Sunday, October 31, 2010

Pop Tab Flower Keychain Pattern

I would have never thought in a million years that I would enjoy crocheting different things with pop tabs.

As a recycle artisian, not much gets thrown away. It is just routine that before something is thrown away, anything that can be salvaged is removed from the item (e.g. pop tabs from soda cans, etc.) then placed in individual containers. From that point the stash continues to grow until I'm struck with a creative thought. Until then, I just keep removing and stashing.

One day I noticed my stash of pop tabs was increasingly growing. So I got out the plastic yarn and decided to make a flower. I like flowers. I've seen in Etsy and on other sites where various crafters used the pop tab for the petals. I wanted to be different so instead I used the pop tab as the center instead of the typical adjustable ring method to crochet in the round.

Below is my Pop Tab Flower Keychain pattern:
SKILL LEVEL: Easy
MATERIALS:
· Crochet Hook – Size F and G
· Pop Tab (any size)
· Craft needle for attaching handles and for weaving in ends
· Key Ring
· Plastic Yarn - Main Color (MC): 1 plastic bag / Contrasting Color (CC): 1 plastic bag

Round 1: With F hook and CC, join with sl st in pop tab and sc completely around pop tab (14 sts needed for 7 petals on 1st layer. Note: Make sure you end up with an even number of sts. This determines the # of petals.) Join with a sl st to 1st sc.
Round 2: With MC in flo - for each petal around – *in same st make a sc, hdc, sc, sl st in next st. *Repeat around. Join with a sl st to 1st sc.
Round 3: With G hook and CC in blo of Round 1 sts, for each petal around - *in same st make a hdc, dc, tr,dc, hdc, sl st in next st. *Repeat around. Join with a sl st in a st behind the 1st hdc made. Still working behind the petals, sl st over to tr st, *ch 3, sl st in next tr st. *Repeat around. Join with a sl st to 1st sl st made.
Round 4: With MC and in each ch sp, make an hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr, 3 dc, hdc. (Note: Add more tr sts for height. Add more dc sts for fullness). Join with a sl st to 1st hdc. Fasten off, weave in all ends.
With G hook and both MC and CC, sl st in any st in between round 3 and 4, ch 10 or desired length of key chain. Working behind the ch place the key ring in front of plarn then sl st in the last ch made. (The key ring is now part of the ch) Sl st around the key ring to reinforce strength then sl st behind each ch of the keychain across to 1st sl st made. Join with a sl st to 1st sl st. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Let me know if you run into any trouble making this and I'll talk you through it.

ENJOY!!!!
This pattern is for your personal use only. This pattern may not be sold, published, reproduced-mechanically or electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying from any website(s) or electronic mailing lists, etc… Please do not offer, sell or distribute this pattern in any way to anyone else.

Thanks for visitng - come back soon as I'll be showing off more pop tab designs.