Free tutorial: how to make fabric yo-yo’s or Suffolk puffs

Fabric Yo-yo’s or Suffolk puffs as I call them are a lovely way to use up the little scraps of fabric you have left over from your textile projects. I have seen many different ways of using them and one of my favourites is to make them into statement jewellery.

So I have put together a little tutorial on how to make these quick and easy beauties 🙂

You will need
Scraps of fabric
Scissors
Needle
Thread

Optional extras
Something circular to draw around and a pencil
Beads
Buttons
Sequins

Cut out a circle of fabric (you can draw around something circular to help)

Thread your needle in a matching colour (I used a contrasting colour so you could see what I am doing … Plus I wanted a contrast to sew the button on with.)

Tie a knot in the end of your thread.

Now… Think like a pixie …
Sew a tiny little equally sized running stitch around the outer edge, close but not too close as the fabric will fray later.

Go all the way round. As you can see it is pulling together already!

Pull gently on the thread easing the fabric into a gather

This is the part where most people panic and think they have failed! Don’t worry it’s meant to do this!

Flatten out the fabric and keep gently gathering until it is all pulled together as tight as can be. (This will vary deciding on what fabric you use.)

Add an embellishment to the centre. I have used a button here, but they look really nice with beads and sequins too! It’s all down to playing, experimenting and having fun!

My website!!!

I really am getting into this whole world of technology! So much so that I have my own website 🙂

Selina Green Crafts

I am transferring my free patterns onto there and will be putting lots of new tutorials on too.

I will not charge for my tutorials, however, there is a donation button which will help to keep my pattern and tutorials free. Any kind donations will be much appreciated, just donate what you feel they are worth. Thank you in advance and happy crafting 🙂

Free crochet flower tutorial

Here is another crochet flower for you to try … A little more complicated than the last free tutorial, but I just love how it is layered. Enjoy!

You will need;
Two different colour wools
3.75 or 4 crochet hook
Scissors

Stitches you need to know;
Slip knot
Chain
Double
Half double
Treble

Make a slip knot

Chain 5 (this forms one treble and 2 chain in the completed circle of crochet)

*Treble into first chain

Chain 2

Repeat from* four more times. Join to third chain stitch from first step with a slip stitch.

Chain 1

*Double crochet over chains into gap

Half double crochet over chains into gap

Three trebles over chains into gap

Half double crochet over chains into gap

Double crochet over chains into gap

Repeat from * in every gap. Join with slip stitch.

Fasten off

Tie in second colour

Flip over flower and work on the back

Slip stitch

*Chain 5

Join to next bar with a slip stitch

Repeat from * all the way round, join with a slip stitch

Working on the right side from now on

Chain 1

*Double crochet over chains into gap

m
Half double crochet over chains into gap

Five treble crochet over chains into gap

Half treble crochet over chains into gap

Double crochet over chains into gap

Repeat from * in every gap, join with slip stitch

It will be all scrunched up like this. DON’T PANIC Just straighten it out.

Weave in all loose ends.

Why not try my free leaf tutorial too.

🙂 Enjoy!

Free crochet flower tutorial

A really easy flower to crochet, it is sooooo quick to make!
Enjoy!

What you will need

2 different colours of wool
3.75 or 4 crochet hook
Scissors

Make a slip knot

Chain 3

15 trebles into first chain

Join 3rd chain with a slip stitch

Fasten off

Tie in second colour wool

*Chain 3

Miss one stitch, slip stitch into second stitch (repeat from * all the way round)

Chain 1

*Double crochet over chains

Half treble over chains

Three trebles over chains

Half treble over chains

Double crochet over chains
Repeat from * in every gap to the end

Fasten off

Free crochet leaf tutorial

This is such an easy pattern… Before you know it you will have a bush!

You will need a small amount of yarn (not necessarily green as autumn is here now :D) Plus a size 3.75 or 4 crochet hook

Make a slip knot

Chain 10

Working in the back of each stitch

Treble crochet into fourth chain from hook

Two more trebles in same stitch

Treble into the back of the next three stitches

Half treble into the back of next stitch

Double into the back of next stitch

Slip stitch into the back of last stitch

Working in the other side

Chain one

Slip stitch into the stitch just created

Slip stitch into the back of next stitch

Double crochet in the back of the next stitch

Half double crochet into the back of next stitch

Treble crochet into the back of the next three stitches

Three treble crochet into the back of final stitch

Slip stitch into same stitch

Chain 4

Slip stitch into the second chain from hook

Slip stitch into the next two stitches
Fasten off
Weave in loose threads

Taaaa daaaaa!

Creative kitties

So I have been crocheting with plenty of kitty cuddles, whilst my partner has been drawing the little critters … I love these drawings hehehe! They really catch their characters!

He has also been busy drawing other art works and this one is my favourite as again, he has caught the subject perfectly!

And last but not least …. BLYTHE! Yay!

Truly amazing!!! Xxx
I think he should offer his skills to the world … Maybe I can encourage him to start blogging?
Why not send us an image?

Granny …. You’re a star!

Picture this …. One kitten in the land of nod on my lap after having an exhaustive wrestle with the yarn, the other kitten sprawled out around my neck purring madly and demanding kisses!

I’m going to try my best to crochet a few stars, photographing each step to give you a free tutorial. Yay!

I intend to sew them all together in a blanket, but you can use them in a variety of ways.

So here goes … Wish me luck!

Make a slip knot

Chain 4

Slip stitch into first chain to create a loop

Chain 3

2 trebles into loop

Chain 3

3 trebles into loop

3 chain 3 trebles … Until you have 5 …. Slip stitch into 3rd chain of first chain three.

Fasten off.

Join 2nd colour

Chain 3

2 treble into gap

Chain three

Three treble into same gap

Chain one … Repeat in next gap

Repeat all around, joining in the same way as before to complete the round … Fasten off.

Join 3rd colour IN POINT OF HEXAGON CREATED

Chain 3

2 trebles into gap … Chain 4

Three trebles into same gap then double crochet into side of hexagons gap.

Treble into next point of hexagon (it looks a little funny, but it does work when all trebles in set are completed.)

Two more trebles to complete set

Chain 4 three trebles into same point.

Double crochet into side of hexagon and repeat all the way round.

At the end of round ….Double crochet third stitch in first chain into flat edge of hexagon.

Tricky to explain so there are a few photos …

Fasten off.

And here is your completed star!

And if that wasn’t tricky enough by having a kitten sleeping on my lap…. Fu decided she would make it more difficult by laying under my arm, then testing how fun the stars are!!!!!!!!

It’s all in a days work

For the past few days I have been having a crochet indulge to say the least! I am finding it a bit tricky to sleep normal amounts at the moment and quite literally I am engrossed in crochet from 7 am until 1 am…. I just can’t put the hook down! My partner fears for his life when he has to ask to do normal daily routines like ‘ can we go food shopping?’ or ‘ can we have tea now … It’s 10pm!’ OOPSY! I turn into a demon or even worse a stroppy teenager!

Friends and family are supporting me in many ways as I mentioned in my post ‘appreciation’ … I have some great requests, and have been going through them merrily!

Teaching friends how to crochet … They are amazing! It started with just two of them and now we have a lovely group on the go! I am so proud of each and every one of them as they have committed to learning, developing and perfecting their new skill. They really have inspired me to be crafty again … Something I lost last year and avoided due to many reasons. I really should photograph their work as they have progressed sooooooo much and are producing really beautiful things!

Making amigurumi ponies

I have made three of these so far … This white and blue one, another one exactly the same only with pink hair and a pink body and pink hair with grey hooves one. I will make another one, a unicorn and possibly a Pegasus too this week. I also intend on writing up a pattern for them (you see I just free form the shapes I like and make it up as I go along!) I hope to sell both in my etsy shop soon 🙂 so watch this space … I will let you know when they are available.

Making amigurumi lions

Rar! I absolutely love him to pieces! He took around 20 hours to make as I kept re shaping him until I was happy and THE MANE!!!! Seriously! That was my life for a whole day! Strand by strand fastening in each one! But it was soooo worth it!

Writing my blog on crochet … Which obviously requires me to make a variety of goodies and then share pictures and tutorials.

Designing and making a beautiful bedding set … Baby Amelia is getting her cot in a few weeks, and in return for Amelia modelling my creations I am making a bedding set including all kinds …
Granny square blanket with scalloped edging
Granny square cushion
Granny square bumpers
Granny square blankey with teddy head
Teddy
Flower garland
Star garland
Tulle canopy
Pom Pom mobile
Patchwork quilt with matching pillow (may have to sneak I some crochet edging! Hehehe!
Matching nappy bag
Matching curtains
Personalised bumper
Patchwork teddy

So far I have completed the top five items and have started the flower garland. I will upload the photos as soon as I have taken them. I may even squueeeezzzzeee in a tutorial on how to make the flowers 🙂

They include …
A variety of crochet baby cardigans … I have shared the pattern free on here, plus I will be selling the finished cardigans on my etsy soon. I will replace this sentence with a link to my shop when it is available.

I have also created new cardigan designs with a matching bonnet, both of which I am writing up 🙂

None of the cardigans have fastenings yet, but they will either have buttons or ribbons to finish the off 🙂

Invisible decrease …. Where have you been all my life?!?!

In the world of the web there are so many hints and tips to stumble upon… And well I have just done exactly that!

I am always bothered by the gaps, slipped stitch or bobble that is left behind after a decrease! I think they look so bad!

But finally I have stumbled upon a way to leave that problem behind!

link to original blog

invisible decrease
this will take you to the website http://www.planetjune.com
These are pictures from the blog and not my own … I hope this is ok blogging etiquette x

Woop woop!
Enjoy! X

Appreciation

It has been a while since I have blogged due to a variety of reasons. Nearly two weeks ago my heart was broken as my darling giant rabbit passed away 😦 I miss her sooooo much and have been trying to deal with our loss xxx

I am sure she didn’t want to leave us and I am sure she had something to do with the coincidental blessing that has happened!

On the very same day we adopted some kittens that were found abandoned in a derelict house. My partners brother and some friends on his street heard the meowing and rescued them from the house, but they couldn’t keep them as they had babies. So our intentions were to take then to the RSPCA in the morning.

Let the fun commence!

Poooooo party! I have never gagged so much in my life! The kitties had really upset tummies and pooped in the carry case… Seriously… How much can a cat poop? We had two chocolate coated kittens in a tiny Toyota yaris … Quiiiiiicccckkkkk …. Windows down and drive faster!

I know that you are not supposed to bathe cats … But seriously, there was no other way!

We made them a play pen so they were not too scared by our huge home.

And then we decided to name them. My partner and I are veggie and the most apt name would obviously be To (pronounced Toe) and Fu … So yes we run around the house calling ‘Tofu’ 🙂

As the kittens were so young we didn’t know the sex, but as they are growing we have a boy (To … The white one) and a girl (Fu … The black one).

Due to the cats being abandoned they were really scraggy 😦 To had really sore scabby skin under his fur on his face, legs and paws. We have treated him and now he is much better with baldy patches, but the fur is growing back 🙂

We did say we would just get them better then take hem to be rehomed, however I think thy have chosen us and they are sooooo loving! When we are upset they purr so loud, the way they look at us it is as if they are saying thank you, or I love you, or it’s ok to be sad… They are our little angels xxxx

I think about our rabbit all the time and miss her dearly, but I have to appreciate the time we had with her and what we have now! When times are tough it is easy to give up, but now its my time to make a change… I can make positive changes, and I have been overwhelmed by the responses I have had to my free crochet patterns! I appreciate all of the positive feedback… The first thing I was floored by was how I got 123 views on ONE DAY!!!!! All over the world!

This is due to the wonderful Janette who shared my pattern on her blog www.greendragonfly.wordpress.com after she had a go at making the cardigans. Really beautiful crochet! Thank you so much Janette!

Yesterday when I couldn’t sleep I checked my etsy and had a browse when I saw that I had my first convo! Woop woop! Colleen shared her beautiful baby set she had created from my pattern! I was over the moon to receive this gratitude and see how I can hav a positive impact on other people … The other side of the world! Truly awe inspiring!

These have sold already … And I’m not surprised! Beautiful! Here is a link to her website, so many beautiful crochet makes!http://www.tricityhokescreations.weebly.com/
And Colleens facebook … https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tricity-Hokes-Creations/281815340083

I feel as if things are on the up for me and I really should embrace everything. I have a few goals and feel that I can achieve everything I put my mind to. I am going to try my hardest to make all I want a reality 🙂 any help or advice wold be much appreciated 🙂

1.) to share my creativity.
I was a textiles teacher in a secondary school, and I love all things craft! I wish to teach adults how to crochet, knit, sew, embroider, and be all round creative geniuses! I also want to share free patterns and tutorials trough the world of blogging.

2.) to sell my creations.
at present I am loving crochet! Friends and family are being really supportive and encouraging me in every way they can! Anything from borrowing babies for photo shoots, to custom requests. I have an etsy shop which has a few Blythe capes on, plus I intend to list some of my crochet creations for babies over the next week or so.

3.) to publish a craft book.
this has always been an ambition of mine! I have nearly 300 craft books. My favourite has to be the Tilda range! I aspire to achieve the same! … This is where I need he most help! Hopefully my blog will eventually get me there!

So in short … This post today is a big thank you to everyone for your ongoing support! I really do appreciate all of you x