Home made bag/purse handle tutorial

Here is a nifty little idea I have been tossing about.

I have seen similar handles up for sale on the internet,

but knowing I had all the supplies on hand I decided to make my own handles.

The one thing I did not have on hand was 16 guage wire,

which would have been more flexible to work with and a better guage for some of the beads and findings I have on hand.

So I used coat hanger wire, but believe, me I would not use it again.

It does make for a strong handle though.

These are some of the materials needed for making your handles.

Pliers, wire cutter, wire, beads and findings.

Cut you wire to length

I read some where that the length of your finished handle should measure about 13 inches in length, allowing extra for turning ends in.

I have made mine a little longer here as I know I will need extra length to work off a nice finish, since the coat hanger wire is not so flexible.

Once again as my wire is not as flexible, I have used a sturdy circular object to shape my wire.

Now I have the shape I am happy with, I can prepare my beads.

Set out your beads in a colour scheme that you are happy with.

I have used some nice glass foil beads I bought some time ago on special.

I am going to space my beads with the only other thing I have on hand with a big enough opening, other wise I would have used some nice silver balls or similar.

After placing my beads on the wire, I bent over the end I was not working with, so my beads would not fall off. I needed to bring out the heavy duty pliers here, as it was hard to bend the other end around to form a nice circular close.

Here is the finished handle, both ends have been turned in and the excess wire has been cut off for a nice finish.

I may attach some half circle wire hoops to the ends of the handles, for attaching to a bag, or attach directly into the finished loops above.

Next thing I need to do is make the bag.

Crochet neck warmers

Here's some more neck warmers I've made to give away.

There is also an eye glass case.

More info on the neck warmer here.

Crochet Home Made Button Tutorial

Do you find that buttons can be expensive or you can't find a matching button?

Then try this simple idea.

Materials needed.

Plastic (I used the lid from an ice-cream container), shape to trace ( I used a button that was the size I needed for my project), marker/texta to trace with, preferably a thin tipped one, hole punch, scissors, yarn, hook and sewing needle.

Trace your shape

Using your thin tip marker, trace your shape then cut it out.

Mark holes for punching

These holes are used for sewing your button on.

Sewing View.

Colour your plastic button, optional

Depending on the yarn you use, the colour of the plastic may show through, so you may want to colour the plastic a colour similar to your yarn.

Now to crochet the cover for your new button

Using the magic ring technique (this forms a tighter close for the beginning ring)

6 sc into ring, (do not join rounds through-out)

2 sc into each sc around, (12 sc)

1 sc through back loops only in each sc around (12 sc)

1 sc through both loops around (12 sc)

Place plastic button into your crocheted work

sc 2 together around (6 sc)

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Beginning side

Finishing side

Thread tail for sewing

You sew the button on from either side up or down, it depends on the look you want.

When you are sewing on your new button, coming out from the top, you may need to weave under to get to the next hole, so as not to expose you sewing yarn.

These are some buttons I prepared earlier for a neck warmer I made

Now this is a simple button to make, it can be made smaller or larger by adding or subtracting the sc from your beginning ring and also by subtracting or adding more sc rows.
You may want to dress up your new button a little, by using your knowledge of crochet techniques.

Short and Sweet, Lacey Bolero.

I've just finished this lovely lacey bolero from the pattern book

The Happy Hooker.

The pattern was quite easy to follow and as the book states after a few repeats I could make the stitch with barely a glance at the pattern.

I used an 8 ply yarn and a size 5.00mm hook.

I made it casually over a few nights.

It's such a pretty bolero, I have made it for my sister-in-law, I'd make one for myself, but it is a bolero and I'd like it to meet up closer in the centre.

I must say that this book is worth buying.

My daughter bought it from Amazon for a very good price of around $12.00.

It was shipped from the states along with a couple of other books, that I am looking forward to use.

Here in Australia, the crochet fanatic is not really catered for, buying a good pattern book here, cost's around $30.00 and upwards, if you can find them.

So Amazon is a very good resource to purchase from.

Ladybug Purse

I just whipped up this little purse to match the Scarf and Beret.

There is no pattern as I winged it.

It's actually a shape that went wrong, because I didn't count my stitches to make them even.

So that is why I have a side ways ladybug.

I persevered with it and it came out ok in the end.

Crochet Ladybug, Beret and Scarf Set

I have made this set for my Step daughter Bec', it will be her birthday on the 24.04.

I wrote my own beret pattern, as I wanted to use 2 strands of 8 ply yarn for extra thickness (16 ply). You can use any old type of beret pattern available.

I have supplied a free pattern for the Beret and Scarf here.
Enjoy!!!!!

Ladybug Beret
Materials
2 x 50 gm balls of 8 ply red (US light worsted)
2 x 50 gm balls of 8 ply black
Size 5.00 mm hook (US size H hook)
Size 4.00 mm hook (US size G hook)
Sewing needle

Stitch used is US sc

Special instructions
Beret and Peak are made by using 2 strands of yarn together, which gives you a 16 ply Beret
Do not join rounds
The use of a stitch marker between rounds

Alternate increase’s for a more rounded effect, such as, sc then increase, increase then sc.
Instructions are given for only for sc then increase.

Size is for small adult head

Beret, working with 2 strands of red yarn and a size 5.00mm hook
Ch 4, sl st to form a ring
8 sc into ring (8 sc)
2 sc in each sc around (16 sc)
1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of the round (24 sc)
1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (32 sc)
1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round, (40 sc)
1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (48 sc)
1 sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (56 sc)
work 1 sc in each sc around (56 sc)
1 sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (56 sc)
1 sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (64 sc)
1 sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (72 sc)
1 sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (80 sc)
work 1 sc in each sc around (80 sc)
1 sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (88 sc)
1 sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (96 sc)
work 1 sc in each sc around (96 sc)
1 sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (96 sc)
1 sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat to end of round (104 sc)
This should give you an approximate width of 10 inches in diameter, if you want a wider beret, keep increasing in the above manner to get your width. If puckering occurs, work a row with out increases.

Work 1 round of sc in back loops only
Decrease rounds are the reverse of the increase rounds
1 sc in next 11 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (96 sc)
1 sc in next 10 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (88 sc)
1 sc in next 9 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (80 sc)
1 sc in next 8 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (72 sc)
1 sc in next 7 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (64 sc)
1 sc in next 6 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (56 sc)
1 sc in next 5 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (48 sc) Stop decreasing here (row 26) for a medium sized beret
1 sc in next 4 sc, sc 2 sc together, repeat to end of round (40 sc)
work next 5 rows in sc, with 2 strands of black, without decrease or length desired. Fasten off


Peak for beret
Using 2 strands of black and size 5.00 mm hook
Ch 2
work 4 sc into 2nd ch from hook, ch 1 and turn
2 sc in each sc across, ch 1 turn (8 sc)
1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next, repeat to end, ch 1 and turn (12 sc)
1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next, repeat to end, ch 1 and turn (16 sc)
keep increasing in this manner until you have 28 sc or width desired. Fasten off
Attach peak to beret, sew in all loose ends.

The back split is worked with a single strand of black yarn in sc through the red beret with a size 4.00 mm hook.

Feelers are sewn in black as pictured.

Make a face on the peak.

Make 2 small dots, using a single strand of black and using size 4.00 mm hook.
Work 4 sc into a ring, do not join,
work 2 sc into each sc around (8 sc), fasten off leaving a length for sewing.


Make 2 large dots, using a single strand of black and using size 4.00 mm hook.
Work 4 sc into a ring, do not join,
work 2 sc into each sc around (8 sc),
work 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc around (8 sc) fasten off leaving a length for sewing.

Attach dots head.
Sew in all loose ends.

Ladybug Scarf
Materials
2 x 50 gm balls of 8 ply red
2 x 50 gm balls of 8 ply black
Small amount of white yarn, for sewing eyes.
Size 5.00 mm hook (US size H hook)
Size 4.00 mm hook (US size G hook)
Sewing needle

Stitches used are US sc and dc

Scarf is worked beginning at neck part, then the lady bugs are attached to both ends of the neck part.
Instructions given are for a scarf approx 55 inches in length. Using 4 lady bugs on each end of the scarf (8 ladybugs in total)
Turning ch 3 is counted as the first dc in every row


Neck part
Holding 2 strands of black together and using 5.00 mm hook
Ch 15
work 1 dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 3 and turn (13 dc)
work 1 dc in next dc across, ch 3 and turn (13 dc)
repeat row 2 until you get 31 rows in total, or length desired. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Easy ladybug, less sewing

Holding 2 strands of red yarn together and using 5.00 mm hook
You can either make a magic circle to begin, or a ch 2 then sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. The magic ring gives you a beginning that is closed tightly.
Do not join rounds.

Work 6 sc into ring
2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)
1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (18 sc)
1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (24 sc)
1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (30 sc)
1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (36 sc)
1 sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (42 sc)
sl st to join.


Head is worked as a half circle
Holding 2 strands of black and using 5.00mm hook
work 3 sc into ring, ch 1 and turn
2 sc into each sc to end, ch 1 and turn (6 sc)
1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat across (9 sc) fasten off
Attach head to body.

The back split is worked in sc through the red body.

Using a single strand of black and a size 4.00 mm hook attach yarn to the centre area of the head closest to the red body, sc evenly down the length of body.

Black spots are made in 2 sizes; the smaller is attached to the upper body and the larger to the lower body.

Make 2 small dots, using a single strand of black and using size 4.00 mm hook.
Work 4 sc into a ring, fasten off leaving a length for sewing.

Make 2 large dots, using a single strand of black and using size 4.00 mm hook.
Work 4 sc into a ring, do not join, work 2 sc into each sc around (8 sc), fasten off leaving a length for sewing.

Attach dots to body. Sew eyes into head.

Single strand Ladybug more sewing .

Made in 4 parts using a single strand of yarn and a size 4.00 mm hook

Black body

Work 6 sc into ring
2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)
1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (18 sc)
1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (24 sc)
1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (30 sc)
1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (36 sc)
1 sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat around (42 sc)
sl st to join.

Black head
Work 3 sc into ring, ch 1 and turn
2 sc into each sc across, ch 1 and turn (6sc)
1 sc into next sc, 2 sc into next sc, repeat to end ch 1 and turn (9 sc)
1 sc into next 2 sc, 2 sc into next sc, repeat to end ch 1 and turn (12 sc)

Attach head to body.

Red Wings, make 2

Work 3 sc into ring, ch 1 and turn
2 sc into each sc across, ch 1 and turn (6sc)
1 sc into next sc, 2 sc into next sc, repeat to end ch 1 and turn (9 sc)
1 sc into next 2 sc, 2 sc into next sc, repeat to end ch 1 and turn (12 sc)
1 sc into next sc 3, 2 sc into next sc, repeat to end ch 1 and turn (15 sc)
1 sc into next sc 4, 2 sc into next sc, repeat to end ch 1 and turn (18 sc)
1 sc into next sc 5, 2 sc into next sc, repeat to end (21 sc)
Fasten off leaving a medium sized tail for sewing on 1st wing and a longer tail for sewing on the 2nd wing.

Attaching wings (face wings together so tails meet each other) firstly using smaller tail for sewing, sew wings together from the sewing tail to the centre circle of the wing only, cut yarn.
Attach wings to the body using the longer tail, begin at the top centre of the body, sew around the outer part of the first wing then up into the upside down v shaped part of the wing, then the outer part of the wing to where you began, finishing off sewing down the centre join of the wing. (Wings attached to the body.)

Black spots are made in 2 sizes; the smaller is attached to the upper body and the larger to the lower body.

Make 2 small dots, using a single strand of black and using size 4.00 mm hook.
Work 4 sc into a ring, fasten off leaving a length for sewing.

Make 2 large dots, using a single strand of black and using size 4.00 mm hook.
Work 4 sc into a ring, do not join, work 2 sc into each sc around (8 sc), fasten off leaving a length for sewing.

Attach dots to body. Sew eyes into head

I attached my ladybugs heads facing upwards, the very top of the head was sewn to the very bottom of the body.
See pictures for more detail.

© Cathy Wood. 2008

Crochet by Candle Light

Wednesday 02.04.08, was a day of 120 kmph winds and a massive black out across Victoria (Australia).

I was with out power for more than 24 hours.

What I missed the most was my perculated coffee and my computer.

I had a little clip on light used for book reading, which I attached to the peak of the cap I was wearing. So this is how I got about.

I was paranoid about tripping and falling and causing further injury to my fractured foot. It is so on the mend now, I didn't want to slow the process with another accident.

But I came out unscathed, I just got a little bored.

I did how ever manage to make this neck warmer by candle light.

It's for my daughter Terrie.

With quite a bit of down time, I thought I'd color my hair.

I grabbed a bleach instead of a tint.

Now I am a nice bright shade of orange.

My daughter Danielle, who is now a legal secretary, has some hairdressing experience and she usually takes care of coloring my hair.

She was not impressed at all!

So she is making me wait another day before she repairs my hair, to a more acceptable color.

Crochet Mouse Chase around the Hat

I just love coming up with these quirky hats.
Here is my latest.
It's the Mouse chase to the cheese, via the track around the hat.

You can find the hat pattern here.

Crochet Basic Hat and Neck Warmer

To make the basic crown, I use this guide

I did add an extra increase round as my yarn may have been a bit finer than the one suggested and I also used a smaller hook.

Once I had the crown established I worked the griddle st (the up and down st) around the hat as I had used it in the neck warmer.

I finished off with a row of hdc, a row of 1 sc and ch 3 around, then I worked 5 sc in the ch 3, around and I finished off with a picot in the centre of the 5 sc around.

The flower was one I made up, as I wanted one that I could centre a button in and hang some jewellry from the button. I am particulary pleased with the hanging jewellry and I intend to work with this style more often.

You will find more about the neck warmer here.

I'm also showing off my new head model here.

Its the first time I have used her. She is a bit on the ugly side, but I can always take photo shots like the first in of this post. I picked her up at a garage sale for around $5.00. Yes she came quite cheap and willing.

Crochet a magnet......360 of them

What would you do with 360 magnets?

Well I have made a start making fridge magnets.

I was told they scratch the fridge so they all have to be covered to ensure they do not scratch. I have found that if I cover them too much they start to slip, even though they are a powerful little magent.

This is how I made an egg, I can't decide on a good desgin for the bacon as yet.

These are some patterns I aquired from the internet.

Except for the tea pot and tea cup, I made them up as I went along.

I'm not too happy with the cup as yet, but I suppose I have about 355 more shots at it.

These are a hoot of a magnet.

Crochet Monkey/Knitted Cow

This is how the story goes.

Deb and Don pictured below, bought a plush cow as a gift for a baby.

They put me to the test to see how good my crochet was and asked if I could copy it.

So I took a photo of the which is below.

OK, so this is the cow, it is a machine knit and oh so cute.

I knew it was a cow to begin with, but it reminded me of the pet monkey, Penny from lost in space had. Her monkey had those little horn things on it's head too.

OK, so by this time I'm thinking monkey (DERR).

Now this is the out come of the cow. Cow come monkey. I didn't allow for the shrinkage in the arms and legs once they were stuffed, so they are a little short.

Now to further my stupidity, I just did an image search for Penny's monkey and it didn't have horns, more like large pointed ears.

Crochet Doctor Doll, with link to the free pattern.

On Sunday night I was walking down the stairs reading a bit of paper

(not a good idea to read something whilst tackling stairs)

when I came to the very last step I missed most of it and slipped off, rolling my toes underneath my foot and I came crashing down in agony.

It was immediately obvious to me that something had broken.

After a 3 hour visit to the hospital, I arrived back at home with a pair of crutches to support my fractured foot.

Now I have lots of spare time to crochet.

Nursing my Foot.

I made a cover to keep the bandage cleaner.

I have a follow up visit with my Doctor this Thursday.

He has been my family Doctor for over 20 years and he has seen me and my family through some very rough times.

You see drawings of appreciation from children in the Doctors rooms, I can't draw for nuts, but I sure can crochet.

I have been wanting to give a token of appreciation to my doctor for a while.

So I chose to make the Doctor Who Doll.

But I left out the Who part and gave him a stethoscope to make him look more like a regular Doctor. He has the stethoscope in his ears and the white button thingy in the picture is the end of the stethoscope.Thin black plastic tubing makes up the rest of it.

It's a little hard to make out as it is black on black.

The link to the free pattern is here.

Thanks to Tracy from snuffykins journal.

Just an update here... I gave the Doctor Doll to my Doctor, he thanked me graciously and stated that he was not going to leave it in his Doctors Office where it may come to harm. I was a little nervous giving it to him, but his reaction put me at ease.

Lining my bags.

Okay here are some bags I've lined in the past week. A couple of them have been hanging around for a while waiting to be finished. I'm not the best at sewing, but I'll give it a go.

The first bag is made from that carpet yarn I had in the box.

(I've still got acre's of it left, yes acre's, it sounds more than miles/km's and it seems like that too)

I added some pretty fluffly yarn to bring out the beauty of the carpet yarn.

Some cotton flowers to boot.

I also added a zip (sewing again)

And I added a handle I bought , yes one handle, I never thought to buy two of them, now I know better. Oh well, it's a light little purse so the single handle will be suffice.

And last but not least the lining, I tried to sew the sides of the lining with the sewing machine, but the material didn't grab under the machine needle too well, so I hand sewed the lot. It's sort of a silky jersey material, the print is lovely and changes colours.

Now do you remember the dress bag?

Here it is lined too.

Here is another bag lined.

I was playing around with granny squares and after I had made a few from different patterns, I wondered what I could do with them.

I came across this pattern for a bag and I used the diagram to piece the bag together.

I haven't put handles on the bag as yet, as I ran out of the pink yarn.

Now here are some very good tutorials for bag lining.

My first choice tutorial

My second choice tutorial

Both are very good tutorials.