Laurel wreath pullover - new pattern

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My latest pattern is this gorgeous pullover which is called the Laurel wreath pullover. This is absolutely one of my favorites and I can't wait for winter to wear this beauty. I thoroughly enjoyed designing this round yoke sweater.

The pattern is now available in my Etsy shop and will soon be available in other shops too.

The pattern is written for 6 adult sizes - S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXL with finished chest circumference ranging from 32 to 54 inches. The sweater is worked from top down and the skill level is intermediate. I'm sure you'll love this pattern.

Stash busting and missing

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I finished the scrap yarn hexagon blanket that I started ages ago. I used the hexagon pattern from here and gave it a simple border using hdc stitches worked into the back loops. I love the way it turned out. 

 

I used all sorts of yarn in this. Some were fingering weight and some heavy worsted weight, but mostly DK weight.

Though I managed to use up hundreds of tiny leftover balls of yarn I still had a lot more, so I started another stash buster and it is almost complete. Images in another post but just a sneak peek here...

I noticed only today that my last post was exactly two months ago. I have been neglecting my blog and Instagram lately but I do have a reason for it. We have moved house again, this time to our own. On top of that my computer broke down, actually the computer broke down even before we moved, so I have been using a laptop and it took me forever to get used to it. I'm still not able to type fast on a laptop as I used to using a desktop. So now that I have somewhat settled in my new routine I hope to blog more frequently.

Though I'm happy to have moved out of our previous home (I felt that house was bad luck for me), I do miss a few things.

I miss the greenery there. There were many huge trees close to our house and it was very relaxing to watch the birds and squirrels that lived there. Here there are only houses, people and vehicles. I miss those birds and squirrels who were not only bold enough to venture inside our house but also felt safe enough to build a nest. Unfortunately we moved out before the squirrel babies came.

We also had an open courtyard, so it was free entry for pigeons. Sometimes they were fun to watch and sometimes they annoyed us by pooping everywhere. 

I really don't know how many eggs were laid and how many chicks were hatched there. There was always a pair rearing a baby or two. 

Finally it was heartbreaking to say goodbye to these two sweet doggos. They live on the streets and befriended us. Almost everyday they came to visit us. If the front door was closed they'll bang on the door to be let in. 

Black was a sweet girl, shy and timid, at the same time very alert and watchful.  Brown was very playful and naughty and a heavy sleeper. Once he lays his head down to sleep nothing will bother him, not food, not stranger, not even an earthquake. From the look of those two sitting together in the last image you might think that they are best buddies, but no, they are enemies who can't stand one another. They used to be okay with each other initially but the black started feeling jealous when Brownie too started to visit us regularly. (Initially it was only Blacky). So she refused to let him in while she was in the house. This led to a fight between both of them and from then on Blacky will not enter the house if Brownie was inside. Blacky had such an attitude. 

I hope these babies make new friends and live peacefully. We cannot have pets for various reasons, otherwise I would happily bring them both home. I miss them a lot.

Crochet bag - free pattern

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Hey, how are you all? How are you guys coping with the current situation? For me life is more or less the same before and during the lockdown. Lockdown in our country is supposed to end on May 4, but I'm not sure because the number of people affected by the virus only keeps growing day by day although it is comparatively much lesser than the US and European countries. Even though the numbers are fewer in my country, the lockdown has affected more people because majority of the population is employed in the informal sector and now their livelihood is lost, God knows for how many more months. Although I'm thankful that I need not worry where my next meal is going to come from, there are many who lead a hand to mouth existence. Though the government and several organizations are doing whatever they could to those in need, I don't think it reaches everyone, there may be many who are left out and helpless.

I hope we'll be able to put an end to this scary situation soon. 
Anyway, coming back to crochet, I'm happy to publish this free pattern for a lovely bag. Bring out all the scrap yarns that you have and make a colorful version of this bag. I used different types of yarns. For the main color I used two yarns of different weight and colors held together, the combined weight being worsted weight. You can use any type of yarn, but select a hook that is one size smaller than the hook suggested for that particular yarn because your stitches have to be tight without any gaps. 

You can also purchase a PDF version of this pattern for a small amount from here.

 

 Materials needed:

• Worsted weight yarns in 3 colors, main color (I used blue and green held together) approximately 160 yards, two complementing colors (green and black) about 65 yards each.
• Crochet hook size H/5 mm
• Yarn needle

Size

The bag measures approximately 14 inches wide and 8.5 inches high excluding the handle.

Gauge

14 sc and 14 rows = approximately 4 inches

Abbreviations/crochet stitches used:

** - Repeat instructions within asterisks as many times as directed
[] - Work instructions within parenthesis as a set as many times as directed
st/sts - stitch/stitches
ch - chain
sl st - slip stitch
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet

Note

The pattern is written in standard American terms

Instruction

Base

Round 1: Using main color (color A), ch 24, sc in the 3rd ch from hook, sc in next 20 ch, 3 sc in the last ch, sc in next 21 ch on the other side, 3 sc in next space formed by the 2 skipped chs at the beginning. Join with a sl st to the 1st sc. (48 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and in all rounds), sc in same st and in next 20 sts, 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in next 21 sts, 2 sc in 3 sts. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (54 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 20 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 21 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 3 times. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (60 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 20 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] 3 times, sc in next 21 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] 3 times. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (66 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 20 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] 3 times, sc in next 9 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] 3 times. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (72 sts)
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 20 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 3 times, sc in next 21 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 3 times. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (78 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 20 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] 3 times, sc in next 21 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] 3 times. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (84 sts)
Round 8: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 20 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts] 3 times, sc in next 21 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts] 3 times. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (90 sts)
Round 9: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 20 sts, [sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 21 sts, [sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st] 3 times. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. (96 sts) 

Body

Pull color B (green) through the loop and tighten the loop by pulling at color A. Continue working the next round with color B into the back loops only.
Round 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, **ch 3, 3 dc in same st (all worked into back loops only), skip next 3 sts, sc in the back loops of next st** Repeat from ** to ** around and join with a sl st to the 1st sc.

Round 11: Join color A in the next ch-3 space, ch 1, sc in same space, 3 dc in next sc, **sc in next ch-3 space, 3 dc in next sc** Repeat from ** to ** around. join with a sl st to 1st sc. 

 

Round 12: Join color C (black) in same st, ch 1, [sc, ch 3, 3 dc] in same st, **skip 3 dc, [sc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next sc** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to the 1st sc.

Round 13 to 23: Repeat rounds 11 and 12 alternating the 3 colors finishing with the main color A.

Round 24 to 26: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st to the 1st sc. (96 sts)

Handle

Round 27: Ch 1, sc in 3 sts, ch 20, skip 15 sts, sc in next 33 sts, ch 20, skip 15 sts, sc in next 30 sts. Join with a sl st to the 1 st sc.

Round 28: Ch 1, sc in 3 sts, sc in each ch, sc in next 33 sts, sc in each ch, sc in next 30 sts. Join with a sl st to the 1 st sc.
Round 29: Ch 1, sc in 3 sts, sc in 5 sts of the handle, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts of the handle, sc in next 33 sts, sc in 5 sts of the other handle, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts of the handle, sc in next 30 sts. Join with a sl st to the 1 st sc.
Round 30: Sl st in each st around. Fasten off and weave in the loose ends.

 I hope you enjoy this pattern. Stay indoors and stay safe!

Crochet flowers - new patterns

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Because of the lockdown I'm not able to buy any yarn, so I'm making use of the limited choice of yarns that I have to design small things. I designed a few flowers and listed them in my shops. I even have a free pattern for you of a lovely, delicate flower and leaf in my last post. If you haven't seen it click here. Like me I guess many of you also wouldn't have been able to buy any new yarns, So I hope these patterns would be of use to you with your limited supply of yarn at hand. Also, I'm running a 30% discount sale in my Etsy shop until the end of this month. I hope you'll all enjoy your quarantine time with lots and lots of crocheting! Stay safe and stay crocheting!

Crochet flower and leaf - free pattern

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Hi, how are you all doing? Unbelievable events are happening around us and the future has never felt so uncertain. Everything is getting scarier day by day and I refrain myself from watching the news as much as possible. How lucky we crocheters are to have something to keep ourselves distracted, something that we love doing day in and day out. My only regret now is that I don't have enough yarn to do any big projects. I do have a huge amount of yarn but not enough in each color or variety to design a garment, so I'm sticking to smaller projects. I was working on a cable stitch sweater which I have to put on hold indefinitely as I ran out of yarn. Now I've taken out all the small leftover balls of yarn to make beautiful flowers and leaves. Here is my free pattern for you.

Materials:

Use any yarn you have and a suitable hook.

Size:

The size of the flower may vary depending on the yarn and the size of hook used. The flower that is shown here was crocheted using lace weight yarn and 1.75 mm crochet hook and measures approximately 13.5 cm across.

Abbreviations used (US terms):

** - repeat instruction within asterisks as many times as directed.

[ ] - work instructions within parenthesis as a set as many times as instructed.

ch - chain

st/sts - stitch/stitches

sl st - slip stitch

sc - single crochet

dc - double crochet

tr - treble

dtr - double treble

If you wish to purchase the PDF format of this pattern you can do so from here for a small price. 

Flower

Ch 10, join the last ch with a sl st to the 1st st to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch 1, 20 sc into ring. Join the last sc with a sl st to the 1st sc . Ch 1, sc in same st,

Petal: Ch 15, tr in 7th ch from hook, repeat [ch 2, skip next 2 ch, dc in next ch] twice, ch 2, sc in next sc in the ring. Turn.

Ch 2, skip 1st ch-2 space, repeat [dc in next ch-2 space, ch 2] twice, tr and dtr in the last space. Turn.

Ch 6, tr in next ch-2 space, repeat [ch 2, dc in next ch-2 space] twice, ch 2, sc in next 3 sc in the ring.

Repeat the instruction for the petal 4 more times finishing with sc in one last st and joining with a sl st to the 1st sc at the beginning of round.

Edging

Round 1: **2 sc in ch-2 space, sc in next st, [3 sc in next space, sc in next st] twice, 4 sc in next space, 9 sc in next space, 4 sc in next space, [sc in next st, 3 sc in next space] twice, sc in next st, 2 sc in next ch-2 space, skip next sc, sc in next st** Repeat from ** to ** around.

Round 2: Sl st in 3 sc, ch 1, sc in each st around the petal skipping last 2 sc in the petal, **skip 2 sc in next petal, sc in rest of the sc in the petal, skip last 2 sc of the petal** Repeat from ** to ** around Join with a sl st to the 1st st and cut off yarn. Weave in the loose ends. Block the flower for best result.

Leaf

Round 1: Ch 16, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across finishing with [sc, ch 6, sc] in last ch. Turn.

Round 2: [ch 7, dc, ch 3, tr, ch 3, dtr, ch 7, dtr, ch 3, tr, ch 3, dc, ch 4, dc] in ch-6 space. Turn.

Round 3: Ch 3, 5 dc in 1st space, dc in next st, [4 dc in next ch-3 space, dc in next st] twice, [5 dc, ch 3, 5 dc] in next ch-7 space, [dc in next st, 4 dc in ch-3 space] twice, dc in next st, 5 dc in last space, ch 3, sl st in same space. Cut off yarn and weave in the ends.

I have more flower patterns as well listed in my Etsy shop.

The spring flowers and leaves pattern is a set of 3 flowers and 3 leaves.

This flower applique looks very pretty and is also easy to make. Both these patterns are available in my Etsy shop. Also I'm having a 40% discount sale in my Etsy shop. Don't miss it.

Stay safe and take care!

Sweet hearts crochet top

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The sweet hearts top pattern was meant to be published long before Valentine's Day but had to be delayed because life got hectic due to some renovation work that we are carrying out in our house. We will be moving to our own house next month and until we settle down there I won't be able to work on any new patterns. Anyway, I managed to complete it and publish it in my Ravelry store.

This pattern is written for 3 sizes - small, medium and large. It is a close fit sleeveless top which uses the cable stitch technique involving front and back post stitches. It's an advanced level pattern and is not suitable for a beginner. I have included step by step photos as well.

I'm also offering 50% discount until Valentine's Day. Use coupon code VAL50 on Ravelry to avail this offer.

Crochet cable hearts earwarmer - free pattern

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I love cables. I was working on a sweater involving cables when the thought of making hearts using cable stitches popped up. I searched the internet to see if I could find any interlocked cable hearts but I found only knit ones. So I came up with this one. I'm using it in a top that I'm working on now. Before I complete that I thought I would make a earwarmer using the interlocked cable hearts as a free pattern for you. You can use this pattern in various other items. You may add a few extra stitches on either side of the hearts to make a scarf. You can use the pattern in blankets, pillow covers or whatever. Note that this is a difficult pattern involving working around the posts and would be suitable only for those accustomed with cable stitches.  

Skill Level:

Advanced

Materials Used:

Sport weight/baby/2/fine yarn approximately 145 yards (wpi is 16) 

Crochet hook size 3.25 mm
Yarn needle

Size:

The earwarmer has a circumference of about 20 inches (51 cm) and width of about 4.7 inches (12 cm) and would fit an average adult head.

Gauge:

20 dc and 10.5 rows = approximately 4 inches

Abbreviations/Stitches Used:

ch - chain
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
bpdc - back post double crochet
fpdc - front post double crochet

Instruction:

Row 1: Ch 26, dc in the 4th ch from hook (the skipped 3 ch will count as the 1st st), dc in rest of the chs across. Turn (24 sts)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in next 9 sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, dc in rest of the 10 sts. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in next 9 sts, bpdc in next 4 sts, dc in rest of the sts across. Turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in next 7 sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in the 2 skipped sts working behind the fpdc sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the skipped 2 sts, dc in rest of the sts across. Turn.

Row 5: Ch 3, dc in next 7 sts, bpdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, bpdc in next 2 sts, dc in rest of the sts across. Turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, dc in next 5 sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in the 2 skipped sts working behind the fpdc sts, dc in next 4 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, dc in rest of the 6 sts. Turn.

Row 7: Ch 3, dc in next 5 sts, bpdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 8 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in rest of the sts across. Turn.

Row 8: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in the 2 skipped sts working behind the fpdc sts, dc in next 2 sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, dc in next 2 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, dc in rest of the 4 sts. Turn.

Row 9: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, bpdc in 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in rest of the sts across. Turn.

Row 10: Ch 3, dc in next st, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in the 2 skipped sts working behind the fpdc sts, dc in next 4 sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, dc in next 4 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, dc in last 2 sts. Turn. 

Row 11: Ch 3, dc in next st, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in next 6 sts, bpdc in 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts. Turn.

Row 12: Ch 3, dc in next st, fdpc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in the 2 skipped sts working behind the fpdc sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, dc in next 4 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts. Turn.

Row 13: Ch 3, dc in next st, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in 4 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts. Turn.

Row 14: Ch 3, dc in next st, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in the 2 skipped sts working behind the fpdc sts, dc in next 4 sts, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in the 2 skipped sts, skip 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in the 2 skipped sts working behind the fpdc sts, dc in last 2 sts. Turn.

Row 15: Ch 3, dc in next 5 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in next 8 sts, bpdc in 2 sts, dc in rest of the 6 sts. Turn.

Right side of row 15

Repeat rows 8 to 15 five more times.

Join the ends together. You can either sew them together or use sc sts to join.

Edging   

Work 2 rounds of sc around both the edges spacing the sts uniformly. Cut off yarn and weave in all the loose ends.

This is the top that I'm working on now where I have used the interlocked cable hearts.