Boba Fett

Pattern on the way! Just finished this Boba Fett hat. I know nothing about Star Wars, but apparently this is cool???

Crocodile Stitch

I am putting the finishing touches to my pattern for this crocodile stitch cowl:

So, I thought I’d do a tutorial to go along with it.  You can either follow the instructions here (with the photos that are at a funny angle… it’s late here and I will fix them tomorrow!) or you can download them as a PDF.  They are both identical.  This is the PDF version: crocodile stitch tutorial

The instructions are for a swatch on how to make Crocodile Stitch, but the swatch is designed in such a way that you can carry on and make a cowl or a scarf if you like!

The instructions are using English crochet terms not American ones… so don’t get caught out!

Let’s get started…

Abbreviations

Ch – chain

tc – treble crochet stitch

sl st – slip stitch

Chain 19 stitches – the stitch is worked over a multiple of 3 stitches plus 1 stitch at the end, so you can go wider or narrower if you wish, but these instructions are for 19 stitches.

1)      tc in 3^rd stitch from hook, *ch2, skip 2 chain and 2 tc in the next stitch* repeat 5 times.

You should now have a ladder that looks a bit like this:

2)      Ch 1 and turn the work 90 degrees anti clockwise (if you’re right handed).

*5 tc around the first tc.  Ch1 and turn the work 90 degrees.

 5 tc around the second tc.

Sl st between the next 2 tc.*

Repeat between the stars twice more.  You now have 3 scales.

Ch 3 and turn work.

3)      tc in to the sl st.

*Ch 2, 2 tc in to middle of scale, ch2, tc in to space between scales* repeat this twice.

Ch 2, 2 tc in to middle of the next scale.

4)      tc 6 into the 3^rd tc:

Ch 1, 6 tc into the next tc.  Sl st between the next 2 tc.

*6 tc into first tc, ch 1, 6 tc into second tc* repeat this twice so that you have 3 scales.

 

Sl st into center of the last scale and chain 3.

 

5)      tc into the centre of the first scale.

*ch 2, 2 tc between scales, ch 2, 2 tc in middle of next scale* repeat this twice

Ch 2, 2 tc into last stitch on the row.

Repeat from 2 to 5 until you have reached your desired length.

Finish with either a row 2 or 4.

Fasten off and sew in ends as you would with any other projects.

I hope this has been helpful and I hope it makes sense.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me

Granny Square Security Blankets

I keep seeing things like this on Pinterest:

Lion Security Blanket – available for sale on Etsy (click picture for link)

and I really like them.  I think they’re super cute and the sort of thing most children would love.  Add to this that I seem to know a lot of people having babies at the moment, and I really want to make one.

The problem has been that I have been searching for them online (mainly on Pinterest) and I can only find them for sale as finished items.  I don’t want to buy one! I want to make one!!

So, I’ve been on a bit of a mission tonight, it’s not completely finished yet, but it’s definitely had a good start, and I’ve written the pattern as I’ve gone along too.  So I thought I might share that with you as a kind of early Christmas present.  I can’t guarantee this version is error free, but it’s a good start!!

Mine so far looks a little like this:

Granny Snuggler

I’ve decided to call it the Granny Snuggler – it’s quite late here and I couldn’t think of anything better!!  But the idea behind the pattern was to create a fairly generic head shape that could them be used to create a variety of animals by changing ear shape and facial features.

For this project you will need:

– DK / 8 Ply yarn (in as many or few colours as you wish)

– 2.50 mm crochet hook

– 3.50 mm crochet hook

– black embroidery thread/waste yarn

– fiberfill

– tapestry needle

I have written the pattern using ENGLISH CROCHET TERMS – don’t ask me why, I normally write my crochet patterns up in US terminology because it makes more sense to me, but for this pattern I have chosen to be awkward and not do that.

If you would like to download it, please click: Granny Snuggler

I would really love to see pictures if people make this! (And also to know that the pattern makes some form of sense) so please, please, please email me pictures of your finished / started / work in progress piece!! annahandknits@gmail.com

17th December… Already??

I’m starting this post with two apologies.  The first for being so crap at posting (new job, making birthday presents, making baby shower presents, making Christmas presents – those are my excuses).  The second is for the barrage of posts you’re going to get this evening.  I have a lot of catching up to do!!

I thought I would give you a quick run down of projects I’ve been doing and some of the fantastic free patterns I’ve been using.

So, to start…

It was my lovely friend Nancy’s birthday the other week, and I wanted to make her something, so having perused my Knitting, Crochet and Yarn board on Pinterest (if you’re on Pinterest you can follow me here if you like) I found this wonder cabled bag:

Viking Bag by Karen S. Lauger, available for download from Ravelry (click picture for link)

I absolutely loved it, and was pretty sure that Nancy would too.  The best bit was that Karen had kindly done the pattern for free!!  Winner.  You can download the pattern from Ravelry by clicking here.

Then there is this really adorable, really quick little crochet project – they almost look like owl nuggets!

Baby Owl Ornaments by Josephine Wu, free download from Ravelry

You can find the pattern for them on Ravelry by clicking here.

Another crochet pattern I’ve been having a lot of fun with is Crochet in Colour’s Ombre Basket.  It’s another free pattern and it’s a great stash buster.

Crochet in Color’s Ombre Basket – Free Pattern

I have a selection of other free patterns to share with you soon, but they’re Christmas presents so you’ll just have to wait a little while for those ones.

Proudly sponsored by Wibbling Wools

 

Teaching Knitting

Just a quick post because I’m super proud. My other half asked me to teach him how to knit, so I obliged not expecting anything to come of it, and to my surprise he’s spent today knitting like a machine:

I’m pretty impressed to be honest! Even the tension is looking good!