Saturday, 24 December 2016

A Crochet Hook-Up - Part 2

Back in October, I took part in another Crochet Hook-Up on Instagram, organised by Lazy Daisy Jones using #ldjcrchethookup.  You can follow me on Instagram here.

As with the last one, I like to share the images here too, for those of my readers who don't use Instagram, but might like to see the pretty pictures!  I'll split them into two posts, as there are quite a lot of images - this is the second post, find the first one here.




A photo posted by Maria (@dinki_dots) on


A photo posted by Maria (@dinki_dots) on





Sorry it took me so long to show them here on the blog.  I hope you all have a lovely Christmas - I have a couple of crafty makes to show you once they have been given to their recipients, so watch this space!



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Friday, 23 December 2016

A Crochet Hook-Up - Part 1

Back in October, I took part in another Crochet Hook-Up on Instagram, organised by Lazy Daisy Jones using #ldjcrchethookup.  You can follow me on Instagram here.

 As with the last one, I like to share the images here too, for those of my readers who don't use Instagram, but might like to see the pretty pictures!  I'll split them into two posts, as there are quite a lot of images.













I hope you enjoy them.  Look out for Part 2 tomorrow!
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Thursday, 1 December 2016

Crochet Santa Cushion

I have now made my santa corner-to-corner crochet panel into a festive cushion...


I bordered the square with a round of half double crochet (UK half treble) in white and then a round of double crochet (uk treble) in red.

The back is all grey C2C crochet with the same two additional rounds as the front, but all in red.

I then joined the front and back with a round of single crochet.


I'm going to give him to my little nephew, as I'm hoping he'll like a cheery santa cushion!

For all details on pattern, yarn, and tips used to make the santa square, see this post.


Check out my crochet items here.



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Tuesday, 22 November 2016

Crochet Bauble - Free Pattern

I've become hooked on crocheting Christmas baubles!

These are so much fun to make!  As soon as I finish one I want to try another in a new colour combination!

 There are a lot of these springing up on the blogs and Instagram - these and these got me the most inspired to give it a go myself!  I thought I'd give you the pattern I came up with for mine.  Nothing particularly ground-breaking and I'm sure there are lots of similar bauble patterns out there, but here goes...

 You will need:
- 7cm diameter polystyrene balls (mine were ordered from ebay and they actually seem to be 7.5cm in diameter when I measure them)
- DK yarn in colours of your choice
- Gold or silver yarn - I used Anchor Artiste Metallic yarn from Hobbycraft in gold and silver
- (If you want added sparkle, a couple of my baubles used Anchor Artiste Metallic yarn in red)

 Tension and Bauble Size
Everyone has different crochet tensions (I'm quite a tight crocheter) and the polystyrene ball sizes can vary, so it's important to try your crochet on your ball as you go, to check it seems to be creating a snug fit.  Nobody wants a baggy bauble!  If it seems to be too loose, then adjust the pattern accordingly - maybe get rid of the chain spaces between clusters of stitches.  You might also find you need to do one less row if it seems to be too big.  You want to have to pull the two halves to get them to meet for sewing together so that it creates a nice tight fit.

 Glossary:
tr: treble crochet (UK)
dc: double crochet (US)
htr: half treble crochet (UK)
hdc: half double crochet (US)
ch: chain
st: stitch

 To make the standard bauble with only one silver or gold metallic:

Note - I start each row with a standing crochet stitch and I end each row with an invisible join.  However, you can start each row with chains to count as the first stitch and end with a slip stitch if you prefer.

Rnd 1: 12 tr (dc US) into magic ring (12 st)
Rnd 2: [In silver or gold] htr (hdc US) ch 1 into gaps between stitches of previous row (12 st 12 ch 1 spaces)
Rnd 3: 2 tr (dc US) ch 1 into ch 1 spaces of previous row (12 groups of 2 tr, 12 ch 1 spaces)
Rnd 4: 3 tr (dc US) ch 1 into ch 1 spaces of previous row (12 groups of 3 tr, 12 ch 1 spaces)
Rnd 5: [In silver or gold] 3 tr (dc US) ch 2 into ch 1 spaces of previous row (12 groups of 3 tr, 12 ch 2 spaces)
Rnd 6: 3 tr (dc US) ch 1 into ch 2 spaces of previous row (12 groups of 3 tr, 12 ch 1 spaces)
Rnd 7: 3 tr (dc US) ch 1 into ch 1 spaces of previous row (12 groups of 3 tr, 12 ch 1 spaces)
Rnd 8: 3 tr (dc US) ch 1 into ch 1 spaces of previous row (12 groups of 3 tr, 12 ch 1 spaces)

 Make this twice, place over your bauble and sew together in silver or gold.

To sew the two halves together, I lined up the last row on each side so that the middle of the cluster of three tr (dc US) on one side lined up with the ch 1 on the other side as you can see above.  I used metallic yarn to sew through the outer loop of the top of each crochet stitch of the final row on both sides, which creates a slanted stitch around the bauble.  I then reversed and sewed back round, giving an oppositely slanted stitch, hence making the metallic crosses you can see.  It sounds a lot more complicated than it is - with crochet stitches being what they are, by sewing through the loops and matching up on both halves, this naturally happens by itself.  Leave enough yarn at the start and end of the stitching to tie into a hanging loop for your bauble.

 To make the more sparkly bauble with additional metallic yarn:

These follow the same pattern, and rounds 2 and 5 (the silver/gold rounds in the above pattern) are left as they are, with metallic yarn.

 As the metallic yarn is thinner than standard DK, if you change any of the other rounds to metallic then this was my method:

 2 tr (dc US) becomes 3 tr (dc US)
3 tr (dc US) becomes 5 tr (dc US)

 I haven't tried the initial round in metallic, but I would keep that the same, with 12 stitches into the magic ring.

 Everything else remains the same.  I also like to end each half with a non-metallic yarn, as I think it give a more stable final round to grip around the polystyrene ball and to sew together.  It would probably be fine with metallic too, really, but I've not tried it.


You don't need to follow this pattern rigidly, though - this is just what I did to make mine.  There are so many ways to do it, try different ideas and see what happens!

 If you do use this pattern, please let me know as I'd love to see what you made!

 Check out my crochet items here and my other patterns and tutorials here.


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Thursday, 17 November 2016

Crochet Snowflakes

I've been well into the Christmassy and wintery crafting lately!  I've been a bit slow at getting items finished and on the blog - but on Instagram (@dinki_dots) you can see more frequent snaps of what I've been working on.

 A friend of my Mum's gave her some very thin crochet cotton to pass on to me, as she knows I crochet.  It is a size 20 - which is sooo very thin!  I wasn't sure what to make at first, as I usually crochet with DK at the thinnest, so this was a big change.  Then it hit me... a couple of the colours would be perfect for delicate icy snowflakes!

My lovely friend Anna had previously given me the book 100 Snowflakes to Crochet* by Caitlin Sainio, and I thought that I'd have a go at a few designs from the book. (*affiliate link)


I think the delicate thread and these colours works really well for snowflakes.  I'm planning to make more and turn them into a pretty snowfall along the lines of this beautiful one!

 I used a 2.5mm hook for these.  The thin thread calls for even smaller, but I found it far too tricky!  I'm a tight crocheter anyway, so I think this does the job.

 They come out quite crinkly when first made, so this is one project that definitely needs blocking.  Blocking transforms them.  Here is a snap from my Instagram which shows how one of the snowflakes looked before blocking.
A photo posted by Maria (@dinki_dots) on

Once blocked I also sprayed hairspray on the snowflakes to give them a bit of firmness and stability.  As the cotton is very thin and delicate it doesn't take much.  With thicker yarn, perhaps other more robust methods might be better.

These are the patterns I've used from the book, in case it is of any use:

18: Ice Flower

17: Kossava


6: Polar Glacier


 I'd better get a move on and make more if I want my snowfall before winter is over!

 Check out my other crochet projects here.

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Sunday, 2 October 2016

Santa Corner-to-Corner Crochet

Now, I'm not sure if it's too early to show Christmassy makes?!  But I figure that in the crafting world thoughts of Christmas need to start earlier, as handmade takes time... so if this it to prove as inspiration, it would help to get it now!

I'd been seeing lots of corner-to-corner (C2C) crochet blankets popping up here and there on blogs and instagram, and thought it was something I'd like to try.

 I'd also seen and saved this pin to my Christmas Pinterest board.  (Actually, after I've finished this post I'll have to have a good look through and see what else I've pinned and forgotten about!)

 This santa square pattern is by Repeat Crafter Me, and can be found here.  It is designed to be one part of an amazing Christmas blanket - which is so clever and fun!  You can see that here.  Looking at it now, I kind of wish I had the patience to make the whole thing - it is excellent!

 But... I think (for now) I'm just sticking with the one square - and I have plans for it which I will reveal to you as soon as I have completed them.
Not sure if it's just my eyes, but the white looks grubby here - it is actually nice and white, I think it's the light!

 The square looks very wobbly - it probably needs a good blocking!  Once I've finished with it, it should straighten up.

 So... how did I find the whole C2C experience?  It is great easy fun crocheting as it stands... although adding the colourwork adds a bit of complication to it.  Having a few different coloured balls of yarn on the go certainly made for some tangled messes!

 I used this post from One Dog Woof - aptly titled 'Learn C2C Crochet: Everything You Need to Know'.  It was very helpful, and I wish I'd followed the advice on bobbins to separate the yarn.  I was impatient, though, and just went with the tangled mess approach instead!  Ah well, it all worked out in the end...

 Yarn Details:
Stylecraft Special DK in Grey, White, Lipstick and Candy Floss.  I had all these colours in my stash, which is very satisfying - no purchases required!  I'm not sure the make of the black yarn, it was left over from the zebra hat I made.

 Now I have the challenge of turning this into something - watch this space!

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Saturday, 24 September 2016

Amigurumi Crochet Elephant

Well, following on from my last post... I've ended up making another amigurumi animal!  This is a birthday present for my Mum.  She loves elephants and lilac, so I decided to combine the two!

A little lilac crochet elephant!  With some pretty tilda fabric on the ears...

I used this pattern which is a translation into English of a Japanese pattern.  I liked the cute design, and also the minimal sewing on of limbs appealed greatly to me!  The way the legs are crocheted onto the body is a method I've never seen or tried before, but I love the seamless finish it gives.  It also means there is no having to try to line and match them up evenly, which you'd have to do if sewing on.  As it was, sewing the tail and ears onto the elephant gave me enough trouble - I do hate that bit!!

I found it a bit fiddly in places, and I don't deny some cursing and angry words towards the end!  But, as is most often the case, I'm glad I made it (now it's done)!

 Now I'm just off for my Mum's birthday celebration... I hope she likes her little elephant!

 [Edited to add: My Mum loved it - makes it all worthwhile!!]


Check out my other crochet items here.





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Friday, 9 September 2016

Five on Friday: Crochet Amigurumi

I thought I'd share five things with you today... five crochet amigurumi projects I've made.  Amigurumi is not my favourite form of crochet at all, and yet I always love what I make when I do give it a go!

1)  Penguin - I made this when I first started crocheting, a few years ago now, once I'd mastered the granny square.  It was the first time it clicked how to crochet into stitches (with the granny you crochet into the gaps) and it was surprising how long it took me to figure it out - hard to imagine now!


The pattern I used for this was actually a crochet egg pattern, which I then embellished with felt and a couple of beads to create the penguin.

2)  Owl - This came shortly after, using the same egg pattern and same idea...


I love these little guys - so cute and dinky!

3)  Pink Monkey - This was a little more tricky and a definite favourite of mine.  I just had to have a pink monkey!


You can find the pattern here.

4)  Blue Monkey - Fast forward a couple of years and I made one for my nephew, in a top with his initial on...


5)  Snail - Then more recently, you will have seen the crochet snail I made for my sister-in-law...


More details and pattern here.

The last two are with their new owners, but the first three hang out with me at home...


What do you think?  Is amigurumi something you enjoy?



I'm linking up with Love Made My Home's Five on Friday - thanks to Amy for hosting it!

Check out my other crochet items here.



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Sunday, 21 August 2016

Decorated Gift Box


Last week I showed you the cute crochet snail I made.  Now you can see how I packaged it to give to my sister-in-law.  If you're expecting skill, sophistication, creative genius... you'll be disappointed!

 I started with a box I already had.  An alarm clock had been packaged in it, and I'd been saving it for the last one or two years as it was a good little box, in brown kraft paper/card (or some such similar material).

The box was a bit damaged where I'd removed the labelling, but decorating it would cover that.

 I started by drawing and cutting out a big flower out of some pretty green and pink paper to cover the worst of the damage...

... then I remembered I had some cardstock flower stickers in my supplies (from my card-making days) - so I thought, why stop there with just one flower?!  Let's not be stingy!  I decided to add more flowers to that side of the box.  Well... then I just carried on and covered the whole thing!

As I said... absolutely no skill required here!

The box was a perfect fit for the snail.  A bit of pretty spotty tissue paper...

...and snaily was happily ensconced in his temporary home!

I used washi tape on the underside of the lid, to cover an alarm clock related sticker that I couldn't remove - the pattern goes well with brown box I thought.  And an extra flower sticker for fun!

 There you have it - cheap and cheerful!  What do you think?

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Sunday, 14 August 2016

Crochet Snail

A short while ago I finished making this cute crochet snail for my sister-in-law, as a little gift.  She has now been presented with said snail, so I am sharing him with you here!

I'd had this pinned on one of my Pinterest boards for quite some time, so was excited to finally get round to making it.  It is the Sofie Snail by Stipenhaak, and you can find the free English pattern here.  Fantastic pattern, clear and easy to follow - and makes the cutest of snails!

He was crocheted in King Cole Bamboo Cotton, which I think is perfect for amigurumi crochet, as it creates a lovely smooth finish.  I used small black buttons for the eyes, and white felt for the spots on the shell.

I'm so pleased with how he turned out!  What do you think?

 Check out my other crochet projects here.


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