Cute and Easy Crochet with Flowers E-Book

Nicki Trench

• Herausgeber: CICO Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Seitenzahl: 186

Beschreibung

Make 35 gorgeous crochet projects all incorporating beautiful floral motifs and decorations. Nicki Trench returns with another set of cute and easy crochet projects for your home, family and friends, all in a pretty pastel colour palette and adorned with crocheted flowers. Divided into three chapters, the book begins with Starting Out, where you will find an easy purse, a Kindle cover and an adorable baby beanie hat, which are all perfect for first-time stitchers.?Next, move on to Practice Makes Perfect, where you can develop your crochet skills to make beautiful cushion covers and other designs made from luxurious yarns to decorate your home, from shelf edging to placemats. Finally, more experienced crafters will love the projects in Confident Crocheting - from a floral bag to a delicate lacy scarf, as well as the stunning Gypsy Queen throw that will stay in the family for generations. Also included is the Crochet Know-How section, where beginners and more experienced crocheters will find all the stitches required to make the projects explained in an easy-to-understand way.

Leseprobe

Cute & Easy

CROCHET WITH FLOWERS

Cute & Easy

CROCHET WITH FLOWERS

35 beautiful projects using floral motifs

Nicki Trench

Published in 2013 by CICO Books

An imprint of Ryland Peters & Small

20–21 Jockey’s Fields, London WC1R 4BW 519 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York NY 10012

www.rylandpeters.com

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Text copyright © Nicki Trench 2013

Design, photography, and illustration copyright

© CICO Books 2013

The author’s moral rights have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library.

eISBN: 978-1-78249-287-0 UK ISBN: 978-1-78249-049-4

Printed in China

EDITOR: Marie Clayton

DESIGNER: Louise Turpin

ARTWORKS: Stephen Dew and Kate Simunek

PHOTOGRAPHER: Caroline Arber

STYLIST: Sophie Martell

Contents

Introduction

Crochet Know-how

Chapter 1

Starting Out

Poppy Purse

Kindle Cover

Tote Bag

Rose Headband

Baby Beanie Hat

Ear Flap Hat

Fingerless Gloves

Bunting

Egg Cosies

Floral-edged Jam Pot Covers

Pin Cushions

Hexagon Flower Throw

Pansy and Kittens

Chapter 2

Practice Makes Perfect

Butterfly and Blossom Key Ring

Blossom Necklace

Flower Garland

Shelf Edging

Floral Shell Stitch Cushion Cover

Tablecloth

Lido Swimming Cap Tea Cosy

Crown-edged Cushion Cover

Place Mats

Oven Cloths

Buggy Blanket

Chevron and Daisy Scarf

Beaded Craft Kit Roll

Baby Blanket

Chapter 3

Confident Crocheting

Brooch

Floral Bag

Daisy Scarf

Floral Lace Scarf

Vintage-style Vase Coaster

Round Rose Cushion

Gypsy Queen Throw

Wash Cloths

Suppliers

Index

Acknowledgements

Introduction

This book has been an absolute delight to work on. The theme is floral so I have used flowers and petals, either incorporated into the patterns or added as an edging or decoration. Crochet is the perfect craft for making flowers because it lends itself to combining shapes and colours.

There are projects suitable for all levels so if you want to try a project and you find the flowers are a little more challenging, just replace them with an easier version from another project. We have organised the patterns into Beginner, Intermediate and Experienced chapters to give you a guide. If you are just starting out, try the gorgeous Poppy Purse, Tote Bag, Floral-edged Jam Pot Covers or the Baby Beanie Hat. For those who feel more confident, try the beautiful Gypsy Queen Throw, Floral Shell Stitch Cushion Cover or Beaded Craft Kit Roll, or we even have a simple cover for your Kindle or iPad. More experienced crocheters will love the challenge of the Buggy Blanket, Shelf Edging or Blossom Necklace.

There are projects for all seasons and occasions – the Tea Cosy is a fabulous centrepiece to put on top of the pretty cotton Tablecloth for a summer picnic and the scarves and throws will brighten up any dull winter’s day. Some of the projects are there just for the pure joy of crochet: try the Oven Cloths or Pansy and Kittens.

I’ve tried to use colours and stitches to inspire and lure you into making lots of things in the book, but feel free to pick and choose your flowers from the many patterns and to swap and change the colours to suit your choice.

Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers has an excellent techniques section with clear illustrations and instructions to guide you through the basic stitch techniques. When making flowers the sewing in of the ends is vital; it will make the world of difference to have a good yarn sewing needle to close centre holes and to weave the ends in to neaten up the petals.

Whatever projects you make in this book, I’m sure you’ll not be disappointed and I hope you have as much fun crocheting as I did designing the patterns for your delight.

Crochet Know-how

If you’re unsure how to make a particular crochet stitch, look in this section where you’ll find beautifully clear illustrated crochet techniques. There are instructions on how to make basic stitches, clusters and beading.

Techniques

In this section, we explain how to master the simple crochet techniques that you need to make the projects in this book.

Holding the hook

Pick up your hook as though you are picking up a pen or pencil. Keeping the hook held loosely between your fingers and thumb, turn your hand so that the palm is facing up and the hook is balanced in your hand and resting in the space between your index finger and your thumb.

Holding the yarn

1 Pick up the yarn with your little finger in the opposite hand to your hook, with your palm facing upwards and with the short end in front. Turn your hand to face downwards, with the yarn on top of your index finger and under the other two fingers and wrapped right around the little finger, as shown right.

2 Keeping your index finger only at a slight curve, hold your work or the slip knot using the same hand, between your middle finger and your thumb and just below the crochet hook and loop/s on the hook.

Making a slip knot

The simplest way is to make a circle with the yarn, so that the loop is facing downwards.

1 In one hand hold the circle at the top where the yarn crosses, and let the tail drop down at the back so that it falls across the centre of the loop. With your free hand or the tip of a crochet hook, pull a loop through the circle.

2 Put the hook into the loop and pull gently so that it forms a loose loop on the hook.

Yarn round hook (yrh)

To create a stitch, you’ll need to catch the yarn with the hook and pull it through the loop. Holding your yarn and hook correctly, catch the yarn from behind with the hook pointing upwards. As you gently pull the yarn through the loop on the hook, turn the hook so that it faces downwards and slide the yarn through the loop. The loop on the hook should be kept loose enough for the hook to slide through easily.

Chain (ch)

1 Using the hook, wrap the yarn round the hook and pull it through the loop on the hook, creating a new loop on the hook. Continue in this way to create a chain of the required length.

2 Keep moving your middle finger and thumb close to the hook, to hold the work in place with the opposite hand that you hold your hook with.

Tip

Always bring the hook back to face upwards, turning the hook downwards (not sideways) as it slips through the loop/s on the hook.

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Chain ring/circle

If you are crocheting a round shape, one way of starting off is by crocheting a number of chains following the instructions in your pattern, and then joining them into a circle.

1 To join the chain into a circle, insert the crochet hook into the first chain that you made (not into the slip knot), yarn round hook, then pull the yarn through the chain and through the loop on your hook at the same time, thereby creating a slip stitch and forming a circle.

2 You will now have a circle ready according to your pattern.

Some of the circles in this book have been made by creating a spiral, whereby you make two chains and insert your hook into the second chain from the hook (the first chain you made). Following the instructions in the pattern will then ensure the spiral has the correct amount of stitches. It’s essential to use a stitch marker when using this method, so that you know where to start and finish your round.

Chain space (ch sp)

1 A chain space is the space that has been made under a chain in the previous round or row, and falls in between other stitches.

2 Stitches into a chain space are made directly into the hole created under the chain and not into the chain stitches themselves.

Making rounds

When working in rounds the work is not turned, so you are always working from one side. Depending on the pattern you are working, a ‘round’ can be square. You may need to make a turning chain to create the height you need for the stitch you are working, as listed under making rows (right). Or, you may work in a spiral, in which case you do not need a turning chain.

To keep count of where you are in the pattern, you will need to place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round; a piece of yarn in a contrasting colour is useful for this. Loop the stitch marker into the first stitch; when you have made a round and reached the point where the stitch marker is, work this stitch, take out the stitch marker from the previous round and put it back into the first stitch of the new round.

Making rows

When making straight rows you need to make a turning chain to create the height you need for the stitch you are working with, as follows:

Joining new yarn

If using double crochet, insert the hook as normal into the stitch, using the original yarn, and pull a loop through. Drop the old yarn and pick up the new yarn. Wrap the new yarn round the hook and pull it through the two loops on the hook.

Slip stitch

A slip stitch doesn’t create any height and is often used as the last stitch to create a smooth and even round or row.

1 To make a slip stitch: first put the hook through the work, yarn round hook.

2 Pull the yarn through both the work and through the loop on the hook at the same time, so you will have one loop on the hook.

Double crochet (dc)

1 Insert the hook into your work, yarn round hook and pull the yarn through the work only. You will then have two loops on the hook.

2 Yarn round hook again and pull through the two loops on the hook. You will then have one loop on the hook.

Half treble (htr)

1 Before inserting the hook into the work, wrap the yarn round the hook and put the hook through the work with the yarn wrapped around.

2 Yarn round hook again and pull through the first loop on the hook (you now have three loops on the hook).

3 Yarn round hook and pull the yarn through all three loops. You will be left with one loop on the hook.

Treble (tr)

1 Before inserting the hook into the work, wrap the yarn round the hook and put the hook through the work with the yarn wrapped around.

2 Yarn round hook again and pull through the first loop on the hook (you now have three loops on the hook). Yarn round hook again, pull the yarn through two loops (you now have two loops on the hook).

3 Pull the yarn through two loops again. You will be left with one loop on the hook.

Double treble (dtr)

Yarn round hook twice, insert hook into the stitch, yarn round hook, pull a loop through (four loops on hook), yarn round hook, pull the yarn through two stitches (three loops on hook), yarn round hook, pull a loop through the next two stitches (two loops on hook), yarn round hook, pull a loop through the last two stitches.

Triple treble (trtr)

Yarn round hook three times, insert hook into the stitch, yarn round hook, pull a loop through (five loops on hook), yarn round hook, pull the yarn through two stitches (four loops on hook), yarn round hook, pull a loop through the next two stitches (three loops on hook), yarn round hook, pull a loop through the next two stitches (two loops on hook), yarn round hook, pull a loop through the last two stitches.

Tip

When working on clusters, keep the loops loose on the hook and pull the yarn through carefully to avoid splitting the yarn.

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Cluster (CL)

Working two or more part stitches and taking them together at the top to make one stitch gives a cluster in a stitch pattern or a decrease when working a fabric. The example shows making a cluster by taking three trebles (3trCL) together.

Leaving the last loop of each stitch on the hook, work a treble into each of the next three stitches, thus making four loops on the hook. Yarn round hook and pull through all four loops to join the stitches together at the top and make one loop on the hook.

Popcorn

This kind of bobble is made from complete stitches. The example shows four trebles worked in a chain space and taken together, but a popcorn can be placed in any stitch and be made up of any practical number or combination of stitches.

1 Inserting the hook in the same place each time, work four complete trebles (see page 16).

2 Slip the hook out of the last loop.

3 Insert the hook into the top of the first stitch, then into the last loop, yarn round hook and pull through.

Threading beads onto yarn

1 Make a loop in some cotton sewing thread and thread a sewing needle with the loop (not the end). Leave the loop hanging approx 2.5cm (1in) from the eye of the needle. Pull the yarn end through the loop of the thread.

2 Thread the beads (two or three at a time), onto the sewing needle, pushing them down onto the strand of the yarn. Continue to thread beads until the required number is reached.

Place a bead

1 Thread all the beads needed onto the yarn before commencing work. When a bead is needed, slide it up against the back of the work.

2 Work the stitch as indicated in the pattern, securing the bead in place.

Increasing

Make two or three stitches into one stitch from the previous row. The illustration shows a two-stitch increase being made.

Decreasing

You can decrease by either missing the next stitch and continuing to crochet, or by crocheting two or more stitches together. The basic technique for crocheting stitches together is the same, no matter which stitch you are using. The following examples show dc2tog, dc3tog, htr2tog and tr3tog.

Double crochet 2 stitches together (dc2tog)

1 Insert the hook into your work, yarn round hook and pull the yarn through the work. You will then have two loops on the hook.

2 Yarn round hook again and pull through the two loops on the hook. You will then have one loop on the hook.

Double crochet 3 stitches together (dc3tog)

Work as for dc2tog until there are three loops on the hook; insert hook into the next stitch, yarn round hook, pull yarn through (four loops on hook), yarn round hook and pull through all the loops; one loop left on the hook.

Half treble 2 stitches together (htr2tog)

1 Yarn round hook, insert hook into next stitch, yarn round hook, draw yarn through (three loops on the hook).

2 Yarn round hook, insert hook into next stitch, yarn round hook, draw yarn through.

3 Draw yarn through all five loops on the hook.

Treble 3 stitches together (tr3tog)

Work a treble into each of the next three stitches as normal, but leave the last loop of each stitch on the hook (four loops on the hook). Yarn round hook and pull the yarn through all the stitches on the hook to join them together. You will finish with one loop on the hook.

How to double crochet squares together

Place two squares wrong sides together, lining them up so that the stitches on each square match. Put the hook through the top loops of the first square and also through the corresponding top loops of the second square. Join in the yarn, make 1 chain, insert the hook into the top stitches of both squares and make a double crochet seam across the top of the squares.

Tip

If you are making lots of small motifs sew in the ends as you complete each one – doing it all at the end will be time consuming and boring.

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Fastening off

Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of approx 10cm (4in). Pull the tail all the way through the last loop.

Break yarn

Do not fasten off. Simply cut the yarn approx 10cm (4in) from the work and leave a loop on the hook.

Sewing in ends

Thread a yarn sewing needle with a large enough eye to thread the yarn through. Weave ends in and out of the work approx 5cm (2in) on the wrong side, keeping to the same colour.

Starching

If you’re working with flowers or projects that curl or the project needs to be hung up, using spray starch helps keep its shape. First, block the piece to achieve the correct shape and spray starch over the top of the piece. Take a cloth, such as a cotton or linen tea towel, place this over the top and lightly press. Leave to dry.

Chapter 1

Starting Out

There are some perfect beginner-level projects in this chapter, which use basic stitches to practise your crochet skills. Try the Kindle Cover (page 28), Egg Cosies (page 46), Poppy Purse (page 26) or the Rose Headband (page 34). Pansy and Kittens (page 56) and the Egg Cosies are great for learning to crochet in the round.

Poppy Purse

This pretty purse could be used for money, but also for make-up or even your crochet hooks and scissors.

MATERIALS

Rooster Almerino Aran (50% baby alpaca/50% merino wool) Aran (worsted) yarn

• 1 x 50g (1¾oz) ball – approx 94m (103yd) – of 305 Custard (A)

• Small amounts of DK (light worsted) yarn in black (B), red (C) and green (D)

• 4.5mm (US size 7) and 3.5mm (US size E/4) crochet hooks

• Yarn sewing needle

• 25.5 x 35.5cm (10 x 14in) piece of lining fabric

• Sewing needle and matching thread

• 1 x 2cm (¾in) button

ABBREVIATIONS

chchaindcdouble crochetdtrdouble treblehtrhalf treblereprepeatRSright sidesp(s)space(s)ssslip stitchst(s)stitch(es)WSwrong sideyrhyarn round hook

SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS

dc2tog (double crochet 2 stitches together) – [insert hook in next st, yrh, pull yarn through] twice, yrh, pull through all 3 loops on hook (one stitch decreased).

htrCL (half treble cluster) – [yrh, insert hook in ring, pull yarn through] twice, yrh, pull yarn through all 5 loops on hook.

MEASUREMENTS

Approx 15 x 10cm (6 x 4in)

TENSION

15½ sts x 18 rows over a 10cm (4in) square working double crochet using 4.5mm (US size 7) hook and A.

Purse

Using A and 4.5mm (US size 7) hook, make 24ch.

ROW 1: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in each ch to end. (23 sts)

ROW 2: 1ch, 1dc in each st. (23 sts) Rep Row 2 until work measures approx 19cm (7½in).

Make flap:

ROWS 1–8: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc in each st to end. (15 sts)

ROW 9: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, dc2tog. (12 sts)

Make buttonhole:

ROW 1: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2ch, miss 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, dc2tog.

ROW 2 (RS): 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, 2dc in 2ch sp, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, dc2tog. (8 sts)

Do not fasten off, but work edging as follows.

Work edging:

1ch, work 44dc evenly along one side edge, 3dc in corner st (47 sts), 22dc along bottom edge (69 sts), 3dc in corner st (72 sts), 44dc along second side edge (116 sts), 3dc in corner st (119 sts), 8dc along top edge (127 sts), join with ss in first 1ch.

Fasten off.

Poppies

(MAKE 2)

Using B and 3.5mm (US size E/4) hook and leaving a long tail, make 6ch, join with a ss in first ch to form a ring.

ROUND 1: 2ch, [1htrCL in ring, 1ch] 12 times, join with a ss in back loop of top of first htrCL. (12 htrCL)

Break off B, but do not fasten off.

ROUND 2: Working in back loops of sts only, join in C, 3ch (counts as 1dc, 2ch), 1dc in top of next htrCL from previous round, *2ch, 1dc in top of next htrCL; rep from * to end of round, ending 2ch, join with a ss in first of 3ch. (12 dc)

ROUND 3: Working in back loops of sts only, *4ch (counts as first dtr), [1dtr in each of next 2 ch, 1dtr in next dc] 3 times, 1dtr in each of next 2 ch, 4ch (counts as 1dtr), 1ss in base of last dtr, 1ss in next dc (13 dtr, 1 petal made); rep from * twice more, working last ss in base of first 4ch of first petal. (3 petals made)

Fasten off.

Weave B yarn tail around centre hole, pull to close and secure. Neaten petals as you sew in remaining ends.

Lining

Block crocheted piece. Cut a piece of lining fabric the same size and shape as purse allowing an extra 1.5cm (5/8in) seam allowance all around. Fold under the seam allowances all around the lining piece, then pin, press and machine or hand sew in place. Make a buttonhole on lining to correspond with buttonhole position on crocheted piece.

Finishing