Knitting Corner – PipsRainbow

Alan the Rhino – Birthday Pattern

October 5, 2019 No Comments

Well hello my lovely ones, how are we all? Hope you are all having a lovely day so far. We’ve been to Calke Abbey National Trust today. Such a lovely place to visit if you are ever in the area. Love our little family trips out together. I think weekends can get so wrapped up with seeing people and parties and things. Which is lovely, but I do think it is really important to have quality time as a family and revel in each other’s company. And National Trusts are perfect for that!! We love exploring new places, but definitely have some local favourites too and Calke Abbey is one of them!! Such a beautiful place!!

Today we had a great time there, running through all the trees and the gardens filled with blooming flowers and autumnal vegetables. Not to mention some seriously huge pumpkins!!

But the icing on the cake today was all the hidden tunnels in the grounds and meeting a particularly lovely volunteer called Alan who showed us down a new tunnel that they had discovered! It was under the hot houses where they grew all the exotic fruit in the gardens. One of them even had a fire underneath the floor so that they could grow pineapples!! Imagine that!! They didn’t even eat them, they grew them as a sign of wealth!! Bonkers!! But the best bit was finding these little creatures in one of the tunnels!!

They are hibernating moths apparently, all attached to a cobweb!! Amazing! There was no other sign of life down there, other than these little guys!! Think Alan our tour guide was quite impressed that we found them! He was such a nice guy and a volunteer too!! So in honour of our lovely tunnel tour guide, my pattern today has been named after him! Alan the Rhino! Not sure you’d ever have seen a Rhino at Calke Abbey, but still! It had to be done!!

So today is a little bit of a special day for me, as it’s PipsRainbow’s 2 Year Birthday!!! Can’t quite believe it really!! 2 Years!! How crazy is that!! Rather chuffed with how far PipsRainbow has come. Love that my patterns are now being shared and enjoyed by so many of you. Makes me so so happy.

I started PipsRainbow 2 years ago with the intention of sharing some serious crochet yarny love with you all. I wanted to share this magical creative activity that had given me so much pleasure over the years. I realised that many of the crochet patterns out there, could be a little confusing for any beginner and especially for someone like me who is decidedly dyslexic!!! So the mission was to share photo tutorial patterns, that were easy to follow and create. It is something I feel very passionate about and hope that you all enjoy my patterns and that they are quite easy to follow.

This year has all been about using up all my odds and ends. I have a funny feeling I might be making next year a Using Up Year as well. Seem to still have lots of yarn to use up!! Whoops!! There are so many other patterns I’d like to share with you and there’s definitely going to be a CAL next year too, which I am rather excited about!! I think that that is one of the best things about crocheting, is the ability to be able to design and create beautiful things with just little bits of yarn.

Here’s a few of my little creations from Year 2 of PipsRainbow. All of their free patterns can be found on my blog, just look in the pattern list.

So to celebrate my 2 year birthday, I thought I would share this little pattern of mine with you. I made it for my dear son. It is the first thing my little man has ever asked me to make, so it’s a pattern that is rather close to my heart.

We went to West Midlands Safari Park again a few weeks ago and my little son was so excited to see the Rhinos again!! He was so taken with them! It was quite funny, considering that my husband wouldn’t get to near to them! Think it was their rather large horn that was decidedly close to his car that was making him edgy!!! (Please we weren’t in my car!!)

So when my son asked if I would make him a woolly rhino, I just couldn’t resist. I really hope you like this pattern. It has a different body to the other patterns I have on the blog so I hope you like it. Hoping to share a mouse and an elephant in the same kind of pattern in the next few months too.

So here it is. Hope you enjoy it.

Level – Easy

Supplies –

So for this pattern your will need 1 ball of dark grey 50g double knit yarn, just a small bit of light grey yarn for the horns and black yarn for the eyes and eyebrows. You will also need some scissors, toy stuffing, blunt ended tapestry needle and a 3mm crochet hook.

For my dark drey yarn i used this fab Rowan Alpaca Soft Yarn from my local yarn shop the Knitting Corner. It was lovely to work and will definitely be using it again!!

Stitches –

Magic Ring (mr) – For a magic ring, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a tail. (Make sure the tail is under the working yarn.) Now insert your hook into the loop, from the front to the back. Wrap the working yarn around your hook and pull the yarn through and pull tight to create a ring.

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.

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.)

Ok so here we go…

Body –

1 – Using your 3mm hook, make a magic ring, chain 1 and then work 6dc stitches into the ring. (If you’re unsure of how to work a magic ring, here’s a link to a video tutorial.)

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 – 24 (18 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (36)

25 – *5dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (42)

26 – *6dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (48)

27 – 28 (2 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (48)

29 – *6dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (42)

(If you’re unsure of how to work a 2dctog, here’s a video tutorial.)

30 – *5dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

31 – *4dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

32 – *Work 2dctog followed by 13dc.* Work ** 2 times. (28)

Now it’s time to spilt the main body ring and work 2 separates ones to make the 2 legs.

Leg 1 –

1 – Work 7dc stitches.

Then split the round. Do you basically work on the other side of your round. I tend to count back from the stitch marker the amount of stitches I would need. So for this pattern it’s 7 stitches. Then insert your hook there as you can see in the photo below.

Then work 7dc in these last 7 stitches. (14)

2 – 1dc in each stitch to complete your second round. (14)

3 – 17 (15 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (14)

18 – *2dctog, then 5dc.* Work ** 2 times. (12)

19- *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work **4 times. (8)

20 – *2dctog.* Work ** 4 times. (4)

Now fasten off and sew up the end of the leg with your needle. This would be a good time to stuff the body and the leg you have just made, with your toy stuffing.

Leg 2 –

Now we are going to work the rest of the 14 stitches from the original round.

1 – So insert your hook into the first dc stitch.

Now chain 1 and work the first 1dc stitch. Then work 13 more dc stitches, to complete the first round in leg 2.

2 – Work 1dc in each stitch. You can see in the photo below where the first dc stitch in the round is. (14)

3 – 17 (15 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (14)

18 – *2dctog, then 5dc.* Work ** 2 times. (12)

19- *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work **4 times. (8)

Don’t forget to stuff your leg with toy stuffing here.

20 – *2dctog.* Work ** 4 times then ss into the next stitch and fasten off leaving a tail to sew up your leg. (4)

Now it’s time to sew up the leg with the tail of yarn and fasten off

Arms – make 2

1 – Start by making a magic ring and chain 1. Now work 6dc into the ring. (6)

2 – Now work 2dc into each stitch. (12)

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

4 – 5 (2 rounds) Work 1dc into each stitch. (18)

6 – Ok so now work *1dc, then 2dctog.* Repeat ** 6 times. (12)

7 – 25 (19 rounds) Work 1dc into each stitch. (12)

26 – Ok so now work *1dc, then 2dctog.* Repeat ** 4 times. Then ss into the next stitch and fasten off leaving a tail so that you can sew your arm onto the body. (8)

Now it’s time to stuff your hand and a little of the arm with toy stuffing. You can use the end of your crochet hook to push the stuffing in.

Head –

1 – Now make a magic ring, chain 1 and then work 6dc stitches into the ring. (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 – 7 (2 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (30)

8 – *4dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

9 – 10 (2 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (36)

11 – *5dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (42)

12 – 1dc in each stitch. (42)

13 – *5dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

14 – Work *2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. Then work 24dc stitches. (30)

15 – Work *2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. Then work 18dc stitches. (24)

16 – 17 (2 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (24)

18 – Work *2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. Then work 12dc stitches. (18)

19 – 21 (3 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (18)

22 – Work *2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. Then work 6dc stitches. (12)

23 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

Now it’s time to stuff your head.

24 – Work *2dctog.* Repeat ** 6 times. (6)

Now ss into the next stitch, fasten off and sew up the head.

Large horn –

1 – Chain 12 and slip stitch to make a ring.

2 – Now work 1dc in each chain. (12)

3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

4 – Work *2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. Now work 8dc. (10)

5 – Work *2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. Now work 6dc. (8)

6 – Work -*2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. Now work 4dc. (6)

7 – Work *2dctog.* Work ** 3 times. (3)

Now it’s time to fasten off, stuff your horn and sew up the top of your horn and then weave the yarn back to the bottom of the horn ready to be sewn onto the head of the rhino.

Small horn –

1 – Chain 6 and slip stitch to make a ring. (6)

2 – Work 1dc in each chain. (6)

3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (6)

4 – Work *2dctog.* Work ** 3 times. (3)

Now it’s time to fasten off, stuff your horn and sew up the top of your horn and then weave the yarn back to the bottom of the horn ready to be sewn onto the head of the rhino.

Ears – Make 2

1 – Make a magic ring, ch1, then 6dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the magic ring. (6)

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

3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

4 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 3 times. (9)

5 – 6 (2 rounds) 1dc in each. (9)

7 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. (6)

Now ss into the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail so that you can sew it onto the head.

Sewing Up –

So now that you have all your body parts, it’s time to sew all your bits together. Best to start with the arms. As you are sewing them on, just keep checking your alignment.

Then sew on the head, followed by the ears. Then finally finish with the horns.

So for the tail, use your dark grey yarn. Attach your yarn by inserting your hook and pulling it through.

Now chain 10.

Now work 1dc in each of the chain stitches and fasten off and sew in your ends to the body. Now use your light grey yarn, attach to the end of your tail, by inserting into the last stitch and *chain 4, then attaching it back into the same dc stitch*. Repeat this ** 2 times. This will make 3 little loops. Then fasten off and sew in your end into the tail.

Finally sew on your little eyes and eyebrows with your bit of black yarn.

And there we have it. Your little Rhino. I hope you have enjoyed this birthday pattern. Any questions or queries please feel free to give us a shout!

Don’t forget to share your creations – can’t wait to see your little rhinos!

Can I just take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for following me! I hope you are enjoying my rainbow ride of yarny loveliness! It means so much that you are with me and I hope to bring you lots of crocheting wonderful fun in the years to come.

Thanks guys!!

Happy Hooking!!

🌈Xx

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

2018 CAL - Year of the Stitches Blanket

Year of the Stitches – Week 21 Cable Stitch

May 27, 2018 No Comments

Cable Stitch

Well hello my lovely people! Hope you have all had nice weeks. It’s been both extremes of weather for us here, I reckon I could have worn my big coat on Thursday it was so cold. It’s definitely been a funny week. But I did have a lovely trip to one of my local wool shops this week with my Mum. And well I may have bought some Illustrious West Yorkshire Spinners wool. Well it kind of jumped out at me and it would have been rude not to buy such stunning yarn and I did buy it to go with the yarn I bought on my birthday. So that’s ok isn’t it!! Haha! The mind of a yarn addict in full working order!! Justification complete! Yarn bought and stashed away. I was thinking though, I might create my own yarn cake with it all. So I can carry around one big ball of yummy yarn with me and create my birthday shawl. A good plan me thinks. Here’s the colours! Think it will go well as a gradient triangular shawl! Holiday project me thinks!!

Doreen the lovely lady in the Knitting Corner shop, showed me this fantastic contraption!! It’s a yarn swifter. It’s terribly clever. I was explaining how I sometimes get in a pickle when I wind up wool from a skein/hank. And she said you could use one of these devices, thus allowing you to wind wool on your own. So basically your skein/hank goes round all the edges and then moves freely, releasing the yarn as you wind it up. Very clever and a super present for someone who buys and winds a lot of wool. Hint hint!! 😁 Think you can get different types of them, but this one was from the lovely www.knittinggiftsshop.com website. It’s beautifully made, but guessing quite big to store in your home. Heyho, one day maybe. Doreen did say she just winds hers up by hand. So I might have to have a go at that. (I’m sure my husband would be relieved if he didn’t have to help of an evening!!)

I am always amazed by the creations that the little people around us can create. One of my best friend’s daughter’s has made an absolutely spectacular hat for her Uncle’s stag do.

She has based it on the sheep that they had at their families farm – the Hill Radnor Rams.

She is only 9 years old. Can you imagine! What an incredible achievement to have designed and created this wonderful hat for her uncle! Hats off to you little lady. (Excuse the pun!!) Your uncle is one lucky man. She made it in some lovely merino wool, so it will be ever so soft and warm to wear.

You are a true crocheter in the making!! Can’t wait to see your next project and will hopefully share many more on PipsRainbow.

I don’t know about you guys, but I do love a bit of May blooms!!

There’s something about woodland family walks with sun streaming through the May time leaves.

The flowers on our school run are so full of colour and richness too. Our neighbours seem to be giving us a real treat of May flowers. Look at this corker!!

I loved these as a kid. I used to imagine that they were fairy hats and that the plant was their shop where they bought them from!

May is definitely one of my all time favourite times of the year.

So on to the blanket. This weeks stitch is the wonderful Cable stitch. It’s very similar to its sister stitch in the knitting world. It’s quite a clever stitch as the combination of the stitches helps create an illusion of the stitches changing places.

Stitches –

Chain (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.

Cable Stitch (Cable st) – This is a stitch where you work 1tr across other stitches. So start off by missing a stitch and then working 1tr into the next 3 stitches. Then put your yarn over your hook and insert the hook into 4 stitches to the right (so back on yourself) into the dc stitch that you missed. Then yarn over your hook and pull back through (3 loops.) Then finish off the tr as normal. So yarn over your hook and pull through the first two loops, then yarn over your hook and pull through the last 2 loops.

Supplies –

So this week I couldn’t not use the lovely lilac colour that seems to be surrounding us all at the minute. So I have chosen this lovely yarn from the wonderful Wendy range of merino wool from our local Knitique shop. They have the whole Wendy range in there, so it was great to stock up on all my colours.

There’s something quite calming about lilac. My Mum loves this flower and it always makes me think of her as it comes out around her birthday. This beautiful lilac tree is on our school run. I hope the people that live at the house didn’t mind me taking a picture. My daughter was all up for me walking on to their lawn to get a better pic! Amazing how kids don’t have any inabitions.

So for the yarn, you will need about 40g of dk yarn. Remember you can use any kind of yarn. Most of blanket is either merino wool or a cashmere mix, so I wouldn’t necessarily use a cotton yarn. But I do think a nice soft cotton yarn blanket would be lovely, especially for the summer.

Ok so here we go …

1 – So this week we are starting on the wrong side of the blanket. Start off by a attaching your new yarn and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 1dc in each stitch across the row. (200)

2 – Now turn your work and chain 3. (This acts as 1tr.) Then work 1tr in the same stitch.

Now miss next dc stitch and then work 1tr in each of the next 3 stitches.

Then work 1 cable st into the dc stitch you have just missed. So yarn over your hook and insert the hook 4 stitches to the right. So back on yourself.

Then yarn over your hook and pull back through the stitch. (3 loops) Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops.

To finish off, yarn over your hook again and pull through the last 2 loops. And that’s your finished cable stitch.

Now your ready to repeat this across the row. So *miss next stitch and then work 1tr in the next 3 stitches. Now work your cable stitch in the missed dc stitch which is 4 stitches to the right.* (Remember your working a treble stitch across all of the 3 stitches.) Repeat ** across the row.

When you get to the last 2 stitches, work 1tr in each stitch. (200)

3 – Right so turn your blanket again and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 1dc in each stitch across the row.

At the end of the row, work your last dc stitch in the top of the chain 3 stitches from the row below. (200)

4 – So here we are repeating row 2. So turn your work and chain 3. Then work 1 tr into your first stitch. Then *miss a stitch and work 1tr in each of the next 3 stitches. Now work your cable stitch into the missed stitch, 4 stitches to the right.*

Repeat ** across the row. After the last cable stitch, miss 1 stitch and then work 1tr in each of the last stitches. (200)

5 – In this row we are repeating row 3. So turn your blanket and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch. Now work 1dc across the row.

Work the last dc in the top of the chain 3 from the previous row. (200)

And there you have it, the super cable stitch.

Definitely one to remember! It would make a lovely blanket or give some great texture to a jumper. I really hope you have enjoyed this weeks instalment of Year of the Stitches! Thank you so much fo following PipsRainbow and having a go.

Happy hooking everyone!

🌈Xx