Friday 30 October 2015

TEA LIGHT HOLDER 1

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog, photo of the tea light holder

TEA LIGHT HOLDER 1

Navratri is a festival of nine nights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratri when we ladies get a chance to show off our craft and decorative skills, have friends and family come home and enjoy some different foods.  

This is closely followed by Diwali, our festival of lights https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

During both these festivals, we decorate our homes with lights.  In the old days, we used mud lamps – now with the advent of tea lights and candles, these are the simpler, easier, and cleaner lamps that we use.

I was worried about the inflammability of the tea light holder and warned my friend Prabha (also a brillaint crocheter), who had made one.  She took the trouble of lighting the tea light candle till it totally burned down, ensuring that it did not burn the yarn or even heat it up - which then kick-started me on my tea light holder journey. Thank you so much, Prabha, for taking the trouble and going that extra mile for safety.
She sourced these lovely inner tea light protectors, that make this that much safer.
Visit Prabha at https://www.facebook.com/prabha.nc?ref=ts&fref=ts

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This is the first of some of my creations for tea light holders.  

Materials used : Indian Polyester yarn with a 4 mm crochet hook.

Difficulty level : Intermediate  to advanced skill level

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)
lp(s) : Loop(s)                   sc : Single crochet
dc : Double crochet          sp : Space                                 
sl-st : Slip stitch                ch : Chain
st(s) : Stitch(es)                hk : Hook
yo : Yarn Over                                               
MC : Main Colour
CC : Contrast Colour                                     
Trc 2-tog : Triple crochet 2-together
Sc-blo : Single crochet back loop only
Tr-tr : Triple Treble crochet


Stitches used(Using U.S terminology)
Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs


Instructions :
Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.
In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.  This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

So before we jump into the pattern, let’s see what we’re going to do here.
This is a pretty straight forward pattern.  
We start with a magic circle and the base of our little holder, and work till we get a round base that we’re happy with… i.e the size of the tea light candle holder we’re going to put inside.  
Ensure that the round we’re making here is a little larger than the tea light, to prevent the flame from jumping out and creating a fire hazard.

We will then continue to create the top and sides of our little container holder.  This part is the constant for all our tea light holders.

As we turn to work the sides of our holder, we will be working one round in back loops only. 
Very conveniently, the other loop (i.e un-used front loop) will be the one we will re-attach our yarn onto to work the lower round portion of our tea light decoration.

Easy enough, right? So let’s move on..

For this pattern, I’ve used the chart found on a Pinterest board and adapted it to make a tea light holder

I really like this particular pattern as it reminds me of a rangoli or kolam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangoli

A rangoli or kolam is a design that we make on our floors during all festivals and auspicious occasions – and this one in particular, looks like one we used to make as kids.

Our stitch count is in multiples of 6.

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

Half Double Crochet : Hdc :  yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps.  One hdc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Start with a magic circle and 6 hdc in that circle.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.  
Pull lightly to close.

Base Round 1 : 2 hdc in the 1st hdc and each hdc till end.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Base Round 2 : hdc in the 1st hdc  ; 
2 hdc in the next hdc ; 
* hdc in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc * ; 
rep *to* all the way around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

To create a nice rim, and a deciding line where we can attach the rest of our pattern to, let’s work one round in single crochet, using back loops only or sc-blo.

Single crochet back loop only (sc-blo) : Here is an easy video tutorial

Base Round 3 : sc-blo in the 1st hdc and each hdc till end. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

We will now work one round without increase that will work the sides of our tea light holder.

Side Round 4 : hdc in the 1st sc and in each sc all the way around. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

For regular tea light holders, just Side Round 4 should suffice.

However, depending on how high you want the sides for your lamp holder, continue without any increase till you have the height you are happy with.

Fasten off and weave in ends.
We’ve completed the little ‘basket-like’ portion of our tea light holder.  This is where we’ll place our little tea light.

We will now work on the decorative or floral part of our holder.  So we need to go back to that sc-blo row, and re-attach our yarn. 
We will now be working in the front loops of that sc, and our instruction for that first round, will just read work in sc.

For convenience, I have termed earlier rounds as Base and Side.  
These instructions will just be numbered Round 1.. etc.

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Round 1 : dc in the 1st sc ; 
*ch 1, dc in the next sc* ; 
rep *to* in each sc till end. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 2 : sc in the 1st dc  ; 
*sc in the next ch-1 sp ; sc in the next dc* ; 
rep *to* all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

In the following row, we’ll use the long triple treble stitch (tr-tr), as well as the treble 2-tog stitch (trc 2-tog), so do take a look at the video link given above.

We will also be working each little ‘leaf-like’ pattern in one smooth motion.

1.       We will first do a trc 2-together (regular treble) stitches, and then work one special triple treble stitch.  We will finally work our little leaf like pattern on this triple treble stitch, completing one leaf-like shape, before moving on to the next set.
2.     Our trc 2-tog is worked over four stitches ; which means that you work the 1st part of the trc in 1 st, sk the next 3 sts and then work the 2nd part of the trc in the next st. So in between the two legs of our trc 2-tog, there should be 3 sts.
3.     To complete each leaf, we will work back and forth on the tr-tr we’ve created for three rows. 
4.     After completion of that first leaf, we will  go back to that same sc of Round 2, to work the 2 trc and one tr-tr for the next leaf.
5.     We will work similarly for all the six little leaves that decorate this little pattern.

Triple Crochet : trc : wrap yarn twice around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] three times.  One trc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/A0y4BbgDTbs

Chainless start for Triple / Treble Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of trc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/f42MO0cGYC0  

Triple / Treble crochet 2-tog : trc 2-tog :  [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 3 times (4 lps on hk) ;
{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 3 times.  One trc 2-tog made.
This video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0y4BbgDTbs shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease as well as use as a decorative stitch.
Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/lLUXOJ1sY9w

Round 3 : Part A : trc 2-tog over the 1st and 4th sc skipping the 3 sc in between ; sk next sc, tr-tr in the next sc ;
Turn and work along the tr-tr just made : 13 sc on the tr-tr ;
Turn and work along the sc just made : 
hdc in 1st sc ; 
[ch 1, sk next sc, hdc in next sc] ; 
rep [to] 5 times ;
Turn and work along the hdc just made : 
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
{hdc in the next ch-1 sp ; hdc in the next hdc} ; 
rep {to} 5 times.

We are  now back where we started, and will once again work with the same sc on Round 2, where we have the tr-tr stitch.
So when I say same sc, I mean where this tr-tr st has ended.
In this part, we will work our trc 2-tog over the 6th and 10th scs, sk sc 7,8, and 9.

Round 3 : Part B : trc 2-tog over the same 6th sc and 10th sc, skipping the next 3 sc ; sk next sc, tr-tr in the next sc ;
Turn and work along the tr-tr just made : 
13 sc on the tr-tr ;
Turn and work along the sc just made : hdc in 1st sc ; 
[ch 1, sk next sc, hdc in next sc] ; 
rep [to] 5 times ;
Turn and work along the hdc just made : 
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
{hdc in the next ch-1 sp ; hdc in the next hdc} ; 
rep {to} 5 times ;

In this part, we will work our trc 2-tog over the 12th and 16th scs, sk sc 13,14, and 15.

Round 3 : Part C : trc 2-tog over the same 12th sc and 16th sc, skipping the next 3 sc ; sk next sc, tr-tr in the next sc ;
Turn and work along the tr-tr just made : 13 sc on the tr-tr ;
Turn and work along the sc just made : 
hdc in 1st sc ; 
[ch 1, sk next sc, hdc in next sc] ; 
rep [to] 5 times ;
Turn and work along the hdc just made : 
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
{hdc in the next ch-1 sp ; hdc in the next hdc} ; 
rep {to} 5 times ;

In this part, we will work our trc 2-tog over the 18th and 22nd scs, sk sc 19,20, and 21.

Round 3 : Part D : trc 2-tog over the same 18th sc and 22nd sc, skipping the next 3 sc ; sk next sc, tr-tr in the next sc ;
Turn and work along the tr-tr just made : 
13 sc on the tr-tr ;
Turn and work along the sc just made : 
hdc in 1st sc ; 
[ch 1, sk next sc, hdc in next sc] ; 
rep [to] 5 times ;
Turn and work along the hdc just made : 
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
{hdc in the next ch-1 sp ; hdc in the next hdc} ; 
rep {to} 5 times ;

In this part, we will work our trc 2-tog over the 24th and 28th scs, sk sc 25, 26, and 27.

Round 3 : Part E : trc 2-tog over the same 24th sc and 28th sc, skipping the next 3 sc ; sk next sc, tr-tr in the next sc ;
Turn and work along the tr-tr just made : 
13 sc on the tr-tr ;
Turn and work along the sc just made : 
hdc in 1st sc ; 
[ch 1, sk next sc, hdc in next sc] ; 
rep [to] 5 times ;
Turn and work along the hdc just made : 
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
{hdc in the next ch-1 sp ; hdc in the next hdc} ; 
rep {to} 5 times ;

In this last part, we will work our trc 2-tog over the 30th and 34th scs, sk sc 31,32 and 33.

Round 3 : Part F : trc 2-tog over the same 30th sc and 34th sc, skipping the next 3 sc ; sk next sc, tr-tr in the 36th or 1st sc ;
Turn and work along the tr-tr just made : 
13 sc on the tr-tr ;
Turn and work along the sc just made : 
hdc in 1st sc ; 
[ch 1, sk next sc, hdc in next sc] ; 
rep [to] 5 times ;
Turn and work along the hdc just made : 
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
{hdc in the next ch-1 sp ; hdc in the next hdc} ; 
rep {to} 5 times ;
Join with a sl-st to the 1st trc 2-tog.

Fasten off and weave in ends.
One absolutely stunning little tea light candle holder done.



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