tiny crochet flowers + other small things

tiny crochet flowers

I’ve become enamored with small things lately. I think the little pin cushions started it. After finishing them, I felt all those little yarn odds and ends calling me. This week has been all about flowers. I’m also thinking about tiny baskets, boxes and more pin cushions.

Small projects are so satisfying to me. They’re finished quickly, so I can squeeze them in between helping with homework and waiting for the pasta water to boil. They are an easy way to dress up a tote, shirt or ponytail. They make all of those leftover yarn bits feel useful.

What are you in love with right now?

personalized denim tote bags

small denim gift bag

Thanks to Sister Diane, I spent more time cleaning than crafting this weekend. She wrote a post about how we crafters just don’t seem to put things away and I looked around my room and thought, “Yep, that’s me!” I figured if I wasn’t brave enough to take a picture of my to-do piles then they needed to go.

I did get a little bit of sewing done, though. I was inspired by a denim tote my daughter received as a gift and decided to make a few for upcoming birthdays. I found this denim in my stash and it was already hemmed at the top (yes!) so all I had to do was serge the sides and make some handles. I used Heat n Bond Ultra Hold for the initials. I made a total of three small and one big, which I think is destined to become a project tote for myself.

font: I used the House Industries Haulnhouse font for the initial caps. You can find a similar, free download of the “Austin Powers” font from about.com. By the way, House Industries occasionally gives away free fonts. You should check them out because they are all pretty awesome.

tiny crochet ball pattern

tiny crochet ball pattern

It took a few tries until I was satisfied with this pattern. At first, they were coming out too hexagon shaped, so I decided to alternate the increase/decrease placement every other row. That gives the ball a more round shape.

I also wasn’t happy with the gaps that the decreases made, especially on the navy ball. You could see the white stuffing! Then I remembered this invisible decrease from Planet June. Problem solved!

Have fun with this one. On Friday I’ll show you a little variation. Stay tuned!

Tiny Crochet Ball Pattern
worsted weight yarn (I used Aunt Lydia’s cotton)
size G/6 (4.25mm) crochet hook
polyfil for stuffing
tapestry needle for weaving ends

sc: single crochet
inc: 2 sc in one stitch
dec: 1 sc over two stitches through the front loops only

gauge: not important, but mine are about 2 1/2 inches wide

Make a magic ring.
R1: 6 sc into ring
Ball worked as a spiral. Place marker to keep track of rounds.
R2: inc in each stitch around
R3: *inc, sc* around
R4: *2 sc, inc* around
R5: *inc, 3 sc* around
R6: *4 sc, inc* around
R7-11: sc around
R12: *dec, 4 sc* around
R13: *3 sc, dec* around
R14: *dec, 2 sc* around
R15: *1 sc, dec* around
Stuff with polyfil
R16: dec around

tiny striped egg pattern

tiny crochet striped easter eggs

So here it is! After many eggs, I finally found the right hook/yarn combination that feels right. My first egg used a larger hook and Red Heart yarn. It was too big and looked a little lumpy. I finally settled on Plymouth Galway wool with a smaller hook. Both are labeled worsted weight, but the wool eggs seem less lumpy. Also, I decided on hdc instead of sc because I liked the width of the stripe better. I’m posting this in Ravelry. I can’t wait to see everyone’s eggs!

Tiny Striped Egg
worsted weight yarn
size D/3 (3.25mm) crochet hook
polyfil for stuffing
tapestry needle for weaving ends

ch: chain
hdc: half double crochet
hdcIncrease: half double crochet increase
hdcDecrease: half double crochet decrease
sl st: slip stitch

half double crochet increase: hdc twice in same stitch
half double crochet decrease: yarn over, hook through stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over again, hook through next stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over one more time, pull through all five loops

I carry the yarn up the inside with out breaking it for each stripe. Change colors at the slip stitch: hook through stitch, yarn over with new color, pull new yarn through stitch.

gauge: not important, but mine are about 1 1/2 x 2 1/4 inches finished

P=purple stripe, Y=yellow stripe

  • Make a magic ring.
  • R1 P: ch 2, hdc into loop 5 times, pull loop closed, join with sl st into second ch – 6 sts
  • R2 Y: ch 2, hdc in same st, hdcIncrease around, sl st into second ch – 12 sts
  • R3 P: ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, *hdcInc, hdc* around, sl st into second ch – 18 sts
  • R4 Y: ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts, *hdcInc, hdc, hdc* around, sl st into second ch – 24 sts
  • R5 P: ch 2, hdc around, sl st into second chain – 24 sts
  • R6 Y: repeat R5
  • R7 P: ch 2, hdc, hdcDecrease, *hdc, hdc, hdcDecrease* around, sl st into second ch – 18 sts
  • R8 Y: ch 2, hdc around, sl st into second chain – 18 sts
  • R9 P: ch 2, hdcDecrease, *hdc, hdcDecrease* around, sl st into second ch – 12 sts
  • R8 Y: ch 2, hdc around, sl st into second chain – 12 sts
  • Stuff with polyfil
  • R10: hdcDecrease around, close up with tail, tie off both colors, bury ends inside with tapestry needle

tiny crochet heart pattern

I wanted to make some really small hearts for Valentine’s Day crafts, but couldn’t find any patterns online that I liked. After a few tries, I came up with these little cuties.

tiny crochet hearts

Tiny Crochet Heart Pattern
worsted weight yarn
size F/5 (3.75mm) crochet hook
tapestry needle for weaving ends

hdc: half double crochet
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch

gauge: not important, but mine are about 1 1/2 – 1 1/4 inches across

“Big” Tiny Heart (the one on the left)
Make a magic ring.
R1: chain 1, sc into loop 7 times, pull loop closed, join with sl st to chain 1
R2: sl st into 1st stitch, 5 hdc into second stitch, hdc in next two stitches, hdc then chain 1 and hdc again in the bottom stitch, hdc in next two stitches, 5 hdc into next stitch, sl st in original sl st.

Give the tail a little tug to help form the heart V at the top, tie knot, weave ends.

Give the bottom stitches a little tug to make the V point at the bottom.

“Small” Tiny Heart (the one on the right)
Repeat pattern, but replace sc for hdc.

thrifty finds: advent calendar

I’ve also been kicking it into high gear for the holidays. Unfortunately, that means it’s hard to show you work-in-progress pictures. I’ve knitted quite a few gifts over the past year and spent yesterday weaving in ends, soaking them in wool wash and blocking.

I’m also trying to play catch-up for Advent. Two summers ago I found this wooden L.L. Bean Advent calendar at Goodwill. I couldn’t help noticing how cute it was—especially for $4.99. Then the Goodwill lady told me everything in housewares was 50% off, so I bought it.

wooden advent calendar ll bean

It’s pretty much in mint condition except for a bit of double-sticky foam tape in a few boxes that needs to be removed. Here’s what it looks like when you open the little door.

wooden advent calendar l.l. bean

It came with a little bag of holiday trinkets. Most of them are ornaments with the strings removed. I guess they stuck them in the boxes with the sticky tape.

wooden advent calendar l.l. bean

I’m going to re-glue the thread loops and turn them back into ornaments. My daughter has a little tree in the kitchen and each day we’ll take an ornament out to decorate her tree. We even have a Joseph, Mary and little baby Jesus for December 25th!

wooden advent calendar l.l. bean

I know I am late getting started, so I’d really like to get it finished this weekend. It will be my second project using hot glue. Wish me luck!

thrifting: Sometimes I can’t believe the little gems I find at the thrift store. I think I even like it better than the one they sell now.