Italian craft magazine - 60s

New listing on my Etsy shop soon: amazing Italian craft magazines form 60's, you'll love them!

Crocheting, kitting, sewing and much more inside.

Red rose crochet brooch - pattern

Red rose pattern

Ch 50

ROUND 1: in the 5th stich from hook: 1double crochet  ch2, 1 double crochet, then *in the next stich chain2, skip next two stich 1double crochet ch2, 1 double crochet * . Repeat from *to* till the end, 1 double crochet in the last stich, ch3

ROUND 2:  in first ch2 space: 2 double crochet ch2 2 double crochet, then * ch2, skip one ch2space, in the next one: 2 double crochet ch2 2 double crochet*. Repeat from *to* till the end, 1 double crochet in the last stich

ROUND 3: *9 double crochet in the first ch2 space, ch1, in next ch2space: 1 single crochet, ch1, 1 slip stich, ch1*  Repeat from *to* till the end

Close the work, cut the yarn about 40cm long, thread this yarn onto a tapestry needle. 

Roll the crocheted work up and sew it meanwhile.

This is definitely one of my favourite pattern: easy ad stunning at the same time! 

DIY: customized bodysuit

Here's an easy-peasy DIY to customize your little one bodysuit. for my little prince I've crocheted a crown (for instruction click here) and a fish (gold fish translated to Italian is ''pesce rosso'' that is red fish), then I quickly sewed it to the bodysuits with sewing machine. A touch of colour that Matteo enjoyed a lot!

Following fish applique instruction:

Start with chain 7

Round1. sc in next stitch from hook,  hdc next stitch, dc next stitch, 2dc in next stitch,

dc next stitch, sc in last stitch then turn to other side. (7 sts)

Round2.  sc in next stitch,  hdc next stitch, 2dc next stitch, dc in next stitch,

hdc next stitch,  sl st finished off. (6 sts)

Chain 3 (fish tail), turn, hdc in next stitch from hook, hdc nect stitch, sl st to finish off first tail.

Second tail, chain 3 and repeat as the same as first tail.

Christmas gifts

For my beloved girl fiends I've prepared crochet earings, and I took care of the packaging as well.
To show my love I've done my best to give something 100% handmade. The meaning was ''I know you already have everything, and I know for suure I will never be able to find something as special as you are...so I tried to give you my time and care to say I love you!''
This is what I made: sparklings silver earings packaged in green and red. I each frame on red packages I handwrote the name of my friend after taking those pics.

For one of them I've made the earings with clip instead of the hook: I think they looks even nicer!

Nice and easy to do: crochet cover for my pottery pen holder

Lovely olive green cotton thread, crochet low stich and less than one hour of work: I'm so happy with the result!

Ready for Christmas!!

Some of my favourite Christmas tree decoration: the snowman, happy and bright, and the decoration I crocheted las year. I'm looking forward to see my little boy finding his gifts under the tree for the first time!

Pacifier holder

Trapped mouse - I've done it myself!

Love the tails:

Here below instruction to create those two lovely mice:

Body:

When working in rounds, do not join rounds. Place stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round.

Rnd 1: Ch 2. Work 4 sc in second ch from hook. (4 sc)

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around. (8 sc)

Rnd 3: (Sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc) 4 times around. (12 sc)

Rnd 4:  Sc even around. (12 sc)

Rnd 5: (Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times around. (15 sc)

Rnd 6 and 7: Sc even around. (15 sc)

Rnd 8: (Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times around. (18 sc)

Rnd 9: Work 2 sc in each of the next 6 sc (12 sc) and then sc in each of the next 12 sc (12 sc), totalling 24 sc in this rnd.  This is the start of the 'hump' of the body.

Rnd 10 to 20: Sc even around. (24 sc)

Stuff polyfill and catnip.

Rnd 21: Decrease -  (Sc in next sc, sc2tog)8 times around. (16 sc)

Stuff more polyfill if necessary.

Rnd 22: (Sc2tog) 8 times around. (8 sc)

Rnd 23: Sc2tog around and pull to close hole.  Do not cut off yarn yet.  Continue to ch 26 for the tail.  Slip stitch back into the entire chain. Now cut the yarn leaving about 6 inches for sewing.  Thread this tail yarn onto a tapestry needle and weave in end, securing the tail in place.

EARS (make 2)

Row 1: Ch 2. Work 3 sc in second ch from hook. (3 sc) Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2: Sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in last sc. (4 sc)  Chain 1 and turn.

Row 3: Sc in first sc, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sc, sc in last sc. (6 sc) 

Fasten off yarn and cut, leaving about 8 inches of yarn for sewing. 

ASSEMBLY:

Please note: The 'hump' of the mousie body should be facing up.

Thread tail yarn of one ear onto a tapestry needle and sew it onto the top of the head, somewhere on rnd 7 or 8 of the body.  Do the same for the other ear. Fasten off yarn and weave in all ends.

Thread a 8 inch length of black/brown yarn onto a tapestry need.   Make a knot at one end of the yarn.  Pinch the face of the mousie to estimate the positions for the eyes.  Form the eyes using french knots.  Fasten off yarn and weave in ends.

Handmade gift for a lovely little girl!