Uptown Girl Crochet Handbag

Front of bag

Back of bag

Inside the bag

Flower

Popcorn stitch

The third crochet along with Mel, was bag themed, I love bags and it suddenly hit me that I had never made one, I am fussy when it comes to handbags and couldnt find a pattern that I liked so I decided to design my own, with a mixture of front post stitches and popcorn stitches I think this turned out very unusual, I also lined the bag with some very pretty rose printed fabric, I dont own a sewing machine so it was all done by hand (which makes me very proud!), I got the lovely handles from Alex's shop Feanor

Feel Good Days with Glow Magazine

TV3's Laura Bermingham

Laura's Daughter after they bought Snowy Day Hat

Holding a sheep teddy given to her to remember CafeCreate

Anne, Julie, Elizabeth, Alex, Me, Michelle and Aga

The day was so busy that the hours flew by, I got alot of hand sewing done and was very happy, I got an order for a tea cosy and then before we went Lauras daughter bought my snowy day hat that I had made in a crochet along with Mel, we had great fun and I really enjoyed watching Aga spin,

Time to Glow

Glow Magazine contacted me after see CafeCreate's blog and asked if we could come and exhibit our handmade work, I am so excited about this, its a great chance for our group to get out there and maybe some contacts for me with my crochet selling business?

The GLOW Feel Good Days with the EBS kick off in Galway on March 27th in the Hotel Meyrick on Eyre Square. Admission is FREE and the doors open at 11am and close at 5.30pm.

Simple Cable Hat

I sighed, "what kind of hat would an art student like?" I wanted to make something really bright for my sister in law Genny, but I also wanted to create something I havent done before,

so after two hours I made this simple cabled hat

the colours are so bright - perfect for a young art student

I made it a little longer so that it can slouch

I hope she likes it!

A new laptop

On Saturday Husband and I went into Currys and look what I got!! a PINK DELL Laptop! I am so happy as I have been using my husbands 8year old laptop and It has been no good for my writing,

Also I have finally got around to becoming a designer on Ravelry (thanks Aga for telling me how to go about applying) so far I have three designs up with many more to go, but thanks to my new laptop typing out the patterns is no longer a problem!

How to crochet Neen's Twisted Shawl

Sitting down on the sofa, I wondered what I would wear to this weeks CafeCreate meeting - I wanted a shawl but I wanted something with an edge, something never seen before and then the "Twisted Shawl" was born!

How to crochet Neen's Twisted Shawl

An original design by neencrochet

HDC - Half Double Crochet

Using a 15mm crochet hook

Step one

Chain 54(S-M)

64 (M-L)

(or however many is needed to fit around your shoulders)

Step two

HDC, Ch 1 in third chain from hook, *Skip next stitch and HDC in next,chain one* (repeat from * across)

Step three

*Turn work

chain three, HDC in next stitch, chaining 1 after each HDC across*

Repeat from * until you get desired width

when you are finished, twist your wrap and stitch up the back, and there you go in three simple steps you have made a crochet shawl with a difference!!

I hope you enjoy making this as much as I did designing it and please let me see your shawl when it is finished

please note:
I have no problem giving my patterns for free to other crafters, all I ask that if posting this pattern up on any site that you link it to me and keep my name on it - however if selling any object made from my pattern please ask my permission first -  also DO NOT claim this pattern as your own, it has been copyrighted. 

Funktasic

This hat was made with yarn I got in Barcelona, The colours are so beautiful and so interesting to work with! I wanted to make a flower with a difference, so I made the flower using ribbon and I think it is an amazing finishing touch :)

Warm Toes

Last night using a size 15mm crochet hook I made this hottle ;) bottle, using such a big hook was great fun, not only did this work up in a hour! but also gave the yarn lovely texture! It was so warm and lovely on my cold feet in bed, and guess what? it was still warm when I woke up for work 7hours later!!!!

Snowy Day Hat, Crochet-along

Mel and I decided to follow the above pattern for our second crochet along

Here is Mels hat and mine side by side,

I had such fun making this with her! It worked up really easily.

I made a few changes to mine with the shape of the ear flaps and I also decided against using braids, but I love the yarn! which I got on Saturday from Julie, a friend in CafeCreate

I love Mels hat as she really put in lots of effort to match the colours to the pattern!

It was a great crochet along and all I can say is .... "NEXT!"

Hooneymooning

Suntanned, windblown
Honeymooners at last alone
Feeling far above par
Oh, how lucky we are

While I give to you
would you give to me
true love, true love
So on and on it will always be
true love, true love

For you and I have a guardian angel
on high with nothing to do
but to give to you and to give to me
love forever true

For you and I have a guardian angel
on high with nothing to do
but to give you and to give to me
love forever true
love forever true

When trying to decide on a name for this hat, all that came into my head was this song, I started this hat while on honeymoon in Barcelona, it is my own pattern and holds a special place in my heart

Tea for Two

On Sunday afternoon, I realized I had not yet made myself a tea cozy, So picking up a size 5mm hook I set about designing a easy to follow pattern and I couldnt believe that it worked up so quickly! I LOVE my tea cozy and have already gotten one order for another one!

Stillbirth and Still Loved

'Stillbirth & Still Loved' is a Galway-based Non-Profit organization established in 2010. Our primary goal is to create and donate hand made baby blankets and funeral gowns to mothers of stillborn babies.

I made this burial gown for the charity "Stillbirth and Still Loved" which My Husband and myself have decided to set up, If anyone out there would like to take part, please do!

Sweet pea Shawl

Following the pattern from "The Happy Hooker" My self and Mel had a crochet along, both of us made this and it is so so warm and comfy to wear, I made mine using a cotton yarn that was given to me by my mother in law and also with some Red heart yarn, It was so relaxing to make and worked up very quickly.

Handmade Pin Cushions and Fabric

I love pretty fabric, here is some in my collection, I think they are really very pretty, I make little pin cushions with the material, they make a great gift for anyone that is in anyway crafty and I have some for sale, I can also custom make any shape or design needed for no extra cost(example: Heart shape, Cat shape etc..)

I got this fabric(Top and Bottom one) for my bestfriend Mel as it is her birthday in March

The fabric on top is from a shop in Galway called Lola Rose and I got the one on bottom from a English market

If Interested in buying a handmade pin cushion, please email me.

How to Crochet a Granny Square

www.bella-sorella.com/Images/

The Granny Square

HDC - Half Double Crochet

Step 1:

Chain 5, Join with a slip stitch

Step 2:

Chain 3 (counts as first HDC), Two HDC in loop,

Chain 2

HDC in loop x3times

Chain 2

HDC in loop x3times

Chain 2

HDC in loop x3times

Chain 2

Slip stitch into the third chain at beginning HDC.

Step 3:

Slip stitch into Chain 2 space

chain 3, HDC x2times

Chain 2

HDC x3times all in the same chain 2 space

Chain 1

*HDC x3 times, chain 2, HDC x3 times

Chain one*

Repeat from * in each chain two space until back at beginning

Slip stitch into the third chain at beginning HDC

Step 4:

Slip stitch into center of HDC corner

chain 3, HDC x2times

Chain 2

HDC x3times all in the same chain 2 space

*Chain 1

HDC x3times in chain 1 space

chain 1

HDC x3 times, chain 2, HDC x3 times in second corner*

Repeat from * right around

Slip stitch into the third chain at beginning HDC

*Continue like this until you get to size you want*