Beautifully Embellished Lacy Beret

Follow this link to see many views of this very cute summery hat with its darling embellishment and bobbles.

Pattern from Star Book of Crochet Designs No.1 (1935)

The pattern suggests size 50 thread and a #14 hook for a vanity set.
Or for a larger set, "use SILAKATEEN-SANSILK... and a No. 12 hook... the small piece will measure about 10 inches and the larger piece will measure about 15 inches square.  (Probably a size 40 thread.)
For a luncheon set. use "STAR CROCHET CORD"  and a No. 6 hook.  (Probably similar to size 10 thread.)

Crocheted Butterfly

This butterfly works up very quickly in Aunt Lydia's #10 thread, in the ever cheerful Mexicana color.    Here is the pattern.

Crocheted Star Flower Doily

Shown in white.  How about if each flower is done in variegated colors? Click on images for extra large version.

Crocheted Buffet Scarf

Daisy Corsage

Crocheted Chrysanthemum

I know this old photo looks a bit like macaroni and cheese, but use any search engine to look for images of "japanese chrysanthemum" and see the wide range of colors for inspiration.

Porky-Dot Pin Cushion

A cute piggy pin cushion made with size 5 pearl cotton. 

Rose Garden Doily

This is a rumpled leaflet I found inside an old crochet book.

Boutonniere Dishcloth or Dish Mop

This dishcloth would be a good stash buster of thread odds and ends or a color which you don't really like. I have several balls of Aunt Lydia's #10 in "Mexicana" which makes a cheerful dishcloth. The finished item is 4  inches (10 cm)  in diameter.

Ch 10, join to form ring.
Round 1: Chain 4, dc, ch 1 in ring 23 times (24 spokes) join to top of ch 4.
Rounds 2-6: slip st in next space, chain 4, dc in same sp, then dc, ch1, dc, ch1 in each space around. Join to chain 4. You are doubling the amount of stitches on each round.
Round 7: slip st in next space, chain 4, dc, ch 1 in each space around. (No more doubling.)
Round 8 : sc around. fasten off.
Handle or ring for hanging. This was an after thought: I attached the thread to one side of the center ring, made a chain about 4 inches and attached to the opposite side then worked sc back across and finished securely.
One could make more or less of the increase rows and do row 7 more than once. Instead of a final row of single crochet one could make small simple shells. Or omit the last row. It’s hard to mess this up. Just keep going until it’s what you want. Wash dishes with it! It’s not for show, it’s a handy tool.
There is a pattern very similar to what I made here:
http://tweezle.tripod.com/boutonniere_dish_mop.html
I’ve also seen this called the carnation dish cloth, especially when worked in red and white or pinks.

Triangle Thread Dish Cloth

This very easy dish cloth was made with Aunt Lydia's Crochet Cotton #10, color "Passionata".  I used a 2.75 hook,. This is a lovely cheerful variegated thread.  It doesn't make a perfect triangle but twists ever so slighty.  It's quirky and cute. Thread dish cloths really hold up well under use and abuse.
The pattern is from Best Free Crochet.

Crocheted Doily - Tatted Effect

Using only chains, single crochet and picots to crochet a doily which resembles tatting.
This calls for size 50 thread working firmly with a size 12 hook.

Motifs, Motifs and More Motifs

If you like motifs, you'll love this Picasa Album full of pretty motifs and patterns.

Spider Web Afgan

I rarely crochet with yarn, but I love to see anything with a spider or spider web motif.
Please click here for a description of the afgan.