Puff Stitch Bracelet

Found a pattern for a choker, but I made a bracelet instead. It's quick and easy to make once you get the hang of it. I made this in under 30 minutes, while watching the tube.

Materials used:

• 8-ply yarn
• 5-mm hook
• tapestry needle
• button
• scissors

Stitches used (US terms):

• chain (ch)
• puff stitch (ps or puff st)
• single crochet (sc)

It took me a couple of tries before finally getting it the line of puff stitches right. I didn't notice any turn in the pattern while I was doing the bracelet, but when I included a turn after each puff stitch, I finally got it right.

Note: Before writing this post, I watched the video to verify whether or not a turn was indicated. Turns out, there was a "turn" in the written pattern, but she used "sp", where sp means "spin".

I changed how I worked on the border: instead of working 4 sc on each chain after the puff stitch (remember, you make a puff stitch and then you chain 2), I worked 2 sc on the side of the puff stitches plus 1 sc after every pair of puff stitch.

Link to original pattern: http://jessieathome.com/puff-stitch-choker/

Coffee Sleeve

I was looking for something to work on that was easy to do and takes no more than an hour to make to give as a thank you gift. I found this pattern (link) of a coffee sleeve. It was easy to make and the design was simple yet pleasing in the eyes.

Stitches used in the pattern:

• chain (ch)
• single crochet (sc)
• single crochet 2 together (sc2tog)

Guide in working the pattern:

• As stated in the pattern, work each row in back loops only - this is to create the ribbed effect.
• If you started in a 2sc stitch, you'll end in an sc2tog stitch; and vice versa.
• One side of the sleeve will always start (or end) in 2sc's, and the other side will start (or end) in sc2tog.
• Total number of stitches made on each row should be base chain less one.

The pattern:

The pattern is really simple, work on your base chain (length depends on the yarn and hook used).

Row 1: 2sc, sc until last 2 stitches, sc2tog. ch1, turn.

Row 2: sc2tog, sc until last stitch, 2sc. ch1, turn.

Repeat 1&2 until you get the desired length/size.

Join ends using a slip stitch, but I stitched it together instead.

You need to invert the sleeve once you're done putting the ends together. I didn't flip it on the picture above, but this is how it's supposed to look like after. Pardon the cup used.

Wired Little Owl Bookmark

I made these beauties (and more!) for my sister. These bookmarks are the same as this one here, but with a thin wire on the branch and using a smaller hook. (Pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-owl-bookmark)


So here's how I worked with the wire:

1. Curl the end of the wire, but don't close it yet. Leave a gap so you can insert it in one of the stitches.
2. Work on your base chain (45 ch). Insert the wire on the second chain from the hook - the chain where you'll do the first single crochet (in the pattern it says dc - UK terms - but I'll be referring to the stitches in US terms). Don't close the loop yet.
3. Line the wire along the length of the base chain. The wire should be on top of the yarn. Do a couple of single crochets, working over the wire and the chain. When it's long enough (about 4 or 5 sc), close the loop on the wire, making sure that it's still hooked on the chain.

Aside from adding a wire, I also worked the leaf on the branch, instead of stitching the leaves on the branch.

Make the first half of the leaf as instructed: ch 6, ss on 2nd ch from hook, sc, htr, dc. On the last stitch, you're supposed to make 4 dc's. Do the first dc. On the second and third dc, before doing the last yarn over, insert the hook (which has 2 loops) on the stitch where you want to place the leaf. Yarn over and pull through all the loops. Continue working on the second half of the leaf.

Don't get frustrated if the wire cuts through the yarn or if it's taking more time to work on a piece. I had several do-overs because of this. Just be patient and you'll soon get the hang of it.