Bright Spring Doily for My Dresser

I continue working on clearing out my yarn stash and making things with leftover yarns. 

Here is a bright spring doily that I made with cotton yarn (Grace by Patons) and a size D/3 (3.25 mm) hook. I had small amounts of this yarn left in three colors, which I think go well together.  

I found the pattern (symbol chart) on Pinterest. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough yarn to make the last round. Even so, I like my spring doily.

Free Pattern (Symbol Chart only via Pinterest)

I will keep my new doily on display on my bedroom dresser till summer. Then I will probably make something new. 

I'm linking to Linda's Stash Buster Link Party

Link Your Stuff @ Annamarie's Haakblog

Newborn Hats for Charity

I am working on reducing my stash and since I have a lot of leftover acrylic baby yarn (small amounts left from making bigger projects like blankets and baby dresses), I decided to make a bunch of newborn hats to donate.

I have made tons of baby hats before, but this is yet another new pattern.

I like the ribbed texture it has. It can be made in one color, or a multitude of colors. 

I've made half a dozen hats so far. But there is still so much yarn left. I will be making more! 

Charity Newborn Hat Crochet Pattern

Small Doily Free Vintage Pattern

Very easy doily pattern. And yet, I managed to make a mistake!

I noticed it just now, looking at the photo. I don't think I would've noticed it from the doily itself.

There are only eleven rounds, and it took me about forty minutes to make the doily this morning. 

I used size ten cotton thread and a 1.25 mm steel hook. My doily came out ten inches in diameter. 

Rnd 1: Ch 7, sl st in first st to form a ring. Ch 1, 12 sc in ring. 

Rnd 2: Ch 5 (for a dc and ch 2), dc in next st, * ch 2, dc in next st, repeat from * around, join last ch 2 to third st of first ch 5. 

Rnd 3: Ch 7 (for a dc and ch 4), dc in dc, * ch 4, dc in next dc, repeat from * around, joining last ch 4 to third st of first ch 7. 

Rnd 4: Ch 9 (for a dc and ch 6), dc in dc, ch 6, dc in next dc, repeat from * around, joining last ch 6 to third st of first ch 9. 

Rnd 5: Ch 16 (for a dc and ch 13), dc in dc, * ch 13, dc in next dc, repeat from * around, and join last ch 13 to third st of first ch 16. 

End 6: Sl st in each of first 2 sts, ch 3 (for first dc), dc in each of next 3 sts, * ch 7, dc in each of next 4 sts of same lp, ch 3, sk 2 sts of next lp, dc in each of next 4 sts, repeat from * around, end with a ch 2 and hdc in top of first ch 3 made. This brings thread in position to begin next rnd. 

Rnd 7: Ch 5, * (4 dc, ch 7, 4 dc) in lp between dc groups below, ch 2, dc over ch 3 below, ch 2, repeat from * around, end with a ch 2, sl st in third ch of eh 5 first made. 

Note: Thread over hook 4 times for a tr tr in next round. 

Rnd 8: Ch 9, * 5 dc over ch 7 lp, ch 3, (tr tr, ch 9, tr tr) in dc, ch 3, repeat from * around, end with a ch 3, tr tr at base of ch 9 first made, ch 9, sl st in 6th ch of ch 9 first made. 

Rnd 9: Sl st in each of 3 sts and first dc of 5 dc group, * sc in each of next 3 dc, ch 4, dc in sccond st of ch 9 below, (ch 1, dc in next st) 6 times, ch 4, sk first dc, repeat from * around, end with a ch 4, sl st in first sc made. 

Rnd 10: Sl st to middle of next sc, ch 4, * dc over ch 1 sp between dcs, (ch 5, dc over next sp) 5 times, ch 4, sc in middle sc of 3 sc group, ch 4, repeat from * around, join at beginning. 

Rnd 11: Sl st to center of lp between 2 dcs, ch 11 (for a dc and a ch 8), * dc in each ch 5 sp with ch 8 between, ch 2 between each scallop, repeat from * around, join and fasten off. Block and shape. 

Crochet Pink Lace Summer Dress

I had wanted a crochet lace dress for a long time. Some day, I thought, I will make myself a gorgeous dress! 

But crocheting a dress is not an easy project. I never really got to it. Springs and summers were passing by, and I was telling myself: some day...

Then last month, I was browsing Etsy and came across a beautiful pink dress; I instantly fell in love with it.

I bought it the same day, and here it is!

This dress was designed and made by Marina Tsareva, who lives in Ukraine. The dress is made of mercerized organic cotton.

It is a pricey dress, but I thought it's okay to splurge on myself once in a while. 

Besides, knowing that my money went to a talented and hardworking woman in Ukraine (which is my native country, so I know firsthand how hard life is there) actually makes me feel good and happy!

Please, visit Marina's Etsy Shop simply to admire her work and perhaps give her beautiful creations a like or two, so that more people can learn about her amazing work. But be warned that just like me, you might see something you won't be able to walk away from. 

As for me, I cannot wait for spring, so I can wear my lovely dress. 

Thank you Marina!