Crocheting – Page 17

Wow. Nearly half a year of homeschooling and the kids are finally back in school. The year of 2020 has definitely not panned out as planned, has it. I hope you are all well and coping with our ever changing world. I’m sorry I haven’t been on here very much. I think I just haven’t had the head space to know where to begin. I have designed and made many little projects, but haven’t had the time to write the patterns down. I’m sure that I am not the only one. Everyone has had so much to deal with and every family has had their own milestones to overcome. But I do feel that life seems to have melted and moulded into a way of life that seems to be sticking around for a while.

When my daughter went back to school last week, my body and head was not in a great place. It felt like we had been in this little protective bubble for so long and then all of a sudden someone had popped the bubble and we were out in the world, with no protective shield whatsoever. I know that the children have to go back to school and I know that it is the right thing to do, but it doesn’t make it feel any easier!!! Luckily, my daughter was super excited about going back. She was nervous, but ready. She wanted to see her friends, wanted a little bit of routine and was definitely ready to learn. We had tried our best with the homeschooling and kept up with all the lessons that the teachers had sent us, but it wasn’t easy. I think because my son is quite a bit younger, it wasn’t a case of all of us sitting at the table and ploughing through it altogether. It was a juggling act between setting up toys for the youngest, while trying to explain and set work for the eldest. And then hoping that both can get on with each activity, whilst you zoom between the two and also keep the house ticking over and some form of food on the table. You would then have the video calls to contend with and the chats at the front door and through the windows. Bonkers!!! A can safely day there has been a lot of cuppas consumed in lockdown!!

I’m proud to say that we survived it. We existed and we survived!! Woohoo! There was definitely some rather sobering lows, but alternatively there was some mega highs. It felt like you were on a Coronavirus rollercoaster. You’d be winning one day and then the next would just be one of those days where everything goes to pot!! But we coped. I just hope now that the kids can stay in school and all the safety procedures that the wonderful teachers have put in place, keep our little ones safe and well.

I think for me the hardest thing has been to not cuddle and be close to both sets of parents. I’m so used to having a hug with them, so being told you can’t, has just been awful!! So unnatural. I still haven’t been in my parents house yet. Which has definitely been tough. Heyho, it is all worth it to keep them safe and well. I think now that the kids are back too, we really have to step up the distancing again and be that little bit more careful!! Just in case.

I do feel that the time that we have all been given has definitely had its benefits. Both our children seem to have grown and blossomed. Particularly my daughter. She seems to have found herself. She is so much more confident and free spirited. She doesn’t seem to be as worried about things as much and seems to take things in her stride more. It’s like she knows herself more and maybe that she understands who she is and what she likes and wants to be. Amazing. My son also, is a lot more confident and definitely stronger in what he wants to do. His vocabulary in particular has really come on. Guessing its because he has been hanging around with his older sister for so long.

Well, whatever happens now, out lives have changed, our weekends are freer, our trips in the car are minimal and our family time has rocketed. Being together… what else could you want.

I hope that in time I can get through some of my patterns and creations so that I can share them with you. I think I will have a little more time and definitely have some more head space to concentrate on them. Think the words – watch this space are in order here.

One pattern that was important to publish, was my little face mask attachments. They sit at the back of your head, to save your ears from the mask straps. I think I made over 100 so far and are still having request for some more. Hoping they have helped a few sore ears out there.

One thing that I am really chuffed about is the fact that I have managed to teach myself how to knit socks on circular needles. I used a kit that I have bought from the incredible Abby over at Orchidean Luxury Yarns.

It consists of 4ply super soft sock yarn, a simple from the amazing Michelle at The Loveliest Yarn Company and of course the circular needles. It’s a fab little kit if anyone wants to challenge themselves.

Can’t wait to get another pair on my needles. Think I had better start some birthday and Christmas presents though, sure I can make myself another pair soon. They are a great project to take around with you too, as it’s so small. I have been known to be walking around the house with them in my pocket, just on the off chance that I may get a chance to knit a few stitches. Funny!! Does anyone else do this?

My daughter has managed to conquer crocheting and knitting over lockdown. So proud of her. She made a little granny square and a few little things for her dog toy.

And she has just started knitting on some circular needles and is making a snood for herself. How cool is that. Hope she can finish it so that she can wear it when the cooler weather comes. She has quite a way to go though.

Here’s a few little projects that I have been working on. Promise I will share the patterns soon.

A Blossom Shawl for my Mum.

A little rabbit called Hope.

Some wrist warmers for a very important Auntie.

Drop the dog toy. (Especially made for a little puppy called Douglas.)

A little owl called Hoot.

The one and only Coco.

My Seaside Shawl. I wonder when this one will be finished.

Chasing rainbows mandala.

Grannie Square video tutorial.

And finally a little pup called Crumble.

Anyways. Hope to be on here again really soon. (Promise I will get some of these patterns written.)

Stay safe everyone.

Yarny hugs to you all.

🌈Xx

Hmm, someone seems to have stolen the sun this week!! What weather!! We had a lovely day on Monday and then the rest has really just been a wash out. And some seriously crazy storms too. Not a fan of storms. No idea why. Think it’s the unpredictableness of them. It’s hard not showing the kids your fear, as you really don’t want to pass it onto them. My Dad loves watching them. They are so bizarre aren’t they. Here’s hoping for a warmer weekend.

Well as promised here is the first of one of my patterns for little gifts that you can make. I mentioned in my previous blog that I was hoping to share some little patterns for gifts. I know many of you are still in lockdown or not able to get to the shops that are starting to open. So now is the time for a few little homemade gifts. And dare I say the word Christmas!!! Ekk, it will be here before we know it I am sure.

So my first pattern is a little baby comforter. I made one back in November for our local bakers little baby girl. I used some beautifully soft Sublime yarn.

So when I had my wonderful Ōilsyarns Club bundle from the lovely Abby at Orchidean Luxury Yarns drop on my doorstep, I knew a little comforter had to be made again for a friend of mine’s brand new baby. The colours in Abby’s yarn are so delicate and work perfectly for a baby comforter for a boy or a girl.

So here we go. I hope you enjoy this pattern.

Level – Medium. (Includes some different stitches)

Supplies –

For this little baby comforter I have used double knit yarn from my incredible Ōilsyarns Club from Abby at Orchidean Luxury Yarns.

You will also need a 3mm and 4mm crochet hook, toy stuffing, scissors, a blunt ended tapestry needle, a little bit of black/dark grey yarn for the eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. And a toy safety rattle, if you want to use one.

Here’s the link to Abby’s incredible website Orchidean Luxury Yarns, where you can find her amazing Ōilsyarns Club and also all her incredible other hand dyed yarn. Trust me, it is worth a peak!

https://luxuryyarns.co.uk/

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.

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.

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.

Double Crochet Decrease (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. So insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert again through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Now yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches, so you will then have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops. And there is your 2dctog. (Basically 2 double crochet stitches crocheted together.)

Double Treble Crochet (dtr) – A double treble is quite a tall stitch. So yarn over hook twice, insert hook through the stitch/space and then yarn over hook again. Now pull the yarn through the stitch. There will now be 4 loops on the hook. Now place the yarn over the hook and pull through the first 2 loops. Then yarn over the hook again and pull through the next two loops. Haha, now place the yarn over the hook again and pull through the last 2 loops. Phew! It’s a bit of a long process, but a lovely stitch with the height that it gives.

Decrease with Double Treble Crochet (2dtrtog) – Ok so basically you need to crochet 2 stitches together, but still keep the height of a dtr. So yarn over your hook and insert into stitch. Then yarn over hook and pull back through. This leaves you with 4 loops on your hook. Now yarn over your hook and pull through first 2 loops. This will leave you with 3 loops on your hook. Now yarn over hook and insert into the next stitch. Then yarn over your hook again and pull yarn back through. This leaves you with 5 loops on your hook. So yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops. So yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops. Then to finish, yarn over your hook and pull through the last 3 loops.

Picot Stitch – Start by working 1dc in the stitch and then ch3. Then insert your hook, front to back, into the top of dc stitch that you have just made. Yarn over your hook and pull back through to make a slip stitch, then chain 1. Finally miss a stitch. This completes your picot stitch.

Video Tutorials – I’ve popped a few links to some of my video tutorials at the bottom of the blog. Hope you find them useful.

PipsTips –

When sewing your ears on, it’s really important to make sure you sew them on securely. As this is a comforter for a baby, is it important that there are no loose ends and loose parts. I tend to go over the stitches a few times and also when fastening off the yarn, sew it through the head a few times before cutting it off.

Ok, so here we go…

Head – use a 3mm hook with your yarn. You are working in the round for the head.

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then work 6dc stitches into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

6 – *4dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

7 – *5dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (42)

8 – *6dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (48)

9 – 14 (6 rounds) For each round, work 1dc in each stitch. (48)

15 – *6dc, then 2dctog*. Work ** 6 times. (See stitches explanation above if you are unsure of how to work a 2dctog stitch.) (42)

16 – *5dc, then 2dctog*. Work ** 6 times. (36)

17 – *4dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (30)

18 – *3dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (24)

19 – *2dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (18)

This is a good moment to stuff your head and pop in your baby safety rattle. (If you are using one.)

20 – *1dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (12)

21 – *2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (6)

Blanket – This continues on from the head, so it is all one piece.

1 – You are now going to work across the round. (This will seal up the head and able you to start the blanket.) So work a chain and then work 1dc in the first and last stitch in the round together. Then 1dc in the next and second to last stitch and finally 1dc in the third and fourth last stitch. This will give you 3dc stitches and the head will be sealed up. (3)

Now for the little blanket part of the comforter. For this, use your 4mm crochet hook.

2 – Turn your work and chain 1, then work 2dc in each stitch.* Repeat ** 3 times (6)

3 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *1dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (9)

4 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *2dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (12)

5 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *3dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (15)

6 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *4dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (18)

7 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *5dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (21)

8 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *6dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (24)

9 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *7dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (27)

10 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *8dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (30)

11 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *9dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (33)

12 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *10dtr, then 2dtr into the next stitch.* Work ** 3 times. (36)

13 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *10dtr, then 2dtrtog.* Work ** 3 times. (33)

14 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *9dtr, then 2dtrtog.* Work ** 3 times. (30)

15 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *8dtr, then 2dtrtog.* Work ** 3 times. (27)

16 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *7dtr, then 2dtrtog.* Work ** 3 times. (24)

17 – Turn your comforter and chain 4. Then work *6dtr, then 2dtrtog.* Work ** 3 times. (21)

Now slip stitch into your last stitch and fasten off your yarn. You can now sew in ends using your blunt ended needle.

Blanket Border – Use your cream yarn for this.

Attach your new colour in the side for the comforter at the top by the head in the first stitch by chaining 1.

Then work 1dc in the same stitch.

Now you are going to work 2dc in the side of each of the dtr stitches.

Once you have turned the corner to the bottom then work 1dc in each stitch. (18)

And then work back up the other side of the blanket, working 2dc in the side of each of the dtr stitches, as before and finish with 1dc in the last stitch. (84 in total)

Now turn your blanket, chain 1 and work 1dc in each stitch again all the way around. (84)

At this stage you can keep the same yarn, as I have done or you could attach a new colour here. It’s up to you.

So we’re now going to work a Picot stitch. So first things first turn your work and Ch1. Right so for the picot stitch – work 1dc in first stitch and then ch3. Then insert your hook, front to back, into the top of dc stitch that you have just made. Yarn over your hook and pull back through to make a slip stitch, then chain 1. This completes your picot stitch. Below are a few photo on how to work a picot stitch.

Now miss a stitch. *So to work your picot stitches, then work 1dc, then ch3. Insert your hook, front to back, into the top of dc stitch. Yarn over your hook and pull back through to make a slip stitch, then ch1 and finally miss a stitch.* Repeat this ** around the whole of the comforter blanket.

Then slip stitch into the base of the last picot stitch you made and fasten off your yarn. Sew in your ends with your blunt ended needle. (42 picot stitches)

Ears – Make 2

1 – Start with your coloured yarn and make a magic ring, ch1, then work 6dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

6 – Change yarn in the first stitch to your cream yarn and work 1dc in each stitch in the round. (30)

7 – Finally work 1dc in each stitch in the round. (30)

Now slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off your yarn, leaving a tail so that you can sew your ears onto the head with your blunt ended needle. When you sew in your ears onto the head, make sure that you sew them on securely. I tend to go over the stitches quite a few times.

Now that you have your ears on, all there is to do it sew your face on, using your grey yarn. I tend to sew over a few stitches for both the eyes and nose. And then a single stitch for the eyebrows and mouth.

And there you have it, your finished baby comforter.

I really hope you have enjoyed this pattern. Please give me a shout if you have any problems or need any help with anything. I am always happy to help the best I can.

Don’t forget to share your pictures.

Stay safe guys.

Happy Hooking.

🌈Xx

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

New to crocheting or need a recap – here’s a few videos that may help you.