Working with wire is totally addictive. Of course, it takes a little getting used to.  If you haven’t tried it before, read through the tips for beginners, find some cheap craft wire and experiment with some of your favorite shapes and stitches.

Tips for beginners:

You can find wire in most craft and bead stores.  Look for some cheap 26 – 30 gauge craft wire in the bead, or even floral, section of the store.   Once you get the hang of it, you can splurge on more expensive colored wires, gold, or even sterling silver.  Note that 24 gauge craft wire will be more difficult to work with than 24 gauge gold or silver wire.

The higher the gauge number the thinner and more flexible the wire will be.

Because wire is so stiff, it doesn’t show textures and patterns very well.  Keep to basic, simple stitches like single and double crochet.
 
Before making your piece, try working it up in some stash yarn or thread so you can avoid the possibility of a mistake.

If you do make a mistake, you can “rip” back a few stitches if you work slowly and carefully. If you need to rip back more than a few stitches, it’s best to start over.

Don’t use your favorite hooks. Use only steel or aluminum hooks. The wire will cut into bamboo and plastic hooks and will scratch the paint on colored metal hooks.

Working with wire isn’t exactly like working with yarn. You want to bend or “work” the wire as little as possible. Because the tension is already built into the wire, you don’t need to hold it the same way you would hold yarn. Don’t thread the wire through your fingers, either leave the working end free, using only your thumb and finger to control the wire, or loop it over just the index finger.

Don’t worry about imperfect loops and stitches as you go. You can stretch and shape the loops when it’s all done.

Earrings:

• 24-26 gauge wire
• 16 (6-8mm) round beads
• G/6 (4.25mm) metal crochet hook
• Needle nose pliers (helpful but optional)
• Wire cutter or scissors
• 2 head pins
• 2 earring hooks

Necklace:

• 24-26 gauge wire
• 20 (6-8mm) round beads
• I/9 (5.50mm) metal crochet hook or Tunisian hook
• Wire cutter or scissors
• Needle nose pliers (helpful but optional)
• 24” of 2mm leather cord or thin ribbon (velvet would be beautiful)
• Clasp

Special Stitches:

Beaded Single Crochet (Bsc) - Insert hook into ring, wire over hook and draw up loop, draw one bead up to hook, wire over hook and draw through both loops on hook.

Beaded chain (Bch) – Draw bead up to hook, wire over hook and draw through loop on hook.

Like many a New Englander, my favorite season is fall. Chrysanthemums are the quintessential fall flower and remind me of my childhood in Connecticut -- waiting for the school bus, playing in fall leaf piles, and apple picking. Wear your mumsy on your favorite light-weight jacket (you know, the one that is too hot to wear in summer, and not warm enough in winter, but is PERFECT for the best season of the year) and bring autumn with you no matter where you live.

This pattern for a chrysanthemum broach is an excellent project for using up scrap yarn. Just substitute the yarn you have on hand and use an appropriately sized crochet hook.

• Lily Sugar ‘n Cream (100% cotton; 120 yds/109m per 2.5 oz./70 g skein); color #00001 white; approximately 15 yds.
• US G6 / 4.00mm hook
• 1 safety pin
• tapestry needle

US pattern notations used throughout:
Ch = chain
Sc = single crochet
Sl st = slip stitch
St(s) = stitch(es)
Hdc = half double crochet

Petals are done in three levels. By starting with the middle level of petals you can easily see where the back and front petals will be made.

East meets West with a flourish of fashionable pom poms in this simply elegant necklace. It is easy and fun to crochet and requires very little yarn.

• Crochet hook size E (3.5mm)
• Vine: Shaded yarn such as Linie 157 “Tessa” (8 yards)
• Berries: Schaenmayr Nomotta “Bravo” (1 5/8 yards)
• Pom pom blossoms: Schaenmayr Nomotta “Bravo” (3 yards)
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

US crochet stitch terms are used in this pattern
ch(s) = chain(s)
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet

Oh, how these complete your Springtime wardrobe! Hook up some coordinating sets of this bracelet/hair tie duo*, give some as gifts, and use up your scraps stash. Can't get any better than that, eh?

* If you're on the Crochet me mailing list, you've already received a third member of the set. Isn't being on the mailing list, like, the coolest thing ever?

Bracelet:

• A small amount of worsted weight variegated yarn in two different colors
• A small amount of Lion Brand Microspun yarn in color Mango
• Size F (4.0mm) crochet hook

Hair Tie:

• One large ponytail holder
• A small amount of worsted weight variegated yarn
• A small amount of Lion Brand Microspun yarn in color Mango
• Size F (4.0mm) hook

Bracelet: To adjust the size of the bracelet, make a chain long enough to wrap around your wrist and add 8 chains.