When you go shopping for cotton yarn or thread, you may have noticed that sometimes the label says 100% cotton while other times it says 100% mercerized cotton.
So what is mercerized cotton? And why is it important for your handmade projects?
I filmed this short video explaining what mercerization process means and how it affects the final finish of your crochet or knit item.
I often use this type of cotton thread in my projects. By the way, pearl or perle cotton has also gone through mercerization process.
I find that accessories or dressy outfits made from mercerized cotton look particularly good.
Here are the projects where I used this type of thread:
A little story about this granny square pattern, which I have called Auntie Monika’s Granny Squares.
A couple of years ago, I inherited a couple of small handmade items when my Auntie Monika passed away. Among them, there was a set of crochet granny square napkins with a table runner. They were made from a very simple, crude-looking thread.
The set was lying there peacefully in my cupboard until one day I came rummaging around looking for some napkins for my glass dining table.
At first, I couldn’t find anything suitable, but then I noticed Auntie Monika’s set of granny square napkins…
I picked them up and thought to myself they will have to do for now until I find something better…
…and placed them on my glass table.
Suddenly, an unexpected transformation!
These granny square napkins transformed from something ordinary-looking, something I had seen a million times before, to unique table decor enhancing my contemporary and somewhat eclectic setting.
And it didn’t matter that the napkins were about 50 years old, made from the crudest thread you could find.
Suddenly, from an interim fill-in item, Auntie Monika’s granny square napkins transformed into something I absolutely love!
I use them on my glass dining and coffee tables, I use them in my caravan. I use them as napkins for coffee cups as well as for placing hot items such as coffee pots or hot serving bowls.
And a huge bonus to all this experience is that every time I pick up the napkins, I spare a little thought to my auntie Monika, who crocheted these delightful napkins all those years ago.
My auntie didn’t leave the pattern. In fact, crochet and knitting was something she did but didn’t really talk about. For people of her generation, it was something ordinary, something everyone could do, like cooking a meal or weeding one’s garden.
But I think, these delightful granny squares deserve to be shared with the world!
So I reverse-engineered the pattern, wrote it down, took lots of process pictures and am happy to say the pattern is available now!Click HERE.
These granny square napkins are so quick and easy to make. Plus, as any granny square, they have lots of potential uses!
For Step-by-step instructions downloadable PDF pattern:
Materials and Tools used for Monstera Leaves project:
The yarn is 100% mercerized cotton 100g/460m approx.
2. 1mm hook for two larger leaves and 0.75mm hook for the smallest leaf.
You could potentially go up to 1.5mm hook, but anything larger than that, will make the process very difficult as you will be crocheting on a flat surface.
3. Soft worktop or a flat cushion.
4. Pins, scissors, needle.
5. Printer to print out Monstera Leaves drawings.
The way the process works is:
You attach your drawing of a Monstera Leaf to a flat soft worktop (or a cushion).
You crochet irregular Tunisian lace looking at the wrong side of your crochet Monstera leaves. This is the same procedure as in any Irish crochet project when you are working on the lace. Keep attaching your lace to the surface as you go along.
After you have filled the space with the lace, remove your crochet Monstera leaves, turn them around and see the real picture. Finish off the edges, sew in the thread ends. And now repeat the process with two smaller leaves.
Remember to block your Monstera leaves with a steam iron, otherwise your leaves will not be completely flat.
Embroider leaf veins with a contrasting thread using simple running stitch.
Voila!
You’ve got three beautiful crochet Monstera Leaves!
You can make the larger leaves into coasters, use the smaller ones for accessories, such as earrings, or do what I did – create a crochet canvas!
A crochet canvas picture was the first for me. I only bought the canvas in order to have a white background for taking pictures…
But a week later it ended up on the wall!
You never really know which direction your crochet project will take you!
For Step-by-step instructions downloadable PDF pattern:
First things first, I am not really sure I should be calling these Stylized crochet flowers, Peonies. I only called them stylized Crochet Peonies after I’ve crocheted them and could not think of any other flower they resemble. So I went with the name of Peony because I managed to convince myself that they look somewhat like peonies. 🙂
But if you have any other suggestions, let me know!
At the moment I am developing a larger Irish crochet project,
a dress.
Since I want to make this new dress completely my own, I
have to create all design elements from scratch.
These stylized crochet Peony flowers are the first elements I have created for the new dress that’s currently residing in my head.
I thought I’d better share the pattern for the Stylized Crochet Peonies with you now since I have no idea when the completed project will see the light of day! I am sure though, it will take a while…
So if you are interested in these applique peony motifs I have the links to this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy and this website below.
Materials used:
For this flower, I am using thread 100g/ 450m approx. and a 1mm size hook.
I don’t have an exact thread brand, as it’s a thread I’ve had for years
and the label has been lost.
You can use any size of yarn and hook, it all depends on what you want to use the flower for. Just keep in mind that the larger the hook and yarn size, the larger and chunkier the flower will be.
These stylized crochet peonies look really lovely with some color variations:
What can you do with your Peonies?
Here are some suggestions:
Frame them – it’s absolutely wonderful to have an original picture at home, brightening up a dull corner. Those pale pastel colours look really beautiful and go well with so many other interior decor elements.
2. Use the small Peony as an applique décor element on your outfits.
3. Incorporate the stylized peonies into an Irish crochet project – a napkin, picture with lace, cushion cover or a little handbag.
For the purposes of demonstration, I quickly crocheted some lace for the Peonies, so as to give you an idea of how they would look.
Ideally, I should have used a thinner thread for the lace, but as I am travelling at the moment, I have to use the materials I’ve got with me.
So the StylizedCrochet Peonies Flowers pattern is complete and I am off to create another element for my new Irish crochet project.
These barefoot sandals are the latest project in my attempt to show crocheters that you can create quick and easy items using Irish Crochet technique.
After completing my biggest Irish Crochet project to date, a cocktail dress, I have quite a bit of beautiful, high-quality yarn left over. And I really find it hard to look at this gorgeous yarn lying in a box instead of being paraded around for the world to see its beauty.
So my solution – barefoot sandals for a beach or garden party, or simply something small to cheer you up when you need it.
Like my previous basic Irish Crochet project, this one also involves only the most basic Irish Crochet motifs. These barefoot sandals are actually even easier and quicker to make than the choker collar.
Skill level: elementary. All you need to know is how to crochet Ch, SC, HDC, DC, and Sl St.
Materials I used for this barefoot sandals project:
As with most crochet projects, in this case, you can use any size of yarn and hook. But remember, if you want your sandals to look really dainty, choose a smaller size hook and yarn. I wouldn’t go with a hook above 1mm for these sandals.
Get a pattern for these barefoot sandals:
These barefoot sandals will make a perfect accessory for your own summer outfits or a unique gift for those who appreciate handmade items.