Jenny Doh

Wire and Crochet Sculpture

I've been having a wonderful time sculpting with wire and crochet. Thought I'd show you one of my latest sculptures with a couple of detail shots.

 

Announcing My New Book :: Crochet Love

I am thrilled to announce my NEW book! It's titled Crochet Love, and it features 27 sweet and simple zakka-inspired projects. They are small, adorable projects that I had a ball designing and hope you enjoy making!

 

Crochet Love officially hits book stands October first but can be pre-ordered right here on amazon.

With gratitude,
Jenny

PS: Here's a little video that provides a sneak peek of Crochet Love. Enjoy! :)

Knit Cross Apron

I'm diggin' my new apron I made with a cross motif that I knitted with Crochet Hemp and appliqued. Here's how I did it.

KNIT THE CROSS

• With worsted weight natural Crochet Hemp, cast on 4 stitches on size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles.
• Rows 1–7: Knit
• Row 8: Knit 4, cast on 4 (8 sts)
• Row 9: Knit 8, cast on 4 (12 sts)
• Rows 10–15: Knit
• Row 16: Bind off 4, knit 8 (8 sts)
• Row 17: Bind off 4, knit 4 (4 sts)
• Rows 18–23: Knit
• Bind off all stitches and bury all ends with a tapestry needle

APPLIQUE AND EMBROIDER:

• Spray the back of the knit cross with fabric spray adhesive and place onto apron. Use hand-sewing needle and thread to stitch the cross along all edges to the apron.
• Use black perle cotton to add a running stitch to the top and one side edge. Add small cross stithces near the knit cross.

 

Crochet Hemp :: Crocheted Wire Heart Tutorial

Happy Valentine's Day!
Here's a little something I made to celebrate the occasion. A little crocheted wire heart tutorial.

Take a piece of wire and make a tiny twisty loop.

Turn that loop upside down and then curve both ends into the shape of a wire and twist the shorter end onto the longer end to make the bottom point of the heart.

Crochet single crochets all around the entire sire heart using crochet hemp (of course!) and then weave in all ends with a darning needle.
Cut two little hearts with red felt and attach them through the tiny loop using a small brad.


Twist the long end and place it into a vase or jar. (Add a bit of sheet music or tissue into the jar to keep the wire stem in place.)


Happy creating. :)

Crochet Hemp :: Knit & Crochet Hot Pad Tutorial

Check out these yummy, chunky hot pads I knitted (with a touch of crochet). Here's how I did it:

GATHER

• Crochet Hemp: (A) 12-strand, bleached
• Crochet Hemp: (B) 12-strand, natural
• Knitting needles: 10mm
• Crochet hook: 6.00mm
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

MAKE

• With 6 strands of A held together, cast on 15 stitches onto knitting needles
• Rows 1–24: Knit all rows to create a stockinette pattern.
• Bind off and fasten off, leaving a long tail.
• With crochet hook, create 5 chain stitches with the tail and join with a slip stitch to create loop.
• With tapestry needle, fasten off all ends.

Repeat with 6 strands of B to create second hot pad.

NOTE
Each hot pad weighs approximately 6 ounces. You can work with 6 spools of A or B. If working with just one spool of A or B, pull out enough yarn so that it weighs 1 ounce and make that into a small ball. Repeat until you have 6 small 1-ounce balls of yarn. Use the strands of all six balls to make the hot pad. 

Learn more about Crochet Hemp here.

Crochet Hemp :: Crocheted Thanksgiving Petal Wreath

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought it was time for a sweet new little wreath for the front door. I love this one. It's minimal and so different. Here's how I did it.

Shape a wire hanger so that the main body becomes a circle.


Draw up 12-ply natural hemp yarn from the back of the hanger and create a loop. Create single crochets along the wire hanger so that it covers the entire hanger. Slip stitch to join. Fasten off. Weave in all ends with a tapestry needle.

Based on your preference, create as many small and large petals on the crocheted wire circle.

SMALL PETAL
To Begin: Pick any place along the crocheted wire circle, drawing up the yarn and ch 1. Sc into the same st, sc in the next 4 stitches, turn.
Row 1: Chain 1, single crochet in next 4 single crochet, turn (5 sc).
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sc, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next sc, sc2tog, turn (3 sc).
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sc.
Fasten off

LARGE PETAL
To Begin: pick any place along the crocheted wire circle, drawing up the yarn and then ch 1. Sc into the same st, sc in the next 9 stitches, turn.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in next 9 sc, turn (10 sc).
Row 2: Ch 1 sc in next 10 sc, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sc, sc2tog, turn (8 sc).
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in next 8 sc.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog, turn (6 sc).

After all petals are made, start anywhere on the crocheted wire circle and draw up a loop of yarn, ch 1, sc in every sc, and every time you get to a petal, sc evenly up, around and back down the petal. Continue in this manner until all petals and all parts of the crocheted circle have been worked. With a tapestry needle, weave in all ends.


Hand letter text on watercolor paper with sumi ink.


Attach sentiment to the crocheted wreath and hang.

Washi + Crochet Hemp Ornament Tutorial

To me, the best ornaments aren't bought. They're handmade. Here's an easy one that I made with just a few tools and materials.

Attach washi tape to the edges of a 4-inch square canvas board.

Punch holes along the edges with a crop-a-dial and use Crochet Hemp (3-ply natural) and a crochet hook (size B) to single crochet along the edges. Here's a similar tutorial with a bit more deatils, including how to turn corners.

Adhere a photo to the center of the crocheted canvas board. I used a 3-inch square photo that I got from Kanvess. I also used spray adhesive, which makes the photo adhere nice and neatly.


Super fun project.

Happy crochet.

Happy holidays. :)

Dyed Crochet Hemp Hearts Tutorial

Check out my crocheted hearts that I dyed ... some in red and some in blue.

I started by crocheting hearts with the 3-ply bleached Crochet Hemp.


Then I prepared a dye bath with red Rit dye. About 3 cups of hot water and a capful of dye in a bowl.

For these light-red hearts, I dipped the hearts in the dye bath for about 1 second and then rinsed them with cold water.
For the light blue hearts, I prepared a dye bath using the denim Rit dye and dipped them for about 1 second.


For these darker red hearts, I dipped them in the dye bath for about 1 minute and then rinsed them with cold water.

Oh the possibilities.


NOTE ABOUT THIS DAY
I hope you vote today. And I hope that whoever you vote for and whoever you campaigned for prior to today, you'll count blessings that we live in a country where we have the freedom to champion the candidates and propositions that we believe in with all our might. But after the votes are cast, it is America's fine tradition that when the results become clear in a presidential election, the losing side makes a concession call to the winning side, followed by a concession speech. Transitions of power then take place in the most civil and peaceful manner that is the envy of the world. This is very different from other parts of the world where concession speeches are not made, and where power is held onto, frequently with force and violence. This is a tradition that should make all of us proud and one that we should work hard to preserve for future generations.

Happy voting.
Happy crocheting.

:)