~ pure joy earrings ~

I call these 'pure joy' because they were so quick and easy to crochet, and if I may say so myself, they're very pretty.  :)

Materials:

- two 1" plastic rings
- embroidery floss or size 10 crochet cotton
- size 1 steel hook
- two fish hook earrings
- needle nose pliers

Size - 1 1/2" x 2 1/4"

Note:  I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook.

Directions:
Rnd 1:  Join thread with a sc around the plastic ring.  Work 29 more sc around the ring.  Join with a sl st to the 1st sc.  (30 sc)

Rnd 2:  Sc in same sc as joining.  (ch 2, skip next sc, sc in the next sc) 10 times.  Sl st in next sc, ch 3, dc in next 2 sc, (ch 1, dc in next 3 sc) 2 times.  Turn.

Rnd 3:  Sl st over to ch-1 space, (ch 3, 2 dc) in same space.  Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 space.  Turn.

Rnd 4:  Sl st over to ch-1 space, (ch 3, 2 dc) in same space.  End off.

- weave in ends

- use the needle nose pliers to open up the loop on the fish hook earring.  Insert the loop through the middle sc at the top of the crocheted earring, close the loop back up.

***Debi Y's pattern***

~ double duty square ~

This square pattern can either be used for a coaster or a motif for a baby blanket.

Materials:
- 4-ply worsted weight acrylic
- J hook

Size:
- rose square = 3 1/2"
- aqua square = 4 1/4"

Notes:
- I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook.
- The ch 2 at the beginning of Rnd 1 does not count as a stitch.

Directions:
-for rose square:
Rnd 1:  Ch 3 (make the 1st ch a little loose), 12 dc in 3rd ch from hook.  Join with a sl st to 1st dc.  (12 dc)

Rnd 2:  (ch 1, sc, ch 4, sc) in same dc as joining.  2 sc in each of next 2 dc.  *(sc, ch 4, sc) in next dc, 2 sc in each of next 2 dc.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 3:  Sl st in ch-4 space, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-4 space, ch 1, skip next 2 sc, dc next 2 sc together, ch 1, skip next 2 sc.  *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-4 space, ch 1, skip next 2 sc, dc next 2 sc together, ch 1, skip next 2 sc.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.  

Rnd 4:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining.  Sc in each dc and ch-1 space around with (sc, ch 1, sc) in each ch-2 corner space.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.  End off.

-for aqua square:
Rnds 1 - 3:  Repeat Rnds 1 - 3 of rose square.

Rnd 4:  Ch 3 dc in each dc and ch-1 space around with (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner ch-2 space.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 5:  Repeat Rnd 4 of rose square.

***Debi Y's pattern*** 

~ hold the phone! ~

I was browsing around Pinterest a few days ago, and came across a cell phone charging pouch that was made out of an empty lotion bottle.  I thought that was a pretty cool idea, so I set about to crochet one for my phone.  It was quick and easy and took no time at all.

Materials:
- 1 1/4 oz. 4-ply worsted weight acrylic
- K hook
- one plastic child's bracelet

Size:  5 3/4" x 3 3/4" not including the bracelet

Notes:
- I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook
- pattern is worked with 2 strands of yarn throughout

Directions:
Row 1:  Sc around bracelet 9 times.  Ch 1, turn.  (9 sc)

Here's a video I found on Youtube that shows how to crochet around a plastic ring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V3QR7L5Ds4

Row 2 - 4:  Sc in each sc across.  Ch 1, turn.

Row 5:  Sc in each sc across.  Ch 15, turn piece and sl st in 1st sc.

Rnd 6:  Ch 1, sc in same sc as joining, sc in next 8 sc, sc in each of next 15 chs.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Rnds 7 - 18:  Ch 1, sc in same sc as joining, sc in each sc around.  Join as before.  At end of Rnd 18, end off.

Flatten bottom, match stitches evenly and whipstitch the back loops of the front and the front loops of the back together.

Decorate as you please.

***Debi Y's pattern***

~ 'merry-go-round' square ~

Materials:
- 4-ply worsted weight acrylic
- J hook

Size:  6"

Notes: 
- I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook.
- the ch 2 at the beginning of Rnds 1 & 2 do not count as a st.

Directions:
Rnd 1:  Ch 3 (make the 1st ch a little loose), 12 dc in 3rd ch from hook.  Join with a sl st to 1st dc.  (12 dc)

Rnd 2:  Ch 2, 2 dc in same st as joining.  2 dc in each dc around.  Join as before.  (24 dc)

Rnd 3:  Ch 3, dc in same st as joining, ch 1, skip next dc.  *2 dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc.  Repeat from * around.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 4:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc in next dc, 2 sc in next ch-1 space.  *sc in each of next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-1 space.  Repeat from * around.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 5:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, ch 2, skip next sc.  *sc in next sc, ch 2, skip next sc.  Repeat from * around.  Join as before.

Rnd 6:  Sl st into ch-2 space, ch 1, sc in same ch-2 space, ch 3.  *sc in next ch-2 space, ch 3.  Repeat from * around.  Join as before.

Rnd 7:  Sl st into ch-3 space, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space, {2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 1} 2 times, 2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space.  *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space, {2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 1} 2 times, 2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 8:  Sl st over to corner ch-2 space, (ch3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same corner ch-2 space, ch 2, 2 hdc in ch-2 space, {hdc in each of next 2 sc, ch 1} 2 times, hdc in each of next 2 sc, 2 hdc in next ch-2 space, ch 2.  *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner ch-2 space, ch 2, 2 hdc in ch-2 space, {hdc in each of next 2 sc, ch 1} 2 times, hdc in each of next 2 sc, 2 hdc in next ch-2 space, ch 2.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join as before.  End off.

***Debi Y's pattern***

~ 3 simple steps to clean out a used candle jar ~

Step 1:  Buy a small pan from the Dollar Tree.  Put a toothpick in the pan and then place the jar on the toothpick.  This keeps the jar from bouncing when the water boils.  Pour water in pan.  Bring the water to a soft boil.  Wait patiently until the candle wax melts.

Step 2:  Put a glove on your hand so you don't get burned.  Pick up candle jar and pour melted wax into a can.

 

 

Step 3:  Wipe out candle jar with paper towels.

 

 

And there you have it - a quick, simple way to clean out those nasty jars so you can use them to store your crafts supplies.  :)

 

 

 

 

p.s. besides candle jars, I use all kinds of other jars too.

 

 

~ p c crochet hook bookmark ~

If you crochet, read and work plastic - then this is the bookmark for you.

The bookmark on the right is worked with continental stitch, and the one on the left is blank with a round of sc worked around the edges - which was a little tricky to do.  I used size 3 cotton and a size B crochet hook, but I think I should of used size 10 cotton - it would of been a little easier to get the thread through the holes.  If I make another one, I will go with the size 10.

For the crochet edge bookmark:  put a sl st on your (real) crochet hook, insert hook into any hole, yarn over, pull through and complete as a sc.  Sc in each hole on the straight lines, and 2 sc in each corner square around the piece.  Join with a sl st to the 1st sc and end off.  Tie the ends into a knot and then weave the tails through the sc stitches.

For the solid bookmark:  using worsted weight yarn, work the piece using the continental stitch.  Whipstitch around the edge and you're done.

Here's the graph for the crochet hook bookmark:

I count holes when I cut the plastic canvas - this one is 6 holes across and 55 holes top to bottom.

Thanks for dropping by - I hope you're enjoying your day.  :)