Turtleheart Crafts!

These Victorian ornaments are ones I crocheted years ago. In 1994, I had a broken arm *and* leg from being in a car accident, so I spent most of my recuperation time improving my crochet.

The patterns are from a booklet called “Victorian Memories III” by JoAnn Maxwell. I used different combinations of satin ribbon, mirrored gems, ribbon roses and string pearls to decorate them after they were starched.

Teardrops:

Diamonds:

Hearts:

I made tons of these and gave them as little Christmas gifts. I also made the fan, wreath and potpourri ball patterns, but gave all of those away. Someday I’ll have to make some of those for myself.

The booklet also includes patterns for a bell, angel, basket and hat.

Here is another beaded amulet bag I’ve had made for a while now:

Once again, this is my variation of the patterns in Margaret Snouffer’s booklet called “Crocheted Beaded Bags.”

This amulet is made with variegated size 20 thread and (I believe) size 10 crystal seed beads. I really like the contrast between the swirl of colors and the swirl of the beads. Very nice effect, and easy to do. Another little gift for a friend for Yule.

This is an item I made as a Yule gift for my Tribemate; my first beaded crochet project. A small vial of lavender oil fit perfectly in the little bag.

The pattern is from the book “Crocheted Beaded Bags” by Margaret Snouffer. I found that the way this book was organized and written was a bit confusing, but once I figured out what I was supposed to do, it was actually very easy to bead crochet. I played with the beading pattern a bit to make it more interesting, instead of just working solid rows of beads for the majority of the pattern and ending with a fancy border, as the book instructed.

The most difficult part was finding the right sized beads for the right weight of thread. For this project, the thread size is Omega brand size 10 (cotton), and I believe the beads were also a size 10, in red lustre.

Another difficulty I encountered was that I could not find a beading needle that had an eye big enough that I could fit the thread though it and then still fit that eye through the beads. So, it took me at least an hour and a half to string enough beads for the bag without using a needle, just scooping up 2-3 beads at a time on the thread after twisting the end tightly. I have since learned a trick to try next time: stiffen the thread with a thin coat of wax to help poke it through the beads without using a needle. Definately will be trying that trick next time.

… doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy crafting! Here are some crochet projects I’ve completed over the summer:

Lacy Crochet dishcloth in Sugar ‘n Cream cotton. Pattern from Dishcloth Boutique.

Lattice Stitch dishcloth from Dishcloth Boutique and matching scrubbie by Suzetta.

Next up, a baby blanket for Warm the World.

This pattern is Beth’s Little Star Afghan; a very easy pattern that worked up quite fast. I think it turned out just adorable. I may add little tassels on each of the star points. I like it so much, I’m thinking of doing another one in yellows and purples.

And don’t think I’ve been neglecting my thread projects, either. Here’s a project I’m still working on:

These flower motifs are for the border of a placemat I’m making for a tea tray. I still have a few more motifs to make before I join them all together and fill in the middle of the placemat. I had to put this project aside for a while, my mind was beginning to boggle from all the varigated threads!

And there’s more to come, but for now I’m done posting. Check back soon.

Most crocheters show off their yarn stash, but being a threadie, I don’t have much yarn to show off. However, I do have an ever growing stash of 10, 20 & I believe some size 30 crochet thread.

Why I think I need so many shades of green is beyond me. But obviously, green thread in every single shade available is desirous to me. As well as variegated green thread. Can’t forget the varigated!

And don’t think this is all of it– oh NO. I have more! I have at least 10 more balls down in the den– screaming yellow, watermelon pink, holiday green and lots more white and beige. Also a few more balls of ecru in my sewing table.

Yet I am tempted to buy more whenever I visit the craft store…

EDITED TO ADD: I’ve received many comments asking for the pattern on this doily. Unfortunately, this is not my own pattern and out of respect for the designer’s copyrights, I cannot give out copies of this pattern. Thank you for your understanding.

Didn’t finish in time for Ostara, but done just in time for Easter.

This was a pattern from Marie at Crochetbox. She gave directions for the basic egg pattern, and then left the embellishments up to the individual. I added a yellow and white ruffled edging, and the flowers/leaves for my version. I think it turned out pretty decent for my first try at floral embellishments. I am pleased.

My latest doily! I thought this would be a nice doily for my altar. Easy to find pineapple designs, not so easy to find square doily patterns. This one is from Priscilla’s Crochet.

I had some difficulty following this pattern, very frustrating; had to sit it aside for a while. I ended up using blue and yellow highlighters to mark ** and [] sections of the pattern, and that helped a lot in following the repetitions. Another thing that would have made reading the pattern easier would have been if stitch names, like shell stitch, had been used instead of writing out 2dc, ch3, 2dc every time. Still, its a great pattern, and I’m pleased with how it turned out.

This is a pattern from “3 Dozen and One Bookmarks” by Annie’s Attic, done a couple different ways.

With a varigated thread…

… and then, as an experiment, I decided to replace the picot stitches with beads.

It gives a different effect; not sure if I like it or not.

Remember this post? My Tribemate had her birthday yesterday, so at last I can share this little project I created! Now you can see what I was talking about.

I made her a little bag to keep her runes in, and designed runes on the bag by using beads. The top picture shows the runes (L to R) Laguz (water), Ehwaz (horse), Kenaz (beacon or torch), and Uruz (Aurochs, a wild ox).

This second picture shows the runes Othila (ancestral property), Tiwaz (Tyr, the sky god), and Dagaz (day or dawn) and (partially) Eihwaz (Yew tree). I think there are just a couple other runes on the bag that you aren’t able to see in the pictures. For more info on runes, visit HERE.

This is the very first project I have designed without a pattern to follow. I graphed out the runes on graph paper, and the rest of the pattern I made up as I went along.

I ended up crocheting it more than once, because I forgot about the left-handed factor, and the beaded runes came out backwards the first time. I also redid the bottom of the bag several times. I couldn’t get it to look quite the way I wanted.

Still, I am pleased with the finished product, and have some ideas for fine-tuning the design should I make another one.

Here is the same pattern in two different varigated threads. One is made larger for a trade paperback sized book, and one for regular paperbacks.

Pattern from Leisure Arts Little Book, “Reader’s Choice Bookmarks.” (The same book that brought you these bookmark patterns).