Ruffles-n-Puffs by Off The Hook Designs-KeKe

*New design
Ruffles-n-Puffs crochet cowl for kids
Measures approx.5×20″
Designed to fit children between the ages of 3-10. Wear responsibly & with caution on the littles as anything around the neck can indeed become a choking hazard.
Worked in soft suede mustard cotton & drapes beautifully.
This lovely little cowl will be available for purchase via my Etsy shop within the next couple of days….hopefully! Fingers crossed! Life is hectic at the moment!

I plan to jot down the pattern to share here on my blog but I just need to find the time to do that! Keep your eyes on this blog for the free pattern! Coming soon…….

Crazy Busy Holiday Crafting

Surely I am not the only crazy crafter working round the clock in attempts to get orders out before holidays creep up?! When I finally close my eyes at the end of the day I see blurry remnants of crochet & knit designs floating behind my heavy lids. Life is good.

I have a plan in mind for these lace crochet snowflakes. Hopefully I manage to put it all together before Christmas I’m just really grateful I can still see well enough to actually work these tiny steel hook thread designs.

This is perhaps one of my favorite lace scarfs ever! Still working on the trim & loving every little detail of this soft & beautiful design.

What crafts are you feverishly working on?

Speaking of lace….

New lace detachable collar design in shimmery burnt orange thread. I love everything about this.

Lace…lace…lace

Normally I have find it difficult deciding if I actually love my designs & projects once they are complete. When family & friends compliment my work there is still a little voice inside me that says they are only saying that because they love me & don’t want to hurt my feelings.

Here’s an exception:

Lace crochet collar/neck wrap. 100% Egyptian cotton. Extremely soft & drapes just beautifully so that it can be worn as a collar, one long loop infinity scarf style or wrapped twice around to form a delicious pillow of Lacey softness around the neck. It’s beautiful & I love it! 🙂

Crochet lace

Lace crochet detachable collar/caplet in progress

New Crochet Design by Off The Hook

pattern will be available for purchase via Etsy soon 🙂

Fresh Off The Hook- a project update

I’ve mentioned in my last post how I’ve spent some time testing & preparing a few of my original Off The Hook crochet/knit designs that will eventually make their way into my shop.

Recently while out shopping I came across some pretty crochet baskets & as tempted as I was to purchase a few the price tag was a little too steep for my taste. Of course as soon as I arrived home I made my own version & actually love it even more than the ones in the store.

& another original basket pattern by OTHD

Ohmygosh I absolutely adore this free beginner knit pattern: Non-felted Slippers by Yuko Nakamura & have made several pair for family, friends & of course myself. I achieved various sizes by switching needle by a 1/2 – full size

Doily dream catcher by Off The Hook. Just felt like doing something a little different & really like the result.

A free-form cotton/wool crochet jean patch by OTHD

Crochet cotton wash cloth. ❤ this has quickly become a favorite if mine!

Crochet/knit lace & embroidery

Adorable knit collar pattern (FREE) @ reckless glue

Recently I scored this beautiful antique Singer sewing machine! Now to learn how to use it……

A few KeKe Photography captures 2014

Peace, K.

Wrapping It Up! – Tutorial

As promised a Wrapping It Up– glass jar cozy tutorial.

Things you’ll need:

Several scraps of different shades & textured yarn/string/ribbon/thread.
I imagine you could even use strips of fabric although I have not yet attempted this method

*Clear drying craft glue (I’ve tested several and have had the best results using fabric stitch glue)
*A glass bottle or jam jar
*Sponge for applying glue or if you are brave and don’t mind getting your hands a bit messy use your fingers to apply glue (I used a little makeup application sponge–it’s what I had on hand and it works perfectly for this project)
*Small scissors

Directions:

Remove any labels from glass jar by spraying a little ‘Skin-So-Soft bath oil by Avon’ directly onto the label.
After allowing to sit for a few minutes the label should lift right off the glass.
If you do not have SSS bath oil on hand just soak your jar in warm soapy water for 15 minutes or so and use a little elbow grease. If the label is very stubborn & difficult to remove after soaking just scrape off using a Brillo pad or steel wool while the label is still wet. (btw SSS makes an excellent mosquito repellent as well. Love the stuff!)
image source: Google Images-Avon

Apply glue to your sponge and swipe a thin layer to a small area of the glass. You do not have to saturate your jar in glue because once you begin wrapping the yarn stays pretty secure. Only apply the glue to begin & end each new color so that it lays flat & secure against the glass.

Slowly & evenly begin wrapping one color yarn around jar using your fingers (or you could use the flat side of a nail stick) to push the yarn into place so that it is nice and snug. You don’t want to see gaps between the yarn.

Choose a different color and/or textured yarn and repeat the above step until you are satisfied with your design.

use various textured/colored yarns

Allow to dry completely before displaying
makes a unique pen cozy
or bud vase.
*note the two solid color crochet designs pictured above are removable crochet glass cozies. The yarn wrapped cozies are permanent and can not be removed from the glass jar.