Isn't this sweet? And yes, you're right, it doesn't necessarily say Hanukkah craft, but in my book that's just fine! Decorating for any holiday doesn't have to be about the expected imagery and symbols....the real point is to create a festive and joyful astmosphere, however you choose to do it. And simple garlands made by crocheting a chain stitch, which incorporates beads and buttons, are great, especially if you happen to have all of these things on hand, which I certainly do! (I don't mean to say that I won't be crafting using dreidels and menorahs, just that you shouldn't feel that you have to!)
Use them alone or as a string for hanging other decorations. And they look so sweet just hung in a double swag on a blank wall, or draped over the back of a chair. I actually just hung these strands from the arms of my dining room chandelier and I think they'll stay there as a part of our Hannukah decor!
Now even if you really don't know how to crochet, you can certainly crochet a chain, (if my 8 year old daughter can, so can you! ) which is all you need to do here. And if you're just going to be stubborn and resist, so you could make these without crocheting a chain and just tie knots around your beads or buttons....but mark my words, your strands are very likely to get tangled. I tried this with buttons and embroidery thread once and it was a disastrous mess!
You'll Need:
- beads and buttons: if I were to go out and buy the supplies for this, I'd recommend using the biggest glass (or plastic) beads you can find, and metallic silver yarn of some kind, thin enough to go throught the holes of your beads.
- a crochet hook
- thin yarn or thick embroidery thread
How To:
- String your beads or buttons onto the end of your yarn. Do not cut a piece of yarn from the ball, just leave it attached since you don't know how much you'll need, and this way your beads/buttons won't fall off the other end! (And if your buttons look great like this strand above, and you're tempted to just call it a day and hang up this one, necklace style, so that might be a good idea, but you would be missing out on all the cuteness of the top photo.....
- Start crocheting a chain, spacing your beads/buttons out with say 10 chains in between each one. You simply incorporate the bead/button into the chain by crocheting around it.... give it a try!
- It's that simple!
