Warm weather calls for...

So let's see this to me I'd say calls for food, friends, beach, sand and oh wait! Cute accessories to wear!

So let's start off with one of my favorites: choker necklace made of cotton or hemp(macreme). Then some earrings maybe an ankle bracelet or barefoot sandal and a couple of boho chic crochet bracelets and maybe finish it off with a cute flower barrette. Talk about bohochic cuteness!

I believe that you can wear accessories that will play well in the hot weather. You don't want something heavy that's going to drive you crazy because it's humid outside and hey you know yourself if you're anything like me you will want to rip it off cause you're annoyed that it's hot and clunky and you won't want to wear anything.

Well I can tell you that my style of making jewelry has always been to make things that not only will make you look cute and relaxed but you can definitely wear it anytime of the year it just all depends on how you want to dress up or down your outfit.

What I make I feel and believe in strongly it will keep looking cute and fabulous.  Here I am showing you a couple of crochet seed bead bracelets, a very chic pair of crochet earrings with hand sewn seed beads as well. All the key components I mentioned in the beginning to make your outfit.

I used Aunt Lydia's crochet thread #3/yarn for the earrings - which I normally find a variety of colors and thread size at Jo-Ann Fabric. As for the embroidery floss/thread for the bracelets I find a big variety at Michaels.

Remember hot weather doesn't mean no accessories...just find the right pieces that will work well with the weather.

Follow me and my blog...help local small businesses make a difference.

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop

Crochet Clutch Purses

I have been crocheting purses now a while and I can tell you I do not get tired of creating these.

I like going to my local AC Moore craft store and going to this huge basket where they have some of the coolest acrylic yarn. I find yarn that you normally would not find in your regular yarn shelf.  Which is ok with me because it allows me to make a one-of-a-kind purse (hence the brown ombre you see here).

I have found that my cool buttons for my bigger purses I find online at Joann’s Fabric.

Each of these have a cotton fabric lining which I have sewn by hand.  The only thing I do use the sewing machine for is for sewing the lining to the zipper (which I do first) I sew the button to the outside of the purse before I sew the lining directly to the purse. 

All of these beautiful creations I always crochet in the same stitch (1/2 double crochet) to give it a more tight look.

All of my crocheted creations are made with care. Item comes from a non-smoking home. Hand washing is recommended and line dry preferably. 

I hope you have the time to make some of these for yourself or to give as a gift or even sell them.. Be adventurous with your creations.

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop 

Crochet Shawls

Crochet Shawl by Yolanda's Creations

Depending on your choice of style, this self-shaping rectangle shawl can be worked thick and warm for winter or delicate and lacy for a summer evening.  I started making these when I just feel in love with the way they could be worn and how they felt wrapped around me.

I have made others in the similar style but different colors and yarn.  Most of mine will measure approximately 52Lx14W.  It definitely will and can take about 5-6 skeins of yarn.

Crochet Shawl by Yolanda's Creations

Depending on the yarn type you to make your shawl I would say not to machine dry.  You definitely can machine wash it in cold water and line dry or if you prefer the drier put it in for a very short period.


I also would dress it up with a wooden shawl pin.  All of mine I purchased at Lion Brand Yarn.  You can get them pretty much anywhere but I liked the ones I saw here and got most of mine from LB.

You can add fringes at the ends if you want to add more character to your shawls…my next one will have those (currently my ponchos all have fringes).

These are perfect for gifts as well.  It’s simple and practical and just pretty! 

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop 

Crochet Boot Cuffs...accessorize your boots!

Awhile back I wrote about my crochet boot cuffs.  So I have some more to show you.  As I had mentioned before that I had seen these in a store  and of course I had to make some for myself.

Boot Cuff by Yolanda's Creations

These here you can make them a bit longer to cover some of your calf like a leg warmer.  However depending on the width of your calf I would just stick to making them as a cuff to show it off on the top of your boot.  I tell you this is a great idea ..again you can use left over yarn that will be enough to make a pair.

Measure your calf around to make sure you are going to give yourself enough of a stretch when you put them on if you don’t they will be too tight. 

Boot Cuff by Yolanda's Creations

So I crochet a simple single crochet til I get about 2 inches wide (this part you don't see it's covered inside the boot) and then I did a cluster crochet stitch (appx 18 rows of this) which is the part you see outside of the boot.  Both cuffs I used acrylic yarn from Red Heart of which I purchased at AC Moore.

Make these in any color yarn you like.  Again, I used leftover yarn that actually would give enough to make a pair and if not hey by all means use a new skein of yarn that is perfectly fine too.


Enjoy making these and sharing them with friends for the holidays.

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop 

Creative PaperClips

I enjoy crafting.  When I discovered that I could do more with paperclips then hold papers I was coming up with all sorts of ideas.

My favorite one is gluing crochet flowers on colorful paperclips.  You can use it to hold papers and even better yet you can use it as a bookmark.  I like making these as simple or as funky as possible.

I purchased my colorful paperclips from Staples.  They had all of these colorful vinyl-coated metal jumbo clips in these small 3x3 boxes at the check out counter (purple, orange, yellow) I just had to buy them.

So I basically take my pretty crochet flowers, cut a piece of felt (I purchased mine at AC Moore they measure about 9x12)to match the dimension of the flower, use my hot glue gun (or you can use craft flue), I glue the clip on top of the felt piece then glue the flower on top.  I put something heavy on it to ensure it glues all the way.

Once you are done you are ready to use your creative paper clip.  Use for your own personal self of hand them out as a little gift at your next craft show. 

Have fun making these even with buttons.  Use the same concept as the crochet flower. Who ever said a paperclip has to be boring! 

Follow me and my blog...help local small businesses make a difference.

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop

Crochet Necklace/Bracelet

crochet necklace bracelet,
color: rust thread
amber gold seed beads

Here is something very cute and dainty and I love making these! I love the fact that I can wear it as a necklace or as a wrap around bracelet.



Since I am trying to incorporate all of my talents into multiple uses here is one creation that did from embroidery thread and seed beads.

crochet necklace bracelet
color: agua blue
blue opague seed beads

I start off by stringing about 100 seed beads (using a needle to help string them) and if I plan on using a charm I will string that as well or if you forget to string the charm that is fine too just use a jump ring to secure it wherever you want afterwards.  Anyway, so string all your beads and crochet away.  I would crochet 3 single crochet and bring one of the beads and crochet that into my next stitch and I would continue to do this til I got to the length I wanted my necklace to be.  Now keep in mind this is what I did so that it can accommodate my wrist and the length I want for a necklace you do what you feel you want and need to accommodate what you want. 

Once I reached the length I wanted (which is approximately 20 inches long) I would then close it off by making a loop and I would attach my bead or button afterwards.  Remember when creating your loop you want to make sure whatever bead or button you want to use will fit through your loop.

Be creative with this idea…you can use hemp (which I did as well), embroidery thread, friendship thread, Aunt Lydia’s yarn (3ply) which is very thin (I used this as well)  FYI: with the Aunt Lydia’s yarn I found I could find more variety of color at Joann’s.  Most of my threads I purchased from AC Moore or Michaels.  

Follow me  on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop
  

  

Lightweight Crochet Ponchos

crochet asymmetrical poncho

I started crocheting ponchos about 3 years ago.  I had mentioned before that this creation started off as a cowl idea and then walla it turned into a asymmetrical poncho.

I don't know about you but sometimes when I am crocheting I have one thing in mind and I end up with something else and sometimes it’s on purpose.

I have made some recently that are in a super lightweight yarn and super soft.  I found that making it in a bigger stitch pattern (all of these are made in a chain stitch pattern) would make  it airy and lightweight.  My first one I made for myself because I only had one skein of yarn so I wanted to see how long I could get it be in this pattern. I totally love it and it's still in an asymmetrical pattern but short.  I have received so many compliments on this piece.  So after seeing what I could do in this pattern and with one skein of yarn I decided to make one more in white.  The yarn I am talking about is Caron Simply Soft. 

I also decided to create another one using this fabulous yarn that is super soft by Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable.  This one definitely made my cut for super soft yarn.  However, this lightweight poncho I used 2 skeins of this yarn to make these.  These are made to fall right at the waist (unlike my first ones which go mid-thigh).

Anyway, I hope you like my creations here because all of them are created in the same style…asymmetrical. 

These ponchos are so cute you can wear it with a cute t-shirt and jeans or a cute maxi dress and boots or even sandals…at least that’s what I have done in the past when it’s not too cold. 

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop 

Crochet Clutch Purses

acrylic yarn (grey)

I tell you I love it when I put my mind to make something and it comes out fabulous!

I made these 3 clutch purses using Red Heart Super Saver yarn and Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn.  The buttons I purchased online at Joann’s Fabric.

acrylic yarn (black)

The black one with the polka dot embellishment I did sew a lining and a zipper along with two black buttons.  The embellishment is from Jolee’s Boutique and the buttons are from AC Moore. 

The grey one I did line it with fabric as well and the button I purchased was from in Joann’s Fabric .

All of these beautiful creations I crocheted in the same stitch (1/2 double crochet) to give it a more tight look.  I kept doing this til I got it to the size of more or less a rectangle (you can keep crocheting til you get to whatever size you want you don’t have to make it a rectangle).  I would then fold it every once and awhile to just check to make sure I had it in the size I wanted and also to get an idea how much I wanted the front flap to cover or overlap.  I would then try to change the stitch a bit for the fold over part and of course where I was going to make my button holes.



acrylic yarn (olive)

I then cut the fabric to the length that I wanted to fit inside the clutch and iron it to make sure it wasn’t wrinkled when I sew it to the purse and I would sew the zipper via my sewing machine (this I just happen to look online via YouTube to get the ‘how to sew a zipper’).  Once I was done with the zipper being sewn I would then hand sew the fabric (that has the zipper attached already) to the clutch. 

I suggest to sew the fabric to the purse by hand only because (for me) There’s been too many times where I have sewn fabric to a crochet item directly on the machine and it has messed up my crochet item…so sew it by hand is what I suggest.  Also these can by hand washed. 

I always say make what you want and what you like and let your creative juices go to places you never thought you could go.  Enjoy making some today!

Earring Assortment

I know I have said before that I love wearing accessories.  Earrings to me make an outfit (along with all of the other accessories) it just pulls it together.


crochet round earrings

hoop earrings

You can dress up your earrings or dress them down.  It all depends on your style you know? From chandelier style earrings to glass beads, acrylic or even antique metal earrings - you call the style and the earrings will complete it.  Now lets not go all crazy and pick something that won't complement your face.  You have to take that into consideration just as much as the color and style.

For example, long faces should use or can use chandelier earrings; a rounder fuller face will look better in long and dangly earrings because it will make your face look thinner; and lets not forget if you are trying to look professional don't wear flashy earrings.  Now this is just me suggesting what I think would look good but you can wear whatever your heart desires.

chandelier earrings

I love chandelier earrings but I have to wear those with my hair up because it just blends in too much with my hair and it will take away from my showing off my pretty earrings.  I love how hoop earrings look on me but I have to as well wear my hair up and away from my face.  Little earrings are nice for a casual outfit (for me).  Either way pick what will compliment your face and your outfit.  Try different colors that will stand out and compliment your complexion.

Have fun making these! Happy beading and crocheting!!! 

Follow me  on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop

Accessorize with a scarf...

I have seem some ladies wearing cute scares that are either as simple a single crochet chain to maybe a one inch wide scarf wrapped around their neck...talk about cute!

I have made a couple here and there and come to find out after I've made a few that I could've been a little more creative😃

What I mean by this is that I could've put beads for example or even buttons or ribbon. So the ones I am showing here are just a simple double or 1/2 double crochet pattern...nothing super fancy. Remember you want your outfit to stand out and the scarf just adds to that. I like to wear mine with a long seed bead necklace and a couple of bangle bracelets if I'm going out and of course it's a cool evening or afternoon that it will compliment the outfit and time of day.

As always my dear people...be creative and don't let anyone tell you that you can't make something that is simple yet cute! Things don't have to be complicated.

Have fun making these! Happy crocheting!!! 

Follow me  on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop

Antique Metal Necklaces

When I started making these I was mesmerized by some that I saw in a trendy store.  I said to myself wow these are so funky and can be worn with just about anything.  What I noticed was that they did look like they were made in a hurry there was nothing that made me want to buy them.  However, it did make me want to make some…but I didn’t have any of those metal chains at home. 

So one day I was going through my old jewelry box and came across some old metal necklaces that I used to wear (more like chokers) and came across a few long ones which were actually belly chains.   So I decided well I am not wearing these anymore and I loved the style of the antique metal so I started cutting it up and making it into a necklace.  I would sometimes combine more than one to make a longer necklace.

Needless to say I fell in love with the way it looked that I ventured to Michael’s and found a variety of metal chains and components (Later on it became what was called steampunk…or maybe it was always called that  and I just realized it after the fact LOL).

Most of my necklaces are long and some are short but most are long.  I like the way they make a business outfit look young and fresh and not so stuffy.

These are all fun pieces for me.  This is such a fun piece! To think the must for this creation was an old broken belly chain!?  I feel that all of my antique metal necklaces and bracelets are classic yet funky.  You can mix and match the styles of the chains and pendants to make whatever your heart desires.  Try making some today you will see how much fun you will have making them.

Details: Antiqued bronze colored metal , glass beads, measures 21in long. 

Follow me and my blog...help local small businesses make a difference.

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop

Accessories Accessories...

ribbon wrapped bangle

I have always loved to have one or two or more accessories …as long as it didn’t look tacky or way over the top.  You know accessorizing the right amount of everything.



fabric necklace multi color

When I started making jewelry it was all about the necklaces and earrings.  Then I ventured into making all sorts of bracelets from toggle to lobster clasp to bangles.  Then when I started to crochet (thanks for my mother) I started to crochet necklaces, bracelets and earrings and scarves to shawls – talk about accessorizing! 

Who would’ve thought right?  That you can make so much with so much...especially since I already had pretty much the basis.

 

faux pearl, wood and metal
toggle bracelet

crochet earwarmer/headband

fabric cover button ring

Well I also took the opportunity to utilize my sewing skills (again thanks to my mother) and would do as much as I could with fabric and the sewing machine.  Oh wait let’s not forget I also would get the essential items to do fabric covered rings.



silver plated hoop earrings
amber glass beads

I can honestly say from where I started almost 10 years ago to where I am today I just keep evolving and making more things time and time again. 

Sometimes I will take something I made a long time ago and restore it and renew it to give it a new life.  

crochet small hairband
with flower & button

So here are some of my past and present items from beads to yarn.  The wrapped bangle I used a bangle that I purchased from DIY Bangles and the yarn is from Lion Brand called Incredible, the fabric necklace I purchased the t-shirts from AC Moore to make these, the earwarmer this my mom crochet and sewed the crochet flower on to it with a button(she's so creative),  the toggle bracelet I purchased all of the materials from Michaels, the hoop earrings I purchased the hoops and beads from AC Moore, the fabric covered ring I purchased the ring base from Oriental Trading and the button covers from JoAnn's and last but not least the small hairband I crochet the flower from leftover yarn and used a hair band from the Dollar Store.

Follow me and my blog...help local small businesses make a difference.

Follow, Share, Like on: Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Ravelry Online shop