If you really don't care for vintage-kitsch-inspired crafting, so just avert your eyes now and continue on your merry way. But, if you're like me, and love to try your hand at bringing some of those crafts from the past into the present, well my friends, feast your eyes! And really, if you haven't started learning how to crochet yet, well enough is enough, grab a hook and some yarn, you're missing out on all the crafty fun! (Sorry to be so harsh, just I really really want you to experience the joy I do!)
Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I have a vision of a crocheted border vintage postcard....and I think I remember at the time thinking, well how did they do that? Okay, today I am much more craft savvy, and wouldn't blink an eye, I'd just grab my hole punch and get to work
So as it turns out, the packaging for the Chanukah candles I bought for the kids this year is just too sweet to throw away. I thought maybe I'd frame these little pictures....and then it occurred to me, just crochet around them! And I've found true crocheting love. Wouldn't this be adorable with ABC cards for a baby's room, or any cards that you've got kicking around? Or you could even do it with some copies of family photos, say in black and white and mounted on a piece of cardboard.......oh the options! And I should add, these only took me about ten minutes or less each, not including punching the holes!
You'll Need:
- The front and back of Chanukah candle boxes (or any other cereal box cardboard weight item)
- Light weight yarn, I used baby weight cotton yarn together with a strand of crocheting thread, in silver for some and in light blue for the yellow and white versions. (I like the silver the best if you'll just be doing a few to hang singly.)
- A crochet hook that will fit into the hole size you're using, I used an american size 00, will check to see what that means, it's small but not tiny....
- A hole punch
How To:
- Punch holes around the perimeter of your item, do the corners first, then the midpoint of each side and then eyeball the rest of the holes, or measure with a ruler if you're a perfectionist
- Insert hook into one of the holes, say the middle hole at the bottom, and pull through a loop. Chain three, and then crochet two double crochet stitches into the same hole. Crochet three double crochet stitches into each hole, and at each corner, crochet three double crochet stitches, chain three, and then crochet three more double crochet stitches all into the same hole. Join at end of round with a slip stitch, weave in end and voila!
- To hang simply weave a ribbon through the corner holes, couldn't be simpler! hang on to these beauties to display for years to come!
