bangle motif tutorial

I've had trouble getting online. Thanks Mobily!


Finally, here's the tutorial for the bangle motif for Aysh and anyone else who might be interested. Of course there's a lot you can do with the basic bangle motif. I attached three to each other to make the wall hanging.

But I think it would look cool as a necklace or even earrings. So if you do crochet some, do let me know and leave a link. I'd love to see!

I used thrifted bangles, a 2 mm hook and some crochet cotton.  

I started with a magic loop. I think this little technique is great for motifs where you really don't want a little (or even big) hole in the middle. It took me a while to get it though!


Magic loop

Pull up a loop from the long end of the thread.

Then yarn over (yo) and pull up another one to secure it.

Then work a double crochet (dc).

And 11 more, working over the short end of the thread. 

When you have 12 dc, pull the short end of the thread. This is the "magic" bit.

Give it a good tug.

Then, slip stitch into the first dc.

No gaping hole in the middle!


Now for the rest of the pattern ...


Chain 2, [yo and pull up a loop in the same stitch, yo, pull through one loop] twice, yo, pull through all the loops on the hook.

Ch3, yo and pull up a loop in the next dc, yo, pull through one loop, [yo and pull up a loop in the same stitch, yo, pull through one loop] twice, yo, pull through all the loops on the hook. Continue working these cluster stitches in every dc around, with 3ch in between.

Join another colour if you like, and this time, you carry on with same stitches but you work 2 clusters in to each of the ch3 spaces.

My motif was a little bit smaller than the bangle at this point, so it was time to incorporate that bangle in to the pattern. Of course you can go bigger or smaller if you like but the motif shouldn't be the same size or bigger than the bangle that you're using. You want it to pull taut on the bangle. Start by pulling the long, working yarn through the bangle (to the back). 

Ch1 and work 4 single crochets (sc) into the 3ch space from the previous round and the bangle too. 

Keep working 4sc into each 3ch sp and around the bangle at the same time.

When you've finished working the round slip stitch in to the first sc. The sc in to each sc. I added a ch3 between every second and third sc in a 4sc group.

Any questions? Just let me know. And remember, I'd love to see what you make with the pattern.

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my creative space

We have another wall hanging. I didn't like the card in the middle, so if I can't come up with another way of incorporating a dhikr or quote, I have to leave it out. This one reminds me Algiers!

Aysh asked for a tutorial and I thought, "Yeah, why not." So there's something for me to add to my To Do list. Let's see if I can squeeze it in before I go back to work after a super long summer holiday!


The kids go back to school in two days and I have no idea how we're going to do that with our crazy sleeping patterns of late. My early-to-bed-early-to-rise kids are playing nintendo games at 11 pm, true to the culture of our host city!

Today, I'm happy about ...

• Knowing that there's an alternative to my broken digital camera. Oh yes, that's how I've been using it, aimlessly!

• Working on a project that will help someone, in sha Allah. 

• And here's another one for all you knitters and crocheters.

• Getting together with a dear friend and her lovely children to make sweet treats. You have to try these easy oreo truffles. There are no pictures due to the gobbling up of most of them by lots of little people after an afternoon at the pool. 

• Winning a giveaway here and here! I'm SO excited!

• More creative spaces as always! And here's a nice little e-zine too!

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where's that mojo?

Thank you so much for your comments to my last post. It's not a life or death situation but it's nice to read encouraging words when you just don't know where that mojo is. I've heard people say they can't find theirs. Where do they look? Do you know? Have you ever lost your crafting mojo?

It's Ramadan. We're fasting and trying to tune more into spirituality. We're making and baking, the little people and I. It is heart-warming to see them working together to get things done. It doesn't happen often enough. The other half makes cool, refreshing drinks. He experiments on us! 

But back to my crafting, I have ideas in my head. I need to put them on paper. I think I might lose them. Forever. 

I have been inspired lately by all the lovely projects on flickr. And not only crochet. There are great inspirational shots and quotes like this. I think Julian Bialowas' work is amazing!


I've been working on an older project, but when the rounds and rounds of double crochets get a bit dull, little motifs are the way to go.  My photos are still horrible because I've used my phone. 


I crocheted the heart after I saw this, loved it and analysed it. 

I don't know if mine is the same but I think it's close enough.

This is something unusual I really wanted to try. I saw it on flickr and asked about the pattern. Malatri kindly posted it soon after. It turned out to be SO simple. It just looks different. 

And Mollie Flowers are so cute and versatile. I want to make bucket loads of them!

I might just be alright with the mojo issue. I hope.

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my creative space - on the road

Yes, it was on the road that I got my hook out and finished off a couple of pieces that I was testing for Fatima.

It made me want to go on a proper road trip!

But this one wasn't too far. Just over an hour away. A trip to Rabigh to visit an airfield, with lots and lots of little people (not pictured here as they were busy on bouncy castles and such like!).  

Second week in a row with LOTS of little people! But new friends were made and after a busy, hot day, these were finished.

A necklace and bracelet,  starched an' all. Lovely and easy-to-follow patterns!

And some beady crochet too!

Which I really loved and I'm so looking forward to more!

More creative spaces in a new space, here.

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my creative space ...

... includes more of this and another one of these ...

The first one was made and bundled off in such a hurry that I didn't notice the little diamond it makes at the back!  I've crocheted a crab stitch edging on this one, which is just single crochets backwards (going from left to right).

And finishing off those motif projects ...

A little purse, to gift to someone, for little things, coins, bits and bobs one doesn't want to lose at the bottom of a handbag.

This was a join-as-you-go motif.  Here's the pattern.

But it needed a lining that took longer than the lining for the Hex bag!

I made me a bookmark too!  But I think it would work well on a cuff or even as a bracelet.  

What do you think?

And of course, more creative spaces here!

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my creative space ...

... is about motifs.  You can never have too many wips right? Yeah right!

Two motifs.

A smaller motif.

Quite small motifs.


And I came across this colour personality test at one of my favourite blogs. 

This is what my colour choices apparently say about me:

You are 44 % extrovert and 56 % introvert.


Independently of any order of importance :

You are able to listen to others, you show a good emotional intelligence, you know how to bring your support to others.

You are also strong-willed and active, your actions are determined by your own will, by the goals you settled for yourself, and by your need to act and to move forward.

Finally you are imaginative and creative, you have always new ideas, and you know how to apply them.

Hmmm ok. 


For more creative spaces head over to Kootoyoo.

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