In my blog travels, I've been spotting all sorts of heart-shaped things...
Oh yeah, it's nearly Valentines day!
Since I haven't had a chance to be crafty with hearts myself this year, I thought I'd post some of my diy's of crafty days past, in case you want to whip up some heart things this weekend:
How to make a embroidered heart doily:
How to make an arrow ipod cozy:
How to make a (yarn) heart & garland:
Click through for instructions & patterns. :)
Happy (heart) crafting!
Oh, it's December. That's crazy talk, really.
I'm starting to see delicious little DIY's popping up all over the place, now that the season is officially underway! 24 days away, to be exact. Crazy, no?? Who hasn't thought about Christmas yet?! (My hand is up!) Anyhoo, I have no crafty moments to whip up any DIY's of my own, this year, but I did a delightful little one last year:
Lil Embroidered Ornament (free pattern & instructions):
Did you know I have a teeny DIY section?
It's right here. The Pirate Plate is my favorite!
Have you started prepping for the holidays, yet?
The fabulous Mollie of Wild Olive is hosting a virtual Alice-in-Wonderland inspired tea party this week, and I put together a crafty little something-something to help celebrate - a cute cookies + tea embroidery pattern!
Yep, that's right - you can stitch it, too!
Download the free pattern right here.
I drew this little guy with the intention of having him just smiling, but now it looks like he's smiling at those crumby cookies - just about to gobble em up! lol. Anyhoo - hop on over to Mollie's to read my little tea story (and to see all of the other cute tea party guest posts!).
Happy stitching (and tea-drinking!)!
PS - Say hello to my May sponsors & find out how can sponsor, below!
Hi guys! And, whew! Sorry for the weekend MIA-ness, around here! The craft show really wiped me out - lol. I always forget just how much work a show is until I'm doing it! Anyhoo - it was super-fun but super-tiring, and I'm taking today to both catch up a little and take it easy. :) For now:
Here's the ''Fringed Arrow Cozy'' DIY + Free Pattern!
(see it here on Crafted Love, too).
Here's what you'll need to make it:
This pattern makes the perfect size pouch to hold an ipod nano.
- The free ''Fringed Arrow Cozy'' pattern
- 2-3 colors of felt (I used brown, yellow, and turquoise)
- 2-3 colors of coordinating embroidery thread (I used brown, yellow, & green)
- An embroidery/sewing needle & Scissors
Step 1: Cut 2 pieces of felt for the outside of your pouch from one color of felt and 2 pieces for the inside (4 pieces total) using the pattern as a guide. Trace the arrow design onto one of the outside felt pieces (using either a white chalk pencil or fabric marker), and cut it out using small scissors. The color you've choosen for the inside will now show through the arrow silhouette when you lay the top 2 pieces (inside and outside) together.
Step 3: Holding the two together (or pin them in place), hand-stitch around the arrow using embroidery thread through both layers. You can tack the little bits at the end of the arrow down using thread or glue, too - I quickly stitched them with brown thread so they stay in place.
Step 4: Stitch the two pieces together at the top with embroidery thread (to hold the inside and the outside in place so you can slip your ipod in!).
Step 5: Hold the back two pieces together and stitch the top the same as you've just done to the front - to hold the two layers together. Now, hold the back and front layers together in a little sandwich (the inside colors together inside, and the outside facing out). Blanket stitch both sides together using a blanket stitch, but stop about 1/2 an inch from the bottom and knot/tie them off - the bottom and top should be left open, at this point.
Step 6: Using embroidery thread, hand-stitch along the bottom (I did two rows of green stitching, here) through all the layers of fabric. This will close the bottom of the pouch off. Using scissors, cut a little fringe into all the layers of felt that are left at the bottom of the pouch.
And, you're all finished! Your ipod will be stylish and cozy, now! :)
Happy fringe & arrow cozy-making! :)
I made this cute lil crocheted heart bunting for Valentines day to make our apartment a teeny bit festive, and - actually - to finish a project in a short amount of time to actually feel like I had accomplished something. :) lol.
This little crocheted Heart Garland was the result:
At first, I thought...'I have to hurry and post this by Valentine's day! Eeek!'. But I'm bad at planning this stuff, and - frankly - that was slightly stressful and un-fun (which crafts should not be, I declare!). And then I thought - 'Well, I'm leaving my garland up looong after Valentines, so forget about hurrying!'.
Cuz, really, a heart garland can toootalling be a year round thing! Cute, no? :)
So here we be! You, too, can celebrate love all year - via yarn!
How to make your own crochet Heart Garland:
You Will Need:
- Medium weight yarn in 2-3 colors.
- 506 mm crochet hook (whichever you prefer!)
- About 2 watching-tv/free hours
1. Follow Carina's lovely Granny Triangle tutorial.
Make as many triangles as you'd like your bunting to have.
2. Make the same amount of hearts, following my pattern (below).
I used Bamboo Ewe in 'Snapdragon' for my hearts.
Little Crochet Heart Pattern:
Stitched in-the-round, I used a 5mm hook & medium weight yarn.
Round 1 ch 3, sl stitch in first ch to form a loop
Round 2 ch 2, 4 dc & 1 tr & 5 dc in loop, sl stitch in 2ch of first 2
Round 3 ch 1, sl stitch in top loop of next st (this is very hard to miss, super-close to the first ch), ch 2, 1 dc in next st, 1 dc & 2 tr in next st, 1 tr & 2 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc & 1 tr & 1 dc in next st (bottom middle of heart). 2 dc & 1 tr in next st, 1 dc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 dc & 1 tr in next st, 2 tr & 1 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, 1 sc in next, sl stitch in top middle (next) st.
Weave the ends in.
3. Stitch your hearts onto your triangles using a big yarn needle.
It's really simpler than it sounds - see below.
How to: Hold each heart & triangle together in the middle (do one pair at a time), slip your threaded (with yarn) needle through both pieces, leaving a tail at the back. Stitch around the inside edge of the heart with a simple running stitch and come up at the end beside your thread tail at the back. Tie them together in a knot and weave the ends in.
3. Follow Carina's lovely Granny Bunting tutorial.
To quickly string the cuteness together - edit: this is the blue yarn part!!
Really, I just made Carina's cute Granny Bunting (thanks for the inspiration, Carina!), but with sweet little hearts (which were the result of much googling & this-isn't-really-a-heart-shape crochet-testing, after which I just made my own).
Easy peasy, pudding and pie! Or hearts & string?
Please let me know if you have any questions or problems, and feel free to link me up, if you make your own hearts or garland! :) I'd love to see!
PS - What do you think of my new little organized shelf/niche?
I finally have some places for my yarn & my work-in-progress yarn projects in my workspace. Plus, Spongebob is there keep it all company - he he.
Happy crochet-ing! :)
My Bookshelf - Apr. 2011
