Magic with hook and needles

Francesca - the Mermaid

By Vendulka - January 07, 2016

Hi my dears,

do you remember this picture from my instagram? My little riddle was: what do you think, it will be my next project? And what to you think, did I finished it?

Here is an answer:

Mermaid Francesca - crochet pattern by VendulkaM

... Her voice was the most beautiful sound, they have ever heard.

The sailors and citizens of all harbor sat on the coast secretly and silently, when she sang.

And when she danced between the waves - nothing can be compared with it.

It was like all sea danced with her in the natural harmony. She was so shy and so elusive.

Her name was Francesca - the Mermaid...

Something to listen ...

The pattern will be soon!

..........................♥.............................

13 Comments

amigurumi

It is here again :-)

By Vendulka - January 02, 2016

Hi my dears,

so it is here again. The new year begun! I hope, that you celebrated and started it well :-) As always, I am thinking of all past year and as always I am frustrated and angry on myself, that I didn't fill my goals - again! How is it possible??? Because I know, that I worked really hard and I have the feeling that I didn't stop all over year, that the time was flying through my fingers. Oh, I know it! I give to myself impossible goals! :-) As my hubby says: "Return back to the earth, from the flying with the unicorns". I never knew, what he is thinking with this sentence :-) Anyway this year, I promised to myself, that I will stop to give to myself all these impossible goals. I just would like feel peace in my heart and then ... I know, that then, everything will go better...

And when I am thinking of past year, and the years before. I would like to thank you so much for your support again, my dears. You are my shinning stars ♥. Thank you so much for beeing with me, following me, thank you for your patience with me... And for this year, I would like to wish you, to you will have a great year, I wish you will have a peace in your hearts too! And I hope, that we will meet again, with some yarn and hook in your hands, also in mine :-) and that we make together something colorful, what lights up our days! I love you, my dears ♥

3 Comments

amigurumi

Little birdie..

By Vendulka - December 22, 2015

Little Robin bird told me, that Christmas is almost here... :-) I wish you to spend all time before the Christmas in peace and good mood.

If you would like to make some cutes Robin birds as a decoration, the pattern is ready :-)

Christmas decoration - robin bird by VendulkaM

..........................♥..........................

4 Comments

christmas

Christmas wreath

By Vendulka - December 13, 2015

Hi my dears,

third candle is burning today. I wish you nice advent time ♥

In case, you haven't made door's wreath yet, or you would like to make new one next year :-) - I wrote for you new free tutorial on Christmas wreath, embellished by red poissentia, sweet-smelling winter spices and glittering Christmas embellishment :-)

Merry Christmas !

Christmas wreath

Design by Vendula Maderska

November 2015

Recommended material:

Yarn weight: Sport / 5 ply (12 wpi)
Yardage: 164 yards (150 meters) per 50g ball
e.g., 60% cotton 40% acrylic, Kacenka by Nitarna Ceska Trebova, www.nitarna.cz
Or another yarn with this gauge: 24 stitches in 4 inches
You will need about 80-90 grams totally, for wreath average: 26 cm/10,2 inches
I used a hook 3 mm
You will need these colors: 0010 white, 3374 red, 6124 bright green, 6954 khaki green

Tip for alternative material: yarn named Jeans by Yarnart – exactly same yarn as Kacenka

Other material: needle with blunt tip, common needle, common sewing thread, blue wire average: 0.5 cm/0.2 inches, green ribbon – width 1,5 cm/ 5/8″ about 40 cm/15,7 inches, 3 pieces of Christmas balls or embellishment on wire average 2,5 cm /1 inch, 3 pieces of glitter polystyrene star on wire, average 2.5 cm /1 inch, one gold glittering paper bow, 6 yellow beads size 6/0 average 4 mm, 3 pieces of brown glittering cone on wire size 4 cm/1,6 inches, some winter spice: 2 pieces of cinnamon and 2 pieces of star anise, polystyrene wreath average 26 cm

Size of finished wreath: 26 cm/10.2 inches

You should know how to crochet these stitches:
Chain (CH), Slip stitch (SlSt), Single crochet (SC), Half double crochet (HDC), Double crochet (DC), Treble crochet (TR)

Instruction:

Begin with the wreath. It is easy quick crocheting :-)

First of all, you should measure your wreath and adjust the number of the stitches.

Beginning: use white yarn and crochet 34 CH (It is enough for my wreath).

Row 1: insert a hook in fourth stitch from the hook (first 3 CH will counted as 1 DC) and crochet 1 DC in every stitch from previous row (32 DC), 1 CH for turning the work, turn

Row 2: continue with white yarn and make: 1 SC in every stitch from previous row ( 32 SC), 3 CH as for turning the work (these stitches will be counted as a first DC of next row), turn

Row 3: continue with white yarn and make:1 DC in every stitch from previous row ( 32 DC), 1 CH for turning the work, turn

Row 4 - 5: same as row 2 and 3, end the work

Row 6: use bright green yarn and crochet 2 CH as a first HDC, 1 HDC in every stitch from previous row (32 HDC), end the work. Turn the work.

Row 7: use white yarn and crochet 3 CH as a first DC, 1 DC in every stitch from previous row (32 DC), end the work. Turn the work.

Row 8: use red yarn and crochet 1 SC in every stitch from previous row (32 SC), 3 CH for turning the work (these stitches will be counted as a first DC of next row), turn

Row 9: continue with red yarn and make: 1 DC in every stitch from previous row ( 32 DC), 1 CH for turning the work, turn

Row 10: continue with red yarn and make: 1 SC in every stitch from previous row ( 32 SC), end the work, turn

Row 11: use white yarn and crochet 3 CH as a first DC, 1 DC in every stitch from previous row (32 DC), end the work. Turn the work.

Row 12: use bright green yarn and crochet 2 CH as a first HDC, 1 HDC in every stitch from previous row (32 HDC), end the work. Turn the work.

Repeat row 1-12 until row 96, then end the work.

You will crochet by same way to the desired length. Only change you will make - it will be in the alternating green colors in rows of HDC - bright green and khaki green.

When you have finished your work, then place both ends to each other and crochet or sew them together. I crocheted it. I used white yarn and crochet 1 SC in next 32 stitches, end the work. The picture in the middle is wrong side of my work, the picture on right is right side of my work.

Neaten free threads. Then cover your wreath with your crocheted piece.

Sew the edges together. Use tapestry needle, white yarn and sew from inner edge to the second inner edge across, as you see on the picture below. Make nice tiny stitches.

Now continue with embellishment :-)

You will make red poinsettia.
Use red yarn, hook 3mm and crochet some leaves :-)

Big leaf - make 6 same pieces

Beginning: 8 CH

Round 1: insert a hook in second stitch from the hook and crochet 1 SC in next 7 stitches, don't turn the work, continue in circle direction and make 1 SC in next 7 stitches (14 stitches), 1 SlSt in first stitch of the round

Round 2: 3 CH as a stitch, 3 TR in very first stitch, 1 TR in next 2 stitches, 1 DC in next 2 stitches, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 SC in next stitch, 4 CH insert a hook in second stitch from the hook and crochet 1 SlSt in next 2 stitches, 1 SC in next stitches. Insert a hook in leaf again and crochet 1 SC in next stitch, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches, 1 TR in next 2 stitches, 4 TR in last stitch, 1SlSt in first stitch of the round, end the work.

Middle leaf - make 5 same pieces

Beginning: 9 CH

Round 1: insert a hook in 4 stitch from the hook and crochet 2 TR, 1 TR in next stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 SC in next stitch, 3 CH, insert a hook in second stitch from the hook and crochet 1 SlSt in next 2 stitches. Insert a hook in a leaf again nd crochet 1 SC in this stitch, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches, 1 TR in next stitch, 3 TR in next stitch, 1 SlSt in first stitch of the round, end the work.

Small leaf - make 3 same pieces

Beginning: 7 CH

Round 1: insert a hook in 4 stitch from the hook and crochet 2 DC in this stitch, 1 DC in next stitch, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 SC in next stitch, 3 CH, insert a hook in second stitch from the hook and crochet 1 SlSt in next 2 stitches. Insert a hook in a leaf again nd crochet 1 SC in this stitch, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 DC in next stitch, 3 DC in last stitch, 1 SlSt in first stitch of the round, end the work.

Green leaf - make 3 same pieces
Beginning: Use khaki green yarn and crochet 8 CH

Round 2: 3 CH as a stitch, 3 TR in very first stitch, 1 TR in next 2 stitches, 1 DC in next 2 stitches, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 SC in next stitch, 1 SC in next 2 stitches, 1 HDC in next stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches, 1 TR in next 2 stitches, 4 TR in last stitch (21 stitches), 1SlSt in first stitch of the round.

Round 3: 1 CH, 2 SC in one stitch - repeat 3 times totally, 1 SC in next 7 stitches, 4 CH insert a hook in second stitch from the hook and crochet 1 SlSt in next 2 stitches, 1 SC in next stitches. Insert a hook in leaf again and crochet 1 SC in next 7 stitches, 2 SC in one stitch - repeat 3 times totally, 1 SlSt in first stitch of the round, end the work.

Neaten free threads. Use common sewing thread and needle and sew the leaves together one by one.

Begin with largest red leaves. Then add middle leaves and small leaves at the end.

Use 5/8 (1,5 cm) width ribbon, cut two pieces about 20 cm long each. And fold them nice, twice. Pin the ends.

Place the ribbon pieces under the flower and sew them nicely. Then sew some yellow beads and place glitter polystyrene ball in the middle of the flower. Glue it by glue gun. At the end sew green leaves irregularly. And your red poinsettia is finished :-)

Now take a wire. I used the wire wrapped by blue straw, which I bought in my favorite shop for flowers arrangement. Fold it in half gently and curl the ends a little bit by your fingers. The middle of the wire should be shaped according to the wreath. Then use some embellishment on wire - I used glitter cones and wrap them on the biggest wire. Finally sew all together, to be sure, that nothing fall down. So you have prepared your red poinsettia embellishment.

Place it on your wreath and you could sew the wire, or you could use glue gun to fix it. This time, I used glue gun. I added some winter spices - I love that smell :-) and I added some glitter polystyrene stars and balls. I sticked it to the wreath and fixed it by glue a little bit too.