Santa Cup Cozy - Free Pattern!

We are getting down to the last minute for craft fairs and gifts.  Today is the craft fair here at work.  My friend and I have crocheted about thirty cup cozies with the thought that they are simple gifts with a lot of personality.  In our fever to make them all, I found myself swamped with IDEAS and one stood out from the bunch.  Meet the Santa Cup Cozy!

I knew I wanted to make something Santa-ish, but I could not fine the right pattern.  Then, yesterday, I had a flash of inspiration.  I'm sharing it with you because I love it so much!

You will need the following SUPPLIES:

Worsted weight yarn in 3 colors; white, red, and a color for skin.  I've used buff here.
An H (5.00 mm) hook
Two black buttons
One button for a nose
Tapestry needle
Black thread
white thread or color for nose

Stitches:

slip stich
single crochet
bobble stitch (Click here for a video by Moogly)

Pattern:

This pattern is worked in the round in rows.

With red yarn, chain 29.  Slip stitch to first chain to form a loop, being careful not to twist the chain. Chain 1.

Row 1: Single crochet in each stitch around.  Join to the top of the first SC. Chain 1.

Row 2: Single crochet in each stitch around. Join to the top of the first SC. Fasten off.

Row 3: Switching to white yarn join and chain 1. Single crochet in each stitch around. Join to the top of the first SC. Chain 1.

Row 4: Single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches. *Slip stitch into the next stitch and chain 10. Working back along the chain, crochet 2 single crochets in each chain back to the initial slip stitch. Single crochet into the same stitch as the slip stitch. * Repeat from * to * three more times. Single crochet in each of the next 12 stitches. Join to the top of the first SC.

Row 5: Single crochet in each stitch around. Join to the top of the first SC. Fasten off.

Row 6: Switch to the flesh colored yarn, join, and chain 1. Single crochet in each stitch around. Join to the top of the first SC. Chain 1.

Row 7-11: Single crochet in each stitch around.  Join to the top of the first SC. Chain 1.
At the end of row 11, Fasten off.

Row 12: Switch to white yarn, join, and chain 1. Single crochet in each stitch around.  Join to the top of the first SC. Chain 1.

Row 13: Single crochet in the first stitch.  Bobble Stitch in the next. *Single crochet in the next. Bobble Stitch in the next.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a slip stitch to the top of the first single crochet.

Row 14: Single crochet in each stitch around.  Join to the top of the first SC. Fasten off.

Row 15: Switch to the red yarn, join, and chain 1. Single crochet in each stitch around.  Join to the top of the first SC. Chain 1.

Row 16 Single crochet in each stitch around.  Join to the top of the first SC. Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

Sew your button for the nose in the flesh colored yarn.  Attach the buttons for the eyes.

I love the 3D effect of this cozy!

Enjoy!

P.S. If you like the Cup Cozy insert, you can find it a the Frogging Along blog here.

Toasty Warm Ponytail Hat Pattern - Just $1!

For the first time, I am offering my Toasty Warm Ponytail Hat Pattern for just $1!  This hat can be made in about an hour using Loops & Threads Charisma yarn or any other bulky yarn.  It is perfect for runners or anyone in your family who likes to wear a beanie but struggles with a ponytail + hat combination.

You can get your Toasty Warm Ponytail Hat pattern on Ravelry right now!  Click the link below to get your pattern.  This sale will be open from now until midnight December 2, 2014!

Toasty Warm Ponytail Hat on Ravelry

Cross Your Heart Infinity Scarf - Free Pattern

I hope you are enjoying the Cross Your Heart water bottle cover pattern!  I just love the Cross Your Heart stitch and I've been experimenting with ways to wear it.  I have a couple of patterns in the works and I've decided to share one of them with you.

Cross Your Heart Infinity scarf

Supplies:

Red Heart with Love yarn (Iris)
K Hook (6.5 mm)
tapestry needle

Pattern:

Chain 142 (Child), 166 (adult), or a multiple of 3 plus 1. Carefully join to the first chain to complete the loop (Or, if you are like me, you can wait to join until the end of Row 1.  I'm nervous about twisting the chain!)

Row 1: HDC in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. Slip stitch to the top of the first HDC to join.  (If you did not join the beginning chain, you can do so now using your tapestry needle or wait until the end.)

Row 2: Chain 5 (counts as 1 DC and 2 chains. Skip back one stitch. HDC in the previous stitch (1 Cross cluster created). * Skip forward past 2 empty stitches.  1 DC in the next stitch. Chain 2. HDC back into the previous skipped stitch. * Repeat from * to * around. Slip stitch into the top of the chain 2 from the first cross cluster to join.

Row 3: Chain 5 (counts as 1 DC and 2 chains). 1 HDC into the chain 2 space in the previous cross cluster (back to the right). Skip forward to the next empty chain 2 space. (This is the next chain 2 space past the one you crocheted the original DC in).   1 DC, chain 2 in that space.  1 HDC back into the chain 2 space in the previous cross cluster.  Repeat from * to * around, ending with a DC into the chain 2 space from the first cluster, chain 2,  1 HDC back into the previous chain 2.  Slip stitch into the top of the chain 2 from the previous cross cluster to join.

Rows 4-10: Repeat Row 3.  You can also continue to repeat Row 3 if you would like a thicker scarf.

Row 11: Chain 1. 2 HDC in each Chain 2 space and 1 HDC in the space between.  Repeat around.  Join to the top of the first HDC. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Depending on your tension, you may need to block your scarf.  Never fear!  A bit of cold water and a towel will help you to shape your scarf.

If you like this pattern, please add it to your Ravelry queue!  Click here:  Cross Your Heart Infinity Scarf on Ravelry.

I hope you enjoy this scarf as much as I love mine!

Cross Your Heart Water Bottle Cover - Free Pattern

Do you have a reusable water bottle?  I have more than my fair share of them.  Okay, I really have about six of them.  I know!  It is crazy! I like to have my own water bottle so that I make certain to drink all of the water I need in the day, but also so that I don't spend money on water bottles while I am out and about.

I love cold water.  I'm talking icy cold water!  One of the draw backs to icy cold water is that condensation will inevitably form on the sides of my water bottle and leave rings on my desk or whatever table I set my water bottle on.  That is annoying, but it is also annoying to put my hand on the side of my water bottle to drink and end up with a wet hand.

After I made my first Kindle cover, I wondered if I could make a cover for my water bottle.  I've actually made quite a few, but this pattern is one that is completely different.  It is not a solid cover. There are some lacy holes in it so that I can see the level of the water in the bottle.  The neat part is that the cotton completely absorbs the water so that I do not leave water rings everywhere I go and when I put my hand on the bottle to drink, the cotton provides a barrier between my hand and the bottle.  It's a total win-win!

This pattern is completely customizable.  I've designed it to work with 24 ounce bottles that have a 2 and 7/8 to 3 inch diameter base.  You can easily make it larger by  starting with 12 HDCs in the beginning magic circle instead of 11.  The key is that you have to increase until you have a multiple of 3, so that should be the third row.

Let's get started!

Cross Your Heart Water Bottle Cover Pattern

Supplies:

G Hook
H Hook
1 Skein Peaches and Cream cotton yarn
tapestry needle
decorative button

Pattern:

*Chain 1 at beginning of each row does not count as a stitch.

Begin with G Hook.
Row 1: Magic Circle, Chain 1. 11 HDC. Slip Stitch to join to the first HDC. (11 HDCs)
Row 2: Chain 1. 2 HDC in each stitch around. Slip Stitch to join to the first HDC. (22 HDCs)
Row 3: Chain 1. 2 HDC in the first stitch. 1 HDC in the next. Repeat around. Slip Stitch to join to the first HDC. (33 HDCs)
Row 4: Chain 1. 1 HDC in each stitch around. (33 HDCs)
Row 5: Chain 5 (counts as 1 DC and 2 chains. HDC in the previous stitch (1 Cross cluster created). * Skip forward past 2 empty stitches.  1 DC in the next stitch. Chain 2. HDC back into the previous skipped stitch. * Repeat from * to * around. Slip stitch into the top of the chain 2 from the first cross cluster to join.

Chain 5 and work back into the previous stitch.

First Crossover Cluster

Switch to H Hook.
Row 6: Chain 5 (counts as 1 DC and 2 chains). 1 HDC into the chain 2 space in the previous cross cluster (back to the right). Skip forward to the next empty chain 2 space. (This is the next chain 2 space past the one you crocheted the original DC in).   1 DC, chain 2 in that space.  1 HDC back into the chain 2 space in the previous cross cluster.  Repeat from * to * around, ending with a DC into the chain 2 space from the first cluster, chain 2,  1 HDC back into the previous chain 2.  Slip stitch into the top of the chain 2 from the previous cross cluster to join.

Rows 6- 11 (or fewer or more depending on height of the water bottle): Repeat row 5.

Row 12: Chain 1. * 2HDC in the first Chain 2 space.  3 HDC in the next Chain 2 space.* Repeat from * to * around.  Slip stitch to the top of the first HDC.

Next you will need to put your cover onto your water bottle to determine how long of a chain you will need to cover the handle, loop or other part to secure it.  Chain whatever number you need to stretch the band over the handle and reach down to the middle of one of the HDCs.  Count the number of chains you have made and repeat that same number. You should have double the number of chains than are needed to stretch over the handle to the HDCs.  Remove the cover from your bottle.  Slip stitch the end of your chain into the same stitch you started from.

Row 13: Slip stitch in the top of each HDC around.  Fasten off when you reach the chain loop. Weave in all ends.

Put the cover back on your bottle and measure where the loop will fall in the row of HDCs to determine where the button should go.  Remove the cover and sew the button on.

Enjoy your new water bottle cover/water absorber/cold water insulator!  :)

Click here to visit the Cross Your Heart Water Bottle Cover on Ravelry. If you like it, please add it to your Ravelry cue or add it to your favorites.

Combining patterns to make you stretch your crochet muscle

When you are first learning how to crochet, it feels like you have to stick to the easiest of patterns.  As you gain confidence, you may try more complicated designs.  I completely remember the first time I made the Divine Hat on Ravelry, the Flower Newsgirl Beanie by Polka Dot Posh, and the One Skein Lap Throw.  I felt fancy.  In retrospect, those patterns weren't too complicated, but there was counting involved and paying attention to how to place the hook to create the right stitch.  The best part was how accomplished I felt.

At some point, you gain enough confidence to start  playing.  By playing I mean going off the pattern or combining patterns.  I've been doing that for a while now; using one stitch for the body of a blanket and two or three border patterns to create something unique for the border.  It was pillow slip covers that really got me trying different things.  I made a flower pillow that combined a flower crocheted in the round, a pattern to change the round shape into a square, and then Cherry Heart's cushion back tutorial to finish up the slip cover.  I've written about the pillows here.

You can do this, too!  I've used Pinterest to collect a bunch of different patterns I like and thought about ways I could combine them.  One night, I found myself with quite a bit of yarn left from a Lacy Trellis blanket and thought I might try some of the patterns I had been pinning.  I love Dada's Place Primavera flower square and knew that I wanted to try it out.  Once I made one, I was hooked!  I made three more without even noticing how far I had gotten.  Then, after staring at the squares and wondering how I wanted to combine them, I went back to Pinterest and found a pin I had for a simulated braid join.  With a giant square created, I decided to turn it into a pillow.  I used a simple pattern to create stripes across the back and used Cherry Heart's cushion back tutorial to create the overlapping pieces for my pillow slip cover.

The result of all this experimentation and combination is this pillow.

From the front!

From the back.  Buttons hold the overlapping pieces together to secure the slip cover.

I'm in love with this pillow.  It will go perfectly with the blanket I made and it is seriously cheery.

Why don't you try something like this?  Pick two or more patterns you like and try combining them in a different way to make something unique.  It will stretch your crochet skills and make you feel super accomplished.  If you blog about them or post pictures somewhere, I hope you will share them!

New blanket from my favorite pattern

My friend, Caryn, has patiently waited her turn for a blanket.  She chose the best colors; fun lively colors that reflect farmhouse vintage life.  Using 6 skeins of Red Heart Super yarn, I created this massive blanket for Caryn to snuggle under during cooler summer nights.

Scalloped edging!

If you are interested in creating something similar, I used my Lacy Trellis Blanket pattern in these Red Heart Super Saver Solids:
White
Pumpkin
Gold
Tea Leaf
Turquoise
Cherry Red

I can't wait to get this into the mail to Caryn!

Changing colors with the Double Knot Technique

Jane Richmond's Double Knot technique of joining yarn has really changed my world.  No more weaving in ends!  When you are crocheting with the same color yarn, the join is pretty much invisible.  But what happens when you want to switch colors?

It took me some trial and error, but I figured out how to change colors. Once I did, I was able to make a bag for my projects only having to weave in the first tail and the last.  I changed colors every row for 25 rows of that bag and I only weaved in two tails!  

Now, I'm using it on a blanket.  Here's what to do:

1) Crochet (and complete) to the last stitch in your current color. 

2) Snip the yarn right where it is on your hook. This makes certain that you only have the amount of your current color that you need before the color change. Put your hook aside. 

3) Pull out one or two of your stitches to give you yarn to work with. 

4) Join the new yarn to the end of your current color, making certain that the knot of your current color is as close to the end as possible. I can generally work it so that I only have about a half an inch of excess. 

5) Complete your knot, snip off the ends. 

6) Reinsert your hook and crochet back the stitches you took out. The new color should come up right at the point you want it to start!

I'm not worried about that speck of white on the side, because I'm planning on including a border.  However, I've learned that you can pull your stitches back out, readjust your tension and crochet the stitches again to make that knot completely hidden by your stitches. 

I absolutely love the Double Knot method and I hope you find this method of joining colors helpful!

Joining Yarn - The Double Knot Method

A few months ago, I saw a video on YouTube that changed my world.  One of the things I hate most is weaving in ends.  I HATE IT.  But this video taught me a method that made everything wonderful.  It is called the Double Knot method and when used, it means there are NO ends to weave it. 

Check it out: http://youtu.be/-nq_7EXTWHE

Stripey Yarn Bag for Me!

I rarely make things for myself, but when one of my students gave me $48 to the Mary Maxim online store, I decided this was it!  The moment I've been waiting for!

I've been admiring Lucy's Jolly Chunky Bag for quite some time, and I knew I wanted to make it. So I used my $48 (a multiple of 16, since 16 is one of my favorite numbers) to buy some Titan yarn in six different colors of chunky happiness. 

I used Lucy's pattern for a bit, increasing until the ninth row.  She uses double crochets in her pattern and when I hit the ninth row, I realized I wanted something tighter.  I switched to half double crochets for the sides of the bag. When I reached the top, I decided to the handles a little differently.  She crocheted the straps and sewed them on.  I used a method I learned several years ago of making handles by creating chains and then single crocheting around to create the straps. 

I added some flowers from Cre8tion Crochet's flower clip pattern.  I even made an inner pocket for my hook case.The pocket is just 10 or so rows of half double crochets made into a rectangle and carefully sewn in to that the stitches did not show through.

I haven't lined it and I'm not sure I'm going to.  This is really just for my yarn and WIPs. 

I love this yarn and if I had the money, I would buy it frequently.  Who knew?  I've never heard of Mary Maxim before I go this gift card.  I may have to check them out more frequently.

Lacy Trellis Blanket - Free Pattern

The Lacy Trellis Blanket was obvious after so many ponchos.

The beauty of this blanket is that it uses less yarn than a granny stripe.  I finished this blanket (a twin size blanket) with 6 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver.  That includes the scallop border I designed on the vertical edges!

Because this blanket is so open, I used the Double Knot method when I changed colors.  It was miraculous!  With a little trial and error, I managed to get the join to completely hide my join knots.

Supplies: 

Worsted weight yarn (Red Heart Super Saver)
I Hook
**Notice I'm not including a tapestry needle.  No need with the Double Knot method!

Pattern: 

Chain: a multiple of 8 plus 5 more chains.  I started mine with 181 chains.

Row 1:  Single crochet (SC) in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn.  (180 SC)

Row 2:  Chain 3.  Skip 3 SC and double crochet (DC) 3 times in the next SC. *Chain three, skip 3 SC, and SC in the next SC.  Chain 2, skip 3 SC and DC 3 times in the next SC.*  Repeat from * to * ending with 3 DC in the final stich of the row.  Chain 3 and turn.

Row 3: DC 3 times in the first chain 2 space from the previous row. *Chain 3, SC in the top of the first DC in the next cluster.  Chain 2, 3 DC in the next chain 2 space.* Repeat from * to * across. Chain 3. Turn.

Row 4: Repeat Row 3

Continue repeating Row 3 until your piece measures your desired height.

Final row:  To make the end of the blanket match the beginning, we are going to do a row of solid stitches.  In the last row, you finished with a 3 DC cluster. Chain 1, SC in each of the DCs in the cluster.  1 HDC in the chain 2 space.  1 HDC in the top of the SC.  2 HDC in the chain 3 space.  Continue across with 1 SC in each of the 3 DCs, 1 HDC in the chain 2 space, 1 HDC in the SC, 2 HDC in the chain 3 space across. If you find that this row is starting to ripple, you may need to only crochet 1 HDC in the chain 3 space.  It really depends on your tension.

Finish with your preference of border!  My scallop border on the sides can be found in the comments below.

Upside down, but this shows the scallop border I added to the vertical sides.  No border was used on the horizontal sides.

Work in Progress - Vintage Color Inspired Blanket

I've been working on two separate patterns for ponchos using the Lacy Trellis pattern but the math is being elusive and annoying.  To take a break, I decided to work on something I promised a friend a very long time ago: her very own blanket.  She told me that she had very specific colors in mind: vintage farmhouse colors.  I have no idea what that means, but to her that means avocado green, pumpkin orange, mustard yellow, turquoise, and cherry red.  She left the design to me but told me that she really likes granny squares and ripple blankets.  I decided to go with a hybrid pattern.

Okay, don't hate me.

It's a Lacy Trellis blanket.

I know.

Here's what I have so far.

In reality, the colors are deeper than what this picture shows.  I'm debating whether to keep going in a rainbow pattern or to get a little crazy and mix it up a bit.

Let's turn it on its side and see what it looks like:

I think everyone has a pattern they love, a pattern that gives them lots of pleasure.  This pattern is the one for me.  Maybe it is the chain between the granny clusters that gives the extra space and makes the rows fly by.  I don't know.  It just makes me so very happy!

I'm about 35 or so rows in with about triple that left to go.  I'll post when it is all done!

Baby Blanket Patterns Galore!

I want to make everyone of these!

If you have a baby blanket (or two or three) to make, check out Oombowka Designs blog for links to 50 free baby blanket patterns, including my Easy Car Seat Blanket.

Visit Oombowka Designs to see all the great designs!
http://www.oombawkadesigncrochet.com/2014/05/50-free-crochet-baby-blanket-patterns-fcpf.html

More Lacy Trellis goodness

I can't seem to stop making them!  I've made at least five since I posted the pattern. 

This one is for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day.

It is made with Red Heart with Love yarn in Lettuce and Fruit Punch.

This one was made for my friend, Nikki, for her birthday.

These were made with Lion Brand Homespun in Mixed Berries.

I'm also working on something super awesome: Lacy Trellis in the Round!  These aren't the best pictures in the world as I had my husband snap them using my cell.  Pattern is coming soon!

It is snuggly in a light way.  :)