Sunday, December 30, 2012

Tutorials

When I write a pattern, many times I include a stitch that I do a tutorial on.  To make it easier to just look at the tutorial for the stitch instead of having to read through the whole pattern, I have put these tutorials on separate pages.  There are several to chose from.  Here are some of the most popular ones.











Check out these tutorial pages and my other pages under the Crochet Special Stitches and Techniques heading.  It's just to the left of this post and after Popular posts on the left side of this page.  Happy Hooking!


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Thursday, December 27, 2012

New Year's Eve Fascinator Hat



Here's a quick little pattern to help you dress up for New Year's Eve.


Materials

  • Red Heart Shimmer Yarn, Black
  • Vanna's Glamour Yarn, Lapis
  • G Hook
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Black Thread
  • Sewing Needle
  • 1/4 yard Black Lace or Tulle
  • Feather
  • Bling (I used an old earring)
  • Hair Comb
Abbreviations
ch--chain  dc(s)--double crochet(s) FPDC(s)--Front post double crochet
FPTR--Front post triple or treble crochet  FPHDC--Front post half double crochet FPSC--Front post single crochet  sl st--slip stitch

I was inspired by the Rosy Heart from Love Stitch Love and if you would rather have the base of the hat be a heart you can use her pattern.

Hat Base

With Black Yarn make a magic circle.
Rnd 1:  Ch 2, make 7 dcs into circle and then pull tight. (7 dcs)
Rnd 2:  Do 2 FPDCs in each dc around. (14 FPDCS).
Rnd 3:  do 1 FPDC into first st then a FPTR into same st.  FPTR twice in to the rest of the stitches around (28 sts)
Row 4: FPHDC in next st FPSC in next st, sl st in top of next st.  Fasten off. Weave in ends.



Turn it over so you can see the swirl.




Attach Lapis Yarn at the center of the swirl.




Sc in each st all the way around the swirl.

Sl st into first sc on the outside round.  Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Assembly

Sew on the feather, I got this one in the beading section at Michaels.





Add the bling.  I used an old earring.




Cut out the lace.  If you are using tulle cut out three pieces and lay them on top of each other.

Fold the curved part of the lace into a fan shape (about 3 times) to form a pleat.

Sew the lace on the back of the hat base with part of the pleat hanging off the end.

Cut the short overhanging piece off.


Sew on the hair comb.





Here's how it looks with tulle and a different earring.


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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Coming Up for New Year's Eve


Coming up next week, just in time for New Year's Eve! 
THE PATTERN IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE.

New Year's Eve Fascinator Hat



Friday, December 14, 2012

Amigurumi Penguin Christmas Stocking

Materials:

  • Red Heart Shimmer White Yarn
  • Pattons Kroy Sock Yarn, Cascade Colors or Red Heart Shimmer Blue Yarn
  • Red Worsted Weight Yarn (small amount)
  • Dark Green Worsted Weight Yarn (small amount)
  • Brown Worsted Weight Yarn (small amount)
  • Vanna's Glamour Yarn, small amounts red and topaz
  • White Worsted Weight Yarn (small amount)
  • Black Worsted Weight Yarn (small amount)
  • Orange Worsted Weight Yarn (small amount)
  • Gray Worsted Weight Yarn (small amount)
  • Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Thread Size 5 Gold
  • G Hook
  • J Hook
  • 3.25 mm Hook
  • Polyfil Stuffing
  • 8 doily Hook
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Sewing Needle
  • Sticky back black felt
  • Thin Green Ribbon

Special Stitches:

Hdc2tog--Half Double Crochet Two Together--Yarn over (YO) hook, insert hook into stitch (st), pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook.  YO hook, insert hook into next st, pull up a loop, 5 loops on hook. YO hook, pull through all 5 loops on hook.

YO

Insert in st, YO

Pull up a loop, Three loops on hook

YO

Insert Hook in st

YO

Pull up a loop, 5 loops on hook

YO

Pull through all loops on hook

Hdc2tog

Abbreviations:

YO--yarn over    st(s)--stitch(es)  ch(s)--chain(s)
sc(s)--single crochet(s)  sl st(s)--slip stitch(es)
sc2tog--single crochet two together
hdc(s)--half double crochet  hdc2tog--half double crochet two together
BLO--back loop only

Angie at Le Monde De Sucrette has a really cute pattern for Little Christmas Socks that has a great graphic for how to put socks together.  I used it to help me design this larger stocking.

TOE
With Red Heart Shimmer White Yarn, make a Magic Circle and ch 1.

Rnd 1:  8 scs in circle, sl st into first sc. (8 scs)
Rnd 2:  Ch 1, 2 scs per sc all the way around, sl st into first sc. (16 scs)
Rnd 3:  Ch 1, *1 sc in first sc, 2 scs in next sc* repeat all the way around, sl st into first sc. (24 scs)
Rnd 4:  Ch 1, *1 sc in next 2 scs, 2 scs in next sc* repeat all the way around, sl st into first sc. (32 scs)
Rnd 5:  Ch 1 *1 sc in next 3 scs, 2 scs in next sc* repeat all the way around,  sl st into first sc. (40 scs)
Rnd 6:  Ch 1 *1 scs in next 4 scs, 2 scs in next sc* repeat all the way around,  sl st into first sc. (48 scs)
Rnd 7 to 23:  Ch 1, 1 sc per sc all the way around, sl st into first sc. (48 scs)  Do not fasten off the arch and heel of the sock will continue off the toe.


ARCH
Row 1:  Continuing off Toe, ch 1, sc in same sc, and in 29 more scs (30 scs)
Row 2:  Ch 1, Turn.  Sc in same sc and in each sc across (30scs)
Row 3 to 20:  Repeat Row 2 (30 scs per row)




HEEL
Rows 21 to 23: Ch 1, sc in same st, do 7 more scs, then 14 hdcs, then 8 scs. (30 sts)
Row 24:  Ch 1, Turn. Sc in same st, sc 7 more times, 2 hdcs, hdc2tog, hdc, hdc2tog, hdc2tog, hdc, hdc2tog, 2 hdcs, 8 scs (26 sts)
Row 25:  Ch 1, Turn. Sc in same st, sc 7 more times, *hdc,  hdc2tog* 3 times, hdc, 8 scs (23 sts)
Row 26:  Ch 1, Turn. Sc in same st, sc 7 more times, 3 hdc2togs, hdc, 8 scs (20 sts)
Row 27:  Ch 1, Turn.  Sc in same st, sc 3 more times, *sc2tog, sc* 4 times,  4 scs (16 sts)
Row 28:  Ch 1, Turn.  *sc, sc2tog* 5 times, sc. (11 sts)

Sl st edges together to join heel.





LEG
Attach white yarn where the ARCH meets the TOE.


Rnd 1:  Ch 1, do 1 sc per sc across the top of the TOE and then approximately at the end of each row on the ARCH and the HEEL for 76 total scs.  The rest of the leg will be done in a spiral.  It helps to put a stitch marker in the first stitch of each row, so you know where you are.


Rnd 2 to 9: sc in each sc (76 sts per rnd).  (If you want the leg to taper in a little go to Rnd 10, if you don't continue in each sc to rnd 30.)
Rnd 10:  Make sure you have your stitch marker in the first sc of this row. Do 36 scs, *sc2tog, sc* 7 times, continue scs to stitch marker.
Rnd 11:  Sc, *sc2tog, sc* 7 times, 38 scs, *sc2tog, sc* 3 times.
Rnd 12:  12 scs, *sc2tog, sc*3 times, sc around to stitch marker.
Rnd 13 to 30:  sc in each st around
Rnd 31:  Sc, start next sc, add Cascade Colors or Blue Shimmer Yarn, sc to the edge (see picture), start next sc, add White Yarn(you can either cut the blue yarn or carry it under the white yarn, I decided to cut the yarn and weave it in so I wouldn't have a lot of loose threads inside the stocking to make it easier to stuff) and sc around  to 2 sts before blue yarn started.  

Rnds 32 to 46:  The blue scs move to the right one sc per row.  Do the last full white sc 2 scs before the blue starts on the previous row, then start the next white sc and add the blue yarn and sc to the edge, then start the next blue sc and start the white yarn again. 
Rnd 47:  Start this rnd like you did 32 to 46, when you get to the edge, start the next sc and then add the Red Yarn, sc around to front.
Rnd 48 to 49: Sc in red yarn, at the end of Rnd 49, start the sc just before you turn the stocking back towards the blue side, add the White Yarn.
Rnd 50 to 56:  Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 57: Sc to edge, start next sc and add Red Yarn, sc around to blue side
Rnd 58:  Sc in red
Rnd 59:  Sc in red to right edge, ch 14, then continue sc in next sc and contiue around.
Rnd 60:  Sc to right edge, 18 scs in ch-14 sp, then start scs again on rnd, continue scs to just around back of left edge, sl st into next sc and fasten off.



I used this little tree pattern by Linda Permann for the Christmas tree applique.
I used a G hook, Dark Green Worsted Weight Yarn and stitched in BLO except for the 5 st increase in center st. I only made one row on the stump with the Brown Worsted Weight Yarn.



Ornaments

With 3 (3.25 mm) size hook and Vanna Glamour Yarn make a Magic circle,

Rnd 1: ch 1, 6 scs, sl st to first sc, pull circle tight,
Rnd 2: Sc in next sc, fasten off leaving a long tail.  Sew ornament onto tree.



Make as many ornaments as you like.  I made 7 red and 5 gold.


I based the penguin on the Peso the Penguin pattern from Crochet is for Lovers.  I changed the face, the eyes and the body, but I used the rest of the pieces from the Peso pattern. I used an F hook for the rest of the pieces.  I used orange yarn for the feet and beak and the Patton Kroy Sock Yarn for the hat and scarf.  For the eyes I used black felt with a sticky back, cut into ovals.

Penguin Face

The penguin face and body are half spheres, so I started with a magic circle to make them round up.  The decreases at the end round the sphere back down.  Since they are done in rows, you will always be doing the first sc in the first stitch.
You will be carrying the black and white yarns on the back of the penguin head and body.

With G hook and Black Worsted Weight Yarn, make a magic circle.

Row 1:  Ch 1, 4 scs in ring, don't tighten ring yet. (4 scs)
Row 2:  Ch 1, turn.  2 scs per sc. Pull ring tight. (8 scs)
Row 3:  Ch 1, turn.  *Sc , 2 scs in next sc* 4 times. (12 scs)
Row 4:  Ch 1, turn.  *1 sc in next 2 scs, 2 scs in next sc* 4 times. (16 scs)
Row 5:  Ch 1, turn.  1 sc in next 3 scs, start next sc, add White Worsted Weight Yarn, do next sc in same st, 1 sc in next sc, start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc in next sc, 2 scs in next sc, start next sc, add White Yarn, sc in next 2 scs, start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc in same sc,  3 scs, 2 scs in last sc. (20 scs)
Row 6:  (from row 6 to row 11 there will only be 1 sc per st) Ch 1, turn.  3 scs, start next sc, add White Yarn, 4 scs, start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc, start next sc, add White Yarn, 4 scs, start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc to end of row. (20 scs)



Row 7:  Ch 1, turn.  2 scs, start next sc, add White Yarn, 13 scs (carry black yarn on back side of face), start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc to end (20 scs)




Row 8:  Ch 1, turn.  1 sc, start next sc, add White Yarn, 15 scs (carry black yarn on back side of face), start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc to end (20 scs)
Row 9 to 11:  Repeat row 8. (20 scs)
Row 12:  Ch 1, turn.  1 sc, start next sc, add White Yarn, sc, sc2tog *3 scs, sc2tog* 2 times, sc, start sc2tog, add Black Yarn, sc in last 2 sts. (16 sts)
Row 13:  Ch 1, turn. Sc, start next sc, add White Yarn, sc2tog, *2 scs, sc2tog* 2 times, start sc2tog, add Black Yarn, sc in next 2 scs. (12 sts)
Row 14:  Ch 1, turn. sc, start sc2tog add White Yarn, *sc, sc2tog* 2 times, sc start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc2tog.  (8 sts)




Row 15:  Ch 1, turn.  Start sc2tog, add White Yarn, sc2tog, start next sc2tog, add Black Yarn, sc2tog.  Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. (4 sts)

Penguin Body

With G hook and Black Worsted Weight Yarn, make a magic circle.

Row 1:  Ch 1, 4 scs in circle, Do Not Tighten Circle Yet. (4 scs)
Row 2:  Ch 1, turn.  2 scs per sc. Pull magic circle tight.(8 scs)
Row 3:  Ch 1, turn.  *Sc, 2 scs in next sc* 4 times (12 scs)
Row 4:  Ch 1, turn.  *2 scs, 2 scs in next sc* 4 times (16 scs)
Row 5:  Ch 1, turn.  Sc, start next sc, add White Worsted Weight Yarn, 11 scs (carry black yarn), start next sc, add Black Yarn, 2 scs. (16 scs)
Row 6 to 9:  repeat Row 5.
Row 10:  Ch 1, turn.  sc, start next sc, add White Yarn, *sc2tog, sc in next 2 scs* 2 times sc2tog, sc, start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc2tog. (12 sts).
Row 11:  Ch 1, turn,  start sc, add White Yarn, *sc2tog, sc* 2 times, sc2tog, start next sc, add Black Yarn, sc2tog. (8 sts)
Row 12:  Ch 1, turn.  Sc2tog 4 times in Black Yarn.  (this is the top of the body).  Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. (4 sts)

Assembly
Once you have made all the pieces start assembling the penguin.  Sew it together using the long tails you have left after fastening off.



This is what the penguin looks like with all the parts sewn together. (Don't sew it on the the stocking just yet.)


Pin Tree to stocking and sew on with Green Yarn, making sure to only sew it onto the front of the stocking so you don't seal the opening.


Put Polyfil stuffing in the back of the penguin.


Place Penguin on stocking and sew down using Black Yarn, making sure to not sew the stocking together.  You can put you hand inside the stocking while you are sewing to help you accomplish this.



Now you can start sewing on little details, like little stars on the blue sky.  I did it with Red Heart Shimmer White.


Add some shading by embroidering with gray yarn.


Add a large star.  I got this pattern from Mygurumi.  I used gold thread and an 8 hook.



And finally, sew on the name with a sewing needle, I used thin green ribbon.


Merry Christmas!



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