Embellished baskets

Hello everyone! I'm still here! I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted. Wow, I've missed my blog, and especially the interactions with all of you. Well, I finally managed a string of free time periods, so here are some pictures of what I've been up to. The crafting part, at least.

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Embellished fabric mache baskets

I had a few of these baskets left over from Valentine's day. I had an idea of crocheting a kind of a collar for the top of the basket.

The one on the left has crocheted scallops of pink cotton (Wool in the Woods Helix) and white fluff (Patons Divine in Icicle White). The one on the right has white cotton crocheted flowers. They both have knitted I-cord handles made from Fun Fur (Lion Brand) in a pastel color called Confetti. If you look closely, you can see that both baskets are filled with something. These are presents for two of my bloggy friends, so I'm not going to tell you what's inside just yet.

I like these, but I'm not as happy with them as I envisioned. I think part of the reason is that the baskets themselves are so colorful, with the various combined fabrics, that adding a collar of any form might be a little too much. The reason I 'm not that happy with the flowers is that I think they're a little too large in scale.

Another picture of the baskets:

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Flowers

Just for fun I crocheted and knitted a bunch of spring flowers. Some of them ended up one of the baskets, the others make a nice collection.

Top row, left to right: flower posy from Lucinda Guy's "Handknits for Kids," p. 28, posy from Reader's Digest "Complete Guide to Needlework," p. 367, chrysanthemum from RD, p. 367.

Middle row, left to right: crocheted flowers, my design, various sizes, the leftmost one has picot detail on the petals

Bottom row, left to right: daisy from RD, p. 367, two crocheted flowers, my design

Handknits for Kids: 25 Original Designs for Girls and Boys

Complete Guide to Needlework

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Directions for the white crocheted flowers

Small flowers:

Ch 6, join into a ring with sl st.
Sc 11 into loop, join with sl st.
(Sc 1, ch 2, sk 1) repeat around, join with sl st into first ch-2 space.
Into each ch-2 space: (sl 1, hdc, hdc, sl1), join.

Medium flowers:

Ch 6, join into a ring with sl st.
Sc 11 into loop, join with sl st.
(Sc 1, ch 2, sk 1) repeat around, join with sl st into first ch-2 space.
Into each ch-2 space: (sc 1, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc 1), join.

Large flowers:
Ch 6, join into a ring with sl st.
Sc 11 into loop, join with sl st.
(Sc 1, ch 2, sk 1) repeat around, join with sl st into first ch-2 space.
Into each ch-2 space: (sc 1, 3 ch, sc 1), join.
Into each ch-3 space: (sc 1, hdc, dc, hdc, sc 1), join.
[To make picots, replace last line with this one: "Into each ch-3 space: (sc 1, hdc, dc, ch 2, join back at dc with sl st, hdc, sc 1), join."]

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Whew! I hope to keep posting, we'll see how well that works. And I still have so many blog posts to read. My bloglines number is so high! Of course, it's impossible to keep up because everyone is so productive and keeps posting, so there are too many fun posts to enjoy! Isn't that a good problem to have?

Comments

[persephone]

Yay! A post!
What a great way to use the scraps of fabric that I can't seem to part with. I love your crocheted flowers! Nice to see you've been crafty despite your busy schedule.

[abbyjane]

I love your crocheted flowers. The white ones are my favorite - they'd be great made into pins with layers of fabric underneath, or on a hat for a doll, or added to a collage (I'm into collages this week). I'm glad you're back! I was wondering how you were doing (although I see your comments regularly so I know you are okay!). Take care!

[becca]

Glad to see you back!
I like the variety of styles of flowers. We must be on the same wavelength... I just got the Handknits for Kids book out of the library and was thinking of trying that knitted posy pattern myself. The knitted cat is really adorable too, and it is asking me to make it.

[myra]

Welcome back! I loved the fabric mache baskets but I REALLY love them with the crocheted collars and embellishments. They are so festive and fun! Hope to see you back regularly soon.

[Anamaria]

Amanda, I love seeing all the different varieties of knitted and crocheted flowers--I think I like your white ones the best, especially the one with the picot edge. What a perfect little project (projects have to be little around here if I have any hope of finishing them--a flower seems just about right!). So good to read you again--but of course, I had the pleasure of meeting you!

[Beverly]

Oh, I'm going to have to use some of my pretty scraps for these!

[Bettsi]

Well, then, I don't feel so bad! I, too, have had a hard time keeping up with writing and reading! We'll just keep on keepin' on, eh?