Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Spinning Your Crochet

by

cro spin mandala 0714

While this lovely and exciting piece of crochet is not exactly meant to spin, it certainly has the look of a spinning wheel to me.  It’s a mandala themed piece of which this is the central motif.  Isn’t it stunning?

Martha Vitez and others have created this “Magic Carpet” afghan and have very detailed instructions and pictures showing how they accomplished this feat.  I love the colors – the choice of colors gives the piece a lot of energy.  I love the detail and variety of stitches.  I have seen similar pieces and written about them before – the mandalas – but this piece is unique.

cro spin 2 0714

For those adventurous enough, grab a colorful selection of yarns and use the work of the women who created this splendid piece to create one for yourself.  Each round of the mandala is full of possibilities – color, size of yarn, stitch pattern, etc.  Yours will be unique too.  If you are as good with color choices as the women who created this piece, you will likely achieve a spectacular piece for yourself.  Please be sure to share a picture with us!

Comments

  1. Love mandala-type designs and this is a really lovely one. But was totally blown away when I went to her site. Such creativity and beautiful designs and she shares how she does it. Thanks for bringing this site to our attention.

  2. Hi there.
    I’d just like to make a wee clarification. Mine is the bottom piece there in your wee article. The pattern is actually by Toni Andmarc and the original ravelry download we are working from can be found here:
    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mandala-experiment-trial-pattern
    Toni put up notes on what she did, and our team has been testing the pattern and submitting our findings to her. She has since re-released the pattern and you can find it here:
    http://justdunnycrochet.svbtle.com/magic-carpet-ride-mandala-experiment-pattern
    We are still working our way through the pattern as a CAL in the Creative Crochet Crew on Facebook where I am the head admin. You can find us here if you wish to join:
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/327340747367203/
    Toni’s pattern is just stunning, and it’s been a great challenge for us all to work through it, I would thoroughly recommend giving it a go.
    I’d like to thank Martha Vitez and Oona Linnet for helping to lead this CAL event. xoxo

  3. As the designer, I thank you very much for your article! And many thanks to Angela, Martha and Oona for their help in proving this pattern. Thank you so much GJ Amber! I hope you all enjoy (and get creative!) with my designs.

Have you read?

Crochet Christmas Dove Ornaments With a Printable Gift Poem

There is something especially lovely about a handmade gift that comes with a few thoughtful words. These crochet Christmas birds pair a folded yarn ornament with a decorative poem card, turning a little crochet project into a keepsake.

The design has a rounded head, a tiny embroidered eye and beak, and a forked tail. A broad overlapping section forms the wing, giving the bird that folded, origami-inspired appearance. It is a simple-looking shape with plenty of handmade charm.

A Crochet Bird That Doubles as a Gift Topper

What appeals to me most is the idea of using the bird twice. Tie it onto a wrapped present as a gift topper, then let the recipient hang it on their Christmas tree afterwards. The wrapping gets recycled, the ribbon goes into somebody’s “far too useful to throw away” drawer, and the bird becomes part of next year’s decorations.

Cream would be a lovely choice for a Christmas dove, while cranberry red, sage green and dusty blue offer a different seasonal look. Keeping the wing plain lets the crochet texture and folded layers stand out.

For a personalised crochet gift tag, an embroidered initial is a sweet addition. One small letter gives the ornament a purpose without needing to squeeze an entire name onto the wing.

The Printable Christmas Dove Card

The accompanying printable brings the gift together. Watercolour-style holly, evergreen branches, berries and gold accents frame the card, with space above the poem for attaching the crocheted bird.

The original Christmas poem shares wishes for peace, joy and love, then invites the recipient to hang the dove on their tree. There is also a “With love from” line, so the finished card feels like a complete little present.

I would print it on firm cardstock and attach the bird with a removable thread or ribbon loop. That way, the recipient can lift it off the card easily when it is time to decorate the tree.

It is a thoughtful Christmas gift concept, especially for crafters who enjoy making small decorations with a personal touch. The bird and poem card belong together: a little handmade ornament, a Christmas wish, and something to bring out again next December.