May Flower Crochet Pattern

Sunny days are here again!  How about a free flower pattern to celebrate?  I recently designed a crocheted baby hat featuring this giant flower.  You can use it as is, or you can embellish it with a button, a smaller flower, or just about anything - get creative!

MAY FLOWER

Ch 5, sl st in first ch to form a loop.

RND 1: Ch 1, 10 sc in loop, sl st in first sc. (You can pull the tail to tighten the center hole.)

RND 2: Ch 1, (sc in next sc, ch 2, sc in next sc) 5 times, sl st in first sc 

RND 3: (3 dc in next ch1 space, skip one sc, sl st in next sc) 5 times

RND 4: [sc in first dc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in 2nd dc, sc in 3rd dc, sl st in next st] 5 times

RND 5: [sc in first sc, hdc in next st, (hdc, dc, hdc) in dc, hdc, sc, sl st] 5 times

PETALS:
At this point you will turn your work, work 3 rows on just one petal, then work your way around the flower doing each petal the same.

Ch 1, turn. 

*Working in FRONT LOOPS ONLY (FLO), hdc in first st, 2 hdc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in next st, sc (both loops), sl st in next st, ch 1 and turn.

Sc in first st, Working in BACK LOOPS ONLY (BLO) work 2 hdc in each of next 10 sts, sc (both loops), sl st into same stitch as 1st st of PREVIOUS row

Turn (do not ch).  Sc in each st (22 sts).  Sl st into same st as first st of petal (2 rows ago).

REPEAT from * for each petal.  Bind off and weave in ends.

                              Happy Spring!!!

                              

Blessed.

I have neglected this blog for a VERY long time...  a little catching up is in order.  My, how life has changed!  This summer, my family moved from Clyde, Texas to the Gulf Coast town of Portland, Texas.  After years of longing for a beach vacation, I actually live close enough to go EVERY DAY if I so choose!

When I was seven years old, my mother and I spent a week at South Padre Island vacationing with some friends.  I remember going home with literally buckets full of seashells.  It seemed each one I saw was more beautiful than the last, and I just couldn't stop collecting.  If you could see my home now, with shells in bowls, baggies, baskets, and on shelves and counters, you might think I have been collecting them nonstop since that vacation over thirty years ago!  The truth is, they have all been collected since we moved here in June...  I'm just so fascinated with them that I can't stop myself!  You might ask, what could I possibly do with all those shells?  Well...

I bought some hemp and beads, learned to macrame, and voila! I'm a jewelry designer!  In fact, I am days away from opening my own little online shop on Etsy.com...  BeachStylebyAngela!  I will sell my handmade jewelry, as well as knit and crochet accessories for wear...

...and for home...

 
I am so excited to be working for myself again, and to be doing what I love and loving what I do!  I'm very blessed.  :)

My Little Handbag

Didn't know just what this was going to be when I started it.  I just grabbed my 4 balls of Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton and a crochet hook and started stitching, 2 strands at a time.  I started with a circle and in no time, this little tote had evolved, needing only some form of closure.  SO, a couple of days later (when I finally got to make a Michael's run), I crocheted the flower and attached it with the button.  I had bought the ribbon on clearance a couple of months ago and decided it would make a cute addition to this project.  All in all, I am pretty happy with this little handbag, and I think I'm going to get some different colors of cotton and make more.

Still Playing with Needles!

The last time I posted, I was working on a little green Easter bunny for our baby grandson, Miles.  I finished the knitting part, but once I started sewing, I wasn't happy with the way it was turning out - SO, I switched gears!  Instead, I crocheted him a little white chenille "bunny blanket buddy", with which I am happier -  and it's SO soft and cuddly!

Since then, I have also made my first knitted doily, thanks to designer Linda, a.k.a. "tinyknit" for a good starter pattern and encouraging words.  :)  She has STUNNING designs featured on her website, http://www.tinyknit.com/.

On impulse last weekend, I crocheted a piggy for my teen daughter's friend.  She had seen them in one of my crochet pattern books and asked if I could make her one, so I dug in my stash and a piggy was born!  Mine is bigger than the ones in the book, since I used chunky weight yarn rather than medium worsted, but I think every bit as cute.  Very quick little project, and it's always a joy to see someone appreciate something you've made.

On that note, I have also made a couple more baby hats to be sent to a NICU unit, and a little pet blanket/mat to be sent to an animal shelter in Iowa as part of the Snuggles Project. 

So, I've kept my fingers flying every chance I've had, and I guess I've managed to complete quite a few little projects.  Whatever will I start on next?????
  Until next time, Scamp (pictured above) and I are wishing you lots of sunshine and happy stitching!

For the Baby...

Started on an Easter bunny for my grandson, Miles, last night.  I'm using green Bernat Cottontots yarn to match his camo room, and I'm planning to incorporate a rattle inside (he is 5 mos old).  Should be a fun project!

1940's crocheted baby booties I found at Mar-tique's Antique Shop in San Angelo, TX the weekend before last.

 Preemie Hat I finished yesterday.  Knitted with crocheted trim and flower.  I used Caron Simply Soft in Plum Wine.

  

New Stuff!

OK, so the yarn store trip last weekend was a bust, since they had just closed by the time we pulled into town.  However, we did find a big, wonderful antique shop to browse, and I left with 3 pairs of baby booties that had been crocheted in the 1940s!  HOW COOL IS THAT??? Very, I say.  From there we found the Hobby Lobby, where I snagged some crochet thread and hooks to try my hand at replicating the booties I had just acquired, as well as some nylon thread for future crochet tote bags (it was on sale) - OH! and 3 new sets of 5 dpns (also on sale).  Since that day, I discovered that Abilene has a Tuesday Morning discount store, and there I bought 2 wonderful knitting books and a book of crochet textures/stitches...  then on to Hastings where I bought yet another knitting book which I love, Heirloom Knits.  In the mail this week, I received a package of 25 tiny little silver hand charms that say "Hand Made" on them;  I plan to sew one on each of my handmade items that I give away or sell.  Also in the mail this week, a skein of Kollage Hope organic cotton yarn, worsted weight.  Haven't decided what it's going to become, yet, maybe a bag.  So, lots of new goodies to play with...  pics soon.