Crocheted Spades - Free Pattern

I made these spades for my wedding. I found amigurumi 3D hearts patterns on the internet but no other playing card suit, and especially no spade. So I decided to make it myself. Here is the result. If you are not sure you are able to make the spades, find a heart pattern on the internet and try it. It is similar but easier! No problem with the crochet hearts? Try the spades then!

I made a pdf file for the tutorial: it contains the pattern and the instructions. It is free, but for personal use only (like all my patterns).

Enjoy!

Download the free Crocheted Spade pattern
(modèle/tuto gratuit - kostenloses Shritt für Schritt Vorbild - modelo gratuito - modello libero - modelo de livre)

Very easy tasty self made mint tea bags

Last Summer, I grew some Morocco mint. I picked up the prettiest leaves and made them dry. I made then some nice tea bags for this Winter: it is pretty, practical and so tasty! It is really easy to make, you can make them with your children. Amazing for dinners at home and afternoons with friends or as a gift (store them in a nice tin box, in a clean jam jar - as I did - or in a pretty cello or paper bag)

 To make the tea bags, I used :

- dry leaves (loose tea, mint, lime tea, everything you want)
- tea filters (coffee filters or sterile gauze are fine too)
- organic natural cotton thread (or food thread)
- punch paper (I used a stamp-shaped one but a heart-shaped one could be lovely for example)
- nice colourful cardboard
- stapler

Enjoy!

new Super Mario smartphone case!

Love Super Mario villains ;D

Early 2013 kawaii crafts - amigurumis, rubber stamps, knit

Remembering some joyful crafts during these gloomy Spring days...

Upcycling - Vitamin pills container

After the little jam jars, the vitamin pills tubes! Just paint them, decorate them with ribbons, stickers, everything you want and put your little gifts inside! I put some letters for my crafts friends inside. Lovely simple easy-made surprise, isn't it?

Upcycled decorated Easter/Spring little jars

Finally, it is truly Spring now. I can wake up from my long long nap ;D These are little jars I decorated to offer for Easter. I wanted to make something easy, simple, colourful, charming, in a "spring mood" and to upcycle these lovely little jars. They were perfect tu put some tiny gifts inside!

Which one is your fav?

new Super Mario crocheted phone case - free pattern crochet indications for the apple iphone5 basic case

My Sweetheart got a new phone, so he also needed a new phone case. He doesn't want any other kind of phone case now ;D He chooses the colours and the Super Mario Turtle motif and I find the result sweet! and very practical! This kind of crocheted cases are easily made (except the motif: it is always a mess with the threads!), they're quickly crocheted and very resistant. This case is great for an apple iphone5 for example. A variegated cotton thread is great for such cases.

If you want to make a similar one, just a few quick indications for the pattern (without motif) :

*** Apple Iphone5 crocheted basic case ***

1* - chain 20 with a 2.25mm crochet hook (USA: 1/B, UK:13). I find it better to choose a cotton thread (for upholding and durability). You will work in rows (not spiral)

2* - chain one; *single crochet in every loop* in the 19 first chains. Single crochet 3 times in the 20th loop. *single crochet in every other side of the loops* in the 19 next stitches. Single crochet 3 times in the 40th loop. Slip stitch in the first chain.

3* -chain one; crochet in the back loops of the stitches only, all around. Slip stitch in the first chain at the end of the row. You'll have 44 stitches around.

4* -go on with rows. Check after a few rows if the size is correct for you phone: make a few more or less chains at the basic chain at the beginning to adapt the size (the size may vary depending of the tension of your thread and fingers). Make as many rows as you need to cover the whole phone. I love to make a little strip with  a snaps fastener at the top of the case. I sometimes add a large strip at the back (sewn or with snaps fastener) to attach the case to a belt (for work for example).

Enjoy!

The new case with an old one made with a wool/acrylic blend (for HTC Desire)