Make it ! Sombrero Ring Holder !!!

The inspiration for these sombreros comes from Lauren's Mini Sombrero Crochet Pattern .

In fact, the first sombrero (the one with the blue edging) is crocheted following the original pattern, while the next ones (pink and yellow edgings) have in my personal variations to Lauren's pattern.

My sombreros (all of them) were made using a 3,5mm hook and cotton threads.
You need, also, a pair of scissors, a yarn needle, a stitch marker (as working in spiral, it's a good idea to identify the first stich of the round) and a small amount of toy filling.

All the sombreros are crocheted using a pale blue cotton thread

and the colourful edging is made with single crochet stitches (=SC, abbreviation) (US crochet terminology) and picots (each made of 3 chains). Every 3 single crochets, you make a picot!

First Sombrero

Is the one with the blue edging

I simply followed Lauren's pattern.
The only difference is the final embellishment, as I preferred picots to French knots ! ;oD

Second Sombrero

This one has a pointy cone and a slightly larger base.

Some variations were added to the original pattern :

chain 2
round 1 : 4 SCs in the first chain made (4 stitches)
round 2 : 2 SCs in each stitch (8 stitches)
rounds 3 and 4 : crochet 8 SCs around (8 stitches)
round 5 : repeat [1 SC + 2 SCs] 4 times (12 stitches)
rounds 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 : crochet 12 SCs around (12 stitches)
round 11 : 2 SCs in each stitch (24 stitches)
round 12 : crochet 24 single crochets around (24 stitches)
round 13 : repeat [1 SC + 2 SCs] 12 times (36 stitches)
rounds 14, 15 and 16: 1 SC in each stitch around. Slip stitch in first stitch of the round (end of round 16), cut yarn and trim ends in.

With a different colour, add the round of SCs and picots.

I added even a third sombrero to the group

To put the sombrero's cone in the condition to stay straight, you have to contrast it's natural floppiness with the help of some toy filling (use a skewer or the bottom of a pencil to push it inside)

I think that it would be nice to gift a set of sombreros to a friend, maybe 3 or 5 : What do you think??


My cat Margot was very sweet to try one on ....

xxxx, Alessandra

What I made from my T-shirt yarn leftovers ....

At the end of THIS POST I wrote that I had some leftovers from my t-shirt yarn and some royal blue to try .... I did!!!!

I started with the royal blue ... some trivets....

For the granny circle, I just followed a free pattern from Kotbury, HERE !!!
Both the granny square and the granny triangle, instead, I remembered the patterns by heart (I think I made so many of these in the last years!!!) and I worked only 3 rounds for each.
The borders, in all 3 samples, are made of single crochet stitches (US crochet terminology) and the picots are made with 5 chains each!

Then I made two necklaces !
The first one was even shown in my Instagram account ...

I crocheted a long chain with the blue and the red together, then I made some tassels out of some cotton threads from Bali and I knotted them around the foundation chain and .... voila' !!!!


The second necklace had less t-shirt yarn available, so the design had to be slightly different, even though even here some chains were worked ...

With some colourful rayon thread, I embellished this necklace with some slips stitches (pink) and some little arches made with chains!!!

What do you think???

xxxx Alessandra

Make it ! A loopy necklace !!!

.... and here it is : my first post of the year!!!!
I'm happy to be back, after a long Christmas break in Italy and some fun on Instagram!!!! ;oD

As you remember (here), I made some handmade gifts for friends and family members and today I've decided to share one of the patterns with you : did you like the crocheted necklaces ???

They were both gifted : one to my mum (the bold turquoise one, because she has beautiful blue eyes) and one to her sister, aka my auntie (the delicate yellow one .... not because of her eyes!!!!).

I made one for me (4mm hook and yarn from Sirdar WASH'n"WEAR), too, while checking the pattern for you to follow ....

You will need to crochet your own

• 4mm crochet hook (yellow version)/ 8mm hook (turquoise version)
• yarn : there are no restrictions! My yellow yarn is from KATIA MERINO BLEND (colour 19), while the turquoise yarn is from SCHACHENMAYR original MERINO SUPER BIG MIX (colour 69)
• a pair of scissors
• a yarn needle
• buttons as closure (mine are tweed fabric covered, from my friend Alison here )
• some pins and a suitable surface for blocking!

Please note that I follow the US crochet terminology and the following pattern is the one to follow for a necklace crocheted with a 4mm hook!

LOOPY NECKLACE PATTERN

Pick up your 4mm hook, make a slip knot on it and crochet 204 chains.
Insert hook in 2nd chain from hook and make your first single crochet (=SC).
Crochet other 34 SCs along the foundation chain. (you'll have a total of 35 SCs).
Now : 1 SC in next chain, chain 5, 1 SC in next chain (first loop)
           1 SC in next chain, chain 10, 1 SC in next chain (second loop)
           1 SC in next chain, chain 15,  1 SC in next chain (third loop)
           1 SC in next chain, chain 10, 1 SC in next chain (fourth loop)

.... and this is what you will have on your hook .... the first 35 SCs and the four loops ...

You have to repeat the above pattern other 16 times !
You'll have a total of 17 groups of loops (68 loops!) when completed the repetition!!!

After the repetition, you have to crochet : 1 SC in next chain, chain 5, 1 SC in next chain
This is your last loop (#69!) !!!
After that, crochet 30 SCs, so that you reach the last chain of the foundation chain!
Make a loop for the button, chaining as many chains you need (it depends from the dimensions of your button) and then sip stitch in the first chain made for this loop.
Cut yarn, trim in ends and sew the botton on the other end of the necklace!

If you want to crochet a chunky version of this necklace, just change hook (8mm) and yarn and, obviously, something from the original pattern :

Chain 101 chains, instead of 204!
Crochet 15 SCs at the beginning of the necklace, while crochet 10 SCs at the end !
The loopy pattern develops differently :
you start and end with : 1 SC in next chain, chain 5, 1 SC in next chain
in the between, you are going to repeat the original 4 loops pattern only 8 times !

N.B. : the beginning and the end of the loopy pattern presents two close by "five chains" loops !!!

Another thing to consider, before wearing the necklace, is to block it ....

It's really curly when you finish to crochet it, but spraying some water on the necklace, pinned on a rubber board ... well it works!! Let it dry properly (you will just need one night to obtain that!) !!!

NOW you can proudly WEAR it!!!!!

some more details .....

xxxx Alessandra

Today links : Link your Stuff! and Craft Schooling Sunday