If you’re like me and enjoy crocheting necklaces to wear or give as gifts, you’re going to love my new crochet necklace pattern, Vine Necklace. This necklace works up in no time with size 3 crochet thread. You can use any colors you’d like, or make a bunch of them with different colors to go with lots of outfits!
Vine Necklace
The necklace pattern is versatile, in that you can make all 3 strands of vines or only the flower strand for a simpler, even faster necklace!
Vine Necklace with 1 strand
This pattern was originally published in 2013 as part of the CGOA Across the Board ebook. However, the copyright on this pattern has reverted back to me, so it’s now available for purchase by anyone!
The sample necklace was made with size 3 Aunt Lydia’s Fashion crochet thread in #32 Candy Pink, #606 Goldenrod and #625 Sage. Either a size D/3 3.25 mm aluminum crochet hook or a size 0/3.25 mm steel crochet hook can be used.
The pattern includes written instructions and photos of each section of the necklace.
I hope you enjoy crocheting and wearing this necklace as much as I enjoyed designing it!
The pattern is available for $4.95 on the patterns page here.
Today’s FREE crochet pattern is perfect for springtime, since spring is technically right around the corner (next week)! It’s my Mod Flower Necklace from Red Heart Yarn.
Mod Flower Necklace
You can get this FREE crochet pattern on the Red Heart website here. I designed this necklace with a size D (3.25 mm) crochet hook and Aunt Lydia’s Baker’s Cotton. This yarn/thread has a solid color plied with white. It’s really quite nice, and it’s soft, too! You can read about Baker’s Cotton and see all of the available colors here. Because the flowers on necklaces can have a tendency to turn to the wrong side while being worn, I made double the flowers so each flower is 2-sided. And I added a button on each side, so there’s always a right side showing!
If you’re like me and love to crochet jewelry, here is a FREE crochet pattern, compliments of Annie’s and the “Knit and Crochet Now!” TV show. I designed this necklace a few years ago in the “Intermeshing Crochet” technique, in which 2 layers of crochet mesh are crocheted/woven together to make one layer of “intermeshed/interlocked” fabric! To do this technique, you crochet one row at a time, switching back and forth between the rows to make them intermeshed together. It’s a great technique and this necklace is a nice, small project to give the technique a try. You can find the download for this FREE crochet pattern here.
Double Take Pendant Necklace
The pattern includes instructions for the pendant, the chain and the hanging loop. You supply 2 colors of size 10 crochet thread, a size 7 (1.65 mm) steel crochet hook, a needle, stitch markers and a jewelry clasp.
You can read more about this technique, see photos of both sides of the pendant (they are not the same!) and read the corrections to the pattern that I posted in this blog post. Note: If you’re going to make this necklace, please don’t forget to read and/or print out the corrections in this linked blog post. When the pattern was tech edited, the turning chains were moved incorrectly to the wrong rows. Most of the black turning chains should be “ch 4” and most of the blue turning chains should be “ch 2”.
I hope you enjoy this quick project and will share photos of your finished “Double Take Pendant Necklace” with me.
Today I’m featuring a guest blogger who has been in the crochet business for many years. Please welcome Robyn Chachula, who will be talking about one of my favorite things to crochet with thread: JEWELRY!
Robyn’s Jewelry class
I love jewelry. I love big bold funky statements to delicate classic beauties. I never feel truly dressed until I am wearing a matching necklace. My kids have other ideas. In steps crochet to my rescue. Instead of worrying about yet another “mysteriously” missing necklace my daughter borrowed or another being used as a teething ring by my son; I know I can fix all. With a few quick techniques, I know I can whip up overnight any ring, bracelet, or necklace for any outfit. So no more stress about ruined favorites, instead my little pumpkins are just giving me more opportunities to crochet!
Flower Motif Necklace
Before I started crocheting jewelry, I thought I would need a ton of equipment and tools to get a true professional look. Boy, I was mistaken. In class, I walk you through exactly what you need to make your perfect accessory. And most of them are probably sitting in your yarn bag or toolbox right now. We will talk about a few tools that you might want to get after you get completely hooked, but for the most part your main tool will just be your hook.
Learn to Crochet Jewelry class at Annie’s
The most important tool I try to stress is understanding crochet patterns. Whether you are looking at a modern stitch dictionary with all the directions completely listed or an antique crochet leaflet with just some diagrams; I want to make sure you are totally in control. In class we will de-mystify crochet diagrams and sharpen our skills at reading patterns. We go through learning patterns and diagrams so you can grab any stitch dictionary and be able to turn an edging you love into a bracelet or a motif into a ring.
Golden Petals Ring
What do I want you to make jewelry out of? Anything. In class, we talk about all materials from basic crochet thread, to thin gauge wire, to leather and hemp; and even end with yarn. The materials do not make the jewelry, you do. So we talk about how to dress up or down the material you are working with. One basic way is using metal chains, jump rings, and beads to connect your crochet together. In just a few steps, I show you all you need to know to attach your beautiful crochet together into fantastic jewelry. One word of warning, is the jewelry techniques I show you in class are so simple it is very easy to slip into another hobby and love every minute of it.
The best part of creating and making jewelry is it always cheers up my day. Any day I get to crochet for a few minutes is great. To be able to then wear something I made the next day, even better. Hope you will join me in Learn to Crochet Creative Jewelry class. I truly can’t wait to see what you can create!
To find out more about Robyn’s “Learn to Crochet Jewelry” class, see all of the projects in the class and watch the introduction video, visit Annie’s website here.
To learn more about Robyn Chachula, visit her website here or her blog here. I think Robyn will be holding a contest to win her class this month, so visit her blog and enter to win! Her class looks absolutely fabulous to me!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guest blogger, Robyn Chachula, today. I’ll have a guest blogger during each of the next 2 weeks, so check back to read what my other 2 guest bloggers have to say about crochet!
Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win my Annie’s class, “Crocheting With Thread” (or another Annie’s class of your choosing). During the next 2 weeks, you’ll have 2 more chances to enter to win the class (one chance per week). I’ll pick the lucky winner at the end of this month. So if you’d like to learn to crochet with thread, this is the class for you!
Don’t you just love learning new crochet stitches and techniques? I do! And I love teaching others new stitches and techniques, too.
I’m very excited to be teaching classes at the CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) Conference this year! This conference is special because 2014 is the 20th Anniversary of CGOA!!! This year’s conference will be held from July 23 – 27 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH, where we’ve had the conference many times before.
The 3 classes I’m teaching are:
1) Tatting the Old-Fashioned Way on Thursday, July 24 from 9 AM – 5 PM
2) Simplifying Symbol Crochet on Friday, July 25 from 9 AM – noon
3) “Faux” Tatting Crochet Necklace on Sunday, July 27 from 9 AM – noon
You read that right, I’m teaching tatting, not crochet for one of my classes! From time to time, we have a few classes that are similar to or related to crochet and knitting, but not crochet or knitting. In 2011, the fall conference was in Greensboro, NC and Maggie Weldon taught a class on lace pottery. I took that class and LOVED it! My pottery didn’t turn out as nice as hers, but I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the class! Since Maggie lives near Greensboro, she took our class projects home the first night of the class and fired them in her kiln. Then she brought them back the next day and we finished them up in the 2nd half of the class. You can see Maggie’s amazing lace pottery on her website here. I absolutely LOVE her lace pottery!!!
There have been some classes taught at the conference on making buttons from Fimo clay, too. Of course, many crochet and/or knitting projects use buttons, so buttons are related to the needle arts!
Okay, back to my tatting class. I’ll be teaching shuttle tatting in this class, not needle tatting. If you’ve always wanted to learn to shuttle tat, I’d love to have you in my class. You’ll learn everything you need to be successful in tatting, from how to wind the shuttle through making rings and chains to create your first tatted piece. Two tatting shuttles are included in the class fee, so you’ll only need to bring the appropriate sizes of crochet thread, along with an eagerness to learn! If you want to take this class, please sign up early because this class fills up quickly and I’ve limited it to only 20 students. Here’s a look at the tatted necklace you’ll be making (starting) in the class:
Tatted Necklace
In my Symbol Crochet class, I’ll teach my students how to read and follow symbol crochet charts, which are much easier than following a written crochet pattern. We’ll read and follow charts for projects in rows and in rounds. Once you can read and follow a symbol crochet chart, you’ll be able to make anything you want, even Japanese, Russian, Ukrainian or Spanish crochet patterns with crochet symbols, without having any knowledge of the language! Here are some crochet symbols that you’ll learn in the class:
Crochet Symbols
I love making crocheted jewelry and my Faux Tatted Necklace is one of those pieces of crocheted jewelry that I love to make! I designed this necklace about 5 years ago to look just like the tatted necklace that is part of my shuttle tatting class. But you don’t need to know how to tat to make the necklace in this class! The necklace is crocheted with size 10 crochet thread and approx. 23 buttons, beads or charms of your choice. I think it looks great! I’ve made many of these necklaces in various colors to go with different outfits in my wardrobe. The wonderful things about the necklace are that it’s completely washable and there’s no clasp to fiddle with, since the necklace is big enough to go over your head! The class fee covers the cost of the pattern. You choose (and bring) the thread color and buttons, beads or charms that you’d like to use for your necklace. Here’s one of the necklaces that I’ve made:
Faux Tatting Crochet Necklace
If you’ve never been to a CGOA Conference (aka: Chain Link Conference or Knit & Crochet Show) before, you don’t know what you’re missing! It’s a fabulous time to meet other crochet enthusiasts. You’ll learn more crochet techniques and stitches to further your crochet skills and knowledge at the conference and come away with many new friendships to last a lifetime! Check out the full schedule of crochet and knitting classes here.
If you’re not a CGOA member, yet, there’s no time like the present to join! Just go to the CGOA website and check out everything that CGOA has to offer! It’s wonderful to belong to an organization that is dedicated to furthering the art of crochet!
Ahoy, matey! Shiver me timbers! Happy “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” to everyone! What will they think of next?
But seriously, I wanted to share a few newly published crochet patterns that I designed with you. And best of all, one of them is FREE!!!
Here’s my Mod Flower Necklace, published by Red Heart/Coats & Clark and available on their website here.
Mod Flower Necklace
This necklace is made with a new crochet thread by Coats called Aunt Lydia’s Baker’s Cotton. This is a size 3 cotton thread that comes in 150 yard balls. It’s currently available in 6 colors, which are all plied with white. It’s very soft and has a great drape to it. You can watch a video about this new crochet thread on the Red Heart website, featuring the editor of Crochet Today magazine, Theresa Gonzalez, who is wearing my flower necklace in the video here. I designed this necklace with double-sided flowers, so whichever side of the flowers is facing will be the right side (no backs of flowers for me on this one!). I also added white buttons in the center of each flower, while sewing the flowers onto the necklace chain. And best of all, this pattern is FREE!!!
I just had 2 more patterns published, both in the October 2013 issue of Crochet World magazine. You can see the projects in this issue of Crochet World here.
First is my Reversible Popcorn Ripple Afghan.
Reversible Popcorn Ripple Afghan in Crochet World magazine Oct. 2013
This afghan is made with 5 shades of Plymouth Encore yarn, which is a worsted weight yarn. I designed this afghan with a one-row repeat, changing colors in every other row. Because of the one-row repeat, the popcorn stitches stick out on the front and on the back of the afghan, making it truly reversible! Be creative and use any colors you desire to make this afghan for yourself or as a wonderful Christmas gift for a friend or family member.
Second is my Autumn Blaze Table Mat.
Autumn Blaze Table Mat in Crochet World magazine Oct. 2013
This design is special because it’s the first design I’ve done for the new column in Crochet World called “What’s Old is New Again”. Basically, I’m taking a vintage pattern from the past and turning it into a modern treasure. This design started with the inspiration from this vintage pattern:
Vintage Bone Ring Table Mat pattern
This is the vintage book where I found this pattern:
Vintage Doilies book from 1940
This book was published in 1940 by Spool Cotton Co. It’s book #147 and sold for only 10 cents back then. What a deal!
Anyway, back to my updated version of this table mat. I used 3/4″ bone rings and Aunt Lydia’s Classic, size 10 cotton crochet thread. In the inspiration design, they didn’t cover all of the rings, but left some white showing at the center of the rings where they joined them together by simply wrapping crochet thread around the adjacent rings. I covered all of the 49 bone rings with crochet stitches and added points around the rings that create 6-pointed stars in the empty space between the groups of 7 rings. And I decided to use 3 colors of thread instead of one in each of the 7 groups of 7 rings: the center ring is covered in yellow, while the 6 rings surrounding the center ring are covered in orange and red. I like the way these 3 colors create more visual interest in the table mat. Of course, you can use 3 different colors for your table mat, if you prefer. Color selection is a very personal choice and anyone can change the colors they use in a crochet pattern to suit their own needs, décor or personal preferences.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at 3 new crochet patterns. There are new crochet patterns coming out all the time by many very talented crochet designers. I’m sure you have your favorite crochet designers, just like I do!
Are you an avid crocheter who likes to crochet jewelry? Have you admired crochet jewelry for a long time and wanted to make some for yourself or others? I love to design and wear crochet jewelry! If you’re like me, you might be interested in a new crochet book I have by Annie’s. It’s called “Jewelry to Crochet” and it was just released for purchase last week. Included are 7 sets of jewelry, made with size 10, 5 or 3 cotton crochet thread, or with Kreinik metallic thread. Many of the sets also include beads. Each set includes a necklace, as well as a bracelet, earrings or both.
I haven’t received my designer copies of this book, yet, so I don’t know how the inside looks. But I think they did a nice job with the photos!
Here are some photos from this book:
Jewelry to Crochet front coverBlack and Gold SetOval Pendant SetDaisy SetStained Glass SetWoven SetBlack Shells SetLariat Set
There are many reasons why I love crochet jewelry. Here they are (in no particular order):
1. It takes only a small amount of time to make a crochet necklace, pair of earrings and/or bracelet, so I get almost instant gratification!
2. I can make my crochet jewelry in any colors to coordinate with my various outfits.
3. Crochet jewelry doesn’t require much money in materials to make!
4. I love crocheting with thread and crochet jewelry is very conducive to thread crochet!
If you love crocheting jewelry, too, what are the reasons why you love it?
I had a blast designing and crocheting these sets of crochet jewelry. I designed some of them years ago and others just last year. If you’re interested in crocheting some jewelry, you can read more about this book and purchase it on the Annie’s website.
Why not crochet some jewelry today and wear it tomorrow?
It’s finally done! If you’ve enjoyed making (or have thought about purchasing) my Faux Tatted Necklace pattern, you might be interested to learn that I just self-published a pattern for a whole set of jewelry (necklace, bracelet and earrings). If you’re wondering why I call this “Faux” Tatting, it’s because it isn’t tatted. It’s crocheted to look like tatting! The only stitches used are chains, slip stitches and single crochet. The pattern is easy to follow, includes step-by-step photos and a symbol chart for the necklace (once you’ve made the necklace, the bracelet and earrings are a piece of cake!). Each of these jewelry pieces is crocheted with size 10 cotton crochet thread (for all of us “threadies”), using any buttons, beads or charms you desire.
I designed the bracelet and earrings for this set last summer before the CGOA Conference in Manchester, where I taught a class on making the Faux Tatted Necklace. But in my usual “procrastinating” style, it’s taken me this long to self-publish it! In my defense, though, I’m busy with other crochet work, I’m a perfectionist and I may possibly have ADD because I get distracted very easily (just ask my husband)!!! Aren’t all creative people like that (or many of them)?
Focus, Susan! Back to the jewelry set. I just love making these necklaces! It only takes a few hours to make each one, so I have less chance of getting distracted! Now I can crochet the matching bracelet and earrings for each of the necklaces I’ve made for a complete set (my ears won’t be bare any more). And now YOU can have coordinating sets, too!!!
Here are some close-up photos of the bracelet and earrings for you to see:
The bracelet pattern includes instructions for buttons/beads/charms on 1 side (in the brown/blue bracelet photo) or on 2 sides (in the black/green bracelet photo). The bracelet uses 12 or 23 buttons, beads or charms. The earrings have just 1 button on each of them and use earring wires (or your favorite earring findings).
I hope you enjoy this new pattern. And I hope you’ll share photos of your Faux Tatted Jewelry Sets with all of us.
You’ve probably seen crochet jewelry all over the place, but have you made any of it yet? I absolutely LOVE making (and wearing) crochet jewelry, whether it is one of my designs or someone else’s design!
Crochet jewelry that is made with cotton crochet thread (my favorite) is hand washable, so it will last for years! You can use any colors of crochet thread for making your crochet jewelry to coordinate with your wardrobe. The fasteners on crochet necklaces can be barrel clasps or buttons. Some are even long enough to fit over the head, so they don’t need any fasteners! Many crochet jewelry pieces take just a few hours to make, so they’re instant gratification projects, which I love!!!
Here are a few pieces of crochet jewelry that I’ve made from other designer’s patterns:
My Favorite Necklace
This is my favorite necklace, made with size 20 thread. The pattern is from a Magic Crochet magazine, Issue #64, Feb. 1990. I LOVE this necklace! It looks great on and is easy to clean when it gets dirty. I wear it a lot! I even made some coordinating leaf earrings to wear with it. The clasp is a simple button and crocheted buttonhole.
Necklace With Balls
This necklace is fun to wear. It’s made with size 10 thread and includes matching “ball” earrings. I think this pattern was from a Japanese book by Kazekobo.
Irish Crochet Necklace
This Irish Crochet Necklace was made with size 20 or 30 thread. It’s too fancy to wear with just anything! The chains near the back of the necklace (at the top of the photo) twist easily, so I don’t wear this one very often. This necklace may have been from the same book by Kazekobo.
Here are some crochet jewelry pieces that I’ve designed for Crochet Today magazine over the years:
There is a large, clear crystal sandwiched in the center of the 2 sides of crochet in my Crystal Pendant Necklace! It’s pretty cool!!!
Bouquet Earrings May/June 2012
The Bouquet Earrings were made in white for a bride, but can be made in any flower color you choose!
Winter Berry Earrings Nov/Dec 2012
The Winter Berry Earrings are made with some shiny crochet thread, called Anchor Artiste Metallic. It’s a very pretty thread. The photo doesn’t do it justice!
Here are some of the other crochet jewelry pieces that I’ve designed:
This is my Beaded Shells Necklace, available for purchase at TheCrochetArchitect.com. The pattern comes in 2 versions: long and short. They both have small beads throughout, but the longer version includes 1 large center bead and 2 medium beads.
Faux Tatted Necklace with buttonsFaux Tatted Necklace with beads
This is my Faux Tatted Necklace pattern, also available for purchase at TheCrochetArchitect.com. This necklace is actually crocheted to look like tatting, which has rings, chains and picots. This pattern can be made with buttons, beads or charms. It is a fun project to make with heirloom buttons or buttons with memories attached!
I love making these crochet necklaces and earrings because they’re so versatile!
For my Faux Tatted Necklaces (I’ve made quite a few), I’ve used many different colors of size 10 crochet thread and beads or buttons to coordinate with some of the outfits in my wardrobe. This necklace doesn’t have a clasp, so you just pop it over your head and wear it (it’s great if you have an injured hand, wrist or arm!). I should be coming out with a pattern for a coordinating Faux Tatted Bracelet and Earrings soon, so you can wear a complete set of Faux Tatted jewelry, if you like!
Why not make some crochet jewelry for your next project? If you do, please drop me a line and let me know how it turned out!
