Free Pattern Friday!

That’s right your eyes are not deceiving you, it’s time for a free pattern 🙂

I recently had a commission for a set of cushion covers but the lady liked the look of the knitted style. As you know the art of knitting very much eludes me…give me a hook over needles any day. So I set out to create the look with crochet. Here is the finished result:

Knit effect crochet cushion cover

I made this with the humble half double crochet stitch (htr in UK terms).

Some of you might know this but it was only a short while ago that I realised when you do a hdc there are 3 loops, the back and front loops as normal and then a 3rd one behind. If you work into this 3rd loop it forces the other 2 to the front giving a knitted effect.

Special 3rd loop

This only works properly if you are working in a round. If you work back and forth you get a different look and the knitted effect is not as clear and defined.

When your working your last round will look like there is a large gap between rows (as seen below) but when you then add another row it will force the front down.

HDC stitches worked in the 3rd loop

So enough waffling and onto the pattern. I made these to fit a standard 16″ cushion but you can make them as big or small as you like just adjust your starting chains.
And remember we are working in that 3rd loop all the time unless stated otherwise

I use American terms and the ch2 at the start of each round does not count as your starting stitch.

Materials:

I used Stylecraft chunky in Graphite and I held two threads together at once so it was double thickness.
10mm hook
Tapestry needles
4 buttons

The finished effect

Method:

Ch68 and then join to 1st ch with a ss – make sure that there is no twist in the ch before you join it
1. Ch2 then hdc in the same st and around, join with a ss to first hdc (68)
2-25. Ch2 then hdc in the same st and around, join with a ss to first hdc (68)
I use a stitch marker at this point and count 34 from the joint st and mark it.
26. You then hdc still in the 3rd loops for the next 34 stitches. Ch2 and turn
27-28. Hdc across, ch2 and turn(34)
29. Working through both front and back loops as normal from now on – sc across, ch1 and turn (34)
30. Sc across (34) fasten off and weave in all ends.

You should now have a piece that is open at both ends with a flap at the top.

At the starting end of your work (i.e.the bottom) join some yarn and work across slip stitching the two sides closed. You will need to make sure your hook goes through both starting chains and then ss the together. (34)

Now sew on your buttons to the back, I did them about 3 rows down with 2 near the edges to hold the corners down and then the others evenly spaced. You should be able to just pop the buttons through the space of the sc’s

Finished off with a tag

These worked up super quick and I am a little in love. When I get a spare minute I might even make some for myself!

B x

Mini Flower Pattern

I love these little hair slides so much that I am often found wearing them. I made them originally for Miss P and then added them to the shop where they have proved quite popular but I frequently pinch them to pin my own hair back!

Flower Hair Slides

Today I have written the pattern up for you so that you can give them a go yourself.
(If you don’t feel like making them and just want to buy some ready made you can find the listing for them here)

I used a 3mm hook and either embroidery thread or 4ply but you can use any yarn as long as you use the hook to match, the flower will just be bigger or smaller.
If you want to make some hair slides as well then you will need the grips and little diamanté gems too.

In the interest of full disclosure I use US crochet terms (just because logically they make far more sense to me!) but this pattern is super simple, so here we go:

Abbreviations:
ss – Slip Stitchch – Chain
sc – Single crochet
dc – Double crochet
st – stitch

1. Start with a magic circle (or ch4 and ss to the first ch)
2. ch1, sc12 into the magic circle (or the ring made with your chain 4), join with a ss to your first sc (pull the free end of your yarn tight to close the gap if you have used a magic circle).
3. *ch3, dc into same st, dc in next st, ch3, ss into same st, ss into the next st*
Repeat from * around, ss into the first st from this round
You should end up with 6 petals each one work across 2sc from the row below.
Finish off and weave in your ends and the flower is done.

I sewed and glued my gems on to make doubly sure they would not come off and the same with the flower onto the hair slide, this was purely for my own peace of mind but either would work.

Have fun making lots of flowers, don’t forget to show me what you make, I love seeing your pictures!

B x

NB. This pattern is copyright to Miss B’s Emporium you may share it as long as you link back to this page and ensure full credit is given when showing your work or the pattern. Please don’t sell or reproduce the written pattern in anyway. Items made from this pattern are for personal use only so please feel free to gift them to your friends, family, the neighbours dog etc and even for charity but they cannot be sold.

My Mini Sheldon Cooper

As previewed in yesterdays post I made an Amigarumi Sheldon Cooper Doll.

For those of you who have not see The Big Bang Theory firstly go and buy the box sets now!! secondly this is Sheldon Cooper.

I made this as part of sister number 1’s Christmas present and it took me ages! I used this amazing FREE pattern from Amidorable Crochet although I did tweak it slightly as the trouser section got a little confusing.

Now as it was a present I didn’t stop there. Sheldon needed a box! something to showcase him. So I needed to get making. I wanted a proper doll type box so with a little creativity, some brown wrapping paper, clear plastic and a bit of writing we were done.

                                                            

Poor Sheldon’s hair looks a little wild in these pictures but before he was man-handled into the box it was all slick like the real Sheldon’s is.

B x

Tis (nearly) the season to be jolly

As someone has kindly just reminded me it is only 44 days until Christmas. That is barely over a month and will fly by. While I have been very organised in deciding what I’m making and buying for all the birthday and Christmas presents I have to sort, I have not bee quite so good with any Christmas projects for myself. I have however managed to accumulate a collection of projects I would love to start and if I could stop time to work on them then they would already been nestled amongst my previous works.

Here are some of my favourite festive crochet items that I have come across…

Wreath – This is made by crocheting round a plastic ring, and the pattern is completely free.

Holly leaves – I have seen so many projects using holly leaves (just like the two below) that sadly don’t have a pattern, so here is the pattern for the leaves and then they can be used to make larger projects. 

Mini stockings – super cute and work up very quick. These would look adorable hanging on a tree with a little treat inside.

Gingerbread man – Couldn’t you just eat him up

Reindeer Wreath – Another piece where you work round a plastic ring. I think is is really cute and would look lovely on a kids Christmas tree.

Snowflakes – I adore these and if I wasn’t such a traditionalist when it came to Christmas colour schemes I would certainly be making a huge pile in all these colours. I love the idea of hanging a little bell on the end too.

Snowman & Friend – This makes me want to sing frosty the snowman!

Snowflake – Another pattern for a snowflake, the key seems to be stiffening spray.

Reindeer Ornament – Rudolf!! He is adorable. Sadly this is the only pattern that you have to buy.

Ornaments – These can be done in any colours you like and are ideal for hanging on your tree.

Christmas Trees – Scroll down for the English version of this pattern!

String lights – This is a free ravelry pattern and would be prefect for a young kids tree so you don’t have to worry about cables and lights, or hanging up!

I’d love to know what you’re making this Christmas for your home.

B x

 

Cupcake Teapot holder

I found a gorgeous pattern for a cupcake garland (this one right here) and it gave me the inspiration to make a cupcake teapot holder as part of a present for a friend.

I used step 1-3 of Twinkie Chan’s pattern but then I added the following:

Row 4: ch3 then dc in the same st. 1dc in the next 2 st’s then 2dc in the following st. repeat along row (24) Turn.

Row 5: ch3 and dc in same st. 1dc in the next 3 st’s, then 2dc in the following st. Repeat along row (30) Turn.

Row 6: ch3 and dc in the same st. 1dc in the next 4 st’s, then 2dc in the following st. Repeat along row (36) Turn.

Row 7: ch3 and dc in same st. 1dc in the next 5 st’s, then 2dc in the following st. Repeat along row (42) Turn.

Row 8: ch3 and dc in same st. 1dc in the next 6 st’s, then 2dc in the following st. Repeat along row (48). Finish off and weave in ends.

I then referred back to Twinkie Chan to make the scalloped edging but I just did extras, so whereas she did 4 scallops I did 7 as seen in my picture. That’s just what worked for me and the size of my cupcake.

Then I made the ‘cake’ section again following Twinkie Chan by starting in the 2nd to last dc with a sc, *then skip a st, 2dc in the dip of the scallop, skip a stitch, sc then sc in the next 2 stitches* then repeat along the whole row from the * The picture on the link I posted above explains this really well so if you are confused check it out.

I obviously did more rows for the ‘cake’ section as my cupcake is bigger so what I found worked best was to do a row with a decrease then 2 rows with the same amount of stitches along, then a row with a decrease then 2 more rows with the same amount of stitches etc etc until I was happy.

Lastly I finished the sides of the cake section with a row of sc’s as the edging to neaten it up slightly and made a hanging loop which was made by ch25, insert hook in 2nd from hook and then sc24. Tie off and attach to cupcake.

Finish the cake with a little cherry and some ‘sprinkles’ that were sewn on.

Here is a picture of the original Twinkie Chan cupcake next to my teapot holder cupcake…

This is so pretty and the second picture shows more accurately how soft the colours actually were on this piece.

B x

Witches hat

I still haven’t left the lion brand site and have made another one of the little halloween patterns they have on offer.

I showed you some of their selection in my previous post ‘Winter is on its way’ and this time I’ve made the witches hat.

I made it exactly as per the pattern but I’m thinking of trying another one and stuffing it then sewing on a disc to the bottom to hold it on. The hat holds its shape quite well but I think stuffing it just might make it a bit more rigid plus if your hanging it like I plan too it is nicer not to see inside of the hat (which is where I lazily hid my ends when tying off).

B x

Halloween Ghost

So I have been busy making more of the lovely little Halloween goodies I mentioned in ‘Winter is on its way’ with the next one being a (slightly too cute for Halloween really) ghost originally from Lion Brand.

He now joins the previously made Mummy both of which hopefully along with some others I plan to make will end up hanging on some black twigs in my home for decoration this year (of course a picture will follow for that too!)

B x

Halloween Mummy

I showed you in ‘Winter is on its way‘ a link for lots of little Halloween lovelies to make courtesy of Red Lion Wool (these ones right here).

I am slowly working my way through the ones that have caught my eye, the first of which is this awesome mini Mummy…

I had to make a little adjustment as the wrapping part of the pattern (that goes around his head) was too short – maybe I crocheted it too tightly. Either way I added quite a few more stitches to make it longer.
The other change I made was that I sewed the eyes on with yarn rather than safety eyes. Regular readers of the blog will know I always do this mostly because I am a mixture of lazy and forgetful and never get around to buying a stash for projects just like this.

I’d love to see your efforts if any if you make one too!

B x

Halloween Skull

In my previous post ‘Winter is on its way’ I showed you a picture of a skull that unfortunately didn’t have a pattern and mentioned that I had not only managed to give it a go but had also written the pattern for it.

Well the pattern is available on my pattern page so pop on over and check it out, in the meantime here is what my one looks like…

I love how the dude has one button eye and one missing completely it makes him look more comical than scary but that might just be the colours I have used.

B x