Pattern for Jewellery Set

I love using free patterns so here's the first one I can share for others to use (my first attempt at pattern-writing, please leave a comment if an error is found and I will correct it):

Wire Crochet – Pearl Necklace & Earrings Set

© "Angel Crochets" 2007

Pattern free for non-commercial use, please do not redistribute or post this pattern elsewhere.

Materials:
1 Spool Artistic Wire – non-tarnish Silver 28gauge (15 yards)
Hook size – 4mm (I used a US G6 Susan Bates)

For Necklace:
26 x 6mm beads (I used 6mm freshwater pearl beads)
1 x silver lobster claw clasp (optional: 1 x silver jump ring)

For Earrings:
10 x 6mm beads (I used 6mm freshwater pearl beads)
2 x small sterling silver earring hooks (18 x 10mm)

Stitches:
Chain – ch
Beaded ch – bch (draw bead up wire, push close to hook, work chain capturing bead in the stitch)
Beaded dc – bdc (draw bead up wire, push close to hook, work dc capturing bead in the stitch)

Please note: this pattern is written using Australian / British crochet terminology. Australian double-crochet (dc) = American single-crochet (sc)

Necklace: Thread 26 6mm beads onto wire before starting.
ch 15, * bch, ch 1 * repeat 11 more times (12 repeats of bch, ch 1), bch twice, * ch 1, bch * repeat 11 more times (12 repeats of ch 1, bch), ch 15, fasten off.

Gently stretch and smooth the finished piece.

Thread lobster claw clasp onto one end of wire, wrap free end of wire around loop several times and weave in loose end. Form loop from other end of wire, wrap free end of wire around base of loop several times and weave in end or (if using jump ring) thread jump ring onto wire end, wrap free end of wire around wire at the base of the jump ring and weave in end.

Earrings: Thread 10 6mm beads onto wire before starting (each earring uses 5 beads).

ch 2, * draw bead up to hook and bch * repeat 2 more times (3 bch). Turn crochet to work on opposite side of chain, draw bead up to hook and bdc in 2nd bch, draw bead up to hook and bdc in 1st bch, (five beaded stitches forming a ‘circle’), fasten off.

Wrap end tail around top of work, weave in end. Thread earring hook onto starting tail, weave end through beginning chain, wrap wire around loop at the base of the earring hook. Repeat for 2nd Earring.

Everything I need...

I had a good day today, fairly busy - I left just after 9:30 and didn't get home until 4. I went shopping with a friend and her mum, we went to Go-Lo, Big W and Spotlight. I bought Christmas things at Go-Lo, some summer nighties, DVDs and chocolates at Big W and some more # 10 thread, some beads and a few jewellery findings from Spotlight. They had some nice yarn on sale but I couldn't really justify purchasing any more.

I picked up my package earlier this morning from the Post Office and I made a necklace with the wire and some pearls before I left for shopping. It's not fancy (just beaded chains) but it's quite pretty and I am very pleased with it. Crocheting with wire feels funny (that would be strange funny)...and I desperately need to work on my 'finishing techniques' such as they are, I broke the wire twice trying to get the clasp on and it's more luck than anything else that is keeping it together. I made some 'matching' earrings when I got home (matching the necklace individually but not quite matching each other). It's not a bad looking set. I will get some photos when I can.

I am almost finished the first ball of Romance for the project I am working on so I am looking forward to spending some time tonight making more progress. I am giving the hankies a miss while I'm still feeling like poo. I don't think it was a good idea to spend so much time outdoors today, I got rained on and I feel miserable again. I will have a nice, warm shower and put a nice, new nightie on and then I will get into bed (covered with a nice, new bedspread that I couldn't resist today and new sheets I bought ages ago but never got around to putting on my bed) and I will crochet until I am too sleepy to crochet any more and then I will sleep. It sounds like a fantastic plan to me, best idea I've had in at least a day. I must add that it is made even more fabulous by the other idea I have had, which is eating chocolate while I'm doing everything else (except, possibly, the shower part - although I'm willing to give it a shot). I can't taste anything except for coffee and chocolate - just as well those are my two major "food groups" of choice and a staple of my daily diet (if not my entire daily diet).

Before I go: hello Dragon Mad Knitter, nice to 'officially' meet you! I read a lot of your blog this morning but I am not sure where I'm up to - would like to see more photos, of course, but who am I to demand photos? Please show PCB soon! I am waiting for Spoilee to receive her package before I reveal myself (I always feel a bit...odd...when I say that, like some kind of perverted old man who is just waiting for the right opportunity to flash his bits and pieces at an unsuspecting soul). It would seem I am not shy about making people wait...


Edited to Add: Photos