My dad playing the bugle! That’s me on drums.
My dad loves photography. There’s a wall in my parents’ house that is covered with all his photos from their various trips around the world. I thought I’d crochet a frame to go around a photo of us together when I was a kid.
I bet your dad would love a crochet framed photo of you both together too!
The key to this project is the photo frame itself. The clear acrylic frames I chose to use are inexpensive, versatile, and easy to load your picture into. Each comes with Velcro and a magnet on the back, so you can hang your finished piece on your cubicle wall, file cabinet, or even your fridge.
As for the crochet pattern, it’s so much easier than it looks! I’ve been reading up on intermeshing crochet patterns a bit lately. I got the inspiration for this one from The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet. Check it out for some really cute intermeshing patterns and ideas. I did my frame with a different color for every row, but I bet two contrasting colors would look great too!
Picture Frame Crochet Pattern
Finished size: 5 1/2″ by 7 1/2″
Materials
Worsted-weight yarn: try using two contrasting colors or a different color for each row.
Here are the yarns I used for this project:
* Caron Simply Soft in Country Blue, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
* Caron Simply Soft in Sunshine, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
* Caron Simply Soft in Dark Country Blue, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle
4” x 6” acrylic photo frame with Velcro and magnetic backing
Instructions
Photo Frame Front
Ch 89. Careful not to twist the chain, join with slst to 1st ch.
Rnd 1: For this rnd, feel free to crochet into only one loop of each chain (so much easier). Ch 1, sc in ea of next 12 ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch, sc in next 18 ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch, sc in next 25 ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch, sc in next 18 ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch, sc in next 12 ch, join with slst to 1st st.
Rnd 2: Ch 4, sk 1st st, * (dc, ch 1, sk next st) rep to turning ch. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in turning ch. Rep from * to end of rnd. Join with slst in 3rd ch of beginning ch.
Rnd 3: Ch 2, * (dc into next sc of Rnd 1 that had been skipped in Rnd 2, ch 1) rep to turning ch. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in turning ch. Rep from * to end of rnd. Join with slst in 1st st. FO and weave in ends.
-
- Insert hook into Rnd 1 sc that was skipped in Rnd 2.
-
- With working yarn at the back, yo and pull through.
-
- Finished stitch will look like this.
Photo Frame Back
Ch 33.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across, turn.
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in ea dc across. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew these Back pieces onto the back of the Photo Frame.
Tuck your frame into the pockets.
The magnet will hold your crochet frame tight to the fridge.
See a mistake or something I overlooked, please let me know in the comments or at squirrelpicnic{at}gmail{dot}com. Thanks!
May 30, 2014 at 7:18 pm
What a clever and thoughtful gift!
May 31, 2014 at 8:32 am
Thank you!
May 30, 2014 at 10:52 pm
Thank you for sharing this great pattern for a frame. You have made it easy to follow with all the pictures you took! I also love the picture with you and your father! Very nice idea for Father’s Day!!!
May 31, 2014 at 8:32 am
I’m so glad you enjoy the tutorial. It’s become one of my favorite stitches. I could see using it as an afghan border too. So many possibilities!
May 30, 2014 at 11:06 pm
What a great idea. Extra nice gift because of being handmade. I also love the photo. 🙂
May 31, 2014 at 8:30 am
Thanks! It’s a good thing moms and dads love handmade gifts from their kids because I love making them!
May 31, 2014 at 12:14 am
Thank you for sharing this lovely idea, i can think of a whole load of occasions where this would work. I am sure your Dad will be delighted.
May 31, 2014 at 8:29 am
My dad saw the blog last night and it made him laugh. I don’t think he’d seen that photo of us in a while. 🙂
May 31, 2014 at 8:08 am
what a brilliant idea! So much nicer than the normal picture frames you can get 🙂
May 31, 2014 at 8:28 am
Thanks! I agree. Those acrylic frames seem to need some dressing up. And this way you can personalize them!
June 1, 2014 at 2:20 pm
I agree, they can be boring 🙂
May 31, 2014 at 10:47 am
Crocheted frame is awesome idea. We don’t celebrate Father’s day in Croatia, but this frame has opened other possibilities. Will make few and put my nieces drawings in the frames. When they come will make a little exhibition from their drawings and then later they can make one themselves after finishing new drawings. This way we can play for few hours. 🙂
Thank you! Your creativity is endless and you work inspires me all the time.
June 2, 2014 at 8:26 am
What a great idea! I know your nieces will enjoy seeing their artwork on display, and I hope they have fun crocheting a frame of their very own. How cool!
June 1, 2014 at 7:21 am
That is much classier than the stupid frames we sell at Mecca!
June 2, 2014 at 8:24 am
Haha! Thanks! Funny thing, I think that’s where I got the acrylic frame that my crocheted frame fits onto. 🙂 What don’t they have?
June 2, 2014 at 9:31 am
They don’t have a very wide selection of squirrel feeders! And I must not have enough clout to change that…
June 2, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Probably have tons of bird feeders I bet. Squirrels always get the bum deal.
June 1, 2014 at 5:38 pm
This is so awesome and I love the photo…hehe very cute 🙂
June 2, 2014 at 8:24 am
Thank you, thank you. 🙂