Pattern: Shells and V's Crochet Edging

I found this picture here on LaceForStudy.co.uk. Great website for all sorts of handmade and machine made vintage and antique lace.
Here is the link to the original lace. http://www.laceforstudy.org.uk/archives/purpose/16167/2193-english-domestic-crochet-edging/

Replicating antique and vintage crochet patterns is one of my hobbies, I really like antique lace, and would like to share this one here with you.

 Here is the pattern, please comment if you find any errors.

My Version of the Pattern:

Ch: chain

Sk: skip

**: repeat instructions between

Dc: double crochet

hdc: half double crochet

V stitch: hdc, ch 2, hdc

US crochet terms. Hook and thread of whatever suitable size.

1. Ch 27, skip 4ch, *4dc, ch2, 4dc in next space, sk 4 ch*, repeat instructions between * twice more. Ch 3, sk 4 ch, dc in 4th chains, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in 3rd, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in last chain.
2. Ch 5, turn, hdc, ch 2, hdc (V stitch made), ch 3, V stitch, ch 3, V stitch.
3. Ch 3, sk 4 ch, dc in 4th chains, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in 3rd, ch 2, sk 3 chains, dc in last chain.
4. Repeat from 2nd row.

I reserve the right to tweak the pattern if needed.

Here is the picture of the lace, borrowed from the website (and hosted here on my blogger). I created the pattern from the image.

-JTP/MNR

Tiny Scallops Edging

An edging that I improvised.  Great for using up scrap yarn/thread

Tiny Scallops Crochet Edging

• Size 10 thread, 
• size 5 1.9mm hook.
• US terms.

You will always have the flat part of the edging facing away from you.


Chain 5
Two Dc in 5th chain from the hook.
Repeat these two lines for the required length.

If desired:
Now to make the top edge:
Chain 5, *Sc in the middle of the horizontal dc of finished braid, chain 4, sc in the base of the horizontal dc of finished braid.*

Repeat instructions within * till the end.



-JTP/MNR

My crocheting project: Crocheted Silk Purse Fig. 1

Florence Home Needlework, Crocheted Silk Purse Fig. 1

I got this PDF from antiquepatternlibrary.org. I am thankful towards the person who donated these scans. <3 p="">
I love crocheting vintage, antique and ancient patterns. This happens to be an antique pattern. Very Victorian/Edwardian. I plan to use this all the time, special occasion or no special occasion, victorian wear or no victorian wear.

The PDF: http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/B-JA077Florence1887.pdf

The description says: 

Florence Home Needlework 1887

Florence, Mass., Nonotuck Silk Co, 1887, 96 pgs.

Pretty neat! Many of the antique patterns that are preserved historical documents are created in the northeast, specifically, my home state!

This is what is available in the booklet. This is only the image, not the complete pattern.

Anyway, here is what I have so far of this crocheted purse.

I am using a size 10 modern steel crochet hook, 1.3mm. Size 20 crochet thread (antique, JP Coats brand) with a strand of cotton sewing thread. Size 8 toho chartreuse transparent seed beads. 

Fun!

I have been working on it in the evenings and during my lunch breaks at work.

Sorry if the images are a  lil big when enlarged. I took them with my phone. I swear, I am so lazy in documenting my projects.. I'm trying to be better at posting records of what I"m doing! Its actually a marvel I've posted something. however, this is an antique pattern that isn't even on the ravelry database, so I'm thinking that I have to pioneer that effort...

Anyway, the slip of paper that was in that last photo looks to be one of those mailaway order forms, advertising more patterns and thread available from JP Coats. On one side, it says: "Doilies to Crochet! Only 10c a copy! Mail this coupon now" Hahahha. Finding anything that is 10c today is... hard. With old and antique mailers... I've always had a strong desire to mail in the coupon or order form and see if they honor it. xD

Anyway, sometime soon I will add a ravelry entry for this pattern/book and perhaps post the link here.

Edit: Here is the ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/murasakinoryuu/crocheted-silk-purse-fig-1

Here are the mostly finished images of the crochet beaded purses. These are done with bead crochet, and thus are bead crochet purses.

-MNR

Irish Crochet Edging in french: Petite Dentelle Courante

Its an irish crochet edging, vintage french pattern.

https://archive.org/stream/albumdeguipuredi16hard#page/n95/mode/2up
Here's the original page in french.

I am trying to work this out, maybe do a translation? The ONE translation I saw on ravelry... I didn't understand.
Not to say that the crocheter didn't make a lovely edging, that is beside the point. =) In size 80 thread too! 0.6mm hook.
It doesn't appear to be in the ravelry database either! I think that's one thing I want to contribute to the future of thread lace crochet: translate and replicate antique patterns.
BTW, I still haven't forgotten about the thread holders! I just get distracted easily. I have one side done, I figured out how it was made from the picture, and it looks pretty!

Anyway. Anyone else want to take a crack at it? Within the next few days. I have been working a lot, and exhausted, but I will probably make a snippet in size 20 or smaller crochet thread, and post what I have here. I love irish crochet lace. I love fine handmade lace in general. <3 nbsp="" p="">This is the thing I would picture going on a lovely mori kei or lolita dress. Maybe even hime-gyaru.

Here's the pattern as Google Translate spat it out... its rough. :/

Lace small gourante 



This lace which is very handy to decorate small items, bibs, shirts 
and baby dresses, flaps, etc., has a great advantage, it is what is done by going and 
Coming without breaking the thread; you add only after the foot and tooth.

Base: 16 chains. 

the rank cv. - 7 chains, close spike in the last 5, 11 chains, shut in
pin the last 5, 2 chains, poke in the 6th chain after 1 pip 
1 double arch (see the horseshoe lace page 42-43), poke in the 6th chain, 




Chains 7, 1 pin (it is understood that the pin is always taken on membered 
Net) and 5 chains, chain stitch in the last turn. 

2nd row. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick in
first arch before the spike, chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke between 
2 pins of the middle arch; Chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke after the spike,
the last arch, turn. 

3 rank. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick before
pin, 7 chains, prick in next loop, turn, made flanges 10 in this hole 
and an eleventh on the grid attachment, turn, take a 6-day grid on the 



flanges (days consist of 1 chain, 1 flange) - 7 chains, pieol 1, 2 membered 
net, 1 dc in the last arch, turn. 

4 th. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick in
1st day of the pad, 1 double arch, poke in the 5th day, 7 chains, 1 pin, 5-membered 
net, poke in the last hoop after 1 pin turn. 

5 ° row. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick before
pin shackle, chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke between the 2 pins of the hoop 
middle, chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke in the last hoop. 

Repeat the 1st row to 5 and still repeat well. 



Once you have the desired length lace laites one side as a foot 
for other lace and the other side of the tooth as follows: 

the 1 'rank. - Rank 1 day 3 chains, 1 flange.

2 * rank. - 4 stitches in 1 day, 2 sts, 1 pin, 2 sts in the 2 nd day
2 stitches in the 3 rd day, turn 8 chains, prick with 1 st in the 4th after 
pin, turn and do in this hole: 4 pins, preceded, separated and followed by 3 stitches, 
2 sts, 1 pin, 2 stitches in the same day of the base. 

This 2 nd forming the tooth, repeat it as many times as you need 
to finish your lace. 



For different reasons lace of Ireland, we advise our 120, 150, 180, 200 
Irish son of MFA 

Spiral Thread Holder, project

Hello there. I have been busy with work mainly, unable to post things.
I have still been crocheting.

I love going to antiquepatternlibrary.org. There's so many interesting vintage and antique patterns of all sorts. I mainly go there for knitting, crochet and tatting.
Here's the link, if you didn't know of it already. http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/
This is one of the few places on the web where you can find free antique patterns.

I am using this PDF at the moment. http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/6-JA010Nacke2.pdf

I like thread crochet, because its very victorian, and an easy(er) way to make delicate lace. Especially for pretty dress things! Or just for miscellaneous decoration.

Some of these patterns aren't really patterns, they often contain just a picture and a few lines that go on to say: "follow the picture". How people from the 1800s were able to replicate these patterns is beyond me, the patterns can be so vague, confusing, and full of errors. Not always, but its a thing to consider.
Anyway, I am making page 12's Crochet Thread Holder (#2), I'd call it the Spiral thread holder, as it isn't even given a name! Here's a screen capture of the 'pattern'.

Its very cute! If lined, it would be a great mori kei, lolita, or other type of accessory bag. I just love  the cute ribbons. I'm not sure if I would add them.

I'm currently working out the pattern. If anything, I will post notes as to what I did (on ravelry), as well as posting a link to my ravelry.
If I have time, I'll post a writeup of my version of the pattern.

The pattern asks you to use a size 7 crochet hook (1.65mm) and size 5 crochet cotton.
I'm using size 10 crochet cotton and sizes 5 and 7 hooks. More to come.


-MNR

6 inch and 12 inch HDC mitered granny square

This is design one in a series of standard filler afghan squares for charity or personal projects.

gauge of 4 hdc = 1"

I used acrylic worsted weight yarn, 4 ply/ 10 ply, mainly scraps.

G or H hook, depending on how tightly/loosely you crochet.

1. Use the magic loop technique or using a G or H hook chain 4, join in a loop and chain 3 stitches.
2. Make 2 hdc in loop, ch 2, (3 hdc, ch 2)x3, slip stitch in the top of beginning ch 3.
3. Ch 3, hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in space, ch 2, 2 hdc, hdc in next 2 stitches, hdc on the ch 3 from last round, ch 3, turn.
4. Hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next space, ch 2, 2 hdc, hdc in next 5 sts, hdc on the ch 3 from the last round.
5. Continue in this manner for 25 rounds, or until square measures 12". If it doesn't quite measure 12 inches, add one more row: sc across in each stitch till the ch 2, in the ch 2, 2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc, sc in each remaining stitch till the end of the row.
6. Fasten off.

-MNR

6 and 12 inch DC mitered granny square

Here is a pattern for a simple 12" mitered filler granny square. I've been using it to make 12 inch squares for various charities. This design has minimum holes for maximum warmth.

I haven't seen any other patterns for a square of this size so... I feel that I should post this for other folk. I will start with the 6" square.


US terms.
G or H hook (4.25mm - 5.0mm)
Worsted weight yarn

1. Ch 4, sl st in 1st chain to form a ring.
2. Ch 3 (counts as first dc from now on), 2dc in loop, ch 1, (3dc, ch 1) three times,  sl stitch in top of ch 3, pull the tail tight.
3. Ch 3, 2 dc in corner, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in corner, ch 1, 3dc in corner, 2 dc in next 2 dcs, 1 dc in corner space, dc in the corner chain, ch 3, turn.
4. Skip first space, dc in next 5 stitches, 3dc in next space, ch 1, 3dc,  dc in next 5 stitches, ch 3, turn.
5. Skip first space, dc in next 8 stitches, 3dc in next space, ch 1, 3dc, dc in next 7 stitches, dc on top of previous turning chain, ch 3, turn.

Continue this until there are a total of 5 rows. This should be a 6 inch square.

To get a 12 inch square, continue in this manner for 11 rows.


-MNR

Looking at sales on patterns

Vogue knitting sent me an email stating that they are having sales on their patterns.

Meh. Their stuff is too expensive to buy directly from them. I heartily say check out ebay or amazon for their patterns. Heck, I was SO lucky, I got the Vogue knitting book, normally 38 dollars, for 5 dollars at the thrift store. The thrift store is mecca for off brand mori kei, dolly kei, and lolita accessories and clothes, btw. Though, don't expect much in the way of finding cutesy girly stuff if you're larger than a size L.

I've been into mori kei lately. It is one of those styles that can use a lot of lolita stuff. Mori kei is about looking like you're a forest wanderer, a free spirit. Dolly kei is similar, but its purpose is to make you look as if you came from a european fairy tale. I love both of those styles, but lately I've been making dresses for Lolita. I have one pale blue dress that I am making out of a Mc Calls pattern. Will post pics when I can, am exhausted, just came off of a shift working at Walmart.

Whoooo. This is the book I have. I am getting quite the store of knitting/crocheting/sewing books.


As for tips for accessories to make for any of these styles... I suggest joining ravelry.
The following patterns are from my queue on ravelry.
A pattern that would be great for...

Mori Kei: A Maiden's Glory, http://www.theanticraft.com/archive/beltane06/maidensglory.htm , a circlet made of crocheted flowers and leaves. Very beautiful. I tried to make this before I properly knew about gauge. Didn't go well. Am going to try again though.

Dolly Kei: Two measures of joy, https://www.elann.com/Commerce.Web/Product_freePatternsDetail.aspx?id=118832, A felted purse knit in the round. It has the first couple of notes of Ode to Joy knit and embroidered onto it, so its kinda nerdy, but goes along with the very romantic look of dolly kei.

Lolita: The Grown Up bonnet, http://www.lhoffman.com/grown-up-bonnet, a bonnet knitted on size 5 straight needles. I am in the process of making it but I put it aside so that I can knit christmas gifts.


Anyway, all of these patterns can also be found on Ravelry, if you wanted.

Am going to continue drawing and posting some things up here, when I'm not tired. Farewell for now.


-MNR

The X Marks shawl

This shawl is great for beginners. It includes all of the major stitches, and works up very fast. It has a bit of lace as well as the warmth of the smaller stitches.

Abbreviations: (US stitches)
Sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, trc = treble crochet, dtrc = double treble crochet.

Treble crochet: Wrap yarn around hook twice. Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through loop three times.
Double Treble crochet: Wrap yarn around hook twice. Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through loop four times.

For worsted weight yarn, and an even weave, I would use an I or J hook.

Using a J hook and worsted weight yarn,
Ch 51. (Or some number divisible by 3.)

Rows 1 and 2: sc in each stitch across. 50 stitches.
Rows 3 and 4: Ch2. Hdc in each stitch across.
Rows 5 and 6: Ch 3. Dc in each stitch across.
Row 7: Ch4. Trc in each stitch across.
Row 8: Ch 5. Dtrc in 3rd stitch, skipping the 1st and 2nd stitches. Ch 1. Dtrc in 1st stitch. *Skip two stitches. Dtrc in next stitch. Ch 1,  then go back and dtrc in the first skipped stitch of this repeat.*  Repeat the sequence within the *'s till the end of the row.

Repeat these 8 rows until desired length.

Finishing:
Make a hdc border around the entire shawl.  To evenly distribute the stitches on the sides of the shawl, follow this rule of thumb: every two sc = 1 hdc. One hdc = 1 hdc. One dc = 2 hdc, One trc = 3 hdc, one dtrc = 3 or 4 hdc. Or, use your best judgement.


-MNR

Mileage Shawl Pattern

Mileage Shawl Pattern


Well, this can be a shawl or an afghan. Its named this because it works up very fast. I like how fast trebles work up, but I also like the single crochet stitch. There is such a neatness created by single crochet stitches.

Worsted weight yarn
I used lily sugar and cream scraps in blue, white, and "landscape".  It will take at least 8 small balls, or two cones.
Size I hook

Chain 59.
Row 1: sc in each stitch across. 58 stitches.
Row 2-3: sc in each stitch across.
Row 4: Treble crochet in each stitch across.
Repeat these rows until desired length, or reach 3 feet in length.

-MNR

Slightly meshed tunisian lace stitch

So I've been wanting to create new stitches, mainly in crochet, because there aren't enough of them.
I've been experimenting with Tunisian crochet (or afghan crochet). Its where you use a long hook and keep loops on the hook instead of immediately completing the stitch. The backbone of all of the stitches is the chain stitch. There is a forward pass and a return pass.

If you want to know more, check this out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisian_crochet.

I cannot teach you the stitches, but youtube has plenty of videos to demonstrate the stitches.

This stitch pattern uses tss and ch. The return row is the standard return row. Each row assumes that you return pass afterwards.

Slightly Meshed Lace Stitch

Chain an even number. For the example I use 20 stitches.
Row 1: Tss in all 20 stitches.
Row 1.5: Normal return pass through all 20 loops.
Row 2: Tss in first stitch, *sk next st, tss in next stitch* to the end of your row. End the row with one std tss.
Row 2.5: Ch 1, complete first stitch, *ch1, complete next stitch* all the way to the end of the row, complete the last stitch with normal return pass.

Continue these 4 rows for pattern till desired length.

Japanese hook sizes - "steel"

I read a lot of japanese crochet patterns. Many of them are thread weight.

There is this beautiful bolero I would like to make into my size, it would be perfect for classic lolita or mori kei or even himegyaru.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/p21-lace-bolero
Its absolutely gorgeous but even in the book itself its very complicated, so I'm thinking about making this pattern instead. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/p23-bolero . Its slightly simpler.

I can read a little japanese: hirigana, katakana, and some kanji. MEEEH why would you use kanji in a pattern?? Then only those who are absolutely up to reading level in japanese can read it. The people who make these patterns are usually good about making diagrams. I plan on learning japanese more, but for now, diagrams will do. I guess.

Oftentimes these patterns are one size fits all. At least they are good about making them in a size that is highly adaptable, somewhere in between bust size 32 and bust size 38, a medium for a lot of people.

Japanese patterns use an "#/0" symbol for the size of their hooks and needles. US and UK use "size #" for their hook sizes in patterns. I keep forgetting the japanese to metric to US conversion for the needles. I think I'm going to make a chart in english. Or at least borrow one from the Rakuten site: http://www.rakuten.co.jp/gosyo/438728/672881/





Japanese steel hooks No.      2/0   3/0       4/0      5/0      6/0       7/0       8/0      10/0 　 　 　
Size in mm                         2mm 2.3mm 2.5mm 3.0mm 3.5mm 4.0mm 5.0mm 6.0mm 　 　 　
Japanese bamboo hooks No. 2         3           4          5          6           7          8          10       
Size in mm                         2.7m/m 3.0m/m 3.3m/m 3.6m/m 3.9m/m 4.2m/m 4.5m/m 5.1mm


I think hooks that don't have labels are just listed in mm size in the pattern.

If I got some info wrong, do comment and I will try to fix it.


-MNR

Crochet bow patterns

These are currently a work in progress. Check back.

They are for crochet.

Net Bow

Base:
With a g hook and worsted weight yarn, chain 21.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (20 sc)
Ch 4, turn.*Skip one sc, dc in next stitch, ch 1*
Ch 4, turn.Skip 1 ch, dc in next dc, continue from *.
Continue previous row for 30 rows.
Row 31: Ch 1, sc in each dc and space. Fasten off.

Tie:
Ch 8.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (7sc)
Ch 1, sc in each sc across.
Continue previous row for 2 more rows.
Do not fasten off.

Fold the bow in such a way that it fluffs up. Wrap the tie around the bow and secure both ends of the tie with slip stitches along the ends.



Bobble Bow

Bobble stitch: insert hook into stitch, yo, draw up loop, pull through two loops. Do this 3x more, then yo and draw through all loops. Do not chain one.

Base:
With a g hook and worsted weight yarn, ch 25.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (25 sc)
Sc in first two stitches, bobble,

Spring break, the casino, and sewing machine

Well, spring break is over tonight. It kinda sucks that it is over.
I had fun, though most of the days I was just lounging about and sleeping and knitting.
I did get a chance to drive home and stay there for 3 days, 90 miles is the farthest I've driven.

My friends and I went to Mohegan Sun casino and resort yesterday for St. Patrick's day. It was intense. Lots of partying people, we saw the parade, I lost $40 (my friend provided the money) and at the roulette table he won back all of our losses. So it wasn't awful. I actually like the roulette and black jack tables much better than the slots. More strategy involved than pushing a button and getting random wins.
In general, I learned I don't like gambling. I lost a lot, and the wins I did get weren't worth much. If I were to go again, I would go to see the shows and watch people at the tables. I feel.... I need some tangible return for putting money into the endeavor. A lot of celebrities come and do shows at the casino. I didn't realize.

I totally wish they had Pokemon slots like in the gameboy games. That would be awesome, I would totally play! For that matter, the Pokemon games need things like blackjack and roulette or Pokemon poker.

By the end of all that, my feet hurt so much. The place is fairly huge and there are massive amounts of crowds and the only place to sit is at the slots. =P Very strategic there.
There was a scandalously dancing man that handed out necklaces with "lightly dressed" females handing out beer reward cards. I got both, but  I didn't use the beer card. I don't like beer. I am more of a wine or cocktail person. Also I don't drink often.

The mainly awful part was driving there. There were so many terrifying moments of getting lost, and the gps was trying to screw us over constantly. Oh, mother gave me her tom tom 2 recently, and I am borrowing her sewing machine.

I didn't dress the way I wanted to. I really wanted to sew the coffee date dress from burdastyle and wear it to the casino so I could look like some arm candy and find James Bond at one of the poker tables and be his good luck charm. But... mohegan sun is... more of a family oriented casino. And the vast majority of the people that went there weren't dressed up. After I was done gambling, For the last couple hours I people watched. That was the most disappointing part about people watching. There were very few people in suits and cocktail dresses.
However, when you do go to the place where the sit-down restaurants are, more people are dressed up, in pumps and short dresses. A  younger, more hip crowd, mostly to go to the nightclub there.

I just wore casual outerwear. I was somewhat upset about that, that I didn't really dress up. I tried, but soo many clothes, and nothing matching! Argle!

About the sewing machine though: I was there at 11 pm, in the dorm, cutting up the printed pattern, taping pieces together. Then my sewing machine started to make loud squeaking noises.
and then the squeaking noises started to intensify slowly, and would appear and disappear.
I'm very upset, because I oiled every part of the machine. I searched online, it may be that the engine needs oil. I had better look at the manual, or call mummah.... but she got it tuned up last year, so the motor's brushes shouldn't be eroded.

I have a Kenmore model 385.something, I can't quite remember the whole model number off the top of my head. I downloaded a free copy of the manual a few months ago, so I shall try to troubleshoot myself. I just got access to a sewing machine. I don't want to have to take it home because if I take it home it will stay there for months, not getting tuned up as it needs.

Before it crapped out I did manage to finish my green dress. So its not that awful...
I need to learn how to insert zippers and make button holes tho. I can hand sew anything else I guess.

Well, back to class tomorrow. When I have time, I guess.

-MNR

Crown Chart (knitting or crochet)

I want to start designing patterns for Ravelry and such. I've created this crown chart, and I want to share it.

This chart/afghan block can be knit with any size needles and any yarn, and near any gauge. I wouldn't suggest a very loose gauge, because then the pattern can't be seen.