Mandala crochet bag free pattern

Make a mandala bag for your girl.
This is a free pattern for a mandala crochet bag. You can use what yarn you want and a proper hook.
Yarn - I used Charly yarn from Phildar: ligh and dark pink and grey - 1 skein of each
Hook no 6

Stitches:
single crochet - sg
double crochet - db
slip stitch - ss
chain - ch
You will work in round and you will join every row.

r1 - with pink - chain 3 (count it as the firs dc), make 9 dc into the ring, join with slip stitch (ss) in top of the ch 3 - you have 10dc

r2 - ch 4 (count it as the first dc and ch 1), *make 1dc in the next dc + ch 1* - repeat between ** 9 times, join with ss in the 3rd ch of the beginning 4th ch

r3 - with grey - ch 3, 1 dc into the base of ch 3, ch 2, *2dc in the next dc, ch 2* - repeat between ** 9 times, join with ss in the beginning of ch 3

r4 - ch 3, 1 dc into the base of ch 3, 1 dc into the next dc, ch 2, *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc, ch 2* - repeat between ** 9 times, join with ss in the beginning of ch 3

r5 - with dark pink - ch 3, 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in the next dc, * 2 dc into next 2 dc, 2dc in the next dc** - repeat between ** 9 times, join with ss

r6 - shell stitches - ch 3, 2 dc in the base of ch 3, ch 1, skip 1dc * 3dc in next dc, ch 1, skip 1dc* - repeat between **, join with ss

r7 - with light pink - ch 3, 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in the next dc, * 2 dc into next 2 dc, 2dc in the next dc** - repeat between ** 9 times, join with ss

r8 - with grey - ch 3, 1 dc in every dc until the end, join with ss. Finish off. 

Make two parts for this bag. 

Tight the long tails on the back of every part, hide the tails using a hook or a needle. 

Here are the 2 parts. Even if I worked with the same hook and in the same day, the second part was smaller. I made another round with light pink with simple crochet in every stitch. Every part is almost 9 inches (22,5 cm) in diameter.

The part between the 2 parts of the bag - you have to sew it at the ends. I made it with grey yarn - ch 7, 1 sg in the 6th stitch from the hook, sg in every st, ch 1 and turn. It has almost 22 inches (56 cm).

Pin the grey part between the 2 mandala parts and crochet them together on the edges using single crochet. 

The handle - I used pink and light pink for the handle. I made it in the same way as the grey part - ch 7, 1 sg in the 6th stitch from the hook, sg in every st, ch 1 and turn.It has 40 inches (100 cm). I made a strip from fabric with sewing machine and I sew it on the handle. In this way the handle will not stretch out. 

I sew the handle at the end of grey middle part. 

Because the mandala crochet bag has some holes, I sew fabric inside. 

Happy crochet.

Ema 

Learn to sew - Kids Sewing Machine

If you have a 10 years daughter, you know that all her dolls need clothes. Many clothes! My 10 years daughter made some experiments trying to create or to sew by hand some tiny clothes for her dolls. It is hard to sew by hand when you are a little one and your hands are not used to a needle. 

Today we sewed by sewing machine. She wanted to make some pants and T-shirts. We use an old pair of black leggings. She searched on the Internet how to make the pants and she came to me with her tablet to show me. Cute. 

We followed the steps and we trace the lines, cut the shapes and then she wanted to try to sew them by sewing machine. I admit, I have to stop my fears and to let her to try. It was so easy. 

Spending time with kids and teaching them simple abilities is important. I like to create memories. 

The dolls are pretty now.

Ema and Eliza

How to make curly felt hair for a doll

It was a challenge for me to make curly felt hair for a doll. Not easy, but I found a way. I searched on the Internet and all the pictures and the tutorial I found were not  for my project. So, I made my own curly felt hair. Here it is an easy tutorial with pictures. Maybe it will be useful for you too. 

You will need: a ruler, needle and brown thread, brown felt, a pencil or a no 6 hook. 

Cut one very long brown felt stripe or cut two stripes if you need long hair. 

Make a know and sew the corner of the stripe. 

Wrap the stripe around the hook just 2 times.

Sew the both stripes together ...

and make a knot on the second one to secure the thread and to prevent to unfold the stripe. 

Wrap more ... 

... and sew the stripes two by two, making on every line a knot. 

You will have something like in the picture. 

Take out the hook and you have curly hair. 

Let the stripe to twist itself. Sew it on the doll.

Best,

Ema 

Personalized doll after a picture

If your kid is drawing a doll or a toy and you like it, you can transform it into a real plush toy. It is very easy: take the drawing, make it bigger, make a pattern on a paper, cut the pattern, cut the felt using the pattern pieces and sew them together. It could take a couple of hours and this toy could be a great gift for your kids. 

If you can not make a personalized toy like this, order one My Etsy Shop - Child art Customized Toy

Send me a picture and I'll try to do a toy exactly like your picture. 

This time it was hard to make her curly hair. 

The doll is made from felt and have polyester inside. It is sew by hand. 

Have a nice day,

Ema 

Cross Stitch Christmas Motifs

Christmas in ... August. Done with these five cross stitch Christmas motifs. They are designed by me. I'll think to post my chart here. I want to transform them into felt ornaments.

Do you have a project for Christmas?
Ema

Personalized Monogram Cross Stitch Ornament

If you want to buy them, please visit My Etsy Shop Personalized Monogram Ornament

But if you want to make them, this is a very easy tutorial about how to make an ornament with a stitch monogram. Even if you already know the cross stitch stitches or you choose just to sew with simple line stitches, a monogram ornament can be a great gift for somebody. You can attach it at a present box or to make a package for Xmas time.

Materials you need: felt, aida, white fabric, thread and needle, scissors, ribbon, polyester filling, pins.

Sew a cross stitch monogram on aida. Cut around it but be careful to leave an edge ( 1 or 1,5 cm)  to can sew it. Cut heart shaped ornament - 2 felt pieces and one fabric. Make a square in the middle of the front felt heart. Be careful the window you make to fit to your monogram, not to cover it, not to be bigger. 

Fix with pins the aida between the white fabric and felt. 

Sew the interior of the square. Cut and trim the surplus aida or fabric. 

Sew the edges of the felt heart. Don't forget to place the ribbon and to sew it. Before to close it, fill with polyester.

You are done. Your ornament is finished. You can use them for Christmas time or for other occasions. 

You can sew not only letters, but a Christmas symbol,  a sign, a flower or a bird. Depends on your imagination. 

Happy sew.
Ema