Lace Tunic

I'm working on a designer dress pattern using Cannon thread. This design first appeared on 2004 crochet magazine and was a free download some years back...now its for sale as a single pattern.
I chose this pattern since it looks challenging, yet doable. I was only a bit worried about using size 8 cotton thread, since it would mean a lot of trial and error and adjustments to the pattern.
Surprisingly, it wasn't much trouble to modify the pattern. I just went ahead and did it, and I had to finish the bodice so I can see what needs to be adjusted.
The first one was quite small, though I can still put it on. I am a size 32", but for this I followed the size 34" on the pattern. I used 2.5mm hook.

After I made the above bodice, I think I figured out how to make it right the next time.
So, I followed size 36" on the pattern and added another row for the base. I made the neckline lower, and also made less solid shell pattern and changed to lace pattern ahead. I added 3 rows on the sleeve edge too...
Here's my current attempt at finishing my lace tunic :)
I'm using Cannon MB864 (about 6 balls is needed), crochet hooks 2.5mm for the bodice and 2.5mm / 3mm for the skirt part.

Mini flower doily or jar topper - free pattern

Here is another mini doily/jar topper design I came up with. The other one can be seen here.
Doily is 5 inches in diameter and would fit a jar lid that's about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.

Mini flower doily or jar topper 
copyright Mimi Alelis, 2012
(Please do not distribute my patterns in any manner or form.)
This pattern can only be found on this link:
http://mycottonthreads.blogspot.com/2012/09/mini-flower-doily-or-jar-topper-free.html

Materials
Cannon cotton thread, size 8 (can be substituted with size 10 thread), (note: one ball will make about 6 mini doilies)
Crochet hook size 2mm (or 3/0)
1/8 inch satin ribbon, 18 inches long
Yarn needle to weave in ends
Finished size: about 5 inches diameter

Stitches used:
ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, 2-dc cluster, 3-dc cluster,
dc2tog = double crochet together the next two stitches

Doily
Start with ch 6, sl st in 1st ch to form a ring,
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 14 sc in ring, sl st in 1st sc to join.
Rnd 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), (dc, ch 1) in each sc around, sl st on top of beg ch 3. (14 dc, 14 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 3: Ch 1 (2 sc, ch 1) in each ch-1 sp around, sl st in 1st sc. (28 sc, 14 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 4: Sl st to the next ch-1 sp, ch 2, dc in same sp, ch 5, 2-dc cluster in same sp, (2-dc cluster, ch 5, 2-dc cluster in next ch-1 sp) repeat around, sl st in 1st dc. (14 ch-5 loops)
Rnd 5: Ch 3, sc in ch-5 sp, dc in next cluster st, ch 3, (dc in next cluster st, sc in ch-5 sp, dc in next cluster st, ch 3) repeat around, sl st on top of beg ch-3.
Rnd 6: Sl st to the next ch-3 sp, ch 3, dc in same sp, ch 2, 2 dc in same sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each of the next ch-3 sp around, sl st on top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 2 (dc in each of the next 2 dc, ch 2) repeat around, sl st on top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 8: Sl st to the next ch-2 space, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 5, (sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5) repeat around, sl st in 1st sc.
Rnd 9: Sl st on the next 2 chs, (sc, ch 3, sc) in same loop, ch 5, [(sc, ch 3, sc) in next loop, ch 5] repeat around, sl st in 1st sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Insert tie in ch-2 spaces on rnd 7.

Rattan Stitch Triangular Wrap

There are different ways of creating crochet fabric using cotton thread. Using various stitches will show different looks, texture and drape. If you want to make a more drapey fabric using cotton thread size 8, you can use bigger hooks than you normally use. I've been able to use up to 4mm hook for a single strand of Cannon cotton thread. It will not work with any stitch pattern...but with some experimentation you'll see that it works with simple mesh patterns. The result looks like a knitted lace fabric.
Here's my first completed project using such a technique (if I may call it that...)
The stitches used here are chain, single crochet, extended single crochet, and double crochet.

Materials:
Cannon cotton thread, size 8, 175m /ball, MB104 (maroon red), 4 balls
Crochet hook size 4mm

I made the shawl again, since I gifted the first one. This time I didn't do the edging round...the raw edge looks nice too.

Cellphone pocket with flap top

Here's another cellphone case I made using two strands of Cannon thread. For this I used two shades of blue and crochet hook size 3mm (5/0). It was based on this pattern by Lydia Busek.
This is made in one piece, with a flap top. I did a bit of surface crochet for embellishment.

 

Mini doily or jar topper - free crochet pattern

Here's a pretty little doily that's also a jar topper. Doily is 5 inches in diameter and would fit a jar lid that's about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. (also shown in photo are the denim thread ties that I made from recycled denim jeans)

Here's a blue one on a jar. I used ordinary 1/8-inch satin ribbon as tie.

Mini doily or jar topper, 6-petal flower 
copyright Mimi Alelis, 2012
(Please do not distribute my patterns in any manner or form.)
This pattern can only be found on this link:
http://mycottonthreads.blogspot.com/2012/04/mini-doily-or-jar-topper-free-crochet.html


Materials
Cannon cotton thread, size 8 (can be substituted with size 10 thread), (note: one ball will make at least 8 mini doilies)
Crochet hook size 2mm (or 3/0)
1/8 inch satin ribbon, 18 inches long
Yarn needle to weave in ends
Finished size: about 5 inches diameter

Stitches used:
ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, 2-dc cluster, 3-dc cluster,
dc2tog = double crochet together the next two stitches


Doily
Start with ch 6, sl st in 1st ch to form a ring,
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 2-dc cluster in ring, ch 3, (3-dc cluster, ch 3) 5 times, sl st on 1st dc-cluster.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, ch 3, (3 dc in next dc-cluster, ch 3) 5 times, sl st on top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next ch-3 space, ch 2, (2 dc in each of the next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in next ch-3 space, ch 2) 5 times, sl st on top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc2tog, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 2, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, (dc in next dc, dc2tog, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 2, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2) 5 times, sl st on top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 5: Ch 2, dc in next dc (counts as dc2tog), dc2tog, ch 2, (2 dc in next dc, ch 1) 2 times, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, [dc2tog twice, ch 2, (2 dc in next dc, ch 1) 2 times, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2] 5 times, sl st on top of 1st dc.
Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 2 (dc in each of the next 2 dc, ch 2) repeat around, sl st on top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 7: Sl st to the 1st ch-2 space, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 5, (sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5) repeat around, sl st in 1st sc.
Rnd 8: Sl st on the next 2 chs, (sc, ch 3, sc) in same loop, ch 5, (sc in next ch-5 loop, ch 3, sc in same loop, ch 5) repeat around, sl st in 1st sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Insert tie in ch-2 spaces on rnd 6.