I Love Crochet

Hello friends!
I hope you've all been having a lovely weekend :-)
I have! I attended my lovely friends' wedding and it was gorgeous :-) Yay for love!
I crocheted the love heart pictured above using this sweet pattern that I came across while browsing on Pinterest :-) I have made a few since in various colours :-) And I attached one to a card for my Valentine :-) Ooooh!

xo Shara

Xmas Design POP!

Yes, we're doing it again! We're having another Pop Up Shop in the Nicholas Building in Melbourne.

It's going to be running for 3 days, Thursday 8th December, Friday 9th December & Saturday 10th December. So come along to the Nicholas Building, Level Two, cnr Swanston St & Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Here are some of the items you'll be able to find at my stall :-)

Crochet Chain Link Necklace Tutorial

Hello friends!

I have had many, many requests for a How-To tutorial so others could make a Crochet Chain Link Necklace, so I thought I ought to do it :-) These necklaces are simple, pretty & even practical, yep, they're baby proof!

So here's what you need to know to make yourself a Crochet Chain Link Necklace:

What you need:

90m (100yds) DK weight cotton (approx)

4mm (US#6) crochet hook

Wool Needle to weave in ends

Scissors

Gauge:

Gauge (or tension) is not really important for this pattern. Although if you work in a slightly tighter gauge than normal for this project the links of your chain will hold their shape better :-)

Abbreviations:

Ch = chain

sl st = slip stitch

dc = double crochet (sc = single crochet, if using U.S. crochet terms)

yrh = yarn round hook

Pattern:

-Ch 20, join with sl st to form ring, taking care not to twist your sts.

-Ch 1, dc (sc) in each st for 4 rounds.

-Now you will be joining the working edge of your work (top) to the foundation ch (bottom). To do this insert your hook into the next st, then through the bottom loop of the foundation ch that is directly below it (see image above).

-Now yrh, pull through all sts on hook (that was a sl st), now repeat these steps to the end, joining your link together.

-Now you will need to weave in the tail that is remaining (see pics above) (You might be tempted to leave weaving in all the "tails" until you have completed all the chain links, but trust me it is MUCH easier to weave them in as you go :-)

-Now you will roll the sl st join into the centre of your link, and gently squeeze your link to get it into a nice shape. (See pic above)

- Now you will be making your 2nd link, through your first link. Ch 20, join with a sl st to form a ring around your first link (see pic above), complete this link as you did for your previous link.

- Keep adding new links in this way until your necklace is at the desired length.

- When your necklace is at the desired length, "close" your necklace by making one last link between the first link and last link, finish this link as before. Voila! you have finished making your amazing new necklace!!

Of course, you can use different weight yarn if you would like. It's easy, if you're using a heavier weight yarn you might like to start off your links with fewer chain stitches, if you're using a lighter weight yarn you might like to use more chain stitches to create your links. And you don't have to use cotton yarn, you can use anything that you have at hand, or maybe treat yourself to a specialty luxury yarn. Experiment & have fun!

Below are some pictures of other chain link necklaces I have made using various weight yarns & various fibres :-)

Cherry Cotton 4 ply

Saffron Cotton 4 ply

Midnight Wool with silver beads

Noro Sock Yarn

© Copyright Shara Lambeth Designs 2012. Copyright remains that of the author at all times. The pattern is for personal use only. Reproduction of this pattern in anyway (electronic, email, photocopying, transcribing etc) is strictly prohibited, except with the explicit permission of the author. Please do not sell the pattern or the finished product that is made using this pattern without permission of the author, as this is a direct infringement of the copyright laws protecting this pattern. Also please be aware that copyright laws vary from country to country (sometimes even from state to state), I am Australian, in Australia, therefore my patterns are protected by Australian copyright laws. This copyright protection still stands no matter what country the item is made in or who makes it. Thank you :-) 

Returned After a Little Break

Hello friends! I've missed you! I know, I know, it's been a long time since I updated my blog. I've been extremely busy (and most of it's been "good busy" :-)

I went away for a little holiday with one of my nephews, to Wilsons Promontory (in Victoria, Australia). We camped at the beach. Thankfully the weather was pretty good. It only rained a few times (yep, our tent leaked) I'm sure it would have been a funny sight seeing me in my leopard print pyjamas, in the pouring rain and howling wind, trying to fix our tent at 1am. Hehehe.

We did lots of swimming in the ocean, and the river. Archer, my nephew got bitten on the toes TWICE by bullants (ouch!!). We saw lots of extra hairy black possums, lots of beautiful birds (the Fairy Wrens are my favourite), a snake, lots of lizards, and lots of wombats!
In fact a wombat even broke into our tent! I was most unimpressed but Archer was thrilled (hehehe). I thought I had been so vigilant , going through all the pockets and bags, to make sure we hadn't accidentally left any food in our tent which might result in a wombat breaking in to snack on it... But I accidentally left an empty muesli bar wrapper in the tent and that's what he broke in for :-( Hehehe.

While I was away I got lots of ideas sketched in my book, and turned quite a few of those into reality in the form of more new laser cut jewellery!! So in the next few days and weeks you should be seeing some more new products landing in my Etsy store HERE (and some previews here on the blog :-)

Chat soon! xox

Owl Laser Cut Brooch

Hoo-hoot!

This sweet little owl will be happy perched upon your shirt, whispering wise words all day long :-)

This brooch is laser cut from sustainable Rimu wood and has a silver tone brooch pin at the back. He is from the same series as the other creatures: FOX , BIRD, DACHSHUND

This Owl and his friends can all be found in my Etsy store HERE and my DaWanda store HERE

Something new!

Something new is on it's way and this time it's for the kids!! Stay tuned :-)

Roller Skating Peacocks and a Busy Week

I have had a great week, including being featured on the gorgeous Calico & Co blog HERE, and I've been very busy working on the prototypes for a new project, a new direction that my work has taken. I'm feeling confident and hope it all works out, and of course, if it does, I'll show you all here on my blog.

In the meantime I thought I would talk about some of the clothes I have been making using rescued, recycled, upcycled and reused fabrics.

I made this top using a combination of fabric that I rescued from a fabric factory before it was sent to landfill (phew!) and some thrifted fabric. I really love the patterns and colours and wished I had more of these fabrics, but this was it. SO this is the only top that will include these patterns. I'm hoping I might JUST have enough left to make a baby top or perhaps some pants.

Both these fabrics are buttery soft cotton/elastine blends, so they have great stretch and recovery as well as being breathable and super soft :-)

I'm not sure why, but when this piece was finished it made me think of the title: "Rollerskating Peacock". Nope, I don't have an explanation for this name, it's just what popped into my mind :-)

This top can be found in my DaWanda store as well, HERE.

What's coming up on my blog? Well, I have a few more delicious Gluten Free and Fructose Friendly recipes from my successful cooking experimentations. And, with any luck I'll be showing you the results of my prototype experimentations as well!!

Chat soon xox