Wednesday 31 December 2014

ÁGUEDA BELT

Sweet Nothings Crochet free patterns, free crochet belt pattern, this blog has a video tutorial for stitch explanation,Sweet Nothings Crochet free patterns, free crochet belt pattern, this blog has a video tutorial for stitch explanation,
ÁGUEDA BELT

If you have been following my blogs, you will know that my family and I are presently vacationing in Portugal.  

Thank you for joining me.

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Right then.. back to Portugal.
Today we decided to visit Águeda, a small city in Portugal, known for its floating umbrellas (http://www.boredpanda.com/floating-umbrellas-agueda-portugal/).   


Isn't this just beautiful?  Sadly, this view of floating umbrellas is up only during  summer and here we are, visiting beautiful Águeda in December.. so we couldn’t see this. 

We did however, see a really beautiful yarn bombed bicycle outside a shop and on entering found that this was a lovely little handicraft place where they displayed only hand made articles.  


I realised it is not a store per se, but more an exhibition run by an association – JSA – Juntos Somos Arte Associção, Águeda and the lovely ladies who ran it.  

If interested, these lovely volunteers are available at jsaagueda@gmail.com. So in the photo below are Luisa, Paula, Maria and oh gosh.. I forgot the name of the lady facing the camera (in white).. sorry.  These lovely ladies were so interested and fascinated with my belt project - and despite the language barriers, we connected over craft and crochet ! 

 Superb liqueurs all made locally. 

 Yet another yarn bombed little bicycle

 .. and a lovely yarn bombed chair 

 and this is the same bench from the picture with the umbrellas.. but close up.. what neat graffiti

 .. just can't get enough of this bike 

 ...and what a neat basket (also handmade) as are all the goodies inside.. what a perfect gift.. timeless and tasty

The scenic train ride from Aveiro to Águeda is about half an hour each way, and that’s what it took to do most of this really easy belt.  You will now understand why I’ve named the belt so.  The lady behind me is also busy working on her crochet shawl .. neat huh? 

 So a little bit about the lovely trains in Portugal. There are several train systems to cover the country and the ticket purchases of each is really simple.  You could opt to purchase your ticket at the counter, by standing in a queue, but you could also go straight up to the easy ticket vending machines, type in your destination and out pops a ticket.  This credit-card like ticket can be re-used in these same vending machines, by just topping up for each ride during your stay in Portugal.  The trains are all very well listed and there is no real need to ask anyone any directions – you have your maps, your trains all neatly marked in and the timings are perfect.  The trains leave exactly to the minute –  but they are also pretty frequent, so no need to rush and worry .. enjoy the vacation at a lovely touristy pace.

Águeda is a cute little village-town – quaint, small, homely and welcoming.  As I told you, we went there mainly for this road of floating umbrellas – and we were sure we were on the right road (despite the lack of umbrellas) due to the lovely painted light posts and benches.. and of course the lovely cobbled roads.. all identified from earlier blog posts of other tourists.  So I just popped into the first open door I saw and with a  lot of hand gestures, my abysmal Portuguese, and English .. managed to confirm that we were on that road.. and then the lovely ladies of JSA (Luisa, Maria and Paula) gave me a quick history of sorts of the area – and a gift !! Ah Portugal.. you’ve stolen our hearts !

Right then, let’s get on with this pattern.. This is not my original pattern  and it’s just one of those wonderful free floating freebies over the net.  I am, as usual, writing down my notes, and am sharing them with you. 

Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely Indian polyester purse yarn (just about one cone), which is a 4-ply, fingering weight yarn, with a 3.25 mm crochet hook  
General yarn info : This yarn is only available in India.  
This yarn is not specific for this pattern.  Use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros ; Red rose metallic or unbranded  knitting cotton as well 
International yarns :  Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Stitches used : Using U.S terminology
Starting slip knot :https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY
What is a chain stitch ?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Triple Crochet : trc : wrap yarn twice around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] three times.  One trc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/A0y4BbgDTbs
Chainless start for Triple / Treble Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of trc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/f42MO0cGYC0  

How to add beads : https://youtu.be/EcpgMgBox8I
How to work with beads in crochet :  https://youtu.be/yanbAnF_pr0

Abbreviations used :
lp(s) : Loop(s)                          sc : Single crochet
dc : Double crochet                 sp : Space                                           
sl-st : Slip stitch                       ch : Chain
st(s) : Stitch(es)                       hk : Hook
yo : Yarn Over   
trc : Triple / Treble crochet                          
                                   
Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for video tutorials of all the stitches used in today’s pattern.
Please note that I take a lot of trouble to give loads of tips through my pattern sheet, so please read through the full sheet before you pick up your hook n yarn.

Quick analysis of what we’re going to do here today.  
I’ve started by attaching my little belt buckle at one end and then work side to side with the pattern till you have the belt length needed.  

My belt buckle is a really tiny one, and so I’ve started with a lesser number of stitches, and then increased to the number needed for pattern. 

This blog has a video tutorial for stitch explanation

The stitch count is in multiples of 10

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA  
Row 1 : Start with a  multiple of 10 fsc for the width you want. Turn.

Note : I urge you to try the foundation single crochet start.  
If you can't do the stitch, then start with multiples of 10 + 1 and work  a sc in the 2nd ch from hk.  
Work an sc all the way to the end and count to see that you have multiples of 10 when you finish.  Continue with Row 2.

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo
Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Row 2 : 4 dc in the 1st 4 fsc ; 
ch 2, sk next 2 fsc ; 
dc in the last 4 fsc. Turn. 

Row 3 : dc in the 1st dc ; ch 2, sk next 2 dc ; 
(dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next ch-2 sp ; 
dc in the next dc) ; 
ch 2, sk next 2 dc, dc in the last dc. Turn. 

Row 4 : dc in the 1st dc ; 
(2 dc in the next ch-2 sp ; dc in the next dc) ; 
ch 2, sk next 2 dc ; dc in the next dc ; 
(2 dc in the next ch-2 sp ; dc in the next dc).  Turn. 

Rep Rows 3 & 4 till you have a length desired for your belt, ending with Row 4 (or an uneven number of rows from start) 

Get the video for this project at https://youtu.be/-h8zFYfIvvg

Note : IF you have started (as I have) with a no-pattern section at the start of your belt, remember to account for that bit towards the end as well.

Now here’s what I’ve done – I stopped the pattern bit (after all calculations as above) and then did the side pattern bit before I completed the end ‘no-pattern’ bit.  This means that you end with Pattern Row 4, then do the side shell finish row, come back to the end row and do the other side shell finish and then finally finish with the no-pattern end.

So off we go with the repeats and we’ll meet back here in a few inches of work 

Finishing :  Right .. so you’ve finished your pattern and still have a little bit to complete before you are done with the belt (for the length portion I mean).  The two rows we do now will add to the width of our belt.
Now for the 1st foundation row, we’re going to turn our work at 90°, and work along the edge of the belt.  So now look at the belt edge – we have worked dc’s along the edge .. so we will just be using these dc’s to make an row of chains that we will work our shells off.  The designer has done a row of sc, but I preferred my method.. but you could do what she has as well.. choices.. choices.. and decisions.. decisions… as usual 

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps.  One sc made.  Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M
Row 1 : sc in the 1st (corner) st, 
ch 2, and sc into the end of the 1st dc ; 
*ch 2, sc into the next dc end* ; 
rep *to* all the way to the end.  Turn.

In the following row, the designer has made her shells with trc + 3 ch picot 
(Treble or Triple crochet), and then there’s a ch-2 as she’s used a foundation row of sc.  
I’ve used 5 dc’s to make my shells and no ch-2 between the shells …more choices 
So if using the chart below , Shell = trc , (picot, trc) 4 times ; and Picot = 3 ch, sl-st into the 1st ch

Row 2 : sl-st into the 1st ch-2 sp, sc in the same ch-2 sp ; 
*shell in the next ch-2 sp ; sc in the next ch-2 sp* ; 
rep *to* till end.

You are now back at the end (non-buckle end).  
Sl-st in each st and ch-sp on this end and go across to the other side of the belt.  
Repeat the finishing on that edge as well.

Once you’ve done both finishing rows, finish the flat edge of your belt (non-pattern edge) to match that at the start.  Fasten off and weave in ends. 

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Have a great day and see you soon.

Here are some of my other creations.  Have fun with these free patterns too 























and here are a few skirt patterns that you can use your belt for..



Here are some of my tops
                        


























































Here are some of my bolero / jacket / vest creations.  Have fun with these free patterns too






































Here is a list of my earlier miscellaneous home use projects.  Enjoy