It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done my own NeedleWorkMonday post. I’ve been happily enjoying all of your publications week after week. ☺️
I’ve had Crocheter’s block. There are so many things I had planned to make these last few months but the motivation to start/complete them was not there.
My focus has been on other projects and mainly curation which has left little time for me to dig into my craft. When I do have the time I’m either too exhausted from daily routines or am just not in the mood to pick up my hook and yarn.
I decided this Summer I will take the time to make my daughters and I some crocheted pieces to wear.
I have wanted to make a chain link necklace since I first learned how to crochet. This was the main goal of me learning; to make my own wearables. I got so busy along the way making things for others and forgot about making the things I love for myself too.
I plan on finishing this red one and making a black one as well. My eldest wants a blue one and my youngest will get pink. I look forward to enhancing my outfits with these handmade neck pieces.
Making the Links
When I first started the chains it seemed to go in slow motion. I almost changed my mind thinking it would take too long to make one necklace. I stuck it out as they began coming together and it quickly reminded me how much I really like links.
To start a new link you ch 20. Before doing any more stitches you connect it around the previous link by doing a sl st and then ch 1.
Next you sc around for 4 rows.
Once your rows are completed you begin sl stitching the top row to the bottom row where you first started your 20 chains. You place your hook into the next sc and then sl st to the ch directly underneath it like this...
As you continue on you can see it is closing the stitches together forming the link.
Here’s another angle...
Keep going until you have connected all of the top and bottom stitches together. Almost done 😉...
When all stitches are connected you’ll want to tie in your ends. If you wait until all of your chains are connected it would be a lot harder. It’s much easier to do them as you go. 👌🏽
Here is the finished link and it is flat. We have to reshape and puff it up by pinching and turning it inward until we get the look we want.
After reshaping and pinching your link should look similar to this...
The more I do them the faster I become with getting them shaped and completed. You kind of get a feel along the way and figure out exactly how to position them. 🙂
So why Red you ask?
Ever since I dyed my hair bright orange/red I seem to be drawn to the color now. I’ve never had too many red items in my wardrobe but that is slowly starting to change.
Let me share a little more of my history with you.
Growing up my mother always, always, always, always did I mention she always wore red 💄. It used to haunt us. Red lipstick print on drinking glasses, red lipstick print on our cheeks, red lipstick print on our foreheads, red lipstick print on spoons and forks...it was Everywhere! 😳👀😱
It was her favorite color and really the only color she felt great in. I think seeing it so much growing up I ended up writing off the color when I became a woman.
I purchased red lipstick years and years later but have only wore it maybe twice and guess who I felt like? Yep, my mother. 😂
As of today that has changed and I have a new found love for Red. We are okay with each other now and I no longer feel haunted by it. 😆
My sister recently purchased these red flats for me so I am looking forward to wearing these along with the necklace...
I don’t wear heels that much these days (geesh I don’t go out enough to wear them anyway 😏) because I prefer a style called ‘coмғy cυтe’. I am such a jeans, cute shirt and shoes type of gal. 😌
It will be nice having a few crocheted pieces to add to my ensembles this year.
I’ll return again with an update once all of the necklaces are completed so you can see them. I may have my mannequin model them for you. 🤓
I had a general idea of how these were made but decided to look them up for some inspiration. I ended up finding this free pattern that is very easy to follow.
All photos are my own and were taken with our Cannon EOS Rebel T6.