Well hello my lovely ones, how are we all? I hope you are all surviving this lockdown. This year seems to have already got off to a bumpy start and nearly a month in and things don’t look much better do they. January, has always been a funny month, hasn’t it. The Christmas decorations have to come down and you have the awkward argument with yourself that this year, you would sort them out and organise them properly. But in the end, you just shove them in as best you can. What is that about!! Every year I have this argument with myself. And every year, I put it off!! Oh well, maybe next year.
So I thought I would just pop on and share with you all, my lovely advent calendar that I had from the Abby at Orchidean Luxury Yarns in December. I know that she is starting to think about this year’s calendar, so I couldn’t resist giving you a little taster as to what you might find in one. Abby owns her own hand dyeing yarn company called Orchidean Luxury Yarns and has the most beautiful array of sumptuous hand dyed yarn. If you haven’t already visited her wonderful website, then here’s the link. It is worth a peek. Trust me!
So my gorgeous calendar arrived towards the end of November, so it is all ready for you to open at the beginning of December. The day it arrived, I can safely say there was two seriously excited people in our house.
My daughter has always been a bit of a magpie with shiny wonderours things. So the fact that this was holding not only yummy yarn, but gorgeous little stitch markers that could be used as jewellery too!! Well, she was in her element.
Each day, we opened a door to find a little skein of beautifully hand dyed yarn and a gorgeous stitch marker. On some of the days, there would be a little treat of an essential oil too. The smell of these are just to die for.
When these extra special little essential oils are found in your advent window, Abby will email you with a helpful description of what they are and how best to use them. So lovely.
Each day also contained a little stitch marker. Which were so individual and beautiful. I have mine in a pot in our bedroom at the moment. I don’t seem to have the heart to use them yet, as they are gorgeous to look at. They are all the more beautiful with the fact that they are sitting in little dish that my daughter. So extra special in my eyes.
Now if it wasn’t enough that you have 24 little doors of incredible treats, Abby also gave us a full skein of gorgeous yarn and some amazing Cheer essential oil in a full size bottle. It has a roll-on top, so you can use it whenecer you like. This was to open on Christmas Day. Oh my, what a treat it was. So special. It was hard not open it up before hand!
Abby even included a fabulous row counter! Which will definitely come in handy when making up some yarny delights. Here’s the gorgeous little bottle of Dōterra Essential Oil!! I have used it so much over the past few weeks! Definitely what we all need right now!
So if you are one of the lucky ones and you are lucky enough to have one of Abby’s advent calendars, then the only thing that you need to choose, is the weight of your yarn. I plumped for 4Ply this time, but maybe next time a double knit one would be rather nice too. I wonder if you would have enough for a little blanket.
Well, I hope this has helped you. For me, it has been such a treat to have a yarny advent calendar. I can’t remember the last time I had a calendar of my very own. I think I remember one, many moons ago. But it was definitely a chocolate one and not one filled with deliciously scrumptious yarn. Yarn ones are definitely the best!! And the only ones for me, now a days!
Can’t wait to see what everyone makes with their advent calendars this year.
For me it had to be a rainbow shawl. I wasn’t planning on designing one, but when the rainbow colours just kept popping out at me, I just couldn’t resist. In a very Blue Peter kind of a way – here’s one I made earlier. Hee hee.
Hope you like it.
Will be sharing the pattern on here very soon. If you were lucky enough to have a calendar this year, it is a great way to display and absorb yourself in all of Abby’s hand dyed yarn.
I started my shawl around New Year and it has definitely kept me company over this 2021 lockdown. I was carrying it around all with the place, when I was making it. My husband said it was my comfort blanket! Whoops no And it’s now keeping seriously snuggly too!!
Well I hope you all have lovely weekends. I’m hoping to steal a little time for some crocheting or knitting at some point. I hope you do too.
We got there. Christmas holidays are finally here! What a relief. Hope everyone has had good weeks and are ready for the weekend. You can safely say, I am. My head still seems to be spinning with what I need to do, but I think I am nearly there. Sure there’s more to do, but what will be, will be now. Think you get to a point don’t you, where you can’t really do much more. I’m still making Christmas presents, I know! It will be ok I am sure. Every year I say I will be more prepared & every year I struggle in the last week to finish. Two things to go! It’ll be fine! Won’t it! Ekk!
I hope you are all staying safe in all these scary times. It’s not exactly the Christmas we were all hoping for, but I am sure we can all make it just as special. I keep thinking of things that I can do, that are a little different, but again it’s the usual race against time that is occurring in this house. I think our Christmas will just be the four of us around our little table. But I know there will be some video calls along the way and definitely having a vegetable prep video call with a few family members. Told my Dad he has to call me when he is doing his sprouts! No idea why the sprouts, but it’s gonna happen. Hmm, I do seem to have an unhealthy love for sprouts!! Haha! Super Sprout is still chilling out on our tree.
Has anyone got any yummy yarny projects lined up for Christmas Eve? I have got my super exciting Christmas Eve box from the wonderful Lisa at For the Love of Yarn. It’s a beautiful box with a big white ribbon! Ekk! Can’t wait. (Here’s the link to her mega website.)
I’ve also got Abby’s Advent Calendar to finish opening. Now there maybe a few more… but only a few… I promise!
So I thought I would share my Christmas stocking again. I made my first lot from the wonderful Abby’s at Luxury Yarns Christmas Baubles. They have 10g of 4ply yarn inside them, so you can make two of my stocking out of one bauble. Colours are mega, so you won’t be disappointed.
Now you know I have a thing about rainbows, so I couldn’t resist making this little lady. It’s made from the lovely sock yarn that I bought in the first lockdown. It’s an amazing collaboration of Yarndale and West Yorkshire Spinner. So pretty incredible.
Going to make myself a pair of these one day, but until then, this little one will have to do. What do you think? Love the lovely stripy colours of this yarn! Love anything rainbow, as you all know. You can find everything yummy Yarndale at their website
www.yarndale.co.uk
Obviously you can use any 4ply yarn that you like. It’s a great way to use up any little bits of yarn you have lying around or would even be nice to make it in your favourite sock yarn. If you aren’t yet a sock crocheter, this is a great introduction into the world of crocheting socks! As it is so small, it will teach you the basics and show you how a crocheted sock is created.
So in true, let’s get making for Christmas mode, here is the little stocking pattern. It’s ever so easy to make and something that you could add to someone’s gift as a little bit of Christmas cheer. I did think they could be filled with chocolate coins. I know my own children seem to have a serious attachment to chocolate coins! Not sure why. I think it’s the glistening gold wrapper and the marvel and wonder of what it holds inside.
So here is my little Christmas stocking pattern. I really hope you like it.
Just a little thought, if you are super new to crocheting, there are lots of beginner videos on my you tube channel. These will all help you with the basics to crocheting. Just click on the You Tube icon above.
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. (If you are ensure about blocking then click on the video below and how to block your work.)
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)
(If you fancy buying me a cuppa for my pattern, then just click the link below. Thanking you muchly! Xx)
