Tag Archives: MissNeriss

Rainbow Hearts Tutorial Sizes 12 months – 10 years

Posted on February 3, 2015 | 15 comments

Here it is! I’ve created the tutorial for the Rainbow Hearts Tutu!

I’ve created this in multiple sizes, but please do bear in mind that I’ve based the sizes on Crochet Maths. That’s a technical term that involves quite a bit of finger in the air guestimation. The numbers are sound, but if your child is larger or smaller than the standard clothing sizes, do take that into account.

Please do also note that I have created this tutorial for you completely free of charge. Please do not pass this design off as your own, and please do not sell the pattern as if it were your own. Do by all means feel free to sell items that you make from this tutorial, but do also be so kind as to send me photos, tag me on FB or Instagram, create projects in Ravelry or even link to this post. Thanks for being cool about this!

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Rainbow Heart Top

What You’ll Need

Two balls of colour 1 – Scheepjes Larra in off-white (7326) and one ball of colour 2- Larra Batik in Rainbow (7503)
3.5 and 4 mm crochet hooks (or sizes to obtain gauge)
Measuring tape
Scissors
Tapestry needle

Gauge

Two hearts across = 5cm
Two hearts high = 6cm

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

DC (Double Crochet
FDC (Foundation Double Crochet)
CH (Chain)
SS (Slipstitch)
SC (Single Crochet)

Notes

This tutorial has been created using sizing for a 3 year old child. A size chart has been created if you wish to make this top for a smaller or larger child. This chart is based on standard clothing sizes, so if the child is small large for her age, do bear that in mind when starting.

Step by Step

Chart for the Heart Stitch used in the Rainbow Hearts Tutu - free crochet tutorial on by @missneriss

(left-handed chart)

Row 1: Using colour 1 and the 3.5mm hook, FDC x 114, join with a SS, ensuring that the work does not become twisted.
Row 2: CH2 (counts as 1^st stitch), DC x 113, SS to join.
Row 3: Attach colour 2 at the top of the SS from the previous row, but do not cut colour 1 as you’ll be using it again in Row 4. Skip 2 stitches, 3 x DC into the next stitch, CH 1, 3 x DC into the same stitch (this creates the heart), CH 1, skip the next 5 stitches, 3 x DC into the next stitch, CH1, 3 x DC into the same stitch. Repeat around, SS into the SS from your colour join (total of 19 hearts). Do not cut the yarn, you will carry it up and use it again in row 6, 9, 12 etc.
Row 4: Change to the 4mm hook (you can stick to the smaller hook if you crochet loosely) and switch back to colour 1. CH 4, SC into the CH 1 space at the top o the heart from the previous round. CH 2, DC into the DC that is direclty underneath the chain between hearts, making sure you stitch in front of the chain – you need to hide that chain for the heart effect to work. CH 2, SC into the CH 1 space at the top of the next heart. Repeat around, join with a SS to the 2^nd chain from the beginning of the row.
Row 5: Switch back to the 3.5mm hook. CH 2, 2 x DC into the CH 2 space from the previous round, DC into the CH1 stitch, 2 x DC into the next CH 2 space, DC into the next DC, repeat around, join with a SS.
Row 6: Switch back to colour 2 and repeat row 3.
Continue to repeat rows 3, 4 and 5 until you have a total of 15 hearts.
Row 46: Repeat row 4.
Row 47: Repeat row 5.
Row 48: CH 1, SC into each stitch around, join with a SS, tie off and weave in the ends.

Heart stitch from the front - free crochet tutorial on by @missneriss

Heart stitch from the front – see the DC between the hearts is in front?

Heart stitch from the back- free crochet tutorial on by @missneriss

Heart Stitch from behind. See the hearts are all in a row, the DC in between hides this from the front.

Straps

Make two, using the 3.5mm hook and colour 1. Gauge is 13 stitches per 5 cm. Increase or decrease this amount as needed for your required length.

Row 1: CH 67 – loosely.
Row 2: SC into the 3^rd stitch from the hook, CH1, Skip 1, SC into the next. Repeat all the way to the end, turn.
Row 3: CH 1, SC into the CH 1 space. CH1, SC into the next CH 1 space. Repeat across, turn.
Row 4: Repeat row 3.

Assembly

Ensure that the seam will be under the arm. Attach the straps above the 3^rd heart from each side and when attaching the other ends, cross the straps so they will be attached to the opposite side.

Size Chart

Age	Waist	Hearts	FDC count	Rows of Hearts
12-18 months	50 cm	16	94	9
1 ½ – 2 years	51 cm	17	102	11
2-3 years	52 cm	18	108	13
3-4 years	53 cm	19	114	15
5-6 years	55 cm	20	120	17
7-8 years	58 cm	21/22 hearts	126/132	19
9-10 years	61 cm	23/24	138/144	21

Tutu

What You’ll Need

8-12 metres of tulle (one metre of each, cut into 10cm wide strips)
Chord (make a chain from your contrasting heart colour that is 80-100cm long
Fabric Scissors
Tape measure

Step by Step

Take your tulle and fold it so it is double (the tulle will probably be sold to you folded double anyway) and cut it to the length that you want. I wanted a floor length ballgown style tutu, and cut it to 70 cm. Repeat this for each colour. Depending on the size of your child’s waist you’ll need more or less fabric. I used approximately 120 cm of each colour (I bought in 150 cm lengths).
Once your colours are all cut, lie them on top of one another in the correct order (colours of the rainbow) and cut them all at once to be 10 cm widths (I had 12 strips of each colour in total). It doesn’t have to be perfect, or even straight. We’re not striving for clear straight lines with this project. Stack all the sections and set them aside.
Now make the chord. You can use normal chord that you might have lying around if you like, but I decided to make a chain in the same yarn that I used for my hearts. This makes a pretty and sturdy little chord, perfect for tying at the waist. Make this to be between 80 and 100 cm long. My daughter’s waist is just over 50 cm, so I made mine to be 80 cm – plenty of length to tie a tight bow.
Once you have the chord and the tulle, it’s time to start assembling the skirt. Take the folded end of each length and slip it around the chord leaving about 15-30 cm of chord at one end (this will be so you can tie the bow, then thread the two open ends through to make a slip knot. Pull this very tight and make the knot as small as possible. Repeat for each colour until you use all your fabric, or reach the required length. Try to make sure you use a full spectrum so the join is invisible. Also try to make sure the knots are as close together as possible. This adds a lot of pouf to your skirt, making it a real princess ballgown.

Make sure you keep fitting your ballerina as you go, because if the skirt is too long, you won’t be able to tie it tight enough when finished, and if it’s too short you’ll have a gap.

There you have it! An easy tutorial to make the Rainbow Tutu outfit of your dreams!

(I’ve also added this to the latest Hookin on Hump Day link up.)

15 Comments

Posted in Pattern, Projects, Scheepjes, Scheepjeswol

Tagged free, free pattern, larra, MissNeriss, rainbow tutorial, rainbow tutu, scheepjes, scheepjeswol, tutorial, tutu

New Year, New Yarn!

Posted on January 6, 2015 | 3 comments

It’s Yarn Day!

It’s cold outside, which makes me want to just curl up in my little corner and crochet. Luckily, with the arrival of this beautiful Rainbow Larra from Scheepjeswol I can!

I love the Larra. It’s a great weight, very durable and comes in loads of colours. It’s a mercerized cotton, but it’s also very soft and not too shiny. And I love colour change of the batiks, especially the Rainbow.

I love that Rainbow so much I chose the yarn before I had a project in mind! I had to justify getting the yarn, as I just don’t have the space for more yarn that I bought because I loved it. I did have to immediately sit down and make little cakes, just so I could be mesmerized by the colour change. I think that’s my favourite part of winding yarn; watching the colours change.

So, my daughter is obsessed with dancing like a ballerina, but she’s not really a pastel Swan Lake kind of girl, so I’m making her a Rainbow Tutu!

I found all the tulle at my local market – super cheap, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

Perfect colours to counter the dark, grey winter outside, don’t you think?

Meanwhile, you can pick up the Larra at any great yarn seller here in NL, or on Deramores.com internationally.

3 Comments

Posted in Projects, Scheepjes, Scheepjeswol

Tagged ballet, crochet, haken, larra, larra batik, MissNeriss, new year, scheepjes, scheepjeswol, tutu

2014 was Amazing, 2015 will be Better!

Posted on December 31, 2014 | 2 comments

I’ve had one of the best years of my life in 2014. My daughter well and truly left baby-hood behind and seems to be bypassing being a toddler and diving straight into threenager territory. My husband just keeps getting more handsome as he gets older (poor thing’s quite a bit younger than me), my mortgage paying job is going from strength to strength with the most growth this year than in the last five combined, and crochet has just been an absolute joy.

Because I’ve had such a great time this year, I want to reflect on some of the most fun I’ve had, and my favourite projects. Let’s get to it, shall we?

No.5 Rhinka the Rhino

I had such a blast making this faux-taxidermy rhino. Every time I look at this photo I have a little chuckle. The ridiculousness of a crochet animal head hanging off my wall is only equalled by the ridiculousness of hanging an actual stuffed animal head off the wall!

No.4 The Bucketful of Sunshine Hat

This was one of my first original designs. Well, as original as a crochet hat can be, anyway! I made it as a sun hat for my daughter, who wore it all summer long. It was also the start of my ombre obsession.

No.3 My Christmas Wreath

I love this so much that I’m not going to take it down! I love that it can be Christmassy, yet can be everyday welcome at the same time. I think I’ll hang it above my desk, actually.

No.2 The Spring Shawl

I’ve made about half a dozen of these now, but this one remains my favourite. I filled it with all the love I have and sent it to my dearest friend whom I haven’t had much contact with lately thanks to life getting in the way. I hope that when she wears it she feels all the love that it contains.

No.1 The Jasper V

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This was a seriously steep learning curve for me! It was my first time making a complete garment, and even more ambitiously, I designed it myself! I wear it all the time, and always receive comments about it. It’s just a great top. I’m supposed to be making one for my aunt, and as I’m going to see her in a few weeks I’d better get cracking!

And as for 2015, I know it’s going to be even better. This coming year is the Year of the Sheep (or Ram, or Goat) and I’m a sheep myself, so it’s going to be an even luckier year for me. And then on top of that, the new Chinese Year begins on my birthday (feb 19), so I’m going to be the luckiest sheep in town. Baa!

Happy New Year! Enjoy the fireworks, wherever you are, and don’t forget to pop the Champagne. I will be!

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2 Comments

Posted in Happy new year, Projects

Tagged amigurumi, chinese new year, Christmas, crochet, happy new year, MissNeriss, scheepjes

Christmas Bunting

Posted on December 10, 2014 | 1 comment

Today is the very last day of the Scheepjeswol Christmas Blog Hop and I’m so sad that it’s over, yet very happy to be able to send it off, hopefully in style!

How incredibly beautiful is Heike from Made with Loops bag? Fair Isle, I promise you, will be absolutely THE biggest yarn trend of 2015, so get onto it!

Here’s today’s project from me, some lovely and very simple Christmas Bunting.

I had some left over yarn once I had finished my Christmas Wreath and I wanted to use it up for something fun to decorate the house with this Christmas, and I just love bunting, so bunting it was!

I came up with a very simple half double crochet pattern that works up in a jiffy. Each flag can be made in under ten minutes! It’s a great scrap project too, so you don’t have to worry too much about how much yarn you have lying around.

What you’ll need:

Scheepjeswol Stone Washed in five colours. I used the same as in my wreath: 801, 807, 815, 813 and 814.
4mm hook
Scissors
Tapestry needle
Measuring tape

How To:

Choose one of your colours, then start with a slip stitch, and chain 2. Half double crochet into the second chain from the hook and there you will have the foundation of the triangle to start building your bunting.
From here on, you will need to increase at the end of each row with 2 half double crochets into the last stitch.
Row 2: Chain 2, 2 HDC (half double crochet) into the next stitch (3 stitches in total), turn.
Row 3: Chain 2, HDC into the next stitch, 2 HDC into the last stitch (4 stitches), turn.
Row 4: Chain 2, HDC into the next 2 stitches, 2 HDC into the last stitch (5 stitches), turn.
Continue this pattern until you have a stitch count of 17 (16 rows in total), then tie off and weave in the ends, making sure you keep the nice point at the bottom of the triangle.

Make 3 of each colour (or more if you’d like to make it longer)

Here’s a chart to help make it a bit easier:

To join the bunting, take your lightest colour (801) and start chaining, working the end in as you go. Chain for 60cm to create a long enough tie, then attach to the first bunting triangle by single crocheting into the first and then all 17 stitches along. Continue to chain, leaving about 8cm in between triangles. Repeat this pattern until you have attached all your triangles to the chain, then to finish off, chain a further 60cm before cutting the yarn and weaving in the end. The finished bunting will measure about 4m in length.

And you’re all done! Now all that’s left to do is find the perfect spot to hang it!

On a wall…

Or in a window…?

And that’s it. The Christmas Blog Hop is over for this year *sob*. I hope you found some wonderful inspiration – I certainly did. But before I go, here’s a recap of what we’ve seen in the last ten days:

The beautiful Knitted Star motif from Crafts from theCwtch

The seriously cute Reindeer Mug Cozy (including fluffy butt – haha!) by Haak Maar Raak

Jellina-Creation’s lovely Christmas Tree Garland

Atty’s cool Bauble Coasters

My Christmas Wreath

The most beautiful Christmas Baubles you’ve ever seen, by 50 Shades of 4 Ply

The deliciously warm Fair Isle mittens by Canadutch

Vicarnos adorable little snowman

and finally,

This spectacular Fair Isle Christmas gift bag from Made with Loops.

What a collection of designs, I’m so happy to have been involved – surrounded by such talent!

Merry Christmas.

1 Comment

Posted in Christmas, Scheepjes, Scheepjeswol, Stone Washed, Tutorials

Tagged 50 shades of 4 ply, attys, canadutch, Christmas, craft, crafts from the cwtch, crochet, crochet pattern, DIY, free pattern, haak maar raak, Jellina-creations, made with loops, MissNeriss, Obsessed with Crochet, pattern, projects, Santa, scheepjes, scheepjeswol, stone washed, vicarno, yarn

A Christmas Wreath

Posted on December 5, 2014 | 1 comment

If you follow me on Facebook at all (you should, btw), you would have seen me posting about the Scheepjes Christmas Blog Hop all week, and today it’s my turn!

Thanks so much to Atty’s for yesterday’s post, wasn’t it just fabulous? I’m definitely going to make some of those coasters, but I don’t know if I’ll actually use them as coasters, or get some Christmas washi tape and decorate my walls!

So let’s get to my contribution for this fabulous event, a yarn wreath.

For this I used a couple of different techniques instead of just crochet. I made pom poms in varying sizes, and also made yarn-wrapped balls to decorate this gorgeous wreath.

What do you think of my palette? I wanted something different, yet a little bit Christmas-sy and so I took Kirsten’s advice and spent countless hours (days?) trawling through Design Seeds for just the right colours and I thought that this one was just perfect.

So let’s get to the instructions, shall we?

What you’ll need:

3 mm crochet hook
Scheepjeswol Stone Washed yarn in five shades (801, 807, 815, 813, 814)
A 25cm Styrofoam ring that has a flat side
About 20 Styrofoam balls in three sizes (4, 5 and 6 cm)
Fabric glue
Cardboard to make pom poms (or a pom pom maker if you prefer)
Scissors

How to:

First start working on the ring. Using the glue, fasten the end of the lightest shade of yarn (801) to the Styrofoam ring. Once it’s a little dry, start working the yarn around and around, adding dobs of glue as you go to ensure it all stays in place. Once you come back to the beginning, snip the yarn, and fasten it all in place. Set aside to dry thoroughly.

To make the Yarn Wrapped balls, take the colour of choice (make multiple in each size and colour), fasten the end of the yarn to the ball with the glue and start winding the yarn around the ball, like you’re just winding any old ball of wool. Make sure that you add dobs of glue every now and then to keep the yarn in place. Once it’s completely covered, snip the yarn and glue the end in place.

To make the pom poms, first cut two pieces of cardboard into corresponding sizes to your balls and make them into doughnuts. I like to cut an opening to help wind the yarn around, but you should use your favourite pom pom method. Using the various colours, wind the yarn around the cardboard until it’s very full, then cut and fasten it all together, trimming it to be a nice, round ball.

To make the crochet balls, you’ll need the different size styrofoam balls and a matching stitch count.

4cm ball:
Start with a magic ring, and stitch 6 single crochets (UK double crochet) into the ring, tightening it once you’re done.
For the second round, increase into each stitch around with single crochet so that you have 12 stitches around.
Round 3: Increase, then single crochet into the next stitch, repeating around until you have 18 stitches.
Round 4: Increase, then single crochet into the next 2 stitches, repeating around until you have 24 stitches.
For the next 5 rounds, single crochet around, before beginning your decrease at round 10. Insert the ball here too.
Round 10: Decrease (2 single crochet together), then single crochet into the next 2 stitches, repeating around until you have 18 stitches.
Round 11: Decrease, then single crochet into the next stitch, repeating around until you have 12 stitches.
Round 12: Decrease around until you have 6 stitches, cut the yarn, tie off and using a tapestry needle close up the ball.

5 cm ball:
Follow the above instructions until you’ve completed round 4.
Round 5: Increase, single crochet into the next 3 stitches, repeating around until you have 30 stitches.
Round 6-13: Single crochet around and after round 13 insert the ball.
Round 14: Decrease, single crochet into the next 3 stitches, repeating around until you have 24 stitches.
Continue with the instructions from round 10 of the 4 cm ball.

6 cm ball:
Follow the instructions for the 5 cm ball until you’ve completed round 5.
Round 6: Increase, single crochet into the next 4 stitches, repeating around until you have 36 stitches.
Round 7-19: single crochet around, and after round 19 insert the ball
Round 20: Decrease, single crochet into the next 4 stitches, repeating around until you have 30 stitches.
Complete the ball as per the instructions from round 14 of the 5 cm ball.

Assembly

Now is the time to put it all together. I like to vary the colours, sizes and textures, trying to make sure that no two balls of the same size and texture are next to one another. Start building your wreath using the fabric glue to attach each ball to the wreath and its neighbour. This will take some time as the glue needs to dry a little before you can proceed. Make sure you hold the wreath up to see how it’s coming together often so you can get a feel for the result.

Once you’re happy, leave it to dry properly over night, and then you’re ready to hang it!

What do you think? Will you try to make one? I’ve really enjoyed the process and I absolutely love the result. I’ve started buying all my Christmas decorations in matching colours and if you check back here in a few days, you’ll see that I have something to go with this that I think you’ll love. I’m also using the leftover balls as baubles for the tree – fun!

In the mean time, be sure to visit 50 Shades of 4ply tomorrow for the next installment of the Scheepjes Christmas Blog Hop!

Love,
Nerissa

1 Comment

Posted in Christmas, Scheepjes, Scheepjeswol, Stone Washed, Uncategorized

Tagged Christmas, crochet, crochet pattern, DIY, free pattern, haken, kerst, MissNeriss, Obsessed with Crochet, pattern, projects, scheepjes, scheepjeswol, stone washed, tutorial, yarn

I’ve Written a Book!

Posted on November 12, 2014 | 2 comments

That’s right, a real, life book! Well, not an entire book, but a couple of chapters in a real, life book!

I don’t often talk about my life beyond what I crochet here (maybe I should, what do you think?), but what’s going on in my “other” life is just too exciting not to share with you!

Ages and ages ago now, more than a year, my friend Lynn from The Nomad Mom Diary approached me about the possibility of contributing to a book about expat life in the Netherlands. Can you imagine how excited I was at the prospect of contributing to a book? That somebody out there actually read what I was writing, and perhaps even enjoyed it enough to consider me for a book?!

Back in the old days, not long after I arrived in Holland, I started writing a blog to help people and answer questions about the integration course and exams that so many of us have to take to stay here, and it grew into a wonderful community where I met some amazing people, and even better, was able to connect immigrants with one another. Some of my favourite people on this earth were found via that blog, but never in a million years did it ever occur to me that I might actually contribute to a real life book!

But here it is. Dutched Up! Rocking the Clogs, Expat Style. A book about life as an expat woman in the Netherlands. What it’s like when you land, the drama, the fun, the trauma! So many of my fellow contributors have such beautiful, funny pieces, I feel so honoured to be in such great company.

So, do me a favour, and grab a copy. It’s a wonderful read, especially for any woman who has ever been outside her comfort zone. And let’s face it, that’s all of us, right? You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. You’ll stamp your foot in indignation, you’ll be incredulous. You’ll love it. It’s a wonderful book, and I’d say that even if I hadn’t had a hand in it!

Right now it’s available on Amazon, with an iBooks and real, book-smelling book coming soon, and you can pick it up here:

Dutched Up!: Rocking the Clogs Expat Style

It’s also on iTunes, Here!

This is an affiliate link, so if you’re thinking of doing your Christmas shopping on Amazon this year, use this link for the lot all right?

And here is a list of all the contributing writers, these women are all very impressive, let me tell you!

The European Mama – Olga Mecking
The Nomad Mom Diary – Lynn Morrison
Stuff Dutch People Like – Colleen Geske
Finding Dutchland – Rina Mae Acosta
The Three Under – Farrah Ritter
Neamhspleachas – Molly Quell
Currystrumpet – Deepa Paul
George With Ears – Zoe Lewis
Dutch Australian – Reneé Veldman-Tentori
Expat Life With A Double Buggy – Amanda van Mulligen
2 Little Monkeys in Breda – Rosalind Van Aalen
Olympic Wanderings – Caitlyn O’Dowd
Smart Tinker – Lana Kristine Jelenjev
Expat Since Birth – Ute Limacher-Riebold
Life In Dutch – Aislinn Callahan- Brand
The Non-Hip Hippies – Alexia Martha Symvoulidou
Naturally Global – Katherine Strous
Amayzmom – Shivangi Tiwari
Naija Expat In Holland – Tamkara Adun
Amber Rahim – Amber Rahim
Amsterdam Mama – Catina Tanner
Like A Sponge – Marianne Orchard
The Tini Times – Damini Purkayastha
Bardsleyland – Donna Stovall Bardsley
Foodlovas – Kerry Dankers
Social Fusion Amsterdam – Iulia Modi Agterhuis

2 Comments

Posted in Off Topic

Tagged adventures in integration, author, book, dutched up, expat, expat woman, expat women, feminist, feminsim, MissNeriss

Miniman’s Nursing Necklace – The Tutorial

Posted on October 14, 2014 | 14 comments

As promised, I’ve put together a tutorial on how to make your very own nursing necklace, which is designed to keep small ones occupied while nursing, saving mama’s sensitive skin from sharp fingernails, hair from being yanked, and general mischief making while baby is nursing. Of course this is not only for nursing mamas; it’s such a lovely necklace that it looks stylish on everybody!

What you’ll need

Scheepjeswol Cotton 8* in four shades. I used 527, 711, 652 and 700. In the Netherlands you can pick Cotton 8 up at just about any great yarn seller, and internationally you can buy via deramores.com*.

A 3mm crochet hook, scissors, and you’ll also need wooden beads in varying sizes. I used five 35mm balls and two 25mm balls. For added interest, you can also add a wooden ring or two – babies love the different elements and textures.

Abbreviations

(American terms)

CH – chain stitch
SC – single crochet (UK double crochet)
INC – increase; two single crochet stitches into the same stitch
DEC – decrease; two single crochet stitches together
STS – stitch count

Notes

This project is worked in the round. You will also need to crochet your stitches very tightly to ensure that they keep the form of the beads. If you crochet loosely, use a smaller hook.

Don’t forget, I’m a leftie so you might have to flip the images in your mind. I like to keep the images for us lefties because there just aren’t that many left handed tutorials out there. If you need help, ping me using the contact page or on Facebook.

Make one ball in the darkest colour, two in the second darkest, two in the third darkest, and two in the lightest (the 25mm balls).

35mm Bead

Round 1

CH 5, close with a slip stitch, CH 1.

Round 2

SC x 6 into the ring (6 STS)

Round 3

INC in each stitch around (12 STS)

Round 4

(INC, 1 SC) x 6 (18 STS)

Round 5

(INC, 2 SC) x 6 (24 STS)

Round 6-10

SC x 24 (24 STS). Insert the bead to measure how progress is going at each round.

Round 11

(DEC, 2 SC) x 6 (18 STS). Make sure the bead is inserted here and continue working around it.

Round 12

(DEC, 1 SC) x 6 (12 STS).

Round 13

DEC in each stitch around (6 STS)

Finish off and hide the tail.

For the 25mm bead, follow the same instructions, skipping round 5 (and round 11 as a consequence).

Once you’ve finished all five balls in the colour combination of your choice, it’s time to thread them onto a chain. First you need to make yourself one. I used the lightest shade and chained stitched until I had about 90 cm. This way the necklace would have plenty of room to become longer or shorter as necessary.

Thread the beads and tie the ends into a little knot and then together using a slip stitch so that one end can slip easily (but not too easily) to adjust the length of the necklace.

And you’re all done! Looks beautiful, doesn’t it? I love seeing projects by others, so don’t forget to brag about what you’ve made on my Facebook page or upload to Pinterest, tagging me @missneriss. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram while you’re at it!

*Affiliate link

14 Comments

Posted in Pattern, Patterns, Scheepjes, Scheepjeswol, Tutorials

Tagged amigurumi, baby, baby necklace, cotton 8, craft, crochet, crochet pattern, DIY, free pattern, haken, hand crafted, hand made, handcrafted, handmade, jewellery, MissNeriss, nursing beads, nursing necklace, Obsessed with Crochet, pattern, projects, ravelry, scheepjes, scheepjeswol, teething, teething necklace

Crochet Induced Insomnia

Posted on October 13, 2014 | Leave a comment

Last night I couldn’t sleep. I’ve never been a great sleeper, but since my daughter was born two and a half years ago, my old friend insomnia hasn’t been around much. Physical exhaustion has won the day mostly. But last night I couldn’t switch off. All I could think about were the mounting crochet projects that I have on the go, plus a mass of life business.

I’m in the process of applying for permanent residency here in the Netherlands, and I have to find the time to fit in a trip to Amsterdam to have my photo taken and to be fingerprinted (that’s new). Plus a host of my actual career projects that have to be done all at once and some semblance of a social life that I need to keep going – If I don’t, I’ll be out of friends! There’s only so long you can say “I’m so sorry, I’m just too busy!” before people stop believing you.

So needless to say, last night I was awake with my brain racing and trying to process everything that’s going on in my life while I was frantically adding items to my Must Do list. In and in an attempt to distract myself, I did what any social media freak would do, I checked Facebook, Instagram and then Pinterest. I had quite a few Pinterest alerts to check and was gobsmacked when I saw that one of my pins had been repinned 999 times!

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I’ve talked about this pin before, back when it had around 200 repins and I was amazed at that number, but now this morning it has cracked 1000 repins, and just won’t stop!

I have a few pins that I see getting a lot of (P)interest daily, including

and

Incidentally, I’ve never made this monkey. I just pinned it because I thought it was so cute.

The Dickie Birds are also doing well:

Ok, now I’ll shut up about Pinterest, sign off and go start work for the day. That To Do list won’t do itself!

Oh, and PS. If you want to pin the Elephant Snuggle yourself, you can:

Big Reveal – Miniman’s Nursing Necklace

Posted on October 7, 2014 | 4 comments

I just had to share this photo first. Isn’t that the cutest face you’ve ever seen, and can you even imagine that this baby has an identical twin?! It’s almost too much to bear!

Introducing Miniman’s Nursing Necklace. Unfortinately Miniman himself doesn’t live in the neighbourhood to pose for pictures himself, so I borrowed one of my friend Stephanie’s adorable babies for the morning so you could see for yourself how this wonderful necklace works.

The idea is that mama wears this while baby is nursing, or playing, or snuggling, or generally making mischief and it keeps those fingers occupied and out of mama’s hair, earrings, necklaces and from scratching sensitive skin. It also helps baby focus on the task at hand (essentially: feeding) and minimises distractions from the surrounding environment. When I took these pics, there were two toddlers running wild, another twin and also a dog around the place, but the necklace firmly captured this little one’s attention. Even when there was a real distraction, she wasn’t letting those beads go!

And…straight back again.

Next week, I’ll show you step-by-step how you can make one of these for yourself. You don’t have to be a nursing mama to wear one of these either – they are a lovely stylish accessory even if you don’t have one of these adorable twins to share!

The tutorial is now live, you can get it here!

P.S. I’ve also added this to the really cool Hookin on Hump Day link sharing party. Go check out all the great projects!

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Posted in Projects, Scheepjes, Scheepjeswol

Tagged amigurumi, baby, baby necklace, cotton 8, craft, crochet, crochet pattern, free pattern, haken, hand made, handcrafted, handmade, jewellery, MissNeriss, nursing, nursing necklace, Obsessed with Crochet, pattern, pinterest, projects, scheepjes, scheepjeswol, teething necklace, yarn

What is this Baby Project..?

Posted on September 30, 2014 | 3 comments

So here it is. A work in progress. Wooden beads, blue yarn, what will it be?

I love working with this Scheepjes Cotton 8, it really is becoming one of my favourite yarns. Although, for it to be perfect, it would be DK weight. I just like to use a bigger hook and heavier yarn, so projects work up quicker. But that’s just my instant gratification personality shining through!

I’m busy covering the wooden beads with the yarn. In the past I’ve just made balls and stuffed them with filling, but the roundness was just lacking a bit, and by using a wooden bead it just adds the right amount of weight and shape.

And look who I caught trying to run steal one as I was taking pictures. Isn’t that chubby little hand delicious? No wonder she’s always covered in kisses and cuddles!

It’s nearly finished and ready to be shipped to its new home in America, but you’ll have to wait until next week to see the end result!