I'm back!

I'm back with a new hobby... felting! Projects to follow!

Skull Cowl

I'm going up a mountain in Austria in a few week so thought i might need something to keep toastie. I really wanted a cowl, but can't (don't like) knitting in the round, as most of the cowl patterns were, so knocked this up. It didn't take too long at all, the only time consuming part was switching between colours for the skull pattern.

Can't remember exactly how this went, but it was something like this....!
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Crochet hook: 5.5mm

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Wool: Teal DK, (worked with two balls at once, double stranded) and Black Bulky
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The skull pattern is 13 stitches across so make a single chain in multiples of 13, or you can add a few extra stitches if you'd prefer a little space between the skulls. I worked 5 skulls into mine with no spaces in between and its a little snug getting it over my head, but fits well around the neck.
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Join the chain to the beginning with a slip stitch.

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Work in the round single crocheting about 8 rows.
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When you have the desired number of rows start working the skull pattern from bottom to top (see below). You have to count carefully for the first couple of rows, but you can easily see where the stitches go as the skull shape emerges.

I worked the teal and black without breaking the yarn, just carrying the yarn i wasn't working across the back, wrapping round the back of the working yarn occasionally is the gaps were larger than 4/5 stitches.

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Crochet stitch charts are odd to me, because when you crochet (maybe its just me!) the stitches look more like a brick wall that stitches lined up like in knitting, but the one below works well, the skull slants slightly to the left but looks ok!

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Finish working the skulls, then work 5 rounds above, fasten with slip stitch and weave in ends.

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Black border was made by single stitch around the bottom and top.

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Enjoy! put pics up of what you make!

Cable slippers

You can't see the cable too well in this picture but it runs all the way around the edge of the slipper to the front, looks lovely!

Needles: 5.5mm

Yarn: Stylecraft Life Chunky (Blue Haze)

Size made: UK 6.5

These slippers are quite broad to fit my feet, you may want to reduce the amount of stitches in the middle 'knit' section if you find it too wide.

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Slipper:

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CO 30

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Row 1: K2, P4, K18, P4, K2

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Row 2: K across

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Row 3: Repeat row 1

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Row 4: K2, C4F*, K18, C4F, K2

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Repeat rows 1-4 13 more times (Repeat more or less times to fit your foot)

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Decrease row 1: K2tog, P4, K2tog 9 times, P4, K2tog

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Decrease row 2: K5, K2tog 2 times, K1, K2tog 2 times, K5

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Decrease row 3: K1, P4, K5, P4, K5.

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Thread the yarn through the stitches on the needle and draw up.

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Line up the cable pattern and stitch up a couple of inches.

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Stitch up the back of the slipper.

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Strap:

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CO4, Knit 24 rows, C-Off.

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Stitch the strap to either side of the slipper.

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For extra warmth try adding felt inside the slipper, or a thicker or extra strap across the top.

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*C4F: Slip 2 st to cable needle and hold in front, K2, then K2 from the cable needle.

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Enjoy xxxx

Alien

Super simple ami alien with amazingly cute eyes!

I used a 4mm hook and a beautiful blue/green DK yarn.

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Head and body:

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1. Ch2,

2. 6sc in 2nd chain from hook,

3. *Sc2 in each* (12)

4. *1sc 1st, sc2 in next* (18)

5. *1sc in 2, sc2 in next* (24)

6. *1sc in 3, sc2 in next* (30)

7. *1sc in 4, sc2 in next* (36)

8. *1sc in 5, sc2 in next* (42)

9-15. Sc around, 42 sc in each round (total of 294 sc)

16. *Dec, sc in next 4* (35)

17. *Dec, sc in next 3* (28)

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Around this point you should attach the safety eyes and felt backing.

Cut two oval (or anyshape you'd like for the eyes) out of felt that contrasts the yarn colour. You may need to make small holes in the felt for the saftey eyes to go through. Place the eyes and felt on the widest part of the head, approximately 8 stitches apart, depending on how big you have made your felt eyes.

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Once you have attached the eyes, you can stuff the piece at regular intervals from now on.

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18. *Dec, sc in next 2* (21)

19. *Dec, sc in next 1* (14)

20-22. Sc in each around, 14sc in each round (42 in total)

23. *2sc in 1st, 1sc in next* (21)

24. Sc around (21)

25. *2sc in 1st, 1sc in next 2* (28)

26-31. Sc around, 28sc in each round (168 in total)

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Don't forget, keep stuffing!

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32. *Dec, sc in next 2* (21)

33. Sc around (21)

34. *Dec, sc in next* (14)

35. *Dec* (7)

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To finish, weave yarn through the remaining stitches and pull tight, weave in the end and fasten off.

Please let me see any photos if you decide to make him any buddies! Kim x

Toddler mittens with string

I was trying to find a pattern to make some mitten's for by boyfriend's nephew to keep him warm over in England whilst he is visiting from California, but couldn't find any the right size, so I decided to improvise some. Jack is 10 months, and although I haven't tried themon him yet, they look about right. It might be handy if you have your model to check the sizing as you go.

Hook: 4.00mm

Yarn: DK (any colour)

Mittens (Make 2 - I feel stupid saying that, of course you'll make two!)

Row 1: Chain 20 single crochet, join last stitch to first, using a slip stitch to form a ring. Work in a round from now on.

Round 2: Ch1, Single crochet one in all stitches, join with a slip stitch. (20)

Round 3 + 4: Ch2, HDC in each sc, join with a slip stitch. (20)

Round 5: Ch1, sc in spaces between HDC from previous round, join with a slip stitch. (20)

Round 6: Ch2, HDC in each sc, join with a slip stitch. (20)

Round 7: Ch1, sc in spaces between hdc from previous round, join with a slip stitch. (20)

Round 8: Skip 5 sc, slip stitch in the 6th sc, ch2 *2HDC in one sc, HDC in the next sc* round, join with a slip stitch. (22)

Round 9: Ch1, sc in spaces between HDC from previous round, join with a slip stitch. (22)

(At this point check the length of the mitten against the child's hand, you may want to add extra rounds if the mittens are short. Add as many as needed, just ensure that you end on a sc round)

Round 10: Ch2 *HDC in sc, HDC dec in the next sc* HDC dec in the last two sc, join with a slip stitch.

Round 11: Ch1, sc in spaces between HDC from previous round, join with a slip stitch.

Round 12: Ch 2 *HDC dec* around, join with slip stitch. (6)

Round 13: Ch1, 3 sc dec. Fasten off, draw yarn through remaining stitches and weave in.

Thumbs:

Go back to the skipped stitches from round 8.

Re-join the yarn anywhere it is not obvious.

Ch2, HDC in each of the 5 sc,join with slipped stitch.

Ch1, sc in each stitch around

Ch1, sc dec around. Fasten off, draw yarn through remaining stitches and weave in.

String:

Sc a long chain (long enough to go through both sleeves and around the back of the child, if you do it extra long, you can always put a knot in the back to take up the extra slack). Sc back along the chain to make it extra snap proof. Stitch to both mittens near the thumb.

Zeren

Hello to my little Christmas Eve creation Zeren. I was experimenting with crocheting cubes and decided to make something of it.

Instructions:

Hook: 4mm

Yarn: DK, any colour you like.

Head:

Round 1: CH 2 , in second chain from hook Sc 12. This will be worked in the round, so it may be useful to use a stitch marker at the start of each round (12)

Round 2: 1 SC in each of the next 2 Sts, 3 SC in the next st (these increases will form the corners) (20)



Round 3: 1 SC in each of the next 4 Sts, 3 SC increase in the next stitch (28)

4-11: Sc 28


Round 12: SC dec over three stitches(to make the corners to close the cube), SC in ea of the next 4 sts. (20 )

Round 13: SC dec over three stitches, SC in each of the next 2 sts (12)

Stuff.

Round 14: SC Decrease 4 times (4)

Fasten off with a slip stitch, leave tail for sewing.

Body:

1: Ch2, Sc 6 in second chain from hook (6)

2: Sc 2 in each st (12)

3: *Sc in 1 st, Sc 2 in next stitch* (18)

4: *Sc in 2 sts, Sc 2 in next stitch* (24)

5: *Sc in 3 st, Sc 2 in next stitch* (30)

6: In back loops only, *Sc in 3 st, decrease* (24)

7: Sc 24

8: *Sc in 6 sts, decrease* (21)

9: *Sc in 5 sts, decrease* (18)

10: *Sc in 4 sts, decrease* (15)

11-12: Sc 15

13: *Sc in 3 sts, decrease* (12)

14: *Sc in 2 sts, decrease* (9)

Fasten off with a slip stitch, leave tail for sewing.

Antenna:

Ch 8, HDC in 2nd chain from hook, Slip stitch into next chain, fasten off. and sew to centre of head.



Bow:

Chain approx 4 inches, tie into a bow and sew to head

Face:

Attach beads, buttons or safety eyes (these must be attached before stuffing head) and embroider a squiggly mouth. Variations include adding eyelashes to make her extra cute or a little pouty mouth.

Enjoy,

Kim xxx

P.s. I jotted down these notes as I worked, so if there are any problems please let me know.

Gryffindor scarf

I'm over halfway through Neil's Harry Potter scarf. He wants it a bit longer than I can be bothered to make it though to be honest!

I've used Stylcraft DK yarn in burgundy and gold and 4mm needles.

It was an improvised design after watching the most recent harry potter flick…

Cast on 40sts in burgundy

* Stockinette 44rows, starting with purl,

Change to gold, stockinette 2 rows,

Change to burgundy, stockinette 4 rows

Change to gold, stockinette 2 rows*

repeats between * * for as long as you want the scarf to be.