Cool Cat Crochet Cuffs for Interweave Crochet Fall 2017!

Fall is my favorite time of year and I am always so happy to have designs featured in the new fall issue of Interweave Crochet! 

In this Issue I have 2 designs, the first of which I will talk about today. My favorite thing to design is jewelry, and I can never resist a call for jewelry designs! 

I also love mixing techniques, and I wanted to incorporate some weaving this time. I designed a bracelet that looked like woven links using surface crochet details.

When I heard back from the magazine, they asked if I could make the bracelet into a cuff, so we decided to double the width. They also sent me a finer yarn to use, so the result is quite different from my original submission! You can easily make the cuffs into a bracelet by crocheting half of the stitches. Cuff or bracelet. Customize as you like! Below is the magazine version that was put into their 70's themed section of the magazine. It is great that the editor was able to work my submission into her retro vision!

 If you would like to see all of the lovely designs featured in this issue, they are all up on Ravelry now. Visit the page and show the designers some love and favorite your favorites! The Cool Cat Cuff is also available for sale as an individual pattern from the Interweave online store.

The Blooming Bracelet Crochet Kit is Now Available!

We launched our eWoodStory line last summer with the Nouveau Necklace Kit and Mini Masterpiece Pendants. We thought the next kit should be a unique and fun to crochet bracelet. It can be crocheted in about an hour. A quick and satisfying project that is sure to be a conversation piece when you wear it. It is great for spring and summer crocheting, and would make a lovely gift!

The kits are for sale in our Etsy shop, and at The Sadu House and Needles and Yarn shop in Kuwait. They are available in 6 different yarn colors with coordinating engraved exotic wood flowers to slide on the flower centers. 

There are written instructions for three different sizes, and enough yarn included to make any of the sizes. The kit also comes with a full stitch diagram. Kits sold in the Middle East also include instructions in Arabic. 

The Cherry Blossom Necklace for Interweave!

Photo by Interweave Crochet/ Harper Point Photography

The Spring Issue of Interweave Crochet is now out, and I am pleased to introduce my contribution: the Cherry Blossom Necklace. 

It is an elegant combination of two classic jewelry elements, beads and chain links. I intended it to be worn with the chain off to the side, but you can also turn it so the chain is at the center front or center back for a different look. 

You can have fun choosing yarns for this necklace! In the necklace in the photo above, I used a cotton yarn with a shiny streak running through it for the beads. It gives the effect of natural turquoise. If  you choose a yarn with an all over sheen, the beads could look more like pearls. The Magazine sample beads were made with the beautiful Filatura Di Crosa Brilla yarn. It is available in gorgeous colors that would give you either a stone or pearl effect depending on the color you choose.

Photo by Interweave Crochet/ Harper Point Photography

By crocheting fewer beads and chain links, you can make a bracelet with the same pattern. Since the pattern includes two elements, you could also make your piece with beads only, chain links only, or alter the length of either element within the original pattern, to suit your personal taste. 

Bow Necklace and Bracelet-My New Free Patterns for Premier Yarns!

Not long ago, I revealed the Bauble Necklace for Premier Yarns as part of a mini jewelry collection I designed for them. They just recently released my Bow Necklace and Bracelet patterns. The patterns are offered as a free download on their website! They feature them as a set, but each of them could easily make a statement on their own. Simple stitches are combined in an effective way to make these pieces stand out in a crowd. I used their Spangle yarn, which I find to be a wonderful weight for jewelry, with just the right sheen. I also love the range of colors it comes in! Since they take very little time or yarn, they would also be nice projects to crochet for gifts. Visit Premier Yarns website for a wide variety of free patterns featuring their yarns.

The Charming Bracelet From Crocheting Clothes Kids Love

One of my favorite patterns from the book is the "Charming Bracelet". I love vintage jewelry, and charm bracelets are something I have always collected. I was especially inspired by a 1950's heart themed bracelet I found in my research. The idea of making a crochet version was so exciting to me, I couldn't wait for it to be in the book! It is a design that I feel really shows my personality. 

One of the benefits of a crocheted charm bracelet is that they are lightweight and quiet! I could never wear my vintage charm bracelets when I was in school, because they made so much noise, especially when erasing! This bracelet can be worn anywhere, and is sure to be a conversation piece when you do! You could also simplify it by only making the Large Charm. I have a few vintage bracelets in this style that I adore. It would bring more focus to the details in the charm. I used Universal Garden 10 thread for the book sample. It is great for jewelry, as it has has a slight sheen and comes in a range of beautiful colors.

One very important detail in making crochet jewelry is the blocking. I blocked this bracelet twice. The first time, the individual elements were blocked (the linked bracelet, and each of the charms). The second time, the bracelet was blocked after all of the charms had been attached to the bracelet. If you make this bracelet, please don't skip this step, it is the finishing touch!

The Final Blocking

Stay tuned, tomorrow I will be posting a way to use this pattern for adults!