Hippie Princess Barefoot Sandals
PDF This weekend I met a fellow crafter who pointed me to an FB group called Color Combo Challenge. The current week was almost over when my new friend (you can find her blog, boojayknits, on my blogroll) added me to the group. This week was a really yummy color palette called Royal Rojas. The result was a nifty pair of Hippie Princess Barefoot Sandals!
Hippie Princess Barefoot Sandals
With only two days left of the challenge I really wanted to do something but it seemed I only had chunky yarn and none of it was REALLY the right color. So instead I used some scarlet embroidery thread, buttons stolen from my son's school kit, and some more embroidery thread that I traded my neighbor for. These beauties were the result! Pardon the lack of pedicure, I'm going to paint my nails and wear these for the Memorial Day pool party!
Closeup of the flower power amped up with homey buttons.
Unfortunately, struggles with my crappy phone camera continue. The actual colors are better in the first picture, they're gemlike and absolutely delicious to look at, the phone turned them brown and pale. Ugh. I'm going to make it a priority to get a decent phone.
Pretties!
Glyph out
Crocheting a Beaded Bracelet
I had a simple crochet bracelet in mind, inspired by some polished pink stones that my daughter had gotten on sale a while ago. They've been sitting around collecting dust. Of course, when I found them and asked if I could use them she gave me the hairy eyeball and said 'maybe' before taking them and secreting them in her room. Note to self: next time don't ask!
So, okay, rather than the jute and quartz that I had in mind, I decided to work out the design with what I had to hand: leftover dishcloth cotton and some metallic-looking plastic pony beads that had exploded all over the house from a Christmas gift beading set. I had a little trove of foundling beads up on the bookshelf...collecting dust. (Shoot, I just realized how much dust I have)
Anyway, the test-drive of the design went well so I thought I'd write it up and share how to make your own crocheted beaded bracelet.
Beaded Crochet Bracelet Pattern
(Or headband, or belt, or necklace, purse strap, hackamore headstall, or dog collar...use your imagination and make it whatever size you want)
First make the knotted and beaded foundation:
- Begin with two lengths of yarn or thread about half again as long as you actually need.
- Knot the end (leaving generous tails of unused yarn), leave a space and tie another knot (this should leave a loop big enough to get your crochet hook through multiple times. I made the end loops a little smaller than the ones between the beads)
- Wrap the opposite ends of your yarn or thread with a bit of scotch tape. I couldn't find any scotch tape because the kids always take it so I have wrapped my ends with a small twist of paper. Just make it easy to string the beads on.
- String on a bead and tie a knot right up close to that bead.
- Put a pencil between the two pieces of yarn and make another knot. What you're doing here is making a uniform loop to crochet in later.
- Repeat steps four and five as many times as you need to in order to make the length of bracelet or other item that you want. Knot, loop, knot, bead, knot, loop, knot, bead, etc.
- End with a knot, a loop, and a final knot. Don't cut your ends yet.
Next use the foundation you just made to crochet the rest of the bracelet.
Crochet Pattern:
Ch = chain, SlSt = slip stitch, DC = double crochet (USA)
- Pull up a loop in one of the very end loops that you've made in the foundation, Ch 3.
- DC 2 in the same foundation loop.
- *DC 5 in the next loop on the other side of the bead. Repeat from * to the last large loop between beads.
- DC in the loop on the opposite side of the last bead. Do as many DC's as it takes to go all the way around (it took me 7 DC's in the end loop) so that you're ready to crochet the other side of the bracelet.
- *DC 5 in the next loop on the other side of the bead. Repeat from * to the last large loop between beads.
- DC 4 (or 5 if necessary to get back to your starting point and have a nice flat join) in the last loop and SlSt to the beginning Ch. Finish off.
If making a bracelet as I did, overlap the two ends of the work and pull the long ends of the yarn that you originally had left to the inside of the bracelet. Knot and cut or finish off. Alternatively this would work well with a button, the end loops would make good buttonholes.
Please do not reprint this crochet pattern elsewhere, instead please feel free to link to it here on Near Miscellany. If you make some great variations of this bracelet or use it for something else please do tell about it here in the comments!
Finally! A place to keep my yarn needles.
Enjoy!
Glyph Out