Baby pink crochet hanger for friends baby

This sweet baby pink hanger I designed for a baby or toddler and makes a lovely gift. It's quick and easy to make. I added some bows to make it extra special, crochet flowers would also look very nice.

It came about as a friend's daughter is pregnant and I wanted to make and give an original gift, something pretty (it's a girl) and something that would be seen and used.  Both the baby's grandmothers are great knitters so I know they will be making blankets, jackets and hats, so I had to make something a bit different.

While I was working out what I could do I went into my wardrobe and saw some covered hangers my mother had made for me many years ago. My mother was a pretty basic crocheter but the way she made the hangers and the use of colours means they are very pretty and practical too. Clothes don't snack on them and as they are made using wooden hangers clothes keep their shape well.

I hit on the idea of making some hangers for the baby. Surprisingly I easily found some wooden baby sized coat hangers easily, essential for this pattern. I tried out a few designs and a few test covers before I got the sizes and shape right.

The finished pattern is suitable for beginners and is quick to make. Covering the hangers with wadding first is crucial to create a soft springy effect. I added small pink bows to this ones, but other ones I made ( I made a set of six!) have crochet  flowers, some of which I've grouped together.

You can buy the pattern from my Ravelry shop, just click on the link!

Crochet Flower Embelishments

As you know by now I love embelishments, those little extras that make your crochet project something very special! This time I'm looking at flowers. There are so many lovely designs and any number of ways to use them. It's very easy to design your own and adapt existing designs, changing colours, working into the back of stitches and grouping together can all turn an existing design into your own original crochet flower..

I came across this flower design which is very simple to make, this group are for a crochet bag I'm working on at the moment. http://mamachee.com/

and I wanted to share with you one of my own flower designs.

This flower is very easy to make. I made the one in the picture using Bergere de France Coton with a 2.5mm crochet hook.

Start with 8 chain. Join with a slip stitch to form a ring. 2 chain, into the ring make 16 double crochet (single crochet). Join with skip stitch into top of first chain.

Next row 2 chain 1 double crochet (single crochet), 12 chain, 1 treble (double crochet) into 6th chain from the hook, 1 treble (double crochet) into next 7 chain. 1 double crochet (single crochet) into next double crochet (single crochet) of previous row. Repeat to end, 8 petals. Join with slip stitch to top of first chain, fasten off.

Here are a few ways I've used crochet flowers

Designing a crochet throw

What yarn to use?

• Use the best yarn you can get and afford for a better finish, bigger choice of colours, easier to work with, better dyes so better colours
• What thickness your yarn? I like double knit but the choice is yours - thinner grows more slowly but shows more definition
• Using scraps - throws are an amazing way to use up scraps of wool. If I'm doing this I like to have one or two main colours, this brings your designs together saving it from a messy finish.
• Using the same brands and mixing thicknesses. I always mix brands in throws because I like the choice of colours textures you can get. Sometimes I use sock wools for the lovely blends you get in one ball, sometimes I use them as double thickness.
• Do dye colours matter? I've only once fallen foul of dye colours. Because throws are usually multi coloured different dye lots don't usually matter. 

How to Design a Crochet Throw

Do you dream of creating your own original crochet throw or cushion? Something special for your home or family that becomes your own heritage project? Designing and making an original cushion or throw can be much more than usng a pattern and simply changing the colours suggested.

However experienced or inexperienced in crochet you are designing your own crochet items is much easier than you think. A whole world of opportunities to create something truly original exists and you don't have to a creative genius to do. Even something as simple as changing colours or the layout of motifs and your crochet throw will look completely different from the original pattern.

Planning and designing is exciting! Pulling together yarns, ideas and patterns and motifs you love is very inspiring. then beginning my throws or cushions. will the finished item look exactly how I expected it to look, will I make some changes as I get into the project?  Planning is the first stage and it will save you time and money and means you will finish up with something you really love and is exactly what you want.

Throws can be square, oblong or round. Cushions might be square, round, small large, bolster style or small and delicate for your bedroom. Where will your finished crocheted item it go? Is it for your lounge, sun room or window seat.

Cushions, throws and blankets for children need to be softer while throws for outside need to be more robust. Are you going to use double knitting, Arran or 4 ply weight. Children's blankets look lovely in soft 4 ply.

The finer the yarn the greater the definition of the crochet stitches and you will have more opportunity to bring in colours and stitches. Use a thicker yarn and your project will grow more quickly, so if your impatient or are new to crochet, this might be the way to go.

Are you planning to use up all those balls of wool and yarn in your work basket. Are you going to use one type of yarn or would you like to introduce something special, such as a tweed finish, multi colour or yarn with a different content from your main yarn. It will have to be the same weight but it can be very effective. Do you want to make your throw or cushion to be made using motifs or in one piece or a combination of motifs and in the round.

How to make a tassel

When you put love into something you make it's worth spending time to make it into something to make it look good. It doesn't matter if you are making it for yourself or for someone else as a gift or to sell it. A few embellishments make a simple project very special.

I've been crocheting and embroidering for many years so I've learnt experimented and taught myself various techniques for bringing something special to crochet projects. Many years ago I made a large cushion as a commission. I added four large tassels with the wool left over. with big beads. They looked stunning.

I love to share so I've included some instructions on how to make tassels. I love doing this like all repetitive stuff its soothing and relaxing.

You don't need thousands to make something special

Work has kept me busy this week as has the garden. The weeds are growing and so is the wild garlic. The path down to the steam is filled with the heady scent of garlic as the wind gently blows through the trees and the dogs are busy rummaging in the comfrey.

As you will have noticed I've completed a few projects over the last few weeks. To be honest all but one have been unfinished projects started through the winter. I see a design on Pinterest and I have to try it, so it was with 'Sophie's Garden'. Forgetting to check the size of the finished motif I ploughed on and finished up with a large motif the size of a cushion.

Until last week I wasn't sure where I was going with it, but now you can see what I decided to do with it! And the reverse which I'm quite pleased with!

What I’m doing now

Hi crochet friends

The ripple stitch cushion I started earlier in April is finished! I made using left over wools from my big wool basket. As soon as I’d set the cushion on the window seat next to my patchwork crochet cushion I realised that many of the colours I’d used for the ripple stitch cushion where in the patchwork cushion. Even though the designs are completely different using some of the same colours means the two cushions  look lovely together.

With nothing to crochet on a rainy afternoon in May, I looked in my wool basket . There were  numerous odd balls of different coloured wool  so I settled to use them all up. I rummaged around and some of the same colours as the patchwork and ripple stitch cushion where there with a few more shades. So I decided to make a couple of cushions in different designs using the same colours.

The cushions are for the lounge. For so long I’ve been making stuff for everyone else I thought it was time for me. I get bored with one design so all the cushions will be different but the colours of each will all tie together.  As always colour combinations make the design effect completely different.

The lounge of our cottage can be quite dark, but my favourite part of the lounge, the big Georgian window that looks out onto the front lawn brings afternoon sun in. Under the window we have a large chest that  Sam the dog loves to sit on.

Back to the cupboard next to the fireplace where I keep my crochet books, but no ideas jumped out. On to Pinterest where I found the ‘circle of friends’ motif in various colour ways. It's an unusual pattern as it looks good on both the 'right' and the 'wrong' side.

When the showers stopped I went into the garden with the dogs and we sat on the covered seat and I began to make the first motif. I have been crocheting for many years but I don't usually get the first motif right. A few goes before I got the colour combinations I wanted.

I know that most people make all the motifs first and pile them up neatly but this drives me mad. I have to see what the finished item will look like or at least get some idea. In the past this has saved me time as I have either discovered faults with my design or I don't like the finished result. When I had made four motifs of the circle of friends complete I stitched them together.

It looks quite good, but somehow lacks that extra bit of sparkle I like, so I am going to crochet an edging around it, using some of the colours in the motifs. One colour per row and I think I'll either do a raised shell or a raised double crochet border.

After a perfect afternoon in the garden the first butterfly I'd seen this year flew across the comfrey plants.....

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