At the moment I feel like my Creative Force has developed an entire mind of it's own and is running me at Warp Speed. Ideas and Must-makes are spilling out of me faster than I can cope with. It's both exhilarating and exhausting.
Just to keep you up to date, I've left the tins for now and am working my way through an obsessive Mini Bunting phase. I've always loved strings of colourful bunting flags, I guess you'll know that if you've been visiting the Attic for a while. I made my crochet bathroom bunting three years ago now (ooooooo check out this post...almost exactly three years ago To-The-Day, how freaky???!!!!! Mid January must contain very strong Bunting Vibes!!!).....wow. I've lost all train of thought now, I just freaked myself out with that discovery.
Ok. Think. Yes. Bunting making. I've been falling in love with mini bunting of late, it's been leaping out at me as I journey through the land of Blogs and Pins. A few days ago I arrived at a gorgeous new-to-me-blog called Heart Handmade UK. Now I come to think of it, I got there whilst searching for Washi Tape inspiration, yes, that was it. Heart Handmade UK is a beautiful visual blog written with passion and love...I've not had the time to really dive into the archives but I really love what I've seen and read so far. It's full of wonderful and inspiring discoveries, and the overall visual style is very "me". Lots of colour and creativity with a dash of quirkiness! There are so many wonderful links there to follow, you will be off on an amazing journey with this blog I can tell you. One such link took me to a Dutch Blog called Zilverblauw, and that's where the mini bunting jumped out at me. That was it then, I just had to make my own. I couldn't wait any longer.
I literally lept away from my desk, grabbed my little box of embroidery threads and a slim 2.5mm hook (conveniently still sat there following the Jolly Holly making), and set to work. Just like that. I chained a chain in green bamboo cotton first. I decided on 1 chain gaps between my little mini coloured triangles, so my foundation chain was made in multiples of 7 (6 chains for each triangle and 1 chain for each space between). Once the foundation chain was made I started at the right hand side and began to work weeny triangles directly out of the chain, as follows....
Row 1 :: draw a loop through the first stitch, chain 2. Work 1dc in each of the next 5 chains (remember to crochet over the top of your tail ends so you don't have to darn them). Chain 1 and turn [6 stitches].
Row 2 :: work 1dc in each stitch. Chain 1 and turn [6 stitches]
Row 3 :: 1 dc-decrease, dc twice, 1 dc-decrease (see note at end about the decrease business). Chain 1 and turn [4 stitches]
Row 4 :: work 1dc in each stitch. Chain 1 and turn [4 stitches]
Row 5 :: dc-decrease twice. Chain 1 and turn [2 stitches]
Row 6 :: work 1dc in each stitch. Chain 1 and turn [2 stitches]
Row 7 :: dc-decrease. Fasten off. Darn end in at back.
OK...about the dc decrease, this is how to do it in words......Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (2 stitches on hook). Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (3 stitches on hook). Yarn over and draw yarn through All Three Stitches on hook. You are effectively turning 2 stitches into 1.
Also just to mention that the bunting benefited enormously from a light steam press with a medium hot iron on the wrong side once it was finished. I tweaked the pointy ends into a good pointy shape whilst the cotton was still slightly damp from the iron.
See how weeny and cutesome the triangles are?! They're diddy!
This is a super-fast project. I hooked up this little row of 8 triangles in about half an hour. Maybe a little longer with the end-darning. The triangles really are teeny tiny...the sides measure just 2.5cm.
As soon as it was finished I went around the house holding it up to various things to see how it looked. Strung under pictures. Under the hall mirror. Along shelf edges. Around a plain cream lampshade (definitely a winner).
And then finally it came to rest in the twigs. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes. That's it. I'll make my twigs into a Mini Bunting Tree!! Need to go stock up on embroidery thread now, cos I've got lots more bunting strings to make and I'm running low on supplies.
Oh sweet, simple crochet, how it rocks my world.
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ps Just a note to say that this mini crochet bunting thing is most definitely not my original idea. I've been hugely inspired by the lovely Kate who recently made herself some and turned it into a necklace. That girl has such style x
Your lovely home gets me inspired.
Lovely string with warm colours
are inspiring!
Unn :)
Posted by: Unn | January 25, 2012 at 09:17 AM
Hi Lucy. I can feel your enthusiasm just brimming over in all directions. Its just what I needed this grey morning. I have been following your blog for months now and it has become my first to check every day. Have made your teeny hearts and flowers, and am just finishing your granny stripe blanket. There is something about your patterns that make them so tempting! Thank you for sharing so generously.
(p.s. You should give some thought to putting a crochet book together...)
Posted by: Kathleen | January 25, 2012 at 09:32 AM
Sooooooo sweet. x
Posted by: Victoria | January 25, 2012 at 10:15 AM
These are adorable. Thank you for sharing them Roll on April and my learn to crochet course at Baa Ram Ewe in Leeds...
Posted by: Gillian | January 25, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Wowzers ... just Loving this Lucy ... Make more make more hehe..
Have a great day :)
Mantha xx
Posted by: sam | January 25, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Oh good grief I can't keep up. I haven't even eaten my tuna yet. I've been looking for inspiration for a lampshade edging, I think this may well be it. Love it :-D
Posted by: domesticlou | January 25, 2012 at 11:20 AM
These are beautiful Lucy! You seem to be in a creative flow at the moment - I am loving all the tutorials - I just wish I could keep up with you. I'm still working on my ripple blanket! (Having a little trouble with accuracy, so might have to employ some stich markers), but I'm having such fun! Thank you for the little ray of colour you bring to my lunchbreak! xx
Posted by: Naomi | January 25, 2012 at 12:35 PM
So lovely again!
Posted by: KahviKaneli | January 25, 2012 at 12:49 PM
So so cute.
Posted by: Mitten and Makings | January 25, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Fabulous!!!!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | January 25, 2012 at 01:09 PM
It is great the way one blog leads you to another and another and such surprises and inspiration.Wonderful.
Posted by: Kate | January 25, 2012 at 01:29 PM
That is utterly adorable! Looking around my house, I can see a hundred places that could use some mini bunting. Must get started right away! :)
Posted by: Kristen | January 25, 2012 at 01:37 PM
Hello. You don't know me but I follow your blog and absolutely love it. It is always so colourful and homely. Oh how I wish I could crochet, I have tried but to no avail. I quilt, cross stitch and various other crafts but just can't get the knack of the hook and yarn. I look forward to your next post.
Hazel
Posted by: Hazel | January 25, 2012 at 02:06 PM
So cute!!!I see Christmas tree garlin!I like the idea of using them on lamp shades.Something must be in the air with mini's I've just finished a mini flower wreath to hang on cabinet knobs,with many more to make.Now mini bunting!Speaking of tins,I saw a Pin that sparked an idea for them.It was in cloth but I thought it'd be great for the crochet tins.Use a taller tin and add pockets around outside.Be cute for storing nail polish and file etc.or crochet hooks and such.Insipration never ending! Have a great one.
Posted by: angela-southern USA | January 25, 2012 at 02:09 PM
I have been following your wonderful colourful blog for about a year but have never ventured into commenting before. I can't tell you how inspirational you have been and what a happy rush of creativity has come into my home as a result. I am so glad that creative ideas are still pouring out and can't wait for the next! Your tins from the other day have me hooked (sorry for the pun!) but then there's something about bunting isn't there? Decisions, decisions!
Thank you both for your inspiration and your superb tutorials which make even tricksy hooky so manageable.
Rainbow blessings to you and yours, Elizabeth
Posted by: mrsthomasinatittlemouse | January 25, 2012 at 02:34 PM
That's all very well for you Lucy - now I've got to go and grab the 2,5mm hook and embroidery threads immediately too!! Thanks for all the beautiful things you bring to my attention!!!!!!
Posted by: Bev | January 25, 2012 at 03:41 PM
Lucy I think I must have some. Thank you for sharing all your lovely things with us. I know if I could crochet, I'd have some bunting on the hook right this second.
Posted by: Homeowner Insurance Policy | January 25, 2012 at 03:46 PM
SILLY QUESTION - sorry I'm probably being dim but is it the type of embroidery thread where you normaly pull out a strand at a time to use or is the tapestry wool type embroidery thread. It looks so full in the photos I can't tell - see told you it was a silly question!
btw - love all your ideas and help for those of us who are learning. Thank you so much x
Posted by: Debbs | January 25, 2012 at 04:39 PM
Gorgeous! I particularly like the idea of it adorning a cream lampshade. Love the twigs though, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the next lot you make! X
Posted by: Cathy | January 25, 2012 at 07:21 PM
Really like the Greedy for Colour blog, ty for the link. I'm new to craft blogging and never knew how abundant a selection there were online. I've been overwhelmed a bit with the creativity out there. Sometimes I limit how much I look because it can be faintly disheartening....so many people are way cleverer than I am, I'm a crochet newbie!
Like the tiny bunting! :-)
Posted by: Rachel | January 25, 2012 at 08:42 PM
Lucy,
I wonder if you had thought of wearing it as a necklace?
To me it looks like it could be the most *adorable* little necklace in the world :)
XX Gem
Posted by: LittleGem | January 25, 2012 at 11:56 PM
Whenever I take a peek at your beautiful blog my wish and to do lists just grow and grow. Love your colour and energy Lucy. Take care, Lyn x
Posted by: Lyn | January 26, 2012 at 02:15 AM
How cute!!! Love love love it!
Posted by: Eliz. K | January 26, 2012 at 02:31 AM
Lucy, is it not grand to catch this sort of energy towards the end of January? Well, you've caught it beautifully, and I hope that you will be able to keep on this lovely creative tour.
I keep responding to more daylight every day.
xo
Posted by: Frances | January 26, 2012 at 02:39 AM
Hi Lucy,
I had a very tiring day, especially since I did not sleep so well last night. But, not wanting to go to bed just yet, I typed "crochet" in the Google bar and stumbled, for the first time, to your blog. I've found three of my loves - crochet, color, and dahlias! Thank you for helping me end my day in a joyful place. I'll be back soon.
Posted by: Julie | January 26, 2012 at 06:01 AM