Free Tutorial - 7 string crochet necklace

This is a very easy crochet pattern - great for any beginner, but also nice for an experienced crocheter (is that word?). You can add your own personal touch with the length you make it, the number of strands, the type of yarn you use, or you may even add some beads!

Materials

I used a size 20 crochet cotton (a tight 3 ply, not a 'soft'), and a 1.5mm hook for the above.

Could use anything you liked, this is not an exact pattern. I like the finer look, but a really chunky yarn could work just as well for winter!

How To:

1st strand: Chain as many stitches as required to go around your neck (my examples was about 160st, around 15.5", or 40cm).

1st turn: Slip stitch in the second chain from the hook. Continue slip stitching in next stitches for about 3/4", or 2cm (for the example above that was about 10 stitches).

2nd strand: Continue with a long chain that is just a bit shorter (say 1/4" or 0.5cm) than your first chain length (for me that was 145-150 chains).

Join end of strand 2 to beginning of strand 1: Find the 10th chain from the beginning of your original length (or how many you slip stitched at the turn), and join with a slip stitch. Slip stitch to the end. You should now have 2 strands joined together at both ends, with the first strand being slightly shorter than the last strand.

Additional strands: Turn work around, chain 1, slip stitch into 2nd stitch. Continue slip stitching along the joint section. Chain the next strand a little longer than the previous strand (by 1/4-1/2", or 0.5-1.5cm). Join strand to previous by slip stitching the last 3/4" or 2cm as done previously. Be careful to not get the strand twisted around each other before joining. It doesn't matter if the strand you just made is twisted before joining, it only matters if the strands are twisted around themselves before joining.

Finishing: You should have an uneven number of strands (5, 7, 9 etc.), which gives a loose yarn end to finish off at both ends. At one end, use this yarn end to sew on your button for the closure. At the other end, chain enough chains to go over the botton, and join by slip stitching back to the beginning (see photo above). Use a needle to sew in this loose end, and you're done! If it looks a bit 'wrinkly', give it a quick press with the iron.

Extra Tips

• If you want a really fine tight look, use a smaller hook than suggested for the yarn you use, or pull each chain tight as you crochet.
• Try some variations: different yarn, length, number of strands; add some beads (thread them onto the yarn before you start crocheting)
• When pressing: use a pin, or some tape, to anchor one end as the pull the strands slightly to press them straight; then anchor the other end a repeat.

Feel free to link to this free tutorial, but do not use my photos without any acknowledgment. You can use this pattern for making items for yourself, or to sell, but please don't try and sell this pattern! Most of all have fun creating!

Long Beanie & New Vest for Troy

I seem to have a little obsession for crochet at the moment. But who can blame me, it is coming into winter after all!

ICAN is holding an exhibition during the June long weekend at the Old Court House in Wollongong, the theme being "All about Long". So, continuing on my hat theme, I decided to crochet a long beanie, from a long strand of yarn:



And one beanie became two:

 I also decided Troy needed a little vest to keep him warm. So I designed and crocheted this:

The buttons are false - there are snaps sewn behind them. Next time I will make the buttons real - snaps sewn onto yarn really don't work that well. You have to pry them open with your finger nail. You can't just pull at the crocheted fabric because it stretches too much. I do really like the side entry though (the opening is on the right side and right shoulder).

The yarn used in the beanie is "Filo Grande", colour is "paint pot", from www.seansheep.com, bought from Big W for about $5.70. It is a 12ply acrylic yarn, and I used a 6.5mm hook around the head (about 6 rows), and the rest was done using a 10mm hook (spiral). All done in double crochet.

The yarn for the vest was bought from one of those cheap $2 shops. It took just over 1 ball of 8ply acrylic yarn (yes, $2 per ball), using a 5mm hook, all DC.

Pixie beanie - crochet

I have been quite busy with the hook and yarn lately. My first was a pixie, or gnome beanie, making up a pattern as I went based on this: http://lorajeansmagazine.blogspot.com/2011/02/tutorilal-how-to-crochet-baby-gnome-hat.html

Instead of crocheting in rounds, I just spiralled around ( I hate the look of joined rows, and don't mind the spiral affect at all). I also used 3 strands of 8 ply yarn together (all different blues) with a 10mm hook, working in double crochet. I like the chunky affect, and it works quickly! I finished most of this beanie in one feed! Just had to finish the ear flaps after he was finished!

Just wished I made it a little bigger - their heads seem to grow quite quick at this early age.

Trial Doll

Here is a doll I worked on today while Troy was asleep. This has been developing over the last two weeks and this is the 2nd prototype. The first was quite different: short stumpy legs and arms, big head. I decided I didn't really like it that much (started from an old toys book I found at the Salvos, printed in the 80's). Lilly's first reaction to this doll was "wow, she's got a tutu!".

Prototype tactile fish

Unfortunately my youngest leftleg model had a stint in hospital. So what do you do when you're stuck next to a hospital crib 24-7? I hand sew a prototype sensory or tactile toy for a baby - in this case a fish! Each scale is a flap of different fabric. Just to let you know, I never sew by hand - I love my machines. But after 11 days in hospital hand sewing different projects I have found a respect and slight affection toward hand sewing.
So here are a few photos of my prototype fish... can anyone come up with a good name for him?

And here's my little man - this was cannula no. 3!

WIP: Coral Reef / Rock Pool crochet

    

Some trial pieces for my crocheted coral reef / rock pool project. I am thinking of making a wall hanging for above our bed. Got some great inspiration from the rock pools at Depot Beach on the weekend too! I'm not using any patterns for this, just freestyle crochet. If you are interested in doing something like this I recommend a google image search on "crochet coral reef" - there is a lot of inspiration out there! When I get some more done I will post some more photos. And if there are any comments asking, I will put out some basic instructions on how to if you want.

Our New Family Member!

 Well here is my excuse for not much posting lately:

This is our lovely son Troy. He was 3.5kg/7ld 10oz, quite a bit lighter than Lilly (4.2kg/9ld 4oz), yet they were about the same length (around 54cm)! (I'm glad I have kids with small heads too.)

It's amazing that after going into early labour at 27 weeks (told not to exercise, and take it easy for the rest of the pregnancy), then thought we were going into labour again at 35 weeks, we ended up having to be induced a week after my due date!