Knit Lace Boot Toppers

Today's must-have accessory lets you create layered looks that showcase your favorite boots. Knit boot toppers look like socks but without the bulk inside your boot. You can wear them over jeans, tights or thin socks for dimensional style.
Knit these unique Boot Toppers, that you'll love.
Make several and give them as gifts!

These toppers fit almost all because the stretching capability of the yarn and the pattern.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Materials:
Yarn worsted - 1 ball
One pair of needle size 4.5 mm/US7
Tapestry needle

Pattern 

Christmas Stockings

This season I have different stockings available at my shop.
The stocking is about 7 inches across and 21 inches from top to toe to hold lots of goodies on Christmas morning!

I made one for my nephew in Russia with his name.

For the cat-lovers I have special stockings too:)

See all stockings here 

If you want to knit my Santa Stocking design, you can buy a pattern too!

Christmas Stocking Hand Knit Santa Claus

My new Santa stocking!

The stocking is about 7 inches across and 21 inches from top to toe to hold lots of goodies on Christmas morning!

If you want to knit this stocking, I have a pattern here

Crochet Wash Cloth

Add charm to your kitchen or bath with these super fun crochet dishcloths!

If you ever plan to give a gift of pretty soaps, lotions, shower gels or other body care products, the handmade washcloths would be a lovely addition to the gift package. 

They are a great take-along project and work up quickly.

You wil need:

size H/8-5.00 mm crochet hook 

Cotton worsted yarn

Make 30 chain stitches (cs)

Yarn over. Skip first 2 cs 

Insert hook in the center of the 3rd chain from the hook.

Yarn over...

Draw through 3 loops on hook
(one half double crochet complete)

Repeat across to end of foundation chain.

You need to turn your work to start Row 2. 

Chain 2 (ch 2) and yarn over the hook (yo). 

Skipping the first stitch of the row directly below the turning chain, insert your hook in the next stitch. 

 Buy these wash cloth here

Cable Fingerless Mittens Gloves

These wonderful fingerless mittens hand knitted by me, they are super soft and warm.
Fingerless mitts are very practical but also make great fashion statement. These mittens will keep your hands warm all winter.

If you want to knit these fingerless mittens, I have a pattern!

Buy Pattern HERE
Buy Mittens HERE

Knitted Sport Hat

I knitted this hat...13 years ago (or so) in Russia but never used in here, in Arizona. 
My daughter loves it (I love it too). So, I wrote a pattern for this cool hat with three color ornament.

The pattern contains detailed written instructions for shaping, the color work pattern is charted only.

Gauge: 23 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Size: youth/adult.
Skills used: knit in the round, decrease, stranded color-work.
Yarn requirements: Any sport weight yarn in three colors
Buy this pattern HERE

Knitted Sneaker Slippers

Finally, I finished them :) I started knitting these cool sneakers about 4 month ago, almost finished and "stuck" only on the laces :) Today, I crocheted theses strings, wrote a pattern/ tutorial, photographed, and posted! Yay!

Size: woman 7 1/2 - 9 (9 ½ - 10 ½)
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials needed: Double pointed needles size 4.5 mm/US7, crochet hook size E /3.5mm, yarn in two colors- medium weight/worsted
Prerequisites: Knitting in the round, increasing, decreasing
Buy this pattern HERE 
If you do not want to knit but want to wear them, buy them HERE

Beaded Choker Necklace Tutorial

This choker is appropriate for nearly all levels of beaders; beginners may find it a little challenging. This tutorial has 11 pages with 33 steps and step-by step photos.

Materials you will need:

Rondelle beads 6x4mm, rondelle beads 4x3 mm, seed beads 11/0, seed beads 6/0, clasp, beading thread and 2 beading needles, extension chain 2" (optional).

 Click photos to buy this tutorial.

See more tutorials here

Knitted women slippers socks

These comfy slippers are wonderful to wear around the house. They are warm, practical and great as a gift!

If you want to knit  the slippers yourself, you can buy a pattern here. Instruction explains the basic of knitting this type of slippers. You can use solid color of the yarn, alternate colors for striped effect, or add an ornament
Skill Level: Beginner / Intermediate
Prerequisites: basic knitting skills

Owl Fingerless Mittens

Fingerless mitts are very practical but also make great fashion statement. These super cute mittens are great for many uses in a cold weather: driving, hiking, photography, or just walking around the town on a chilly day. Featured is a cable knit pattern that looks like and owl.

You can make  a pair of these fingerless mittens with a hoot owl on the front of each hand using my pattern. 

Thanksgiving Day Tutorial Giveaway!

Thanksgiving Day Giveaway!
If you are jewelry making lover and would like to try some of my jewelry tutorials, welcome to this giveaway ;) The winner will be able to choose any 4 single Jewelry tutorials from my AroundBeads shop.

 Go to my Around Wire blog for more details. 

Earrings for You E-book

Hurray! I finished my second E-book tonight - Earrings for You! (My first one is Beaded Trees)

This is fully illustrated , easy to read 43 page instructional e-book how to create 13 different earrings with wire. This e-book also includes instructions how to make your own ear findings. Techniques used: wire wrapping, coiling, chain maille.

Have a peek:

 You can buy this e-book here .

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Everybody knows a popular nursery rhyme that describes the adventures of Itsy Bitsy Spider :

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.

Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.

Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain,

and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

I wanted to make my own Itsy Betsy Spider with beads and, of course, wire!

So, this pair of grass spider earrings was made. They have 8 legs like all spiders have. I think they are cute and not scary at all :)

I could not stop now. These little creatures asked me about Big Friend. Well, you wish is my command :)

Big Friend could be now friendly Tarantula spider. Do not laugh and do not be afraid- my jewelry pieces are not poison:) ... and this spider came out 3-dimentional! And it is a brooch!

 Look at these guys!Aren't they adorable ? :) They could be the perfect jewelry (or gift) not only for Halloween :)

If you want to make your own spiders, you can buy step-by-step spider earrings and Spider Brooch tutorials at my AroundBeads Etsy store .

When trees were big

Did I tell you that first I was "floral" wire-worker making beaded flowers and trees? My first bead work was money tree. 

I do not know exactly how many trees I made :) I made them for my friends, for my customers, and even for contests. My work Bonsai Shakkan has been used by Fire Mountain Gems both as a back cover advertisement and inside their catalog.

Photo from FMG catalog

People were asking mу about pattern for this bonsai. Fortunately, I had step-by-step photos and sketches and it was easy to put all together. Plus, I added instruction for Savanna Tree as a variation for this technique.

 BUY TUTORIAL HERE

Mixed Media Jewelry Techniques- Book

This is an excellent book! Written for jewelry makers of all media and skill levels, this book encourages the mixing of techniques with the skills of others to create unique designs.

The book features 9 exciting projects combining various materials into new jewelry designs for necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. Each project brings together two or three jewelry making techniques, each of which could also be used for independent projects.

The techniques include: wire work, beading, chain mail, lampwork, beading, macrame, bead stitching, metal & polymer clay, PMC.

Size:8 1/2" x 11". 80 pp. Soft cover

Look inside:

Only $10.50! 

Chain Mail Bezel for Coins and More

Not long ago, I found 5 ruble coin at home (I guess, I brought it from my last visit of Russia). Turning it in my hands, I decided to make something with it since I cannot spend it  here anyway:) Besides, coin jewelry has been popular since coinage began. 

5 ruble coin with a double eagle on reverse is 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, so it could be a good pendant. I  did not want to make any holes in it, so the chain mail bezel should work. 

 Silver plated jump rings are woven so that they hold the coin firmly in place.
Diameter of the pendant is 1 3/8" (35mm).
You will not believe, just  after making this "Russian" pendant, my daughter found a genuine Canadian Elizabeth Head Penny 1966 coin. I wanted to make a bezel for it too!

Ear Cuffs

Ear cuff jewelry is great for folks who do not have pierced ears or who want the look of multiple piercings without having to have any additional ear piercings. An Ear Cuff clips to the cartilage at the edge of the ear.Ear cuffs are large and fit on the middle of the ear over the cartilage. Whether they are plain or with dangles, Ear cuffs go on the same way. 

Start at the top of the ear and slide down and push in over the cartilage. Then adjust them once, if needed so they barely fit over the cartilage at the middle of the ear. Just make sure they feel snug and secure... 

Order it

New series of DVD "Coiling and Weaving Wire Jewelry Designs"

I am happy to announce the release of the latest jewelry instructional DVD Series, featuring my Coiling and Weaving Wire Jewelry Designs!

In DVD 1 you will learn how to make Coil Drop Earrings & Arabian Bracelet:

 DVD 2 - Sprig Earrings & Moonlight Pendant:

DVD 3 - Golden Medallion Pendant and Viking Knit Chain

Do you want to see the prototypes of those jewelry made in copper?