Crochet Minion Phone Case

This is just another small fun project I want to share. You can crochet it in just one day or even one evening if you're a fast crocheter. Even for beginners it's quite easy because it's crocheted in rounds and there are not many different stitches necessary.

I made this phone case for a friend who is a fan of minions and I think he really liked it. 

The free pattern I used is from Tampa Bay Crochet. I particularly like the eye being used as button to close the case and prevent the phone from sliding out. I had to modify the size of the case a bit though because my phone case was made for a Samsung S3 Mini which is a bit smaller than the given measures. That's why I made a gauge before I started on the case and decided to use a smaller crochet hook (4mm). It worked out perfectly.

I think this phone case is a great gift idea as it is quickly made and  you could easily use different colours or a different design (e. g. stripes) if you or the gifted person isn't into minions that much. I used this stripy design when I made another one for my mum.

What do you think about this phone case? Which colours and pattern would you prefer?

Project #18: Small Crochet Basket

As you have probably seen in my previous post, I made a little basket to hold some of the bits'n'pieces I need on my desk. I don't like having too much stuff lying around on my desk and this basket helps me keep the small things together.

It is made after a really easy pattern. I used a super bulky yarn in colours matching our living room and the rest of my desk. The whole basket is made with double crochets. The base is crocheted in rounds increasing until I thought it's big enough. 

I followed (once again) the pattern from the book "Crochet with One Sheepish Girl" but made only the first 3 rounds for the bottom. Otherwise it would have become too big. 

The sides are made from 3 rounds of double crochet (changing colour inbetween) and ended with a round of back post single crochets. This finish is my own idea and makes the rim more stable.

I'm quite fond of crochet baskets and have already made few, e. g. this one. They are really handy. Have you ever made a crochet basket? What are you keeping in it?

Home Office Makover

Spending more time working at home during the last few months I became a bit dissatisfied by my desk situation. So far I used a secretary desk (or escritoire) which I thought was ok. But given the circumstances that I'm writing my phd thesis and the most intense phase just began, I now have to work at home more. Since I spread lots of books and dokuments while working, the seretary surface turned out way too small for REALLY working. 

It took us quite a while to figure out a good solution as our flat is quite small and there is only a tiny space in the living room for squeezing in a desk. So we put in this dark tabletop you see in the photo. 

In small spaces you have to see that there is as little stuff as possible on your desk. So we hung up my computer screen on the wall and installed a shelf for my laptop above. There is room for notes on the pinboard or under my clear writing pad. Books and bigger things can be kept in the shelf under the desk. However it was still a very small desk and probably not big enough for spreading all my stuff while working but we didn't want to change the furniture in our living room.

So my husband came up with the great idea to build a variable tabletop inside the cabinet on the right. The doors on the outside remained and he added a wooden panel from the inside. The doors are now linked and can't be opened the usual way but have to be folded out. You can see the result in the next photo. This way I've got a lot of desk space for spreading all my working stuff. When I'm done for the day I just fold it back up and it looks like an ordinary cabinet (with just the slit in the door but I don't mind). Isn't it fantastic?

Of course I had to add some nice little decorative things to make myself feel even more comfortable when sitting at my desk. I put some photos of my family and friends onto the walls because I like having them around. 

My pinboard became nicer by sticking washi tape all over its wooden frame and adding some pompom pushpins (see onesheepishgirl.com). 

I made a little crochet basket to hold the little bit'sn'pieces I essentially need on my desk which is going to be in the next post. And one last thing I just had to do is pimping the handles of the cupboard hanging above my desk (just didn't like them). A super bulky yarn and a simple crochet stitch around them did the trick. 

So, how do you like the ideas of my home office makover? Any more ideas for small office spaces? Love, Kerstine.

Project #16: Coin Bracelet

A few weeks ago I put an idea into action that I've been having in my head for months. This is what I'm showing you today. You may already know about my love of Norway and as I happen to be there several times a year, I've always got some Norwegian crowns lying around waiting to be spent during my next visit. 

I like their design a lot, especially the ones with holes in the middle have always been pretty for me.

So I came up with the idea to use a one-crown-coin for a bracelet. This way I can always carry a memory of the country and our great holidays there with me. It's a special souvenir.

The method I used for the bracelet is nothing special but I have never tried it before, so it was new to me. I used a blue cotton thread from my local craft store and the (very good) instructions from the blog Tippy & Tassel. I tied a clasp to the ends and fixed the ends with clear nail polish to prevent them from opening up.

You could surely use different coins, e. g. the five-crowns-coin which is bigger (see the photos), or even a small key and any robust thread. However, I like my new bracelet a lot and I think this would also make a great gift. Which coin or object would you use for a bracelet? Love, Kerstine.

Project #13: Knitted Cactus

Finally here's a new project. I know, I haven't posted much lately because I just had a lot of things going on - work (you know what I mean) and also private things. I also went on a 10-day-vacation to Southern Norway with my husband (more about that coming in a post soon, I promise).

This is one of my latest project - a knitted cactus. I think, it looks really great!

I got the idea and the pattern for this cactus from the German knitting magazine "Simply Stricken". It's really easy to make and I got to use some of my leftover wool, which is great as I never know what to do with it. 

You just knit a little tube (preferably a rib pattern) from nice yarn (I used both a simple acrylic yarn and a mohair yarn at the same time) and at the end pull it together and fill it with filling material. You can add a little flower if you like. I then glued it into the little flower pot (which I bought at my local craft shop) and put the pins in.

Now it can be used as pin cushion. So it isn't just a nice decoration but can actually come in useful. I'm gonna have to make another one for myself though because I gave this one to a friend for her birthday.

What do you think of my cactus? Have you ever knitted any plants? Love, Kerstine

Project #10: Crochet Infinity Scarf

Here's my 10th project - yay! I've been working on this scarf for some weeks because I didn't have much time with Easter and everything else. Now it's finally finished and I think it's just right for spring - not too warm but perfect for a chilly spring day. I got this pretty easy pattern from Bits & Bobbles (nice blog btw). However I twisted the scarf once before sewing it together so I got a moebius scarf.

I also love the colour which is springlike to me. Now I just have to find clothes in my wardrobe to combine it with (haha).

See you...

Project #9: Bunny egg cosy crochet tutorial

As it is already Easter this week, I figured I shouldn't hold this back - in case you're still looking for presents. I came across bunny egg cosies quite often during the last weeks to but never really found a tutorial that matched with my yarn and my idea of how it should look like. So I made up my own bunny cosy pattern (especially the ears are different from other patterns).

 And I'm sharing it with you as my first "real" tutorial, yay!

I used a leight weight cotton crochet yarn and a crochet hook size 4mm (Europe) which means you need size 6 in the US and size 8 (4ply) in the UK as far as I can trust my needle size converter. I used green yarn here because I think it's better to see on the photos (I've already made a brown bunny too). 

Besides you need a tapestry needle and – if you want to give your bunny a face – some embroidery thread (in the colour you like).

Start with a magic ring which I do as shown in the pictures. 

Hold the yarn like you see in the left picture. Then put the hook through the loop on your thumb, gather the thread between your thumb and index finger and pull it through the loop. Gather the yarn a second time and chain one. Now you should have a loop with one chain stitch as you can see in the picture below. (Of course you can use every other way you know to create a magic ring).

1st round: Single crochet 4 into the ring (keeping the loose thread in between) and tie up the ring. 

2nd round: Single crochet 2 into each of the 4 stitches around the ring which makes 8 stitches.

3rd round: Single crochet 2 into every second stitch (one into every other stitch) which makes 12 stitches.

4th round: Single crochet 2 into every third stitch (one into the other stitches) which makes 16 stitches. 

5th round: Single crochet one whole round (16 stitches). 

6th round: Single crochet 2 in every fourth stitch (one into the other stitches) which makes 20 stitches.

7th to 10th round: Single crochet (20 stitches each round) until your egg cosy is long enough (mine was long enough after 4 rounds).

Slip stitch one (into the first stitch of the round) cut the thread and pull it through the slip stitch. Weave in the ends with the tapestry needle. 

Always count stitches while crocheting that the edge becomes straight. Turn your cosy inside out if this hasn't already happened while working (it always happens when I'm making it).

So now you've already got a nice egg cosy but as it is Easter our cosy should become a bunny and we have to make some ears. Here's how I've made those:

Chain 8, then single crochet 6 (you normally leave 2 out when turning). Be careful to use only the backloops for the sc as you can see in the left picture below. Chain one at the end of the sc row (middle picture). Then turn the piece NOT from front to backside as you're used to BUT UPSIDE DOWN (see the right picture).

Now it comes to the difficult part: Crochet together the 2 rows you've just made. You have to put your needle through both stitches (from the second and first row) and through both loops from each row (4 loops in total) and then single crochet. Do this with all 6 stitches and it will look like shown in the right picture below (from the front) and the middle picture (from the back). 

Don't worry if you can't get all 4 loops on your hook for some stitches (especially the last one can get hard) you won't see it afterwards.

Add to more single crochets on the left end (still looking at the piece from the front). The whole where to put them is in the middle – don't worry, you'll find it (see the left picture below).

Turn the piece upside down again. Now there are holes on this side too. Slip stitch into these holes until you come to the left end of the piece (it should be 5 slip stitches). Then cut you thread and pull it through as shown in the right picture. Work the second ear equally.

Once you've finished the ears, just sew them onto the egg cosy with the lose threads and weave in all threads with the tapestry needle. If you like, you can add a face (though they already look nice without I think).

Now I hope, you enjoy crocheting easter bunny egg cosies. Please let me now what you think of my tutorial, if it's easy to understand and feel free to ask questions if anything's not clear. 

I'm gonna make some more bunnies now (I already made some) in different colours, so we can have a very colourful breakfast table at Easter!

Project #7: Pompom Hair Pins

Good Morning everyone,
I've been up early, it's great spring weather and the steam of my tea is coming up in the sunlight. So I thought you might like a new project :)

How about these pompom hairpins? The white one - I have to admit - was already made in winter. I think it looks like a little snowball. So that's probably not the best to wear right now. But the colourful one looks a lot like spring or summer to me.

They are really easy to make. I used the tutorial on Ordinary Mommy Design. Ever since I discovered it, I've wanted to give it a try. And I love them because it's really a fast and easy way to pimp your outfit with a customised accessory (plus you can use yarn left overs!). I think I'm gonna make more of them in different colours...

I used the smallest ring of these pompom makers. On the colourful one, I left a longer thread when tying up. So the thread is hanging down in my hair like a strand.

Doesn't it look like a spring flower? Now that I look at it I guess you could take the white one as flower too...

Project #6: Back loop only slip stitch

This week I practised new crochet stitches. When I discovered this pattern for fingerless gloves by Tanja Osswald, I had to have it. As I don't know that much about crochet I followed the advice to practise slip stitches, especially back loop only. I used different videos and tutorials, e. g. this one.

It's really not that easy. As you can see in the picture, the edge isn't always straight, I tried crocheting the edge with (lower rows) and without (upper rows) chain stitches and by now I prefer adding a chain stitch when turning the piece.

However I think I got a pretty good hang of using back loop only chain stitches and will start on the pattern very soon. I'll show you if it's working out...

Project #4: How to use sock stop or latex

So... I didn't get round to much this week. However there is one simple (but to me important) thing I did: I made my slippers from week 2 skid-free. So I can finally wear them on slippery surfaces.
I never used the so-called sock stop or latex before so here are the istructions on how to use sock stop or latex:

1. Cut out the areas you want to paint with latex from cardboard. This is simple when you made the slippers for yourself: You just draw the shape of your feet on the cardboard (doesn't have too precise) and cut it out.

2. If you like you can draw the pattern you want on the slippers on the cardboard to try it out. Otherwise just draw it from your mind. (Some nice patterns are e. g. hearts, clouds, paws or just dots).




3. Put the cut-outs into the slippers, turn them around and paint the pattern on the back.
Be sure to use a paper or something similar to protect the surface you're working on from the latex.





4. Leave it to dry for about 24 hours so you can be entirely sure it's dry. Voilà!

P. S. If you want the latex thicker you can also add another layer after about 12 hours of drying