Crochet Doily1

Dinner Set / Tea Set: Part 1 Tea Coaster / Glass Mat

Fig 1

Hello friends,
Last week I made this Dinner set / Tea set. As I know, tea set is collection of utensils used in preparing and serving tea. So these are also decorative mats for Kettle, suger pot, milk pot, cups or mugs, spoons etc. This is the UK traditional way of serving tea but in India we make it in a different manner. We first boil it and make it strong.
I am over great fan 😜 of tea or you can say addicted tea lover. Within my service period giving lectures for an hour or two in Mathematics made me tired and exhausted. So I also think that addiction of drinking tea started there.

Fig 2

Fig 3

 But really I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed drinking tea together with my colleagues in open canteen of that old stoned-building of my institute.
Oh 😛this happens, whenever there is a topic of tea, I lost my link 😢, that much I love tea. Main thing is not only I love it to drink myself, I love it to offer tea to others also may be my friends, may be guest, may be workers any one.

Fig 4

Fig 5

Fig 6

So no wonder I crocheted this big tea set. I deliberately call it Dinner set also. If instead of tea-coaster we call those small 4 pieces as water glass mat then it may be called dinner set. So what ever you call it but let us see how I made the tea-coasters.
Pattern of Tea-coaster:

Fig 7

Fig 8

I used 3 ply yarn and 2.5 mm crochet hook. Dimensions: 6"x5".R1: Ring of 6 chs.
R2: make 2 shells in this ring, seperated by ch 2. Shell on shell means (puff 1, ch 2, puff 1) in ch 2 gspace and puff is made as, (YO insert in a ring, YO get two long stitches)

Fig 9

repeat 5 times, YO and pass through all 11 sts on the hook. There are 3 ch 2 gaps. Fig 3.
R3: Make shell in each ch 2 gap, thus 3 shells made. Fig 4.
R4: Shell on shell, ch 3, dc 12 in next ch2-gap. Fig 5.
R5: Shell on shell, ch 3, dc 1 on previous row dc, (ch1, dc 1 on next dc) repeat, ch 3, shell on shell. Fig 6.
R6: Shell on shell, ch 3, (sc 1 in between two dcs, ch3) 11

Fig 10

Fig 11

times, shell on shell. Fig 7.
R7: Shell on shell, ch 3, (sc 1 in between two dcs, ch3) 10 times, shell on shell
R8: Shell on shell, ch 3, (sc 1 in between two dcs, ch3) 9 times, shell on shell. Fig 8.
Repeat this row till row 15 where we have to make shell on shell, ch3, sc1, ch 3, sc 1, shell on shell. Fig 9.
R16: Shell on shell, tr in ch3 loop, shell on shell, sl st in the second puff of opposite shell. See fig 10. BO.
The beautiful tea coaster / glass mat is ready. See fig 11.
Then I made such four pieces.

The following video may help you.

ETC: Enjoy the creativity.

Mother's Day Special: Crochet Wall Piece, Wall Decor

Fig 1

Hello friends,
Happy Mother's Day to all my friends.

Today I remember that last year I was with my son, grandson, grand daughters in USA and enjoyed the day. Any way this year, we are two only and giving company to each other in India.

So there is much free time, I spend it in making this beautiful Wall piece which is 15"x14" in size and is completely made by single crochet stitch (sc).
The cross stitch picture I saw is,

Here I wants to thank one blogger, I don't remember her name (I am so apologised for that) but 2-3 years back, on her blog I have seen one knitted piece. As far as I remember, the blogger has one old, childhood's period chair and she is emotionally attached with that so she didn't want to write off it. Hence she totally renewed it by making knitted scenery on the back of the chair. 
If anybody among our bloggers or readers have read that blog about which I am telling and if I could know the name of that blogger then I will be really very very happy and I will say thanks to her. 
Because when I saw her knitted scenery on that chair, I was too impressed and I decided to make that type of scenery either by knitting or by crocheting. Actually by knitting it could be more smooth but beacuse most of by subscribers on Youtube channel "Kalopasak" are crochet lovers, so I think to crochet it rather than to knit and here is the result.

Fig 2

Initially I thought that I will make a scenery in which there will be a big tree and nest where a bird is feeding her baby. The bird and baby appliques are ready, please read my post,
https://alkaandart.blogspot.com/search?q=bird+applique ,
so I have to make only background scene. I have started with a handmade picture and work on it single crochets with variety of colours. I worked to and fro as usual means from right side and then from wrong side. See fig 2.

But then I am not much satisfied with my picture and the texture that came out by RS, WS working.

Fig 3

Actually it may turned out good but for that I wanted graph paper and so many things and due to Lock Down (Corona) it was impossible to manage those things. Moreover time limit was there. So I decided to take some ready made photo and went accordingly. I searched for number of mother and baby animals to make frame. Finally my search stopped at this photo. I choose it because I liked it and all required colours of yarns were with me.

Each row was worked from right to left then second row again from right to left. No where worked on wrong side.
So many colours yarn, their mixing and all was complicated.
Moreover for every stitch to look at laptop screen and then do it is also difficult for me.
It may get more easy if I could have coloured print out but that is also not possible. So count each and every line colour wise,  and note them on a paper, for example,
from right to left
7 sts blue, 3 light blue, 2 light grey, 5 white, 1 grey, 4 light blue .... etc.
Yaa, actually I know that it is very tiddious.
I started with 72 stitches.
The bear picture of the wall piece can be seen in fig 3.
Finally I wanted to frame it but that it also not possible now so I just sewed the piece to a card board of old file and it's OK till I manage to frame it.

I hope that the following video may help you.

ETC: Enjoy the Creativity.
 I am so glad that my search is fruitful and I found that chair which I mentioned above. So first of all I am very much thankful to the blogger of The Twisted Yarn.
Please visit,
https://thetwistedyarn.com/

Mangal Kalash Part 3: Mango Leaves (Puja Item / Rukhawat Item)

Fig 1

Hello friends,
This is the third part of our project, "Mangal Kalasham". As I have said in previous post this mangal kalash consists of matal Kalash (the pot) filled with water, coconut and mango leaves. Importance of coconut I have written in part 2. Mango leaves are placed as a symbol of happiness, or some times it is said to form a seat for deities. If mango leaves are not available then Betel leaves are places.

In this part I am going to tell you, how I made these Mango leaves.
Pattern: 
While making this leaf in the starting of every row we make ch 2 and turn but not consider it as any double crochet (dc) because if we consider it as dc then after border there are holes clearly seen there.

Fig 2

Fig 3

R1: Make ch 4 and dc 2 in first ch, ch 2 turn, (3 sts)
R2: dc 1 in each st, ch 2 turn, (3 sts)
R3: dc 2 in first and last st dc 1 in middle st, ch 2 turn, (5 sts), fig 2.
R4: dc 1 on each st, ch 2 turn, (5 sts)
R5: dc 2 in first and last st dc 1 in middle three sts, ch 2 turn,  (7 sts), fig 3.
R6: to R11: same as, dc 1 in each st, ch 2 turn, (7sts)

Fig 4

Fig 5

R12: 2dctog in first two and last two sts, dc 1 in all middle sts, ch 2 turn, (5sts), fig 4.
R13: dc 1 in each st, ch 2 turn, (5sts)
R14: same as row 13.
R15: same as row 12, ch 2 turn, (3 sts)
R16: dc 1 in each st, ch 2 turn, (3 sts)
R17: 3dctog, bind off. Fig 5.

Fig 6

Fig 7

Border:  Make sc 1 in each st of the border by inserting the thin wire inside every stitch, as shown in fig 6, at corner st make ch 2 extra to get pointed shape.

Fig 8

Fig 9

On completing all scs, bind off keeping 9" to 12" yarn behind for making stem.
Stem: ch 5, sl st in 4 sts starting from second then bind off. Fig 9.
Then make central line by light green colour with embroidey. Fig 8.

Here is the beautiful mango leaf ready.
I made such five leaves. Then place them in our Kalash along with the coconut already made. The "Mangal Kalash" is here.
The following video may help you.

ETC: Enjoy the creativity.

Mangal Kalash Part 2: Coconut (Puja Item / Rukhawat Item)

Fig 1

Mango is a king of fruits in India and in Hindu culture Coconut is of most important fruit. It is a symbol of prosperity, blessings of nature and an important item in many ritual ceremonies. Coconut is offered to deities in all temples. In India many holy events and celebrations are inaugurated by braking the coconut. Metalic or earthen pot of typical shape with water, coconut and mango leaves inside it, is called "Mangal Kalash", (Mangal means pious, auspicious).
Here, I made a "Mangal Kalash" of crochet. In my last post I explained, how I made that  Kalash. Now I will tell you, how I made that Coconut on which there is SWASTIK. (Swastik is a typical geometrical figure and it is religious icon of auspiciousness). It is generally drawn on coconut by kumkum with little water in it. In fig 1 it is embroidered by red yarn.
Yarn used is Vardhaman 4 ply and 3.5 mm crochet hook. The weight with fiber 23 gm.

Fig 3

Fig 4

Fig 5

Pattern:
R1:In a magic loop make ch 3, dc 9, cl (10 sts).
R2: ch 3, (dc 2 in one st, dc 1 in next) repeat, cl (15 sts), fig 3.
R3: ch 3, (dc 2 in one st, dc 1 in each of the next 2 sts) rep, cl, (20 sts), fig 4.
R4: as round 2. (30 sts)
R5: as round 3. (40 sts). Fig 5.

Fig 6

Fig 7

Fig 8

Fig 9

Fig 10

R6: ch 3, dc 1 in each st, cl (40 sts)
R7: as round 6. (40 sts), see fig 6.
R8: ch 3, (dc 1 in each of the 6 sts (first dc means ch 3), 2dctog in next) rep, cl, (35 sts)
R9: ch 3, (dc 1 in each of the 5 sts (first dc means ch 3), 2dctog in next) rep, cl, (30 sts), fig 7.
R10: ch 3, (dc 1 in each of the 4 sts (first dc means ch 3), 2dctog in next) rep, cl, (25 sts),
R11: ch 3, (dc 1 in each of the 3 sts (first dc means ch 3), 2dctog in next) rep, cl, (20 sts),
R12: ch 3, (dc 1 in each of the 2 sts (first dc means ch 3), 2dctog in next) rep, cl, (15 sts), fill some fiber in that.
R13: ch 3, (2dctog, dc 1 in next st) rep, cl, (10 sts) fig 8
R14: ch 2, 2dctog rep, (5 sts). Fill remaining fiber.
Bind off by tapestry needle and make as shown in fig 9, in order to keep some of the fibers on it as it is. (It is said that all of it's fiber should not be cut at least some thing should be kept and that's why we make some 5-6 rounds on our finger as shown in fig 9 and then BO.
With red yarn make some embroidery of SWASTIK shape, the symbol of prosperity. See the last fig


The following video may help you to make this coconut.

ETC: Enjoy the Creativity.

Mangal Kalash Part 1: Kalash (Puja Item / Rukhawat Item)

Fig 1

Friends,
Last week in India we have one festival known as "Akshay Trutiya". Akshay means never ending, so prosperity, happiness and success should never end. Mangal Kalash, shown in fig 1 is places for SANKALP. It is also the day of remembering our dead beloved persons.
For details, plase read,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshaya_Tritiya

Fig 2

On this auspicious day, I made this "Crochet Mangal Kalash" which is very important in every special worship of God. Kalash or Kalasham is a metal pot (copper, silver etc) filled with water which holds coconut and mango leaves as shown in fir 2 (by courtesy of Wikipedia).
In this post I will write about Kalash only. Coconut and Mango leaves will be in next post.
Material: For this I used Caron One Pound yarn with light yellow colour (though it looks white in photo 👿). Crochet hook 3.5 mm (though recommended is 5 mm) so that it should not get loose.
 or it should remain tight.
Pattern: R1: In a magic loop , ch 1 and sc 6, close by slip[ stitch in first sc. (6 sts)
R2: ch 1, sc 2 in each st, cl, (12 sts).
R3: ch 1, (sc 2 in one st, sc 1 in next st) repeat, cl, (18 sts)
R4: ch 1, sc 2 in one st, sc 1 in each of the next 2 sts) repeat, cl, (24 sts).
R5: Ch 2, (hdc 2 in one st, hdc 1 in next 3 sts) rep, cl, (30 sts). See fig 3, base is ready.

Fig 3

Fig 4

R6: Work this round in back loop. ch 3, (dc 2 in one st in back loop, dc 1 in each of the next 5 sts all in back loop) cl, (35 sts), fig 4.
R7: ch3, (dc 2 in one st, dc 1 in each of the next 6 sts) rep, cl, (40 sts)
R8: ch3, (dc 2 in one st, dc 1 in each of the next 7 sts) rep, cl, (45 sts). See fig 5.
R9: ch3, (hdc 2 in one st, hdc 1 in each of the next 8 sts) rep, cl, (50 sts)

R10: Work only in back loop.

Fig 5

Fig 6

ch3, (dc 2 in one st, dc 1 in each of the next 9 sts) rep, cl, (55 sts). Fig 6.
R11: ch3, (dc 2 in one st, dc 1 in each of the next 10 sts) rep, cl, (60 sts)
R12: ch 2, hdc 1 in each st, cl (60 sts)
R13: Work only in back loop. ch 2, (dc 1 in 4 sts, 2dctog next) rep, cl (50 sts)
R14: ch 2, (dc 1 in 8 sts, 2dctog) rep, cl (45 sts)
R15: ch 1, (sc 1 in one st, 2sctog next) rep, cl, (30 sts)

Fig 7

Fig 8

Fig 9

R16: ch 2, hdc 1 in each st,, cl, (30 sts)
R17: Same as R16, (30 sts)
R18: ch 1, (sc 1 in each of the next two sts, sc 2 in next) rep, cl, (40 sts)
R19: ch 2, (hdc 1 in each of the next 3 sts, hdc 2 in next) rep, cl, (50 sts)

The following video may help you.

ETC: Enjoy the Creativity.

Crochet Lace Edging 2, for handkerchief, Napkin, Dupatta, Curtain etc

Fig 1

Hello friends,
Lock down period is really very hard. I can't imagine that if I am not engaged with crocheting, knitting then how boaring my life would be! Thanks God and thanks my Mom who developed my hobbies like these.

Yesterday I made this lace edging to the handkerchief. It really looks so beautiful that no one could dare to use it and lost it by chance 😂. But I made it for gifting to some one.

The thread used here is Hobby India thread by Ganga. It is nice and little silky so, have some glaze also.

I used 1.5 mm steel crochet hook.
The handkerchief has already picot made on all four sides.

Fig 2

Fig 3

 Pattern: R1: (sc 1, ch 2 skip some space as required for ch 2), repeat till end. Note that by little adjusting the distance we make sc 1 in each corner.

R2: ch 3, dc3 in each ch 2-gap, at corner dc 3 extra, cl

R3: ch 1, sc 1 in same st, [ch 5, skip 5 sts, shell in next st

Fig 4.

Fig 5

(shell: dc 2, ch 3, dc 2), ch 5 , skip 5 sts, sc 1 in next st] repeat till end, at corner sc 1 on sc. For corner please see fig 5.

R4: [ sc 1 on ch 5 space, (tr1, ch 1) 7 times in ch 3-space of previous round shell, ch 1, sc 1 on ch 5- space, ] repeat till end, cl

R5: sc 1 in each of the four spaces, [(ch 5, sc 1 in 4th ch, join by sc 1 in next gap) repeat 5 times, sc 1 in each of the 4 gaps of ch 1 in between 2 trebles] repeat, cl.

Bind off.

The beautiful handkerchief lace edging is complete, see fig 1.
The following video may help you.

ETC: Enjoy the Creativity.

Katekoranti, Barleria Prionitis, Porcupine Flowers

Fig 1

Hi friends,
Here are new crochet flowers. We call these flowers Katekoranti (as the plant has thorns in Marathi Kate). Fig 2. The idol shown in the photo is the dancing pose of Lord Shiva, called Natraj. Details about it can be seen here,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja
This sclupture is the symbol of Lord of Dance and Dramatic arts. We can say that the symbol is also the Lord of all arts in general including our knitting, crochet etc. Hence I adore him by offering my creation, "Crochet Porcupine Flowers".

These flowers are found in every next door in India. They are found in different colours which are very attractive among which yellow, white and purple are most common.

Fig 2

Fig 3

Fig 4

The flower is small, 2" in height. So I used 3 ply yarn (white, yellow and purple colours) for this and 1.5 mm crochet hook. I also tried with usual 4 ply wool the flower looks beautiful but it's height became 2.5 mm.
My first try was in round, so I made 5 chs and make a ring but being 3 ply yarn and only 5 sts, it became very hard. So I decided to work it in rows and then sew.
Pattern:  White white yarn, make 6 chains.
R1: sc 1 in each st starting from second, (5sts). Join purple yarn. ch 1 turn,
R2:sc 1 in each st, ch 1 turn (5sts). Fig 3.
R3 to R8 same as R2. (5 sts). Fig 4.

Fig 5

Fig 6

Fig 7

R9: (sc 2, sc 1 in next st) twice, sc 2 in last st, ch 1 turn, (8 sts), fig 5.R10: (sc 1 in next 2 sts, sc 2 in next) twice, sc 1 in last 2 sts, (10 sts) ch 1 turn, fig 6.
R11: (sc2, sc 1) repeat till end, (15 sts), ch 1 turn, fig 7.
R12: sc 1 in each st, (15 sts), ch 1 turn,
R13: same as R12.

Fig 8

R14: Work only on 3 sts to make first petal, [(sc 1 in each st, ch 1 turn) two times, sc 1 in each st, ch 2 turn, incomplete dc in next 2 sts, YO and pass through all 3 sts on hook. BO. First petal made. Fig 8.
Now join new yarn at 4 th st in R12 and make second petal. Then join at 7th, 10th and

Fig 9

Fig 10

13th sts and make remaining petals.
Then sew it, first two sts with white yarn and then by purple yarn till the 13th row.
Now for filaments, I simply make a knot and passed the yarn through tapestry needle and just passed inside from centre and then hide the yarm. Made such 2/ 3 filaments.
The beautiful flower is ready. 
ETC: Enjoy the Creativity.
The following video with English subtitles may help you.