Baby Bunny Hat

This hat is going to be part of a set with some booties for an as yet unborn baby with unknown gender – so it’s white (and sparkly) because that probably would be fine for either a boy or a girl. I used DK yarn and a 5mm hook which makes the hat quite light and airy.

SIZE

I have literally no idea how big a baby is so I used this wonderful website of baby sizes to make it (hopefully!) the right size. If you get the same gauge as me and follow the instructions exactly then the finished hat should measure ~38cm (15″) in circumference and 15cm (6″) long (before being turned up) which the website says is the size for a baby 3 – 6 months old. I decided to go for one size up from newborn as it’s better to be slightly too big as the baby can always grow into it.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• I used DK yarn and a 5mm hook to give a light and airy feel to the hat. It has a gauge of ~3.5 stitches and 3.5 rows per 2.5cm (1 inch) when worked in half treble (american = half double) crochet in back loops only. You can use any yarn and hook with any gauge if you have a look at this website of baby sizes and adjust the pattern for your particular needs.
• yarn needle for sewing on the ears
• As always I’ll be using English crochet terms so have a look at my conversion chart if you’d prefer American terms. However, the whole hat is completed in a single stitch: half treble crochet (htr) which in american terms is just half double crochet (hdc). Crochet into the back loop only of all stitches unless the instructions say otherwise and continue working in a spiral, using a stitch marker to keep track of rounds.

HAT

Round 1. Create a magic ring containing 6dc (sc in American terms). slst closed.

Work in back loops only of all stitches from now on.

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

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

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

Round 5. *2htr into first stitch, 1htr in each of next 3 stitches. *repeat 6 times (30 stitches total)

Round 6. *2htr into first stitch, 1htr in each of next 4 stitches. *repeat 6 times (36 stitches total)

Round 7. *2htr into first stitch, 1htr in each of next 5 stitches. *repeat 6 times (42 stitches total)

Round 8-22. 1htr in each stitch. (42 stitches total)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

EARS (MAKE 2)

Round 1. Create a magic ring containing 6dc. slst closed.

Work in back loops only of all stitches from now on.

Round 2. *2htr into first stitch, 1htr in next stitch. *repeat 3 times (9 stitches total)

Round 3. 1htr in each stitch.

Round 4. *2htr into first stitch, 1htr in each of next 2 stitch. *repeat 3 times (12 stitches total)

Round 5. 1htr in each stitch.

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

Round 7-15. 1htr in each stitch. (18 stitches total)

Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing.

FINISHING

Flatten an ear and fold in half at the base as shown in the photo below. With the yarn needle and the tail of yarn sew through all layers a few times to secure the ear in this position.

Place the ear on one side of the hat at approximately round 4 and sew on. Weave in the loose end.

Repeat with the second ear on the opposite side of the hat. Turn up approximately 2.5cm (1″) and you’re done. Enjoy the cuteness!

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, baby, bunny, crochet, crochet pattern, cute, hat, instructions, pattern, rabbit

Headware

I was going to write up the pattern for this hat for all you lovely people but it turns out that I have a very small head so I don’t think it would fit anyone else!

When figuring out how to make it though I came across this bloom beret pattern by Brittney Waterhouse, which, although constructed differently, produces a very similar slouchy style hat. So have a go at that if you like the style, I made it and it turned out great (with some adjustments to account for the small head!)

and while we’re on the subject of head-gear I don’t know if anyone remembers my attempt at customising my bike helmet a while ago? Well it’s been through a few incarnations since then and I really like the patchwork quality of it now – just repainting and redrawing over different sections as the mood takes me (and the paint is water based so fades and smudges in the rain then I just go over bits again):

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, cycle helmet, hat, headware, slouchy

Giant January Snowflake

 

This snowflake measures approximately 30cm (12″) across, from point to point. It’s made using King Cole Haze glitter and it doesn’t show up great in the photos but is lovely and fuzzy yet shimmery – just like real snowflakes – but this one will keep you warm when out in the cold :)

You can join them together as you go to create a scarf and I’ve also experimented in joining more together to make a big square (with mixed results)…

The yarn weight is ~dk and recommends a 4mm hook. I used a 7mm hook and so I’d suggest using a hook several sizes larger than recommended by the yarn you’re using and keep the work fairly loose at all times. As always crochet terms are English so have a look at the conversion chart for the American equivalents.

Round 1. Chain 5 and join to the first stitch with a sl st to create a ring.

Round 2. Chain 6, *1tr into the ring, chain 3*

* repeat 11 times, sl st to the 3rd chain of the starting 6. You should have 12 ‘petals’ as shown in the photo below.

Round 3. *[dc, ch7, dc] into the next ch3 space, [dc, dc] into the next ch3 space.*

*Repeat 6 times then sl st into the first dc. Your work should now look like the photo below.

Round 4. *[2dc, 2tr, 4dtr, 2tr, 2dc] into ch7 space, dc, dc into the double crochet stitches from the previous round.*

*repeat 6 times.

Round 5. sl st next 4 stitches (the first 2dc and 2tr from the previous round), *ch12, dc into 5th stitch around (ie skip the 4 double trebles from round 4 and dc into the next treble), ch4, dc into 9th stitch around (ie dc into the second treble of the next ‘petal’)*

*repeat 6 times. Your work should now look like the photo below.

Round 6. to create a picot3: chain 3 then slst into the first chain. To create a picot5: chain 5 then slst into the first chain.

*[dc, dc, dc, picot3, dc, dc, dc, tr, tr, picot5, tr, tr, dc, dc, dc, picot3, dc, dc, dc] all in the next ch12 space. [dc, dc, dc, picot3, dc, dc, dc] all in the next ch4 space.*

*repeat 6 times. sl st to the 1st dc of the round, fasten off. The first snowflake is created.

Joining. Complete the first 5 rounds of the next snowflake the same as above. On the 6th round you will join to the first snowflake in 3 places: on the second to last ch4 space, instead of creating the picot3 in the normal way you should [dc, dc, dc, chain 1, dc to a picot5 of the first snowflake, chain 1, slst to the 1st chain, dc, dc, dc]. Then on the next ch12 space you should attach the 3rd chain of the picot5 to the next picot3 of the first snowflake. Then for the final ch4 space attach to the next picot5 of the first snowflake in the same way. That’s a lot of words! and I promise it’s not as complicated as all that sounds – look at the photo below and see how the second snowflake is rotated slightly and joined at 3 points. All you need to remember is that a picot5 is always joined to a picot3 and vice versa – you should never join 3 to 3 or 5 to 5. and each snowflake connects to the next at three consecutive points.

To join a third snowflake you should rotate it so it is the same orientation as the first snowflake and attach at the last ch12 space, ch4 space, ch12 space. see the photo below. Each snowflake will alternate its rotation. when it’s long enough for a scarf/shawl just pin and block or leave it a bit fuzzy and enjoy. I’d say you would need anywhere from 5 snowflakes to 9 snowflakes to be long enough for a scarf depending on how big they are.

I also had a go at increasing the width to make more of a square piece and it can be done – as seen in the photo below – but because of the size of the snowflakes it does leave quite a large square gap (~13cm or 5″) which I think is too big. Since it’s roughly a square and there are 4 evenly spaced picots pointing inwards then another small piece could be created to go in that gap, attached at those picots. I haven’t got around to actually thinking about that yet though….

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crochet pattern, instructions, lacy, scarf, snowflake

Snowflake scarf

My most recent crocheting project was this snowflake scarf. It was fairly quick to make and once it’s blocked it is lovely and lacy. If you want to give it a try then the pattern is by Elizabeth Myers and is available to download for free from Ravelry.

 

 

 

 

Filed under: clothing, crochet, crochet, crochet pattern, easy, instructions, lacy, pattern, scarf, snowflake

Monster Baby Booties

This weekend I became an auntie! I made these little booties for when I go to see him. I didn’t want to try writing a pattern myself as I have no idea how big babies’ feet are! So I ended up using this Simple Crossover Bootie pattern but then also using this Lizard Monster Baby Bootie pattern for inspiration and turned them into little lizards. I hope they fit – A woman walked past me today with a tiny baby and I found myself staring at its feet trying to figure out how big they were. You can’t really go up to a stranger and ask to measure their child’s feet can you.

……can you?

Too late now anyway :)

Filed under: clothing, crochet, baby booties, crochet, lizard, recycled yarn

Crocodile Scarf Head

The Crocodile scarf is finished! When I showed it to a crochet friend she said it was an adorable scarf for a child… “yes” I replied, “…a child…. yes…. that’s right…. that’s who it’s for…”

I shall have to remember not to wear it when I’m meeting her – she already thinks I’m odd for crocheting toadstools. She’s right though it would look very cute on a kid.

The detailed instructions and photo tutorial for how to complete the crocodile stitch and start the scarf at the tail can be found in my earlier post: Crocodile Scarf Tail. Check that out then follow the link at the end to come back here and finish off the head.

As a recap here are the general instructions for the tail (for detailed step by step instructions follow the link above)

I am using bamboo ribbon yarn that I’m not sure of the weight of and a 5mm hook which makes each scale ~2.5cm (1 inch) in width and height.

TAIL & BODY

row 1 (tail): 1 scale for as long as you like (I have used a chain of 8 scales for my tail)

row 2: increase to 2 scales

row 3: increase to 3 scales

row 4: decrease to 2 scales

row 5: increase to 3 scales

row 6: increase to 4 scales

row 7: increase to 5 scales

row 8: decrease to 4 scales

Continue alternating between 4 and 5 scales to a row until the body of the scarf is as long as you want it.

Now if you’re using thin yarn then I would recommend continuing until the work is normal scarf length – long enough to wrap around your neck at least once. If like me you are using quite thick yarn then the resulting scarf will be too thick to wrap all the way around. Instead I made a “tab” and sewed it to the underside of the head then you can pull the tail section through to secure the scarf wrapped just around the back of the neck (as shown in the first photo of this post).

For the tab chain about 15 and just complete a couple of rows of double crochet – it doesn’t need to be pretty – it won’t be seen. Then sew it to the underside of the head approximately where the eyes are.

Anyway whichever method you choose you first need to know how to complete the head:

After the body is as long as you want it end on a row containing 4 scales

HEAD

row 1: decrease to 3 scales

row 2: decrease to 2 scales

row 3: increase to 3 scales

row 4: increase to 4 scales

row 5: decrease to 3 scales

row 6: increase to 4 scales

row 7: decrease to 3 scales

row 8: decrease to 2 scales

row 9: increase to 3 scales

Fasten off and weave in ends.

TEETH

With much thinner white yarn and a small hook attach to the edge of the final row of scales. There are no proper stitches here so please excuse the lengthy descriptions of where to complete stitches – I hope it makes sense!

Step 1. chain 1 and dc into the same place you attached the yarn

Step 2. complete 5tr into somewhere halfway between the edge of the scale and the centre of the scale

Step 3. 1dc into the centre of the scale

Step 4. complete 5tr into somewhere halfway between the centre of the scale and the far edge of the scale

Step 5. 1dc between this scale and the next

you should now have 2 teeth attached to the first scale. repeat steps 2-5 for the next 2 scales until you reach the end – you should now have 6 teeth. Fasten off and weave in ends.

EYES

I tried a few different styles of safety eyes but they all made him look a bit sinister so in the end I used white felt and black thread. Experiment with the placement of the eyes to give him different expressions. Mine are placed on the middle two scales of the 4th row from the end.

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crochet pattern, crocodile, crocodile stitch, instructions, pattern, scarf

Bookmark Becomes Scarf

I liked the pink bookmark so much that I decided to make it into a scarf. It’s a thinnish lacy scarf – A summer scarf. If you don’t understand the concept of a summer scarf you clearly don’t live in the north of England. Summer here consists of a period of a few weeks where you can wear a slightly thinner coat. But an umbrella must, of course, still be carried at all times.

On particularly warm days a coat may be dispensed with altogether if you have a summer scarf as backup. It fits in your bag and can be whipped out when the inevitable clouds roll over. It provides some warmth while the lacy look allows you to cling on to the idea that you’re still dressed for summer.

I used DK yarn, a 5.5mm hook and I made a few changes to the bookmark pattern – instead of bullions I used double trebles (trebles in American terms). 15 of them at each end and 5 for each shell along the length. I couldn’t be doing with the tedium of working out what multiple of stitches the starting chain needed to be so I just chained as long as I wanted the scarf and when I got to the near the end of the first side of double treble clusters I skipped an extra stitch (or one less stitch, or whatever was needed) between a couple of clusters so that it matched up at the end. Then when doing the other side I just made sure the centres of clusters were opposite each other. you can’t tell at all that a few are not quite the same as the others.

I really enjoyed making a scarf ‘lengthwise’ – it felt much less repetitive than working in rows and I liked having a definite end – instead of looking at it every few minutes, wondering if it’s long enough and thinking “just one more row and then I’ll stop”…..

Filed under: clothing, crochet, crochet, instructions, lacy, scarf

Crocodile Scarf Tail

So this is where I’m up to with the crocodile scarf. I looked at a few different websites explaining the crocodile stitch and while everyone does seem to do it slightly differently once I got my head around the general idea it was actually very easy. I also discovered that my main issue with watching videos to learn stitches is that I get bored after about 10 seconds. Apart from videos there didn’t seem to be much of anything else and what there was was quite sketchy and vague. So for everyone out there like me here is a detailed photo tutorial of how I created the scarf so far….

Crochet terms are English as always so have a look at the conversion chart for the American alternatives. Also as I’m left-handed all the photos show the steps as seen by a left-handed crocheter - I’ll try to give written instructions for both left and right-handers but if you’re right-handed and struggling try flipping the photos and if you’re still confused then leave a comment or drop me an email.

Some of the instructions I watched flipped the work back and forth to create the scales however I found it easier to always have the front facing me and spin the work. Experiment and do whatever works for you though.

TAIL

Step 1. Chain 3

Step 2. tr into the 3rd chain from the hook.

Step 3. turn 90 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the tr from step 2.

Step 4. ch1 and turn the work 180 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the initial chains from step 1.

Step 5. ch2, slip stitch into the centre top of the scale. chain 2 and tr into the top of the scale again. This is the basis for the next scale.

Step 6. turn 90 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the tr from the previous step.

Step 7. ch1, turn 180 degrees anticlockwise (clockwise if you’re right-handed) and crochet 5tr around the chains from step 5.

Repeat steps 5-7 until the tail is as long as you would like it. My scarf has 8 scales in the tail. Now we need to increase up to the width of the main body of the scarf….

INCREASING

Step 8. ch2, tr around the last tr of the scale

Step 9. ch1, tr into the centre top of the scale, ch1, 2tr between the first and second tr of the scale

Step 10. Follow steps 6 & 7 to create a scale around the 2 trebles you just completed

Step 11. We now need to attach this scale to the single treble from step 9. Turn the work 180 degrees so it is as shown in the photo below and insert the hook under the single tr as shown by the red arrow and slip 1 stitch.

Step 12. Keeping the work in this orientation follow steps 6 & 7 again to create a second scale around the chains and trebles on the other side (this can be a little awkward the first few times).

We are now going to increase again on the next row.

Step 13. ch2, tr around last tr of scale, ch1, tr into centre of scale, ch1, 2tr between the scales, ch1, tr into centre of scale, ch1, 2tr into 1st treble of the end scale.

Step 14. Repeat steps 10-12 to create scales around each set of 2 trebles.

To make the increase up to the full scarf width gradual we are now going to decrease on the next row before increasing again…

DECREASING

Step 15. ch2, sl st into the centre of the 1st scale, ch2, sl st between the first and second scale, ch2, tr between the first and second scale, ch1, tr into the centre top of next scale, ch1, 2tr between the next scales. Your work should now look like the photo below.

Step 16. Repeat steps 10-12 again to create scales around the sets of 2 trebles.

Now you know how to increase and decrease you can use the steps above to make the crocodile scarf as follows (if you have followed all the steps above you will have just completed row 4).

I am using bamboo ribbon yarn that I’m not sure of the weight of and a 5mm hook which makes each scale ~2.5cm (1 inch) in width and height.

row 1 (tail): 1 scale for as long as you like (I have used a chain of 8 scales for my tail)

row 2: increase to 2 scales

row 3: increase to 3 scales

row 4: decrease to 2 scales

row 5: increase to 3 scales

row 6: increase to 4 scales

row 7: increase to 5 scales

row 8: decrease to 4 scales

Continue alternating between 4 and 5 scales to a row until the body of the scarf is as long as you want it. Then check back for instructions of how to complete the head once I get to that myself :)

See you later alligator….

UPDATE: The scarf is now finished. Instructions for the head and finishing touches can now be found here: Crocodile Scarf Head

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crochet pattern, crocodile, crocodile stitch, instructions, pattern, scarf

Crocodile Scarf (in crocodile stitch)

Update: Instructions for the first half of the scarf are now available. And when you’ve completed that you can move onto instructions for the head and finishing touches. Enjoy!

I saw this pattern for a crocodile scarf on ravelry several months back – I bookmarked it and keep checking back but it always just says “pattern coming soon”. This is very annoying and so I have decided to take matters into my own hands! I really want to make this scarf but with no pattern I’ll just have to figure it out for myself. I’ve looked at a few videos of the crocodile stitch but I find videos hard to follow because everyone’s crochet style is different and they hold the work at different angles, twist the hook around different ways. I find written instructions with diagrams and photos of the steps much easier to follow but I’ve not found much of that (especially for left-handers) so I’m just going to muddle through and try to blog in detail as I figure each bit out.

The starting point is the diagram below - I’ll start at the tail and figure out how to increase as I go along.

Hopefully I’ll have the first part for you soon…

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crocodile, crocodile stitch, free, instructions, pattern, scarf

Lacy yellow scarf

This weekend I made this lovely lacy scarf. It was very easy and quick to crochet and if you want to make one too then the pattern is called angel crochet scarf by Amanda Perkins and is free to download from ravelry or the natural dye studio.

The pattern uses 2 ply lace yarn but I used DK yarn so I upped the hook size to 8mm (after a bit of trial and error) and the finished scarf has a width of about 27cm (11″). The photos below show detail before and after blocking.

Before blocking

After blocking

Filed under: clothing, crochet, instructions, crochet, crochet pattern, instructions, pattern, scarf