1. Bracelets
I really love bracelets - to wear them and to make them. I always used to make string friendship bracelets when I was younger. Recently, I wanted to make a couple different kinds of bracelets inspired by Pinterest. So I went to the craft store and got a bunch of bracelet making supplies, and this is what happened! They were pretty easy and fast to make- I did them both in one evening.
Strappy Bracelet
The first one is some simple suede craft lace with some long beads on them, two gold ones and a silver one in the middle. I found these end clamps and clasps in the beading aisle of the craft store (along with all the other supplies). I started the bracelet by attaching the clasp to the end clamps with chain links using pliers. I had to add an extra link in the chain between the bar part of the clasp and the clamp so the bar could fit through the hole without the clamp getting in the way.
Next was the colorful part! I picked two strands of each color and used the pliers to clamp the six strings at one end. Then I just put the beads on, cut the strings to be the right length, and clamped them on the other end.
Chain Braid Bracelet
The second bracelet uses the same clamps and clasp, but this time I braided the suede lace and some leathery cords with a chain (inspired by this pin - I might use cotton cord next time I try this).
With the suede and leather cords, this turned out to be a pretty thick bracelet, but I really like it. I did the clamps and clasp the same way I did them on the other bracelet.
2. Snowflakes
Now for some crochet things! During the winter I made some cute snowflakes! I used a typical size 4 white yarn, and I believe it was a 5.5 mm I-hook.
Snowflake/flower #1
I really love this first one. Here is the chart with instructions. I learned how to do a puff stitch for it, which is a super fun stitch! The snowflake starts with a circle of single crochet stitches. The circle is another thing I learned how to do for this. Then the puff stitches, then you circle around twice with chain stitches connecting at various intervals to make the outer shape. It's a square, 2.75" across. If I remember right, I used a 5.5 mm hook, but to make a snowflake that is tighter and more like the pictures in the linked tutorial, I would use a smaller hook, maybe 4 mm or even 2 mm. It still ended up being really cute and puffy! You could even do it in a different color to make it a flower, or make multiple of them and join them together.
Snowflake #2
The second snowflake pattern is from this Picasa album, which also has some other cool-looking ones. They are just in charts, though, no tutorials. This snowflake was a little trickier to make than the other and it turned out kind of wavy instead of flat, but I still like it! It's about 3.5" across, from the tips of opposite ends.
3. Beanie
I made a hat using this pattern with size 4 yarn and an I hook. It turned out alright, really stiff and thick, though. I don't think I'll ever wear it. I don't usually wear hats anyways. But it was fun to make! It was my first time working in the round, and I like how the triple crochet stitches created the spiraling ridges. And the post stitches for the band in front were interesting to learn and created a cool texture.
