Fun Ways To Use Crocheted Motifs

Sometimes a busy schedule will prevent someone from completing his or her latest crocheted project. If you've ever tried to complete an afghan or any other large crocheted project, then you probably know what I am talking about.

Your afghan is tucked away somewhere neatly, and worked on only as you find the time. Sadly, a lot of people today just do not have much time to crochet, so the afghan either takes years to complete, or worse, it is never completed.

A fun and exciting way to not only complete an afghan, but a bedspread (any size), baby blanket, matching curtains, pillows and pillowcases would be to crochet small individual motifs.

Motifs are easy to crochet and you can carry your supplies with you wherever you go. Crochet a few motifs at your next Doctors appointment; crochet some during your break at work (if allowed).

You can work on motifs just about anywhere, because all you need is your hook, your pattern, a small ball of crochet thread, small scissors and a zip-lock bag to hold your motifs once they are completed. These can fit in almost any size purse, or small bag.

To save room in your purse or bag, once you have completed a motif, put it in your zip-loc bag and stuff the bag into the middle of your ball. The size 10 balls of crochet thread will hold about 10 motifs measuring 4 or 5 inches square.

When you get home, store your completed motifs in a plastic container that can be stored easily. I usually slide my container under the bed.

Once you have developed a habit of carrying your supplies with you, and crocheting as you find the time, you will be pleasantly surprised at the number of motifs completed each month. Your container will be full of motifs before you know it. These motifs can then be made into wonderful items for your home.

Designing something for your home, using your motifs, is VERY easy.

We'll use a bedspread as an example here.

Let's say you want a bedspread for your bed. Take the covering you already use and simply measure it lengthwise and widthwise.

Measure the size of your motifs (most motifs are 4 to 6 inches), and then calculate the number of motifs you will need like by following the formula below:

Bedspread Size = 86" by 92" (Queen sized example, your measurements may vary)
Motif Size = 4" (Example, your motifs may vary)
Divide 86 (Bedspread width) by 4 (Motif size) to get the number of motifs you will need to complete the width of your bedspread.

The answer is 21.5, but since we do not work with half a motif, you would then use either 21 or 22 as your number. In our example we will use 22 for a bit of extra length.

Now divide 92 (Bedspread length) by 4 (motif size) to get the number of motifs you will need to complete the length of your bedspread.

This number is 23.

Next multiple 22 (width) by 23 (length) to get the total number of motifs that you will need.

You would need 506 motifs to complete your bedspread.

Remember: Divide width and length by size of your motif in inches, round off to nearest motif then multiple width and length totals together for total number of motifs needed.

If you crochet only 5 motifs per day then you would have your 506 motifs completed in 4 months. It's easy to complete 5 motifs in one day, and you could have a wonderful thick and warm heirloom bedspread worth hundreds in almost no time at all.

Once you have the number of motifs needed to complete your bedspread, you can then piece them together as you would any afghan square. I like to crochet my motifs together, but some prefer to sew.

You can use the measuring method explained above to make pillows, Afghans, baby blankets, purses, sachets and even curtains. Just measure, calculate the number of motifs needed and then piece together.

Helpful Hints:

Most ladies sit with their purses on their laps when waiting in Doctors offices or with their purse at their feet when riding in a car. Leave the ball in your purse and let the thread roll out of your purse as you crochet if you think you may need to leave quickly because you are running late or rushing for some reason. This way all you have to do is grab your pattern and your hook with the thread on it already from your purse, crochet, place it quickly back into your purse when needed. Just make sure that the ball is placed neatly where the thread will not snag on anything.

If you are like me, sometimes you like to see something completed for your effort. This provides a sense of accomplishment and pride. If you find that you are getting a bit impatient because you have not completed enough motifs for your item yet, then why not grab two motifs and splurge. You can make a lovely sachet using just two motifs by sewing a small satin pillow that is 1/4 inch smaller than your motifs, sew the two motifs together and stuff the pillow into your motif sachet. If you stuff your pillow with sweet smelling herbs you will have a wonderful air freshener for your car, or you can use your sachet as a pin cushion, gift or dainty decor.

This article copyright protected (c) 2006 Maria Wilkes of AllCrafters.com, all rights reserved.
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