Sunday, March 31, 2013

Rose Pattern


These are roses we're planning on making as lapel pins for Mother's Day for the women in our Church. I made the red rose with ordinary red-heart yarn and a size I hook, but it turned out really big. The white rose I made with a size E hook and cotton yarn. It seems to be more of an appropriate size this way.

Begin by chaining 51

Row 1: (dc, ch 2, dc) in 5th ch from hook,
*ch 2, skip 2 ch, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch,
repeat from * across until 1 ch is left in original foundation ch. dc in last ch.


Row 2: ch 3, turn, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc)in 1st ch 2 space,
 *skip next ch 2 space, (ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch 2 space, repeat from * across until 1 dc remains, dc in last dc.


Row 3: turn, 9 dc in first ch 2 space,
sc in next ch 2 sp
* 9 dc in next ch 2 space, sc in next ch 2 space,* repeat from * to * across, slip stitch in last ch of round 2, finish off leaving several inches of thread at the end.
You will need this thread to weave the strip into a rose shape. Using a needle, roll the petals around from inside out and sew together as you go.





Cupcake Hat Pattern

(A variation of the swirl hat pattern) 




I would begin with a magic circle (or chain 4, join to first chain to form a ring)

Row 1: chain 2, then do 14 double crochets in circle. (Join this round and EVERY round by doing a front post slip stitch around the initial chain 2)

Row 2: chain 2, front post dc in each dc of previous round, join.

Row 3: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also dc in each space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 ordinary dc)

Row 4: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 2 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 2 dc spaces)

Row 5: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 2 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 2 dc spaces)

Row 6: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 3 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 3 dc spaces)

Row 7: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 3 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 3 dc spaces)

Row 8: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 3 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 3 dc spaces)

Row 9-14: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 4 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 4 dc spaces)

Brim:

Row 1: Join dark brown with slip stitch, sc along edge.

Row 2: ch 2, dc in every sc of previous round.

Row 3-5: ch 2, *front post dc around next dc, dc in next dc* repeat from * to * all the way around, join.

Row 4: ch 1, sc around edge, finish off.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Swirl Hat Pattern


This isn't the best picture of this hat in regard to the fact that the multicolored yarn sort of camoflages the stitch pattern, but here it is.

I would begin with a magic circle (or chain 4, join to first chain to form a ring)

Row 1: chain 2, then do 14 double crochets in circle. (Join this round and EVERY round by doing a front post slip stitch around the initial chain 2)

Row 2: chain 2, front post dc in each dc of previous round, join.

Row 3: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also dc in each space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 ordinary dc)

Row 4: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 2 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 2 dc spaces)

Row 5: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 2 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 2 dc spaces)

Row 6: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 3 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 3 dc spaces)

Row 7: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 3 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 3 dc spaces)

Row 8: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 3 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 3 dc spaces)

Row 9-18: chain 2, front post dc in every front post dc of previous round, and also 4 dc in first space between front post dc of previous round. Join (15 front post dc, 15 4 dc spaces)

Santa/Elf Hat Pattern


Okay, here’s the pattern for the Santa/Elf hat I made. If it doesn’t make sense to you, there’s always the chance that I made a mistake in typing it out, or that I even possibly just didn’t make myself clear enough. If any questions arise, please feel free to contact me via the “Off the Hook” facebook page and I will attempt to clarify or correct any mistakes.
Sincerely,
Stephen

Pattern note: I worked this pattern with two different colors (OU team colors) alternating every single round between them. I’ve also used this pattern to create a traditional Santa hat in solid red with a white brim, and you could do that as well. Simply don’t switch colors and continue doing each round in the same one.
To begin, with first color chain 4 and then join in first chain with a slip stitch to form a ring. (an alternate method would be to work round 1 in a magic circle, but if that method isn’t familiar to you or it doesn’t make sense to you, then this is the way I would recommend beginning)


(Update: These hats are a variation on the pattern. They were done every two rows, then finished off and switching to a different color. Either way works,and make very nice patterns.)

Round 1: chain 2 (counts as first dc now and throughout pattern) and work 6 more dc in same ring. Join with slip stitch to beginning chain 2. (should have 6 dc and 1 ch 2 space that counts as a 7th dc)

Round 2:  (Pick up second color and drop the first but don’t finish off. Just let it hang and begin working round 2 with the second color. This will create a series of small loops on the inside of the hat, but this isn’t something to be concerned about unless you’re an extreme perfectionist. In that case, you can feel free to finish off each row and then go through the extra effort of working in over 60 loose ends for one single hat. I prefer the drop and switch method but you wouldn’t have to do it that way if you’re not comfortable with it.) Chain 2, 1 dc in next 2 dc, then 2 dc in next dc, then 1 dc in next 2 dc, then 2 dc in next dc. Join with slip stitch to beginning chain 2. (Should have 8 dc plus original ch 2) (This probably sounds harder than it really is. The secret to this pattern is that every row you’re adding 2 more dc to the hat, gradually increasing its’ width row by row. These extra stitches should be on approximately the opposite side of the hat every single row. Don’t get too obsessed with perfectly lining up exactly which stitch is exactly in the middle of each row, just eyeball it. This hat won’t require you to be a perfectionist. Just make sure you’re adding 2 stiches every single row and you’re good.)

Round 3: (Drop second color, pick back up the original one) Chain 2, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in last dc, join. (Should have 10 dc plus original ch 2)
Rounds 4 through (approximately) 60: do the same thing you did for round 3, but keep adding 2 stitches to every row. Keep going until your hat is the circumference you want it to be but make sure your last round before the brim is the opposite color than what you want the brim to be. At this point I would finish off with my last color and continue making the brim with the other color. (You don’t want it to be too tight, but obviously too loose could be bad news as well. My hat was 60 rounds to the brim but everyone crochets differently so you may not have to do that many or you may have to do more or less.)

The Brim
(Important: In order to do the brim, you will not be increasing anymore.)
Row 1 of brim: chain 2, dc once in each dc all the way around the edge, join  

Rows 2-4: chain 2, then front post dc in next dc, *dc in next dc, front post dc in next dc* (repeat from * to * all the way around, then join. Work all three rows this way, doing ordinary dc on top of ordinary dc from previous round, and front post dc on top of front post dc from previous round. This will create a ribbing for the brim.)

For the finishing touches, you can either single crochet on the edge all the way around, or you can do a crab stitch edging, which is done by single crocheting backwards from right to left as opposed to left to right. Either way will turn out fine. Also, make a pom-pom for the top of the hat using either the color of the brim or both colors together.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Sleepless Nights and Flower Afghans


Since I can’t seem to fall asleep tonight, I’ve decided to use my time wisely and write my very first entry for this blog. I find that my mind is running wild tonight--wild with ideas and patterns, crocheted crocuses and tiger lilies, a veritable garden of crochet all waiting to find their way out. I see afghans that have patiently lain dormant in my imagination, hoping that one day I would find it in me to make them. I haven’t had a sleepless night like this in some time now and I find it fascinating that here, at the very beginning of spring, these ideas are brought to the surface of my imagination reminding me of all I have waiting in store. It’s interesting to me that Lori and I would choose now of all times to begin a blog that will bring many new and hopefully wonderful experiences into our lives. I don’t think we could have picked a better time to start up.

A few years back, my sister bought crocus bulbs and went crazy planting them everywhere throughout the flower beds and the yard, everywhere she could find room. Her favorite flowers are spring flowers, and crocuses are high on her list. Every year since, I’m amazed as spring rolls along and the crocuses come up in the most welcome yet unexpected of places. Although I don’t really have a favorite season of the year, spring is definitely a wonderful time!
Flowers begin to bloom and the world seems to wake up as life begins all over again. This year as the crocuses are blooming outside, I find myself picturing how easy it would be to crochet them. For probably a couple weeks now, I’ve been toying with the idea of making an afghan of nothing but flowers connected together. I picture flowers of all shapes and sizes and colors, arranged in such a way that they look like they belong together. Now, a new idea is starting to take shape. I want to make an afghan of flowers as I see them blooming.
Starting with crocuses obviously—the heralds of spring—and then maybe daffodils and irises, lilacs and forsythia; whatever order the flowers bloom, that will be my next flower. I don’t know yet if I’m picturing diagonal rows starting in the top corner and working my way down or how I plan on arranging it, but I definitely plan on making this project. But now, to sleep…
Sincerely, Stephen  
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