At least it fits

Divine hat from Ravelry. At least it fits over Bianca's bun.

Toasty Warm Ponytail Hat

It's my very first pattern for sale!

I designed the Toasty Warm Ponytail Hat for my sister, Kristen, who wanted a beanie she would wear with a ponytail when she went for a run or exercising.  It is worked in one piece and is adjustable.  It uses snuggly bulky weight yarn and is an easy pattern for beginners and more experienced crocheters.

The hat is adjustable and allows for different heights of ponytail.

Looks like a regular beanie in the front and on the sides.

It comes in adult and child sizes.

Would you like to make the ponytail hat?  You can find it in my new Ravelry store!
Or, you can buy it by clicking this button!
 
 
I hope you have fun making it!

Granny Christmas Tree

I have been wanting to make a garland for Christmas.  Stars are nice, but Christmas trees are better.  A friend of mine shared a picture of a Christmas tree and asked me if I could try to come up with a pattern for her to follow.

Granny Christmas Tree:

Gauge does not matter.  Just use an appropriate hook for your yarn.

Chain 4 and slip stitch to first chain to make a circle.

Row 1: Chain 3 and crochet 3 DC into the center of the circle.  Chain 2. Crochet 4 DCs, Chain 2. Crochet 4 DCs.   Chain 2. Slip stitch to the top of the Chain 3 at the beginning. Chain 3 and turn.

Row 1

Row 2: Crochet 3 DC into the chain 2 space. Chain 2.  Crochet 4 DCs into the same space.  Chain 2. *Crochet 4 DCs into the next space.  Chain 2. Crochet 4 DCs into the same space.  Chain 2.*  Repeat from * to *.  Slip stitch into the top of the Chain 3 at the beginning.  Chain 3 and turn.

Row 2: two sets of 4 DC separated by 2 chains in each space.

Row 3:  In each corner of the previous row, you are going to crochet  two sets of 4 DCs separated  by 2 chains.  In each space along the sides, you are going to crochet one set of 4 DCs.  As follows:

Crochet 3 DC into the chain 2 space.  Chain 1. SC into the top of the 2nd DC from the previous row. Chain 1. Crochet 4 DCs, chain 2, 4 DCs into the next space. Chain 1. SC into the the top of the 2nd DC from the previous row. Chain 1. Crochet 4 DCs into the next space.  Chain 1. SC into the top of the 2nd DC from the previous row. Chain 1. Crochet 4 DCs, chain 2, 4 DCs into the next space. Chain 1. SC into the the top of the 2nd DC from the previous row. Chain 1. Crochet 4 DCs into the next space.  Chain 1. SC into the top of the 2nd DC from the previous row. Chain 1. Crochet 4 DCs, chain 2, 4 DCs into the next space.  Chain 1. SC into the top of the 2nd DC from the previous row. Chain 1 and slip stitch into the top of the original chain 3.  

Row 3: Chain 3 and 3 DC into the same space

Row 3: The chain 1 and the SC into the 2nd DC gives a scalloped edge.  

Row 3

Row 3 complete

Row 4: Chain 3.  DC into the same stitch.  DC into each of the next  5 stitches.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

I'm going to decorate mine with beads and sequins.

Finish off your Christmas tree with the Tiny Star from Fiber Flux here
.

Enjoy!

Baby Bobble Car Seat Blanket - inspired by String with Style

I recently tested a pattern for one of the moms on a website I frequent.  The blanket is designed for use with a car seat and is designed so that the bottom part of the belt slips through the blanket securing it to the child. No more dropping the blanket when you are carrying a baby in the car seat. The pattern is very simple and because it uses two strands of yarn held together, it works up quickly.

The Bobble Car Seat Blanket can be found over at on All Free Crochet.  The original pattern has an eyelet border so that you can weave a ribbon through it, but I finished mine by crochet a border of one row of HDCs and a row of SCs.

I can't get the blanket to rotate, but those two holes in the middle are for the belt.

Isn't this adorable?

Hooded Bear Baby Blanket

One of my besties is expecting a baby.  She and her husband call the baby in her belly Baby Osito.  Because she crochet (pregnancy carpel tunnel), I've been working hard to anticipate what she might like.  One thing I knew I needed to make was a baby bear blanket.  I'll be honest. I was intimidated.  There are a lot of patterns out there.  Many are very adorable.  In the end, I created my own.

It is designed as a blanket with a hood.  The pattern that is created uses alternating FPDC and DC to create ridges.

The top (V) is the alternating ridges. Below is the inside of the blanket.

Bear Hood

Yarn: Red Heart Soft in Chocolate (4 Skeins)
Hook: H

Blanket:

To begin, Chain 103.
Row 1: DC in the 4th chain from the hook and in every chain across. Chain 1 turn.
Row 2: SC in the same stitch and in each stitch across (99 sc). Chain 3 turn.
Row 3: The turning chain counts as your first DC.  FPDC around the second SC stitch. DC in the third.  Alternate FPDC in one stitch and a regular DC across.  If you do this correctly, you should end in a DC in the top of the turning chain.Chain 3, turn.
Row 4: The turning chain counts as your first DC.  Back Post Triple Crochet (BPTC) around the next stitch, then DC in the third. Alternate BPTC and DC across, ending with a DC in the top of the turning chain.  Chain 3, turn.
Row 5: Repeat Row 3.
Row 6: Repeat Row 4.
Continue alternating rows until you have 52 rows, ending with a repeat of Row 4. At the end of Row 52, chain 1 and turn.
Row 53: SC across. Chain 3, turn.
Row 54. DC across. Fasten off.

I went back and completed the border by crocheting a row of SC followed by a row of DC on each side, making sure to crochet 2 DC in each corner stitch and attaching to the top of the DC from the adjoining row to complete the border around.

Hood:
I used a pattern from Lion Brand for one of their hooded blankets. I used a set of ears from another pattern as well.

I love how it came out!

Wiggle Crochet - Heart Pillow

I've recently discovered wiggle crochet.  It is this fantastic method where you crochet a grid and then crochet multiple stitches in each grid bar.  The effect is that you get this great wavy pattern.  The patterns are endless.

I got it in my head that I was going to design a heart pillow.  I created a 17x17 grid and used a spreadsheet document to plan out my pillow.  I'm so pleased with the results! I finished it the other day and it was destined to be my coworker's wedding gift.

The finished pillow

I just love the colors.  I used a lovely red in Red Heart Soft yarn and charcoal grey in Vanna's Choice.

Aren't the wiggles/waves gorgeous?

Side view with the back attached.

The back is wonderful too.  I used a granny square pattern I discovered on Ravelry that alternates FPDC and DC to create this great cabled look.

I'm so proud of my pillow!

Birthday blanket installed

The Birthday Blanket of Awesomeness has taken its place with my crazy purple high thread count sheets.

I think it looks just right.

My Flower Pillow Pattern

Here it is!  My pillow pattern.

If you make a pillow using my pattern, I hope you will share the link in the comments!  Enjoy!

A Tale of Two Pillows

I love the cushion I made using Lucy's pattern from Attic24.

It's colorful happiness makes me so happy.

But the petals bother me.  They fold forward and don't really sit right.  I don't know why.  I suspect it may be due to an extra stitch between each of the petals.

A friend of mine asked me to make a pillow for her and I started one with Lucy's pattern. She wanted brilliant happy colors for her pillow and chose pink, turquoise, light green, purple, yellow, and aqua.  You can see that the pattern starts great in the center, but as it spreads out toward the ends, the petals flatten out and start doing strange things.

I ended up turning the circle into a square to create a square pillow.  For the back, I used Cherry Heart's back of cushion tutorial to create a fabulous back. The back is literally crocheted to the front panel about 3/4 of the way and then the second part is crocheted from the other end.  My friend asked for a lot of pink in the pillow, so I made the majority of the back the lovely bright pink color.

By the way, did you notice my birthday present to myself?  Isn't my new purple polka dot hook beautiful??

The color is a little off, but this is what the back looks like.  I just need to add the buttons and it is finished!

When I finished this pillow, I wondered if my original flower pillow pattern wouldn't work better.  So, I used my remaining yarn and created this pillow.

My version has a different way of increasing the circle and has one fewer stitch between petals.  Here's a view from above.

See how even the petals are?  They stay nice and loopy and don't flatten out as you get to the outside.  Now I just need to write up a pattern so that I never forget how I made this happy flower!

Baby Bobble Blanket Pattern with DCs!

Using a combo of Little Rays of Sunshine's suggestions and my DC pattern rows, I came up with the following pattern to use for the baby blanket.  I started the blanket and it was looking great and then...I ran out of yarn and then...could not find it anywhere.  :(

The blanket before I ran out of yarn

It's okay, though.  I turned my 1/4 of a blanket into a pillow sham.

Bobble Pillow Sham

I've purchased new yarn, and shouldn't have any problem with finishing it this time.  It's a skein of Pounds of Love yarn!

The pattern:

I hook
worsted weight yarn

Bobble rows:

1st bobble row: 4 sc, bobble (in 5th stitch), 9 sc, bobble (in 15th), 9 sc, bobble (in 25th), repeat and end with 5 sc (10 bobbles and 90 sc)

2nd bobble row: 9 sc, bobble (in 10th stitch), 9 sc, bobble (in 20th), 9 sc, bobble (in 30th), repeat and end with 9 sc (9 bobbles and 91 sc)


The Baby Bobble Blanket of Awesomeness!

Chain 103.

Row 1: DC in 4th ch from hook and in each chain across.  Chain 3 turn. (100 stitches)

Row 2: DC in same stitch as turning chain and in each stitch across. Chain 3 turn. (100 stitches don't count turning chain)

Row 3: DC in same stitch as turning chain and in each stitch across.  Chain 1 turn. (100 stitches don't count turning chain)

Row 4: 1st Bobble row. Chain 3 turn.

Row 5-6: Repeat Row 2. (100 stitches)

Row 7: Repeat Row 3. (100 stitches)

Row 8: 2nd Bobble row. Chain 3 turn.

Repeat with 3 rows of Dc between each bobble row and alternate 1st and second bobble row every 4th row.

Finish with 3 rows of DC after the last bobble row.

This works up so quickly and I love it. So easy to do!  Enjoy!


A note about my pattern:  Please feel free to use my pattern to make blankets for yourself and to sell.  DO NOT claim my pattern and sell it.  If you do share my pattern, I ask that you link back to this blog.

Bobbles and Blankets

I have several friends expecting babies in the near future and I am planning to make something for all of them.  Recently, I became obsessed with the adorable bobble blanket crocheted by Rachel over at Maybe Matilda.  It is lovely and unique and adorable for a baby.

Not wanting to pay for a pattern, I decided I could figure it out.  I found a free pattern for a bobble hooded blanket through Ravelry, but to my horror, it was all in single crochets.  A) I hate them. B) They are annoying. C) It takes forever to see any progress.  The trouble is that the only way to get the bobbles to work is if they have single crochets before and after the bobble stitch.

This morning, rather than grade papers, I decided to see if I could create a pattern for bobbles that used double crochets to advance the pattern more quickly. Guess what?  It worked!  Here is what I came up with in my test swatch:

You need to start with the following math:

a multiple of six + 4 + 3 (counts as 1st DC)

I did 25 for my test 18 + 4 + 3 = 25

Chain 25

Row 1: DC in 4th ch from hook and in each chain across.  Chain 3 turn. (23 stitches)

Row 2: DC in each stitch across and in the top of the original chain 3. Chain 3 turn. (23 stitches)

Row 3:   DC in each stitch across. Chain 1 turn. (23 stitches)

Row 4 (1st bobble row): 1 sc in each of the next 2 stitches, *bobble in the next stitch, 1 sc in next 5 stitches, bobble in the next stitch*, Repeat from * to * 2 more times, 1 sc in the next stitch and 1 sc in the top of the turning chain from the previous row. Chain 3 turn. (19 sc + 4 bobbles)

Row 5-6: 1 DC in each stitch across, Chain 3 turn. (23 stitches)

Row 7: 1 DC in each stitch across, Chain 1 turn. (23 stitches)

Row 8 (2nd bobble row): *1 sc in each of the next 5 stitches, bobble in the next stitch, 1 sc in each of the next 5 stitches*. Repeat from * to * once more.  Chain 3 and turn. (20 sc and 3 bobbles)

Repeat pattern of 3 rows of DC followed by alternating 1st bobble row and 2nd bobble row every 4th row.

Alternating bobble rows always go like this:

1st: 2 sc, bobble, 5 sc, bobble, 5 sc, bobble, repeat and end with 2 sc

2nd: 5 sc, bobble, 5 sc, bobble, 5 sc, bobble, repeat and end with 5 sc

I'm going to use this pattern and restart a blanket I began for one of my friends.  I bet it will get done in 1/2 the time of the all single crochet!

Here's some inspiration for spreading out the bobbles.  I may have to use this instead!

The Birthday Blanket of Awesomeness

Whenever I type "Birthday Blanket of Awesomeness", I can hear Jack Black as Kung Fu Panda saying it.

The Birthday Blanket of Awesomeness was born from an idea.  On April 16, 2012, I turned 40.  I haven't turned super introspective for this 40th year of my life, but I did think, "Huh, what's my problem that I can never finish anything for myself?" I've always wanted a ripple blanket and I decided that this was something I could do.  I could take the time to make something for ME for a change. So back in February, I made a commitment:  I would crochet myself a ripple blanket that would be all mine.

At first, I imagined that it was a lovely rainbow ripple like the ones I've seen Lucy and Sucrette make on their blogs.  But I decided that I have so much yarn in my stash that I needed to use it.  When I went to look, I did not have a whole lot to work with.  While plentiful, my stash does not contain a bunch of happy, spring colors and I definitely wanted happy and spring to be together in my blanket.

At one the bottom of one of my containers, I found a lilac skein, followed by a green skein, followed by a lilac variegated yarn that just screamed "CROCHET US TOGETHER!"  Using Lucy's Neat Ripple Pattern, I started my chain.  Lucy's pattern calls for a multiple of 14 + 3 to start and rather than count from 1 to 140 or 196, I just counted 14s. I kept going until my chain looked long enough and started the first row.  What I failed to realize was that I had 21 multiples of 14.  Yes, 21. That's 294 chain stitches. When I finished the first row, I looked at the thing and thought: "What the heck have I gotten myself into?!" The row was ginormous. So, ginormous that I took it to my room and discovered that the blanket covered my California King sized bed and hung over by 2 feet on either side. The task seemed daunting.

But, I had committed to crocheting a blanket for myself and I wasn't about to frog the thing.  So, I crocheted my way through the first 6 skeins I had and realized that I was in trouble.  Six skeins only made 23 rows.  That was barely enough to cover my lap.  I did some math and found that I would need at least 100 rows to cover my bed.  100 rows meant that I needed to buy a lot more yarn.  A LOT more. Off I went to the store and after shopping for my new yarn, I did some more math.  This darn blanket was going to cost me over $100 by the time I was done.  With a sigh, I bought the rest of the yarn, adding in a dark purple and a gray for some interest.

In the end, it took me a month to crochet.  Nights were my primary time to crochet and I usually finished only a few rows.  It took 35 minutes to crochet a single row.  While the goal was to finish by my 40th birthday, it was not to be.  However, I did finish it just this past Saturday when I added the row of single crochet border and a row of ruffle border.

TA-DA!

294 stitches across (there are extras in there)
100 rows
2 rows of border
All made with Michael's Loops & Threads worsted yarn and an H hook (Well, 2 H hooks.  I lost one about 2/3 of the way through.)

There is no rhyme or reason to the colors.  I just used colors as I was moved to use them.   Those rows of dark purple were my milestone rows so that I did not have to keep counting.  I just remembered that they were the 31st and 62nd rows.  So much easier that way.

The border is simple, but feminine.  I like how the variegated yarn breaks up the solid colors.

So how big is this thing?  Well, when I hold it in my arms and stand up, it is well above my head to the ground.  It is big and heavy.

Here is some perspective:

That's Gracie.  She's 4 years old and 42 inches tall.  I tried to get her brother, Lucas, to lay across my blanket diagonally, but he wasn't having any of it.

The blanket is currently in my dryer and I intend for it to be on my bed tonight.  I love my blanket and I am so proud of myself for finishing the darn thing.

Score one for me!

Super Versitile Wavy Flower Pattern

I like big happy flowers.  I also like flower patterns that can be used with multiple types of yarn.  This pattern comes from lots of practice and trial and error.

The pattern:
Into a magic circle, 10 DC and slip stitch to join.

Chain 1 and SC into the same stitch as joining.  *Chain 2, skip 1 stitch, and SC in the 2nd stitch.* Repeat from * 3 times, chain 2 and end with a slip stitch into the first SC.

Into the first chain 2 space *1 SC, 1 HDC, 6 DC, 1 HDC, 1 SC*  Repeat from * to * in each chain 2 space around.  (5 petals)     Quick note: You can make your petals more "ruffled" by increasing the number of DCs in the space.  I've done 8 DC in place of the 6 DC from time to time.

You could stop here, if you like, but you can also continue the flower to give it more depth.

To continue, slip stitch into the first SC of the round before and again into the next open chain space from your original circle.  Chain 1 and SC into the same stitch.  Then, *chain 2, and SC into the next open chain space.* Repeat * to * around and end with a slip stitch in the first SC.

Into the first chain 2 space *1 SC, 1 HDC, 6 DC, 1 HDC, 1 SC*  Repeat from * to * in each chain 2 space around.  (5 petals) Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

You can leave your flower as is and add a button in the center or you can use the ruffle shape to create a different design.  Use the long tail to sew together the 2nd row of petals at the SCs.  Slip you needle through the yarn above the SCs and go around from in a complete circle.  Pull the yarn tail tight and fasten off.

Be creative about how you sew the petals together.  You can create all kinds of different patterns and shapes of flowers.

Ruffle Phone Wristlet

In two weeks, my friend, Nikki, and I are sponsoring a table at our school's trade fair.  Half of our profits go to MSCF, the student charitable fund at our school.  I've made a bunch of things: flowers, E-Reader bags with wristet handles, and phone wristlet bags.  Most have been very simple, but tonight, I had a thought.

I was working on a ruffle scarf pattern and made it about 14 inches in when I decided I was bored.  So I folded the piece in half and started the ruffle portion of the scarf in the front loops.  I continued to ruffle in a spiral pattern AROUND the piece, effectively closing the two pieces together to form a bag.  This is the result:

Ruffle Phone Wristlet

Adorable, right?  I want to make a purple one! 
I finished this in about an hour and a half.  I'm so excited.

Make your own quick heart necklace!

Need a quick Valentine's gift for someone you love?

Crochet them a heart necklace!

I recently came across a pattern for a small heart that you can make in exactly 90 seconds.  And you know what?  You can!  Since then, I've made over 100 of them.  They are now a part of a garland decorating my house and are awaiting bobby pins to be used as Valentine's gifts.

One thing I discovered while making these is that the magic ring used to shape them leaves really long tails, if you let it.  On a whim, I decided to make a heart necklace.  Here are 2 methods you can try:

Method #1:

Begin by taking your yarn and forming a magic circle approximately 12 inches from the start of the yarn.
Chain 2, then 5 DC into the circle, followed by 1 TC, then by 5 DC.
End by chaining 2 and slip stitching into the magic ring.
Pull the ring tight, but before you pull completely closed pull the tail through the last loop on your hook in a slip stitch. Pull the ring completely tight. (Heart formed)
Cut the yarn the same length as the original tail and tie the two tails together using a square knot near their ends.

Method #2:

Chain 50 - 70 (depending on how long you would like your necklace to be).
Slip stitch to join the two ends of the chain.
Chain 2.
In the same stitch (where you joined the two ends of the chain), 5 DC, 1 TC, 5 DC, ch 2 and slip stitch into the stitch to finish the heart.  Fasten off.

Enjoy your heart necklace!

Teeny Weeny Heart

I've been experimenting with heart patterns, trying to find one that could create the ideal hair clip.  I've liked a lot of the patterns I tried, but only one gave me the clean look I wanted. I ended up adjusting the pattern by adding one more DC on each side of the heart.

Still, I needed a pattern for a really tiny heart.  So, I came up with my own.

Teeny Weeny Heart

Hook: H
Yarn: Red Heart Soft Yarn Solids

Using a magic circle,
CH 1, 4 SC, 1 DC, 4 SC, CH1
Slip stitch into the magic circle.
Pull tight and fasten off.

Done!  Isn't it adorable?  The heart is about 3/4 of an inch high.  Slip a bobby pin through the back and you have a quick cute clip!

Flower Pillow #2

I created a flower pillow last year and I was very proud of it.  Lucy of Attic 24 has her own pattern and I decided that I wanted to try to do it on my own!  I decided I wanted a happy, bright colored pillow.  I had a bunch of 100% cotton yarn and decided to use it on my own flower pillow.

It started simply.  Fifteen double crochets, followed by a row of 30. 

Then, the petals.

As I went from row to row,

the flower began to take shape.

I used whatever color seemed the next logical to use.

Eventually, there were 10 rows of petals.

Finally, I crocheted a huge circle for the back and put in the pillow.

Isn't it lovely??

It is so bright and happy.  I just love looking at it!