I have been trying several different ways to get the word out about Tantalizing Stitches. There is always advertising on websites but why not advertise on your own car? Many large companies do this by placing their brand on their own delivery trucks so why not place your own brand on your car?

I have convinced both my brother and dad to allow me to do this to their car so I have three cars running around the Bay Area with my brand.

I have found that the best price for large car magnets are offered at 123print.com. I purchased four very large magnets (12″x24″) for a total of $46.16 – this includes shipping and tax. And now, I’ve just received an email for 20% off the medium and large size: just use this link – http://www.123print.com/Car-Magnets?redir=EE943A – Its an affiliate link!

Today, I randomly met Paula of Crafts by Paula at Starbucks. I was working on business affairs on my computer when Paula sat besides me and asked about my crocheted hats. We began talking when I found out that she too is a crafter as well.

Paula is a seamstress and does all kinds of work but her website features Mei Tai carriers and infant sleep sacks. On her website, she includes a video of how to tie a Mei Tai carrier.

I am glad to have met Paula and hope to see more of her crafts in the future.

Well, these can actually be used for make-up brushes, crayons, etc. but I am a crocheter so my intention is to use it for hooks. The best part is that it closes with d rings, which is hard to come by. Bows are nice and cute but not practical for me.

Take a look at my artfire review on Handmade Review.

Read a short review I posted about etsy on Handmade Review.

Win Tags-n-Stones beautiful jewelry!

I’ve just acquired Quickbooks Pro 2009 in hopes of getting more organized.

Grammy’s Rosy Cloche was inspired by my Japanese Grandma’s (obaasama) rosy pink yarn. It was originally part of a project gone unfinished in the basement for a knitted double layered and reversible skirt. While ripping out the unfinished project, I came up with this pattern.

Like all my patterns, I like to make it easily alterable to any size and I try to make swatching a minimum (no swatching needed but those that insist, swatch as you go).

If you like this pattern, why not – send me a picture of your finished cloche, create a link to my blog, or make a donation to support the puppies in need?

A pdf version of this pattern will be available shortly.

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COPYRIGHT and LIMITED LICENSE

This pattern is protected to the maximum extent provided by the United States and international copyright laws except as licensed below:

1. You may print this work for personal use only as long as the print contains this copyright and limited license section.
2. Patterns derived from this work may be distributed by the derivative author with the same or more expansive limited license provided here as long as the derived pattern acknowledges its derivation of this pattern by including the words “derived from Grammy’s Rosy Cloche pattern available at http://tantalizingstitches.com/blog/grammys-rosy-cloche-pattern/”.
3. Articles made by this pattern or articles made by a pattern derived from this pattern may not be sold in any way. The crafter is free to gift the finished items or donate them to charity. If you would like to sell them, please contact me.
4. You may display your articles as you please and do not hesitate to post pictures of your marvelous work!
5. Linking to this page is highly encouraged! Please refer your friends to this pattern with a link.

If you have any questions about this limited license, please contact me by email at el@tantalizingstitches.com. Otherwise please enjoy!

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OVERVIEW

The cloche is made in the round from the top down. It begins with six stitches. Each round increases by six stitches until the diameter (not circumference – lay cloche flat and measure) of the cloche measures at least 6.5 inches. (Round 6 was where my cloche reached just over 6.5 inches). Towards the end, stitches are decreased (Round 11). The decreasing section should be tailored to fit the circumference of the receiver’s head. At this point, multiple rows of decreases can be made, depending on how large you would like the cloche to be. In addition, if you would like the cloche longer, add more rows between the decrease rounds and the single crochet round. Add a flower of your choice.

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MATERIALS (choose anything but for reference this is what I used)

f sized crochet hook
2 colors of yarn – fingering weight acrylic or acrylic/wool blend yarn (I don’t really know what it is because it was in Obaasama’s yarn stash!)

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NOTES

• After each round, do not turn.
• Each bobble is always followed by a chain stitch.
• Each bobble is stitched into a chain 1 space.
• Unless stated otherwise, chain at beginning of row is not considered a stitch.

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STITCH GUIDE

Slip Stitch (ss)

Single Crochet (sc)

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc)
yarn over, insert hook around post from front to back, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through two loops. See Stitch Diva for a step by step explanation.

ric-rac
NOTE: I learned this technique from Josi Hannon Madera’s Perfect Pencil Skirt pattern.
1 ch, 1 ss in next stitch

The First Stitch (1stBobble): 5 double crochet bobble stitch followed by one slip stitch
Chain 3, yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, (insert hook in same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through two loops) x 3, yarn over, pull through five loops, chain 1. See NexStitch for a video tutorial.

The Stitch (Bobble): 5 double crochet bobble stitch followed by one slip stitch
yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, (insert hook in same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through two loops) x 4, yarn over, pull through six loops, chain 1.

Decrease (Bobble Dec): 5 double crochet bobble stitch connected with another 5 double crochet bobble stitch
Note: Same as bobble above except do not pull through all six loops at the end and do not chain 1. Instead, with six loops on hook, insert hook in next chain 1 space and begin another bobble. Then, pull through 11 loops, chain 1.

yarn over, (insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through two loops, yarn over, (insert hook in same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through two loops) x 4, yarn over) x 2, pull through 11 loops, chain 1.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Begin with a magic adjustable ring.
Round 1: In ring — 1stBobble, 5 Bobble in ring. Slip stitch to third chain of 1stBobble. Do not turn (see note above). [6]

Round 2: (in each chain 1 space of previous row – see note above) 1stBobble, Bobble in same stitch, (Bobble, Bobble in same stitch) x 5. Slip stitch to third chain of 1stDCBS. [12]

Round 3: 1stBobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble (Bobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble) x 5. Slip stitch to third chain of 1stBobble. [18]

Round 4: 1stBobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble, Bobble (Bobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble, Bobble) x 5. Slip stitch to third chain of 1stBobble. [24]

Round 5: 1stBobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble, Bobble, Bobble (Bobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble, Bobble, Bobble) x 5. Slip stitch to third chain of 1stBobble. [30]

Round 6: 1stBobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble, Bobble, Bobble, Bobble (Bobble, Bobble in same stitch, Bobble, Bobble, Bobble, Bobble) x 5. Slip stitch to third chain of 1stBobble. [36]

[NOTE: add more rounds and increase six stitches per round until you reach just over 6.5 inches in diameter; if it is over 6.5 inches in diameter, skip some of the increasing rounds.]

Round 7-10: one Bobble in each chain 1 space. Slip stitch to third chain of 1st Bobble. [36]

Round 11: (Bobble dec, Bobble, Bobble, Bobble) x 7, Bobble. Slip stitch to third chain of 1st Bobble. [29]

[NOTE: add more decreasing rounds if the cloche is too large.]

Round 12: one Bobble in each chain 1 space. Slip stitch to third chain of 1st Bobble. [29]

[NOTE: add more rounds of Round 12 if you would like the cloche longer.]

Round 13: chain 1, sc into each bobble and each chain 1 space. [58]

Round 14: CHANGE COLOR – see Stitch Diva for technique. 1 fpdc into each sc. [58]

Round 15: ric-rac: chain 1, slip stitch into joining stitch, (chain 1, slip stitch into next stitch) x 57, Slip stitch to first chain. [58]

The art of crochet is a fiber art that emphasizes color, texture, and shape.

While the word crochet may immediately conjure up an image of your grandma rocking on her chair as she pulls yarn from her basket, that is only the beginning of the realm of crochet. Crochet is both an art and a craft that simply requires a hook (not to be confused with knitting, which uses two long pointed needles) and a string type medium most people call yarn. Anything beyond this is left to the designer to imagine.

For example, the Purple Heart Collection as depicted in the picture to the right was inspired and centered around my grandma’s vintage purple yarn. I soaked the color into my imagination while visualing how the coarseness of the yarn would work with other yarn types. What stitches should I use? What other colors would blend well? Finally, I decided I wanted a feminine baby item with a light and fluffy skirt that would wear well with any messy baby.

So, where does the design process begin in crochet? It is a continuous thought – there is no step by step pragmatic approach with a definite beginning and end. However, let’s start with the materials.

Just choosing a hook is a process. The material, size, and quality of the hook affects the outcome of the crochet. The hook may be made out of plastic, wood, metal, or even appendages (some people crochet with their fingers). Many people prefer the texture and weight of wood, such as bamboo and redwood, when crocheting. Those who indulge in the aura of the hook often spend hours just choosing specially carved hooks embellished with gems, etchings, and other fascinating decor. The hook itself may inspire a certain type of project and that same hook may inspire different crochet artists to design completely different works.

Then there is the size, the thickness, and the length of the hook. The thickness or the size of the hook chosen for each project depends on: the material the hook is made out of (for example, smoothness affects the size of the resulting loops); the type of design desired (an airy, dense, or lacy look would all require different sizes); the artists individual technique (a loose crocheting artist would use a smaller hook); and finally, the type of yarn used. Of course, the type of yarn used depends on the design, texture, and suppleness desired. However, because the texture and suppleness is affected by the hook size used and the crochet stitch used, the artist often creates several samples or swatches using various hooks, stitches, and yarn.

How about the yarn? Yarn can be synthetic (acrylic or nylon) or natural (wool, alpaca, soy, corn, yak). It can be a single color or variegated. Different yarns can be combined to create different effects. Some artists cut cloth into strips, use ribbon, or even use grocery bags. Anything that can be knotted can be used as yarn.

When choosing yarn, the artist must consider the purpose of the item being used. First, the practical considerations: Does it need to be machine washable (acrylic does well in the washer)? Will it get wet? Will the yarn felt? The artist must also consider the durability of the yarn. Will the color hold?

How about the artistic considerations? The softness and tactile nature of the fiber; the thickness of the yarn; and the size of the resulting stitch. All these things must be considered while designing the project, whether it be a hat, an amigurumi, a blanket, or a sweater.

So, as you browse through any crochet piece, consider the imagination and work that went into its creation. Soak yourself in every stitch and fiber and indulge yourself in tantalizing crochet.

Welcome to my blog. My name is El and I am the founder, designer, and administrator of Tantalizing Stitches – I do everything here, even website design. My favorite past time is indulging in the art of crochet. However, since I have started to line my crocheted handbags with fabric, I have began to dabble in sewing and have contemplated embroidering.

In this blog, I hope to post my progress through various projects as well as crafting tips and selling tips that I have found useful.

View my recent posts.