Time to Get Back to Work

Kids blanket for Project Linus, maybe?? Using the Bouncy Ball Baby Blanket pattern with an extra round,

Round Baby Wash Cloth with Picots Free Crochet Pattern

OK, like I said the challenge was for bibs AND wash clothes so of course I had to do a baby wash cloth too. Here's the pattern:

Materials

Worsted weight cotton yarn

J hook

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Ch 3 and join
Rd 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc) 14 dc into ring (15 st)
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Rd 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc) dc in same st, 2dc into each dc (30 st)
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Rd 3: ch 3 (counts as first dc) *2 dc into next st, dc into next, repeat from * around ending with 2 dc in last st (45 st)
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Rd 4: ch 3 (counts as first dc) dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc into next 2 st, repeat from * around ending with 2 dc in last st

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Rd 5: ch 1, *2 sc in same st, hdc, dc, ch 3 and sl st in first ch (picot made) dc, hdc, repeat from * around join to first sl st and end

Easy Crocheted Pony Bead Schrunchie Free Pattern

I had a Fairy Godmother from Crochetville send me a package of yarn, chocolate and pony beads. I've been wanting to make some hair scrunchies with beads and this is what I've come up with.

You will need:

Hair elastic

Small amount light worsted weight yarn (I used Caron Simply Soft)

About 15 pony beads (I didn't use that many that's just to be on the safe side)

H hook

Thread the 15 beads onto the yarn

Attach the yarn to the hair elastic with a slip stitch ch1, sc onto elastic band, *ch 2, slide bead up next to hook and ch around it, ch1, 2 sc onto band, repeat from * until band is full, make sure it's completely covered but stretch the band to add more, end with* ch 2, slide bead up next to hook and ch around it, ch1* Join to first sc and end. Work in the ends and you're done.

I used 12 and 13 beads in the ones above, they were different size bands. How many beads you will use depends on the size of the elastic. It's better to have more beads ready then not enough.

Too Easy Scarf

I love how these scarves turned out, all of them are done with one strand of variegated yarn and another of white or black. I call it my double strand, double crochet almost too easy to call it a pattern pattern, the Too Easy Scarf for short. There are a lot of variations possible, my Thumbs Up scarf uses two strands that are very close in color giving it a tweedy look, this scarf used a strand of bulky in off white and a strand of self striping baby yarn to get an interesting effect.

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Too Easy Scarf

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Materials

Size M or N hook, two skeins matching or contrasting yarn (I'm going to guess about 3-4 oz each)

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Ch 14

Row 1: dc in 4th chain from hook, ch 3 counts as dc, dc in each ch (12 stitches)

Row 2: ch3 and turn (ch 3 counts as dc) dc in each dc across

Repeat row 2 until your scarf is as long as you would like

Cut yarn in 12 inch lengths for fringe, attach and trim

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Told you it was too easy, perfect for the beginner or if your trying to teach a child to crochet.

Novelty Yarn Scrunchies Free Crochet Pattern

These are so simple I can hardly call them a pattern, but I'll tell you how they are made any way. These are all made with different novelty yarns. The first two are fun fur, the second two are made from two different yarns I bought in a bag of yarn at a thrift store, not even sure what to call them. The bottom ones are made with a varigated boucle yarn.

The pattern is quite simple, you can experiment with hook sizes and the number of chains you use to get the effect you want.

Small amount of novelty yarn

Elastic hair band

Attach yarn to hair band, *sc, chain between 1 and 6, repeat from * until hair band is completely covered. I did all of mine with the same amount of chains through out but you can experiment with various combinations.

Thumbs Up Scarf

Boy, the color on that came out bad, it's supposed to be redder but I tried several times and that's the best I could get. My son gave me his old digital camera and I have to figure it out some day instead of using my cell phone.

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Anyway, I finally managed to finish a larger project!! I did it a couple rows at a time, picking it up, doing some until it became uncomfortable, and putting it down, several times a day.

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Why do I call it a Thumbs Up Scarf? Because when I work on my projects I always picture the child who might receive it. It doesn't really matter that the child doesn't look anything like the one I pictured or even if I pictured a girl and a boy was the final recipient. The images in my mind help keep me motivated and that's what counts. Anyway, back to the scarf, for a change I actually have a picture of some of the children who might be getting this scarf and the other things I and some of my readers are making. While I was working on this scarf I kept picturing the little boy in the second picture below who is giving the thumbs up sign to someone off camera. I will be making a matching hat for it as soon as I finish the one I have on the loom for the little boy in the front with the yellow coat.

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Please, if you have a little bit of extra yarn and time can you help me make hats, scarves and mittens for these children? Just email me at debsstuff55 (at) Yahoo (dot) com if you can help.

Baby Pompadour Scrunchie Free Crochet Pattern

In an effort to use up the last bits of the Bernat Sweet Stripes yarn I thought I'd make some hair pretties. I searched for a pattern but didn't find anything suitable I liked. I sort of had an idea of how I wanted them to come out so I started to experiment and this is what I came up with. It can be made with worsted weight but of course it wouldn't be as light and lacy which was the effect I was trying for.

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Hair Scrunchies

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1 ouchless elastic hair band

Small amount of Pompadour sport weight yarn

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Round 1: Join yarn to hair band with a slip stitch,* sc, ch 3 repeat from* around the band, cover the band completely without forcing it, join to first sc with a sl st.The amount of ruffling there is depends on how many stitches you use. If you want more ruffles try to get more stitches on the band.

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Round 2: sl st into 1st chain 3 space ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch 2) dc into same ch 3 space, *dc into next ch 3 space, ch 2, dc into same space, repeat from * until the end sl st to join

Little Bugs Finger Puppets Free Crochet Pattern

These little bugs are the last of the finger puppet patterns. (for now anyway).I used a G hook and worsted weight scraps. Color changes are optional and as the mood (or scraps) move you.

Ch 4 and join
Rd 1: ch 1, 6 sc in loop and join
Rd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in each sc and join
Rd 3 - 5: ch 1, sc in each sc and join

Rd 6: ch 1, sc in next 3 sc, ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 3 chs, sc in next 6 sc, ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 3 chs, sc in next 3 sc, join

Rd 7: ch 1, sc in each sc, skipping over the legs, join

Rd 8: ch 1, sc in each scand join

Rds 9 - 14; Repeat 6, 7 and 8 twice

Rd 15: sc, sc DEC in next two st, 2 sc, sc DEC in next two st, 2sc, sc DEC in next two st, sc and join

Embroider facial features

Topknot: (optional) Use 2 - 4 strands of yarn and attach to top of head as if you were making fringe, trim to the length you would like it and separate strands to fluff them up.

Wild hair: (optional) Thread a yarn needle with worsted weight yarn. Make 3 or 4 large loops and then cut loops, tie using a square knot, trim to the length you would like it and separate strands to fluff them up

I also have these finger puppet patterns:

Boy and Girl Finger Puppets

Stripey Worm Finger Puppets

Stripey Worm Finger Puppets Free Crochet Pattern

These guys are so easy to make I can hardly call it a pattern. This is such a great way to use up all those really small balls of yarn. Even the smallest pieces can be used to embroider the facial features or make the topknot. A lot of charities that deal with children take small gifts like these for the kids so make a bunch and donate them.

Stripey Worms

These are made with worsted weight yarn and a G hook. If you are making more than one stripe with the same yarn do not cut yarn after each round but carry it inside the worm and pick it up again at the next color change. This decreases the amount of ends you need to work in. When to change color is up to you, but if you like the hat look of the middle two change color after third row.

Pattern

Ch 4 and join

Rd 1: 6 sc in loop and join

Rd 2: 2 sc in each sc and join

Rd 3 - 10 or up to 15: sc in each sc changing colors as the mood strikes you, make as many rounds as you would like, you can make short or long worms like I did above

Last Rd: sc, sc DEC in next two st, 2 sc, sc DEC in next two st, 2sc, sc DEC in next two st, sc and join

Embroider facial features

Topknot: (optional) Use 2 - 4 strands of yarn and attach to top of head as if you were making fringe, trim to the length you would like it and separate strands to fluff them up.

I also have pattern for:

Boy and Girl Finger Puppets

Little Bug Finger Puppets

Boy and Girl Finger Puppets

OK, so I've gotten a little obsessed with the finger puppets. And of course once I start trying a few patterns for something I have to create my own. So I made this little girl in her bonnet and ruffled dress and little boy in his ballcap. The directions are below:

I used a G hook and scraps of yarn, I used a fuzzy baby yarn for the blond hair and mohair-look yarn for the brown.

Basic Body

With skin color yarn :

Ch 4 and join

Rd 1: 6 sc in loop

Rd 2: 2 sc in each sc

Rds 3 - 5: sc in each sc

Rd 6: sc DEC in next 2 sc around and end color

Changing to main clothing color

Rd 7: sc in each sc

Rd 8: 2 sc in each sc

Rd 9: sc in next 3 st. , (ch 4 sc in second ch from hook and next 2 ch). sc in next five stitches and repeat ( ) , sc in next 4 st.

Rd 10: sc in 3 st, [3sc in foundation ch of arm, 3 sc in the 3 sc of arm], 5 sc, repeat [ ] for other arm

Rd 11: sc in the 12 sc of body moving arms out of the way

Rds 12-17: sc in each sc

Rd 18: sc, sc DEC in next two sc, 2 sc, sc DEC, 2 sc, sc DEC, sc and end

Hats:

In yarn to match clothing color Ch4 and join

Rd 1: 6 sc in loop

Rd 2: 2 sc in each sc

Rd 3: sc in each sc

For girls hat

Rd 4: 2 dc in each sc and end

For boys baseball cap

Rd 4: 2 sc, 2hdc, 2 dc, 2hdc, 2sc, join and end

Sew hats to top of head

Hair

Join hair color yarn to one side of forehead right under brim of hat ch 4 and join in next stitch until forehead is covered for bangs, you can end here for boy, for girl ch 10 and join until you reach the other side of the bangs again.

Girls ruffly skirt,

Using dress color join yarn to post of any stitch three or four rows from bottom. Do 3 dc in the post of each stitch all the way around.

Embroider facial features

I also have patterns for:

Stripey Worm Finger Puppets

Little Bug Finger Puppet

Kid's IV Covers

I came across this really neat pattern for IV covers for kids in the hospital! They are so easy to make, I made like 7 or 8 of them yesterday in my spare time! They cover up the IV needle so the kids don't have to look at the yucky needle all day. This pattern (and a lot of others) can be found here on BevsCountryCottage

Project Linus

The first charity I made anything for and still my favorite is Project Linus. As I'm making each blanket I imagine a child reaching for it. Children in hospitals, scared and sick, happy to see the bright colors of my blankets. That may seem a little odd to some but that's what keeps me going. I'm also constantly thinking (and sometimes starting) the next blanket. Every color combo, every pattern I use inspires more ideas for more blankets. I will never be finished because I will always be planning the next one.

If you would like to help too, the rules are really simple. The blankets must be new, handmade and washable. They also ask that the colors be kid friendly. My favorite blankets to make are my rainbow blankets, sounds kind of fancy but they're just done in all the colors of the rainbow.

The national website can be found here, they have a listing of all the chapters across the country. Find the closest one to you and donate a blanket now!!!

The pattern for the granny square I used to make all these blankets can be found here.