Saturday, May 10, 2014

Latest Free Crochet eBooks from AllFreeCrochet



I have given my permission to AllFreeCrochet to use my free pattern for the Shy Butterfly Baby Sweater in their soon to be released, free crochet patterns ebook.

baby sweater free crochet pattern

This is an honor for me, All Free Crochet is not only trustworthy, it is the leading free crochet pattern directory. The free pattern directory is easy to navigate, has a pictured pattern directory with a short description of the free pattern which includes experience levels,  they also have a what is hot list in every category. 
As a pattern writer, the rewards for having your patterns available for listing on their site is on going, a steady flow of traffic to your free crochet patterns, acknowledgement and what I like to call trophies when your pattern does very well with the pattern users such as this icon you are given.
all free crochet blogger icon
I have enjoyed reading about the crochet designers on AllFreeCrochet, it's nice to know a little bit about the designers who supply their designs for free and who are willing to share so much of their time for others they do not even know, thank you to you all.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Crochet Neck and Chest Warmer



 



This was born out of necessity, I have a chest cold and my chest is feeling very cold, no matter what I do I cannot not warm myself up in the chest area. Knowing what I needed I decided to make a neck and chest warmer in one, something I could just pop over my head, easy on and easy off, as my temperature fluctuates, going from cold to hot the easy on and off was the perfect solution.
I needed a circular shape for my neck and a V shape for my chest, I just had to figure out how to make it all come together in a one piece item.
The circular part was easy, which uses small st's to keep the warmth in, the V shape construction forms by making a row of chains, turning and making st's into the chains and sl st back into the circular neck piece, continuing this process then adding extra chains and st's, the V shape is formed, the other side of the V is continued by decreasing ch's and st's. The neck and chest warmer is finished off with a simple decorative edging of ch's, dc's, and sl st's.
So here goes with my pattern instructions, writing it under the influence of the flu and medication, hope it is as clear as rain for you to use.

US crochet terms used
Hook and yarn of your choice, approx 25 to 50 gm's
Stitches used:
ch
sc
back loop
hdc
dc
Time approx 2 hours
Experience, beginner +
All sizes, follow instructions below.
To begin, you need to measure the circumference of your head, make a chain length, or a single crochet foundation row, that will fit loosely around your head.
I used 8 ply yarn with a 4mm hook and my head measured 22 inches around, my stitch count was 70, the pattern will work with any number of st's.


Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet

Round 1, join your chain to form a ring, ch 1, work 1 sc in each ch to end sl st to join/or sl st to join your sc foundation row. Be careful not to twist when joining to form a circle
Rounds, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, ch 1, work 1 sc in the back loop of each st to end, sl st to join
Rounds, 7, 8 and 9, ch 1, work 1 hdc in each st to end, sl st to join


Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet

This is where we will be working the V shape
Take a stitch marker and place it in the center st of your collar, ie: if you have 70 st's place the marker on stitch 35.
All rows are worked into the back loop of the stitch.


Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet

Row 1, ch 6, work 1 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, work 1 sc in each of the next 4 ch, ignore the st the ch's came out of, sl st into each of the next 2 st's, turn your work (5 sc)
Row 2, ignore the 2 sl st's, work 1 sc in the back loop only of the next 5 sc, ch 1, turn (5 sc)
Row 3, work 1 sc in the back loop of the next 5 sc, sl st into the next 2 st's of the collar, turn (5 sc)
Row 4, ignore the 2 sl st's, work 1 sc in the back loop only of the next 5 sc, ch 1, turn (5 sc)
Row 5,  repeat row 3


Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet

Increases begin
Row 6, ignore the 2 sl st's, work 1 sc in the back loop only of the next 5 sc, ch 2, turn,
Row 7, work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, work 1 sc in the back loop of the next 5 sc, sl st into the next 2 st's of the collar, turn (6 sc)
Row 8,  ignore the 2 sl st's, work 1 sc in the back loop only of the next 6 sc, ch 2, turn,
Row 9, work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, work 1 sc in the back loop of the next 6 sc, sl st into the next 2 st's of the collar, turn (7 sc)
Continue working the increases in every row until you reach the center stitch where you placed the stitch marker
Decreases Begin
Row 1,  ignore the 2 sl st's, work 1 sc in the back loop only of each sc, leave the last sc of the row un worked (decrease made), ch 1, turn
Row 2, work 1 sc in the back loop of each sc, sl st into the next 2 st's of the collar, turn
repeat rows 1 and 2 until 5 sc's remain
Stop decreases
Row 1,  work 1 sc in the back loop of the next 5 sc, sl st into the next 2 st's of the collar, turn (5 sc)
Row  2, ignore the 2 sl st's, work 1 sc in the back loop only of the next 5 sc, ch 1, turn (5 sc), repeat the above 2 rows until you meet the beginning of the rows, sl st to join seam, do not break off yarn, continue on to decorative edge instructions


Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet


Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet


Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet

You will be working the decorative edge into the end rows of the V shape, if you do not have your yarn when you joined the seam, attach yarn to the join and follow the instructions
Round 1, ch 3, work 2 dc in same space as ch 3, sl st into next row end, sl st into next row end, *ch 3, work 2 dc in same space as ch 3, sl st into next row end, sl st into next row end* repeat from *to* to end of round sl st to join finish off and sew in ends

Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet


Free Crochet  Patterns, Courtesy Of  Cathy Wood
Aka, Cats-Rockin-Crochet.
2014.
You can sell your items made from this free crochet pattern
I’d love to see this pattern used for charity use
Please link back to this pattern if you use it

Free Crochet Patterns, Courtesy Of Cats-Rockin-Crochet

Monday, May 5, 2014

Quick and Easy Crocheted Coffee Cup Cozey



The quick and easy coffee cup cozey is made with 9 rounds of crochet. The pattern begins at the bottom of the cup with 4 rows of dc, then to allow for the widening of the coffee cup and allowing for a firm fit, the next row is increased with 5 extra st's for the widening and uses the hdc stitch for firmness. The most popular size coffee cup used is a medium size cup, this crocheted cup cozey pattern is a medium size.
easy crochet coffee cup holder rear view
Once we have mastered the easy coffee cup cozey, we can decorate the cozey in many ways. Crochet shapes, buttons, felt etc can all be used. If it helps you, do a crochet coffee cup cozey image search for inspiration. I like to use crochet appliqués too. We can get real fancy and add a decorative crochet edge, or keep it simple and play around with color combinations.
easy crochet coffee cup holder front view



Coffee cozey is worked in the round
Size medium: circumference measures approx 9 inches to 9.3/4 inches
Stitches used:
Ch = chain
Sl st = slip stitch
Hdc = half double crochet
Dc = double crochet
Hook Size: 4 mm
Yarn: small amounts, great scrap buster





The beginning ch 2 of the round is not counted as a stitch
To Begin: ch 25, sl st into beginning ch to form a ring, (25 ch)
Round 1, ch 2, work 1 dc in each ch to end, to join sl st into the 1st dc of this round (25 dc)
Round 2,3 and 4 are worked the same, ch 2, work 1 dc in each dc to end sl st to join
(Increase in every 5th stitch, 4 times)
Round 5, ch 1 *work 1 hdc in each of the next 4 st's, work 2 hdc in the next st* repeat from *to* to end (30 hdc) sl st to join
Round 6, 7, 8 and 9 are worked the same, ch 1, work 1 hdc in each st of the round, sl st to join.
finish off and sew in ends, decorate with your favourite theme


easy crochet coffee cup holder free crochet pattern

measure cup for size

measure cup for size 2

easy coffee cup holder no decorations, perfect fit

Friday, May 2, 2014

Knit Look Crochet, With The DC Stitch





It was slow going but I did it, I made a crochet hat that looks like it was knitted. Yes a knit look within a crochet hat, you can achieve this with most crochet stitches, the technique seems to go much faster when working on a flat crochet piece such as an afghan, but once you apply the method with in a crochet hat it becomes a different story.
crocheted hat that looks like it is knitted
If I increased in every stitch on the 1st row of increases, the hat became too bunched up, so I increased in every 2nd stitch and it worked, I would have to do a row with out increases in every second row and work the increase rows so the hat would not bunch up or curl up on it's self. It's never taken me so long to make a small hat, but I persevered as I could also see and feel how thick the hat was becoming making it this way. The hat is for my 6 month old grand son and when he and his family go to the snow this hat will be perfect for him.

This is the picture my daughter tagged me in, requesting a hat for little Dayne. 
picture of baby Dayne
Yo Nanny! Make me a hat please


close up of knitted look crochet hat

knit look crochet hat

knit look crochet baby hat


I made a very short recording of how I made the stitch, I believe the stitch technique has been around for some time and I have seen the sc being used more and more the same way as a flat piece, but I found it way too time consuming and fiddly to use with in a crochet hat worked in the round.