flower applique using the solid pink cotton yarn.

– Chain 3 slip stitch to form a ring. *Chain 4, slip stitch into the ring * (Repeat 4 more times)

Attach a yellow button to the flower.

Attach five leaves at one side of the headband.

Attach the flower applique by sewing it into the headband.

Now you have an improvised headband. Pretty easy right?

Momoink loves it so much that she tries it on:

Momoink loves the headband

Free Pattern: Winter Solace Bolero

[Learn Ginantsilyo by project]

What the project is about: Creating a simple bolero (small shrug) using five pieces of crocheted fabric.

One of the skills I learned as a crocheter is creating ‘forms’ and shapes by adjusting the number of stitches and joining the pieces. This know-how is very useful for me, especially when creating wearable crochet. I can draw the pattern of a blouse and pick up a lace pattern I want then I can adjust the stitches to form the desired shape. I used this technique in creating the winter solace bolero.

[Background why winter solace? – the colors of the yarn used reminds me of the holiday season]

Winter Solace Bolero:

winter solace bolero

Skills to Learn:

Creating pieces of a bolero
Joining the pieces to make a bolero

About the yarns and the pattern:

1. Variegated Yarn of turquoise blue and yarn [You can substitue this with any yarns of choice]. I bought mine from the website http://craftandme.com. The owner gave this yarn as freebie from our last transaction. The yarn is labeled Indonesian Cotton Thread and is quite similar to the Monaco/Cannon mercerized cotton thread we have here in the Philippines, only that the yarn is twice thicker. If you are going to use these brands, two strands would be needed to match the gauge.

ICT Variegated Turquoise bought at http://craftandme.com

2. Turquoise blue Plush Yarn. I bought this yarn from Rosario, Pasig, the famous Bodega sa Rosario and such quoted as Rosario Yarns. You can substitute any plushy looking soft cuddly yarns I actually do not know the actual content of this yarn so i nicknamed it plush yarn

Soft Plush Yarn – Color Blue Green

3. A lace pattern – Pattern #45 from 252 Crochet Patterns Japanese Crochet Book. This has been my favorite lace pattern so far and I have created a lot of different projects from this.

262 Crochet Patterns Excerpt

The actual project instructions:

The bolero is made up of 5 parts, crocheted individually. 2 sleeves, 2 front parts and the back part. I sewed them together using left over crochet thread. Then I added the border. The border’s just plain dc. I used automatic locks to close the front part. And attached two medium sized white textured buttons in front to accentuate.

Gauge: I used 2.10 mm hook (US Size)

13 ch ~ 2in
7 rows ~ 2in

Materials:

Indonesian cotton thread no. 20 (1 ball is 100g, 100% cotton) of variegated turquiose color
Soft plush Turquiose yarn bought from Pasig
2.10 mm Hook
Buttons bought at Carolina’s Lace Shoppe at SM North
Automatic Locks bought at Divisoria
Big needle

—-

Special Stitches:

3dc cluster –

(Yo, insert hook in next st, yo draw yarn through st, yo, draw yarn through two loops on hook) 3 times. yo, draw yarns through 4 loops on hook.

2dc cluster-

(Yo, insert hook in next st, yo draw yarn through st, yo, draw yarn through two loops on hook) 2 times. yo, draw yarns through 3 loops on hook.

3dc closed shell –

Make 3dc on next st.

2dc closed shell –

Make 2dc on next st.

Stitch Diagram:

Continue reading →

Butterfly in Venetian Crochet

: Butterfly in Venetian Crochet

Introduction:

I got this pattern from A. W. B. Crochet Book, I downloaded from Antique Pattern Library. The book is not easy to read. It requires basic knowledge of crochet sticthes and uses a lot of abbreviations. It took a while before I was able to comprehend one crochet instruction, and this is it.

I am specially attracted to butterfly motifs, pendants or appliques that’s why i chose to follow this particular pattern. The crochet instructions that follow is a direct excerpt from the book:

The applique is made from separate parts sewed together, something much akin to irish crochet. Of course since the book is an irish crochet book.

Instructions:

BODY –

Ch 8, miss 1, d into each of the next 6 st, 3 d into end st or topl work d along other side of ch and 3 d at other end also. Work all the way round again with d, working 3 d into the end st, and when you reach the top again, ch 9, fasten into the last d, forming a ring for the head. Over the ring, work 5d; * ch 20, fasten back into 10th st, sl st back to head; * 1 d over ring, repeat from * to *; 5 d over ring, 1 d into same top st on body; work d down to lower end. Ch 11 for second section of body, work d all around three times and a half, always working 3 d into each end, and fasten off at top of section, under upper section.

WINGS –

for the upper wings, work the picot braid the length needed. For the half og th eupper wings and for the lower wings, work pieces of plain braid. (For directions see post about braid)

To form the points in the lower wings, work 1d, 1 ch and 1d into the same st, and in the last row, work 1d picot and 1d into each point; between the points, miss 1 spaces and 2 or 3 st in the longer spaces, to obtain the in-curve.

RINGS –

14d over a ring of 8ch, and 18d over a ring of 10ch. Make four of the larger rings and two of the smaller.

After all the separate pieces are made, baste them face down on the pattern as shown. Sew securely together and put in a filling of twisted bars and Bruges knot.

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The actual project instructions:

The actual project instructions:

Special Stitches:

Stitch Diagram:

Introduction:

Instructions: