Christmas Stocking Time!

Hello all. Happy Sunday all! We are all definitely feeling Christmassy now! Tree is up, lights are up & the Christmas cake & pudding are in the tins ready to go. Phew! Still quite a few pressies to finish & a little to wrap, but I am getting there. Now I do have a new little pattern that I would like share this week, but I thought I would pop this lovely little lady back on the website. It’s a gorgeous little Christmas stocking made using a spot of 4ply yarn! Now you can use any kind of 4ply yarn you would like, but I couldn’t resist making it from Abby’s little Christmas baubles!

I absolutely love these. They are just little Christmassy bauble of loveliness & great pressie for any yarn lover!

Think you have till Friday 17th for the last post on Abby’s website. Here’s the link.

https://luxuryyarns.co.uk/

Ok, so let’s get going.

Level – Medium – It has a few tricky parts, but is a great introduction for anyone that would like to crochet socks.

Stitches –

Slip stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. Insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. Yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

Chain (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

Double Crochet (dc) – To make a double crochet, insert hook through your stitch/space, yarn over hook and pull through the stitch. You should have 2 loops on your hook, now yarn over hook and pull through both loops on your hook.

Double Crochet Decrease – (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. Insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert hook through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches. There will now be 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops to complete your 2dctog. 

Treble (tr) – To make a treble crochet, firstly yarn over your hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops, yarn over hook and pull through the last two loops.

Half Treble Crochet (htr) – A half treble crochet is basically one less movement than a treble. So yarn over hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through all 3 loops.

Supplies –

You will need 5g of any 4ply yarn for the main stocking part and then a little bit of cream/white yarn for the top. (It doesn’t have to be sock yarn!!) You will also need a 3.25mm crochet hook, some scissors, a blunt ended tapestry needle and a bit of yarn to use as a stitch marker. 

If you haven’t got any 4ply cream or white yarn for the top, you could use a spot of double knit yarn, it would just look a lovely fluffier or even a different coloured yarn. 

PipsTips – You can make your little stocking using Double Knit or Aran yarn too. Just alter your hook size to a 4mm hook for Double Knit and 5mm hook for Aran. 

P.S – Don’t forget to use your yarn stitch marker so that you know where your rounds start and finish. 

Ok so here we go …

Toe –

1 – Start by chaining 5. 

Then work 1dc into the 2nd chain from the hook and each of the remaining 3 chains. (4) You are now going to be working on the other side of the 5 chain stitches. Miss the first chain, as before and work 1dc into each of the 4 chains. The needle in the photo below, shows where to work your first stitch. 

(Don’t forget to use a yarn stitch marker, so you know where the round starts. (8)

2 – Work 2dc in the first stitch. Followed by 1dc in the next. Work 2dc into the next stitch and then 1dc. Now repeat, so 2dc into the next stitch, 1dc, 2dc into the next stitch and then 1dc in the last stitch. (12)

3 – Now work *2dc in the next stitch, 3dc, 2dc in the next stitch, followed by 1dc.* Then repeat ** once more. (16)

4 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (16) 

5 – Now work *2dc in the next stitch, 5dc, 2dc in the next stitch, followed by 1dc.* Then repeat ** once more. (20) 

6 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (20) 

7 – Now work *2dc in the next stitch, 7dc, 2dc in the next stitch, followed by 1dc.* Then repeat ** once more. (24)

8 – 12 (5 rows) Work 1dc in each stitch. (24)

Heel –

13 – Work 6dc stitches to work your way into the correct place for the heel. (If you don’t do this, the heel won’t be in line with the toe!!) Place your stitch marker, slip stitch into the next stitch and work 1dc into the same stitch. Then 8dc stitches, followed by 1htr stitch. (10) 

14 – Now turn your work and chain 1. Then 1dc in each stitch. (10)

15 – 18 (4 rows) *Turn your work, chain 1 and work 1dc into the first stitch and then work 1dc into each stitch except for the last stitch.* Repeat this ** 3 more times. By the end of these 4 rows, you will only have 6 stitches. (6) 

19 – Now turn your work and chain 1, then 1dc in the first stitch. The work 1dc into each stitch in the row. (6) 

20 – Turn your work, chain 1 and work 1dc into each stitch in the row. Slip stitch into side of the row below. (This is where the needle is pointing.) 

Then work 1dc into the last unworked stitch of the row below. (This is where the needle is pointing.) (8) 

21 – *Turn your work, chain 1 and then miss the chain stitch and the next stitch. (The needle is pointing to where you need to start.) 

Work 1dc into the rest of the stitches. Now slip stitch into the side of the row below and then work 1dc into the last unworked stitch of the row below.* (Sometimes it’s hard to work out where the slip stitch in the side of the row goes, but it’s basically the side of the row just above the unworked stitch.) (9)

22 – 23 (2 rows) Repeat this ** from row above 2 more times. (11) 

24 – In the last row, turn your work, chain 1. Now as before, miss the chain stitch and next stitch. Then work 1dc in each stitch, finally slip stitching in the side of rows. (This is where the needle is pointing.) 

Then work 1dc stitch in the first stitch you made for the heel. (This is where the needle is pointing.) (12) 

Leg –

25 – Now you are back at the beginning again. Turn your work and place your yarn stitch marker. 

Chain 1 and work 1dc into the first stitch and the slip stitch, then continue working 1dc in the all of the stitches in the heel. (12) Now slip stitch in the side of the rows, as before. (This is where the needle is pointing.) 

Then work 1dc in the last stitch of the heel. (This is where the needle is pointing.) 

Now work 1dc in the next 14 stitches. Your first stitch should go where the needle is pointing. 

That completes the first round of the leg. (28)

26 – Now work 1dc in each stitch in the round. (The needle shows where to work your first stitch.) (28) 

27 – Work 2dctog, then 12dc, then 2dctog, then 12dc. (26) 

28- Work 1dc in each stitch. (26) 

29 – Then work 2dctog, 11dc, 2dctog, 11dc. (24) 

30 – Now work 1dc in each stitch. (24) 

31 – Work 2dctog, 10dc, 2dctog, 10dc. (22)

32 – 37 (6 rounds) Work 1dc in each for the 6 rounds. If you want the top of your stocking to be a different colour, then change your yarn in the last stitch in round 37. (22) 

38 – Now slip stitch into the next stitch and then chain 3. Then work 1tr in the first stitch and then 1tr in each stitch in the round. (22) 

39 – Slip stitch into the first stitch, chain 1, then work 1dc in the first stitch, followed by 1dc in each stitch in the round. (22)

Finally slip stitch in the next stitch and fasten off. 

All you need to do now is sew your ends in, block your stocking and add a ribbon to attach your little stocking to your tree. To block your work, you just need to wash it in warm soapy water and set it using your hands and let them dry.

Another possibility is to make a bundle of these little guys and attach them to some plaited yarn to create a Christmas garland or even use as an advent calendar for someone special.

Well good luck. Really hope you enjoy this little pattern. I seem to be making a rainbow garland of them at the moment. Will share a photo of them when I am done. 

Don’t forget to share pictures of your little Christmas stockings. Can’t wait to see any creations you have made!! You can always link it to @pipsrainbow. Any questions, just give me a shout. 

Happy hooking everyone.

🌈 Xx

(Free pattern designed and brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it. ☺️Xx)

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Poppies

In a blink of an eye it’s November!! How did that happen! Anyone else feeling the cold? It seems to have just switched all of a sudden. My advent shawl is well and truly out and about now and my wrist warmers are an absolute must! I find that if my wrists are warm, then my body seems to stay warmer. So it’s a no brainer for me.

I have been working on a few rather exciting projects recently. Can’t wait to share them with you. I do have a rather new labour of love though. I joined Knit School a few months ago and I seem to have been absorbed in the wonderful world of knitting jumpers at the moment. It is ever so fulfilling learning a new skill and being able to create different garments. The wonderful Michelle at Knit School is the most incredible teacher & provides you with so much information and encouragement. Really feel that I am learning so much at the moment. If you are ever interested in joining, then pop over to The Loveliest Yarn Company website where you will find a link to Knit School. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

https://theloveliestyarncompany.co.uk/

I love that I can switch now between crocheting and knitting. I am finding that they both seem to really compliment each other. So watch this space… Ekk!!

So as it is November, it’s about to be the time of year, when we remember. We remember those who have fought for us. Who have been to war for us and those you have lost their lives for us.

There aren’t really any words to describe the sheer sadness of all the lives that have been lost in wars and the brutality of the life that has been taken away from so many families. Even in times like these, when a pandemic surrounds us and lockdowns have been endured, we will still remember them…

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them. Not the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them. Lest we forget. 

It always make me count my lucky stars and be so terribly grateful for all we have. A time when you hold your family that little bit closer to you.

So I thought I would share my crocheted poppy pattern again with you all. I know quite a few of you made them last year, so thought I would share it again for those of you who didn’t. They are ever so easy to make and you only need a little bit of yarn. If you are able to make some for others, don’t forget to ask them to pop some pennies in a Poppy donation box. I think last year I made about 15 for friends and family members, so there was a lot of poppy love going around.

Hope you enjoy the pattern.

Level – Easy 

Supplies –

For each poppy, you will need a 4mm crochet hook, a little bit of red, black and green double knit yarn. You will also need some scissors, a safety pin and blunt ended needle. And don’t forget a safety pin so that you can attach it. (If you did want to make them in a different weighted yarn, just make sure that you change the hook size accordingly. So I would use a 3mm hook for 4ply yarn and 5mm for Aran weight yarn.

PipsTips – If the poppy is for a child, you can always leave a little yarn tail to tie it to a coat. (I did this for my son. I can’t trust him with a safety pin!! Ekk!!) 

Stitches – 

Slip Stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

Chain stitch (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

Treble (tr) – To make a treble crochet, firstly yarn over your hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops, yarn over hook and pull through the last two loops.

Magic Ring – Fold over the yarn to make the loop. Insert your hook through the loop and grab the working yarn (long piece) and pull through the loop. Hold the tail and the working yarn and pull so that the knot tightens, but you still have a loop. This has created a magic ring.

Half treble (htr) – A half treble crochet is basically one less movement than a treble. So yarn over hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through all 3 loops.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Ok so here we go… 

1 – Start with your black yarn and make a magic ring. Then chain 1 and work 6dc stitches into the ring. Finish by pulling the tail tight to create the ring. (6) 

2 – Now work 2dc in each stitch in the round and finish by ss into the first stitch. Fasten off your black yarn. (12) 

First Petal – 

3 – Now change to your red yarn and attach into any of the dc stitches. Then ch1 and work 1dc in the next 6 stitches and then ss into the last stitch of your 6 stitches. This is the start of your first petal. (6) 

4 – Turn your poppy and work *1dc, then 2dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 3 times. Ss into the last stitch. (9) 

5 – Turn your poppy and work *2tr, then 2tr in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 3 times. Ss in the last stitch. (12) 

6 – Turn your poppy and work 1dc in each stitch. Ss in last stitch. (12)

Second Petal – 

7 – Now you are going to work the other petal. So ss into the first black stitch and work 1dc in the last 6 stitches. Ss in the next stitch, which is the bottom part of the first red stitch you made In the first petal. (6) 

8 – Turn your poppy and work *1dc, then 2dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 3 times. Ss into the last stitch. (9) 

9 – Turn your poppy and work 1dc in each stitch. Ss in the last stitch. Now ss in the bottom of the first stitch on the other petal, then fasten off your red yarn. (9) 

Now sew in your black ends in the centre of your poppy using your needle. Now with the red yarn ends, use these to first sew up the sides of the poppy petals back down to the centre of the petal, this will help to keep the petal shape. You can see in the photo below how I am picking the top stitch of the petal and then in the photo below that, sewing it back to the centre of the poppy. 

Now use the two ends to sew on your safety pin to your poppy and then fasten off each end. 

Leaf – 

Start by chaining 10. Then work 1dc in the 2nd chain from the hook. Then work 1dc, 1htr, 1tr, 2tr in the next stitch, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc and then finally 1dc. That will take you to the end of the foundation chain. 

Now you are going to work up the other side of the foundation chain. So in the second chain work 1dc, then 1dc, 1htr, 1tr, 2tr in the next stitch, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc, 1dc then finish by working a ss into the last stitch. Now fasten off leaving a tail to sew your leaf to the poppy. Sew your other little end into your leaf and the longer one you can use to sew your leaf on to your poppy. 

And there we have it. Your little poppy. I hope you have enjoyed this pattern. Don’t forget to donate your pennies into a poppy box.

Anyways, happy hooking chaps!

Stay Safe.

🌈Xx

(Free pattern designed and brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it. ☺️Xx)

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