millicentmelissa Handmade Accessories on Rated K... Update!

Finally saw the episode of Rated K where my Grandaunt Auntie Bobie, cousin Kristelle and I were featured for our crochet!

For those who missed it, check it out here:

     

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Project: Crochet Mask

                                                                        Source: google.co.uk via Millicent on Pinterest

I don't know what's come over me but lately I've been obsessing on how to make crochet masks!

Scoured my usual hang-out, Pinterest for free patterns and every single one I found involves the use of wires as foundation for the eye holes. I followed the pattern of Craft Disasters above but the wires kept on breaking off so I gave up on it! Twas so frustrating when you're almost done with the piece and the wire comes off and you see yards and yards of crocheted yarn just unravel!

Moving along, going back to my pinning addiction, I found a very nice crochet pattern called triton shell stitch which I thought was kind of easy to make. I'm always on the look out for fancy crochet stitches and when I find one, I go learn it right away.

Photo of triton shell stitch

                                                                         Source: crochet.about.com via Millicent on Pinterest

Learning this stitch, it suddenly dawned on me that I could use this as the foundation stitch for a crochet mask! Below are the photos of my freehand attempt on creating my own pattern of a crochet mask:

Wish I'd used a more vibrant color but not bad for a first try :)

It's still in the works. I'm planning to make it a bit more elaborate; maybe make it chin-length like a niqab or add height to become like a headdress.

Detailed view

Major mistake: I got so engrossed crocheting the mask, I forgot to take down notes for the pattern! Oh well, when I'm completely done then I'll work on transcribing the pattern to post here.

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Crochet Bullion Stitch

I have been trying so hard to learn this fancy crochet stitch for quite some time and now I'm hooked (pun intended)!

Not too bad for my first try... despite the blisters on my fingers :(

Close up view. See the messy middle?

Thank God for Pinterest, I found two of the easiest tutorials on bullion stitch among dozens of these on the net. Check them out below:

Source: healmyhands.com via Millicent on Pinterest

Source: crochetspot.com via Millicent on Pinterest

For the bullion circles I made above, I used a little of both the tutorials: getting the pattern from healmyhands.com and the extra needle trick from crochetspot.com

This probably the hardest crochet stitch I've learned, leaving most of my fingers blistered! But I guess it was all worth it!

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Crochet Baby Sandies

My ever loyal customer and soul sister Arlene saw this cute Pinterest pin on my board and wanted to order from me right away!

                                                         Source: misadventuresofhandmade.blogspot.com via Millicent on Pinterest

Actually was really contemplating on making these Barefoot Baby Sandals but not having a baby daughter or even a niece (my sister and I have boys) to give these to, I put off the idea for the time being. Thanks Arlene for the inspiration!

Ashley's tutorial was great but with the available yarn I had the sandals came out too small so I decided to make my own crochet pattern using a triangular granny pattern. 

So here's my finished product:

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Crochet Lace Collar now with Tutorial

Front view

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New Take on Dorset Buttons

It only seemed like yesterday when experimenting with Dorset Buttons made me start my own handcrafted accessories business!

Over the long holiday weekend, I decided to re-explore this craft and this time used various materials.

First up, I used the traditional acrylic crochet yarn but instead of finishing the inner spokes, I only finished the border and added a floating plastic pallet in the middle.

Used acrylic yarn for this Dorset button. The color was inspired by
my sister Cha's blouse she wore on New Year's day :)

Attached the button to a long chain necklace

As worn

For the next Dorset Button, I used a bone-colored satin ribbon and attached to a matinee-length chain necklace with pearl studs accents.

Dorset Button using satin ribbon

On a matinee length (19") chain

As worn

The last button is still in the works but I already love it! Staring into my pile of crochet materials, I saw some leftover leather cord I had purchased years ago to be used as a lasso belt and thought of using it for the Dorset Button and the result was gorgeous!

Leather cord Dorset Button. Sprayed it with clear gloss acrylic spray
to protect from scratches.

I noticed that the leather was sensitive to scratches so after finishing this, I sprayed it with a layer of clear acrylic spray. Only thing left to do is to decide what material I'd use for the necklace. 

Dorset Buttons are easy to make and very versatile. Check out this easy-to-follow tutorial from Craftstylish and start making your own versions!

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Project: Crochet Lace Collar

I found this free fancy crochet collar pattern at The Ongoing Project blog which inspired me to embark on another crochet project over the weekend.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/violetwired
Photo taken from http://theongoingproject.blogspot.com

Shay's pattern was easy to follow and although I was able to modify the size according to my neck size, the 2 collars I made came out short! Thankfully, was able to remedy that on my third try by using a ribbon instead of a button :)

Here is my finished project. I added some pearls to make it look more Victorian-inspired but actually this reminds me more of one of  Queen Elizabeth I's paintings.

Okay, so I'll call this Victoria....

thanks to my lovely model: my sister Cha

With a ribbon closure, the size can now be adjusted 

The ribbon part can also be worn infront

Visit Shay's blog The Ongoing Project for the free pattern and more of her fabulous designs!

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Free Crochet Pattern: Granny Square Slippers

As Christmas approaches, been surfing the web for crochet Christmas gifts and came across this simple yet unique crochet pattern: Granny Square Slippers!

I found this crochet pattern from The Purl Bee and will start on my projects this weekend...am making a "His" and "Her" slippers as gifts for my bosses :-)

All pictures taken from The Purl Bee

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Behind the Curtains - Crochet becomes cool

Behind the Curtains - Crochet becomes cool

I so love this modern take on crochet! Pictures courtesy of Pure Contemporary.

According to the Pure Contemporary blog:

The Crochet chair, which was designed for the Smart Deco project  presented by Droog Design and Barry Friedman Ltd., quickly sold out. The Crochet Lamp is part of the Personal Editions collection. Both from Marcel Wanders. Made from crochet and resin.

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Project: Carmen

Really really, loved this shade of yellow and with this color only one person comes to mind: Mrs. Peña (my boss' wife)! Ma. del Carmen O. de Peña, she is one of the phenomenal women I am privileged to have in my life. At 80 years old, she's still a workaholic, running a Forbes Park home and 2 demanding companies of their family corporation on a daily basis. Mrs. Peña was one of the original ATOM (August Twenty-One Movement) members who rallied in Ayala during the Marcos dictatorship. One of the walls of our Executive Office is a homage to her fighting spirit: it dons shadow boxes of Ninoy Aquino funeral buttons, Cory Aquino 1986 Presidential campaign materials, gas masks used during the EDSA revolution and even Noynoy Aquino campaign paraphernalia!

Mrs. Peña's collection of yellow paraphernalia

That's why whenever I thought of yellow, it's Mrs. Peña whom I think about. So here's a project in progress in honor of a tough but sweet lady!

was thinking of making a garland of some sorts

had to make a temporary frame so I could visualize the pattern

Will post the finished product here probably by the end of this week!

*** All photos here are owned by Milli Reyes.

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Inspiration:Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

http://www.flickr.com/photos/genista/

Always on the look out for project inspiration, I came across this marvelous picture of corals---crochet corals! The patterns, especially the curves of the crochet was so beautiful and so realistic, I just had to make them right there and then!

Searching on the internet for the pattern, I found out that the hyperbolic crochet here is actually a geometric model of a hyperbolic space, developed by Dr Daina Taimina, a mathematician at Cornell University. For centuries mathematicians and physicists have struggled to make actual models of the hyperbolic space and although there were some efforts made, most were failures especially the ones made out of paper which could hardly retain the shape and easily disintegrated. Dr. Taimina, a mathematician and a handicrafter, thought of using crochet and the very first hyperbolic crochet was made. For more of the fascinating story on this you can check this article on Dr. Taimina by the New York Times as posted at the Institute for Figuring website. Many thanks to Anna Mayer of the IFF for permission to use in my blog some of the information from their website.

You may also check the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef website at http://crochetcoralreef.org/about/index.php for more pictures and crochet inspiration. 

Below are the finished product of my imagination inspired by the hyperbolic crochet. I made earrings! They look so dainty and the curves reminded me so much of graceful ballet dancers that I named these pirouette. If you want to own a pair, you may purchase beginning on August 15, 2010 at my online store http://millicentmelissa.multiply.com (at the moment, only for Philippine buyers). 

Pirouette in Yellow

Pirouette in Lavander

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Tutorial: Understanding Crochet Patterns and Diagrams

http://www.flickr.com/photos/porcupiny/

Crocheters usually refer to patterns or diagrams when starting a project. Patterns are worded instructions, using abbreviations of the stitches while diagrams use symbols to represent the stitches.

There are less than 10 most commonly used abbreviations in a crochet pattern so they're not that hard to remember. Below is a list you could refer to:
ch      chain
sc      single crochet
dc     double crochet
hdc    half double crochet
tr       triple (in UK it's called treble) crochet
sl st   slip stitch
sk     skip
dec   decrease
inc     increase                

For a more comprehensive list of abbreviations, check out this one from the Lion Brand website.

Stitch Diva has a complete list of crochet symbols used in diagrams here.

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