My Flower Checkerboard Afghan

I have been randomly crocheting and knitting throughout winter, mostly making baby beanies and little blankies but when I need distraction I whip up a couple of squares for my bright pink and black rug ...

 

I have no idea how much yarn you require for this - I'd guess aproximately 10 balls of black and 10 balls of pink, enough to make a rug 11 squares along and 9 squares across = 99 squares each measuring 6 inches by 6 inches (15cm x 15cm). All my crochet is double crochet except for the flower itself.

You need a basic granny square:

 And an 8 petal flower square:

Here's the link for the original flower square pattern http://rosehip.typepad.com/rose_hip_blog/2008/11/index.html 

With the color of yarn you wish to use for the center of the flower, ch 4 and join with a sl st into the first ch to form a ring. Continue working in the round as follows:

Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1), * 1 dc into ring, ch 1 **; repeat from * to ** 6 times. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch of the ch-4 made at the beginning of this round. (There should be 8 ch-1 spaces in the round.) Fasten off and break off the first color.

Round 2: Join the color you wish to use for the petals into any of the ch-1 spaces, ch 1 and * 1 sc, 3 dc, 1 sc ** into the same ch-1 space; repeat from * to ** into the next 7 ch-1 spaces. Join with a sl st into the first sc of the first ch-1 space. (There should be 8 petals around the center.)

Round 3: Ch 1, and working behind the petals now, sl st into the stem † of the last sc made in round 2. Ch 4, sc into the stems of the next 2 adjoining scs (between the two petals) and then * ch 3, sc into the stems of the next 2 scs; repeat from * to ** 5 more times, ch 3, and then sl st into the first ch of the ch-4 done at the beginning of this round. You should now have a ch-3 space (or loop) behind each petal made in round 2.

Round 4: Ch 1 and work * 1 sc, 5 dc, 1 sc ** into the first ch-3 space and repeat from * to ** into all the next ch-3 spaces; sl st into the first sc of the first petal made in this round. You should now have another 8 petals behind the first 8 made. Fasten off and break off this color. 

Round 5: Still working behind the petals, join the yarn you wish to use as the background for the flower to the stems † of any 2 adjoining scs of round 4 (between two petals), and then ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2dc into the same sc stems, and ch 1. Into the stems of the next 2 scs  of round 4, * 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc to make a corner, ch 1, 3 dc, into the stems of the next 2 scs , ch 1 **; repeat from * to ** 2 more times, and then 3dc, ch 1, 3 dc into the stems of the next 2 scs, ch 1 and sl st into the 3rd ch of ch-3 done at the beginning of this round.

 

Continue to crochet around until your flower square is the same size as your granny square ie: flower plus 5 rounds.

Sew them together in a checkerboard design.
I think this is my favourite afghan yet :-)
Now that summer is on its way I doubt I'll be getting out my hooks or needles much. I have so many projects I want to do though ...!!!

Crochet Paperclip Iceskates - Christmas Ornament

Cute Crochet PaperClip Iceskates

 

I found this cute little pattern while browsing google for something else. They are SO easy - less than 10 minutes from start to finish!

All credit goes to Suzie ... http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com.au/2008/12/my-paperclip-ice-skate-ornament-c.html

MATERIALS:
Approximately 5 yards of worsted weight yarn
Approximately 1 ½ yards of fuzzy white yarn
G crochet hook
Two jumbo paper clips

INSTRUCTIONS:
With the continuous wire of paper clip on bottom for blade and the larger loop to the right, attach yarn to paper clip with a slipstitch into the larger loop.

Always crochet over the beginning tails.

Row 1: Ch 2, 7 dc to end of paper clip (work first dc in the larger loop, work remain dc in smaller loop and around both wires). This row forms the foot of the skate.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, Dc in 4 sts. This row forms the ankle of the skate.

Row 3: Ch 1 turn, sc in 4 sts. After last st, Ch 10, fasten off. On the second skate, only chain 8, so that the skates are offset after tying together.

Row 4: Join fuzzy white yarn with a sc in turning chain of row 3. Sc in 3 sts, 2 sc in last st.
Fasten off and weave in ends. If you crocheted over the tails you will only have the ending tail of the trim to weave in.

Repeat for the second skate and tie the two skates together with the tails of the ch 10 and ch 8.

 

I'm Back

Well summer didn't see me knitting or crocheting much at all. Instead I bought a house! I have spent since October 2011 until now polyfilling, sanding, ripping up carpet and lino, painting, tiling and being a general female tradie (read that as Jill of all trades, master of none).

that was after I attacked the bathroom!
My house has gone from being the worst on the street to one of the nicest. I have a brand new kitchen and bathroom and fresh paint and tiles ... all the way I want it and so comfy and cosy.

Yay - freshly painted and tiled bathroom LOL
Now that the rainy season has started it's time to get the yarn and needles/hooks out - I can't wait to share my creations with you all.

Knitted Bunny Draft Stopper

This is my latest project. Isn't he just the cutest?
PDF file available here
I hope you enjoy making him as much as I did inventing him. Any questions, message me :-)

Soon to come: Bunny Bag Lady (for all those plastic supermarket bags)

Earflap hat with or without Panda ears

Supplies:

Size 6mm 16" circular needles and dpns (double pointed needles)

Stitch Marker

bulky wool of your choice (I have used a strand of 8 ply in 2 different colours to achieve the desired thickness for these hats - so 2 strands knitted as one)

Crochet hook (optional)

Earflaps:

CO 5 sts onto one dpn.

Row 1: *increase into first stitch, k until last stitch, increase into last stitch*

Row 2: knit all stitches

Repeat these two rows until there are 13 stitches on the needle. Continue in garter stitch (knitting all stitches) for 12 rows

Cut yarn leaving a 10cm tail.

Repeat for second earflap.

Hat:

Slip stitches from one earflap onto circular needles. Attach yarn and cast on 19 stitches (loosely!) Knit on second earflap. CO 14 sts and place marker for the beginning of the round. Join in the round (being careful not to twist) And work garter stitch border (k1 row, p1 row) for 4 rows (Or to taste)

Work stockinette stitch (knit every row)until your work measures 15cm

Decreases:

Round 1:*K7, K2tog* around.

Round 2:*K6, K2tog* around.

Round 3: *K5, k2tog* around.

Round 4: *K4, k2tog* around.

Round 5: *K3, k2tog* around. Here you will need to change to double pointed needles.

Round 6: *K2, K2tog* around.

Round 7: *K1, K2tog* around.

Round 8: *K2tog* around.

Cut yarn leaving a six inch tail, thread through remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

(optional: single crochet border around edge of hat in contrasting color.)

Braids: 

Cut 6 pieces of 28" long yarn. thread through the end of the earflap until folded in half. Divide into three sections and braid until 5cm of unbraided yarn remain. Tie knot and trim edges. Repeat on other side.

Ears (make 2 in secondary color):

I use a size 5mm crochet hook and one strand of whatever colour I want the ears to be.

Start with a magic ring.

R1: sc 5 into ring

R2: 2hdc in each st (10)

R3: 2hdc in each st (20)

R4: *hdc, 2hdc in next st, repeat from * (30)

R5-R6: hdc around

R7: *hdc, hdc2tog, repeat from * around (20)

R8: hdc2tog around (10)

Fold the ear in half and slip stitch the bottom together, then tie off. Leave a long tail for sewing. Attach where you see fit.

Newborn Matinee Jacket

Well, whodathunk it was so hard to find a matinee jacket pattern on the internet? I found a few but they weren't what I wanted (wrong size or wool weight). I also figured that what my mother and her generation call a matinee jacket for a baby isnt what this generation calls them. I always liked this style of cardigan/jacket for my babies, you can throw it on over a onesie or stretch 'n' grow for extra warmth and it's got nice wide sleeve holes so no contorting your new baby into it.

So, I had to 'invent' a pattern ....

Ingredients
Size 3.25 needles
1 x 100g 4ply baby wool
3 medium buttons


 
Abbreviations
k – knit, p – purl, st – stitch, st st – stocking stitch, g st – garter stitch, alt – alternate, beg – beginning, inc – increase, dec – decrease, rep – repeat, tog – together, sl – slip, sl1 – slip one, psso – pass slip stitch over, pat – pattern, yon – yarn over needle, m1 – make one
er, pat – pattern, yon – yarn over needle, m1 – make one

TW2: knit into front of 2nd st on left hand needle then knit into front of the first st, slipping both st off the needle at the same time

Using 3.25 needles cast on 176sts 

1st row: K3, *P2,K2, P2, repeat from * to  last 3 stitches, K3

2nd row: K5, *P2, K2, repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5 end

3rd row: K3, *P2,TW2, P2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K3

4th row: as 2nd row

these 4 rows form the "mock" cable pattern. The 3 stitches on either side of your work are the front band, knitted in garter stitch ...

Repeat these 4 rows 10 times - 44 rows in total, 11 mock cable rows 


From now on you are knitting in stocking stitch - knit one row, purl one row.

Dec row: K3, (k2tog) 3 times, * k1, (k2tog) twice, k2, (k2tog) twice, rep from * to last 3 sts, K3 (119sts)
Divide for armholes
K3,P21 for left front, cast off 12sts, p42 (includes the stitch already on needle) for back, cast off 12sts, purl to last 3 sts, K3
 

Right Front
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl to last 3 stiches, K3
Rep the last 2 rows until armhole measures 5.5cm/ 2 ¼ inches ending after a purl row
Shape neck
Next row: K3, slip these onto a safety pin for later use. Cast off 4sts, knit to end (17sts)
Continue in st st, dec 1 st at neck edge on every row until 11sts remain
Continue without anymore dec until armhole measures 8.75 cm/3 ½ ins, cast off
 

Back
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to centre 42sts
Starting on a knit row continue in st st until back measures same as left front 8.75 cm/3 ½ ins ending on a purl row,
Shape shoulders
Cast off 11sts, at beg of next 2 rows, slip remaining sts on a holder for collar, break of yarn, (20sts)
 

Left front
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to remaining 24sts
Starting with a knit row, continue in st st.

On the 2nd row make a buttonhole: K2,YO, K1, P to end. K6 rows and repeat the buttonhole row.

Complete right front to match left front, remember the 3 sts that make up your front border to be knitted in garter stitch.
 

Make up
Sew shoulder seams

Collar
Using main colour with right side facing
With right side facing you, pick up the 3 sts from the safety pin, knit and pick up from right side of neck 15sts, then 20sts of holder on back, the 15sts down left side of neck and the remaining 3 sts from the other safety pin (56sts)
Knit 2 rows, On the 3rd row make a buttonhold, K2 rows, cast off

Sleeves
Using contrast 1 cast on 58sts

1st row: K3, *P2,K2, P2, repeat from * to  last 3 stitches, K3

2nd row: K5, *P2, K2, repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5 end

3rd row: K3, *P2,TW2, P2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K3

4th row: as 2nd row

Repeat these 4 rows 10 times (11 mock cable patterns in total)

Cast off loosely, sew in threads
Sew sleeve seam. sew sleeve into jacket, sew buttons on to correspond with buttonholes 

Please let me know if there are any mistakes in this pattern.

Shawl for Angus

THIS shawl has taken me over 2 months to make - working full time on the ward and trying to find time to make this in time for Angus's arrival drove me crazy but it is now finished. The pattern is copied from an old 60's pattern book and it confused the hell out of me so my shawl isnt exactly like the picture in the book. When I get a bit of time I'll type up the pattern and maybe some bright spark will figure it out.

I love the corners of this shawl and the basket-weave stitch makes the 4ply appear thicker than it really is.