Free Pattern: Little Robin Christmas Tree Decoration

Hello all!

So sorry that it's been a while.  I am busy making lots of things for a Christmas craft fair I'm doing at the end of this month so have had very little time for pattern writing!

But here's a quick one for a little robin Christmas tree decoration.  I decided to do this because although there are a few free patterns for robins out there, none use DK yarn and if worked in DK end up enormous and are not fit to hang on your Christmas tree. As DK is the most readily available yarn type here in the UK and it’s what I mainly have in my stash, I decided to write my own pattern! So here it is, available free for all!  I hope you like it!  As usual any questions, please feel free to ask and I'll be happy to help!

The pattern can be downloaded for free here.

Free Pattern: Chunky Monkey Cardigan

Chunky Monkey Cardigan

This chunky cosy cardigan works up quickly using a variety of simple and textured stitches. Cardigan can easily be made smaller or larger with a different sized hook. The newborn to 3 month size (16 inch chest circ) takes only 75g of 3/Light/DK/Worsted Weight/8ply yarn.

Size: Newborn to 3 months - 16/17 inch chest measurement

Yarn: 75g of 3/Light/DK/Worsted Weight/8ply yarn

Hook: H hook (5mm)

Gauge: 4sc stitches and 2 sc rows per inch (2.5cm) in the yoke.

Terminology: US

 Abbreviations:

Beginning (beg)	Half Double Crochet (hdc)	Single Crochet (sc)	Space (sp)
Chain (ch)	Loop (lp)	Skip (skp)	Stitch (st)
Double Crochet (dc)	Repeat (rep)	Slip Stitch (sl st)	Yarn Over (yo)

Special Stitches

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc) – yo and insert hook from the front to the back around the post of the dc of previous row. Complete as for a regular dc stitch.

Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc) - yo and insert hook from the back to the front around the post of the dc of previous row. Complete as for a regular dc stitch.

Single Crochet Two Together (sc2tog) - insert hook into next stitch, draw up a loop, insert hook into next stitch and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook). Finally, yo and draw through 3 loops.

Body

Ch31

Row 1: Sc into 2nd st on hook and into each st across, turn

Row 2: Ch1, sc in next 5 sts (front), 3 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts (shoulder), 3 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 10 sc (back), 3 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts (shoulder), 3 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts (front), turn.

Rows 3 & 4: Ch1, 1 sc in each sc and 3 sc in center sc of each 3sc group, turn.

Rows 5 - 12: Starting by ch1 and working a row of sc, work 7 more rows increasing in same way (working 3sc into corner sts) every other row.

Row 13: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, turn.

Row 14: Ch2, work increase row as before BUT this time with hdc (3hdc on corners), turn.

Row 15: Work hdc's across to centre of first 3hdc group, ch 5, skip across to centre hdc of next 3hdc group and continue to hdc across back to centre of next 3hdc group, ch 5, skip shoulder sts across to final 3hdc group and continue to hdc across to the end. Turn.

Row 16: Ch2, work hdc across, placing 5hd into ch5 space, turn.

Row 17- 22: Ch3, dc across into the back loops only, turn.  Do not fasten off.

Button hole band

Row 1: At end of row 22, ch1, work 2sc in each dc end stitch and 1sc in each sc end st up front side of cardigan, turn.

Row 2: Ch1, work sc in each st, placing buttonholes where you like. (buttonhole: sc, ch2, sk 2 st,  sc in next st), turn.

Row 3: Ch1, sc in each st, working 2sc in ch2 sps.  Fasten off.

Button band

Attach yarn to neck on opposite side and work 3 rows of sc (as 1st row of button hole band but without the button holes).  Do not fasten off.

Ribbing along the bottom

Row 1: Turn work, ch3 and work a dc into centre of bottom of button band, then work dc's into each st across the bottom, finishing with a dc in centre of bottom of button hole band and another at the end, turn.

Row 2: Ch2, work alternate fpdc and bpdc across, turn.

Row 3: Ch2, work one more row alternate fpdc and bpdc, fasten off.

Sleeves

Round 1: Attach yarn to under arm in centre.  Ch1 (counts as a sc), work 27 sc equally around the sleeves, join last sc to ch1 with a sl st.

Round 2: Ch1 (counts as an sc), sc in each st around, join last to ch1 with a sl st.

Round 3: Ch1, *work sc2tog in next st, sc in next 7 sts, repeat from * around, joining last sc to ch1 with a sl st..

Round 4 & 5: Ch2, hdc around, joining last to ch2 with a sl st.

Round 6: Ch3, dc around, joining last dc to ch3 with a sl st.

Round 7 - 9: Ch3, dc into the back loops only, joining last to ch3 with a sl st.

Round 10: Ch3, dc around, joining last to ch3 with a sl st.

Rounds 11 & 12: Ch2, alternate fpdc, bpdc around, joining last to ch2 with a sl st.

Fasten off.

Repeat for other arm, attach buttons and you're done!

I hope you like this pattern! If you have any problems with it please don't hesitate to contact me (LollysCC) via Ravelry or via my Lolly's Crafty Crochet Facebook page and I'll see if I can help!

Text and images by Lolly's Crafty Crochet & Laura Tegg, all rights reserved.  No pattern may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission.  Finished products created with this pattern may be used for commercial sale. It is appreciated if design credit to Lolly's Crafty Crochet is listed in finished products.

It's Giveaway Time!

Update 21st July - the giveaway has ended and a winner has been picked!  Don't forget though that giveaways are always via my Facebook page, so to keep up-to-date all you have to do is throw a like my way!

To celebrate over 30,000 hits on my blog (now over 31,000, thank you!) last week I launched a giveaway on my Facebook page!

Don't worry there's still a couple of days to go, so there's still chance to win a copy of my beautiful, luxurious and ununusal 'Snake Stitch Neck Warmer/Scarf' pattern!  The pattern has been tested by 3 Ravelry members and comes with a step-by-step photo tutorial!  I absolutely love this stunning neck warmer!  Here's one I made earlier!

To enter all you have to do is like my page via the Rafflecopter link at the top of the page where it says Giveaway on my Facebook page.  Good luck!

Free PatternS! Little Moll's Dress & Cardigan Set - 3 Sizes

This pattern is named after my beautiful baby niece because the dress and cardigan are almost as pretty as she! Cheesy but true!

As the pattern is available for sizes 0-12 months and includes two versions of the dress and the cardigan it's fairly long so rather than paste it all here, here is a link to the free Ravelry download

Both the dress and the cardigan are worked from the neck down.

There are two ways to work the dress, as a simple shift or with a fuller skirt.

Cap sleeves, button bands and a collar are worked onto the dress after the body is made.

Button bands, a collar and long sleeves are worked onto the cardigan after the body is made.

As usual if you have any problems with the pattern or the link, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I’ll see if I can help!

The 'Snake' Stitch

Hello all!

I have been trying to come up with something a bit different recently - something people haven't seen before and last weekend whilst playing with my hook and some yarn I came up with a really interesting variation on the crocodile stitch.

I wrote a pattern for a neck warmer/scarf based upon this discovery and on Monday I popped it onto Ravelry to be tested!  It was one of my three wonderful testers who commented that the stitch 'snaked' it's way down, accross, up and accross creating lovely S shaped ruffles and so the 'Snake' stitch was born.

I'm not so big headed to think that I've come up with something brand new, in fact I'm sure that somewhere in the history of crochet this stitch has been discovered previously and named something else!  But suffice to say I'm very happy with my new pattern and the shawl I'm currently working on that uses the stitch in a slightly different way.

Below are a couple of photo's of the neck warmer's I have made and here's the link to the pattern on Ravelry for further info - Snake Stitch Neck Warmer or Scarf

I hope you like it!  Comments welcome as always!

 

Free Pattern: Esperaza Wrist Warmers

A family member requested that I make her some wrist warmers, so here they are and here's the free pattern!

These wrist warmers work up incredibly quickly and are really pretty!  So pretty that I'm going to be making some for myself now!

 

Esperaza Wrist Warmers

Yarn: 25g of 3/Light/Worsted/8ply yarn

Hook: G7 hook (4.5mm)

Terminology: US

Special Stitches

Cluster (cl): [Yo, insert hook in next dc, yo and draw up lp, yo and draw through 2 lps on hook] 5 times, yo and draw through all 6 lps on hook.

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yo and insert hook from the front to the back around the post of the dc of previous row. Complete as for a regular dc stitch.

Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc): Yo and insert hook from the back to the front around the post of the dc of previous row. Complete as for a regular dc stitch.

Pattern – Make 2

Ch a multiple of 6 sts to suit the size of the hand you’re making the wrist warmers for, and join with a sl st to form a ring.  The gloves in the images above were made with a starting chain of 30.

Round 1: Ch3 (counts as a dc), 4dc into same ch sp, skip 2 ch, 1 dc in next ch, *skp 2 ch, 5dc in next ch, skp 2 ch, 1 dc in next ch; rep from * to end, ending with a dc, skp 2ch, join last dc to first with a sl st.

Round 2: Ch5 (counts as a dc and a ch2), skip first dc, *cl over next 5 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in next dc, ch 2; rep from *, ending with cl over last 5 dc, ch 2, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beginning 5 ch.

Round 3: Ch3, skip 2 sts, 5dc in top of cl, *skip 2 ch, 1dc in next dc, skip 2 ch, 5dc in top of next cluster; rep from *, ending with a dc, skp 2ch, join last dc to first with a sl st.

Round 4: Repeat row 2.

Round 5: Repeat row 3.

Round 6: Repeat row 2.

Round 7: Ch3, skip 2 sts, 4dc in top of cl, *skip 2 ch, 1dc in next dc, skip 2 ch, 4dc in top of next cluster; rep from *, ending with a dc, skp 2ch, join last dc to first with a sl st.

Rounds 8 & 9: Ch2, hdc into each st around, joining last to first with a sl st.

Round 10: Ch3, dc into each st around, joining last to first with a sl st.

Round 11: Ch3, alternate fpdc, bpdc around, joining last st to first with a sl st.

Round 12: Ch1, sc into each st around, joining last to first with a sl st.

I hope you like this pattern!  If you have any problems with it please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll see if I can help! 

Text and images by Lolly's Crafty Crochet & Laura Tegg, all rights reserved.  No pattern may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission.  Finished products created with this pattern may be used for commercial sale. It is appreciated if design credit to Lolly's Crafty Crochet is listed in finished products.

Crocodile Stitch Crochet Barefoot Sandals

I have just published my pattern for Crocodile Crochet Barefoot Sandals on Ravelry!

These barefoot sandals are ideal for those practicing yoga and belly dancing. They’re also perfect for the beach or for those lucky enough to be attending a beach wedding. Can’t find a pair of sandals to match your outfit? No problem, you can even find yarn to match what you’re wearing, make a pair of these and wear them over flip flops, or the currently on trend two strap sandals!

Level of Difficulty: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate - the pattern has many guidance photo’s and a photo tutorial on the crocodile stitch included. The pattern has been tested by four Ravelry members, two of whom were not experienced in the stitch and both of whom made a beautiful pair of sandals! And all of the testers said they’d be making more :)

Click here to view the pattern on Ravelry.

Free Pattern: Gossamer Crochet Baby Blanket

This pattern is so simple and works up quickly with neat edges even without the border! It's light weight too, so perfect for a pram blanket and it's also lacy so would be fantastic made larger in white for a christening!

Skill level: Beginner

Sizes: Any size you wish to make!

US terminology used

Yarn: DK/Light Worsted/8ply baby yarn - I used Jarol Mother of Pearl in shade 3013 (cream)

Hook: 6.5mm (K)

Gauge: Not particularly important.

Abbreviations:

Chain (ch)
Double Crochet (dc)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Space (sp)
Stitch (st)

Special stitches:

Bobbles on edging - dc3tog (dc6tog) - To dcXtog - *YO, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, draw through two loops*, repeat from * to * twice (five) times, YO, and draw through all loops on hook.

Blanket

Ch64 - you can chain any size you like as long as it is a multiple of 4 to make a baby blanket, lapghan or afghan.  This made a 24inch blanket, without the border for me.

Row 1: 2dc in 5th ch from the hook (4ch at start counts as a dc and a ch1), ch2, 2dc in nxt ch, * skip 2 ch, 2dc in next ch, ch2, 2dc in next ch, repeat from * to last 3 chs, skip 2 ch, 1dc in last ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch4 (counts as a dc and a ch1), [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in each ch2 space, ending 1dc in 3rd ch of ch3, turn.

Repeat row 2 until you reach the desired length.

NOTE:  The ch4 at the start of each row counts as a dc and a ch1, therefore you will skip both of these when working the next row and work a 2dc, ch2, 2dc shell into the ch2 spaces between the shells in the previous rows, ending with a dc in the top of the 3rd ch of the ch4 below (essentially the top of the previous rows starting dc).
 

Edging

Round 1: Work 1 round of sc all the way around your project. When you get to the corners, ch 2 to form the corner space. At the end of the round, join the end to the beginning with a sl st.

Rounds 2-4: Repeat round 1 so you have 4 rows of sc.

Round 5: Work alternate dc3tog in one st, sc in next st around (creates bobble edging).  Work dc6tog in ch2 space of corners.

I hope you like this pattern! If you have any problems with it please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll see if I can help!

Text and images by Lolly's Crafty Crochet & Laura Tegg, all rights reserved. No pattern may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission. Finished products created with this pattern may be used for commercial sale. It is appreciated if design credit to Lolly's Crafty Crochet is listed in finished products.

Crocodile Stitch Pattern Giveaway!

****Sorry! This giveaway is now closed.  Congratulations to the two winners, Martha and Misty!****

To celebrate over 1000 downloads of my free crocodile stitch booties pattern on Ravelry, nearly 20,000 hits on this blog and the launch of my latest pattern for sale 'Little Petals Crocodile Stitch Hat - Baby Sizes' I am having a pattern giveaway!

Two winners will be picked at random and both will receive a copy of:

'Little Petals Crocodile Stitch Hat - Baby Sizes' AND
'Crocodile Stitch Newborn Baby Cocoon' AND

'Crocodile Stitch High Top Booties'!!!!

How to enter:

You have to do the following two things to be entered into the giveaway!

1. You must either be or become a follower of my blog - so you don't miss out on any future giveaways!

2. Leave a comment telling me which pattern by Lolly's Crafty Crochet you love the most and why - these can be any of my patterns - those you can buy and those available for free!

Get additional entries!

You can be entered into the draw a possible further 3 times if you BUT remember you must have done the above two first!

3. “Like” Lolly'sCrafty Crochet on Facebook

4. Follow me on Twitter

5. Copy and post a link on Twitter to this giveaway and include the hashtag: http://lollyscraftycrochet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/crocodile-stitch-pattern-giveaway.html #LollysCraftyCrochet

Closing date: Friday 8th May 2012

Big Petals! A crocodile crochet hat for grown ups!

Just wanted to share with you the grown up version of my Little Petals Crocodile Stitch Crochet Hat!  I loved the little one so much that I wondered how it would look for adults!  So here it is, the imaginatively named Big Petals!  I've made a cool weather cloche and a cold weather beret!  Two patterns in one!  What do you think?  Pattern being fine tuned and then will be tested in my pattern testing group on Ravelry - Lolly's Crafty Crochet Pattern Testing.

Little Petals - a crocodile stitch crochet hat for babies!

Introducing Little Petals, a crocodile stitch crochet baby hat in three sizes, 0-3 months, 6 month and 12 months.

The hat works up very quickly and because of the open mesh crocheting will fit baby for several months as he or she grows! It is a light weight hat, more suitable for spring and autumn (and probably summer if you live in a climate like ours in the UK!) There is also a photo tutorial for the crocodile stitch at the end of the pattern for anyone unfamiliar with it.

Update:  After being tested by two Ravelry users, tI am very pleased to announce that the pattern is now available to purchase on Ravelry!

Free Pattern for Fingerless Gloves

My friend and colleague Caroline commissioned me to make her a pair of gloves and this is them!  This type of glove is brilliant for chilly spring and autumn days, and cold work environments!  I work in an office and find them invaluable when I'm typing letters and it's bitterly cold outside!  You can also pop them over fingered gloves for extra warmth!

Caroline’s Gloves

Measurements: 12cm long, 7.5cm wide

Hooks: 5.5mm (I) for the glove, 4mm (G) for the flower

Gauge: 3 sts and 2.5 rows per inch (2.5cm)

Materials: DK/Light Worsted/8ply yarn

US Terminology Used

Abbreviations:

Beginning (beg)

Chain (ch)

Double Crochet (dc)

Half Double Crochet (hdc)

Loop (lp)

Repeat (rep)

Single Crochet (sc)

Slip Stitch (sl st)

Space (sp)

Stitch (st)

Together (tog)

Yarn Over (yo)

Special Stitches Used:

·         Herringbone Half Double Crochet (hhdc) - Yo, insert hook into stitch, yo, pull through (3 loops on hook), pull first loop through second loop on hook (without another yo), then yo and draw through 2 rem loops on hook

·         Front Post Half Double Crochet (fphdc) – Yo and insert hook from the front to the back around the post of the hdc of previous row. Complete as for a regular hdc stitch.

·         Back Post Half Double Crochet (bphdc) - Yo and insert hook from the back to the front around the post of the hdc of previous row. Complete as for a regular hdc stitch.

·         Half Double Crochet 2 Stitches Together (hdc2tog) - Begin a half double crochet stitch as usual, instead of closing the stitch, insert the hook into the next stitch, yo and pull a loop through. (5 lps on hook).  Yo and pull yarn through all loops on hook. Two hdc stitches have now become one.

Gloves worked from top to bottom, from fingers down towards the wrist.  Thumbs added separately.

Body of Glove

Make two, exactly the same.

With 5.5mm (I) hook ch20, join last ch to first with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch2, hhdc into each st around, join last to first with a sl st.

Rnds 2 – 9: Repeat row one.

Rnds 10: This row forms the thumb hole, ch2, hhdc around until last five sts, ch 5 and sl st to first hhdc in round.

Rnd 11: This row increases width for the palm area.  Ch2, hhdc into same st, * work 1 hhdc into next three sts, 2 hhdc into next st *, repeat from * to * around, working into 5ch as normal joining last hhdc to first with a sl st.

Rnds 12 – 14: Ch2, hhdc into each st around, join last to first with a sl st.

Rnds 15 & 16: Ch1, sc into each st around, joining last to first with a sl st.

Rnd 17: Ch2, hdc into each st around, join last to first with a sl st.

Rnds 18 & 19: These rows create the ribbing around the wrist area.  Ch2, alternate fphdc and bphdc around, joining last to first with a sl st.

Rnd 20:  Sl st around, fasten off and hide ends.

 

Thumbs

Attach yarn beneath centre part of the thumb hole.

Rnd 1: Ch2, hdc into next st, work 7 hdc2tog around.

Rnds 2 & 3: Ch2, hhdc in each st around (8 sts)

Fasten off and hide the ends.

If you like, you can attach a different coloured yarn to the fingers and thumb edges, ch1 and work a round of sc around to match the flower, like in the example shown.  Although the glove looks good without it too!

Flower

With 4mm (G) hook ch4, sl st into first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch1, 6sc into ring, join with a sl st into first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch1, * work 1sc into the next st, ch5, 1 sc into the same st, sc into nxt st, repeat from * around, omitting last 1 sc into the next st and join with a sl st into the first sc. (5 five ch loops)

Rnd 3: * Work 10 hdc into the 5 ch loop, sl st into the sc space of the previous round, repeat from * around, join with a sl st to end (forms 5 petals).

Rnd 4: Sl st up the side of the petal, ch 2 at the top of the petal and sl st down the other side of the petal, work sl st into sc space of rnd two, continue around, join with a sl st to end (this creates points on each petal).

Fasten off, leavings a long tail, 20cm or so and use this to attach flower to the glove – making sure to check positioning of flowers to make a left hand and right handed glove.

I hope you like this pattern! If you have any problems with it please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll see if I can help!