Valentine Mantle

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I wish this could have been finished a week ago, but alas Mommyhood prevails. So, I get to unveil this on the Sweetest day of the year! I wish you all love, peace, and happiness!

The wreath was my biggest challenge. I learned Tunisian Crochet just for this project. Mainly, because I was going for a look based on a wreath by Crafts 'n Coffee. I loved the use of the dark dark red (and now I'm wondering if I went a little too dark :/) and the look of the repurposed sweater. Knowing I couldn't recreate the sweater, I thought I'd try Tunisian crochet to have a close-to-knit-look.

I found a great YouTube video by Naztazia. I made a piece approximately 7 inches wide, with a beginning chain of 23 stitches. Somewhere along the way, I dropped 2 stitches, backed up to find one, but By the end, I only had 22. Not bad for my first attempt.

Since it needed to wrap the full circumference of a 12 inch wreath form, and wanted it to stretch a bit to avoid ripples, I made the piece about 34 inches long. I whip stitched the ends together, then stretched it around the wreath. Then I whip stitched the length of the piece on the backside of the wreath. I am thinking about removing the finished crochet piece to reuse the wreath. Then, next year, I can simply stitch it back on.

The hearts were all made from a pattern from Sarahndipities. The one thing I altered in the pattern, is; I started with a magic circle, see this YouTube video, instead of the chain 4, and crocheted all of the first round stitches in the circle. For the wreath, I made one full heart, one heart of only rounds 1 and 2, and one heart of only round 1. I made each in a sport weight white (G hook), and a bulky dark grey (I hook). I layered the matching sizes of two colors and stitched them together, then to the wreath. I finished it off with a chain in the dark gray yarn with a heart pendant and "crystal" gem in the center stitch, attached to the back of the wreath, so the charms hang in the center of the wreath.

The garland was the full heart pattern. I didn't want a bulky chain stretching across, so I simple wove them onto the yarn. They turned out so sweet!

The flowers in the cute little silver bud vase were clearance from Michaels. Talk about sweet - or should I say sweet deal!

I LOVE IT!

Please, let me know what you think. Did you make any decorations for Valentines Day this year? Share with us.

This post has been linked up with: 52 Mantles