Small WIP Tote Bag
Amazing! I have done some sewing! I had decided I needed a nice bag to cart my WIPs around in when I am visiting, or travelling, or just for keeping them handy around the house. I dug up a basic tote pattern and added a little section for crochet hooks, circular needles and whatever else. The bag is made of cotton and calico, with a bit of interfacing. It was lots of fun. My sewing is still rusty but I’m getting better.
Brrr Baby Beanie – Free Pattern!
It’s freezing! We are well and truly into mid winter here and it’s downrighty icy outside. The biggest problem I have with keeping my kid’s warm is their ears! So I decided to crochet up a cute little ear flap beanie for T and share the pattern with you all.
I have written it into both US terms and UK terms for ease of reading, no matter which terminology you are familiar with. I’m pretty fluent with both but I know some aren’t. It’s begginner friendly too!
Firstly the copyright formalities: Please do not reproduce, republish or sell without my permission. Please do not claim as your own. Please do not use this pattern for commercial purposes.
Brrr Baby Beanie
Materials needed:
5mm crochet hook (H)
At least 50grams of Panda Concorde yarn, or similar weight yarn (roughly worsted), that gives you gauge. I used a teeny smidge over 1 ball.
Scissors
A toddler to put it on!
Gauge:
3 double crochet per inch.
Size:
This fits my 18 month old quite snugly and his head is roughly 48cm (19in)
Stitches Used:
Chain (ch), Slip stitch (sl st), double crochet (DC), single crochet (sc), Double crochet increase (DC inc), Double crochet decrease (DC dec).
Skill Level:
This pattern is very easy. It is worked in rounds and works up very quickly.
Now for the pattern:
Take your yarn and chain 3. Join with a sl st into the first stitch to make a small circle.
Round 1: Ch 3 (this will be counted as your first DC on this, and every other round following). DC 8 into the circle. No need to put your hook through any stitches, just draw up the yarn through the ring. Sl st into the 3rd chain of the 3ch you made at the start of the round. You should now have 3cg, and 8 DC which we will count as 9 stitches.
Round 2: Ch 3. DC into the same stitch your 3ch are coming from. Now work a DC inc (2 DC into the same stitch) around all your stitches. Sl st into the top of the 3ch when you finish the round. At the end of this round you should have 18 stitches.
Round 3: Ch 3. Work a DC inc into the next stitch. *DC, DC inc*. Repeat *to* around and join with a sl st at the top of the 3 ch. (27 DC)
Round 4: Ch 3. DC in next st. DC inc in next st. *DC 2, DC inc* repeat from *to* around then join with a sl st into to of first 3 ch. (36)
Round 5: Ch 3. DC into next 2 stitches, then DC inc in the next. *DC in next 3 st, DC in into the next* repeat *to* around then join with sl st. (45)
Round 6: Ch 3. DC into next 3 sts, then DC inc. into the next. *DC into next 4 sts, then DC inc* repeat from * to * around and join with sl st. (54)
Round 7 – 14: Ch3, DC around and join with sl st. (54)
Here you can work more rounds to make the hat a little longer if you wish.
When you complete round 14, fasten off. Fold you hat in half, so that the seam where your 3ch are forms one edge of the fold. Turn your hat so the top is facing you, and have the 3ch edge on the LEFT side.
Making the Ear Flaps:
Start from your fasten off point and count 17 stitches across, from left to right. Push your hook through the 17th stitch, wrap the yarn over and pull it back though. Now make a chain, and DC into the same stitch. DC across another 9 stitches, Ch1 and turn.
Now work a DC dec into the first 2 stitches. (Yarn over hook, through the stitch, yarn over hook, pull through first 2 loops. Yarn over hook, push though NEXT stitch, Yarn over hook, pull through first 2 loops, Yarn over hook, pull through ALL loops.) DC across and work a DC dec into the last 2 sts also. Ch1, turn.
Continue to do this for 2 more rows, or until your ear flap is the desired shape. Fasten off.
Turn the hat over, and place another earflap opposite the first, in the same manner.
When you have completed the 2nd flap, draw up another loop at the back seam of the hat, an work a sc edge around the entire hat, along the edge of the ear flaps also. You can get creative here if you like. Try adding shell edging, or picot for a more girly touch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
This is where I left my hat, but you could add tassels o he ear flaps, or a pom pom on top, a flower appliqué, whatever you like!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Brrr Baby Beanie
UK terminology
Materials needed:
5mm crochet hook (H)
At least 50grams of Panda Concorde yarn, or similar weight yarn (roughly worsted), that gives you gauge. I used a teeny smidge over 1 ball.
Scissors
A toddler to put it on!
Gauge:
3 treble per inch.
Size:
This fits my 18 month old quite snugly and his head is roughly 48cm (19in)
Stitches Used:
Chain (ch), Slip stitch (sl st), double crochet (DC), Treble crochet (tr), Treble crochet increase (tr inc), Treble crochet decrease (tr dec).
Skill Level:
This pattern is very easy. It is worked in rounds and works up very quickly.
Now for the pattern:
Take your yarn and chain 3. Join with a sl st into the first stitch to make a small circle.
Round 1: Ch 3 (this will be counted as your first Tr on this, and every other round following). Tr 8 into the circle. No need to put your hook through any stitches, just draw up the yarn through the ring. Sl st into the 3rd chain of the 3ch you made at the start of the round. You should now have 3cg, and 8 Tr which we will count as 9 stitches.
Round 2: Ch 3. Tr into the same stitch your 3ch are coming from. Now work a Tr inc (2 DC into the same stitch) around all your stitches. Sl st into the top of the 3ch when you finish the round. At the end of this round you should have 18 stitches.
Round 3: Ch 3. Work a Tr inc into the next stitch. *Tr, Tr inc*. Repeat *to* around and join with a sl st at the top of the 3 ch. (27 Tr)
Round 4: Ch 3. Tr in next st. Tr inc in next st. *Tr 2, Tr inc* repeat from *to* around then join with a sl st into to of first 3 ch. (36)
Round 5: Ch 3. Tr into next 2 stitches, then Tr inc in the next. *Tr in next 3 st, Tr inc into the next* repeat *to* around then join with sl st. (45)
Round 6: Ch 3. Tr into next 3 sts, then Tr inc into the next. *Tr into next 4 sts, then Tr inc* repeat from * to * around and join with sl st. (54)
Round 7 – 14: Ch3, Tr around and join with sl st. (54)
Here you can work more rounds to make the hat a little longer if you wish.
When you complete round 14, fasten off. Fold you hat in half, so that the seam where your 3ch are forms one edge of the fold. Turn your hat so the top is facing you, and have the 3ch edge on the LEFT side.
Making the Ear Flaps:
Start from your fasten off point and count 17 stitches across, from left to right. Push your hook through the 17th stitch, wrap the yarn over and pull it back though. Now make a chain, and Tr into the same stitch. Tr across another 9 stitches, Ch1 and turn.
Now work a Tr dec into the first 2 stitches. (Yarn over hook, through the stitch, yarn over hook, pull through first 2 loops. Yarn over hook, push though NEXT stitch, Yarn over hook, pull through first 2 loops, Yarn over hook, pull through ALL loops.) Tr across and work a Tr dec into the last 2 sts also. Ch1, turn.
Continue to do this for 2 more rows, or until your ear flap is the desired shape. Fasten off.
Turn the hat over, and place another earflap opposite the first, in the same manner.
When you have completed the 2nd flap, draw up another loop at the back seam of the hat, and work a DC edge around the entire hat, along the edge of the ear flaps also. You can get creative here if you like. Try adding shell edging, or picot for a more girly touch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
This is where I left my hat, but you could add tassels o he ear flaps, or a pom pom on top, a flower appliqué, whatever you like!
And the finished product:
Crochet Longies for T
Like I mentioned in the previous post, I made a pair of longies for a friend’s little girl. And I fell in love with the pattern. It is a perfect fit for cloth bummed babies with it’s very special hip section. I purchased it from Ladybugz Farms, and I can’t believe I didn’t do it ages ago!
The wool was some handspun Gromark I picked up at wool expo, and dyed myself. It was somewhere between a 5ply and an 8ply so I double stranded it and got perfect gague for the pattern which is written for worsted. It only took me a few hours all up, and was pretty easy. And I have already ordered some new wool for the next pair!
Now for the photos:
I was slightly worried that a flare leg might look a bit silly on a boy but I think they’re perfect….Can you tell I am just a bit happy with them?
experimental iPod touch post
, originally uploaded by tara-lalala.
this is basically an experiment to see if I can blog from the iPod. Its been a while since I last wrote a post but I have been busy. I made these crochet longies for a friends daughter. The dyeing was me too. Lots of fun. The pattern is so fantastic I have made some for T as well… Stay tuned, more on that later!
Some Old Stuff
I thought I might share some of my pre-blogging work. I was just looking back through flickr and thought why not?
Amigurumi birds:
Cotton Sun Hat
Booties
Hope you enjoyed them!
Teddy in a Tee – With pattern!
Last week I found some really nice thick acrylic yarn in a local bargain store, and thought it would be perfect for making amigurumi. Then I got it home and couldn’t find the perfect pattern. So I just started crocheting and making it up as a went along! Don’t worry, I remembered to take notes so I could share with you all! ^_^
If you have never made an amigurumi before, don’t worry it’s easy. This pattern is worked in continuous spirals. Use stitch markers to mark the start of each round in case you lose count.
The pattern is in american terms.
And one last note before I start, please do not reproduce this pattern without my permission, claim it as your own, sell it etc.
Ok…
My yarn was DK, and I used a 3.5mm hook.
Start with your main colour, and make a magic loop. Now you are ready to start your head.
HEAD:
R1 (round one): sc 6 into the loop. Pull tight. All pieces begin this way hereafter.
R2: 2sc into each stitch around. (12)
R3: *sc, 2sc into 1 st* Repeat *to* around. (18 )
R4: *sc in first 2 sts, 2sc into 1* Rep from * to * around. (24)
R5: *sc in first 3 sts, 2sc in to next st* repeat from * to * (30)
R6 *sc in first 4 sts, 2sc into next sts* repeat from * to * (36)
R7 – 14: Sc around all sts
R15: *sc 4, sc 2tog* repeat from * to * (30)
R16: *sc 3, sc 2tog* rep. from * to * (24)
R17: * sc 2, sc 2tog* rep. from * to * (18 )
Slip stitch into first stitch of the last spiral and bind off leaving a long tail for sewing.
FACE:
Sc 6 into magic loop.
sc 2 into each stitch (12)
slip stitch to firs stitch of last round and bind off leaving a long tail.
EAR: (make 2)
sc 6 into magic ring. ch1, turn. DO NOT JOIN ROUND)
sc 2 into each st. Bind off leaving long tail for sewing.
BODY:
R1:sc 6 into magic ring using your main colour.
R2: sc 2 into each stitch (12)
R3: *sc 1, sc 2 into next st* rep from * to* around
R4: *sc 2, sc 2 into next st* rep from * to * around
R5: *sc 3, sc 2 into next st* rep from * to *
R6-11: sc around
R12: join in blue and sc around for 7 rounds.
R 19: join in green and sc around for 2 rounds.
R 21: join in blue and sc around for 2 rounds.
R 23: *sc 3, sc 2tog* Rep. from * to * around (24)
R 24: sc around.
R 25: *sc 2, sc 2tog* rep. from * to * (18 )
R26: sc around.
Finish round with a sl st and bind off leaving long tail.
Phew! Almost there!
Arm: (make 2)
sc 6 into loop.
sc 2 into each st. (12)
sc around for 11 rounds.
Join in blue and sc around for 4 rounds.
End with sl st and bind off leaving long tail.
Leg: (make 2)
sc 6 into ring.
sc 2 into each st (12)
*sc 1, sc 2 into next st* rep from * to * around.
sc around for 3 rounds.
*sc 1, sc 2tog* around
sc around for 8 rounds.
Finish with sl st and bind off with long tail.
Assembly:
Sew nose and mouth onto face, and sew face onto the head.
Attach eyes.
Using the long tails you left, sew on the ears.
Stuff head firmly.
Stuff legs firmly and using tails, sew to body.
Stuff body and arms firmly.
Sew arms to body using the tails.
Using tail from head, sew the head to the body, lining up the stitches carefully.
Reinforce the seam with the tail from the body.
TA DA! Enjoy your teddy in a tee!!
Egg Anyone?
I have discovered the wonderful world of Tawashi. Cute japanese handmade scrubbers. I couldn’t resist making this one!
L has adopted it though, and says I must never actually use it for the washing up, and that it’s his now! lol
My Mary Janes
colour issues sorted !, originally uploaded by tara-lalala.Ok, so last year I went out on a limb and made my own pattern for some booties. First time I had ever designed anything. I am still working on it, and changing it every now and then. I just love them. I hope to have a pattern available one day.
