Here’s the fourth part of the crochet series: Nelia. I am done with the pattern for the back and I am just so excited to share it!

[Learn Ginantsilyo by Project]

What the project is about: crocheting the back part of the Nelia – crocheted blouse by using the lace pattern discussed here and use increasing and decreasing stitches to form desired shape.

What is challenging for this part is maintaining the desired shape. I really enjoyed playing with the stitch count to form the back part. Here’s why:

Back part of Nelia – crocheted blouse showing a complicated decrease in stitch count

See that part when i have to maintain that the front and back part spaces should match! and the ‘decrease’ to form the back part of the sleeve looks complicated! And it really was!

I had to always bring the crocheted garment on a piece of pattern I earlier prepared so as whenever I do each row, I have to make sure I acquire the desired shape.

Here’s the pattern for the back. Dig in and enjoy!

Instructions:

[Important note! From your last row, do not cut off the yarn, work from last row (Row 31)]

Row 32: ch 10( counts as 1 tr tr, and 3 ch sp), do 10 tr tr and 2ch repeats on each st of previous row, the tricky part here is to crochet on the previous rows due to decreases. see the dashed line to know where you should put your hook.Continue doing tr tr 2ch until ur on 25th row. turn

Row 33: ch 4 (counts as 1sc and 3ch sp) do 16 sc 3ch until you reach the end of previous row. You will be working as if you are working sideways.the next 12 mesh repeat stitches will be done as if you are working in rows

• first row (including last 3ch sp) ch 1, dc. turn
• 2nd row 4ch dc turn (do 10 more rows)

Row 34. ch 1, do 27 sc 3ch repeats. sc. Turn

Row 35: ch 4 (counts as 1 sc 3ch sp), do 27 sc 3ch repeats. sc. turn;

Row 36: ch 2sc, repeat 22 times. sc. Turn

Row 37: ch, Do 23 sc 3ch repeats. sc. turn

Row 38: ch. Do 21 sc 3ch repeats. turn

Row 39: ch. Do 19 sc 3ch repeats. sc. Turn

Row 40: ch 10( counts as 1 tr tr, and 3 ch sp), Do 14 tr tr (triple treble) 2ch repeats. Do 2 dtr (double treble) 2ch repeats, do 3 tr (treble) 2 ch repeats, do 3 dc 2ch repeats, do sc 2ch repeats. On Row 40 you will work into the 35th row when u reach the end.

Row 41. You have to start your stitch on 8th standing st (second treble from the sleeves part)

4ch (counts as sc and 3ch sp). Do 18 sc 3ch repeats. sc. Turn.

Row 42: (to be continued)

Here is the pattern, you can download it by clicking the image below.

back part crochet pattern for nelia – crocheted blouse

Finally, I was able to finish the pattern for the upper front part of the blouse.

[Learn Ginantsilyo by project]

Rough Sketch of the blouse

What the project is about: crocheting the front part of the Nelia – crocheted blouse by using the lace pattern discussed here and use increasing and decreasing stitches to form a shape

One of the skills I learned as a crocheter is to create shapes by decreasing and increasing stitches. A simple mesh can take form by carefully adjusting the number of stitches per row. Following this notion, I decided on crocheting a top with a wide arm hole – forming the ‘sleeves’ as shownon the left. The sleeves here would be part of the main crocheted garment and would not be crocheted separately.

The UPPER – FRONT PART OF THE GARMENT:

Upper Front Part of Nelia-Crocheted Blouse

The first part that I made was the upper front part of the blouse. You could see that there are increasing stitches on the left side of the cloth to form the sleeves and decreasing stitches on the right side of the cloth to form the neckline. The front parts are crocheted separately since we would join them using a ‘tie’ or a ribbon made from crocheted chain.

Crochet Instructions and Pattern:

We start by crocheting the foundation chain.

Foundation Chain : 55ch [start the next row by crocheting 1ch]

Rows 1-3: Start the Mesh described here.

Row 4: 2sc -ch repeats on the entire row

Rows 5-7: Same as Rows 1-3

Rows 1-7 will form the first part of the lace ‘stripes’.

Row 8: Make a wide stripe by doing a triple treble – 2ch repeats on the entire row. This open lace work will form the second stripe of the lace.

Do rows 9-15  in increasing stitches. Increase should be made by adding another sc – 3ch (same st) every time you reach the armhole part.

Row 16: same as Row 8 but add another tr tr – 2ch on the armhole part to increase stitch

Rows 17-23 will be same as rows 9-15 but start decreasing on the neckline on the 23rd row by turning to 24th row leaving two spaces [space == sc – 3ch] on the 22nd row.

Row 24 – Form the neckline by slowly increasing the stitch height and still following the pattern st – 2ch. The increasing of the stitch height would be (disregarding the 2ch)

[sc – hdc – dc – tr – d tr – t tr on the rest of the row]

Rows 25 – 31 would have decreasing on both sides (arm hole and neckline) The 31st row should have a total of 43 stitches or 10 spaces (sc – 3ch)

Crochet Pattern:

Front Pattern for Nelia – Crocheted Blouse

[You can download the pattern by clicking on the image]

The instructions and the pattern should guide you in making the upper front part of the blouse. Remember to make two of these but do not cut the yarn off until the next instructions for the back part. The back part and the front part will be crocheted as one, but the way the stitches were decreased for the back part is a bit more complicated.

See you for the next patten!

I was able to finish the crocheted top for my mother-in-law. Hence, I am very, very happy. To top the excitement brought by finishing a project, I get to take down a few notes on how I arrived on the design.

I remember the night when I was repeating rows and rows to be able to form the desired shape of the shoulder to armhole part of the top.

This prompted me to perhaps, write down the pattern for this blouse.

The project: Nelia – Crocheted Blouse with front and back ties adorned with pearls

Tadaan! the finished project: A very breezy crocheted blouse. Since she will be wearing this in Saudi, it is but right to make the lace wide and obvious.

Yup, you got it, my mother-in-law’s name is Nelia 😀

I first tried to make a floral pattern but the overall effect became like a curtain so i stopped doing that, and then I got this striped lace effect. I really like stripes 😀

Crocheted blouse for my mother-in-law

Sneak preview of the pattern:

I am not able to finish the whole pattern today, because I have loads of other stuffs to do, too I also played with my baby today, and watched the UAAP 2012 Cheerdance Competition, [Hooray! UP WON!] but i was able to somehow draft the basic design of the lace. here it is:

Lace Pattern for the crocheted blouse

Note that the basic lace is just sc 3ch alternating on each row and then 2sc ch on the fourth then repeat the first three rows. The second layer of lace is a single row of triple treble 2ch repeats. The next part of the post would be about the adjustments on the pattern to form the shape of the shoulder and collar.

Hope to see you again!

Please read Part II here

[Learn Ginantsilyo by Project]

What the project is about: crocheting small flowers using embroidery threads

One of the skills I learned as a crocheter is to interpret knitting instructions to crochet and read japanese crochet instruction books, since most of the stuffs i want to do are written as such. These skills are what I used to create these earrings:

Earring 1: Studded Crocheted Earrings – motif: sunflower

Studded Crocheted Earrings – motif: sunflower
from 100 Mini Motif Crochet Patterns Japanese Crochet Craft Book

Earring 2: Dangling Crocheted Earrings – motif: arum lily

Dangling Crocheted Earrings – motif: Arum Lily
from 100 flowers to knit and crochet by Lesley Stanfield

Skills to learn:

1. Read Japanese crochet instructions
2. Interpret knitting instructions to crochet

Materials needed:

1. Crochet Hook [0.8 – 0.9mm]
2. Embroidery Threads [use two strands]
3. White Glue
4. Earring studs and hooks and other findings also jewelry tools like pliers
5. Scissors
6. Super Glue
7. Reference books

I used two popular books for my reference: 100 Mini Motif Crochet Patterns Japanese Crochet Craft Book and 100 flowers to knit and crochet by Lesley Stanfield. These books are easily searched on google

I bought my studded earrings on an online seller at Multiply [link here] and I got some old earring hooks on my stash

PROJECT 1: Mini Motif Crochet Pattern 16

I love this book. It has loads of stuffs in it and I have been using this as reference for all my crocheted projects in embroidery threads. So now, i tried making one decent output from this.

100 Mini Motif Crochet Patterns Japanese Crochet Craft Book – Cover

The pattern i used is on page 15 labeled Pattern 16

100 Mini Motif Crochet Patterns Japanese Crochet Craft Book – Sunflower Pattern # 16
[Image from https://picasaweb.google.com/augusta2005/MiniMotifCrochetPattern#5309421990371768690]

I used three colors (orange, yellow and green) of the embroidery threads, the japanese instructions says that using the orange thread:

1. Create a loop and crochet 4 sc around to form a ring [4st] (round1), 2sc on each st [8st] (round 2), 2sc on each st [16st] (round 3), sc on each st for two rounds [16st] (round 4-5), sctog on 2 st [8 st] (round 6)

2. attach the yellow thread on the formed flower core, here you have to crochet a bubble of 3 dcs on each st from previous row and then   2ch sc 2ch on each space in between stitches. This will make 8 petals.

3. Attach the green yarn on top of any petals, ch 5, skip 1ch, sc, hdc, 2dc, hdc, sc on each side of the ch to form the leaf.

The instructions from above will make the flower. Create two.

Next put white glue on the back of the flowers using cotton buds. Avoid getting the glue on your fingers. Let the glue dry on the fabric. This would make the flowers stiff and maintain its form.

Attach the stud earrings using super glue, let it dry.

PROJECT 2: Arum Lily Dangling Earrings

Eversince I learned about this book, i just got frustrated because most of the flowers I want to do is in knitting instructions, and I do not know how to knit. Then after sometime I realized that the knitting instructions can be interpreted in crochet! And voila!

100 Flowers to knit and crochet by Lesley Stanfield

The pattern i used is on page 57 labeled Pattern 25, Arum Lily

100 Flowers to knit and crochet – arum lily

The knitting instructions are quite clear so i would just provide translation for crocheting.

1. Drop the purl st [by drop i mean do not do all the rows that says P
2. K is sc
3. kpk (knit purl knit) asks you to make three stitches in one st, so do 3sc on a st
4. s2kpo asks you decrease stitches so do 2sctog in one st
5. m1, k1 also asks you to increase stitches, do 2sc on a st, and sc on next st
6. k2tog is 2sctog

I followed the instructions from 1st round and disregarded the stem since i just crocheted round (4sc) for stem on desired length

For the Spike, i used 8 strands of embroidery thread and just do 6 ch.

I sew the spike on the flower, attached the flower in an earring hook and there! I also used white glue to make the flower stiff.

I can entertain more detailed how-to’s through comments