Owl Scarf for N!

This crocheted owl scarf will be for my granddaughter next fall.  The pattern is by Repeat Crafter Me.  I used Vanna yarns.  I think N will love it. 

                                                                    Owl Scarf for N
The pattern didn't have a facing for the owl, so I made two more owls in purple yarn.  After sewing on the face of the owl, I crocheted around the front and back of the owl to hide any yarn tails from sewing on the face.

Notes:
Owl Scarf for N. Vanna yarns--purple, dark pink, white, gold. This pattern is by Sarah Zimmerman, and her blog is RepeatCrafterMe.
Size G hook for eyes and beak and to crochet around owls with single crochet.
The owl at the edges of the scarf is so cute, but it’s difficult to hide the ends of the yarn after sewing the face on. I made another owl in the background color (purple) and single crocheted them together all around the sides. Then I added the contrast color onto the top of the owl through both layers to begin the scarf. Repeat for other owl.
I added a row of sc around the scarf edges using a G hook.

Rainy Days are Beautiful Necklace

I learned to make this necklace in a class at Ladybug Beads in St. Louis.  We used a 6-step bail making pliers to make the different sized loops.  The loops go over and under each other, and there are 5 different sizes of loops.  We didn't use the smallest post of the pliers.

                                                      Rainy Days are Beautiful Necklace

We used 16 gauge silver-plated craft wire for the loops, and 24 gauge silver plated (Artistic Wire)  to attach the beads, which are small crystals. I used about 7" of chain on each side of the center, and the clasp is a lobster claw and jump ring.  The 5 crystal dangles are attached onto short segments of chain with wire wrapped loops and jump rings at the top.

Shawl Pins

Making shawl pins with wire is a lot of fun.  These are my first tries.  I had only 20 gauge wire to work with, and they are quite fragile, so next time I would try making them with thicker wire.  One problem is that the beads I like may not fit on much thicker wire. 

                                                Shawl Pin using 20 gauge wire and beads

I used a pen to shape the coil end of the pin, and I did 2 wraps.  I didn't sharpen the end with a file because the pin is meant for a loosely woven, knitted, or crocheted shawl. 

This was my first try at making a pin.  It turned out small, so I didn't have much room to add beads to it. 

Two good tutorials are these:
Fibula--Shawl pins--step by step by Deborah Read
Safety pin Style Shawl pin by Shala Kerrigan at Bella Online

Herringbone Wire Wrapped Bracelets

Last year at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, I learned to wire wrap gemstones using a herringbone wrap.  We used oval gemstones for our bracelet and connected them with small beads using wrapped loops on each end.  The oval gemstones are pretty long, so it can be difficult to wear as a bracelet unless you press them into a curved shape.  The original bracelet pattern had 4 gemstones, but I had to take one out to make the bracelet shorter.

                                                   Oval Gemstone Herringbone Bracelet

Next I tried wire wrapping 12 mm round beads.  They turned out so pretty, but again, it can be difficult to wear as a bracelet since the links are fairly long.  I used size 22 gauge wire for the herringbone wrap.

                                     12 mm Beads Wrapped with Herringbone Wrap, Bracelet

 The beads have a wire wrapped core base, which is one method for doing a herringbone wrap.  You simply take a long piece of wire--about 2 feet, and make a wire wrapped loop on one end.  But, wrap about 9 times or so.  Place your bead onto your wire, and make a wire wrapped loop on the other side, also wrapping 9 times, or 10 times (to allow a little extra room for the wire end when finishing).  Then start your herringbone wrap.  These beads have 4 herringbone wraps.  The wrapped core wire makes a sturdy base for the herringbone wrapped beads.

                                 12 mm Beads Wrapped with Herringbone Wrap, 22 gauge wire

This bracelet has 8 mm beads wrapped with herringbone wrap, and I like it the best.  It fits the wrist well.  I made my own clasp. I used 3 wraps for the herringbone.  These beads have a heavier wire core (20 gauge) and 22 gauge wire for the wraps.  There's a very good video by Yvonne Williams on You Tube on how to do this kind of herringbone wrap.

                                          8 mm Beads Wrapped with Herringbone Wrap

                                                   Herringbone Bracelet, 8 mm Beads

                                                                           Handmade Clasp
Notes for 8 mm beaded herringbone bracelet: 8 mm beads.  12" 22 gauge wire, 3" 20 gauge wire.  Make tiny loop and start curve.  Place bead on thicker wire in the center and place loop on top of bead.  Wire wrap 3 times.  Take wire around 1 or 2 more times to end.  Clip so it ends at back and tuck with bent nose pliers.  Bend each wire end in opposite directions 90 degrees.  For simple loom, cut to about 3/8" and use round nose about 1/8" inch in with wire at edge of teeth.  Turn away from you, re-positioning pliers as needed to close loop.  You need one horizontal loop and one vertical loop to attach them.  Make one loop larger to allow room for clasp.  Clasp--made it with wire and added a bead on it and attached to end with a wrapped loop.  Bracelet 8", 6 herringbone wrapped beads and one bead with clasp.

K's Handknitted Ski Headband

K will be so warm next winter in her handknit ski headband.  I took a class at the Jefferson City Fiber Retreat in Fair Isle knitting and made this ski headband.  We used a worsted weight Shetland yarn from Shetland, and I only used 2 colors, so it's more of a Norwegian style headband.  Her headband turned out a bit big, so I fulled it a little bit, which is basically felting it just slightly.  It made the yarn so soft and fuzzy.

I can't wait to make more of these.  You can use any design, and Norwegian stars and snowflakes will work really well. 

My notes: I used size 6 needles and cast on 84 stitches and used k1,p1 rib for 5 rows.  I increased to 96 stitches and size 7 needles for the colorwork part.  Then decreased to 84 stitches again and rib again for 5 rows, casting off loosely. The Shetland wool was worsted weight.  Next time I would try size 4 needles for the rib and size 6 for the body. 5 1/2" wide by 19" long.  Pretty wide for K, so I fulled it a little to make it about 5" wide. 

Ladybug Necklace--Kumihimo with Beads

Love this Ladybug Necklace that I made for my 2 granddaughters.  The kit is from Weir Crafts.  The technique is Kumihimo beading using the standard 8 thread weave, and only 2 of the strands have beads. 

                                                                    Ladybug Necklace

The kit comes with glue on kumihimo end caps, but they were small for the braid.  So, I used some wire and larger end caps and made a wire loop to attach a lobster clasp.

Notes:  6 red warps (floss or pearl cotton) and 2 black warps.  Black is S Lon cord.  Each necklace: Pendant, 2 red pony beads, 2 black pony beads, and black seed beads size 8 or size 6.  Find center of strands.  Black strands are longer.  Knot all strands loosely together to right of middle.  Put pendant and pony beads on longer side: black pony, red pony, ladybug, red pony, black pony next to center knot.

On disk, pendant and beads are just below center of hole.  Attach weight:  tie with lark's head just under pendant and beads.  Load beads onto black cord. Top and bottom threads are red in disk.  Side threads are right: red top, black bottom and left: red bottom, black top.

Top right down, bottom left up. I rotate counterclockwise.  Weave 1/4" -3/8" without seed beads next to pony beads.  Then start adding seed beads when weaving.  Repeat until half the desired length.  Braid 1" without beads for clasp.  Wrap that end with waste thread to keep it from unraveling at end.  I use button/craft thread.

Undo the center knot near the pendant and put it on disk just below center hole.  Braid to length of 1st half.  Mine are 8 1/2" for each half plus 1" unbeaded for clasp end.

I used 22 gauge silver plated wire for wrapped loop for one bracelet and 20 gauge silver plated for the other.  Make a simple loop and take wire through the end of braid before the wrapped end.  Glue the end of braid with glue 6000.  Add end cap onto wire and add a black bead and make a wire loop.  Add jump ring and lobster clasp. 

Playing with beads: Kumihimo and Macrame

Beading During the Missouri Flood
The flooding here is keeping everyone close to home.  Yesterday, we played with beads.  I finished a Stars and Stripes Kumihimo bracelet with beads.  The pattern is by Gerry Dahm and the button loop tutorial is by Carolyn on her website,  "Kumihimo Disk & Plate."

                                                  Stars and Stripes Kumihimo Bracelet

Notes: I used size 6 Czech seed beads by Bead Treasures.  Beaded part is 6", and the button is a Buffalo nickle type button, 3/4" long.  Button Loop is 7/8" inches long (tight fit), button loop end is 1/4", and button end without beads is 3/8" long.  Fits K's wrist which is 5 3/4". About 1/2 tube of each color.  Beadalon thread size Tex 210, #18. Red and white: 16 beads each strand.  Blue and white: used 12 white beads each strand and 11 blue beads each strand.  Red section is 3 1/2", blue section is 2 1/2".  Button fastened adds 1" to length of bracelet. 

J. made a pretty macrame bracelet with stars and beads for K, and she loved it.

                                                     Star and Bead Macrame Bracelet

My granddaughter made a Kumihimo fiber bracelet and chose a teddy bear button for a closure.
It turned out so cute.

                                                  K's Teddy Bear Kumihimo Fiber Bracelet

She also made a beaded door sign for her parakeet named Tiki.  So cute!

                                                    Tiki's Room Beaded Door Sign