Sunday, September 30, 2012

Viking Helmet


Crochet is very versatile.  It's great for making shapes and forms.  I've seen a lot of crocheted Viking Helmets on line, but most of them don't come with patterns, so I decided to come up with my own.  Happy Halloween!



Materials
  • Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Country Blue, Coffee, and Buff
  • Caron Simply Soft Mango
  • H and G Crochet Hooks
  • Polyfil fiber
  • Darning Needle
Gauge

6 sts and 3 rows = 2 inches

Corrections
Corrections are in red print.

Special Stitches

FPDC--Front Post Double Crochet--do a regular dc stitch, but insert the hook under the post of the stitch you are attaching it too, this will make the stitch pop out from the rest of the stitches.

YO hook, insert hook under post of st

YO, pull up a loop

YO, pull through 2 loops

YO, pull through last 2 loops

finished FPDC


Bobble--Yarn over hook (YO), insert hook into stitch (st) , YO, pull up a loop (lp) YO, pull through 2 lps, *YO, insert hook into same st, pull up a lp, YO pull through 2 lps* 5 times, you should have 7 lps on your hook.  YO pull through all lps on the hook.  YO pull through the one lp on the hook to secure the Bobble. Push your finger through the back to get it to pop out.

YO, insert hook in stitch
Pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops



2 loops on hook, YO

Insert hook in same stitch

Pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook.  Continue with YO insert Hook in stitch, YO pull through 2 loops until you end up with...

7 loops on the hook

YO, pull through all loops on the hook


YO, pull through one loop on hook to secure
 

Push out bobble


Abbreviations

ch(s)--chain(s)  dc(s)--double crochet(s)
sl st--slip stitch  beg--beginning
st(s)--stitch(es)   FPDC--front post double crochet
hdc--half double crochet
m2--do 2 scs in the same st  m2 x 2--do 2 scs in next 2 sts

This pattern makes a medium adult size hat.  If you would like to make the hat bigger, place the hat on your head as you are doing the increase rows, if it's not near your forehead yet, add more increase rows until it does (next row 7 dcs and 2 increases, then 8 dcs and 2 increases, etc).  You can also add more regular rows to make the hat longer if you need to.  If you would like to make it for a child stop increasing at Rnd 7 and jump to Rnd 9 and do a Rnd 10 then change to the Coffee Rnd 12.  If you want to make it for a baby, stop increasing at Rnd 6 and jump to Rnd 9 and do  Rnd 10 before going to the Coffee Rnds. Don't switch to the G Hook, continue with the H Hook. For the Bobble round, follow the directions until you get around the brim of the hat, but it won't be as many repeats. You can also shorten the horns, if desired, by stopping at round 9 with the Buff yarn and changing to the Coffee yarn for rnds 10 to 13.

Hat

Rnd 1: Starting with H Hook, Country Blue yarn and a Magic Circle ch 3 (counts as first dc) then 11 dcs in circle, sl st in top ch of beg ch. (12 dcs) (correction)




Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same dc, 2 dcs in next dc, FPDC in next dc, *(2 dcs in next dc) two times, FPDC in next dc* 3 times, sl st in top ch of beg ch.



FPDCs

Rnd 3:  Ch 3, 2 dcs in next dc, 1 dcs in next dc, 2 dcs in next dc,  FPDC over previous FPDC.  *(dc in next dc, 2 dcs in next dc) two times, FPDC over previous FPDC* 3 times, sl st in top ch of beg ch.


You get the idea, see the ridges forming?
Rnd 4:  Ch 3, dc in next dc, 2 dcs in next dc, dc in next 2 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, FPDC in previous FPDC. *(dc in next 2 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc) two times, FPDC in previous FPDC* 3 times, sl st in top ch of beg ch.

Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, dc in next 3 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, FPDC in previous FPDC. *(dc in next 3 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc) two times, FPDC in previous FPDC* 3 times, sl st in top ch of beg ch.

Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in next 3 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, dc in next 4 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, FPDC in previous FPDC. *(dc in next 4 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc) two times, FPDC in previous FPDC* 3 times, sl st in top ch of beg ch.

Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in next 4 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, dc in next 5 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, FPDC in previous FPDC. *(dc in next 5 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc) two times, FPDC in previous FPDC* 3 times, sl st in top ch of beg ch.

Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in next 5 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, dc in next 6 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc, FPDC in previous FPDC. *(dc in next 6 dcs, 2 dcs in next dc) two times, FPDC in previous FPDC* 3 times, sl st in top ch of beg ch.

Rnd 9 to 11:  Ch 3, dc in each dc, FPDC in each FPDC around, sl st in top ch of beg ch.  Fasten off leaving a tail for weaving in.

Rnd 12: Attach Coffee yarn, to ch 3 of row 11 using the G Hook, ch 2, hdc in same st and then hdc in each dc and FPDC around (don't do a fphdc), sl st in top of first hdc.

Rnd 13:  Ch 3, dc in next two dcs, Bobble, *dc in next 3 dcs (don't skip any dcs), Bobble* 16 times, dc in last dc, sl st in top ch of beg ch.

Rnd 14:  Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in each st around (including Bobble), sl st in first hdc.  Fasten off, leaving a tail for weaving in.

Horns
Using the Buff yarn and the G Hook I used this pattern from MyGurumi.  The horn is done in a spiral, so you may have to use a stitch marker to keep track of where you are.  She uses a little bit different abbreviations in her pattern.

Greenbutterfli over at Ravelry told me she had trouble with the link to this pattern.
MyGurumi uses the Magazine format, which is hard to read.  You can click on the drop down button on the left for the classic view, but then it goes to her most recent post, but if you type horn in the search box the pattern will come up and it's readable. 

Check out Greenbutterfli's hilarious version of the Viking Helmet here.
m2--2 scs in same sc
m2x2--2 scs in same sc two times
sc4 (etc)-sc in next 4 sts, or the number next to the sc

I also just used a regular magic circle in the beginning. Instead of finishing the last sc, I added in the Coffee yarn and did four more rows in the following manner:

                       
                            












Rnd 18: sc9, m2 x2, sc9, sc2tog
Rnd 19: sc9, m2, sc12
Rnd 20: sc10, m2 x2, sc10, sc2tog
Rnd 21: sc10, m2, sc13, Fasten Off leaving a tail about 10 inches long.  You will use this to sew the horn together and then to attach it to the hat. Make 2.

Curl the coffee rows back towards the front of the horn and sew down to the edge where the coffee rows started using tail,



                                 


                                 

then stuff with polyfil and sew onto hat between FPDC rows.



Braids
Wrap Mango yarn around your forearm, from thumb to elbow about 40 to 50 times,  enough to make two fairly thick braids.



Cut the yarn at both ends to make straight strands.  Separate yarn into to two hanks.  Tie one end of one hank with a short piece of Mango yarn, then braid and tie opposite end with a short piece of Coffee yarn.  Trim ends to make them even and then sew the ends tied with the Mango yarn under the hat directly beneath the horns.  If you would rather have a beard check out this cool pattern by Melissa Campbell.

If you want to make braids and a beard you can make them removable by sewing buttons on the inside of the helmet where you want to attach them and then sewing crocheted loops onto the braids and beard.
                                  

Friday, September 14, 2012

Pineapple Wedding Veil

Sorry I haven't posted a new pattern for awhile.  I've been working on a fairly complicated wedding veil pattern.  I don't have it ready yet, but I'll give you a preview.

I found this pattern for a Pineapple Sweater on Pinterest and I thought the crochet diagram would make a really beautiful wedding veil. (I would post the picture, but it is copyrighted material.)

I flipped the picture upside down and used size 10 white crochet thread and a size 5 steel crochet hook.

I started out by following the diagram for the first several rows and then I started to make longer chs and use longer sts to lengthen the veil.

THE PATTERN IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE.



The veil still needs to be blocked and I plan to add a comb with pearls on it to the top.

I'll post the pattern once I have finished it.




Saturday, September 1, 2012

Skull iPad Case


Materials
  • Black Worsted Weight yarn
  • Off White Worsted Weight yarn
  • G 4.5 mm Hook
Gauge:  3 rows = 1 1/4", 4 scs = 1"

Case Dimensions 7 1/2" W x 9" H x 3/4" D


Skull

This pattern uses a grid to tell you where the stitches go.  Each square is one single crochet stitch.  So from the numbers on the grid you can tell that there are 28 scs across and 34 rows.

Row 1:  With Black Yarn ch 29, sl st into the second ch from the hook, sc in each ch across to the end.  (28 sts)


Now you follow the chart. There will always be 28 scs per row, the chart shows you where you change color.  Always ch 1 and turn before starting the next row.  Rows 2 and 3 are also black rows.

Row 4:  Count the number of blocks in this row that are black, that's how many scs you will make before changing color.  For Row 4 you make 9 full scs, but on the 10th sc, don't finish it.  Instead, start the st by inserting the hook and pulling up a loop, then add the Off White yarn and pull it through the two loops on the hook.


Then check the chart and you will see that you need to make 9 scs in Off White, carry the black yarn along behind the white yarn every 5 sts.




Remember not to finish the 9th st, because you will be changing back to the white yarn.




Continue following the chart for Rows 5 to 34.  The back of the skull should look something like this.


And the front should look like this


Flap


Row 35:  Once your have completed the 34th row, ch 1 and turn and sc in the BLO of each sc across. (28 scs)

Row 36:  Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across (in both loops). (28 scs)

Row 37:  Repeat row 35. (28 scs)

The two BLO rows make it so the flap folds over.


Rows 38 to 43:  Repeat row 36, Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Back

Row 1:  Ch 29, sc in second ch from hook, and in each ch across. (28 scs)

Row 2 to 34:  Ch 1, sc in first sc and in each sc across, on the last row Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing on the sides, probably about 26 inches.

Sides

Ch 100, sc in second ch from hook and in each ch to end, 99 scs.  Fasten off also leaving a long tail for sewing, about 26 inches.

Finishing

Sew the side piece to the back of the case on three sides.  Then sew the sides to the front of the case.  You can add snaps to the flap to close the case, or leave it loose.

If your tablet isn't an iPad you can adjust the measurements by adding rows to the sides or to the front and back or by adding on to the number of sts on the front, back and sides.  I would suggest adding sts on the edges of the front to keep the integrity of the design.  You can however change the design and make it your own. Here are some changes I made to my original chart to make a Day of the Dead skull.







I'd love to see your finished work!

Abbreviations
sc(s)--single crochet(s) ch(s)--chain(s)
BLO--back loop only  st(s)--stitch(es)

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Day of the Dead Banner
Henna-Tattoo Inspired Wedding Glove
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