How I Organize My Crochet Stuff

All we crocheters love our crochet supplies and love hoarding them for future use. But too much of it and things go out of control. You don't know how to organize them and they are all over the place. I finally decided to take some time to add some method to my madness and share it with all of you. I made a hook case to keep my hooks in. Finally, a well deserving abode for my hooks which do all the work. The hook case has ten hook pockets to hold hooks from sizes B to K. You can even add a pocket for your tape measure and stitch markers. Free pattern for this case will be coming up soon.

I had always kept my yarn bundled up in plastic bags. What an uncreative way of keeping such a beautiful craft supply! So one fine day I decided to shop for a big plastic box that would hold all my yarn. That is when I chanced upon this three tier plastic box with wheels. These are readily available in any Walmart or Target stores. Now, I store all my yarn in these and can conveniently wheel them around wherever I want to sit and crochet. You can also consider using one of the tiers for keeping your tape measure, buttons, sewing needles and thread etc.

Time and again, after starting to use a skein of yarn I end up loosing or misplacing the wrappers around the yarn. The result, I don't know which color or brand I am using to mention it in my patterns. Looking up the color names in the internet left me confused and I had to wait for my next visit to the craft store to confirm it. So I came up with this idea to cut out the name part and the color part of each yarn label and staple them with a bit of the yarn for future reference.

If any of you have more ideas please let me know and I would like to add it here.

Keyhole Booties ( pdf pattern for sale)

Another beautiful pattern for your baby girl! This would look adorable on any tiny feet and make a simple outfit look stunning. A lace tie adds dimension to the design while making it adjustable for a custom fit. Pattern uses Hooks H (5mm) and G(4.25mm) and any worsted weight yarn. I used Red Heart Super Saver and Lily sugar and cream worsted weight yarns. It is written in standard American terms and includes 4 sizes-0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months. Stitches used are single crochet, slip stitch, half double crochet and double crochet.

Payment can be made securely through PayPal. Once you pay, the pdf pattern will be emailed to you in 24 hours. Make sure you enter your email id correctly during checkout. Mail me if you have any questions. Please do not resell the pattern itself or pass it on to others. You can make it for yourself or as a gift. If you sell items made from my pattern please do give my blog credit. All my designs are protected by copyright.

$5.00

Tips for Making Baby Booties

1. It is always difficult for a beginner to get both the booties in the same size. Do not get disappointed, there are lots of others in the same boat as you. The first step is to make sure you do both the soles together and of the same size. If you do both the booties side by side, u can avoid changes to a large extent before it's too late. If you are making it for your baby, it's a good idea to try it on before weaving in the ends. A slight variation in size may go unnoticed when worn as crochet projects are stretchy and will take the shape of the feet.

2. Work into the back loops only means instead of inserting your hook under both the loops of a stitch, insert it into one of the loops only ( back as seen in pic) which will leave one loop of each stitch free. It helps to turn your work , like to turn the sides up from the sole.

3. Sole is worked in the round, or shall I say oval, around the foundation chain without turning your work at all. You work into all of the foundation chains and then go around to work in the back of the same foundation chain again. Making the sole involves a lot of counting. What you have to keep in mind is that the sole is made of two identical halves , one left half and one right half . So whatever increases you make will be symmetrical on both sides as seen in pic below. If your counting goes wrong then your sole will look like its turning to one side or have an extra bulge on one side. So make sure to count your stitches after each round. Use your hook to count your stitches and not your fingers. For beginners increases means doing more than one half double crochet or single crochet etc. into the same stitch. There are cases where the pattern requires the sole to have a sharper curve on one of the sides, but that is rarely required for baby booties. Each round in the sole is made using a mix of half double crochet, single crochet etc. This is to make the sole wider at toe side and narrower at the ankle side by making the longer stitches on the toe side alone. So watch out for the changes in the stitches in each round, do not end up doing sc where your pattern calls for hdc or vice versa. I hope these tips help you in clearing some of the confusions involved in making a baby bootie.

4. Again, last but not the least when the pattern gives different sizes, circle all the variations for the size you choose before starting to work on it. All the best with your baby bootie!

Peep-toe Sandals for Boys (pdf pattern for sale)

This is an adorable pattern for your little boy. You can even make it for a girl with a change in colors. Pattern uses worsted weight yarn and hooks H ( 5mm) and F ( 3.75mm ). I used Red Heart Super Saver and Loops and Threads impeccable . You can keep the sandal simple as seen in the first two pictures or add an embellishment like seen in the third ( included in the pattern). Pattern is written for 3 sizes- 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 months. You need to know only basic crochet stitches to make this one. Pattern is written with lots of pictures to make it easy for even beginners. Stitches used are single crochet, slip stitch, half double crochet .

Payment can be made securely through PayPal. Once you pay, the pdf pattern will be emailed to you in 24 hours. Make sure you enter your email id correctly during checkout. Mail me if you have any questions. Please do not resell the pattern itself or pass it on to others. You can make it for yourself or as a gift. If you sell items made from my pattern please do give my blog credit. All my designs are protected by copyright.

$5.00

Crochet Belt ( Free pattern)

Make this belt in just less than half an hour. I used a hook H and worsted weight yarn.

1.) Ch 10, sl st to 1st ch to form a ring, 14 hdc into ch ring, sl st to 1st hdc , ch 8. Work back along the sc, 1 sc in each ch-----------7sc


2.) Sl st to the next hdc on the hdc ring made as shown , turn your work and do 1 more row of sc on the 7 sc just done---------7 sc. Do not ch 1 in the beginning as it will make your strap slant.


3.) Ch 10 and sl st to 1st sc of previous sc row as shown to form a chain ring again, ch 2, turn your work and 14 hdc in chain ring.


4.) Sl st to 1st sc as shown.



5.)Continue sl st along the black line shown  till you reach the center 2 stitches of the hdc ring, ch 8, Work back along the sc, 1 sc in each ch-----------7sc

Repeat from step 2 to make your belt as long as you want.



You can just tie the belt or attach a "D" buckle to fasten your belt. To attach the D buckle, instead of ch 8 in the end, ch 15 to make a long strap and sew that onto the buckle. If your D buckle is not made of wood it would be a good idea to do a row of sc around the buckle to make it match. In the picture I have used some recycled buckles made out of plastic rings got from milk cans.