make a pantone butterfly garland

Posted on March 13, 2015 by bear loves dove

Pantone Butterfly Garland
100% Cotton, Crochet.

I’ve made lots of butterflies lately, including a custom order colourful butterfly garland for someone special. I had a lovely time playing around with colour combinations, and as I did, fell in love with the idea of creating these Pantone swatch inspired ones. Because who doesn’t love drooling over beautiful Pantone colours?

I have made them before here, but the pattern I used seems to have disappeared from the internet. Luckily I had a couple of screen shots on my phone from when I first made them. I thought I’d pop the pattern up here in case you want to make some too? They are pretty easy and would be suitable for beginners.

Crochet Butterfly Pattern
(This is not my pattern, I originally found it on Mariesmaking.com)
I am using US Crochet terminology.

Round 1:
Start with a chain 4 and make a slip stitch join to form a circle OR do a magic loop. Chain 3, then make 2 double crochets. *Chain 1, make 3 double crochets*. Repeat from * to * until you have 8 lots of 3 double crochet clusters including your first one. Join with a slip stitch into the top of your first chain 3.
Round 2:
Chain 3 and in the next chain 1 space do the following, * 3 double crochet, chain 1, 3 double crochet*. Repeat from * to * in each of the chain 1 spaces until you reach the start of the round where you did your first chain 3. In this space you need to make 3 double crochet, chain 1, 2 double crochet then slip stitch into the top of the chain 3. Fasten off yarn now if you want to change colours. You should have 16 lots of 3 double crochet clusters.
Round 3:
Add your new colour into any chain 1 space, chain 3. Slip stitch in between the next two double crochet clusters. *Into the next chain 1 space, make 9 double crochets. Then slip stitch in between the next two double crochet clusters.* Repeat from * to * until you come to the first chain 3 you started the round with. Make 8 double crochets here, then slip stitch into the top of the chain 3. You should have 8 lots of 9 double crochet clusters.
Fold your butterfly in half. Make a chain of about 24-29 stitches and tie this around the middle of your butterfly with a knot at the top. The endy bit become the butterfly feelers. Darn in all your ends and Voilà, you’ve made yourself a butterfly!

The original pattern said to stitch the butterfly together then stitch in a chain bit at the top for the feelers. But I found it impossible to get a neat consistent stitch line up the butterfly, which made the body look all lopsided. I found my little chain method much neater, but feel free to do the stitchy bit it you like.

So are you going to make one? Do pop back and tell me if you do won’t you?

Wishing you happy making, and pretty flutterby days full of all your favourite Pantone colours!

spring meadow butterflies

Posted on September 15, 2013 by bear loves dove

Spring Meadow Blanket & Butterfly Garland
100% Cotton except the pink is 100% Wool. Crochet.

Spring Meadow is finally finished! It’s a gorgeous soft, slightly chunky, floppy blanket that’s just perfect for a spring babe.

It’s mostly a lovely cream colour with a row of Daffodils, Roses & Tulips at the base. It will be going into my Etsy shop soon.

The Spring Meadow garland wasn’t my original idea for the butterflies… I had this idea of attaching a few butterflies to the blanket but I didn’t like the look of them on the blanket… the proportions were all wrong and it just looked a bit too tizzy. So onto a garland they went. I now think this would make the perfect addition to the blanket in a sweet babes room or pram.

Forget me not Butterfly Garland.
100% Cotton, crochet.

Crocheting the Butterflies was a little like when I was crocheting the hearts… I kinda couldn’t stop… So I made another garland… as you do!

It’s such a simple little pattern that’s actually quite easy to remember once you’ve done it couple of times. I’m going to try to move on from the butterflies now as I’m excitedly ready for a whole project. Yay! I love this part and can’t wait till inspiration hits and that moment when you say “That’s it… That’s what I’m making next!” … In meantime you’ll probably find me at my yarn stash squishing lovely skeins of yarn or pondering over the many projects I’ve got lined up on my wish list at Pinterest and Ravelry.

I’ll leave you with my Spring Tea Party themed picture that I created for an Instagram competition to win a gorgeous Mrs Smiley’s necklace. Have you seen these necklaces? They are so pretty and very unique. I’m lucky enough to have one of their bunny locket necklaces but you really couldn’t have too many of them – they’re gorgeous.

Hope you get to enjoy a nice a nice cuppa in some lovely sunshine today… Near a blossom tree or a pretty golden tree with leaves gently falling… with a tasty macaron or two… birds chirping… bees buzzing… butterflies fluttering by… Mmmm that sounds so nice, I might take my cuppa out to the backyard and do just that… No macarons though… I already ate them. And yes… they were delish!

mint flowers & mint willow

Posted on April 19, 2013 by bear loves dove

Dove Cottage Posy, all from my garden.

I like my posies a bit wild and rambling like my garden. (By the way – my idea of rambling is on the verge of out of control)

In the posy is Princess de Monaco Roses, Mt Shasta Roses, Mothers Love Roses, Plumbago, Lime Verbena, Granny Smith Apple Tree, and Mint. The mint in my garden is very special. Not only is it delicious and used often for Mojitos and Smoothies and Flower posies, but it came from a very special place. The original mint plant grew in my Nana’s garden. My Nana is my Mum’s Mum’s Mum. My Grandma gave me a cutting of the mint. My Grandma is my Mum’s Mum (Nana’s daughter – following?). Sadly both these amazing ladies have passed on. So this mint is not only a delight to enjoy but also a lovely connection to the great ladies in my family. And this posy of flowers is for my mum, hence the Mothers Love Rose inclusion too. Have you ever seen a more delicate shade of pink in a rose? It is sublime!

This posy had a scent to knock your socks off. The mint, the lime verbena and the roses – sweet and fresh. I love the flowering tips of the mint and verbena too – especially the fluffy mint ones, they are quite unusual I think. I must admit, the posy was put together in about 5 minutes flat, sorry mum! Just one of those snap decisions as I saw the roses in the morning and knew the rain of the day would ruin them by the time I got home from work. I also new that one of my favourite blogs Floret, is doing a project called The Seasonal Bouquet Project. This is where the lovely Erin (from Floret) and Jennie (from Love ‘n Fresh, another sweet flower blog) are posting pictures of AMAZING bouquets each week. You can add you own bouquet of flowers to a link and join along, but all the ingredients from your bouquet must be sourced within 25 miles from your home. Well I think all mine were within 25 steps from my front door so I decided to join in.

And remember these hearts from my last post? Well they were part of a special little order I’ve sent off to a sweetly named shop called ‘Mint Willow Studio‘. I’m super excited about this new part of the adventure for ‘bear loves dove’ and can’t wait to see where it leads me. I only wish I didn’t live so far away from the shop so I could go visit it for real! In the meantime a virtual visit will have to do.

Hope you find some minty fresh goodness and pretty floral beauty in your day today!

fans and fimo

Posted on March 30, 2013 by bear loves dove

Mint Fans Pram Snuggle Blanket with matching Heart Garland.
100% Pure Merino Wool, Crochet.

Yep – made another blanket with this lovely Vintage Fan Ripple Stitch. I just love it – in case you haven’t noticed! I’ve done a couple of different blankets using this stitch here and here, even a scarf here. And I found the pattern via the lovely blog Meet me at Mikes.

It’s a lovely super soft squishy little blankie that would be perfect for the pram or car seat as it’s not too big to lug around. It’s very light and has the softest drape too. And then there’s the luscious mint green colour… I do so love a delicate mint green.

The pattern is actually pretty easy to remember, and not as tricky as it may look. I thought it might be nice to hang the little garland from the pram, or car window or something and it makes it such a sweet little gift set. I’ve popped it in the Etsy shop already so you can see some more pictures there if you like.

I’ve also caught the Fimo craze. I love, and I mean REALLY love, making up the colours. More love creating the colours rather than the actual physical mixing of the fimo together, as I did have a little sook occasionally when my hands & fingers got tired. That stuff is SO hard to begin with.

But the colours… oh my I just loved making different shades. Adding a bit more, taking a bit out, working in another bit of white… All in the name of the perfect shade. Or the near enough is good enough shade. No room for perfection around here, life really is too short. The beads are meant to be a little rustic and earthy in their shape and colour. You can even see my fingerprint in some of them! I kinda like that some have my fingerprint – doesn’t get anymore hand-made than that now does it?

It’s not just about the colour though. It is also about the beads… I hope to turn these coloured sets into necklaces, plus I have a little plan for some more… Not quite sure how it will all work but will let you know if it does. (I like to ignore the crafting disasters!)

Brights! I’m not usually a super bright colour person, maybe a pop of it here or there, I like softer tones usually. But then sometimes you just need a big punch of colour I reckon. So that’s this necklace. In your face bright colours, probably for the dull grey winter days I’m thinking.

If you follow me on Instagram you would have already seen my Mint Fan Blankie in progress and the Fimo beads. It was a Family Fimo Friday Crafternoon – that was my Good Friday. Pretty darn good really. What’s better than a Crafternoon? And one with your crafty talented lovely girly family members? My daughter, my mum, my sis and my niece. Sweet huh? There was also chocolate eggs, homemade peanut brittle (thanks sis) and homemade Ginger Syrup drinks (thanks mum). A very good Good Friday indeed.

Hope your Good Friday was good?
And the Easter Bunny hops by with some cute fluffy goodness… and chocolate! Of course. Always chocolate.

sprinkling hearts

Posted on March 11, 2013 by bear loves dove

Aqua Splice Heart Garland
100% Organic Cotton (Aqua), 100% Cotton (White). Crochet.

Did I mention I can’t stop making hearts?

Blue Willow Heart Garland
40% Alpaca, 40% Merino Wool, 20% Silk. Crochet.

I’ve made peace with my heart making… literally… making hearts is a happy, satisfying, low commitment, crafty little project that I can pick up anytime I have a spare moment. The hearts themselves don’t take too long at all… Stringing them together doesn’t take too long either. Blocking them so they sit flat takes a little time and a lot of pins. Photographing them takes a little time… So a garland takes some time… But a Heart? It only takes a moment.

Did I mention that I made my very first sale in my Etsy Shop? Probably rather uncool to be as excited as I am about it… but I am… very excited! I couldn’t think of a sweeter more deserving first customer too… So I hooked up a Teeny Heart Garland to gift with the blanket… in celebration of this exciting occasion.

The shop has a few little heart garlands in it now… in case you’d like to take a look… or not… ’tis fine… maybe hearts aren’t your thing? They are my thing… Just in case you didn’t know… but I’m sure you do. Hearts are precious, delicate and robust all at once… fragile yet tough… to be treasured… honoured… respected… guided… followed… protected… and strung together on a garland and sprinkled around the home… At least that’s what my heart says!

Hope your heart sprinkles a little happiness in your day today.

have a heart!

Posted on March 3, 2013 by bear loves dove

Hello, my name is Little White Dove and I am addicted to crocheting hearts!

I thought I best do something with all the hearts I’m crocheting…

Pink, Lemon & Green Heart Garland.
100% Suri Alpaca (Lemon), 100% Cotton (Pink, Cream), 100% Wool (Green).

Pink & Lemon Heart Garland
100% Cotton (Cream, Pale Pink), 100% Suri Alpaca (Lemon), Wool/Silk/Tencel (Dark Pink)

Pastel Love Heart Garland
100% Wool (Pale Green), 100% Cotton (all other colours)

Aqua Grey Heart Garland
100% Suri Alpaca (Cream), 100% Cotton (Cream, Aqua), 100% Wool (Teal, Grey).

Teal Heart Garland
100% Cotton (White), 100% Wool (Light Teal, Dark Teal).

Do you ever get ‘stuck’ on making the same thing? Over and over?
There’s something satisfying about these sweet hearts.
In fact it fills my heart to make these hearts.

Even the bird got a little mini heart garland on his cage!
Nothing’s safe from a-crochet-attack around here.

In order to stop myself hanging a heart garland from anything I can attach one to, I think I’m going to pop these little sweeties into my Etsy Shop… as soon as I get a chance… before I find another spot for one…

Hope your day has had a good sprinkling of hearts of in it today!

bear loves dove

crafting with natural fibres & luxury yarns

Tag Archives: garland