A Hauntingly Good Time

A little ghosty, here for a visit!  Make him into a favor, decoration, pin, tag, magnet, toy, or whatever you'd like.  Happy crocheting and happy holidays!



About the Pattern:
Parentheses indicate a section to be repeated.
Brackets indicate a series of instructions to be worked into the same stitch.

Ghost

rd	directions	total
1	mc 6	6
2	(inc)	12
3	ss, sc, inc, sc, inc, ss
4	ch 2, turn, sc in the 2nd stitch from the hook, inc, sc, inc, ss
5	ch 2, turn, dc in the 2nd stitch from the hook, ss, [dc, ss], dc, ss, [dc, ss], fo, weave in loose ends
6	Embroider, sew, or glue on eyes and mouth

You can whip stitch two together for a puffier (and more finished) 3D creation.  This results in a piece perfect for gift tags, hanging decorations, and little toys.

Simply leave a long tail for sewing and do not add eyes or mouth on one of the two pieces.  Line the two finished pieces up together, back to back.  Being sure to keep the stitches in line, use the tail to whip stitch the pieces together.  Fasten off and weave in the loose end.


Please do not sell this pattern or reproduce it in any way.  If you would like to share it, please do not copy & paste, but instead link to this page.  Thank you!

Down at the Patch

Lil punkins just in time for Autumn!  So easy to make, you could whip up a whole patch in no time.  Great for Halloween favors, Thanksgiving place holders, decorations, little toys, gift tags, embellishments, you name it!

About the Pattern

This pattern is joined at the end of each round.  Each round is started with a chain.  The chain does not count as a stitch.   When you join, you will always join into the stitch just after the chain.

Parentheses indicate a section to be repeated.

Brackets indicate a series of instructions to be worked into the same stitch.

Pumpkin

rd	directions	total
1	mc 6	6
2	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc 2], (inc)	12
3	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc ], [tc, dc], dc, [dc, hdc], hdc, [sc, ss], [ss, sc], hdc, [hdc, dc], dc, [dc, tc], sc join stem color	18
4	ss in the chain space, ch 3, ss in the 2nd ch from the hook, ss, turn the piece over and ss into the stem color on the back-side (this will turn the chain to the side), fo, weave in loose ends

You can whip stitch two together for a puffier (and more finished) 3D creation.  This results in a piece perfect for gift tags, hanging decorations, and little toys.  For table place-card holders, only stitch the bottom together so that a card can be held between the two pieces.

Here is the pattern for the back piece:

rd	directions	total
1	mc 6	6
2	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc 2], (inc)	12
3	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc ], [tc, dc], dc, [dc, hdc], hdc, [sc, ss], [ss, sc], hdc, [hdc, dc], dc, [dc, tc], sc, fo, leave a long tail for sewing	18
4	Line the back piece up with the front, with the wrong-sides facing each other.  Whip stitch the pieces together, avoiding the stem, and keeping the stitches lined up evenly.  Fo, weave in the loose end.

How you embellish these little guys is totally up to you!  Embroider or add google eyes, beads, or buttons.  Enjoy!

Please do not sell this pattern or reproduce it in any way.  If you would like to share it, please do not copy & paste, but instead link to this page.  Thank you!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Don't be afraid!  These creepy crawlies are friendly!  

Why an applique, you might ask?  Well, the possibilities are many:

•    Gift Adornment

•   Magnets & Fridgies
•   Pins

•   Embellishments for anything from hats to bags

•   Cute Halloween Favors
•   Decorations - make a cluster into a cute garland!

•   And...they're just fun to make!

About the Pattern

This pattern is joined at the end of each round.  Each round is started with a chain.  The chain does not count as a stitch.   When you join, you will always join into the stitch just after the chain.

Parentheses indicate a section to be repeated.

Brackets indicate a series of instructions to be worked into the same stitch.

Spider

rd	directions	total
1	mc 6	6
2	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc 2], (inc)	12
	Leg: [sc, ch 4, ss in the 2nd ch from the hook, ss 2] the leg counts as one stitch
3	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc], [sc, leg], leg, [leg 2], sc, inc, inc, sc, [leg 2], leg, [leg, sc], sc, fo, weave in loose ends	18

You can whip stitch two together for a puffier (and more finished) 3D creation.  This results in a piece perfect for gift tags, hanging decorations, and little toys.

Here is the pattern for the back piece:

rd	directions	total
1	mc 6	6
2	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc 2], (inc)	12
3	[join to the 1st sc of the round, ch 1, sc], inc, (sc, inc), fo, leave a long tail for sewing	18
4	Line the back piece up with the front, with the wrong-sides facing each other.  Whip stitch the pieces together, avoiding the legs, and keeping the stitches lined up evenly.  Fo, weave in the loose end.

How you embellish these little guys is totally up to you!  Embroider or add google eyes, beads, or buttons.  Enjoy!

Please do not sell this pattern or reproduce it in any way.  If you would like to share it, please do not copy & paste, but instead link to this page.  Thank you!

Hide and Seek

It is an ongoing quest of mine to find a way to eliminate visible seams in my crochet pieces.  It isn't always possible to work in spirals - sometimes you need your rows to line up.  But who wants that ugly line running through their work?  Not me!
By trial and error, I found a way to hide that unattractive seam.  It isn't quite invisible, but to the untrained eye it blends right in.  This method is so simple that I'm sure I'm not the first person to discover it.  In case there are some people out there like me, who have never seen the technique before, I think it's worth sharing.


Here it goes:
1.  I always begin with a magic circle/adjustable ring.  When you are ready to join the circle, slip stitch into the first stitch of the round and then chain (1 for sc, 2 for dc, 3 for tc).  The chain counts as your first stitch of the new round.  If you need to increase in the first stitch, do so in the same stitch that you just joined to.  Work the rest of the round as usual.


2.  Instead of joining in the top of the chain at the end of the round, skip to the first stitch of the round after the starting chain.  Slip stitch and then chain (1 for sc, 2 for dc, 3 for tc).  The chain counts as the first stitch of the new round.  Make your second stitch in the same stitch that you just joined to.  Work the rest of the round as usual.


3.  Repeat Step 2 for the rest of the rounds!


Here's what it looks like:

As you can see, the technique works equally well for single, double, and triple crochet.  I hope you enjoy this method as much as I do.  
As always, happy crocheting!

Put a Lid On It

Beanies, bonnets, tams, berets, fezes, hoods, skullcaps, bowlers, fedoras, helmets, Stetsons, skimmers, pillboxes, crowns, derbies, and caps.  There's no doubt about it - folks like their hats!
In my opinion, hats are one of the best things to crochet.  Hat patterns can be super simple, perfect for a beginner.  Or they can be ornate and complicated - a great challenge.  And, of course, every level in between.  Hats can be made in any color, in many patterns and designs, from a vast array of yarns and materials, and can be adorned and decorated in any number of ways.  The possibilities are endless!
Best of all, hats have a purpose!  They look good, they keep you warm, and they show your style.  They also make wonderful gifts.  Yep - hats make outstanding crochet projects.  Time to get stitching!
Here are some great free patterns to get you started:

Butterfly Hat on Vallies Kids

Peek-A-Boo Flower Hat at Get Hooked

Crochet Hat at Piece By Piece

Tam at Purple Sage Designz

Crochet Hat at Knitting n Crochet

Mad Hatter Hat at Fun and Fang


A great big Thanks to the designers for these awesome patterns!
Happy crocheting!

The Write Stuff

Well, it is school time once again.  The kids have been sent off with hugs and kisses.  While all of the necessities have been bought, packed, and delivered, school supplies are still on my mind.  Perhaps some crocheting is in order!


Here is an absolutely adorable free pattern for colored pencils.  This is so cute, I just know I'm going to end up with a whole pencil box worth!

Colored Pencils at CRAFTYANNA

Here are some more great (and free) patterns to help ease your school and office supply cravings!

Spring Flower Pen by Crafts at Starlight at CraftTown.com

Pencil Case at Crochet Spot

Crayon Blanket by Enfys at All Free Crochet

Nubby at Fiber Doodles

Pencil Toppers at Chocolate Mints in a Jar


A big thank you to the designers!
Happy Crocheting!

This Little Piggy

Piglet, Pig Will & Pig Won't, Wilbur, Babe, Porky, Miss Piggy, Toot & Puddle, Pippo, Pumbaa, The Three Little Pigs, Hamm, Monokuru Boo, the list goes on and on.  Pigs have got to be one of the most popular animals there are.  Pigs are everywhere!

So it is just natural, of course, that so many are made into crocheted cuties.  Before we delve into the patterns, though, let's see some piggy fun facts!

• Pigs have no sweat glands, so they don't perspire.  When they get hot, they roll in the mud to cool off.  Piggies left out in the sun can get a sunburn.
• Pigs are one of the cleanest animals in the world.
• Pigs are one of the most intelligent animals.  They make great pets, can learn tricks, and can be potty trained.
• Pigs can smell up to 25 feet underground, which is why they're great at finding those truffles.
• Pig insulin is used to control diabetes.
• A pig's tongue contains about 15,000 taste buds - more than a human's (maybe we shouldn't feed them slop)!
• A pig's squeal can get up to 115 decibels.

I have two piggy patterns currently available:

Little Miss Rosalie

Piggins

Now that you have swine on your mind, here are some more patterns.  Make one - make them all!

Pig from Lion Brand

Leon the Pig by WireMySoul from DeviantArt

Little Pig from Homemade Zen

Sumo Piggies by Darlene Michaud from Craftster

Peninnah Pig from A Beautiful Ramble

Little Lucky Pig from Lucy Ravenscar

Little Piggy by Michele Wilcox from Coats and Clark

Devil Pig from Rabbiz Design

Link Pig from Nerdigurumi

Flying Pig by MyLoveAsDeep from Craftster

Thank you so much, designers, for the awesome porcine patterns!

Happy crocheting!

Poppets for Moppets

One thing that a lot of kids seem to enjoy is a good puppet.  I never played with them myself, nor did I give them to my kids, but I'm seeing the potential now.  Puppet theaters, for one.  So, maybe I've been missing out.  Maybe I bundled puppets together with ventriloquist dummies (shudder).  Maybe I was being unfair.  Time for a little redemption!

I went searching and there are some really cute patterns for crochet puppets out there.  Clearly, I'm going to have to make up for lost time!

Here are some patterns that you might be interested in:

Farmyard Finger Puppets from by Yvonne Boucher on Crochet Pattern Central

Dragon from Silvercharmster

Frog from Is Five

Cow, Kitty, and Pig from Coats and Clark

Yarn Puppet Scarf from Yarn Juleps on the Veranda

Shepherds Finger Puppets from 6ichthusfish

Puppet Dolly by Granny Judith from Crochet Patterns Only

Thank you, designers, for the great patterns!

Have fun puppeteering!  Happy Crocheting!