Improved 60′s flower!

I wasn’t completely happy with the 60′s style flower – I thought it looked a bit scruffy so today i’ve been trying to improve it and have ended up with the flower on the right. Much better I think with lovely distinct, neat colour changes. Here’s how I did it:

I used worsted weight yarn and a 4mm hook to make a flower that is ~10cm diameter. I’m using English crochet terms, for American equivalent see my lovely new conversion chart.

Stitch into the back loop only of each stitch unless otherwise stated.

Rnd1. In first colour (yellow here) create a magic ring with 6dc

Rnd2. 2dc into each stitch (12 stitches total)

Rnd3. *2dc into 1st stitch, 1dc into next stitch. *Repeat 6 times (18 total)

Rnd4. *2dc into 1st stitch, 1dc into next 2 stitches. *Repeat 6 times (24 total)

 

Rnd5. change colour to pink. * 2sc, sc, sc, sc. *Repeat 6 times (30 total). For the last stitch of the round go through both loops of the stitch.

 

Rnd6. *sc, dc, 2tr, tr, dc, sc. *repeat 5 times

 

 

 

Rnd7. *sc, dc, tr, 3tr, tr, dc, sc. *repeat 5 times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rnd8. change colour to blue. * sc, sc, sc, sc, 2sc, sc, sc, sc, sc. *repeat 5 times. For the last stitch of the round go through both loops of the stitch.

 

 

 

 

 

Rnd9. *sc, sc, dc, htr, 2tr, 2tr, htr, dc, sc, sc. *repeat 5 times. Fasten off and weave in ends.

 

 

 

 

One side of the flower will show a smooth colour change and the other side a stripy colour change – use whichever you like the look of most.

Filed under: crochet, instructions, other, colourful, crochet, crochet pattern, easy, flower, instructions, pattern

Crochet term conversion chart

I use English crochet terms and have had to link to conversion charts for people who may prefer American terms so I thought I should create my own handy table for future use. Click on the image to open full size and print or right click and save to your computer. Enjoy!

Filed under: crochet, instructions, useful stuff, abbreviations, crochet, crochet conversion chart, crochet terms, instructions

60′s style flower

Update: this pattern has now been superseded by a much neater flower in the same style: improved 60′s flower

This is a flat flower in two contrasting colours. The finished size depends on the thickness of yarn and size of hook used. I used worsted weight yarn and a 4mm hook to make flowers ~12cm diameter. Perfect for coasters! or sewing together into a blanket/bag/scarf. I might make some in orange and brown and relive the wallpaper of my 80′s childhood :)

Onto the instructions: All terms are English so if you’d prefer American crochet terms then have a look at a conversion chart. Work into the back loop only of each stitch and we’ll be going around in a spiral so use a stitch marker to keep track of rounds.

Rnd1. In first colour (yellow here) create a magic ring with 6dc

Rnd2. 2dc into each stitch (12 stitches total)

Rnd3. *2dc into 1st stitch, 1dc into next stitch. *Repeat 6 times (18 total)

Rnd4. *2dc into 1st stitch, 1dc into next 2 stitches. *Repeat 6 times (24 total)

Rnd5. *2dc into 1st stitch, 1dc into next 3 stitches. *Repeat 6 times (30 total)

 

Change to contrasting colour (blue here)

 

 

 

Rnd6. *dc, htr, 2tr, tr, htr, dc. *Repeat 5 times

 

 

 

 

 

Rnd7. *slst, htr, tr, 2tr, tr, htr, slst. *Repeat 5 times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rnd8. *slst, slst, htr, 2tr, 2tr, htr, slst, slst. *Repeat 5 times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rnd9. *slst, slst, dc, htr, 2tr, 2tr, htr, dc, slst, slst. *Repeat 5 times

 

 

 

 

You can fasten off here or change colour again and complete the final round:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rnd10. *slst, slst, dc, htr, htr, 2tr, 2tr, htr, htr, dc, slst, slst. *Repeat 5 times.

Fasten off and weave in any loose ends.

Filed under: crochet, instructions, colourful, crochet, crochet pattern, easy, flower, instructions, pattern

Recycled Yarn Mishaps

My next project is something to wear so I wanted yarn that was nice and soft, unfortunatly this was all either very expensive or not in any colours I liked. I decided to try and find some knitted things in charity shops to unravel and recycle. I found the two jumpers on the right…………

 

……….which unravelled to give me this. Mistake #1 is that I didn’t stop to think that the yarn of the stripy jumper is cut at the end of every row so I now have lots of short lengths! the green jumper is great though – a big ball of ~150g and I’ve only unravelled one panel so far………

…….so these are the colours I’ve decided for my project – the green and blues from the jumpers and some pale blue bamboo I already had. I want it chunky and multiple colours but not stripes as such so I’m going to try crocheting the two threads as one……

 

…….and this is what I ended up with. Mistake #2 was not making a small swatch first. I think this is actually lovely – it’s a clustery sort of stitch but it is very dense and heavy and will not hang well at all so after a full evening’s work I decided to unravel it……..

 

 

…….leaving me with this. Watch this space to see what it will (eventually at this rate!) become………

 

 

 

…….and the moral of the story is that you can get some great cheap yarn by buying second hand clothes but try to be a bit more careful than me about what you choose!

Filed under: clothing, crochet, supplies, crochet, recycle, recycled yarn, wool

One piece penguin pattern

This project is small and quick to make. We’ll be working in a spiral using a stitch marker to keep track of the rounds. Crochet into the back loop only of all stitches and I’ll be using English terms so look at a conversion chart if you’d like American terms. Lets go!

Round 1. With grey yarn create a magic ring containing 6dc.

Round 2. 2dc into each stitch (12 stitches total)

Round 3. *2dc into first stitch, 1dc in next stitch. *repeat 6 times (18 stitches total)

Round 4. *2dc into first stitch, 1dc in each of next 2 stitches. *repeat 6 times (24 stitches total)

Round 5-14. 1dc in each stitch.

Round 15. *miss 1 stitch, 1dc in each of next 3 stitches. *repeat 6 times (18 stitches total)

Round 16-18. 1dc in each stitch.

STUFF

Round 19. *miss 1 stitch, 1dc in each of next 2 stitches. *repeat 6 times (12 stitches total)

Round 20. slip stitch next 3 stitches, dc, dc, dc, tr, tr, tr, dc, dc, dc. (12 stitches total)

Round 21. 1dc in each stitch.

Round 22. slip stitch next 3 stitches, dc, dc, dc, tr, tr, tr, dc, dc, dc. (12 stitches total)

Round 23. 1dc in each stitch.

STUFF

Round 24. *miss 1 stitch, dc next stitch. *repeat 6 times (6 stitches total)

Round 25-26. Change colour to yellow and 1dc in each stitch.

Round 27. *miss 1 stitch, dc next stitch. *repeat until no stitches left.

Fasten off and sew all ends through the body, pull tight and cut off so the end disappears inside.

Cut out an elongated semi circle shape in white felt as shown in the photos and sew to the front using blanket stitch or whatever you like the look of. Sew through the body and the corner of the felt piece a few times in yellow, as shown, to create feet.

Use black thread and create French knots for eyes (I couldn’t actually get them to work so just embroidered little circles but I think the knots would look better.)

Filed under: amigurumi, crochet, instructions, amigurumi, crochet, crochet pattern, cute, easy, instructions, pattern, penguin

Twit Twoo

After writing the phone patterns yesterday I just wanted to switch my brain off a bit and follow a speedy pattern – enter this cute little owl which is from a free pattern called Mr. Hoo. I think the original is much cuter than mine – I somehow managed to give him an odd base rather than the rounded shape it should be and I made him up the wrong way around so the colour change can be seen on the front – oh dear! He is still pretty cute though.

Filed under: amigurumi, crochet, amigurumi, crochet, cute, easy, instructions, owl, pattern

Vampire bat phone case

I love this little guy – he’s so cute, and was easy to make (instructions using English crochet terms – see this conversion chart for American terms):

BODY: Follow the instructions for the flower mobile phone case in black yarn. At step 6 fasten off leaving a long length of yarn to sew on the ears.

Cut out 2 white felt circles, 2 smaller black felt circles and sew them on in matching colour thread. I wanted a wide eyed look for this guy but you could experiment with different expressions – such as the one on this owl phone case. Sew on a mouth and fangs in white thread.

WINGS (x2):

Step 1. Create a magic ring with 6dc.

Step 2. Work in the back loop only of each stitch. 2dc in each stitch of the circle (12 stitches total).

Step 3. *2dc in the first stitch, 1dc in next stitch. *Repeat 6 times (18 stitches total).

Step 4. dc, *2htr, tr, 2htr, dc. *Repeat 3 times.

Step 5. ch1, turn, dc in 2nd stitch from hook, dc next 2 stitches, 2tr, dc next 5 stitches, 2tr, dc next 5 stitches, 2tr, dc next 3 stitches.

Step 6. ch1, turn, sl st in 2nd stitch from hook, sl st next 2 stitches, dc, ch3, dc, sl st next 5 stitches, dc, ch3, dc, sl st next 5 stitches, dc, ch3, dc, sl st next 3 stitches.

Step 7. Do not turn. Continuing in the same direction dc each stitch along the uneven edge to neaten. fasten off and weave in ends.

I chose to line my wings (pick a nice fabric – cut to vaguely the correct shape but bigger than the wing. tuck edges of fabric under as you pin to the wing then sew around using either black or a contrasting thread as I did. Avoid placing a stitch on the tips of the wings). You could also just leave the wings as they are with no lining.

EARS (x2): Step 1. Create a magic ring with 6dc.

Step 2. 2dc into the back loop of each stitch in the ring (12 stitches total).

Step 3. *tr into the next stitch, slip stitch into the next 3 stitches. *repeat 3 times (12 stitches total).

Step 4. fasten off and weave in ends.

Sew the pieces together as shown in the photo and pop your phone inside. This could easily be adapted to be a cat instead by not making the wings and adding a triangle nose and mouth in pink instead. I’m sure there are lots of other versions possible too – a friend says she is going to try a bunny case where the head is actually a flap that folds over the top. If you find these instructions useful and you create something please leave a comment with a link to photos - I’d love to see what people are making!

Filed under: amigurumi, crochet, instructions, amigurumi, bat, crochet, cute, instructions, mobile phone case, pattern, vampire bat

flower phone case pattern

I’m now going to attempt my first ever crochet pattern/instructions but a few words before I start: I am left-handed and English. I found learning crochet quite hard at first as all the instructions were right handed – in the end I found wonderful instructions with left and right handed photographs at Planet June. The instructions for this phone case work fine left or right handed but the photographs show the work done left-handed so may look different from your work in progress. Also I’m most comfortable with English crochet terms so I’ll be writing using those – take a look at a conversion chart if you’re happier with American terms.

Pick any yarn you like the colour of (mine is a wonderful bright blue) and a hook size to match. I used a 3.5mm hook. Gauge is not important as you’ll be using your phone/ipod/camera for sizing.

Step 1. Make a chain the same width as your phone. In my case this was 13 stitches.

Step 2. Chain 1, dc in the second stitch from the hook and in each stitch of the starting chain.

Step 3. dc twice more in this same stitch. you will now have 3 stitches (shown as red dots) in the last stitch of the row taking you around the corner.

Step 4. Do not turn but continue around the corner and dc in the other side of each stitch in your starting chain.

Step 5. Do not turn. you will now be working in a spiral – clockwise for left-handers, anticlockwise for right-handers. dc in the back loop only of each stitch and just continue to go around in a spiral. Once the work is a couple of cm long check the size on your phone – it should be snug but not stretched.

Step 6. Keep going around until the piece is long enough to almost cover your phone/ipod/etc. At this point you could just slip stitch the next few stitches and fasten off for a simple strapless case. Or continue to the next step and we will start to make the strap.

Step 7. dc the next 4 stitches but going through both loops of each stitch from now on.

Step 8. ch1, turn, dc in second stitch from hook (going through both loops now) and then dc next 3 stitches.

repeat step 8 until the strap is long enough to reach the top of the position you would like your button to be. mine was 12 rows.

Step 9. We will now be making the button hole so have your button to hand so you can make the hole the correct size. ch1, turn, dc in second stitch from the hook, dc next stitch.

Step 10. ch1, turn, dc in second stitch from the hook, dc next stitch.

repeat step 10 until this section is as long as you would like your button hole to be (this needs to be an even number of rows). I think it should be just less than the length of your button but I’ve not tried it with very large or small buttons so a little bit of trial and error may be needed if you are using an unusually shaped/sized button. I needed 4 rows.

Step 11. ch1, turn, dc in second stitch from the hook, dc next stitch, ch2.

Step 12. ch1, turn so you are going back down the strap, dc in second stitch from the hook, dc next stitch.

repeat step 12 until you have the same number of rows on each side of the button hole. So in my case I crocheted 4 rows again. Your work should now look like the photo below.

Step 13. slip stitch the next 2 stitches going through both the small section you have just created and the main body of the strap. Fasten off and weave in the end. You should now have a continuous strap with a button hole at the end.

Flower:

Step 1. Create a magic ring with 6 dc in the ring. Work in a spiral and use a stitch marker to keep track of where the round ends. Crochet into the back loops only of all stitches.

Step 2. crochet 2dc into the back loop of each stitch of the ring (12 stitches in total).

Step 3. 2dc into the 1st stitch, 1dc into the next stitch. repeat all the way around. (18 stitches in total).

Step 4. 2dc into the 1st stitch, 1dc into the next 2 stitches. repeat all the way around. (24 stitches in total).

At this point I fastened off but if you are using a large button you may want to go around again so the crochet flower is bigger than the button.

Step 5. Sew the button in the centre of the circle.

Step 6. put your phone into the case to determine the best position for the button and then sew on the flower. I used blue thread, the same colour as the case, to create a frilly edged look to the flower.

Step 7. The final step is just to sew on a stem and leaf in green and enjoy!

Filed under: crochet, instructions, crochet, crochet pattern, flower, instructions, mobile phone case, pattern

Mobile phone cases

The green case was one of the first things I crocheted and the vampire bat case is one I’ve just finished for a friend. They’re very quick, easy and fun to make and I think the possibilities of styles and designs are endless. I’m going to try and post instructions for the flower case and the bat case in the next few days.

UPDATE: patterns are now available for the flower phone case, vampire bat phone case, and the newly added bunny and frog cases. Enjoy!

Filed under: crochet, other, bat, case, crochet, cute, flower, mobile phone case, strawberry, vampire bat

Tidy rainbow wool!

I spent several hours last night unravelling a big knot of embroidery threads. Yeah yeah I know what you’re thinking - I’m living the rock & roll lifestyle of your dreams and you’re very jealous. Well anyway once they were untangled I wanted to keep them that way, and while I was at it I was sick of digging through various bags of wool to find the colour I wanted. So I did something I rarely do with anything I own – I tidied. And not only did I tidy but I got out the sticky tape and made a makeshift yarn box from a shoe box and the result is the lovely neat rainbow stash shown here. I wonder how long it will stay that way…

Filed under: supplies, crochet, organise, rainbow, thread, tidy, wool