Solomon's Knot Cuff

Solomon's Knot Cuff

I won't lie, most of the time when I think of a quick gift; I think of jewelry.  I can't help it, I love picking out all the beads, thread or wire, and clasps.  Each part is a joy.  And usually the moment I finish one, I start another (which is how I have 4 today!). 

The pattern today is written for the silver cuff.  I have notes on how I changed the pattern to get the other 3 versions that I also made, in a craze of making these one afternoon.

Supplies
Croquette by Red Heart, 20 yds 

D/3 (3.25mm) hook
105- Size 8 seed beads
Sewing needle to weave in ends
Stiffy by Mod Podge, fabric stiffener
Plastic plate, paper towels, rust-proof pins, and parchment paper
Box Clasp
Matching sewing thread

Finished Size
8" long by 1.5" wide

Gauge
5 stitch repeats (solomon's knot + dc)= 3"

4 rows = 1.5"

Special Stitches
Solomon's Knot- Pull up a long loop around 0.5" long, pinch at bottom to not lose long loop, yarn over and pull through loop on hook, insert hook around back loop (single strand of long chain just made), yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook. 

Video Tutorial:


Pattern
Thread on all 105 seed beads

Foundation Row: [Ch 1, make a solomon's knot] twice, [ch 1, slide 3 beads to hook, make a solomon's knot (locking in beads on back loop)] 7 times, [ch 1, make a solomon's knot] twice, turn. (11 solomon's knots)
Row 1 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as a dc), [make a solomon's knot, skip next solomon's knot, dc in next ch] twice, [slide 3 beads to hook, make a solomon's knot, skip next solomon's knot, dc in next ch] 7 times, [make a solomon's knot, skip next solomon's knot, dc in next ch] twice, turn. 
Rows 2-4: Ch 3, [make a solomon's knot, skip next solomon's knot, dc in next dc] twice, [slide 3 beads to hook, make a solomon's knot, skip next solomon's knot, dc in next dc] 7 times, make a solomon's knot, skip next solomon's knot, dc in next dc, make a solomon's knot, skip next solomon's knot, dc in top of tch, turn. 
Do not fasten off after Row 4

Side
Turn cuff 90 degrees to begin working over ends of Rows

Row 1: Ch 1, 10 sc evenly around row ends, turn.
Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.
Row 5: Sl st in each sc across, fasten off.

Opposite Side

Join yarn with sl st to opposite end. Repeat directions for side.

Weave in all ends.

Finishing
On plastic plate, mix 1 tablespoon of fabric stiffener with 1 tablespoon of water. Place cuff in stiffening mixture, be sure to completely soak the fabric.
Gently pat off excess stiffener with paper towels.
Lay parchment paper on blocking board, pin cuff to finished size.  Be sure to not over stretch and of the solomon's knots. 
Allow to completely dry.
Sew box clasp to cuff with matching sewing thread.

Option 1
Gold Wire Version

Supplies
28 gauge gold plated wire
3-eye magnetic slide clasp
6 gold jump rings
bent nosed pliers

Pattern
Follow pattern as directed with crocheting the side panels. Do not use fabric stiffener. Attach clasp to cuff with jump rings and pliers.


Option 2
Copper Thread Version

Supplies
Veil by Willow Yarns, Size 10 crochet thread, 20 yds
(45) Size 8 seed beads
Extra piece of wire

Pattern
Follow pattern above except you do not need to pre-string on any beads.
Instead bead crochet on one bead at each double crochet (in the rows) or chain (on the foundation).  To do that: Thread bead onto free loop before completing the stitch.  I used a folded piece of wire to get the bead onto my free loop.

Video Tutorial (I am adding beads to the solomon's knot here, but you do the same thing for adding them to the double crochet)



Option 3
Gold Wire beaded Version

Supplies
28 gauge gold plated copper wire
(200) size 8 seed beads.
Beading needle
3-eye magnetic slide clasp.

Pattern
Complete pattern without any beads and without the sides.  Bead weave on beads around edge.  Attach clasp with 2 beads for each eye.  Do not use stiffener on wire. 

Video on how to bead weave on the beads on the side of the Cuff:




Looking for other fun quick projects this holiday season?  Be sure to check out my friend, Marly Bird, and her 24 Days of Quickies.

Also, be sure to Watch Marly and I chat about the project over on her You Tube Channel.  We chat (and giggle) a lot!  I surprised her with my very festive outfit.  I love making her laugh!

Mini Crochet Hats

Mini Crochet Hats

It's that time of year again when your list of gifts to give get longer and your time to make something gets smaller.  I love making things for everyone on my list, but I know I can't get them all done.  That's when I grab my crochet hook and try to whip up something fun and that is also quick.  This year I have a few gifts that I made and can share with you.  

First up are these very simple Mini Crochet Hats.  They can be used for ornaments, gift tags, gift card holders, or even as a doll hat. 


Supplies
-Worsted Weight Acrylic Yarn (I used mini balls from Knit Picks Brava), 22yds total  (8 yds of the Main Color, 6 yds of Color A, 4 yds of Color B and C)
-I/9 (5.5mm) hook
-Yarn Needle
-Scissors

Finished Size
Around 2" wide and 3" tall

Gauge
Not critical, if yours is larger or smaller it still will be cute!

Pattern
Make an adjustable ring with Main Color.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 8 sc in ring, pull ring closed, sl st to first sc, do not turn. (8 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 2 hdc in each sc around, sl st to first hdc, do not turn. (16 hdc)
Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in next hdc, *2 dc in next hdc, dc in next 3 hdc; repeat from * around to last 2 sts, 2 dc in next hdc, dc in last hdc, sl st to top of beg ch-3, do not turn. (20 dc)
Rnd 4: Ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in each dc around, sl st to top of beg ch-3, fasten off main color. (20 dc)
Rnd 5: Join Color A with a sl st in any st, ch 1 (does not count as a st), hdc in same st as join, hdc in each dc around, sl st to first hdc, fasten off A. (20 hdc)
Rnd 6: Join Color B with a sc in any st, sc in each hdc around, sl st to first sc, fasten off B. (20 sc)
Rnd 7: Join Color C with a sc in any st, sc in each sc around, sl st to first sc, fasten off C. (20 sc).

Finishing
Weave in all ends
Make 1.5" pom pom with Colors A, B, and C
Sew pom pom to top of hat


Want to make these in person with me?  I am teaching Learn to Crochet Top Down Hats at the Mt Lebanon Library this Saturday at 10:30am.  It is part of my current series of classes on Learn to Crochet.  All you need is basic knowledge of how to single crochet and double crochet.  I bring the yarn and hooks.  Registration is at their website.

Looking for this hat in Adult and Child size?  Come back next week for the pattern.


Looking for more quick gifts?  Check out my wonderful friend, Marly Bird, and her 24 Days of Quickies.  And come back tomorrow for another quick gift from me!  You can also check out Marly Bird's Facebook Page where we will be chatting about my next quick gift tomorrow at noon. 

Holiday Fun: Dalhousie Snowflake

What truly is the difference between crochet snowflakes and crochet flowers?   Not a lot to be honest.  Both are made the same way starting in the center and working out, and both are usually either 6 or 8 petals/ points.  All are used as decoration, jewelry, embellishments.  I love them both, so naturally why not combine the two?

Today's snowflake is a hybrid of a three dimensional flower and a simple snowflake.  I like the idea of having some depth to the snowflake, especially if it is used as an ornament on a tree.  This snowflake I am using as a quick gift by hot gluing it onto a headband for a festive accessory.   Try mixing color on each round for some very colorful motif.  These would also make great pins or gift tags.  Best part is they take less then an hour to completely finish.

Dalhousie Snowflake

popcorn: 5 treble crochet into stitch indicated, remove hook, insert hook into the top of the first treble, place free loop on hook and pull through first treble.

Make an adjustable ring (or magic loop)
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 12 sc in ring, sl st to first sc, pull ring closed, do not turn.
Rnd 2: *Ch 3, popcorn in next sc, ch 3, sl st in next sc; rep from * around, fasten off. - 6 popcorn.
Rnd 3: Join yarn with sl st to top of popcorn, *ch 9, sl st in top of next popcorn; rep from * around, do not turn or fasten off. - 6 ch-9 sps.
Rnd 4: *Ch 4, (sc, ch 4, sc) in
ch-9 sp, ch 4, sl st in next sl st; rep from * around, fasten off and weave in ends.

note: Looking for some more drama in this snowflake?  Try making the popcorns with double treble crochets instead for even more popping texture.  Rather less dimension?  Then try substituting a 3 double crochet cluster for the popcorn.  I think you will find the experiment very fun either way you choose.

Are you in the need of other crochet patterns for gifts?  Then please check out my Crochet By Faye Patterns.  They are all on sale for 50% off for a limited time.  No coupon needed.

Holiday Fun: Leander Snowflake

I am great at procrastinating.  I could win metals.  Seriously, if there is a deadline, you can believe me that I will with every intention start way in advance and find a way to procrastinate until the last second.  Hopefully you are not like me, but in case you are, I will be posting a little series this holiday on quick gifts and notions you can make in one night.  Perfect for those teacher gifts when you realize at 9pm that tomorrow is the last day before the holiday break (yup, that's me!).  Or when you get a facebook reminder at 8am that its your friends birthday today and you are seeing her for lunch at 1pm (again, me).  Or when suddenly its the day before your big Hanukkah/ Christmas party and you have no decorations anywhere (again, us).   Hopefully, the series will be perfect for me too, so that in the end I will have all those gifts I so badly need on hand!

Today I have a snowflake pattern for you that is perfect for quick jewelry (like earring or a necklace) or strung together to make a cute banner or starched for a great ornament.  It is one of my favorite because all the loops are simple chains and it flies off your hook.  Hope you enjoy!

Leander Snowflake

Ch 9, sl st to first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 23 dc in ring, sl st to top of tch, do not turn.  (24 dc)
Rnd 2: *[Sl st, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch, ch 6, sl st in 5th ch, 2 tr, ch 7, sl st in 7th ch, ch 9, sl st in 9th ch, ch 7, sl st in 7th ch, 2 tr, ch 5, sl st in 5th ch, ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch, ch 1, sl st] all in next dc, sl st to next 3 dc; rep from * around, fasten off. (6 petals)

ch- chain
sl st- slip stitch
dc- double crochet
tr- treble crochet

Note: not all picots (ch, then sl st) are the same.  I encourage you to try changing how and where you slip stitch to check out the results.  Placing the slip stitch in the back ridge of a chain make a perfect bump in the chain.  Placing the slip stitch in the front loop of the chain makes the chain lay flat, Placing the slip stitch in the front loop plus a strand of the post of the previous stitch makes the picot attached to the stitch.  All are very cool and worth to test out.  No way is one better then the other, just pick your favorite and have fun!

Looking for more snowflakes?  I have a bunch in my book Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia.  
Looking for ideas on transforming these to jewelry?  You can check out my Annie's class, Learn to Crochet Jewelry for ideas for jewelry and beyond.