Old Embroidery Pattern on New Bag

I am still planning on getting back to my scrap bag pattern but haven't settled which stitch to use for the strap, so that is yet to come .. in the meantime I am working on some cloth drawstring bags.

I ran out of the ribbon I use for the drawstrings, but had a dozen more already cut out... so....

 While waiting for the next trip to town to get more, I added some embroidery to a couple of the bags using floss I had from cross stitch kits I did years ago, lots of different colors but typically not a lot of each one.. perfect for small projects.. and keeps with the theme of using scraps

Looking for some inspiration on Pinterest I came across a funky little bird image that I had also seen in an Etsy shop. 

I was so tempted to get it from the shop, but was having issues with the download I already purchased......  a copy of a embroidery book dating back to the 1880's....

I couldn't open the PDF, turns out it was a link to a site to download it there, instead of the book. I didn't find this out until trying to download it on my phone hours later.. my PC just wouldn't open it

 I tried contacting them but didn't get a reply for over 12 hours ( they are overseas from me ), when the seller replied, I was given another link to download it that my PC was cool with.. no more issues with it.. but this gave me the time to go looking on Pinterest in the first place

 When I found the image of the funky bird on Pinterest it had a link to free internet archive site ( donations are welcome ).. link is at the bottom of this post... they are saving copies of books that would be lost for the most part..

I downloaded this book while waiting and a few others by Briggs & Co. this one is dated 1917... COOL

 So in keeping with using scraps.. I grabbed a small piece of scrap fabric ( from the drawstring bags as it was on top of the pile lol ) and some scrap thread, the kind friendship bracelets are made of... in small hanks like embroidery floss but thick like crochet thread ... I had left over from market days ( made them to hand out to kids ) matched up pretty well... 

 the ribbon is some that was gifted to me, that was some of their scraps and is clearly well over 20 years old, seemed fitting .. 

I used a B 2.25mm hook, standard increase of adding one extra stitch per repeat per round starting with six stitches in the round, until I reached 8 stitches in between increases,

 then just continued with straight single crochet ( US terms )  until I reached a size I liked, working in a spiral .. 

the ribbon is thin so I just did a round of double crochets after a slip stitch to even out the round..

 topped it with a couple of rounds single crochets, used a yarn needle to weave the ribbon through... 

with the color changes of the thread I used a simple knot, a few of inches from the end of the thread, leaving a good two inch tail of both threads,

 I simply worked over both for a bit, keeping my tension on the tight side so it would blend in better.. snipped the ends off close to the stitch after a tug to pull smooth, giving me only the start and finishing tail to weave in.. 

I just did a simple stitch to attach the embroidered fabric to the bag after a rough round cut, keeping it wide spread and uneven.. no fussy cutting or interfacing.. 

I want a bit of fraying to happen as it ages .. the stitches are deep enough to keep it from affecting the embroidery .. oh I did use embroidery floss to stitch it down.. one strand was used throughout. used a back stitch for the inside feather lines and the outline wrapping the outline.. head I did a single wrap french knot..the eye, feet and branch were done with a satin stitch 

as you can see from the photo taken off of Pinterest, I did change it up a little, a few less feather lines due to size and well because I don't normally like coping anything exactly .. even from pattern books.. got to put your own flare on your work 

 

check out those other birds... that owl.. sweet ..

side note.. while I was getting a photo of this bag and the drawstring bags I embroidered, one of which I did a "sketch like" black bird ( see photo below ) .. this guy shows up right outside of my window sitting in the same pose..

this photo is before ribbon was added, did get some finally but as yet to take a photo

 

Link to embroidery book download  

Hat sizing template

 I came across a post on Facebook tonight.. in a group for free hat patterns..
Printable hat templates.. in sizes from baby to adult... print them out, crochet you top circle to that size and stop increasing.. work to the bottom of the tube shaped piece and you got it... Check it out

 Get your free template by clicking on the link
Hat sizing template 



 Examples of the templates, not the full template itself 

Bulky cable knit hat pattern on the web

Things have been very busy.. I'll save details for the next post.. right now I like to share a fun, quick and free..  bulky cable knit hat pattern.. it's from  Lion brand yarns.
 Normally I don't pay a lot of attention to the patterns on the labels of yarn.. but normally I also don't buy bully yarn. ( Hometown USA in ST Paul Sky color way  ).. came across a nice deal .. thought it would make nice warm hats.. so I grabbed a couple with no real pattern in mind..

         Been working on a crochet fingerless glove pattern.. getting stopped too often to keep a train of thought going.. needed something I could pick up a million times and easily find my place.. reached for the closest yarn .. the photo on label looked like it fit the bill.. simple cable repeat...

I love it..

I did make a couple of changes, not really changing the overall look ..
I'm not a fan of the ssk stitch .. what's the point.. slipping then knitting.. just knit two together through the back loop.. quick and easy.. same slant.. so that switch was a must for me .. the only other change was to use the same stitch again for the last round of decreases instead of just knitting two together.. I wanted the slant to remain consistent through out.

I definitely will be making more .. the link is to the pattern on Raverly so you can see the other finished projects..


Cabled hat L32325

Redheart Ombre

                          Been looking forward to playing with the new Redheart yarns for some time now.. having seen the emails about them for ages .. I have been checking our local stores every time I go shopping, as if I wouldn't hit the yarn isle otherwise lol.. finally one store had some labels on the shelves..   the store stocked one color only .. and only a few of them .. I got one skein of True Blue Ombre ..  took another couple of weeks before they stocked more..

love the smooth color changes from light to dark and back again in the same color hue. It is soft but not a big fan of the loose weave of it.. not bad enough to stop using or not get it again though.. I did find one knot.. however it was well placed color wise..  never missed a beat.. all in all I am happy with it..

I made my first pineapple shawl with it.. ran out before the trim ( using just one skein ) I wasn't sure if I wanted the trim to begin with.. the edging of the pineapples is so pretty as it is..

I used the pineapple peacock shawl free pattern on Ravelry ( link below ), the pattern calls for bulky yarn but worked well with worsted weight, I used the same hook size called for.. bit looser stitches also worked well .. I found it to be easy to follow

                                                   on ravelry pineapple peacock shawl

Right now I am playing with Spearmint and the virus shawl.. The weave is tighter and the yarn a bit thinner, easier to work with.. colors are great .. all in all love it

 

virus shawl on ravelry

 

next up will be something made with the violet color way.. this skein is even tighter woven and thinner.. still loving the colors..

Virus shawl

I have been wanting to do a Virus shawl for some time now.. put everything on hold to give it a go .. I used Lions Brand Mandala in Phoenix, with a H/5.00mm ... love it.. so easy to remember the repeats .. will be making more of these ... the yarn is a new favorite as well







virus shawl

Yes Yes Shawl

                                                  I love this pattern.. fun and free yippee...
 I used Lion Brand's Mandala in Valkyrie .. totally love the look.. only problem is I started to run out of yarn before the last repeat of 4 rows was done.. not wanting to give up the length or color change up.. I skipped the 3rd row repeat and added an row of trebles instead of dc's .. kept the over look of the pattern going.. Think I might end the next one with trebles as well.

yes yes shawl on Raverly


My last row ...
ch5, (treble (tr) around back post (bp) of dc , ch1)x's 7 , * ch2, hdc around chain 6 space of previous row, ch 6, hdc around next ch 6 space, ch 2, (treble around back post, ch1)x's 8 repeat from * to center stitches, tr in dc from previous row, ch2, tr in next dc skipping center ch2 space , ch1, * ( tr bp, ch2 )x's 8, hdc around chain 6 space of previous row, ch6, hdc around next ch6 space, ch 2, repeat from * to last cluster, (tr bp, ch1)x's 8, tr into the third start up ch of previous row.

mindless knit shawl even easier with color changing yarn

 

 

There are times when you want to make things without a lot of thought.. well at least there are for me lol..... a few years back I started make these shawls.. lost count on how many long ago .. I needed to try the new Lion's Brand Mandala ... fell for their color ways hard.. got just one..

thinking I could just make one scarf size I started out.. then I came across just one more... in another color way on sale.. half price..  at this point I was liking how it was working up so much I didn't want to stop, so I grabbed it up thinking about half of the colors would work nicely but the other colors not so much.. I did me some cutting.. kept the darker colors and later added them to another skein I got on clearance.. I thought it was a pretty good match up

 This is a top down crochet shawl pattern by Red Heart..

get it free here top-down shawl

 

 I then came across just one skein of the first color way I used .. all at the same store.. at this point I am thinking what a mess their store room must be to keep coming up with these one at a time lol.. but half price no way I could pass on it.. so now it must become a large shawl.. scarf be damned ;) ..

 

I love the look of it .. the super soft feel of the yarn.. the drape ( used a 10.5 needle so a bit larger then called by the yarn maker ) ..

 

a day after getting the last skein my mom comes by with two more for me.. full price :( .. I happened to go back to the store the next day and the rest of them were marked down.. got me a few more lol.. thinking more shawls are on the way :D

 

 

 

the pattern can be found on the link below

 

 

 

shawl pattern idea mindless knit

Skull earrings

been loving this free pattern by Spider Mambo on Ravelry called
 day of the dead sugar skull earrings
check out her other skull patterns

Knit Red Heart Baby Jane Booties

Another free pattern by Red Heart.... if you don't mind seaming and like knitting flat without care of how many ends to weave in this is the bootie pattern for you... lol
I find it much easier to knit in the round myself... I do really like the out come though... think I might do one up in the round

baby jane booties

Red Heart booties

I've wanted to make some booties.. easy fun simple to change up ... got this pattern awhile back from Red Heart.. very easy and cute..

little miss booties

were they easy to change up... YES .. here I added two rounds... following the pattern to the end next round ch 3, dc8, dc2tog, dc9.. last round ch1, sc to end fasten off... they are so easy.. this is not going to be the only pair I make :D

 

crochet duckie

We got babie duckies

I had downloaded a free crochet pattern awhile back that seemed fitting lol... long been a fan of Knit Picks knitting needles and knit patterns.. now I can add their crochet patterns to the list :D I made him using a larger hook than called for ( G )  changed the bill just a bit for a more boyish look

Find the free pattern here

Lil Ducks

Crochet Round Vest at last

I love the look of the round vests, but wasn't happy with the ones I could find online.. even got a paid pattern.. it was ok but not what I wanted.. then I saw a post on Facebook with this pattern for a round sweater... free non the less lol... I just left the sleeves off, added a few extra rows with a shell trim... ( used US I hook,  3 and a half skeins of Red Heart super saver in Icelandic )  LOVE ITDrops Design has some really great patterns ( free ) check them out ... planning on making a few more myself

Moonlight mist

Braided cowl crochet free pattern

I have been seeing these everywhere online.. I had to give it a go.. picked the first yarn I came across that I thought would be enough.. Red Heart's super saver in light blue.. now that I know how much I do like the pattern I will try more colors..
easy to follow.. lots of photos.. you tube links ..

find the free pattern here
double layered braided cowl

Free reindeer pouch pattern

When I first starting crocheting I signed up for email from All free crochet patterns ( see link ) I have found some really cool patterns this way and learned a lot...
All free crochet patterns

When they sent a link for this one I had to give it a go..
Reindeer pouch

I didn't have dark brown yarn for the antlers so went with tweed.. made them with 2 strands held together.. also added a strap ( 2 single crochets ) .. very quick fun pattern :D


As I wanted to make more reindeer patterns I really needed to find some dark brown.. I almost gave up again after trying 3 times... I found some stuck in back of the bottom rack ( had to get on my knees and reach in the darkness.. lol ) at Joann's.. on sale :D that meant I still had my 60% off coupon to use :D :D  I had been sent there to get myself something for our 31 anniversary ( I really prefer it this way.. I get what I want without spending a lot... double win ) always loved stuffed animals when I saw this booklet it had to come home.. going to get started on it soon as I get one more reindeer done as I now have that dark brown yarn... life is good  

Happy Reindeer

Happy Reindeer

I ran across this free pattern from Lion Brand... wasn't look for a red nose reindeer this time so changed it just a bit... very easy and CUTE :D
 

Baby socks free pattern online

red heart baby socks

I came across this pattern on Red Heart had to give it a try .. the photo doesn't really match up with the size of the sock given in the pattern.. it is for a 6 to 9 month old comes out better looking than the photo shows in my option...
I did make a couple of changes.. I made the cuff and leg just a bit longer so the could fold over.. I went with 8 rows of each... I also grafted the toes at 12 stitches ( counting both needles ) instead of 8 as called for.. but made as the pattern calls for would give you a nice baby sock :)

Roly Kittie pattern

I found this supper cute crochet pattern on Ravelry... and it's free :D

 

roly poly cats pattern

 

Free starfish coaster crochet pattern at Joann's

 

 

I was at Joann's craft store the other when one of their free patterns caught my eye.. a quick easy crochet coaster .. I had to give it a go :D

it was fun to work up.. I will be doing more..

 

starfish coaster pattern

Just got done making a ruffle scarf.. love the colors of this Patons Pirouette shimmer in deep wine

Find the free pattern at
ruffle scarf pattern

Pylmouth yarn free hat pattern

A friend asked if I could make a hat like this.. turns out this is a free pattern from Plymouth Yarn... while I would have liked the pattern to include the increases instead of just increase evenly until such and such number of stitches, it does make a nice hat..
the pattern can be found here at Plymouth Yarn
f346