I bought this wire straightener gadget some time ago and was pleasantly surprised how well they worked.
This is but one of the various gadgets to straighten wire. It is not very expensive (I paid less then AUD10 for it).
Portfolio; DIY &Notes - a crafted journey
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Crescent Moon Shawl "Night Lights" (CH0548)
Delight and fascination with the Crescent shaped shawls continues for me. This time a joyously colourful combination of #Patons Sierra 8ply with Funky Fluffy trimming and embedded night-black, and silver sequins crocheted in with Inset DC Filet crochet.
While I don't go out partying after dark (anymore), I am definitely keeping this one because one never knows when one gets an opportunity to still sparkle after the sun sets and yet be warm & cozy.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Crescent Moon Shawl in Sierra Glacier Lake (CH0547)
The crescent moon shape has become one of my favourite shaping for shawls because of how they seem to organically drape so beautifully around the neck and shoulders. This is yet another example.
CH0546 Crescent Moon Shawl with Dangly Pearls
This Crescent Moon Shawl was made in early 2018; I think around the time when I first came across this lovely shawl shaping. It is so fun to make and so versatile and delicious to wear that I have made quite a few over the years. With many a long year in-between I must admit.
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Crescent Moon Shawl CH0545 📒
I have been fascinated with crocheting the "crescent shawls" which drape very well due to their unique crescent shaping. I made a couple some many years ago but I really couldn't remember how I did it! (ah! Just found it again! - CH0494!! 🤭) This winter just gone, I finally used it and I really loved the drape and shape of it. So as a result, I wanted to redo the crescent type shawls and this time, I was determined to document and write up the pattern so that it can be easily accessed in the future.
It is very easy to make! And fun! I used a special stitch for this shawl which I call "inset dc filet crochet". I don't know if it has a 'real' name.
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Inset dc Filet Crochet
"Inset dc filet crochet" is my name for the stitch. I don't know if it has a 'real', established name. I first leart this stitch in a fully Japanese crochet book without a word of English. It's a lovely and versatile stitch but to me, nameless.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Cropped Bomber Jacket (CH0543) 📒
A warm, chunky funky, colourful, thick, cropped bomber jacket made in 10ply Aran yarn. Endless possibilities to change colours around when making your own. Large secure wooden painted buttons with inside pocket to keep hands fiddle-free and snuggly.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Sierra Spring Top (CH0541) 📝
Recently I fell into a crazy love-fest for Sierra balls! viz. Paton's Sierra 8ply (and just so you know, Chunkys too 😍). And mixed with the emotions of desiring to do some Tunisian crochet, some Mosaic Crochet, and dealing with the general rise in temperatures as our winter moves into spring ... this is how and why "Sierra Spring Top" came into being.
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Brioche Crochet Beanie (CH0540) 📒
After clarifying for myself as to the difference between Brioche Crochet vs Short Row Crochet, I had the urge to work on some simple brioche crochet stitches. So this here are the results of three beanies, using different yarns, and colours.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Stacked dc and Standing dc
How to start a row with dc (double crochet)? Traditionally it was with the 'turning chains' - viz. 3 chain stitches to represent one starting dc.
These days, whether working in rows or in the rounds, my preferred method of starting a dc row (or even a treble, etc.) is with either:
• a stacked dc, or
• a standing dc
How to Join the MM Caston into a Round
My preferred crochet cast on, or starting foundation row is an MM Caston. And while it is superior in feel and looks to the standard chain-foundation, when it comes to joining the end and start stitches to form a round, it can be just a tat tricky.
But there will be lots of occasions when you will want to use the MM Caston and you will want to work in the round. So how do we joing the MM Caston into a Round in the neatest way possible?
Friday, August 29, 2025
Thursday, July 31, 2025
How to Use the Hex Anvil - UPDATED!
When I first looked into how to use the Hex Anvil (sometime in 2015), there was a marvelous pictorial tutorial by FusionBeads, "Basic Riveting with Anvil" [discontinued]. However (as I noted in my earlier post, "How to Use the Hex Anvil", the link to that great tutorial was no longer available. Because FusionBeads was no longer available.
But through the wonders and magic of WayBackMachine (https://archive.org/web/), I found that FusionBeads tutorial again. In this post, I am just going to capture the images and steps as laid out, once upon a time, by the wonderful FusionBeads.com
So all credit for this useful info goes to FusionBeads, wherever they are now.
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Fabric Twine - How-to
Making fabric twine is a good way to make use of scraps of fabric.
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Crochet Stitch - Waistcoat Stitch, How to
I used to call the Waistcoat Stitch the Knit Single Crochet (ksc) but Knit Single Crochet Stitch is properly known as the Waistcoat Stitch.
Oops! Sorry – I didn’t know that when I thought I “invented” it!!! 😂😂😂
Oops! Sorry – I didn’t know that when I thought I “invented” it!!! 😂😂😂
Note: This stitch is best suited for working in the rounds. Hence it is ideal for tapestry crochet bags and amigurumi projects.
Monday, January 15, 2024
Drawstring Tapestry Crochet Bag - Muted Hues of Myth & Fauna
As with the Cat & Fishes tapestry crochet bag, this Drawstring Tapestry Crochet Bag is also a one-time, one of a kind design. A large bag suitable for daily use, for packing some gear for a weekend away, or for the hopeful shopping trips.
Ladder Stitch, Beading How To
The Ladder Stitch is generally used as a foundation (start) stitch for Brick Stitch and Herringbone stitch. This stitch can be done with either one (traditional way) or 2-needle approach.
This image will serve as reminder for those who already know how to weave the Ladder Stitch.
 |
| BEADING: LADDER STITCH IMAGE SOURCE: HANDMADE-JEWELRY-CLUB.COM |
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
S-Method How to get Thicker Yarn from Thin
I call this the S-Method because that is what it was referred to when I first heard about this handy trick of getting a thicker yarn (3x thicker) from thin yarn. And I continue to call this the S-Method because it serves as a useful reminder for how we start this process.
Friday, August 20, 2021
Wassily01A Boxy Japanese Jacket XL Extra Large (CH0526A)
When I gifted the first of this original Wassily01 Boxy Japanese Jacket to my friend last year as a belated birthday present, it was too small for her. So this year, I have used exactly the same pattern but with different yarns and hook sizes to create this Extra Large and roomy Japanese Boxy Jacket. I hope this time, we have a successful fit.
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Oversize Top in Clean Mosaic Crochet (CMC) • pattern (CH0534)
A warm, easy, oversize top in CMC: It is winter, I am feeling fat but cold. I wanted an easy to put on top/vest that I can wear anywhere. Something that would hide my fatty bits while hopefully, look a bit flattering. All I can say is that I was so pleased with this pattern that (so far), I have made three 😀
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Glowing Miracle-Bead Crochet Bag - Beaded Crochet
This Drawstring Tapestry Crochet Bag is also a one-time, one of a kind design. This bag is crocheted with the super-intriguing Miracle Beads, aka Magic Beads. The 'magic' of these beads is that they will glow under natural light. So at the most unexpected, delightful occasion, your bag will seem to burst forth with an inner glow. Furthermore, they have the mesmerising illusion of a bead within a bead. This 'magic' has to be seen to fully appreciated.
Friday, January 1, 2021
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Chinese Box Top in Clean Mosaic Crochet (CH0352) 📒
Chinese Box Top is made for charm and comfort with a dash of stylised Chinese characters. This was made using the Clean Mosaic Crochet method, featuring a loose, comfortable shaping that I really appreciate.
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Yarn Weight Thickness
The different yarn weights and thicknesses. To be used only as a quick, handy guide – not as a limiting definition.
Friday, October 2, 2020
Cats Pocket Scarf in Clean Mosaic Crochet - 📗 FREE graph pattern (CH0351)
Cats Pocket Scarf is my first full project use of my Clean Mosaic Crochet (CMC) technique. And I think the test run turned out ok. While the pocket scarf is scheduled to fly off to USA, I will be offering the cats graph as a FREE graphed pattern.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Feedback & Comments on CMC Tutorial
This is a collection of users feedback and comments to the Clean Mosaic Crochet tutorial. I have moved hosting platform since I first published the tutorial and this was the only way that I could retain the many comments and feedback to the CMC Tutorial.
I apologize to all the people who originally left comments that there was no other way to transport your comments over to this platform. And I apologize to everyone that I have disabled comments on this platform due to time constraints.
Clean Mosaic Crochet Tutorial - CMC (no messy tails)
I call this the Clean Mosaic Crochet method because it is truly clean in a number of important ways. We do away with the pesky cut yarns at the end of every row that is typical in the overlay mosaic crochet method. We do away with the boring second row in the 2-row Chain-Space MC method (also known in places as the Inset method). And as a added bonus, we can have a clean border edging: you won’t see the yarns being caught and brought up along the edges.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
CMC - Advanced Tips
This follows on from the Clean Mosaic Crochet (CMC) Tutorial. These advanced tips for CMC should, hopefully, help you enjoy the CMC technique more.
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Happy Mikki Gloves and Wrist Warmer (CH0530) - 📒
Happy Mikki Gloves combines both the beloved warmth and functionality of fingerless gloves with the specifically designed feature of being an extra warm and cushy wrist warmer.
The colours in the first pair I made were inspired by the talented Mikki Ferrugiaro’s amazing use of vibrant colours in some of her magnificent beaded works. Hence, the name “Happy Mikki”. These gloves are not just meant for warmth and support but also for the often needed burst of happy colours.
Friday, August 28, 2020
Mosaic Crochet Overview - the Different Methods
The main aim of this Mosaic Crochet overview is to clear up some persistent confusion I have noticed in crochet groups and discussions regarding the different ways of making mosaic crochet.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)