Friday, July 4, 2014

Two Years and Counting!!



I've been blogging for two years now, YAY!!!!!!!  Here are links to all the patterns on my blog, they are all FREE.  ENJOY!!
Baby Rattle

Chicago Black Hawk Afghan


Bookmark for Dad

Shell Pattern Pillowghan

Masculine Pillowghan

Breast Cancer Awareness Pillow

Chain Stitch Bangle Bracelet

Hello Kitty Bracelet

Day of the Dead Banner

Don't Tread on Me Afghan Chart

Fiesta Earrings

Falling Leaves Ripple Cowl

Fascinator Hat

'People of the Water' Granny Square

Diamond Spike Glasses Case

Globe Pillow/Ball

Harley Davidson Afghan Chart

Heart Headband

Hello Kitty Mirror

Henna-Tattoo Wedding Glove

Hiking Sticks

Lace Spa Basket

Sparkly Christmas Apron

John Deere Afghan Chart

USMC Afghan Chart

Navy Afghan Chart

One-Skein Maze Scarf

Peacock Afghan Chart

Peacock Scarf

Penguin Flip Flops

Penguin Stocking

Quick Ripple Cowl

Scrap Heat Fingerless Gloves

Seahorse Applique

Skull iPad Case
Snowflake Napkin Rings

Star Trek Baby Bib
Turbanesque Headband
Viking Helmet
Beginner Washcloth

Pineapple Wedding Veil




Globe Ball/Pillow

Army Afghan Chart
Air Force Afghan Chart
Cowboy Boots and Hat Afghan Chart
Little Angel Afghan Chart


Laid-Back Cat Amigurumi

Greek Alphabet Chart

Mile-a-Minute Baby Cocoon
Fisherman Cable Hoodie Scarf
Ray Gun ala Howie Woo

Owlet Afghan Chart
Little Girl Hats
Elk in the Woods Afghan Chart

Little Girl Purses
Customized Lacy Top
How to make Yarn Bobbins
National Guard Afghan Chart
Mile-a-Minute Baby Moccasins

Mile-a-Minute Baby Hat

Papel Picado Lace Curtains


Summertime Slouchie Hat
Mehndi Barefoot Sandals

Coast Guard Afghan Chart
Butterfly Bandeau
Longhorn Hat

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Mehndi Barefoot Sandals




A while back I wrote a pattern for a Henna Tattoo-Inspired Wedding Glove.  Well, henna tattoos (or Mehndis) aren't only worn on the hands they are also painted on the feet for the big day.  So here is a pair of mehndi inspired barefoot sandals that would be great for a beach wedding!

Materials


  • Size 10 crochet thread, such as Coats Crochet Red Heart Classic Crochet, Thread Size 10
  • Size 5 Steel crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle


Abbreviations

Ch(s)--chain(s)          sl st(s)--slip stitch(es)           dc(s)--double crochet        beg--beginning
Rnd--round       *  *--repeat what is in between the asterisks      fsc--foundation single crochet
Sk--skip

Special Stitches

Fsc--foundation single crochet--Here is a great tutorial by Crochet Geek on how to do this stitch.

CLUSTER--Here is a picture tutorial on how to do the CLUSTER stitch.

Center Flower

Ch 6, sl st in 1st ch to form a circle.

Rnd 1:  Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), do 11 dcs into ring, sl st in top of beg ch 3. (12 dcs)



Rnd 2:  *Ch 3, sl st into beg ch to form a picot st, sl st into next dc* 12 times. (12 picots)





Rnd 3:  *Ch 8, sl st into the sl st between the next 2 picots* 11 times, ch 8, sl st into the bottom of the beg ch-8. (12 8-ch loops)







Rnd 4:  *Sl st into 2nd ch of next 8-ch loop, ch 8, sl st into 7th ch of same 8-ch loop* 12 times. (12 8-ch loops)






Rnd 5: Sl st into the 3rd ch of the next 8-ch loop, *5 sc in 8-ch loop, sl st into 3rd ch of next 8-ch loop* 12 times. (60 scs)




Rnd 6: *Ch 5, sl st into the 2nd ch from the hook and into each ch to the end of the ch, sl st in next sc, ch 7, sl st into the 2nd ch from the hook and into each ch to the end of the ch, sl st in the next 2 scs, ch 9, sl st into the 2nd ch from the hook and into each ch to the end of the ch, sl st in next sc, sk next sc, sl st in next sc* 12 times, fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. (36 sl st chs)






Strap

Row 1:  Fsc 77 (size 5), 81 (size 6), 85 (size 7), 89 (size 8), 93 (size 9), 98 (size 10) (I highly recommend learning how to do the fsc stitch, particularly for string crochet because it is stretchier than a regular chain.  But if you have trouble with fsc, you can chain the same amount of chains for your shoe size, plus one and then sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch to the end.)


I use stitch markers to help me keep track of how many fscs or chains I've made for a long chain or row of fscs.


Row 2:  Turn, ch 7, CLUSTER in 2nd sc, ch 1, *sk 2 scs, sl st in next sc, ch 6, CLUSTER in next sc, ch 1* Repeat to end of row, sl st in last sc, fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.



 








Remove the stitch markers.




Assembly

Sew ends of strap onto back of flower on opposite sides using the tails on the flower and strap.  Weave in loose ends and cut off.





Put the sandal on and mark where to put the thong.


Make a chain about 3 to 3 1/2 long, sew down one end at marker.  Remove marker and try sandal on again to see where to sew other end of chain onto sandal. Weave in ends and clip off.




Do the same with the other sandal.




Happy Hooking!


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Mexican Fiesta Earrings

Henna-Tattoo Wedding Glove

Penguin Flip Flops

Scrap Heart Gloves











Thursday, May 8, 2014

Coast Guard Afghan Chart


For all of you who have been asking for it, I've finally finished my Coast Guard Afghan Chart.  

I realize there's no way you could crochet this afghan from this tiny picture, so if you want the chart email me at crochetparfaitpg@yahoo.com.  Let me know what format you want it in.  (Excel--editable .xlsx, Adobe .pdf or picture .png,  I recommend the .xlsx or .png files because the pdf splits it up into several pages.)

Each square on the pattern counts as a single crochet.  It has 185 stitches across and 206 rows. The gauge of the pattern totally depends on the size yarn and hook you use.  I measured my gauge for worsted weight yarn and an I hook at 4 sts and 4 rows = 1".  With this gauge the afghan would measure 46 1/4 " x 51 1/2".  If you want to make it wider or longer, I'd add white stitches on either side of the pattern for width or more rows to the top and bottom of the pattern to make it longer, you could also make a border in a contrasting color.  I don't knit, but I have had several followers knit my charts and they stay true to the design.

If you are really talented (and somewhat ambidextrous) you can switch the hook to your left hand when you get to the end of the row and then crochet back the way you came like Carol Ventura does.  I think this tutorial by Interweave is a little easier if you want to keep all of the design facing the same direction. This  video tutorial by Red Heart Yarn has you turn the afghan as you crochet, it's easier but the design is not as true.

If you are new to crochet charts check out my Globe Pillow Crochet Along, it has a tutorial on how to read a chart.  If you would rather cross stitch the details of the chart, I would crochet the major areas and then you can have a look at my Day of the Dead Banner  pattern for a tutorial on how to cross stitch on single crochet for the finer details. 

For other tips on following a crochet chart check out my Harley Davidson Afghan post.


Happy Hooking!


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Marine Afghan Chart

National Guard Afghan Chart

Don't Tread on Me Afghan Chart

Navy Afghan Chart


Friday, April 25, 2014

Using Hair Clips to Make Tapestry Crochet Charted Afhgans


Lynne just sent me an email telling me that she uses hair clips like these (Goody Claw Clips) 
to do Tapestry Crochet.  I think these would work really well when doing lots of yarn color changes for holding small amounts of yarn.  Like on my Peacock Afghan 

Happy Hooking!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Blackhawk Afghan Chart

Harley Davidson Afghan Chart

Army Afghan Chart

Elk in the Woods Afghan Chart