Free Pattern: Easy Beginner Felted Crocheted Practical Momma Messenger Bag

Free Pattern: Easy Beginner Felted Crocheted Practical Momma Messenger Bag

The finished product!

Before felting it looks huge. It shrinks about 30%, don’t worry.

After searching for months in many stores for a purse I liked I came up with nothing. My requirements for an everyday bag are a long strap I can wear across my body, a pocket for lip gloss and debit card, big enough for a whole bunch of junk, and it has to be under $20. I hate silly frilly designer bags so I rebelled my making my own bag. It took about three days of working on it but it will last a long time so I think the time investment was worthwhile.

I used a sz J crochet hook and about 2.5 skeins of worsted weight Nature Spun by Brown Sheep Co. I used my favorite colors in a random stripe pattern but the pattern is written for a solid color. If you want stripes I’m assuming you know how to change colors. Deal?

Start by Chaining 50+3 for turning chain.

Row 1: Work 50 dc sts across including turning ch.

Row 2-14: Repeat row 1. After completing 14th row ch 75+3 for turning ch.

Row 15: Dc across 75 st + original 50, 125 sts total.

Row 16 and 17: Repeat row 15. This is half the strap of your bag.

Row 18: Ch 3 and dc across next 49 st. Ch 30+3 for turning chain. You are working on the flap of purse now.

Row 19-43: Ch 3 and dc in next 79 sts. 80 sts total.

Row 44: Ch 3 and dc in next 49 sts. Then ch 75+ 3 for turning ch.

Row 45-47: Ch 3. Dc across 75 st + original 50, 125 sts total.

Row 48-60: Ch 3. Dc across next 49 sts, 50 sts total.

Now slip st or sew row 60 to row 1 to form the body of your purse.

Next slip st or sew the bottom of the bag closed. Take time to do this step carefully so your coins don’t fall out the bottom.

After you weave in all the ends throw this in the laundry with some jeans or towels you don’t mind getting fuzzy and wash in hot water with detergent. This step may need to be repeated if there are any holes visible in your bag/if you can still see the individual stitches. Reshape bag and let dry. After I felted mine once the strap was 46″ long. The width was 13″ and the height was 12″.

Optional steps: If you have the time you can add a fabric pocket or line the whole thing in a coordinating fabric. Embroidery looks great on the flap and at this point your imagination can go wild.

Send me photos if you make this!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ShannondzikasArtYarnVintage/192564100770141

To see my other projects check out my Etsy store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shannondzikas?ref=si_shop.

Thanks!

Free Crochet Pattern for Felted Funky Owl Toy

Free Crochet Pattern for Felted Funky Owl Toy

Step 1: the idea.

My sons’ birthday is fast approaching and owls make him happy so I sat down and made him a little owl today. It took about 5 hrs total but wasn’t any harder than making a hat.

I used worsted weight wool and a sz J crochet hook. The colors are up to you but I have used a light brown, a dark brown, turquoise, black, and a tiny bit of yellow. If you doubled the yarn and used a bigger hook you could make this a pillow or a cute novelty purse. My finished owl is about 7.5″ tall.

Start at the base of the owl and work up in one body piece then do the eyes and nose separately then sew them on after felting. The buttons in the eyes are not recommended for small kids obviously.

Owl Body

With your dark brown color Ch 4 and sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 3 And do 13 dc stitches in the ring and around your yarn tail. Sl st to connect and you should have a little circle. Pull the yarn tail tight to avoid a hole.

Rnd 2: Ch 3. Make 2dc st in each st around, connect with a sl st to where you started.

Rnd 3: Ch 3. 1dc in first st (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) continue in this pattern to starting point and connect with sl st.

Rnd 4: Ch 3. 1 dc in next stitch (1 dc in next 2 st and 2 dc in the next st) repeat around circle and connect with sl st.

Rnd 5: Ch 3. Sc in each st around. Join with sl st to connect. You should have about 48 stitches now.

Rnd 6: Ch 3. dc in next 17 st. Join light brown and dc next 12 st. Carry dark brown over very loosely and dc in last 18 st. Do not join you will now be working in rows.

Row 7: Ch 3. Turn and dc in next 17 st. Change to light brown, 2dc in next st. 1 dc in each st to last light brown st 2 dc in last light brown st. Change to dark brown and dc in next 18 st.

Row 8-10: Repeat row 7.

Row 11 and 12: Repeat, but decrease instead of increase with dc 2 tog. technique.

Row 13: Ch 3. (Dc in next 4 st then dc 5th and 6th st tog.) Repeat to end.

Round 14: Ch 3. (Dc in next 3 st then dc 4th and 5th st tog.) Repeat to end. Join with sl st to work in rounds again for the head.

Round 15: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 2 st (2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 st) repeat around cir and join with sl st.

Round 16: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 3 st (2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 st) repeat around cir and join with sl st.

Round 17: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 4 st (2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 st) repeat around cir and join with sl st.

Round 18-20: Ch 3. 1 dc in ea. st around. Join with sl st.

Round 21: Ch 3. 1 dc in next 2 st. Decrease every 4th st by dc 2 tog. around and join w sl st. You should have about 40 st total.

Rnd 22: Ch 1. Sc in next 5 st. (Hdc in 7th st. Dc in 8th st. Htc in 9th st. Trc in 10th st. Htc, dc, hdc), sc until the 17th st and repeat pattern. Then sc to end and join with sl st. The bumps are the owls ears and they should be over the 10th and 30th st. Let me know if this is confusing.

Turn inside out and sew or sl st the top of head seam.

Eyes (make 2)

Repeat round one and two of owl body but sc instead of double crochet. Round 3, sc in ea st around with dark brown. Weave in loose ends.

Nose

Ch 6+3 for turning ch. Dc 6 st together. Sew side to form a triangle shape.

Finishing

Put all 4 pieces in a lingerie bag then do your laundry in hot water with detergent. When the buzzer goes off shape all the pieces and assemble. After the eyes and nose are on stuff the owl with poly-fill and then sew the back seam closed.

I can’t wait for my son to unwrap this on his birthday!

Free Pattern for the Badass Corset Laced Easy Crocheted Beanie Hat

Free Pattern for the Badass Corset Laced Easy Crocheted Beanie Hat

Lace up back of beanie through ch 3 loops.

Traditional cloche beanie look in the front.

For this easy one hour hat you just need a worsted or chunky yarn and a sz j crochet hook. About a yard of ribbon or cord is optional. It only uses about half a skein of yarn.

With your main color Ch 5 and sl st to form a ring.

Ch 3 And do 14 dc stitches in the ring and around your yarn tail. Sl st to connect and you should have a little circle. Pull the yarn tail tight to avoid a hole at the top of your hat.

Rnd 2: Ch 3. Make 2dc st in each st around, connect with a sl st to where you started.

Rnd 3: Ch 3. 1dc in first st (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) continue in this pattern to starting point and connect with sl st.

Rnd 4: Ch 3. Dc in each stitch around your circle. Approx 43 st total. If you’re off by a stitch or two don’t worry, keep going. Do not join with a sl st.

Row 5-10: Ch 3. Turn your work to go back and forth now. Dc in each st. across.

Row 11-13: You might want to switch to a contrasting color. Ch 3. Dc in each st across.

Lastly, ch 3 and turn your work to crochet your loops to lace your laces through. (Sc in each dc post, ch 3) repeat around your opening until you get to the opposite side of the hat.

Weave in all of your loose ends.

With a ribbon or yarn etc. lace through your ch 3 loops and your badass beanie is done!

This hat and others are available on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shannondzikas?ref=si_shop

Free Pattern for Felted Twenties Style Cloche Easy and Fast Beginner Crochet Project

If you think you can’t crochet a hat in two hours you are wrong. You can wear this the day after you make it.

For this project Brown’s Lamb’s pride worsted is ideal but a similar wool will work. I used a sz K crochet hook but a J works too. Don’t panic or stress, use what you have.

With your main color Ch 5 and sl st to form a ring.

Ch 3 And do 14 dc stitches in the ring and around your yarn tail. Sl st to connect and you should have a little circle. Pull the yarn tail tight to avoid a hole at the top of your hat.

Rnd 2: Ch 3. Make 2dc st in each st around, connect with a sl st to where you started.

Rnd 3: Ch 3. 1dc in first st (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) continue in this pattern to starting point and connect with sl st.

Rnd 4: Ch 3. Dc in first 2 st (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, 1 dc in the next st) repeat around cir, join with sl st.

Rnd 5: Ch 3. Dc in first 3 st (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 st) repeat around circle and join with sl st.

Rnd 6: Ch 3. Dc in each st and connect with sl st. You should have 75 st or so. No one will notice if you don’t have exactly 75, don’t start all over.

Rnd 7-10: repeat row 6.

Rnd 11: Use contrasting color, ch 1. 15 sc, 5 hdc, 5 dc, 25 htc, 5 dc, 5 hdc, 15 sc, sl st to join. Again, if your numbers are a little different it’s no big deal.

Rnd 12: With main color repeat row 6

Rnd 13: Repeat rnd 11

Rnd 14: Repeat row 12

Rnd 15: Repeat row 11

Rnd 16: Repeat row 12 and knot. Now just weave in your ends and you’re almost done.

Finishing:

Your hat will look huge. This is good. It will shrink by approx. 30% after being felted. Throw your hat in the washing machine with your laundry and wash in hot water with detergent. Your clothes will get fuzzy but the hat needs the agitation of the other clothes in there. When the buzzer goes off pull your hat out of the wash and pull and stretch it into shape (sometimes you have to be kinda rough with ‘em.) Now just let it dry overnight and you have your perfect 20′s cloche!

I sell similar hats on my Etsy page if you like these.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shannondzikas?ref=si_shop

Selling on Etsy for Beginners

Selling on Etsy for Beginners

Have you crocheted more hats than you can wear? Do you trip over paintings you have stacked up against the wall? Is your closet bursting at the seams with vintage clothes? This is how it all starts. I had too much in my small apartment so the night I found Etsy and realized there was actually a market for this stuff I got to work. It’s been five years now and due to recently being fired, my full time job is making, selling and marketing my crafts and vintage clothing.

In this post are some of the things I have learned in my time selling. I made so many mistakes in the beginning that could easily have been avoided with the tiniest bit of research.

I’ll put this in a Do’s and Do Not’s format to make it easy to understand and to prevent me from rambling.

First, DO take the time to read the rules and guidelines. On Etsy you can only sell handmade or vintage items.

Do not waste your money on anything you don’t need in the beginning like avatars, fancy mannequins, a huge inventory etc. Start with what you have and make do until you know if this is a long-term or short-term project. Just start and go from there.

Do take interesting, bright photos on the lightest background in your home at the brightest time of day. Photoshop the photos if necessary, study the photos that get your attention. A good photo is over half the battle. Etsy gives you 5 photo spots, use them all. Take a picture of the back of what you’re selling too.

Do not screw yourself by not charging enough. I used to guess on postage and often guessed wrong. The post office website is very easy to use and very accurate, use it! If you’re trying to figure out how much to charge for a handmade item a good formula is $10/hr + the cost of supplies. I sell hand crocheted hats for $24-$28 because they take about two hours to make and the yarn is between $4 and $8.

Do take advantage of the community forums and blogs. They are chock full of valuable information. Comment on the blogs daily if possible. Join teams of like-minded people. Support others and they’ll support you. There is the concept of “Etsy Karma” I believe in.

Do research your target market. Are you selling to high-end designers or poor college kids? Make sure your prices fit within their budget and that they will be interested in your photos. This concept is key to your success!

Do not make your avatar photo lame! Sorry, this is the first thing people see often and it has to reflect the spirit and quality of your shop. Make it bright, unique, and think about the branding direction you want to go in. Walk 10 ft. away from your computer and see if it stands out to test it.

Do tell the truth in your descriptions. When selling vintage items this is even more important. You want positive feedback from every customer. If a dress has been repaired or you replaced a button, say so.

Do not list items all at once because you’re excited. You will get more exposure if you list one thing a day or so. List your items when your target market is home and awake. I sell to mostly 20 somethings who are awake at night like I am. Weekends are obviously better for sales and listings than weekdays.

Do not worry if you sell in more than one category. You do not need to open multiple Etsy shops. In fact, the opposite is true. It is a good idea to have items listed in different categories because it brings in more traffic. I sell art, knits, and vintage clothing and just have my one shop divided into logical sections.

Do not get discouraged. It can be an emotional roller-coaster online. One day you may set a new sales record and then you might go a month without a sale. Look at the overall picture and not the minute details. It will be slow at first for most people, be patient.

Do your best to make every customer happy but do know that you cannot make everyone happy all of the time. There are cranky and crazy people out there! Accept it.

I am continually learning new things and improving my Etsy shop still.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shannondzikas?ref=si_shop

Find me on Facebook too, ShannondzikasArtYarnVintage

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I fell in love today...with a ball of HOT PINK mohair YARN

I was crocheting with an exceptionally luxurious ball of hand dyed hot pink yarn last night and today. I made two beautiful hats and enjoyed every stitch of them both. This one special skein may have changed my life, I must have more ASAP! It's made by JJ's Specialty Yarns of New Zealand and the colorway is named, Fireball. I'm off to explore their website.