March 25, 2015

Crochet Square Pattern and Photo Tutorial




It's all about Easter knitting and crochet projects in my house today. I have been playing with some yarn in pastel colours and posting pictures on Instagram when I got a couple of pattern request for this pretty square motif.



I found the original pattern on Ravelry and here is the link to it. However I must say that this pattern did not work for the yarn and hook I was using: the motif turned out too crowded with stitches and won't lay flat. So I tweaked the pattern and reduced the number of double crochet stitches in the first round and I made this photo tutorial.


Yarn used: Lily Sugar and Cream cotton yarn in colours "Robin's Egg", "Hot Green" and "Sunshine". Any worsted weight yarn would work.


Hook used: 4 mm (G) or 5 mm (H). I tried both hooks and preferred hook G.
Abbreviations:

MR - magic ring
CH – chain
ST – stitch
SC – single crochet
Sl ST – slip stitch
Cl ST– cluster stitch
DC - double crochet
YO – yarn over

To work Cluster Stitch – YO, insert hook in next ST, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO, insert hook in same stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO, insert hook in same stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO and draw through all 4 loops on hook.


Round 1: Start with MR. Work into MR: CH4, *DC, CH1* 11 times, SL ST at the top of CH4 to complete the round. You should have 12 DC ST now (CH4 counts as DC). See picture below for help.

Round 2:  CH3, YO, insert hook under CH1,  YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO, insert hook in same stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook. *CH3, CL ST* 11 times, CH3, SL ST at the top of CH3 to complete the round. You should have 12 CL ST now. See picture below for help.


Round 3: Insert hook under CH3 and work SC, CH5, SC in next CH3,

Insert hook under next CH3 and work 5 DC, CH4, 5 DC in the same CH3, SC in next CH3, CH5, SC in next CH3,
Repeat *5 DC, CH4, 5 DC in the same CH3, SC in next CH3, CH5, SC in next CH3* two more times, 5 DC, CH4, 5 DC and join with SL ST to complete the round.

Enjoy!
Lili
***Please do not copy and post this pattern and claim it as your own. Please do not re-publish photos as your own.***




March 19, 2015

Crochet Babushka Doll Easter Egg Pattern



Crochet babushka doll Easter egg pattern
Crochet babushka doll Easter egg

Who doesn't like nesting dolls also known as Babushka or Matryoshka dolls? I certainly like them a lot. I designed this crochet Easter egg Babushka doll to fit a large size plastic Easter egg.

Materials:
  • Worsted weight acrylic yarn in two colours ( I used Caron Simply Soft in Watermelon and Chartreuce)
  • Hook G (4mm)
  • Larger size plastic Easter egg (3.5" high)
  • Tapestry needle, hot  glue gun
  • Felt in colours: white (for face), baby pink (for cheeks), and black (for hair)
  • Buttons, regular sewing thread and needle for embroidering eyes and mouth
Abbreviations:

SC - single crochet
ST - stitch

Crochet pattern:

I crocheted the two egg parts separately and then sewed them together. 

Top part of the egg:

Start with a Magic Ring and work in spiral.

Round 1: 4SC in magic ring (4)
Round 2: 2SC in each ST around (8)
Round 3: *SC in next ST, 2SC in next ST*  four times (12)
Round 4: *SC in next 2 ST, 2SC in next ST* four times (16)
Round 5: *SC in next 3 ST, 2SC in next ST* four times (20)
Round 6: *SC in next 4 ST, 2SC in next ST* four times (24)
Round 7: *SC in next 5 ST, 2SC in next ST* four times (28)
Round 8-9: SC in each ST around (28)
Round 10: *2SC in next ST, SC in next 13 ST* two times (30)
Round 11- 15: SC in each ST around (30). Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Bottom part of the egg:

Start with a Magic Ring and work in spiral.

Round 1: 6 SC in magic ring (6)
Round 2: 2SC in each ST around (12)
Round 3: *SC in next ST, 2SC in next ST* six times (18)
Round 4: *SC in next 2 ST, 2SC in next ST* six times (24)
Round 5: *SC in next 3 ST, 2SC in next ST* six times (30)
Round 6-10: SC in each ST around (30). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Face: 


  • Cut a bigger circle out of white felt for face (approx. 3/4"), two small circles out of pink felt for cheeks, and hair (use black or brown felt).
  • Embroider eyes and mouth with regular sewing thread.
  • Hot glue the cheeks and the hair to the face.
Finishing:
  1. Sew the top to the bottom (approx. 5-6 stitches) for the hinge.
  2. Sew buttons to the front of the bottom part of the egg.
  3. Hot glue crochet egg to the plastic egg. (I put some glue at the wrong side of the pointy parts of the egg and to the wrong side of the edges).
  4. Hot glue face to the body. 
Enjoy!
Lili

***Please do not copy and post this pattern and claim it as your own. Please do not re-publish photos as your own.***

March 12, 2015

Crochet Easter Bunny Hat and Basket for 18" American girl doll


Crochet hat for American girl doll
Easter bunny hat and basket

I designed this crochet Easter bunny hat and basket to fit 18" American girl dolls.

Yarn used: Caron Simply Soft Acrylic yarn in colours “Off White” and “Strawberry”. Any worsted weight yarn would work.

Hooks used: 4 mm (G)
Abbreviations:
CH – chain
ST – stitch
SC – single crochet
Sl ST – slip stitch
Cl ST– cluster stitch
HDC - half double crochet
YO – yarn over
To work Cluster Stitch – YO, insert hook in next ST, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO, insert hook in same stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Hat: 

Round 1: With white colour CH 4. Cl ST 10 times in 4th CH from hook (or in magic loop). Sl ST in top of CH 4 to complete round. (10)
Round 2: CH 3. Cl ST 2 times in each ST around. Join with Sl ST at top of CH 3. (20)
Round 3: CH 3. *Cl ST 2 times in next ST, Cl ST 1 time in next ST*. Repeat from * to * 10 times. Join with Sl ST at top of CH 3. (30)
Round 4-5: CH 3, Cl ST in each ST around. Join with Sl ST at top of CH 3. (30)
Round 6: Place marker. For the ribbing work *two SC in first stitch, one SC in next stitch*, repeat around, do not join, continue working in spiral (45).
Round 7-10: SC in each stitch around in back loops. Crocheting in back loops gives your ribbing a nice ribbed look. Join with SL ST at the end of the last round. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Ears: 

With pink colour CH13, DC in third CH from hook, 7DC, 2HDC, 1SC in the last ST. Change the colour to white, continue crocheting in the round working 1SC in each ST around (work 2SC in one ST in the "corners" of the ear). Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew ears to the hat.

Basket:

Round 1: CH 4. Cl ST 11 times in 4th CH from hook (or in magic loop). Sl ST in top of CH 4 to complete round. (11)
Round 2:  CH 3. Cl ST 2 times in each ST around. Join with Sl ST at top of CH 3. (22)
Round 3: CH 3. Cl ST in each ST around in back post. Join with Sl ST at top of CH3. (Note: If you find it confusing to work Cl ST in back post, you may want to work Cl ST in each ST around like you normally would).
CH15 for the handle. Sew the handle to the other side of the basket. Weave in ends.
Enjoy!
Lili
***Please do not copy and post this pattern and claim it as your own. Please do not re-publish photos as your own.***

Crochet bunny hat for doll

March 05, 2015

Free Crochet Flower Applique Pattern

Crochet Flower Pattern
Crochet Flower Pattern
With spring and Easter just around the corner I would like to share this free flower crochet pattern with you. It would look great sewn on a crochet beanie for little child. You can find my free crochet beanie pattern for any size here. Wouldn’t it make a nice gift for an Easter basket for a little girl in your life?

Crochet Flower Applique Pattern


Yarn used: Caron Simply Soft Acrylic yarn in colours: Watermelon (for hot pink), Sunshine (for yellow) and Chartreuce (for green). Any worsted weight yarn would work.

Hook used: 4 mm (G)

Abbreviations:
CH – chain
ST – stitch
Sl ST – slip stitch
SC – single crochet
HDC - half double crochet
DC - double crochet 

Middle of the flower:
Wrap yellow yarn around your pinky finger ten times creating a thick magic loop. 
Work 10 SC into magic loop, Sl ST, cut off and weave in ends.

Flower Petals:
With pink yarn (start in any stitch) *SC, CH3, 3 DC, CH3, SC in the same stitch, skip 1 ST*, repeat around four more times to make a total of five petals. Cut off and weave in ends.
Stem:
Attach green yarn to any stitch at the back of the flower and work: CH12, 1 Sl ST in the 2nd CH from hook, 1 Sl ST in next ST. Do not cut off, continue with the leaf.

Leaf:
CH 8, Sl ST in the 2nd chain from hook, SC in next ST, HDC in next ST, DC in next ST, HDC in next ST, SC in next ST, Sl ST to the chain that forms the stem of the flower. Cut off and weave in ends.


Sew applique to a crochet hat or other garment of your choice.
Enjoy!
Lili

***Please do not copy and post this pattern and claim it as your own. Please do not re-publish photos as your own.***