How to crochet a beaded medallian

I love to use this pattern for my necklaces.  You can use any kind of chain you desire, or crochet a simple single crochet chain and attach the jump rings and lobster clasp (for closing the necklace)


Materials

• Size 10 crochet thread in desired color
• Size 7 (1.65 mm) steel crochet hook
• Sewing thread to match crochet thread
• 10 small pearls or beads
• Beading needle
• At least 16-inch length of chain
• Jump rings
• Lobster clasp (for closing the necklace)
• Glass button (optional)
• Straight-nosed pliers and wire cutters

Gather your materials.

Begin by threading 10 pearls or beads onto your crochet thread.

If your beads don't have holes large enough for the crochet thread to pass through, use a beading needle to thread them onto sewing thread that matches your crochet thread. You'll hold the sewing and crochet thread together when you get to the beading round (round 4).

Crochet the motif according to the pattern below. Before beginning round 4, grab the beaded thread (if using) and hold it together with the yarn. Turn the work before you start round 4, since the beads will fall to the back of the stitch (the right side of the medallion).

Medallion Pattern
(Note: This pattern uses standard crochet abbreviations For an explanation of "bdc" [beaded double crochet], see the photo in the next step.)

Ch 4, join with a sl st to form ring.
Round 1 (RS): Ch 2, 10 hdc in ring, join with a sl st to first hdc—10 hdc.
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each hdc around, join with a sl st to first hdc—20 hdc.
Round 3: Ch 6 (counts as dc, ch 3), *sk next hdc, (dc, ch 3) in next dc; rep from * around, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beginning chain, TURN—10 dc, 10 ch-3 sps.
Round 4 (WS): Sl st to ch-3 sp, (ch 2, bdc, ch 2, sl st) in same ch-3 sp, (sl st, ch 2, bdc, ch 2, sl st) in each ch-3 sp around; join with a sl st in first ch-2—10 "petals."

Weave in the ends. Sew an antique glass or pearl button to the center, if desired.

To make a beaded double crochet: yarn over, insert hook through ch-3 space, and draw up a loop. Yarn over and draw yarn through the first 2 loops on your hook. Slide one bead up to the back of your crochet hook, yarn over, and draw through the remaining 2 loops on your hook.

Once you've completed the motif, fasten off and weave in the ends. Sew an antique glass button to the center of the motif, if desired. You might also want to block or starch the motif.

For Standard Abbreviations see http://jgcrochetcreations.blogspot.com/2011/04/crochet-thread-information.html located at the bottom of the page.

Thank you, If you have any questions please feel free to ask me.

Crochet Thread Information

Crochet Thread Information.  This has always been a confusing issue for me.  I found this article that explains it all.  I hope this is useful for you.
Thread Terminology

Mercerized

Thread has undergone a process making it stronger and giving it a luster.

Boilfast

The color will not run or fade in hot water.

Ply

The number of units or cords that have been twisted together to make a single strand. The weight will signify the thickness of the strand, such as #10 to #70 or even #100. The larger the number the finer the thread.

Thread Varieties

Knit Cro-Sheen

Generally a 4 ply tightly twisted thread. It's about a size 10 or a bit larger. Has been widely interchanged for size 10 threads. Some suggestions for usage are shawls, blouses, dresses, bedspreads, curtains and lace trims.

Metallic Knit Cro-Sheen

A 4 ply thread with one strand of mylar. It does offer quite a variety of colors, such as white and gold, gold on gold, green and red, white and red, white and silver etc. It's great for thread ornaments, doilies, sweaters, blouses and fashion accessories.

Speed Cro-Sheen

An 8 ply, firmly twisted thread, about a size 3. It's great for bedspreads, tablecloths, placemats and fashion accessories.

Bedspread Weight Cotton

Is a 4 ply, very firmly twisted thread. It's commonly called a size 10 thread. It's excellent for bedpsreads, tablecloths, place mats, trims and doilies. For most of my patterns I use a size 10 thread.

Perle Cotton

A 2 ply, loosely twisted cotton thread with a very high sheen. It is comparable to a size 5 thread. It's great for vests, blouses, trim and flowers.

Tatting-Crochet Cotton

A 3-ply, firmly twisted size 70 thread (can also be finer). It's great for trims, laces, tatted doilies, and the like.

Boucle

A 4-ply stubbed novelty that is loosely twisted and soft. It's an excellent source for making dresses and sweaters and other clothing accessories.

Six Cord Cotton

A 6 ply, very hard thread that comes in size 20, 30 for tableclothes, trim and lace.

Three Cord Cotton

Widely used for tablecloth, trim and lace. Should be available in 10, 20, and 30 weight. It's a 3 ply , firmly twisted fiber.

Lustersheen

A sport weight yarn, that is excellent for vests, blouses, doilies, and the like. It comes in a variety of colors and is comparable to a size 3 or sport weight fiber.

Thread Brands

Aunt Lydia's Crochet Thread

3 ply, size 10 bedspread weight, 100% mercerized cotton.

Aunt Lydia's Denim Crochet Thread

75% cotton and 25% acrylic.

Cebelia Crochet Cotton

An excellent quality, 3 cord, mercerized 100% cotton thread.

Coats Big Ball

3 ply 100% mercerized cotton thread.

Cordonnet

A superior quality, six-cord, mercerized, 100% cotton thread.

DMC Baroque Crochet Cotton

A bedspread weight 100% cotton thread with a soft sheen.

DMC Traditions Crochet Cotton

An excellent quality 100% cotton, Size 10 crochet thread.

Grandma´s Best

100% mercerized cotton thread, bedspread weight, 3-ply.

J & P Coats

Mercerized 100% cotton thread.

Nicola Crochet Thread

Mercerized crochet cotton.

Opera Crochet Cotton

An excellent premium quality crochet cotton, 3-ply, tightly-twisted 100% cotton thread.

Optima Crochet Thread

Mercerized thread.

Regina Crochet

100% Egyptian cotton mercerized.

South Maid Crochet Cotton

100% mercerized for added strength and softness.

Crochet Abbreviations Master List

Following is a list of crochet abbreviations used in patterns by yarn industry designers and publishers. The most commonly used abbreviations are highlighted. In addition, designers and publishers may use special abbreviations in a pattern, which you might not find on this list. Generally, a definition of special abbreviations is given at the beginning of a book or pattern.

Abbreviation	Description		Abbreviation	Description
[ ]	work instructions within brackets as many times as directed		FPdc	front post double crochet
( )	work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed		FPsc	front post single crochet
*	repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed		FPtr	front post treble crochet
* *	repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat from a given set of instructions		g	gram
”	inch(es)		hdc	half double crochet
alt	alternate		inc	increase/ increases/ increasing
approx	approximately		lp(s)	loops
beg	begin/beginning		m	meter(s)
bet	between		MC	main color
BL	back loop(s)		mm	millimeter(s)
bo	bobble		oz	ounce(s)
BP	back post		p	picot
BPdc	back post double crochet		pat(s) or patt	pattern(s)
BPsc	back post single crochet		pc	popcorn
BPtr	back post treble crochet		pm	place marker
CA	color A		prev	previous
CB	color B		rem	remain/remaining
CC	contrasting color		rep	repeat(s)
ch	chain stitch		rnd(s)	round(s)
ch-	efers to chain or space previously made: e.g., ch-1 space		RS	right side
ch-sp	chain spac		sc	single crochet
CL	cluster		sc2tog	single crochet 2 stitches together
cm	centimeter(s)		sk	skip
cont	continue		Sl st	slip sitich
dc	double crochet		sp(s)	space(s)
dc2tog	double crochet 2 stitches together		st(s)	stitch(es)
dec	decrease/ decreases/ decreasing		tch or t-ch	turning chain
dtr	double treble		tbl	through back loop
FL	front loop(s)		tog	together
foll	follow/follows/ following		tr	treble crochet
FP	front post		trtr	triple treble crochet
			WS	wrong side
			yd(s)	yard(s)
			yo	yarn over
			yoh	yarn over hook

Free pattern for fingerless gloves

Totally Love this pattern:  Can't wait to make these :)

Crocheted Lacy Fingerless Gloves Created by
Christie Pruitt

I found this great pattern on www.ravelry.com from one of the members, I just adore. I really enjoy her creativity and wanted to share her free pattern for Lacy Fingerless gloves.  For more information on Christie Pruitt please visit her on Ravelry, free to join for all crochet and knitting lovers alike:   http://www.ravelry.com/designers/christie-pruitt 

Christie Pruitt's Ravelry Downloads

Craft Crochet

Category

Hands → Fingerless Gloves/Mitts

Published

March 2008

Yarns suggested

Bernat Baby Solid

Yarn weight

Fingering / 4 ply (14 wpi)

Gauge

6 stitches and 3 rows = 1 inch in worked over lace pattern

Hook size

3.5 mm (E)

Yardage

200 - 210 yards (183 - 192 m)

Size available 

Small/Medium

Should fit a woman's size Small/Medium

Instructions

Ch 37

Row 1 (Right Side): Dc in fifth ch from hook, *skip next 3 chs, 5 dc in

next ch, skip next 3 chs, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch, repeat from *

across.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn, 2 dc in next ch 1 sp, skip next

3 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next dc, * 5 dc in next ch 1 sp, skip next 3 dc,

(dc, ch 1, dc) in next dc, repeat from * across to last sp, 3 dc in last

sp.

Row 3: Ch 4, turn, dc in first dc, * 5 dc in next ch 1 sp, skip next 3 dc,

(dc, ch 1, dc) in next dc, repeat from * across.

Repeat Rows 2 & 3 seven times or until desired length, ending after

Row 2.

Do not cut yarn. Work a Crab Stitch (reverse crochet) across the top.

Work sc all around both sides and bottom of piece.

Finishing

With Right Sides Together, slip stitch along side of glove for about 1",

leave about a 1

½" opening for thumb. When seaming is complete,

tuck in ends!

Work the 2nd glove the same way

I am going to try this pattern this weekend, and share it with Christie and everyone on my blog.  Please feel free to crochet along with me.

For Download of this pattern in PDF Crocheted Lacy Fingerless Gloves

Hand Crocheted Lacy fingerless gloves created by Christie Pruitt

            

Beginners Crochet, Video Tutorials

  I learned the basic beginners crochet from my Grandmother, when i was just 10 years old.  It was very weird at first, but when i got the hang of it, I really learned to love it.  I used to make just scarves and dishclothes in the beginning and have now moved up to making hats, dresses, tops, afghans, botties, purses and so much more.. the list just goes on.  These Videos are great for teaching children to crochet as well.

 I found this great youtube video for beginner crochet, I think Naztazia did an excellent job at explaining crochet, I hope you enjoy here videos. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/naztazia

In partnership with http://www.allfreecrochet.com - this video is the first of a two-part series designed for the absolute beginner of crochet - as well as crocheters who want to review basic concepts. Topics covered include holding the hook & yarn, chain, single crochet, turning your work and finishing the project. Viewers will also learn how to create an easy dishcloth with this video. For more free crochet patterns, tips and tutorials, please go to http://www.allfreecrochet.com And stop by Donna's website and say hi at: http://www.naztazia.com

                                                                

How to crochet Part 1

How to crochet Part 2

I hope you find these videos as usefull as I did

The History of Crochet

History:

vintage crochet beaded bag



Detail of crocheted
doily,  Sweden

The exact origin and date of crochet is in great doubt. Some believe it goes back to before the time of Christ, but there is no record of this form of needle art before the 1800's and it was not until the 1840's that written instructions began to be published. Crochet has been handed down from generation to generation through family and friends and from what I understand in the early years, without written patterns. It was very common to work directly from a picture of the finished work or from a sample of crochet. Have you ever tried to crochet a pattern from the 1800 or 1900's and found that most of the directions seem to be missing? Needlework was taught to the young women in school from the early 1800's through the early 1900's. The women of that time knew what the publishers meant because they were all too familiar with crochet instructions from their needlework classes. Thus, publishers didn't think they needed to put all that extraneous stuff in the written instructions. Have you ever wondered why most crocheters hold their hook like a pencil? At that time it was thought that it gave the lines of the hand a more feminine and graceful look. Now they are discovering that if you hold your hook in the palm of the hand it cuts down on carpal tunnel problems.
Did you know that if the piece being crocheted was not worked in the round in other words worked from row to row, that at the end of each row the thread was broken and retied to the beginning of the row? The backs of the stitches were never meant to be seen and were viewed as crude. In some of the old Victorian patterns you might find directions that tell you to work one pattern using loose crochet and another pattern using tight crochet. Now days all patterns come with a specific tension requirement and are largely dependent upon the crochet hook if done properly. Stitches in that time were generally crocheted into the back loop of the stitch. It was a method that was taken for granted during that time period. Now it is the accepted practice to crochet a stitch using the front and the back loop of each stitch.

Crochet began as a cottage industry in Ireland with a lace called Irish crochet or guipure lace. In the mid 1800's it became a large industry because of the need of the people to supplement their income due to the great potato famine of that time. It has been suggested that four Irish nuns who were trained in a French convent introduced crochet to Ireland. It was a common practice in that time for each person to become skilled in making one thing and one thing only, such as a leaf or a flower. Another person would then crochet the different motifs together using a background stitch. If you have ever tried to crochet an Irish crochet pattern you can understand why it becomes such a difficult and tedious a project. The people who crocheted the Irish laces were truly masters of their craft. They didn't have radio, television, or even access to very many books during this time in history. This contributed to their ability and desire to focus on such an intricate and elaborate art and create such finely detailed work.

It is still a cottage industry in some countries such as India, Greece, Italy, and some Asian countries.

For a more detailed history please read "Crochet History & Technique" by Lis Paludan.
It is a fabulous book. I recommend it highly.

Steel Crochet Hooks

Crochet Hook Comparison Chart

Crochet hook sizes differ depending on country, the brand of hook
and even can depend on the age of the pattern.

Crochet Hook Conversion Chart Metric USA UK 2.00 mm - 14 2.25 mm 1 / B 13 2.50 mm - 12 2.75 mm C 11 3.00 mm - 11 3.25 mm D 10 3.50 mm 4 / E 9 3.75 mm F - 4.00 mm 6 8 4.25 mm G - 4.50 mm 7 7 5.00 mm 8 / H 6 5.50 mm 9 / I 5 6.00 mm 10 / J 4 6.50 mm 10 1/2 / K 3 7.00 mm - 2 8.00 mm - 0 9.00 mm 15 / N 00 10.00 mm P 000 15.75 mm or 16mm Q -

Steel Hook Chart (thread hooks) Metric USA UK .6 mm 14 6 .75 mm 13 - .70 mm 12 5 .8 mm 11 - 1 mm 10 4 1.15 mm 9 - 1.25 mm 8 3 1.50 mm 7 2.5 1.6 mm 6 - 1.7 mm 5 - 1.75 mm 4 2 1.85 mm 3 - 1.95 mm 2 - 2 mm 1 1 2.25 mm 0 00 3 mm 00 -

how to make a Pom Pom

Pom Poms are fun and Easy to make all you need is some yarn and scissors. Follow these four easy steps to complete your Pom Pom, to make a smaller pom pom use two fingers instead of three.

Step 1. Wrap your yarn around three fingers about 100 times

Step 2:  Slide Bundle of yarn off your hand, be careful to keep bundle in the same postition

Step 3.  With the same color of yarn, about 5 inches in length, tie bundle tightly together in the middle

Step 4:  Cut all the loops on the bundle, then trim it to shape

I hope this helps for making a pom pom with yarn.  To make a fuller pom pom wrap more yarn around your fingers.  Pom Poms make great accessories for hats and baby items. 

Newborn to 3 months baby blue cardigan and by jgcrochetcreations

Newborn to 3 months baby blue cardigan and hat by jgcrochetcreations

Check out my newest item on Etsy... Very cute baby blue Cardigan and hat with pom pom.  this set would make a perfect baby shower gift.  Made with Ultra soft Baby yarn, has one large button, securely attatched to front of cardigan. 

Some of my favorite links for free crochet patterns

If your looking for some excellent sites for beginners crochet patterns or just looking for some new patterns.. I have created a list of some of my favorite sites with a full range of Free crochet patterns.. Enjoy

One of the best places to find any crochet pattern you need:  Crochet Pattern Central visit site:
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory.php


For wonderful selections of Baby, infant and toddler patterns try Annies Attic ( Highly Recommend)
http://www.anniesattic.com/

I use this site a lot for free crochet patterns, many are up to date and you can find lots of great gift ideas
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/

If you know of any other Free crochet pattern sites, please let me know and i can add it to my list.
Thank you
Jennifer C.

SPRING SALE.. save 10% on any item from my etsy shop

Spring Sale... Save 10% on any of my handmade shop items on Etsy.com just put SPRINGSALE2011 at checkout for your immediate savings..




I Crochet. I love it! I have made baby clothes and accessories for family and friends for many years, I have just recently started working on my Etsy shop. If you are interested in any of my items, they are for sale now at http://etsy.com/shop/jgcrochetcreations