Handmade Crocheted Lace Pattern

Now that it looks like spring is actually on its way, I am putting away my bulky knitting and crocheting projects for more fine work.  For part of my bridesmaid's gifts at my wedding, I made everyone a monogrammed handkercheif after seeing some really pretty ones on pinterest.  After making five from total scratch (including crocheting the lace) I swore I would never ever do that again.  But after a year break from lace making I decided I wanted to make another set.  This is the first type of lace that I did and it is really straight forward.  I hope you enjoy this pattern.

What you will need:
Fine crochet thread (something that will work with a US 11/12 hook)
US 11/12 metal crochet hook

The Pattern:
Chain a length that is slightly longer than you need (for these 10" square hankies, I chained 41")
Sc in 2nd chain from hook, Sc in next 4 chains
*Ch 9, skip next 3 ch, sc in next 9 ch  Repeat from * until you have reached the end Ch 1 turn
Sc in 3 sc
*Ch 3, make 11 dc in the ch-9 loop, ch 3, skip 2 sc, sc in next 5 sc  Repeat from * until you reach the end, ending with sc in last 3 sc
Sc in 1st sc
*Ch 3, sc in next dc, (ch 5, skip next dc, sc in next dc) 5 times; ch 3, skip 2 sc, sc in next sc  Repeat from * until you reach the end
Break off

You're done!  If you have any questions/comments, leave them in the comments box!

DIY Crocheted Mittens

As promised, here is a pattern that uses the back post and front post double crochet stitches!  I usually wear a size large mitten, but these fit pretty tight on my hands so this pattern would be congruent with a normal size medium.  I suggest measuring this pattern on your hand as you go, just to make sure that it is fitting properly (and add or decrease stitches as needed).  I love how these mitts turned out - they are pretty and super warm.  Here is the pattern!

What you will need:
2 balls of worsted weight yarn (320 yds total) - I used Bernat satin
5mm (U.S. 8) crochet hook
Scissors
1/4 yd minky fabric (to coordinate with yarn)
Thread to match fabric
Sewing machine or hand sewing needles

Abbreviations:
Ch = chain
Sl St = slip stitch
Sc = single crochet
Dc = double crochet
FPDC = front post double crochet
BPDC = back post double crochet
*For instructions on the FPDC and BPDC go here.

1.  Make the cuff.
a. Ch 21
b. Sc in each chain
c. Sc in back loop of each Sc
d. Sc (normal) in each Sc
e. Repeat steps c & d until cuff reaches 14" long

Alternating rows of Sc in the back loop and normal Sc makes the ribbing of the cuff.

f. Sl St the ends together to make an actual cuff.

2.  Start on the hand.
a. Sc around the top of the cuff - 36 Sc total around
b. Dc in each Sc around
c. *4 BPDC, 4 FPDC *repeat around (for instructions go here)
d. FPDC in each BPDC and BPDC in each FPDC around
e. Repeat x6 rounds

3.  Make the thumb.
a. Ch 10
b. Skip 8 Dc and attach with a Sl st
c. Sc around the thumb x6 rounds
d. Skip 1st Sc, Sc around the thumb
e. *Skip every 2nd Sc *repeat around the thumb until the thumb is closed
f. Tie off

Thumb is finished!

4.  Continue with the hand
a. Tie onto the corner of thumb and the hand

b. Continue putting FPDC on top of BPDC and vice versa around the hand
c. When you get to the thumb, attatch with a Sl St, turn and repeat x2

d. The thumb will be attached now, continue putting the FPDC on top of the BPDC and vice versa around the hand
e. Repeat step d x10 rounds, adding in 1 stitch each round (I find that this pattern tends to get tighter as you go on, so the added in stitch is pretty necessary)
f. Skip every 2nd Dc around the loop, repeating until the hand is closed in on itself
g. Tie off

5.  Line the Mitts
a. Cut out the shape of your hand in the minky fabric

b. I used a simple running stitch around the lining.  You can use a sewing machine (I just didn't because I didn't have mine with me at the time).

As an aside, I absolutely despise working with minky fabric.  It is slippery and leaves fuzz everywhere; the fuzz is really similar to insulation, which makes for great mitten lining, but is extremely annoying to work with.

My pants, after sewing the lining for these mitts.  I had to have Brett vacuum me after.

c. Now insert the lining into the mitts, fold the tops over to make a nice hem and sew them down.

You're done!

I am happy to answer any questions, so leave them in the comments section.

How to Back Post Double Crochet and Front Post Double Crochet

I am going to be using both the front and back post double crochet stitches in an upcoming crochet tutorial.  I wanted to post the how-to for the stitches before I posted the whole tutorial, to make it all a little easier.  These were new stitches to me, so I figured that they might also be new to you.  In the photos, I used an "x" to mark the stitch we are working on top of and the new stitch once it is formed.  I tried to break it down in a simple way, but if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

When alternated, this is how the front and back post double crochets look - they have sort of a brick-like pattern that I thought was cute.  I will be using this in a mitten pattern, but this would look nice in a blanket too.

First we will start with the Back Post Double Crochet

1.  As you can see in step 1, we just wrap the yarn as you would usually start a double crochet.
2.  Now, working from the back, you weave the crochet hook over top of the stitch you are working on top of.  As you can see in the picture, the "double crochet post" that you are working on top of is behind the crochet hook.
3.  Now continue to yarn over and pull through, as you would with any other double crochet stitch
4.  Step four shows the finished back post double crochet.  You can see that this stitch has a sort of separation from the double crochet post beneath it (this is what makes it look different than the front post double crochet).

Now for the Front Post Double Crochet

1.  Again, we start with the same yarn over as you would for a double crochet.
2.  Now, we work from the front and weave the hook behind the stitch that you are working on top of.  In the picture, you can see the previous double crochet post is in front of the crochet hook.
3.  Now continue to yarn over and pull through as you would with any other double crochet stitch.
4.  In the picture, you can see the new double crochet looks like a continuation of the double crochet post beneath it.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

With all of the beautiful snow we are getting here in Saskatchewan, I am in a very Christmas-y mood.  Two more weeks of school and we are out for Christmas break! Woohoo! I can't wait to put up our Christmas decorations this weekend.  I have been crocheting stars and snowflakes like a wild woman to put on our tree.  I haven't found many good patterns online, I get all of my patterns from my Baba.  The image below is three generations of the amazing ladies of our family.

Me, Baba and my Mom

What you'll need:
J & P Coats Crochet Cord (size 50)
Small metal crochet hook (size 12)
Scissors
Iron
Clothes starch
Ornament Hooks

The Pattern:
1.  Chain (ch) 8, join with slip stitch (sl st) to form a ring
2.  Ch 7
3.  *Triple crochet, ch 3* repeat 7x in ring, join with sl st in 4th link of ch 7
4.  Ch 1, 5 single crochets in each ch 3 space, sl st in 1st single crochet
5.  Ch 8, skip 4 single crochets, single crochet in next single crochet
6.  In each loop, single crochet 5, ch 2 & single crochet 5
7.  Sl st in 1st single crochet and break off

Hope you understood those directions.  If you have any questions leave them in the comments section and I would be happy to answer them.