Love to stay home

Mini Amigurumi

September 2, 2023 No Comments

You can make this Mini Amigurumi collection and more!

As long as you know how to make a magic ring, single crochet, single crochet increase, and single crochet decrease, you can make any amigurumi you wish by following a pattern. You just need to practice and you will certainly get better with time.

If you have no experience and would love to learn how to crochet, you certainly can! Check out my blog posts:

Learn How to Crochet

Learn the Basic Crochet Stitches

If you would like more information on Amigurumi, here is a post that you can check out, Amigurumi for Beginners.

or Foolproof Guide to Crocheting Amigurumi for Beginners

I have to admit this kind of became an obsession of mine last year. I came across a post by Vivika Vaina of Wandering Deer on Instagram, she is an amigurumi designer and shares lots of fun and cute mini amigurumi patterns for free! Thank you to Vivika for sharing these patterns with us!

Vivika had a Christmas advent calendar challenge where you crochet a little mini amigurumi every day for 24 days.

I thought this was such a fun idea for my 6-year-old son. I did not have much experience with amigurumi. So it was fun to learn and try these cute patterns.

And to say that my son had a blast opening up this cute little handmade gift every morning is an understatement! He was thrilled, in fact after 24 days he asked if he could have more!! Till today he plays with every one of his mini amigurumi collection!

What do you need to make these Mini Amigurumi?

Cotton yarn, Plush yarn, Velvet yarn (I made all the ones pictured with I Love this cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby)

Crochet hook 3mm

Scissors

Yarn needle

Black embroidery thread for eyes and mouth or safety eyes or beads

Polyfil or yarn scraps

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

How do you make these Mini Amigurumi?

Every Amigurumi pattern starts with a magic ring, and most patterns are worked in the round. Hence, it is important to use a stitch marker to know which is your first stitch in every round. (A safety pin/a piece of yarn/a hoop earring will work too)

Find a pattern that you want to make. There are hundreds of free patterns on Pinterest. Most of the patterns that I used for the pictured amigurumi are from Wandering Deer on Instagram. Please visit Wandering Deer on Instagram to find most of these patterns. You can find the patterns on her Instagram page by just scrolling.

On Instagram, you can check out these crochet artists:

These are just a few accounts that have cute free patterns for mini Amigurumi.

Also, check out Littleloveeveryday

Anitha has the cutest amigurumi patterns you can find, and she offers them all for free on her blog. They are not mini, but they are so cute so I wanted to share.

On YouTube you can find free video patterns on these channels:

Theresa’s crochet shop

Notes:

If you are new to Amigurumi, all you need to know are single crochet, magic circle, sc increase, and sc decreases.

You could use safety eyes if you like, but I prefer to embroider eyes and mouth with thread. It was easier. I embroidered them after closing them up. For the eyes, I used French knots. For the mouth a simple stitch.

All these patterns can be made in different sizes by just changing the yarn and hook size. I have made some of these patterns with plush/velvet yarn.

Crochet Plush Mini Octo — Mini Octos – Pattern and video tutorial by All From Jade on YouTube

Pattern by Vivika of Wandering Deerdering Deer

For video tutorials using plush yarn, you can check out these creators’ YouTube channels:

AllfromJade

Crafter Frog

I just wanted to add that since these are not my patterns, I cannot write them on my blog, I respect the hard work and ideas of the original pattern creator. So I always link the patterns on my blog, Please visit the links to get the patterns. Thank you for your understanding. I hope you will try and make a cute mini amigurumi collection of your own! Let me know in the comments if you plan to make some and which ones are your favorite. I would love to see a picture if you try them, Do share it with me on Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate it so much. Have a wonderful and creative day!!

Photo by Mathilde Langevin on Unsplash

Crochet

Easy Crochet Flower Coasters

June 24, 2023 No Comments

These easy Crochet Flower Coasters are pretty and the perfect summer project to brighten up your space.

I have seen many beautiful flower coasters all over Pinterest and Instagram. They are so simple yet beautiful. I have been looking for an easy pattern and tried a few, but did not find the perfect pattern until now!

I was really excited to come across this pattern, I first saw it on Instagram on Leonela Cevallos’s page. She makes beautiful crochet things! I immediately knew I had to try it out. Leonela has a YouTube channel, Leonela Cevallos, she shares this pattern with us in one of her videos. She does a great job with all the details. Thank you Leonela for sharing this beautiful pattern with us for free.

It is a simple-to-follow pattern, all you need to know is:

: How to make a Magic circle (MC)

: Chain(CH)

: Single crochet (SC)

: Half double crochet (HDC)

: Double crochet (DC)

: Slip stitch (SL)

If you are a beginner or want to learn to crochet, please check out my blog posts on learning how to crochet

and Learn the Basic Crochet Stitches

WHAT SUPPLIES DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE CROCHET FLOWER COASTERS?

Crochet hook size 4.5mm

Cotton yarn (I am using I love this Cotton Yarn from Hobby Lobby)

Yarn needle

Scissors

These are my Amazon Picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

Sign up for a ONE-month free trial using my link below!

You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you for your support!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE CROCHET FLOWER COASTERS?

This is not my pattern, so I cannot write it on my page, however, I am providing the link to Leonela’s video, Crochet Tutorial: How to make quick and easy crochet flower coasters.

Do watch the video and learn how to crochet these beautiful coasters.

If you want the written pattern, Leonela has provided a detailed blog post with step-by-step pictures which you can find here Crochet Flower Coasters

You can use different color combinations. This is by far the easiest and best-looking flower coaster tutorial that I have tried.

Once you make a few and learn the pattern, you can easily make one in under 15 minutes.

I loved the ease of this pattern so much, I made so many color combinations as you can see!

Notes:

Use cotton yarn if you are using these as coasters. They are washable and reusable. Acrylic yarn is not recommended and is not usually used when making coasters, hot pads, or trivets as they are not heat resistant.

You could make these flowers and string them together to create a flower garland to decorate your home, it would look very pretty especially in a girl’s room.

If you want to make the flowers smaller or bigger just use a thinner yarn with a smaller hook or a thicker yarn with a bigger hook. This holds good for any crochet project.

Weave in your ends in 3 different directions so that they are secure even if washed.

TIP: To keep your yarn needle and scissors together, add a magnet to your scissors, you will never lose your needle! (You can see my picture above in supplies needed) Let me know if this tip was helpful!

Hope you will try these out, I promise you that this is one of the easiest and best flower coaster patterns I have tried.

If you happen to try them out please share and tag the original creator Leonela Cevallos. Also share with me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram @lovetostayhome. You can leave me a comment down below, I love hearing from you and will surely respond.

If you love to crochet and need some tried and tested patterns to inspire you, check out some of my other blog posts:

5 Easy Crochet Scrunchies

Easy Crochet Pumpkins

Granny Square Flower Crochet Bag

10 Crochet Coaster Patterns

Sunflower Crochet Coasters

Spring Flower Crochet Garland

Crochet Car Coasters

Crochet Keychains & Wristlets

3 Easy Crochet Bookmarks

5 Useful Crochet Projects

Thank you for reading and hope you have a wonderful and creative day!!

Photo by Alysha Rosly on Unsplash

Macrame

DIY Macrame Mini Plant Hanger

April 11, 2023 No Comments

DIY Macrame Mini Plant Hangers are such a great way to spruce up your space! Easy to make and these mini plant hangers need just a little bit of cord. Even if you are a beginner to macrame, it is possible to make this cute plant hanger.

If you are new to Macrame and would like to learn, do check out my post on 10 fun hobbies to do at home. Macrame is one of them, I have lots of fun resources for you to start your journey. I recently started learning macrame myself and cannot get enough of it! It is a great hobby to have and the variety of things you can create with it are endless. It is just a question of learning the different knots and practicing.

These macrame plant hangers are perfect in a small space.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS DIY MACRAME MINI PLANT HANGER?

Macrame Cord 3MM COTTON CORD ( I use the recycled 3mm cotton cord from Gannxet.com)

Wooden Ring – 4.5cm wooden ring (Amazon or craft stores)

Scissors

S-Hook (optional)

Brush or comb

These are my Amazon Picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS DIY MINI MACRAME PLANT HANGER?

This is a tutorial that I followed on YouTube by Rox Shana. (The link to her video is below) She has many great Macrame Tutorials.

Place your wooden ring on an S hook hanging on a rod (clothes rack or closet rod). An alternative could be to tape the wooden ring on a tabletop.

Cut the cords required. You will need 6 cords of 120cms each.

Attach the cords to the wooden ring, by finding the center and looping the cords through. Secure the cords with a gathering knot.

Start by tying spiral knots and follow the pattern. Using 4 cords at a time tie spiral knots. (I did about 4 to 5 rows). Do the same with the rest of the cords.

Next, you will tie a square knot using 2 cords from one set and 2 cords from another set. Tie the square knot a little lower than the previous rows of spiral knots.

At the end leave a little space and make sure your pot fits in it, then use a gathering knot to tie the bottom cords together. Brush out the tassel and trim. You can leave the bottom cords without brushing them out, it is entirely up to you.

If you like to watch a video to learn, you can find the video I mentioned by Rox Shana on YouTube, Macrame Plant Holder.

Her video has 3 plant hanger tutorials. However, the one that I made is the 2nd tutorial.

NOTES:

If you do not have a wooden ring, you can start without one. You can use some macrame cord to make a loop as your ring. You can watch 3 Macrame Plant Hanger Ideas without a ring to see how it is done.

The little pots that I found are from the dollar spot at Target, you can get cute little pots from Ikea too. I am sure I’ve seen similar ones at Dollar Tree too! There are some cute mini plant pots on Amazon too.

Here are other Macrame Posts that you might enjoy:

Simple Macrame Wall Hanging

Recycled Macrame Frames

DIY Decorative Macrame Jars/Vases

Simple Macrame Feathers

Macrame Spiral Wristlets

Macrame Bookmarks

Easy Macrame Coasters

Macrame Keychains

Hope you will try out this cute Macrame Mini Plant Hanger, if you do please leave a comment below and share a picture with me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.

Do follow me on all or any of these platforms @lovetostayhomeblog to know when there is a new post!

Thank you for reading, I appreciate each and every one of you! Have a great day!

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Crochet

5 Easy Crochet Scrunchies

January 20, 2023 No Comments

Here are 5 easy crochet scrunchies for you to try. Even if you are a beginner at crochet, you can make scrunchies.

A great scrap yarn project are scrunchies. They are quick, easy, and require a small amount of yarn. They are also great for selling at markets or to give as gifts.

With so many different types of yarn available, you can try scrunchies with different textures. Right now faux fur yarn scrunchies are quite popular. Velvet Scrunchies are so soft and cozy.

So use up all your scraps to make a few or many scrunchies in no time at all!

I tried 5 patterns and would like to share them with all of you.

What do you need to make Crochet Scrunchies?

Yarn

Crochet hook

Hair elastics or ties

Yarn needle

Scissors

These are my Amazon Picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it really does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

How do you make these Scrunchies?

Scrunchie 1

You can use any yarn and appropriate hook. I used velvet yarn from Hobby Lobby and a 5mm crochet hook.

This scrunchie is super simple! All you have to do is attach the yarn to the hair tie, Ch 3, and double crochet around 50-55 times around the hair tie. Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning 3 chains. Leave a little yarn, the cut. To finish off, tighten the yarn tail. Using a yarn needle, weave it down to meet the beginning yarn tail. Make two tight knots, weave in the extra yarn, and cut the excess.

Your scrunchie is ready!

1987 Scrunchie

This is a paid pattern by Christina at Christina Ann Studios.

I love all of Christina’s patterns. They are simple and modern.

Head over to her Etsy or website to purchase the pattern.

You can make this scrunchie with any type of yarn, I tried cotton and velvet yarn and used a 4.5mm hook.

If you’d rather buy the scrunchies, they are available in my shop in sets of 2.

Here is a link to my shop: Happy Knots and Loops

Scrunchies 3

Star scrunchie is a cute free pattern by Crochetboss

At the time of writing this blog post, it seems that the Crochetboss website is down. But I wanted to share because I thought this is a really cute pattern.

It is very easy and quick to make. It would be perfect for Christmas or even year-round.

I tried to recreate the pattern but it didn’t quite turn out exactly how I wanted it. But I will share how I did it, in case you want to try. I used velvet yarn from Hobby Lobby and a 5mm hook.

Attach the yarn to the hair tie. Chain 1, *(1 sc,1 dc, 1 treble crochet, 3 chains, 1 treble crochet, 1 dc, 1 sc) slip st into center of hair tie, repeat pattern (*) all around 7 or 8 times.

Finish off.

Scrunchie 4

This scrunchie is a free pattern on Pinterest, it is a diagram that I followed, you can find it here.

100% Cotton yarn was used with a 4.5mm crochet hook.

Scrunchies 5

Another super easy pattern! This scrunchie is made by crocheting treble crochet about 50 to 55 times into the hair tie. Start with a slip knot and chain 3, and treble crochet around. Finish off with a slip stitch into 3rd chain of the beginning 3 chains. Weave in ends.

These scrunchies were made using plush velvet yarn from Hobby Lobby and a 5mm hook.

Notes:

For all the scrunchies you start the same way by making a slip knot, then attach it to your hair tie. I have seen some people tying a knot onto the hair tie and starting off, but I prefer the method I mentioned above.

As you crochet around, move the stitches closer so you have more place to crochet. A good rule of thumb to know when you have done enough stitches is to stretch the hair tie if you see the hair tie then crochet a few more stitches, but if the hair tie is fully covered then it’s good enough.

To finish off, I cut the yarn and tighten it. Using a yarn needle weave the end down to the starting tail. Make 2 knots with both tails. Weave in the extra yarn under a few stitches and cut the extra yarn off. When you stretch the scrunchie you shouldn’t be able to see the tails.

Hope you enjoyed reading about these easy scrunchies. If you try any of them, do share a picture with me on Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram. Also please leave a comment down below. I would love to hear from you.

Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook @lovetostayhomeblog

If you like to crochet I have lots of easy projects, you can check them out:

3 Easy Crochet Bookmarks

10 Crochet Coaster Patterns

Granny Square Flower Crochet Bag

Easy Crochet Bows

10 Free and Easy Crochet Flower Patterns

Crochet Keychains & Wristlets

Easy Crochet Hair Accessories

If you’d like to learn, I encourage you to! It’s such a great hobby to have!

Check out my beginner crochet posts:

Learn How to Crochet

Learn the Basic Crochet Stitches

Thank you for looking and I am grateful that you are here.

Have a wonderful and creative day friends!

Art/Crafts & DIY

Simple DIY Felt Christmas Trees

November 29, 2022 No Comments

Simple DIY Felt Christmas Trees are a simple yet stylish way to decorate your home this Christmas. It is the most exciting time of the year in my opinion! Have you already decorated your home for Christmas? I think decorating your home makes it all the more special just to create that holiday spirit and cozy feeling.

Home Decor can get expensive, so handmade is the way to go!

A simple way to decorate is by grouping these cute felt Christmas trees on a table, shelf, etc. First of all, they are easy to make, and most importantly they do not cost a lot of money. If you already have felt and construction paper, you can make them right away!

You can make them in different colors depending on your decor and use them every year in your home. Grab your supplies and let’s get started!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE FELT CHRISTMAS TREES?

Sequins, buttons, ribbon, etc. (optional)

These are my Amazon Picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE SIMPLE FELT TREES?

Make a cone out of the paper, making sure the bottom is flat and it stands on its own. Check out this video by Handimania to make a perfect paper cone!

Cut simple leaf shapes from the felt. This can be done freehand, that’s how I did it. If you would like you can cut a template out of cardboard and use it to cut all the leaves.

The Paper cone and felt leaves are ready

Once the leaves are cut, all you have to do is start gluing them all around the paper cone. Make sure they overlap, so you do not see the paper cone.

For the bottom, the leaves are half on the cone and the rest is out, this makes it easier for the cone to stand and also for the cone to be completely covered with leaves.

Paper cone with felt leaves — The paper cone with the first layer of felt leaves

Keep gluing the leaves until the entire cone is covered. Start from the bottom to the top.

Felt Christmas tree — All the leaves glued onto the paper cone

Decorate with sequins, ribbon, buttons, tinsel, etc (optional)

That’s it! Display your felt trees

NOTES:

You can use thick felt which will last longer, however, I used the regular felt that I got in Micheals.

If you do not want to bother with making your own cone, you can use styrofoam cones found in craft stores, this makes your project more expensive though.

You can glue a star or bow on top of the tree.

There are many ways to decorate your tree by using sequins, ribbon, tinsel, felt, beads, etc.

If you need other ideas this Christmas, check these out:

Felt Christmas Tree Garland

DIY Felt Christmas Ornaments

Easy Wooden Bead Christmas Ornaments

Snowman Wooden Bead Ornaments

Thank you for reading. If you try them out, please share a picture with me on Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram. You can find my blog on all 3 platforms @lovetostayhomeblog. Do follow me if you like, so that you will know when I have a new post out.

I appreciate you being here. Have a wonderful and creative day!

Photo by Hester Qiang on Unsplash

Crochet

Easy Crochet Pumpkins

September 29, 2022 No Comments

Crochet Pumpkins are all the rage right now!! You can find them all over Pinterest. I am not surprised that they are so popular as they are so easy to make and will last a lifetime! Besides that, they are handmade, can be made in any color of your choice and they look great sitting on a shelf, mantel, or table in your home. Beautiful home decor on a budget is what I am talking about!

So make some crochet pumpkins to add to your home this fall! These pumpkins can be made in different sizes and stacked too! Group them together for a fun display in your home.
Make them farmhouse style by choosing some neutral colors. I love the texture and ribbed effect of these pumpkins and hope you do too.

You can have a variety of stems for your pumpkins. For example, use twigs, cinnamon sticks, wooden dowels, crocheted stems, etc.

If you wish you can add crocheted leaves or felt leaves. However, I kept it simple and tied a jute string around the stem in a bow.

There are many ways to customize your pumpkins and make them your own.

There are several patterns out there. But as usual, I like to find the easiest and quickest one! As a busy mom, time is precious and the less time it takes to make something the better, right??!

So let’s get to the pattern, but first:

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE EASY CROCHET PUMPKINS?

Yarn – plain colors, variegated, chunky yarn. The yarn I used is from Hobby Lobby, it is acrylic yarn in autumn shades. The thicker the better, it makes it chunky and cute! I do not recommend using fine yarn or sport-weight yarn.

Crochet hook – 5mm or 5.5mm ( or use the recommended size for the yarn you are using)

Scissors

Yarn needle

Polyfill or scrap yarn or felt

For the stem – sticks, cinnamon sticks, or a dowel rod. ( I used some dried twigs from my backyard)

Twine ( optional)

These are my Amazon Picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE EASY CROCHET PUMPKINS?

I followed this Easy Ribbed Pumpkin pattern by Erica of 5littlemonsters.com. She has a video tutorial too if watching and learning is more your style. Please visit her website to get the detailed pattern.

Thank you to Erica for this super easy pattern!

The ribbed effect looks so good and I knew I had to make these!

To make these pumpkins you need to know how to:

Make a slip- knot

Chain

HDC (half double crochet) in the back loops.

That’s it!! Super easy even for beginners!

So basically you make a rectangle as big or small as you want. Then, whip stitch the bottom, pull the yarn, and close it up. Stuff the pumpkin with polyfill or scrap yarn.
Whipstitch the top and pull tight leaving a little opening for the stem. Using the yarn needle go down and up and sort of shape it like a pumpkin.

Add your stem, you can hot glue it or just stick it in there. Optional: Tie a bow with a jute string, some yarn, or ribbon if desired. I think it took me about an hour to make one.

That’s it!! Make more and display them all over your home!

If you do not crochet and would like to learn, please check out my beginner posts:

Learn How to Crochet

Learn the Basic Crochet Stitches

If you would like to make cute mini pumpkins, I already have a post of these crochet mini pumpkins.

These mini pumpkins are made amigurumi style though. For mini pumpkins it is ok, but to make larger ones I preferred the method of making a big piece and making a pumpkin as I am not a fan of stitching in the round!

I still have some DIY pumpkins for you even if you are not a fan of crochet!

Easy DIY Felt Pumpkins

Easy Thumbtack Pumpkins

Hope you liked reading about these simple crochet pumpkins, if you try them out please let me know in the comments below, I love hearing from you! Do share a picture on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag the original pattern creator too.

Lovetostayhome is on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook, please follow me @lovetostayhomeblog to know when I have a new post out. In the meantime please come back to visit my blog for easy recipes, DIYs, crochet, and macrame posts.

Thanks for being here, I truly appreciate you!

Have a wonderful day friends!

Photo by Diana Schröder-Bode on Unsplash

Crochet

3 Easy Crochet Bookmarks

September 1, 2022 No Comments

Crochet bookmarks are a quick and easy project. You can use up any scrap yarn or embroidery thread lying around.

These bookmarks make great gifts for any book lovers in your life. You could easily pair any one of these bookmarks with a good book, that would be a great gift for anyone who loves reading.

They are useful and beautiful at the same time. All 3 patterns are free and have YouTube tutorials, so even if you are a beginner, you can do it!

Since these are small fast projects, they make good items to sell at craft fairs as they can also be sold at a lower price point.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE CROCHET BOOKMARKS?

Yarn, crochet thread, or embroidery thread

Crochet hook

Scissors

Stiffening spray (optional)

These are my Amazon picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

HOW DO YOU CROCHET THESE EASY BOOKMARKS?

CROCHET CROSS BOOKMARKS:

These crochet cross bookmarks are easy to make. The pattern I followed is from a YouTube video by Anutha – The Crochet World.

The pattern is simple and straight-forward. You could make one in about 10 minutes!

I used a yarn I found at Joann’s craft store. You can add extras as I did. I attached around 6 strands of thread to give it a tassel look at the bottom. For the top, I added 6 strands of thread and braided them.

PRESSED FLOWER BOOKMARKS:

These bookmarks are so pretty, you cannot help but love them! They are made using a pattern by Hooked in Loops YouTube channel

The only thing that I did differently was to attach the tassel with a jump ring instead of a stitch, I found that looked better and was more sturdy.

I used size 10 crochet thread and a 1.5mm crochet hook.

If you would like to learn how to make a tassel, please look at this post: DIY Tassel Earrings

These bookmarks will be in my shop soon!

Update: These cute bookmarks are available now in my Etsy shop! Check them out Pressed Flower Crochet Bookmarks.

DANDELION BOOKMARKS:

This bookmark has a flower on both ends. Isn’t it pretty? I had to try it out when I saw it! This pattern is by Crafting with Caylene. You can watch her YouTube Video by clicking on the link.

I used cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby and a 3.75mm crochet hook.

I do hope you liked these easy crochet bookmark patterns. Thank you to the pattern creators for sharing these with us for free!

If you happen to try these out, please share a picture with the pattern creators and me on Instagram or Facebook.

Lovetostayhome is on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK. Please follow me @lovetostayhomeblog if you would like updates when I post something new.

Before you go, do check out more simple and easy Crochet Projects:

Easy Crochet Bows

Crochet Christmas Earrings (All free patterns!)

Granny Square Flower Crochet Bag

Sunflower Crochet Coasters

10 Free and Easy Crochet Flower Patterns

Crochet Car Coasters

Crochet Keychains & Wristlets

3 Easy Crochet Potholders

Easy Crochet Hair Accessories

10 Easy Crochet Earrings (All Free Patterns!)

Thank you for being here! Have a wonderful day!

Photo by Ashwini Chaudhary(Monty) on Unsplash

Crochet

10 Crochet Coaster Patterns

August 16, 2022 No Comments

This collection of 10 Beautiful Crochet Coaster Patterns are easy to make and you can have a different set for every season or every room of your home. They brighten up a home and add that personal touch to your space.

There are so many beautiful coaster patterns available for free online. This post is all about the crochet coasters I have tried. I have searched Pinterest and Google countless times and saved many many patterns!! But these are the ones that I loved most.

All these patterns are free except for the beautiful tulip coaster which is a paid pattern. It is just so beautiful, I had to buy it and try it out!

Most of them are beginner-friendly patterns. No matter what your style there is a pretty coaster for you!

Make them in sets of 2, 4, or 6. These make great gifts too!! And very quick to make!! I love small and useful projects like this.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE CROCHET COASTERS?

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE CROCHET COASTERS?

SUNFLOWER COASTERS

These beautiful and bright sunflower coasters have an entire post dedicated to them! You can see how I made them in my Sunflower Crochet Coasters Post

Sunflower coasters are also available in my shop, visit my shop Happy Knots and Loops to have a look at them.

I tried another Sunflower Coaster from Tonya at nanascraftyhome.com.

I preferred the look of the first pattern, but if you like this one, go ahead and try it out.

TULIP COASTERS

Tulips are such beautiful flowers. While browsing Pinterest, I came across these gorgeous Tulip Coasters by Golden Lucy Crafts. I just had to make them as they instantly caught my eye!

This is a paid pattern and definitely worth every dollar spent. Olena from Golden Lucy Crafts has written the pattern very well and her step-by-step pictures are very helpful.

If you would like to get this pattern visit Golden Lucy Crafts on Etsy.

Check out her other patterns too while you are there, she has a great collection of patterns!

PUFF COASTERS

This Coaster as it says is simple and looks farmhouse chic! You can find the free pattern at SigoniMacaroni.com

She has a super helpful video too on how to make these coasters.

BOHO HEXAGON COASTER

These coasters are really cute. The hexagon shape and the tassels make it quite different from other coasters. They are one of the easiest coasters to make.

Find the free pattern on TrulyCrochet.com

This pattern was also part of my blog post on Red, White, and Blue Independence Day Coasters.

DARCIE MUG RUGS

I love the texture and look of these mug rugs. They are so functional and look great anywhere in your home. These rugs can be used not only for mugs but for candles, plant pots, trinket trays., etc.

The free pattern is by Amanda from LoveandStitch.com.

Amanda has beautiful patterns on her blog, do check them out while you are there.

These mug rugs were part of another blog post of mine, 5 Useful Crochet Projects

HEXIE LOVE COASTERS

The pattern for these coasters is a chart I found on Pinterest.

Of course, these hexagons can be joined together to make many things but I decided to just make them into a set of coasters.

MANDALA COASTERS

These mandala coasters are simple and beautiful. The free pattern is by Ling at HookedonPatterns.com

Ling has used a different color for each row and they look really great! I tried them with a variegated yarn that I had in my stash.

CANDY FLOWER COASTERS

This is a free pattern by redagapeblog.com. You can find the pin here.

For some reason I am not able to link the pattern itself, please visit the blog and search for the coaster pattern if you would like to try it out.

DAISY FLOWER COASTERS

How pretty are these coasters? I just love these and they are quite easy to make. This is a free pattern by Heather of hayhaycrochet.com

Beginner Friendly Daisy Flower Coaster

She also has a video tutorial which is always helpful if you are a beginner.

SIMPLE COASTERS

This coaster is made using a crochet diagram that I found here on Pinterest. For this coaster set, I used a size 5 thread in Blue.

However, this can be made using cotton yarn, your coaster would be bigger depending on the size of the yarn and hook.

BONUS PATTERN! OMBRE COASTERS

I loved the look of these coasters, that’s why I am including them as a bonus! The pattern is from Marinke, you can find her free pattern here.

I used cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby for these coasters.

I hope you like this collection of crochet coasters. Comment below which one is your favorite!! I would love to hear from you!

If you would like to see more easy crochet projects, here are some that make great gifts:

Granny Square Flower Crochet Bag

Easy Crochet Bows

Crochet Car Coasters

3 Easy Crochet Potholders

Crochet Christmas Earrings (All free patterns!)

Crochet Keychains & Wristlets

Beginner Velvet Crochet Scarf

Easy Crochet Hair Accessories

10 Easy Crochet Earrings (All Free Patterns!)

Please follow me on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK @lovetostayhomeblog. That is the best way to know when I have a new post out.

Thank you for visiting my blog, I am so happy you are here.

Have a wonderful day friends!

Crochet

Granny Square Flower Crochet Bag

July 26, 2022 2 Comments

This Granny Square Flower Crochet Bag is so cute and makes a great gift. It’s easy to make and it can be done in a couple of hours!

You need to know how to make puff stitches and cluster stitches. But it is very well explained in the pattern, so even if you are a beginner I think you can make this crochet bag!

This bag would make a nice gift for any little girl in your life!

I have always wondered why this motif is called a Granny Square! If you are also curious like me, here is an explanation by Confessions of a Yarn-O-Holic

Interesting isn’t it?!

If you do not know how to crochet and would like to learn, do check out my beginner posts:

Learn How to Crochet

Learn the Basic Crochet Stitches

Granny squares can be used to make blankets, bags, clothes, table cloths, and even bed covers!! They are easy to make and you can make them in different color combinations. You can make them with flowers in the center or just different colors, either way, they look great!

Here is a great tutorial from Spruce Crafts to make a beginner Granny Square.

This project has been on my to-do list for the longest time and I finally got down to making it. I am really happy with the way it turned out. The only thing I might add is maybe a lining for the inside of the bag with some cotton material.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS GRANNY SQUARE CROCHET BAG?

Crochet hook, size 5mm

Scissors

Yarn 3 colors ( You can use cotton or acrylic yarn) The yarn I used is I love this cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby.

Yarn needle

These are my Amazon Picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS GRANNY SQUARE CROCHET BAG?

Flower Granny Square Bag:

There are several free patterns on Pinterest. Believe me, I have looked and saved so many!! But in the end, I always share only the patterns I like and are easy to make.

I followed this particular free pattern on Ravelry by Caitlin Simmonds, you can find it here.

It is a great pattern and has lots of positive reviews. The original pattern has a drawstring closure but I chose to leave this one open.

To put it very simply, just make 2 Granny squares and join them together. Next, make a simple handle. For the handle, I skipped the part of making single crochets in each stitch across, but next time I would do that as it makes the handle stronger.

It works up fast and does not use much yarn.

The finished bag measures 6 inches by 6 inches. From the top of the handle to the top of the bag measures 22 inches. That is great for a cross-body bag.

Sunflower Drawstring Crochet Bag:

Who does not like Sunflowers?! Sunflowers are beautiful and brighten up anything! The original pattern by Caitlin is called Sunflower Drawstring Bag.

For this one, I followed the same pattern mentioned above but used different colors. The only other change I made was, that I stopped at row 5.

I added the drawstring closure like in the original pattern.

For the handle, I followed the exact instructions and it is definitely more sturdy. In all honesty, I found the row of single crochets rather hard to do as my stitches were tight. So, from my experience, make the crochet chains and slip stitches a bit lose so that you can single crochet into them easier.

This finished bag measures 5.5inches by 5.5inches. The handle measures 16inches from the top of the handle to the top of the bag.

If you are interested in making a bigger tote bag, check out this Sunflower Granny Square Tote Bag by CraftedbyCat.com. It is super cute and is on my list of “must try” patterns!

Hope you enjoyed reading about this cute little handmade crochet bag. If you do try it out, let me know in the comments below.

Also, do share a picture and tag the original creator of this pattern Caitlin Simmonds. Thank you to Caitlin for sharing her pattern for free!

I have lots of easy crochet projects on my blog, do check them out:

A lot of these projects are quick, easy, and make great handmade gifts!

Easy Crochet Bows

Sunflower Crochet Coasters

10 Free and Easy Crochet Flower Patterns

Spring Flower Crochet Garland

Crochet Car Coasters

Crochet Keychains & Wristlets

3 Easy Crochet Potholders

Mini Crochet Pumpkins

Easy Crochet Hair Accessories

Crochet Christmas Earrings (All free patterns!)

10 Easy Crochet Earrings (All Free Patterns!)

5 Useful Crochet Projects

Lovetostayhome is on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, please follow me to know when I have a new post out. Thank you for your support.

Come back again soon and check out my other posts, I have lots of crochet projects, macrame, DIY, and recipes.

Have a wonderful and creative day!

Photo by Katrina Wright on Unsplash

Art/Crafts & DIY

Embroidered Hoops

July 14, 2022 4 Comments

Embroidered Hoops are beautiful to look at and easy to make. You can display them in your home for a handmade touch. They make great gifts too. The fun part about embroidery is you can draw your own designs, and choose your own colors and stitches. In fact, the whole process is therapeutic from the beginning till the end!

Embroidery is a great hobby to have, it’s very relaxing. There is just something about working with a needle and thread to create something beautiful with your hands. It is very satisfying and basically, it’s like painting with thread!

I love all things art and craft. In fact, I have a full blog post about 10 fun Hobbies to do at home, and embroidery is one of them. Check it out if you would like some ideas on how to spend your time creatively.

Bunny Blooms Embroidery — This pattern is Bunny Blooms by Julie of Clever Poppy

My Inspiration:

My love for embroidery was rekindled after I joined a free workshop by Julie, creator of Clever Poppy. She is a wonderful person and the workshop was a lot of fun, her pattern is adorable. It is called Bunny Blooms. She was so involved with the group and her skills are amazing. I highly recommend her workshops if you are new to embroidery, she is a fantastic teacher.

Julie has a Maker’s Academy where you could join for a monthly membership and she teaches embroidery, punch needle, weaving, etc. You can visit her website to see her beautiful work and learn more about what she offers.

After this workshop, I just started doing embroidery on my own and couldn’t stop! I have just loved creating more embroidered hoops. A big thank you to Julie for inspiring me and so many other women to take the time to be creative.

So I thought I should write about it, and hopefully inspire a few people to start their journey with embroidery! I assure you, that you will love it!

What do you need to start Embroidery?

Embroidery Floss ( I have a combination of DMC Floss and some floss I found on Amazon )

Embroidery Hoops ( You can find hoops at your local craft store. I found mine at Hobby Lobby and Micheals) The hoops I used are mostly 6 inches and 8 inches, the one pictured above is 3 inches as I only had that one left at the time of taking this picture.

Scissors

Cotton or Linen Cloth

Embroidery Needles

Heat erasable pen or Water Soluble Pen ( I found a water-soluble pen at Micheals )

Magnetic Needle Minder (optional but very helpful) (An alternative is putting a magnet on your scissors so your needles will always be with the scissors, that’s what I have done)

Needle threader (optional but helpful)

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it really does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

If you are not a Prime member but would like to try Prime free for 30 days, please use my link to sign up. You can get all the benefits of being a Prime member for 30 days, and cancel after 30 days without any charge! Do try it out. Thank you!

Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

How do you start your Embroidery Hoop?

Design:

The first thing is deciding on your design. There are lots of free patterns to start with. You could even design your very own pattern if you like to draw!

Here are a few websites where you can find free patterns:

Diana Vingert has a You tube channel and you can stitch along with her. She has some beautiful free patterns including the one that you see above. You can find her free patterns here.

The above pattern is free and can be found on PamashDesigns.com

Hoop:

Next, you decide on the size of hoop you need, which of course depends on your pattern. The most common are 6-inch and 8-inch hoops.

There are many options when it comes to hoops. There are different sizes and shapes. Also, you get hoops made out of wood, bamboo, plastic, etc.

So it is your preference that matters.

Cloth:

The cloth or material you use is really important. The most common and recommended material is cotton or linen.

Cut your cloth a little bigger than the size of your hoop.

Pattern transfer:

Trace your pattern onto a piece of paper the same size as your hoop. (This is how I did it.)

Or print out a free pattern and cut it down to the size of the hoop

Cut out your pattern. Stick the paper to the underneath of the hoop with tape. Using a pen, transfer the pattern onto the cloth. It will be easier if you hold it up against a light. I used a water-soluble pen for all my designs.

Another method is using carbon paper or a heat-erasable pen.

Spring embroidery hoop — This was done by my 14-year-old daughter. It was her first embroidery project. I designed it myself by combining elements of different patterns.

Choosing your color palette:

Once the pattern is traced or drawn, it’s time to choose your colors of floss.

Flowers embroidery hoop — I just drew out this pattern myself, designing your own patterns is quite easy.

Picking the right colors makes all the difference! I am no expert at this and I am still learning. I sometimes just go with the colors suggested by the pattern creator.

Finally the most exciting part – Starting your Embroidery!

Start stitching your design!

You can use your own stitches, there are so many different types. The most common ones are backstitch, lazy daisy, chain stitch, satin stitch, stem stitch, woven rose, and french knots.

However, there are many more that you can learn as you go along. It is all about practice!

If you are new to embroidery, For basic embroidery stitches you can watch this video by DIY Stitching.

The above free pattern is from Sublime Stitching, you have to sign up with your email address and you get a password to get free patterns. For this one, I stitched it differently than the original.

Finishing your embroidery hoop:

Once you are finished stitching your design. You have to erase any visible masks made by the pen. In my case, since I used a water-soluble pen, I just sprinkled water wherever I could see the marks, and they just disappeared like magic! If you use a heat erasable pen, just use a hair dryer to make the marks go away.

After that is done, the last step is making sure the extra fabric on the back is taken care of. For that, all you need to do is, thread a needle with some thread ( I used strong thread that you use with a sewing machine), tie a knot at one end, and make a series of running stitches all around the edge of the fabric. When you are done, pull the thread so all the fabric gets bunched together at the back of the hoop, end with a knot, and cut off the extra thread.

If you would like to go the extra mile, you could cut a round piece of fabric or sturdy paper and place it on the back of the hoop to hide the back of your work. Do this before you do the running stitch, so it is secure.

That’s it! Now you can display your work proudly or give it as a gift!

Here are a few YouTube channels to help you on your journey:

DIY Stitching

HandiWorks

Diana Vingert

I follow some incredible women on Instagram, if you are on Instagram, do check them out:

Clever Poppy

Matryoshka Doll Shop

Flynn and Mabel

Diana Vingert

Bek’s Stitches

Hope you enjoyed reading this post, I hope you do get inspired to start your journey in this art with all its amazing benefits. Take some time for yourself to create a masterpiece or many masterpieces!

Do share your finished projects on Instagram or Facebook if you can. Lovetostayhome is on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Please follow me @lovetostayhomeblog to know when I have a new post out. Also, you can comment below, I love hearing from you.