Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Crochet Flowers

I really love flowers, they cheer me up and can transform a room in your home. However as beautiful as fresh flowers are they don't last long.

I decided to combine my passion for crochet and love of flowers and make crocheted flowers!


These crochet flowers are made to order. They make wonderful gifts and unlike real flowers they will last forever! This is an example of what I can do. If you have any requests please let me know. Maybe a favourite flower or a colour to match your décor. The stems are wired so can be bent to the required position.




A hand embroidered personalised felt gift tag can be added to the flower for that personal touch.

The first flower I made was a Gerbera. I made the pattern up from how I thought it should look.
Here is the result.




I made a Sunflower next. I used black eyelash yarn to add texture to the centre. The leaves are threaded with fine wire so the position can be adjusted.




My favourite is the Calla Lilly. The edge of the flower is wired to create its shape.




This Rose is a custom order for a lady. Again the stem is wired and I've added a lace effect leaf.




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Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Spring/Summer 2013 Jewellery and Accessory Trends

Pastels and florals are set to be big this season. 

Designers such as Chanel, Mulberry and Elie Saab have all featured pastels in there collections.


 Elie Saab 

Mulbery

Chanel


Here is a collection of my favourite jewellery and accessories for Spring/Summer 2013

Marks and Spencers have some beautiful pieces. I love the colours used for this necklace. It would look great with a simple white t-shirt. It is priced at £25.00


Candy Rose Pendant Collar Necklace £15.00



I absolutely love this bracelet set from Dorothy Perkins, £12.50


These earrings are wrapped with blush thread and feature peach stones. I like the use of pastel colours mixed with metallics. These are £10


These little parrot earrings, with turquoise feathers are so cute. These are £6.50 from Topshop. 


These are my own crocheted birds which I made into hair slides, £8.00 Elizabeth Laker



Collars remain a must-have accessory.  

They are so versatile and can completly change the look of an outfit. Buy one of these to instantly update your look.


Pretty Sparkle Collar £30, Dorothy Perkins


 Neon Pink Collar, £30 Topshop


Acrylic Collar, £18.50 Topshop


Sweetheart Crochet Collar, £15.00 Elizabeth Laker


Here are some other items from my own collection Elizabeth Laker

Crochet Heart Hairgrips £6.50



Crochet Wrap Around Bracelet £10

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Thursday, 14 February 2013

Classic Rose Pattern (UK terms)


Classic Rose Pattern (UK terms)



Abbreviations

ss       slip stich
ch       chain
dc       double crochet
tr       treble
sp       space


Materials

4ply cotton
3mm hook
Will make a Rose of approximately 6cm diameter.


Directions

Note: Leave a long tail at the start so that you can use it to stitch the rose together.

55ch

Row 1:. Into 4th ch from hook work 1dc. *1ch, miss 2ch, (1tr, 2ch, 1tr) in next st. Repeat from * to the end. Turn.


Row 2: 3ch, (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) into first 2-ch sp. *(2ch, 2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in next 2-ch sp. Repeat from * to the end. Turn.





Row 3: 6tr into first 2-ch sp, 1dc into next 2-ch sp. (5tr into next 2-ch sp, 1dc into next 2-ch sp) 3 times. (7tr into next 2-ch sp, 1dc  into next 2-ch sp) 9 times.  (9tr into next 2-ch sp, 1dc into next 2-ch sp) five times. Leave a tail long enough to weave in easily and fasten off.

Finishing

Thread the long tail onto a needle and as you roll the rose up stitch the base together. Start rolling from the small petaled end. You can be creative with the rolling, either making a flat base or telescoping it to create different looks to your finished rose.
You can create a larger Rose by making a longer foundation chain. It needs to be dividable by 3 and then plus 1.

Note: the formation used in row, (1tr, 2ch, 1tr) is sometimes called a 'V stitch' as it creates a V shape.







Here I have followed the same pattern but used 2ply cotton and a 2mm hook. This makes a smaller delicate Rose.


Row 1


 Row 2


Row 3 - the petals



 The finished Rose