A new crochet hat

I made a new hat for Maia, in pretty candy colors… love this yarn it’s super cute and crochets up so quickly because its a chunky (12 ply) knit. It’s discontinued but I stocked up last year at our local yarn shop sale 🙂

You can find the pattern here, and because Maia is getting bigger the hat had to get bigger too 🙂 so there are a couple more rounds of shells than when I first made this hat – original pattern had 5 rounds of shells, this time it has 9 – but less rounds for the band.

Maia likes this hat, we don’t get extremely cold winters here so the holes mean that the hat is not too hot! Do you have a favourite hat pattern? Leave a comment and share it below…

Make a newspaper bag

Last week at church a woman was generously giving away kiwi fruit after the service. She had a stack of these nifty newspaper carry bags which she had made to put the fruit into, and I instantly fell in love with them (yes, such is my personality… I’m easily pleased by simple, useful, handmade things!).She gave me a very quick lesson in the making of the bags, and once home I un-made the bag and put it back together.  Simple, yet perfect for carrying all manner of things… I hope – like me – you too can find a million uses for these bags.

Here’s how you make your own newspaper carry bag:

First up you need a couple of sheets of newspaper – not the small tabloid sized pieces, but the big, old-school, full sized newspaper sheets.

Lay the paper down on a flat surface (kitchen table works well) and fold the top (long) edge down about 3 inches.Flip the sheet over and fold it into thirds – first one side, then the other side.Now ease the top third under the flap (folded over top) immediately below it.

Then flip the whole thing over and fold the bag in half (long ways) and tuck the bottom under the flap. And there you have it, one all purpose newspaper carry bag… ready to fill and go! Cool huh?

 

Pretty lacy crochet edging

When I posted my crochet throw a while back, I promised to post the edging pattern so here it is. The laciness  adds a lovely dimension to the throw, and I’m definitely planning on using it on a shawl sometime soon.

There are four rounds, but the first is simply a base layer of sc all around your working edge to secure the edging to, and the second is just chain 5 and chain 3 loops to secure the next two rounds to… anyway enough talking about it and on with the pattern!

Pretty lacy edging:

Round 1: Join edge yarn and sc in each stitch around the blanket, join with ss to finish the round. I went with 3 sc in each corner, but just add enough stitches to the corner so it stays flat and doesn’t pull.
Round 2: Chain 5, skip next 4 sc, (dc, ch3, dc) in next sc, ch 5, skip next 4 sc, sc in next sc. repeat around, join with ss to finish the round.
Round 3: Chain 5, sc in next ch-5 space, 3dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch-3 space, sc in next ch-5 space,  repeat around, join with ss to finish the round.
Round 4: Ch1, *sc in next 5ch, dc in next dc, picot, dc in next dc, dc in next dc, picot, (2dc, picot, 2dc) in next ch3 space, picot, dc in next dc, dc in next dc, picot, dc in next dc, sc in next ch5 space* Repeat between * and * around. Join with ss into ch1 to finish the round.

Picot = chain 5, ss in fourth ch from hook.

And in case you missed it the first time around here is a little video of me crocheting the last round of the edging…

It’s frustrating for me to watch because there are so many little hiccups (yarn catching/missing the stitch etc) in my crocheting… I’m usually a very smooth crocheter!

Happy to answer any questions about this, just sing out 🙂

Have a happy day! J xox

A new tutorial… crochet granny bag

If you’ve been reading for a while you will know I have a thing for crochet bags… or more to the point, crochet granny square bags.

From the single granny bag…

to tiny granny…And the giant granny…… It’d be fair to say I’ve made a few.

But you can never have too many granny square bags, right? So here’s a lovely quick bag to whip up using 13 of your favourite granny squares!

Step one:

Crochet 13 granny squares. There are no rules to which granny square you use, what color it should be, or how big. But remember the size of the final bag will depend on how heavy your yarn is and many rounds the granny squares have.

I chose my favourite ‘plain’ granny. But there are so many amazing granny designs out there, this bag is only limited by your imagination (and your stash 🙂 )My granny squares were  made using a mix of dk/ light worsted and a 4mm hook. They are 6 rounds. I used the same color combination for all squares, but you don’t have to. If you choose to use different colors, keep in mind you are going to have to join them, and if you don’t want the join to show you will want to use a consistent color for the last round.

Step two:Sew your granny squares together. I do this by holding wrong sides together and sewing a zig zag from one square to the other catching only a single strand from each square.

You want to sew together 5 squares to form an X (one x for the front and one x for the back), then add in three squares which get folded in half and sewn across the front and back:When its finished, it should look like this:

Step three:

Crochet the outer rounds of the handles….

Round one: join your yarn (in a trough not a peak) and single crochet around the entire upper edge.

Round two: SC in each stitch to the next ‘peak’ then chain 50. Skip the entire next ‘trough’ and join at the opposite peak, then continue with SC to the next ‘peak’, chain 50 and once again skip the next ‘trough’ join on the opposite side and complete the round with SC.

Rounds three and four:  SC in every stitch around (including the handles)

Step four:

Crochet the inner rounds of the handles. Join yarn a stitch or two in from the handle on the inner edge:Single crochet in each stitch around the inner edge of the handle, when you get to the bottom of the trough skip the very middle stitch (this keeps it from bulging) also skip the first and last stitch before the handle:

Continue working around the inner edge for 3 rounds (total); skipping those three stitches on each round to keep it nice and neat.

And that’s it, sew in all ends and you are finished! Stash it full of stuff and take it out!

I’m still debating lining this bag… Ill let you know what I decide – but don’t worry, it wont stop me enjoying it as it is in the meantime 🙂

As always, let me know if you have any problems or questions. And if you make one, I’d love to see it – either send me an email or post it on the facebook page. J xox

 

Cheep cheep the crochet chick

As promised, a new friend for your bunnies! Here’s a cute easy chick for you to crochet:This chick is super easy, I promise you will be able to whip 1 or 3 up in no time at all – I know Easter is almost here… but these guys are a breeze to make!

If you would like to make some chicks in time for Easter you will need:

• Various scraps of yarn and a corresponding hook – I used 8ply and a 4mm hook.
• 2 x 9mm safety eyes (or beads or buttons)
• A needle to sew your creation together with.

1. The body- this is the SAME as the bunny – so for detailed round by round photos check out this tutorial.

Round 1: Make a Magic Circle and chain 3, then crochet 13 DC into the circle and pull tight, join with a SS to complete the round (14 DC). I’ve had a few questions about the magic circle before, it’s my preferred way to start a round. You can find a video showing how it’s done here. If you prefer chain 4 and DC into the fourth chain from the hook (then your DCs) or chain four, join with a SS to form a ring and then chain 3 and 13 DC into the ring. All techniques work equally well, I think it just comes down to preference.

Round 2. Join yarn in space between two DCs, chain 3 and DC in between the same space. 2 DC between each stitch around, join with a SS to the top of chain 3 to complete the round. Fasten off.(14 2DC pairs).

Round 3. Join yarn in space between two pairs of DCs, chain 3 and 2 DC in same space. Make 3DCs in each space between two pairs of DCs around, join with a SS to the top of chain 3 to complete the round. Fasten off. (14 3DC pairs).

Round 4. You are now working in the top space between each stitch, not the space beside the stitch. Join your new colour through the top loop of the stitch only. Chain 2, 2DC into next stitch, 1 DC into next, 1 DC into next, 2DC into next stitch, 1 DC into next, 1 DC into next, 2DC into next stitch, 1 HDC into next, Chain 1, SC into each remaining stitch around.  Complete round by joining with a SS into the Chain 2. Do not fasten off.

Round 5. Chain 1, SC into each stitch around. SS into chain 1.

Round 6. Chain 1, HDC in next 11 stitches, chain 1, SS into next stitch. Fasten off leaving a long end to sew your two bunny halves together. Repeat – you need a front and a back!2. The beak:

Round 1: Magic circle (see notes above), CH 1 and 6 SC into the circle, do not join this or any round, continue working in a circle without joining. Use a stitch marker if necessary to mark your rounds (personally I just count the stitches) (6)

Round 2: *SC in the next stitch, 2 SC in the next stitch*, repeat between * and * around (9).

Round 3: *SC in the next 2 stitches, 2 SC in the next stitch*, repeat between * and * around (12).

Round 4: SC in each stitch around. Fasten off leaving a long tail.3. The wings (make two!):

Round 1: Magic circle (see notes above), CH 1 and 6 SC into the circle, do not join this or any round, continue working in a circle without joining. Use a stitch marker if necessary tp mark your rounds (personally I just count the stitches) (6)

Round 2: SC in the next stitch, 2 SC in the next stitch*, repeat between * and * around (9).

Round 3:*SC in the next 2 stitches, 2 SC in the next stitch*, repeat between * and * around (12). Change colour.

Round 4:*SC in the next 3 stitches, 2 SC in the next stitch*, repeat between * and * around (15).

Round 5:SC  in each stitch around (15). Change colour.

Round 6:SC  in each stitch around (15).

Round 7:SC  in each stitch around (15). Change colour.

Round 8: *SC in the next 3 stitches, 2 SC together (decrease) in the next stitch*, repeat between * and * around (12).

Round 9: SC  in each stitch around (12).

Round 10: Sc in each stitch around. Fasten off leaving a long tail.That’s all your chick parts assembled…. now to put them all together.

Position eyes and secure, and sew on beak: With wrong sides together sew front to back: Leave a small gap, stuff, then finish sewing together. Looking pretty cute! Sew wings in place: Almost done… just a little tuft on the top! Sew through 2 strands of each color: Tie in a knot and snip to desired length… you’re all finished!Happy Easter everyone! Janette xox

Crochet Easter Bunnies, and something new!

Once upon a time there was a very cute family of crochet bunnies…And although it seems like they were born only yesterday…

This month they turned one year old (so a special celebration was in order):

And they were allowed free rein in the vege garden – for one afternoon only! The spinach patch may never recover…Not to mention lots of extra special cuddles…

This crochet bunny pattern has become far and away my most popular post and tutorial.

There are hundreds of bunnies on their very own Ravelry page.

In the past year I have received so many wonderful emails from people with stories of their bunny creations (almost always with photos attached). I love that such a simple design has brought happiness to so many people all over the world… I’d like to say thank you to everyone who made a bunny (or 18!), and took the time to send me a note or comment!

So in honor of the famous nibble nibble Easter bunnies, this week I have created a new Easter friend – Cheep cheep the crochet chick!Ill be back soon with the (very easy!) pattern!

In the meantime if you have made a bunny you might like to post photo on the Green Dragonfly Facebook page and/or a comment below linking to a photo so everyone who reads this post can see them too! 🙂 Jxox