Fancy Shamrock Crochet pattern from the book The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet 2nd Edition

I love crafting for holidays and it's never to soon to start making little embellishments like this fancy shamrock for the book The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition for St. Patrick's Day.

F A N C Y  S H A M R O C K

Skill Level: Intermediate

Ch 6, join with a Sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Work 18 sc in ring, join with Sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1 (counts as first sc now and throughout), skip first

sc, 1 sc in each sc around, join with Sl st to beg ch-1.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, skip first ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, [ch 10,

1 sc in each of next 6] twice, ch 12, join with Sl st to beg ch-1.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, skip first ch, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, [22 sc

in next ch-10 space, 1 sc in each next 5 sc] twice, 24 sc next

ch-12 space, join with Sl st to beg ch-1.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, 1 sc in next 4 sc, *[ch 4, skip 2 sc, Sl st next

sc] 7 times, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * once, [ch 4, skip 2 sc,

Sl st next sc] 8 times, join with a Sl st to beg ch-1.

Rnd 6: Ch 1, skip next sc, 1 sc in next sc, [5 sc in next ch-4

space] 7 times, skip next 2 sc, Sl st in next sc, ch 18 for stem,

1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 15 ch, Sl st

in next sc on Main Motif, [5 sc in next ch-4 space] 7 times,

skip next 2 sc, 1 sc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, [5 sc next ch 4

space] 8 times, join with a Sl st in first sc, end off.

More about the CPi book:

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition

*All You Need to Know to Crochet *The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Crocheters *Comprehensive Guide to Crochet Tools and Techniques *Packed with Hundreds of Tips and Ideas *Step-by-Step Instructions for 220 Stitch Patterns

By Margaret Hubert
This is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of crochet.
This book provides a reference for all methods, including Tunisian, intermeshing, broomstick lace, hairpin lace, and freeform crochet.
Includes step-by-step instructions for all the basic stitches and swatches of 100s of stitch patterns with completeinstructions. Now with:

• 15 all new projects
• 20 new stitch patterns (220 in all)
• Expanded basics
• Hundreds of tips and ideas

Margaret Hubert designs for yarn companies and book and magazine publishers including Crochet, Interweave Press, Quick and Easy Crochet, Crochet Fantasy, and Belle Armoire. She teaches at yarn shops, retreats, and national gatherings and rarely misses a national conference in the needle arts field. Among her specialties, she is a master at freeform crochetand knitting. She is the author of many books and currently resides in Pawling, NY. Visit her online at http://www.margarethubertoriginals.com and http://margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com.

How to make a recycled wine crate footstool

I am always looking for fun ways to use my fabric stash and create pretty storage in my home. Today's recycled wine crate foot stool project does just that!

The cushion top is made with Foamology Twelve Piece Design Foam  and 12 of my favorite quilt fabric pieces along with some scrap wood, buttons and 4 wooden ball feet.

My wine crate wasn't the exact size of the Foamology Twelve square Foam  piece so I made the lid a bit bigger. I didn't know exactly how much extra puffy the foam would be with the fabric on it so I decided to cover it first before I made the frame lid.

I wanted to fussy cut some of the fabric to include images and text so I made a velum template.

Once my foam was covered I measured it and cut some strips of wood to make the frame and a piece for the lid base.

 I glued the frame together and made sure it was square with my quilt ruler and the lid base as a guide.

Then I put the cushion into the frame and glued it down to the lid base holding it secure with a c-clamp on each corner.

I glued dice on the underside of the lid in each corner so that the lid would not slide around.

To embellish the cushion frame I cut the shanks off of a variety of buttons USING EYE PROTECTION!!!!!! as the shanks can go flying even if you are holding the button with the shank side down.

 I made 4 rows of buttons to make sure I had a nice variety for each side. All that was left to do was glue the buttons around the frame border and the ball feet on the bottom of the wine crate.

 If you like making things with fabric the book

1000 Quilt Inspirations: Colorful and Creative Designs for Traditional, Modern, and Art Quilts

is a great resource for tons of ideas:

How to make a knit and crochet heart purse with pom pom handle for Valentine's Day

I found this cute heart purse in my box of Valentine's Day decorations and for the life of me I can't find anywhere I posted the tutorial for it. So I thought I'd share it to the best of my recollection.

I'm pretty sure I would have started from the bottom point and did increases on each knit side working in stockinette stitch until I was happy with the the width and height of the heart.

Then to create the top two curves, working each separately decreases to create curves as desired.

Repeat for the second heart.


Seam the two knit hearts together with a chain crochet stitch using an eyelash yarn. Work the top inside "V" areas separately so you can put stuff in your heart purse.

To make the handle thread pom poms onto pieces of coated wire. Link the ends of the wire to the top of the heart where you left the purse opening.

A great book I recomend for all sorts of knitting tutorials and patterns is:

The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting, 2nd Edition: *All You Need to Know to Knit *The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Knitters *Packed with Hundreds of Crafty Tips and Ideas *Step-by-Step Instructions and Photos for 200 Stitch Patterns
by
Margaret Hubert 



Looking for the perfect book on knitting? It's right here in The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting, 2nd Edition. This stitch guide is the ultimate knitting reference! A comprehensive how-to book about all aspects of knitting, you'll be making scarves, hats, socks, mittens, sweaters, and other projects in no time! Inside this ultimate knitting guide you will find expanded basics for all knitting techniques, from cast-on to bind-off and every step in between. Learn to knit row by row and in the round; understand knitting jargon and how to follow a pattern; learn all the methods for increasing and decreasing stitches, seaming, and adding details like pockets and zippers. With twenty new stitch patterns, this section expands to 220 in all, arranged in style categories for easy reference. Projects at the end of each section give you opportunities to try some of the new techniques you've learned while making knitted items you can use or gift to others. Margaret Hubert will guide you through special knitting topics like cables, intarsia, entrelac, Fair Isle knitting, and lace knitting. With the updated information and all new projects, even if you have the first edition you are sure to want the second edition to complete your collection.

I Heart Quilt

Today I want to share a "throw back Thursday" quilt I did about 24 years ago.

This was made waaaaaay before I had any professional quilting knowledge. I simply just cut squares of fabric up I had around and old clothes. Laid them out and sewed them back together. When I pulled this out it was like a trip down memory lane! The teddy bear and bunny are the ones I had when I was little. As I have been doing a big clean out I can now find a lot of my stuff very easily and bring it out for special occasions. This is inspiring me to finish another quilt top I have in the works.