Multi-Way 3-Button Scarf

I just love this new scarf I created. You can wear it so many different ways! It's super easy to work up and it's deliciously cozy. It uses a simple vintage stitch to allow for a nice sturdy design that the buttons can pass between. Button it anywhere!

You can find it here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multi-way-3-button-scarf
and here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/257713059/multi-way-3-button-scarf-crochet-pattern

Two New Cowl Patterns

I recently finished up two new cowl patterns made with Lion Brand Yarns. I really like working with this yarn. The first cowl is made with one skein Tweed Stripes Yarn. I love how the colors subtly change. It made a lovely pattern. It's not scratchy either. 100% acrylic. You can find it here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woodlands-cowl or here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/253145569/woodlands-cowl-crochet-pattern

The next cowl is an infinity scarf made with Hometown USA yarn, 100% acrylic. I love how soft it is and it handles nicely. Both cowls make wonderful snuggly, warm gifts, especially for someone who is allergic to wool. And they work up quickly. Bonus!

The one below can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-rock-infinity-cowl or here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/257072279/little-rock-infinity-cowl-crochet

The Perfect Basic Beanie

This is the perfect hat for beginners to crochet. It’s very simple, yet produces a nice finished result that you can actually wear or give as a gift. Play with color and band edging once you get the hang of it, or make more rounds for a slouch hat. This basic style also produces great charity hats as well. Feel free to share.

Trinity Prayer Shawl - Free Pattern

I recently completed a prayer shawl pattern, The Trinity Shawl. I wanted to create a warm, triangular wrap with picot edging, crocheted in the treble stitch, and worked with a lovely self-striping yarn. I chose a subtle rainbow pallet for the yarn. I love its muted tones and symbolism.

Captain America Shield Throw - Crochet Pattern

I just finished up a geeky superhero throw pattern for you to make for your couch! Of course my family of nerds loves it, and it'll be joining our other movie themed basement articles for display-slash-leg-warming purposes. I saw other Captain America afghans out there but many of them seem to require sewing the star to the center. That's fine and dandy, but I didn't want to have to do that because I'm a little lazy. So...I set out to make a star-in-circle shield motif without having to sew or piece together anything. If you want, you can stop at the end of the motif and have the perfect sized place mat. Make several. They'd look great on your table. While you're at it, make a gift set of place mats and a throw for your favorite superhero buff. Head on over to Etsy or Ravelry.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/246102693/crochet-pattern-the-freedom-throw
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-freedom-throw

2 New Bags!

Just finished up 2 new bag patterns! A Strappy Clutch inspired by the fresh greens of spring, and a Sandy Shore Messenger Bag created after my recent trip to the Outer Banks and its beautiful beaches.

Strappy Clutch

Sandy Shore Messenger Bag

You can find the patterns here at Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/230067270/strappy-clutch-crochet-pattern
https://www.etsy.com/listing/232342140/sandy-shores-messenger-bag-crochet

here at Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/strappy-clutch-2
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sandy-shore-messenger-bag

and here at Craftsy:
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/strappy-clutch/140796
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/sandy-shore-messenger-bag/143545

Cobblestone Scarf Crochet Pattern

Chunky Cobblestone Scarf

Skill level: Easy

Materials Needed:
1 skein Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Serenity Chunky Heathers: Charcoal
Size L-11 (8.00 mm) crochet hook
Large-eye blunt needle for weaving in ends

Gauge: 2”=2 cobble st [sc, dc] and 3 rows

Approximate finished size: 60" long

Stitch Reference:
ch=chain
ea=each
st=stitch
sl st=slip stitch
sc=single crochet
dc=double crochet
sl st 2 tog=slip stitch two together (Insert hook in st and pull up a loop, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop, draw through both loops on hook).

Cobblestone Hat Crochet Pattern

Chunky Cobblestone Hat

 

Skill level: Easy

Materials Needed:
1 skein Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Serenity Chunky Heathers: Charcoal
Size L-11 (8.00 mm) crochet hook
Large-eye blunt needle for weaving in ends

Gauge: 2”=2 cobble st [sc, dc] and 3 rows

Band circumference: about 20" (50.8 cm)

Stitch Reference:
ch=chain
ea=each
st=stitch
sl st=slip stitch
sc=single crochet
dc=double crochet

Sc2tog=single crochet two together
dc2tog=double crochet two together

Slouchy Hat Crochet Pattern

I designed this hat a few years ago for my daughter who wanted something that would keep her head warm while allowing her to tuck her bun up inside. It's a simple slouchy hat that's easy to work, and has become her go-to hat.You can work it how you see fit, solid color or stripes, add rounds to increase the 'slouchiness' factor, or make the band larger or smaller depending on your head circumference. I find this hat fits many age ranges by simply altering the band. Because it's crocheted in dc rounds without turning, you won't have that visible diagonal seam.

Slouchy Hat
Perfect for buns and pony tails

Skill Level: Easy

Materials needed:
1 skein worsted weight (medium/4) yarn: main color (your choice), 1 skein worsted weight (medium/4) yarn: accent color (your choice). You will not use the entire skein.
Size I-9 (5.50 mm) crochet hook
Large-eye blunt needle for weaving in ends

Measurement: Finished circumference about 18-20 inches unstretched

Gauge: 2" (5.0 cm) = 7 dc and 4 rows

Stitch References
sc = single crochet
ch = chain
rnd = round
dc = double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
sc2tog = single crochet two together (How to: This is a decrease stitch. Insert hook into stitch and draw up a loop. Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through all three loops on hook.)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Using color A, form a 12 dc magic circle, sl st to join, pull tail tight. Alternate beginning: Ch 3, place 11 dc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in top of 1st st to join, pull tail tight to close circle.

Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as dc in this round and throughout), do not turn at end of rounds, dc in same st as join, 2 dc in each st around, sl st to join. 22 st.

Rnd 2: ch 2, dc in same st as join, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st. Repeat from * around, sl st to join. 32 st.

Rnd 3: repeat rnd 2. 47 st.

Rnds 4: repeat rnd 2. 70 st.

Rnd 5: ch 2, dc in same st as join, dc in each st around, sl st to join. 70 st

Rnds 6-11: repeat rnd 5.

Rnd 12: change to color B, ch 2, dc in same st as join, dc in each st around. 70 st.

Rnd 13: change to color A, ch 2, dc in same st as join, dc in each st around, sl st to join.

Rnd 14: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st around, sl st to join.

Rnd 15: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 2 st, sc2tog (see st reference below for how to), *sc in next 3 st, sc2tog. Repeat from * around, sl st to join. 57 st.

Rnd 16: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st around, sl st to join. 57 st.

Rnds 17-19: change to color B, ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st around, sl st to join. Fasten off and weave ends.

The Legal Stuff:
© 2014 April Snyder All rights reserved
No part of this written work may be publicly reproduced, adapted, transformed, built upon, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, whether for free or monetary gain without written consent of author. Permission is granted to share and distribute privately.

Helpful Hands & Pet Paw Motif-Crochet Emoji

I just finished up a pattern for a hand motif. I'd looked around for one for a while but couldn't quite find what I wanted so I wrote up my own. I wanted something that would be a good size for coasters because I thought it would be kind of funny to have a hand hold my drink. I made them in various skin tones (I found Caron had the best flesh colored yarn). As I finished it up, I realized it would be a good motif for lots of things. Using small crochet thread, one could make appliques for pants pockets, purses, etc. Bulkier yarn might make a good pot holder. And any worsted weight yarn can be used for sewing this hand onto afghan blocks or hats or scarves or...whatever. I added this pattern to my Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/224820603/helpful-hands-crochet-pattern and to my Ravelry Store http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/helpful-hands for $3.00. In the process of making this pattern, I accidentally made some animal paws which I've posted as a free pattern below.  :)

 ---------------------------------------------------------

Animal Paw Pattern

Skill level: Beginner

Materials Needed:
Worsted Weight Yarn or any weight of your choice
H/5.00 mm crochet hook or hook needed to match yarn weight
Large-eye blunt needle for weaving in ends

INSTRUCTIONS: note-paw is worked in rounds, do not turn, 1st st is always in the ch 1 st unless otherwise specified. You will always join in the top of the first stitch.

Ch 2

Rnd 1: make 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to top of 1st st to join. (You can  make a magic ring instead if you prefer)

Rnd 2: ch 1, sc in same st as join, 2 sc in ea st around, sl st to join.

Rnd 3: ch 1, sc in same st as join, *2 sc in next st, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to join.

Rnd 4: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next st,* 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to join.

Rnd 5: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 2 st, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to join.

Rnd 6: ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 3 st, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to join.

Rnd 7: ch 1, sc in same st as join, [hdc, dc, hdc] in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st, *sc in next st, [hdc, dc, hdc] in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st. Repeat from * around for desired number of toe pads.

Embellish as you see fit!

**To make pet mats or paw rugs with super bulky yarn, try ch 3 at beginning and working 12 dc into 3rd ch from hook. Work rounds the same as for sc. Six rounds (before toes) makes a small pet mat (about 12.5" diameter). Work more rounds for a larger mat. 9 works well for medium, 12 for large.**

© 2015 April Snyder All rights reserved
No part of this written work may be publicly reproduced, adapted, transformed, built upon, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, whether for free or monetary gain without written consent of author. Permission is granted to share and distribute privately.

Crochet Tip - Foundation Row

I've been meaning to put up some crochet tips for a while. Here is one for a foundation row that I use regularly because I like my work to look uniform on the ends, and it's much easier to work through the edges when seaming two pieces together. It's especially useful when making a foundation row of different stitches (for example, a row of alternating dc, sc stitches). This simple method works for most every type of stitch. Shown below is a single crochet (sc) row. After your foundation row (typically row 1 in your pattern), continue with your work as you normally would.

Crochet Heart Motif Pattern

Here's a Heart Motif just in time for Valentine's Day

Make a 12 dc magic circle (ch 2, 11 dc inside loop)

Ch 2, dc3tog, ch 3, dc3tog next st, ch 3, sl st next st, ch 3, dc3tog next st, ch 3, dc3tog next st, ch 3, sc in next 2 st, hdc in next, [dc, tr, dc] in next st, hdc in next, sc in next, sl st to join. Fasten off.

Sew motif to whatever your heart desires. ;)

The Legal Stuff:
© 2015 April Snyder All rights reserved
No part of this written work may be publicly reproduced, adapted, transformed, built upon, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, whether for free or monetary gain without written consent of author. Permission is granted to share and distribute privately.

New Year, Old-Fashioned Patterns

It's the new year and I have a lot of crochet pattern ideas swirling around in my head, along with a few projects I've started on lately. Plus I taught myself to hand-knit enough to make a square and I got a knitting machine for Christmas! There are so many possibilities! I'm really into totes, handbags, purses, and general 'carrying-things-around' items right now. I also LOVE vintage patterns and have gotten a ton of vintage crochet/knitting books on ebay, and I found my new favorite sites for free vintage patterns:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ and https://archive.org/

I found a simple pattern for a 1916 'Grouch Bag' in the Artamo Crochet Book No.1 (found here on page 36: https://archive.org/details/artamocrochetboo00bent ). I did a trial run, since this was my first vintage pattern, with cheap, kelly green worsted weight yarn. I lined it with coordinating cotton fabric and sewed an antique gold button on it. My plan is to make another one using mercerized cotton thread as the pattern was originally written. It's supposed to be a much smaller, wallet-like bag for carrying around extra money and such. Here's a pic of my trial run (which is more like a medium sized clutch purse):

 

My other project is a handbag from a 1945 pattern that I found here (which is also available in a larger book on the websites given above): http://freevintagecrochet.com/purses/2721-purse-pattern.html 

I like this site because if you know what kind of project you're looking for, it gives individual pages/patterns, and you can print them off or email them to yourself.

Here's the purse. I had a lot of fun making it and putting it together. I followed directions exactly as written: 

Couldn't help myself

Made w/ 4 strands size 10 crochet thread held together and F hook

Lined w/ crinoline and fun red fabric