Sunday, February 25, 2018

Eight Pineapples New Doily Pattern




It already feels like spring here in Northern California. A lot of trees are blooming, and first spring flowers appear around. 

I have Bermuda Buttercups blooming in my backyard. They are actually weeds, but their bright yellow color is so cheerful and warm. They make lovely tiny bouquets! 





My new doily is just as simple and modest as these weed blooms. 

Made with size 1.5 mm steel hook and size 10 crochet cotton thread, it measures about 15 inches across (after blocking).

Creating doilies is so much fun. I already have a new one on my hook! 




The pattern is available in my Etsy, Crafty, and Ravelry shops. 





Sunday, February 11, 2018

Simple Beginner's Doily, Free Crochet Pattern




Simple, easy, quick! 

That's the way I describe this new doily. Made with cotton crochet thread size 3 (Aunt Lydia's), and a size D/3 (3.25 mm) hook, it's worked very quickly.

Makes a good doily project for beginners!




Simple Beginner's Doily, Crochet Pattern
Olga Poltava © February, 2018
This pattern is my original design and it cannot be distributed in any form. You are welcome to make items for sale or personal use from this pattern.

This pattern is written using the US crochet terminology. 
Skill Level: Easy
Measurements: about 14 inches across 
Materials:
Hook size D/3 (3.25 mm) 
Crochet cotton thread size 3, about 140 yards 

Gauge: first 3 rounds = 3 inches 




Abbreviations:

ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet 
dc: double crochet
dc2-tog: 2 double crochet finished together (also known as dc 2 decrease) 
dc3-tog: 3 double crochet finished together (also known as dc 3 decrease)
* * instructions between asterisks should be repeated as many times as there are stitches to accommodate.
{ } instructions within brackets should be repeated as many times as stated.


Ch 10, join in ring with sl st. 

Round 1: ch 3 (counts as 1st dc),  23 dc in ring; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (24 dc)

Round 2: ch 6 (counts as 1st dc and ch 3), skip next dc, *dc in next dc, ch 3, skip next dc* around; join with sl st to 3rd ch of begging ch-3.

Round 3: sl st in next ch-space, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), 3 dc in same ch-space, ch 1, *4 dc in next ch-space, ch 1* around; don’t make last ch 1, instead join with hdc to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (This brings thread and hook in position for next round)

Round 4: ch 1, sc in same loop, ch 5, *sc in next ch-1 space, ch 5* around, join with sl st to 1st sc. 

Round 5: sl st in next ch-space, ch 2, dc2-tog in same space (counts as 1st dc3-tog), ch 3, dc3-tog in same ch-space, ch 3, *(dc3-tog, ch 3, dc3-tog) all in next ch-space, ch 3* around; don’t make last ch 3, instead make ch 1 and join with dc to top of 1st dc3-tog.

Round 6: ch 1, sc in same loop, ch 3, *sc in next ch-space, ch 3* around; join with sl st to 1st sc. 

Round 7: sl st to next ch-space, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 3, 4 dc) all in same ch-space (beginning  shell made), skip next ch-space, *(4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc) all in next ch-space (shell made), skip next ch-space* around; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch 3.  

Round 8: sl st to next ch-space, beginning shell, ch 2, *shell over next shell (it means work shell into ch-2 space of next shell), ch 2* around; join.  

Round 9: sl st to next ch-space, beginning shell, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3* around; join.

Round 10: sl st to next ch-space, beginning shell, ch 3, dc in 2nd ch of next ch-3, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3, dc in 2nd ch of next ch-3, ch 3* around; join.

Round 11: sl st to next ch-space, beginning shell, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, dc) all in next dc, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, dc) all in next dc, ch 3* around; join.

Round 12: sl st to next ch-space, beginning shell, ch 2, shell in ch-space between next 2 dc, ch 2, *shell over next shell, ch 2, shell in ch-space between next 2 dc, ch 2* around; join.

Round 13: sl st to next ch-space, beginning shell, ch 3, *shell over next shell, ch 3* around; join. 

Round 14: sl st to next ch-space, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch-space, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 4 dc in same ch-space (beginning shell with picot made), ch 5, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), ch 3, *(4 dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 4 dc) all in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 5, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3* around; join. 


Fasten off. 


Friday, February 9, 2018

Lace Cupcakes Baby Blanket With Ruffled Trim




I took a break from making doilies and made a baby blanket. 

A soft, airy, lacy baby blanket! 




It was easy and quick to make! 

I like repetitive stitches because you can easily do something else as well, like listening to an audiobook or watching TV. 




I recently discovered on Netflix a British TV show called Escape to the Country. It's about city dwellers that want to relocate to a quieter life, house hunting in the beautiful UK country side. 

I'm totally hooked on it right now. It's just so beautiful to watch. So relaxing. So peaceful. 

The country views are simply breathtaking! The country houses are charming! The gardens are spectacular! 

It is so enjoyable to watch...  And to crochet along! 




I used Snuggly Wuggly Big by Loops & Threads yarn, and a size G/6 (4.25 mm) hook. 

The finished blanket is about 38 by 31 inches. It can be easily adjusted to other sizes, smaller or bigger. 

The skill level is beginner and only basic stitches are used here.




The pattern is available in my shops: Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry





Saturday, February 3, 2018

Spring Leaves Doily, My New Design



Being sick for the past three weeks really slowed me down with doily making. But I am recovered now (thank you so much for all the get well wishes for me and my family), and I now finished a new doily. 


I named this doily Spring Leaves. Made with Aunt Lydia's size 10 cotton thread and a steel hook 1.5 mm, it measures about 17 inches (after blocking).



What's nice about this pattern is that it comes out perfectly flat even before blocking, which I think would make this patten a suitable for a rug if made with cotton yarn (but I haven't tried it).  



The pattern is available in my shops: Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry