Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Embroidery Picture Tutorial: Mini Valentine Heart

Today I have a picture tutorial for this cute little heart. Just in time for Valentine's Day. 

Disclaimer: I live in a basement apartment. And it's the middle of winter. My pictures are dark there is just no way around it. I am by no means a professional photographer, but I feel you will still get the idea from the pictures. Also maybe I am just to hard on myself. 

Materials

Disclaimer 2: I'm all about finding the best deal, reusing, recycling, thrifting. So A Lot of times I have no idea what I'm working with. This time time I do know a few things because I got them as Christmas gifts. 
  • an embroidery hoop ( I used a 6in hoop, but you could go smaller)
  •  needle
  • a woven fabric
  • Embroidery floss. For this project I used J&P Coats. A dark and light color. 3 gradient warm colors. 2 cool colors to off set the warm (so that's 7 colors all together).
  • sharp scissors
Step 1: First I started by drawing a 1 1/2in circle. Inside my circle I rough sketched a heart. I made sure both of my points fell on the same vertical line and that my 2 humps were on the same horizontal line. I then back stitched in the dark color and also backed stitched with the light color around the dark. 

I then took the darkest color of the warm trio and added 5 straight stitches going into the point of the heart.
  
Step 2. With the middle shade of the warm trio, I added 6 long lazy daisy stitches between the straight stitches.

Step 3. With the lightest of the warm trio I added a straight stitch inside of each lazy daisy. Then I added a pistil stitch in between each lazy daisy for a total of 7.

 Step 4. I went back to the darkest warm color and added a pistil stitch between each pistil stitch going in the opposite direction.
 Step 5. With the middle color I added lazy daisies between the pistils for 4 on each side.



 Step 6. With the lightest color fill in with straight stitches.
 Step 7. With one of the cool colors add a row of french knots evenly spaced around the heart.
 Step 8. Finish with the second cool color making pistil stitches around the heart between the french knots.
I made my heart into a button. There are lots of other ideas that will work for this to. I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial.

More Embroidery Tutorials You Will Love

 


Monday, January 23, 2017

The Long Break


I decided to take a break from the blog when I had a baby. That break lasted longer than I anticipated. My Baby is going to be 2 in a few months. I have no idea where the time has gone.

I never realized how important sleep was to my creativity. My baby has not been a good sleeper. My first child was an excellent sleeper. She was sleeping through the night by 6 months. This one.. we are just now getting 7 hours of sleep out of her.

With no sleep, I have felt like a vegetable most days. I can't say that my creativity has been completely lacking. There are still ideas in there, but actually getting those ideas on paper or figuring them out seems like an impossible feet.

This time has not been wasted. I have been growing myself in other areas of fiber art like knitting and embroidery. I hope to expand this blog to include those new possibilities.

Here are some sneak peeks of what I have been working on.
 This is one of my own patterns. You can find it here. Even after 3 years I still get asked to make them for gifts and to sell.
 This is the nurmilintu shawl pattern that you can find on Ravelry. It was really easy to accomplish. 

  This is one of my recent embroidery pieces. I have been making lots of little pieces that I can finish within a nap time.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Tulips Aplenty Dress

 A Free Crochet Pattern


I can not tell you how happy I am that spring is on the way. We will get more chances to go outside and play, and we won't have to deal with those bulky coats. I am adding another old pattern to the blog this week.

This sweet little dress is also from the Crochetvolution archives. I have very slowly been bringing those patterns over to the blog so they can be found in one place. The pictures I have of Little One in this dress make me wonder where all the time as gone. She is not so little any more.

Ravelry Download


This is a longer pattern but it comes together quickly. Because it is so long I have provided a pdf that is available to purchase for $3.00.
Just click the buy now.
It will take you over to my Ravelry Store. This is a great option if you want an ads free printer friendly version.

Celebrate spring with me by trying out this little big pattern.





Tulips Aplenty Dress

 Size: 6 month, 12-18 months, 2-3T


Finished Measurements:
Chest: 16 [18, 20] inches
Waist: 18 [20, 22] inches
Length: 15 [16, 17] inches

Materials:
  • Caron Simply Soft [100 % Acrylic; 6oz/170g per 315 yd/288m skein]; Pistachio 1-2 skeins, sunshine yellow 1 skein
  • G/6 (4.25mm size) hook
  • 2 – 1 ½ in buttons
  • Sewing needle and thread
Gauge: 4 sts/4 rows = 1″ in sc in back loops only

Note: Work in back loops only in odd numbered rounds and rows



Round 1: Ch 92 (102,  112), being careful not to twist, slip st into first ch. 1 sc in each ch across, sl st into first sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sc; {(sc, ch 9, sc, ch 10, sc, ch 9, sc in next sc); sc in next 8 sc} Repeat around to last 6 sc, sc in last 3 sc, sl st into beginning sc.  10 (11, 12) flowers started.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sc {(holding the chain loops in front of your work, skip next sc, insert hook into next sc, yo and draw up a loop, insert hook into next sc, yo and draw up another loop, yo and pull through all three loops (sc2tog just made) skip next sc, sc in next 8 sc} Repeat to last flower. Skip next sc, sc2tog in next two sc, skip next sc, sc in last 5 sc, sl st into beg st.

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st, in beg st. 92 (102, 112) st.

Round 5:Ch 1, sc in first 3 sc,{ (inserting hook through first chain loop of row 2  as you work) sc in next sc, skip center chain loop, sc in next 5 sc,( insert hook through third loop of row 2 as you work) sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc} repeat 8 times, ,{ (inserting hook through first chain loop of row 2  as you work) sc in next sc, skip center chain loop, sc in next 5 sc,( insert hook through third loop of row 2 as you work) sc in last sc, sl st in beginning sc.

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, sl st in beginning sc. 92 (102, 112) st.

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sc, change color keeping first color under your work, (including the chain loop) 6 dc in next sc, change color, keeping second color under your work,{sc in next 8sc, change color, ( including the chain loop) 6 dc in next sc} repeat 9 (10,11) times. Sc in last 3 sc, sl st into beg sc.

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sc, { sk 6 dc, sc in next 8 sc} repeat 8 (9,10) times, sk 6 dc, sc in last 3 sc, sl st in beginning sc

Round 9-16 (9-18, 9-20): Repeat Round 6. 82, (92, 102) stitches

Round 17 (19, 21): Ch 1, sc in same sc, sc2tog,{ sc in next 7 sc, sc2tog} repeat around, sc in last 6 sc, sl st in first sc. 73, (83, 93) stitches

Round 18-37(20-39, 22-41): Repeat Row 6

For smallest size:
Round 38:  Ch 1, sc in next 25 sc, {( sc, ch 9, sc, ch 10, sc, ch 9, sc) in next sc, sc in next 6 sc } repeat 3 times, sc in last 19 sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 39: Ch 1, sc in next 25 sc, {(holding the chain loops in front of your work, skip next sc, insert hook into next sc, yo and draw up a loop, insert hook into next sc, yo and draw up another loop, yo and pull through all three loops (sc2tog just made) skip next sc, sc in next 6 sc)} repeat 3 more times, sc in last 19 sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 40: Ch 1, sc in next 17 sc, sc2tog in next 2 sc, sc in next 3 sc, {(inserting hook through first chain loop of round 38 as you work) skip center chain loop, sc in next 5 sc, (inserting hook through third chain loop of round 38 as you work)} repeat 3 more times, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog in next two sc, sc in last 17 sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 41: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc.

Round 42: Ch 1, sc in next 16 sc, sc2tog in next 2 sc, {sc in next 6 sc, change color, including center loop of round 38, 6 dc in next sc, change color}, repeat 3 more times, sc in next sc, sc2tog in next sc, sc in last 16 sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 43: Ch 1, sc in each sc, skipping all dcs, sl st in first sc, finish off. 64 sc.

Row 44: Starting from where you finished off, sk 16 sc, join with sc in 17th sc, and sc in next 31 sc.

Row 45: Ch 1 turn, sk 1 sc, sc in next 30 sc, sl st in last sc,

Row 46: Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 28 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 47: Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 26 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 48: Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 24 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 49: Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 22 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 50- 55: Ch 1 turn, sc in each st across.

Row 56: Ch 1 turn, sc in next 3 sc, ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in next 10 sc, ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in last 3 sc.

Row 57: Ch 1 turn, sc in each sc and 3 sc in each 3 ch sp. Finish off.

Straps


Row 1: starting where you finished off in round 42, sk 6 sc, join with sc, and sc in next 5 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1 turn, sc in next 6 sc.
 Keep repeating till you have your desired length. Finish off. Sew button on to this.


Row 1: Using the end of Rnd 43 as your guide, sk 6 sc, join with sc, and sc in next 5 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 6 sc.
Keep repeating till you have your desired length. Finish off. Sew button on to this.

  For the larger sizes:


Round 40(42):  Ch 1, sc in first 27 (32) sc, {( sc, ch 9, sc, ch 10, sc, ch 9, sc) in next sc, sc in next 6 sc }repeat 4 times, sc in last 21 (26) sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 41 (43): Ch 1, sc in next 27 sc, { (holding the chain loops in front of your work, skip next sc, insert hook into next sc, yo and draw up a loop, insert hook into next sc, yo and draw up another loop, yo and pull through all three loops (sc2tog just made) skip next sc, sc in next 6 sc)} repeat  4 more times, sc in last 21 (26) sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 42 (44): Ch 1, sc in next 25 sc, sc2tog in next 2 sc, sc in next 3 sc, {(inserting hook through first chain loop of round 40 (42)  as you work) skip center chain loop, sc in next 5 sc, (inserting hook through third chain loop of round 38  as you work)} repeat 4 more times, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog in next two sc, sc in last 25 sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 43 (45): Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc.

Round 44 (46): Ch 1, sc in next 24 sc, sc2tog in next 2 sc, {sc in next 6 sc, change color, including center loop of round 40 (42), 6 dc in next sc, change color}, repeat 4 more times, sc in next sc, sc2tog in next sc, sc in last 24  sc, sl st in first sc.

Round 45 (47): Ch 1, sc in each sc, skipping all dcs, sl st in first sc, finish off. 74 (84) sc.

Row 46 (48): Starting from where you finished off, sk 19 (24) sc, join with sc in 22nd  sc, and sc in next 38 sc.

Row 47 (49): Ch 1 turn, sk 1 sc, sc in next 36 sc, sl st in last sc,

Row 48 (50): Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 34 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 49 (51): Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 32 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 50 (52): Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 30 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 51 (53): Ch 1 turn, sk sl st and 1 sc, sc in next 28 sc, sl st in last sc.

Row 52 (54) - 59(62): Ch 1 turn, sc in each st across.

Row 60 (63): Ch 1 turn, sc in next 3 sc, ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in next 14 sc, ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in last 3 sc.

Row 61 (64): Ch 1 turn, sc in each sc and 3 sc in each 3 ch sp. Finish off.

Straps repeat smaller size for larger sizes. 

Finish Off and Weave in all ends. Block where it is needed. 


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