Crocheted Troll Hat

This will be quick, as I'm blogging when I should be making supper. But, a friend of mine asked me to make her a Troll hat for her infant. Since I was up for a challenge, I headed over to KnottybyNeedles and bought the pattern listed here.

Then, through some trial and error, I worked it up!



And then, since my daughter was so envious, I let her choose some colors out of my stash, and worked one up for her as well.





What can I say? I'm just a softie.

Infant Newsboy Ensemble - a free pattern

I love making baby clothes. Next to full-size afghans (which take forever, but are so rewarding), baby clothes are my favorite things to make. I love making little girl dresses, and little girl or boy sweaters, but I was getting tired of those, and so I went hunting around the web (mainly via Pinterest, 'natch) to get some inspiration.

And boy, did I get inspired.


This set is fairly simple to make, works up quickly, and makes an absolutely darling outfit. I made a few, and as I did so, and using and adapting a few patterns I found here and there, I wrote down my process, mainly so that I could do it again at some point when I'm in the mood. So, as long as I did it for myself, I thought you might appreciate then instructions as well.

Right?

I thought so.



Infant Newsboy Set
Adapted with gratitude from the following sites:
-Little Sprinkles of Fun
-Peachy Knits
-Creative Me!
-Repeat Crafter Me 
-Crochet a Flower


Newsboy Cap
Hook size G&H

Start with size G hook
Round 1: Ch 5 and join with slip stitch to create circle. Ch 2
Round 2: Dc 10 in the circle.
Round 3: 2 dc in each stitch around (20 dc)
Round 4: Dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch around (30 dc)
Round 5: Dc in next two stitches, 2 dc in next stitch around (40 dc)
Round 6: Dc in next three stitches, 3 dc in next stitch around (50 dc)
Round 7: Dc in each stitch around (50 dc)
Round 8-10 repeat round 7 (50 dc)
Round 11: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around (50 dc)
start brim here
Brim Row 1: turn, ch 1, skip first sc, sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in each of next 12 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sc, dec 1, ch 2, turn (24 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 2: Skip first sc, sc across, dec over last two stitches, ch 2, turn (22 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 3: Skip first sc, sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc around until there are only 7 stitches left. 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 st, dec. ch 2, turn (21 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 4: Skip first sc and sc across, dec over last two st. (19 sc, 1 dec) Do not ch2 or turn.
Brim Row 5: Switch to H hook, continuing from brim, sc down the edge of brim and then sc in each sc around the hat. Sc up the other side of the brim. Sl stitch to close.
To Make Newsboy Band 
Ch 30, dc in 3rd ch from hook and to end. 29 dc. Ch 2 and sc around top, sides, and bottom of band, placing 2 sc in each corner. Fasten off.

Sew band onto hat just above the brim by securing it with two buttons on either side as shown. Then tack brim down using coordinating yarn.



Diaper Cover
Hook size H

Ch 47
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and in each st across. Ch 3, turn
Row 2: dc across, ch 2 turn (47 dc)
Row 3: sc in st across, fasten off. (47 sc)
Row 4: Turn work and count in 11 stitches from the right, attach yarn. Ch 3, dc in next 24 stitches, ch 1, turn. (24 dc)
Row 5: sc across, ch 3, turn. (24 sc)
Row 6-9: repeat rows 4-5 twice
Row 10: dec dc, dc in next 20 st, dec, ch 2, turn (22 dc)
Row 11: dec sc, sc in next 18 st, dec, ch 3, turn (20 sc)
Row 12: dec dc, dc in next 16 st, dec, ch 2, turn (18 dc)
Row 13: dec sc, sc in next 14 st, dec, ch 3, turn (16 sc)
Row 14: dec dc, dc in next 12 st, dec, ch 2, turn (14 dc)
Row 15: sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (14 sc)
Row 16: dc in each st across, ch 2, turn (14 st)
Row 17-20: repeat rows 15-16 twice
Row 21: sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (14 st)
Row 22: dc twice in first st, then one in every stitch across, ch 2, turn (15 st)
Row 23: sc twice in first st, then one in every stitch across, ch 3, turn (16 st)
Row 24: dc in every st across, ch 2, turn (16 st)
Row 25: sc in every st across, ch 3, turn (16 st)
Row 26: dc in every st across, fasten off (16 st)

Join yarn in any dc, make a sc border all around cover, using 2 sc on the turns of each corner. Sew buttons on front as shown.




Bow Tie
Hook Size H

Chain 35 loosely, leaving a long beginning tail. Being careful not to twist chain, join to first ch, ch 2, do not turn.
Row 1: Hdc in each chain around. Join, Ch 2
Row 2: Hdc in each st around, join, ch 2
Row 3: Hdc in each st around, join, ch 2
Row 4: Hdc in each st around, join, finish off.

Wind an amount of free yarn around the center, making the "knot" in the tie. Thread through and finish off.

For the strap: Join yarn with sl st in 2nd row, just left of bow "knot". Chain 20 loosely.
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook and across, 18 dc. Sl st to back of bow, leave a tail.

Repeat on other side of bow for second side of the strap.

Attach button as shown in picture.



Suspender Straps
Hook Size H

MAKE TWO

Chain 48 loosely, working in the bottom "bumps" of chain, dc in third ch from hook, and in each ch to end. Finish off, (46 dc)

Pieced Hexagon Stocking--quick and semi-cryptic instructions (more for my own records than anything)

A bit ago, I had a customer purchase a listing I have in my etsy shop, one for the Custom-Made Granny Square stocking. She had purchased stockings for her family elsewhere at some time in the past, but now had a new member of the family, wanted a stocking to match, and found that her previous source for stockings had ceased operations. So, she gave me her color choices, and a picture of one of the stockings she had already purchased and asked if I could make something similar.

The stockings she needed to match were a little different in style than the ones I had made previously, and so I agreed to try my hand at imitating the style of what she needed. After a bit of trial and error, I managed to get something pretty close, and since she was pleased with the result, and since I didn't want to have to "re-invent the wheel", should I want to make that kind of stocking again, I've decided that I should take a minute and write down what I did. So, here it is:






Pieced Hexagon Stocking

Hexagon- make 15



Magic circle

Then do 12 hdc in center

then 24 hdc in next row

then 36 hdc in next row

then 48 hdc in last row, finish off

Square- make 1
Magic circle
Then do 8 hdc in center
then 16 hdc in next row
then 24 hdc in next row
then 32 hdc in next row, finish off

Here's where it gets cryptic--In my opinion, the very best way to lay out these squares is according to this pattern at holidayimaginations.etsy.com. But, it wouldn't be fair or ethical for me to copy those layout instructions here on my own blog now, would it? So, I'm just going to refer you to that pattern for the layout instructions. The pattern is only $4.75, and it's easy to follow, and in my opinion, well-worth the purchase price.

Following the layout in the holiday imaginations pattern, crochet sides together with wrong sides facing and with single crochet, thus making a ridge along the joining.

Beginning at back top of stocking, hdc around top one time. Join and chain 10, joining to make a loop for hanging.

Weave in ends.

swimming turtles

So, almost a year ago, one of my brothers announced that they were expecting their fourth child. A few months later, they announced that this child would be a boy. A few weeks after that, I went on a pinterest hunt, looking for a crochet baby blanket that would be just the right spot of adorable-ness for this new nephew-to-be. As I was searching along, I found a picture of a darling ripple afghan, worked in shades of blue with just a bit of tan and white, which then had five crochet turtles sewn to the blanket, as if they were headed out to the sea.

Just the right spot of adorableness.  

I went to the site (sewloca.com), where Cristina broke down her process of designing, and then making the afghan. She included a link to a free ripple afghan pattern, and described how she worked the ripples, then added some bobbles in the white to make the "foamy" look. Entranced and encouraged, I decided to try my own luck at making a swimming turtle blanket.








It turned out well. So well in fact, that I decided to make another one, and this time write out the pattern as I went so that I didn't have to rely on other sites for my own future reference. Turtle blanket  #1 was sent to the new babe, and I started work on turtle blanket #2.

I decided to make the foamy part of the sea a little bit thicker, this time around, and I added an extra turtle.


Also, it was winter by the time I finished this one, so the grass background looks much worse for the wear than in the photos of blanket #1.













After I'd finished making the blanket and writing up the pattern, I decided that just for easy reference, I'd post my version of the pattern here. I do sell a few patterns in my etsy shop, but since I got the idea and the building blocks of this blanket entirely from from the goodness of some other people's hearts, it feels right to keep this pattern here, where anyone who wants to access it can do so for free.

So, here it is:

SWIMMING TURTLES PATTERN
(inspired by Cristina at sewloca.com)

Yarn-5 skeins of worsted weight yarn, one in each of the following colors: Dark Blue, Medium Blue, Light Blue, White, and Tan. Also some yarn in differing shades of green, brown, tan, etc, for the turtles. (I used Caron Simply Soft for all aspects of this project)

Crochet Hook-Size G (This is what works for me. You might want to use a size H hook here, I crochet more loosely than just about anyone I know)

Pattern:

BLANKET
Starting with the darkest blue, chain 171 across

R1: Dc in 4th ch from hook, *dc in next 4 st, dec 2 times, dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in each of next 2 st * repeat from * to * across, ending with 2 dc in last st.

Follow this pattern for 16 rows, then switch to medium blue for 16 rows, then to light blue for 16 rows.

Switch to white, follow pattern for 3 rows. On the 4th row, working in back loops only, make a cluster stitch every other stitch or so (this makes the "foam" of your ocean), switch to tan/creme at end of row.

Using tan/creme, working in free loops of the white row, continue the pattern. Once you get to row 2 of the tan, use both loops, and continue until you have made 16 rows. Fasten off.















TURTLES
Make 6 (or five, if you prefer)

SHELL
RND 1: Starting with Green (or whatever color you want the head and legs and tail to be), chain 3(counts as first hdc), then hdc in beg chain, *ch 2, 2 hdc in beg ch* 4 times. Join, switching to brown You should have five ch 2 spaces.

RND 2: in any ch 2 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, *ch 2, 3 dc in next sp*,  four times. Join, fasten off.

Rnd 3: With green, ch 2 in middle st of any 3dc cluster, *sc in next st, sc, dc in stitch below, sc in next ch 2 space, sc in each of next three dc* repeat around row, chain 2

Rnd 4: Working in front loops only, sc around, decreasing every five stitches or so. Finish off.



FRONT LEGS AND HEAD

LEG: Using the picture as a guide, and working in the unused back loops of Rnd 3, sl stitch in the stitch where you want the front right leg to be. Ch 5, then turn and, working in back loops, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc in next five stitches. sl stitch to Rnd three, and sc to where you want the head to be.

HEAD: sl st where you want the head to be, then chain 4. Working in back loops of ch, hdc four times in next sc, sc in each of next three ch. sl stitch, and sc to where you want the other leg to be. Repeat process for leg, finish off.

BACK LEGS AND TAIL

LEG:  Using the picture as a guide, and working in the unused back loops of Rnd 3, sl stitch in the stitch where you want the back left leg to be. Ch 4, sc in back loops of sc, sc in unused loops of rnd 3. until you get to where you want the tail. Make tail by sl st, ch 2, sl st in same stitch. Sc in unused loops of Rnd 3 until you get to where you want the other leg to be, repeat process for leg, finish off.

Weave in ends, stitch turtles to blanket.

these might be the most darling items I've ever made

A year or so back, one of my friends posted a picture of a darling baby dress to her facebook wall, mentioning that she had made it following a free pattern entitled "Angel Wings Pinafore." It was so adorable that I went to the website, printed out the pattern, and kept it in my "make one or more of these when I get around to it" file.



Well, I finally got around to it:


And then, I had so much fun making that one, that I made a few more.






Okay, several more.



I made one using soft acrylic yarn, (not pictured) and then on a lark, tried some cotton yarn. I liked the look and feel of the cotton yarn much more, so I stuck with that for the rest of my dress-making.

The buttons are just for show. I sewed snaps into the back for the sake of simplicity.

I'm on to something else now, but these are so fun and turned out so darling, that there's no way that these will be the the last Angel Wings Pinafores that come out of these fingers.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat!

A little less than a year ago, one of my dear friends asked me if she could pay me to make her some Christmas stockings using a pattern that she had found online. I said that I'd be happy to do that, as long as she was okay to not get them in time for Christmas. She was. So, she purchased the pattern for me, as well as the yarn in colors that she wanted, and once I got through my list of crochet "to do's", I started on them. I think it was February or so.




I had a ball making them. I love granny squares anyway, and so putting granny squares together into Christmas stockings was just a treat for me. In fact, it was so much of a treat that I tried to just give the stockings to my Amanda for free (she had bought the pattern and the yarn after all), but she wouldn't have it. (She's generous like that.)

Amanda has three daughters, hence the three stockings with a little bit of pink thrown in here and there.

After I finished with Amanda's stockings, I decided that, as long as I already had the pattern in my mind and in my fingers, I might as well experiment with some other color and design combinations:

And that my friends, is how I ended up spending a good portion of 2014 experimenting with Christmas Stockings. Not a bad way to spend a year, you know?