Ginantsilyo

I am making my bestfriend a red riding hood bolero (see here) and the yarns needed for the bolero finally arrived. Tis a bit expensive though because a lot of customs tax were added to it, anyway. Since I am doing it, I decided to write down the instructions as I go.

Stitches are similar to the winter solace bolero (see here)

Materials:

Red Soft Cotton Yarn 4Ply

2.10mm hook

Instructions

Ch 75(Slip st to form a circle)

Round 1:

Ch 5,  dc on 8th ch from hook, (ch 2 skip 2ch), dc on next 5 ch.

**(*ch 2 skip 2 ch, dc on next st*) Repeat * 3 times.  (ch 2 skip 2ch)  dc on next 5 ch.**
Repeat ** 4 times,

(ch 2 skip 2ch) dc on next ch (ch 2 skip 2ch). slip st from third ch of the row.

Round 2:

ch3, 2dc on same sp. (ch 2 skip 2st) dc on next st, (ch 2 skip 2st),

(2dc cluster on next 2st) dc on next st, (2dc cluster on next 2st).

*(ch 2 skip 2st) dc on next st, (ch 2 skip 2st), 3dc closed shell on next st,

(ch 2 skip 2st) dc on next st, (ch 2 skip 2st), (2dc cluster on next 2st) dc on next st, (2dc cluster on next 2st).*

Repeat * 4 times, (ch 2 skip 2ch) dc on next ch (ch 2 skip 2ch). slip st from third ch of the row.

to be continued..

Making a chain is just two easy steps:

Yarn out – which is abbreviated as YO – and draw yarn into loop (also called yarn in YI).

These two steps create a chain. Doing this over and over creates a continuous chain.

So remember this. Yarn Out Yarn In. YAYI.

And the proper hand posture for doing this is as show below, with the hook always facing opposite the yarn.

Not with hook facing the yarn.

Resource Crochet Basic 80 Techniques

When you start crocheting the first thing you do is create the initial knot. This is called the slip knot.

First hold your yarn and hook as shown in the picture:

Next. Move your hook hand around (as directed by the arrow) . The yarn should be twisted onto the hook like this:

Hold this loop between your thumb and middle finger.

Move your hook hand as directed by the arrow on the picture below. This procedure is sometimes called ‘yarn out’ where you take a yarn around your hook out of the available thread in between the index finger and thumb.

Now draw your hook inside the initial loop as directed by the arrow. This procedure is mostly called ‘draw yarn though loop’ in most pattern instructions.

Now you have made your slip knot and also your initial stitch:

Tighten the knot by pulling the other end as directed by the arrow.

You are now ready to create your crochet chain.

Resource:  Crochet Basic 80 Techniques

Crocheting uses two hands to create the stitches. For right-handed people, the right hand is the one that holds the hook and the left hand holds the yarn. For left-handed people, it is the right that holds the yarn and the left hand holds the hook.
Hence I shall call hook hand and yarn hand the one that holds the hook and the yarn respectively.

How to thread the yarns in your hand?

The illustration above shows how the yarn is threaded on your fingers and how it should look on the side. The middle finger and the thumb keeps the yarn in place. where as the index finger is responsible for adjusting the tension of the yarn you are crocheting.

The figure above shows how the index finger adjusts the yarn tension. As you crochet, you consume yarns. The way you hold your yarn in your hand should be in such a way that it allows free movement of yarn.

To put this simply, I am going to name the parts of the yarn hand (This is based on my understanding. Feel free to contact me if you have revisions or comments).

How to hold the hook?

There are many ways to hold the hook, but most Filipinos I have observed who crochets holds the hook as they hold a pencil. As shown below:

And the hook hand usually moves this way:

Hope this helps.

Next! Making a slip knot

Materials for Voo Doo Doll (ring not included)

I’ve been squeezing my head for ideas on what you could do with crochet chains. Something easy and creative. And while I’m riding the MRT on my way home my mind drifted again. As it always does when i have nothing to do. I remember my favorite project – the witch doll which i learned during my elementary days. However the witch doll is a yarn craft not necesarilly something you crochet. Probably you could crochet the witch doll’s garment, but it’s not still the thing i have in my mind. As i discarded that idea, I remember my friend’s keychain a pink voodoo doll. Then it hit me.

You could actually create the voodoo doll’s head using crochet chains. You just have to wrap it around a ball, a wooden round bead or something. So here it is, the second series to the Things to do with a crocheted chain.

Materials Needed:

• Yarn (of course) I prefer acrylic yarn, coz of their fibrous finish.
• Hook (size depends on thickness of yarn)
• A wooden round bead.
• Scissors
• Bostix Sew no more Glue
• Wires with round/loop end
• cardboard

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Violet Wrist Band with Buttons

NOTE: If you want to order a blouse of the same kind, kindly leave a comment below

Materials:

Materials Used for making crocheted wrist band

• 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.

The buttons I used came from stashed buttons given to me by a local wholesale store of threads and other tailoring needs. (I’ll post a blog later)

Choose Buttons with this kind of back:

Buttons used

The purpose of this is the button will serve as the lock of the band.

The yarn’s frm Rosario Pasig. It was given to me free by the manong. Because I bought two kilos of yarns from him.

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

Instructions:

Make a knot

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

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

Description of the Project

A cool blend of turquiose and white hues that will remind you of the coming holiday season. This practical project uses up a simple combination of double-crochet and chain stitches adorned with fluffy plush yarn. I used just a 100g ball of Indonesian Cotton Thread. You could actually substitute any locally available crochet thread and just adjust the gauge. Luckily for us, the soft plush turquiose yarn used for the borders of the clothing is available locally. I got this one from Bodega sa Rosario, Pasig.

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.

Finished product:

winter solace bolero

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