EARRINGS GALORE!

I love wearing earrings, because it makes you look more fashionable. Matching your earrings with your clothes is FUN, and learning how to make them would be more KIKAY!

I want to share with you what I've learned from a friend who makes accessories and sells them to friends and relatives.

For this project you need pliers, beads, crystals, hooks and wires with flat ends. You can get these from Divisoria and Quiapo if you're here in Manila, Philippines

All you need to do is combine 2-3 beads and crystals and string it with the wire with a flat end. Then insert the other end of the wire into the end loop of the hook, leaving a small portion above the beads. Then bend the wire with the pliers and secure it by rolling the excess wire into the small portion above the beads / crystals.

Make different combinations of crystals and beads and match it with your clothes.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of making earrings, but you love wearing them, you can get it from my website (Kikay Crafts & Accessories: Online Shop) at affordable prices starting from Php 50.00.

THE BASICS OF CROCHETING

The Chain

Make a slip knot, To begin chaining, pass hook under the yarn and catch the yarn with the hook. Pull the yarn back through the loop on the hook to form a "first chain". Passing the hook under the yarn is called "yarn over". Repeat this chaining process as many times as the number of chains you require. _________________________________________

The Slip Stitch

The slip stitch is used mainly to join rounds of crocheting together. It has no height and cannot be worked in rows. Insert hook in chain, yarn over and pull a loop through the chain. Pull the new loop through the old loop. ________________________________________

The Single Crochet Stitch

To practice, chain 15. Insert hook in 2nd chain from hook, yarn over, and pull a loop through the chain. yarn over again and pull new loop through the two loops on hook. Work a single crochet in every chain row, at end of row, chain 1 and turn. _________________________________________

The Half Double Crochet Stitch

Chain 15 to practice. Yarn over hook once (1). Insert hook in 3rd chain from hook, yarn over, and pull a loop through chain (2). Yarn over and pull yarn thru all 3 loops on the hook (3). Work a half double crochet in every chain across. At end, chain 2, turn to other side.

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The Double Crochet Stitch

Chain 15 to practice. Yarn over hook once(1). Insert hook in 4th chain from hook(2), yarn over and pull yarn through 2 loops on hook(2), yarn over again (3) and pull it thru remaining 2 loops on hook (4). Work a double crochet stitch in every chain across, at end, chain 3 and turn. Work a double crochet stitch in every stitch across.

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The Triple Crochet Stitch

Chain 15 to practice. Yarn over hook twice. Insert hook in 5th chain from hook, * yarn over and thru 2 loops on hook; repeat from * 2 more times.

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Reference: www.patchworkcrochet.com

CELLPHONE CASE

It's just easy to crochet a KIKAY cellphone case. All you need is the basic skills in crocheting and the following materials:

• crochet hook
• threads
• applique

Note: If you don't know the basics of crocheting check out the next post.

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Pick the color of thread that you want.

For this project I've chosen a spool of pink thread.

To start crocheting your cellphone case, make 23 chains. The number of chains would depend on the width of your cellphone.

Then make an extra 3 chains. Yarn over hook once. Insert hook in 3rd chain from hook, yarn over and pull yarn through 2 loops on hook, yarn over again and pull it thru remaining 2 loops on hook.

Work a double crochet stitch in every chain across, at the end just turn to the other side of the chain and make a double crochet at the base of each double crochet stitch you've just made.

(*) At the end, join both ends using a slip stitch.

For the next row of double crochet stitch, make 3 chains, then start working a double crochet stitch on top of the first row. Repeat (*)

Repeat this process until you've covered the height of your cellphone.

Add an applique for that KIKAY factor!

The finish product would look like this.

You can make this as a sideline and sell it to your friends and relatives. Check out my online shop (http://www.geocities.com/raspberry_0707).

Happy crocheting!