My first crochet beanie for winter (with pattern)

I finally got motivated to make my first ever snuggly beanie hat :) I did it over 3 days, so I think it took me about 6 hours overall (including finishing it off with a small flower). I am planning to line it with some fleece when I can get hold of it!

  I made it from SIRDAR Folksong Chunky, and the hat (with the flower) took one and a half 50g balls using a 4.5mm hook. I looked at a few different patterns and sort of made it up using them as inspiration, so here's the pattern I finally used. I really hope it's clear as its my first attempt at writing a pattern! The hat pattern is first and then the pattern for the flower is after.




Hat pattern:

Start with a magic circle (quick tutorial here)

Round 1 - Chain 3 (counts as 1 dc) then crochet 7 dc into the circle. SS to initial chain 3 (8 dc)

Round 2 - Chain  3. 1 dc into same chain space, 1 dc into next chain space, *2 dc into next chain space (counts as a dc increase) then 1dc in next chain space* Repeat from * to end of round. SS to chain 3.

Round 3 - Chain 3, 1dc in same space. 1 dc in next 2 spaces *2 dc in next chain space, 1 dc in next 2 spaces* Repeat from * to end of round SS to chain 3.

Round 4 - Chain 3, 1dc in same space. 1 dc in next 3 spaces *2 dc in next chain space, 1 dc in next 3 spaces* Repeat from * to end of round SS to chain 3.

Round 5 - Chain 3, 1dc in same space. 1 dc in next 4 spaces *2 dc in next chain space, 1 dc in next 4 spaces* Repeat from * to end of round SS to chain 3.

Round 6 - Chain 3, 1dc in same space. 1 dc in next 5 spaces *2 dc in next chain space, 1 dc in next 5 spaces* Repeat from * to end of round SS to chain 3.

Round 7 - Chain 3, 1dc in same space. 1 dc in next 6 spaces *2 dc in next chain space, 1 dc in next 6 spaces* Repeat from * to end of round SS to chain 3.

Round 8 - Chain 3, 1dc in same space. 1 dc in next 7 spaces *2 dc in next chain space, 1 dc in next 7 spaces* Repeat from * to end of round SS to chain 3.

Round 9 - 24 - Chain 3, 1dc in every chain space. SS to chain 3.



Obviously you can go at long as you need to with the hat or add more increase rounds after round 8, but this is just what I used. Then just weave in the ends and sew on the flower (pattern below). I added a button to draw a bit more attention to the flower, but you could do row of sc around the outside of the flower in a contrasting colour to make it stand out or do it in another colour entirely.


Flower pattern

Start with a magic circle

Round 1 - Chain 3 (counts as 1 dc). Crochet 19 dc into the circle (20 dc)

Round 2 - Chain 1. 1 sc into same stitch. *Miss the next chain space, 7 dc into the chain space after. Miss the next chain space, 1 sc into the chain space after.* Repeat from * until end of the round (on the last one just SS to the first sc you made).



I hope this pattern makes sense, and thank you for all the lovely inspiration out there!

Puzzle balls, scarves and snowflakes...must be nearly Christmas!

I have just finished my first placement of my second year of my Primary teaching course, which means I've had to go a whole month without my crochet!

My placement was interesting, but I won't miss the hour commute each way. Also, now I can get back into my crochet and start on my huge list of Christmas presents. I've got some ideas but it's going to take all the TV shows on Netflix until I get halfway into the projects, not to mention juggling 4

I'm currently working on making an Amish Puzzle ball using this pattern:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amish-puzzle-ball-crochet-pattern

At the moment I am having a lot of trouble making the "lid" parts. I'm having to change the instructions from USA to UK terms (using UK double crochets). No idea if anyone else is currently making or has made one of these but mine just doesn't look right. I'm trying to sew material on the outside instead but it's really tricky. I've  decided I'm going to take a break and make some snowflakes for a while. Browsing Reddit has thrown up some great links, I can't wait to get going.

I have made a few prototype snowflakes from this PDF file just using normal white crochet thread and a 2mm hook. I starched them just using PVA glue and water (not the stiffest finish but allowed me to sprinkle some glitter on the snowflakes to make them pretty!). Between university and my new job I really hope I'll get time to crochet a few more things.

Zelda Tunisian pillow present all finished

Months ago I posted a picture of my Zelda tunisian crochet with the idea of putting a  back onto it, and today I not only finished the "You fill my hearts" piece, but fastened them together and stuffed it all ready to give to my boyfriend for his birthday.

One of the problems I had was that the green side with the eagle crest was slightly smaller than the new side that I had just made, so I crocheted a row of double crochet around the outside, and then I could join them together.

 

Summer! So much crochet time :)

A month ago I finally finished my first year at university and have thrown myself back into my crochet. I spent June and some of July in a reception class as a Student Teacher and completely left my crochet, spending every evening writing up observation notes, planning lessons and even making play doh. This meant that when I finally finished the 5 week placement I went a bit overboard on the crochet ideas; I found enough projects to last me the rest of my time at university, never mind just filling the summer! In 2 weeks time I will be in Cyprus with my boyfriend, and my only problem is how to fit all my yarn stash into my suitcase. If they do random spot check of suitcases they are going to have a giggle at the amount of wool in my bag, but I can't leave any colours behind or that will be just the colour I really need!

Despite promising faithfully to save money for my 3 weeks abroad I cannot resist yarn, and when there was a 10 for £10 offer on Robin Double Knit yarn...well... I'm going to spend the next 2 weeks rolling them into balls to try and fit them all in my suitcase.

 I am currently in the process of myself a beach skirt from a pattern on this blog by Katrinshine, and only have 2 rows left to do.

When I saw the pattern I thought it was so pretty and I was determined to try and make it, fully expecting it to be too difficult or if I did manage it that it wouldn't look anything like the lovely skirt in the picture. Much to my surprise I not only managed to understand the pattern diagrams (after painstakingly translating the instructions from Portuguese) I managed to actually make the skirt! However, it was not without a couple of problems and mistakes:

  1) My first problem was with buying the yarn. After finding the type of yarn I wanted, I spent about 10 minutes stood in the shop comparing the 8 or so different colours and desperately trying to pick one. I finally decided on a silver/grey wool, and bought one ball to try it out. After a few hours I finished the ball (completing the majority of the waist section of the skirt) and so I went back to buy more balls. Turns out I'd picked the one colour that the shop weren't buying in any more! Anyway, my skirt is now in this light blue picked out by my boyfriend :)

  2) I somehow managed to do a whole round of shells with 8 double crochets each instead of 9, and by the time I spotted it I had to unravel about 6 hours of work to correct it! Nightmare, but I didn't want to leave it and then be disappointed with the final result.

But I am really happy with how it has turned out, and soon it will be finished ready to wear over my bikini in the glorious weather :)

Spontaneous iPad case project

About two weeks ago I went home from Uni for the weekend and found all my coloured wool, and was desperate to make something. My boyfriend was recently given an iPad mini from his Uni Robotics course and so I started making the world's most simple case. I basically started by chaining 28 and then 56 rows of double crochet, and then just changed colour every two rows. The whole case is made out of one scarf like piece folded up and then stitched up the sides in black using single crochets.

The stripes on the back are the same as the front to create coloured bands going round the case.

I was worried that this would look really bad, but as crazy as it looks I have to say I am pretty chuffed with the end result :)

I feel so much more confident about my crochet, and love being able to look at projects and think yeah, I can do that. Getting to the end and finishing a crochet project is just the best feeling in the world!

Valentine's Present finished picture!

Finished crochet, with colours as picked by my Zelda obsessed boyfriend!

I am so happy, I finally finished my Zelda crochet! For me this was a bigger project than I though it was going to be, and the main reason for this was that every time I started a new section of the wing or the tri-force I had to cut another length of black wool and join it into the crochet. I ended up spending over 2 hours weaving in all of the ends fully! But it was really worth doing and I'm so pleased with it, I cannot tell the person who posted this pattern online how grateful I am to them as I would not have been able to work this out on my own, and it's really boosted my love of (and addiction to) crochet.

I'm planning to do another piece to make this into a pillow and I saw a really nice Zelda cross stitch someone had done, and so I've now got my plan into Excel. I will hopefully start it in a couple of days, and I hope it comes out ok.

Tunisian Zelda Cushion Project

I have recently bought myself some long crochet hooks to do my Tunisian crochet from Amazon.co.uk, and I am so excited! They are made from bamboo and 14" long, and I can now finally start a big project. I have found a lovely pattern for a Zelda crest cushion that I have decided to make for my boyfriend for Valentine's day:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Legend-of-Zelda-Triforce-Pillow/

It's so cool! I showed it to my boyfriend and let him pick out the colours he wanted, so mine is black on a green background. I took a quick picture of my first row, but I've been doing lots of work on it since then between my University lessons and I can't wait to put a picture up when I finally finish it!

First row of 61 stitches with new crochet needles

This is the plan I've been working from, I hope it'll look this good when it's done!