Free bag pattern! Stash buster bag!

I guess this blog is turning into a free pattern blog. LOL! Anyway, I've got another one to share with you...this time, a bag! It's more of a tutorial than a pattern, but whatever. I had a couple skeins of Impeccable yarn from the craft store, and to be honest, I didn't really want to use 'em for anything...um...wearable. Too scratchy! HOWEVER, they made for AWESOME bag yarn! I think I may buy more of it in fun colors to make other bags. This bag worked up really quickly, but did require some sewing...there...now you've been warned. :)

Stash Buster Bag








Materials needed:


2 skeins of any ww yarn (use up stash of cheap yarn, in same, coordinating, or contrasting colors)
N hook
handles
fat quarter or other scrap fabric to line with
usual sewing supplies
*glue gun
*pin backing


*required for flower, but flower is optional



Pattern (hold 2 strands together):


Chain any odd number of chains

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next st, *sc in next, dc in next*. Repeat from * to end. You should end with a dc.


Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first st, dc in next st, *sc in next, dc in next*. Repeat from * to end. You should end with a dc.

Repeat Row 2 until you've reached your desired length.


Fold the piece together and sc or sl st the sides together. Attach handles using sc method or whipstitch. Line the bag however you like. Sorry...no pro at this. :) For the flower, I used the one from the Lion Brand Blooming Bag pattern. I really like it. Just glue a pin backing on the flower and pin on the bag.


In another post, I will show some pics of other bags I made with this stitch pattern. I am sure it has a name, but I don't know what it is. It creates a cool texture and because you use two strands together and a big hook, it moves so quickly! Plus, it's a good way to get rid of some of that crap yarn you KNOW you've got sitting in your bin somewhere....

Lazy Cable Hat - Free pattern!!

The hat in all it's beauty... Close up of the cable sequence...

My goodness, the patterns are coming fast and furious now! LOL Anyway, here's another hat I've put together. I love the look of cables but I am bit lazy...so, I came up with a lazy person's version of cabling. I hope you like it. I added a little video tutorial (I think I am going to be addicted to those things!) to help explain the cable sequence. Enjoy!

Lazy Cable Hat

NOTES: K hook, ww yarn, join each round

Round 1: Ch 3, 9 dc into 3rd ch from hook (10 dc)

Round 2: Ch 3 (doesn’t count as a stitch). 2 fpdc around each dc from Round 1 all the way to end of round (20 fpdc)

Round 3: Ch 3 (doesn’t count as a stitch). *2 fpdc around each of the next 4 fpdc from Round 2, 1 fpdc around next fpdc from Round 2* Repeat from * to end of round. (36 fpdc)

Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as a dc from here to end of pattern), dc in same st. Fpdc next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, fpdc around same st and around next 3 st. *2 dc in next st, fpdc next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, fpdc around same st and in around next 3 st.* Repeat from * to end of round. (36 fpdc, 24 dc)

NOTE: at this point your hat will be really floppy. Don’t worry! It will work itself out shortly.

Round 5 (beginning of cable sequence): Ch 3, bpdc around dc from Round 4, fpdc around 2nd fpdc from hook, fpdc around skipped fpdc, bpdc next 2 st, fpdc around next 4 st, *bpdc next 2 st, fpdc around 2nd fpdc from hook, fpdc around skipped fpdc, bpdc next 2 st, fpdc around next 4 st* Repeat from * to end of round. (36 fpdc, 24 bpdc)

Round 6: Ch 3, bpdc next st, fpdc next st (this will be buried under another fpdc – use your hook or pull your work slightly apart to find it), fpdc next st, bpdc next 2 st, fpdc next 4 st, *bpdc next 2 st, fpdc next st (this will be buried under another fpdc – use your hook or pull your work slightly apart to find it), fpdc next st, bpdc next 2 st, fpdc next 4 st* Repeat from * to end of round (36 fpdc, 24 bpdc)

Round 7 (end of cable sequence): Ch 3, bpdc around next st, fpdc next 2 st, bpdc next 2 st, fpdc next 4 st *bpdc next 2 st, fpdc next 2 st, bpdc next 2 st, fpdc next 4 st*. Repeat from * to end of round. (36 fpdc, 24 bpdc)

Repeat Rounds 5 – 7 4 more times.

Brim Round 1: Ch 3, dc in next st and ea st around. (60 dc)

Brim Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as bpdc), *fpdc around next dc, bpdc around next dc* Repeat from * to end of round. (30 fpdc, 30 bpdc)

Brim Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as bpdc), *fpdc around ea fpdc, bpdc around ea bpdc* Repeat from * to end of round. (30 fpdc, 30 bpdc)

Brim Round 4 – 5: repeat Round 3. If the hat needs to be a bit longer, just repeat this round until desired length is reached.

Don't be daunted by the looks of this pattern. Trust me; if I can do this pattern, and even write it, YOU can do it. :)

Seamless, beaded cancer cap

Well, it's about time for another free pattern...dontcha think?! I've been on a beading kick lately, as well as pumping out a ton of caps for my fave cancer charity, Knots of Love. Anyway, beads typically fall to the back of crochet work, so I tried for HOURS to figure out a way to keep my beads to the front. Mission accomplished! So, with no further ado...enjoy! And please make some caps for those in need!

Seamless, beaded charity cap

NOTES: WW yarn, I hook, place stitch marker at beginning of each round, pre-string desired number of beads

PATTERN:
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc into 3rd ch from hk (12 dc)
Round 2: 2dc in first dc of previous round, 2 dc in each dc around (24 dc)
Round 3: 2dc in first dc of previous round, 1 dc in next st, *2dc in next st, 1 dc in next st*, *repeat to end of round (36 dc)
Round 4: 2dc in first dc of previous round, 1 dc in next 2 sts, *2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 st*, *repeat to end of round (48 dc)
Round 4: 2dc in first dc of previous round, 1 dc in next 3 sts, *2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 st*, *repeat to end of round (60 dc)
Round 5 – to finish: dc in each dc.

BEADING:
When the cap reaches about 2” from the desired length, slide first bead down. Insert hook into same st as dc just made, BEHIND working yarn, making sure bead is in FRONT of work, sl st bead into place. Dc in next two st and repeat to end of round. Complete one round with beads, and then one without. Or, put beads on every two st to the end of the hat. Or just one row of beads at the bottom of the hat. So many possibilities! Be absolutely sure that the beads are sitting on top of your work. No cancer patient is going to want beads scratching up their lovely heads.

this is what your work should look like from the back...

And, tah dah! My first video tutorial. This should help explain the beading process...

Jingle Bell Cuff Bracelet free pattern

Ever tried crocheting with beads? Yeah, me neither. But, I'm in a festive spirit, and need a break from this ridiculous order of 11 scarves due in 11 days. Soooo, I decided to make a little cuff bracelet with some jingle bells. I've kind of seen beaded crochet done before, but I don't really know what I'm doing, so I decided to wing it. I also took lots of pics, to help out any other newbies. You will only see the pictures of my successes; believe me, there were many failures. LOL!

I used worsted weight yarn, 12 bells, an I hook, some holiday buttons, and a needle and thread.

First things first, in beaded crochet, it's uber important to string the beads, or bells in this case, on to your yarn BEFORE you begin. Just keep sliding them down the yarn until you are ready for them. Unfortunately, this means you kind of need to plan ahead and really know how many beads you need. Of course, you could always put extra beads on the yarn just in case. Also, I learned the hard way to make sure your beads are in front of your work when you move them down the yarn. Otherwise, the bead moves to the back of your work.

OK, so on with the pattern...

Jingle Bell Cuff Bracelet

Ch 11

Row 1: Turn, sc in 2nd ch from hook, and all the way across (10 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in ea sc all the way across (10 sc)

Row 3-5: Repeat Row 2

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in first sc, attach bell (slide bell right in front of your work, insert hook into next sc with bell and working yarn in front of work, complete sc as normal. See pictures), sc in next 6 sc, attach bell in next sc, sc in last sc

Row 7-11: Repeat Row 2

Row 12: Repeat Row 6

Continue this pattern until you run out of bells.

Repeat Row 2 five more times.

Ch 1, turn, sc in first sc, ch 4 (more or less depending on the size of the button you use), sk next sc, sc in next 6, ch 4, sk next sc, sc in last sc.

Ch 1, turn, sc in first sc, 1 sc in ch 4 sp, sc in next 6 sc, 1 sc in ch 4 sp, sc in last sc.

Repeat Row 2 one last time.

Sew buttons on near the original ch.

Voila! You are done! I hope these pics made it easy to understand. I can't believe I've finally crocheted with beads! I am looking forward to making other stuff too...whenever I get a minute. :)

Versatile Flower pattern

So....here is the pattern I promised! I've done it with super bulky weight yarn, and worsted weight. Works great for both! Here I will show the pattern done with ww...

Versatile Flower

very small amounts of worsted weight yarn

H hook

optional button

R 1: Ch 4, sl st in first ch to make a circle

R 2: Ch 1, 10 sc in the circle, sl st in first sc to close the circle (10 sc)

R 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in ea sc, sl st in first sc to close the circle (20 sc)

...At this point, you can change yarn colors, or keep the same yarn...

This part is a little tricky, and you may need to finagle your stitches a bit.

R 4: Sl st in the BLO of the next st loosely (because you are going to end up joining the petal here at the end of this round), *skip the next st, 7 dc in the back loop of the next st. Skip the next st, sl st in the BLO of the next st*, all the way to the end. You should end up with 5 petals of 7 dcs each, all in the BLO. Join with a sl st to the first sl st...or wherever it looks right. :)

R 5: Sl st into the FLO right below where you joined the back row. Now follow the directions for the back row of petals, but use 5 dcs in the petals, and make all your stitches in the FLO. Join to first sl st. Pass hook through to the back of the flower. YO, draw up loop, clip yarn, and fasten off.

Now, if you feel like it, add a little pizazz with a button or something.

I hope this is fairly easy to understand. It may look difficult, but I think once you try it, you will like it! Just remember it is essentially 5 petals of 7 dcs in the back loops, and 5 petals of 5 dcs in the front loops (a bit off-set though to add dimension).

Oh, and here is a picture of the flower in super bulky yarn:

coming soon...new pattern!

It's been FOREVER since I've posted here. I've been so busy with the kids and crochet. I have a show coming up, so I've been making as much product as possible. Anyway, thought I should pop in and share a free pattern for a flower! I couldn't find a pattern that used bulky yarn to my happiness, so I made up my own. Use it and enjoy it!

Oops! The kids are up. I will be back later...with a pattern and pics!

update on my clan

Well, it's been crazy. As usual. I've been sewing as much as I can, making super cute baby shoes, purses...well, you name it. Now how can I possibly find time to sew and crochet when I have so many small children? Take a look at the dark circles under my eyes and you will see the answer. I am sleep deprived. But I gladly give up sleep to craft. Why, you ask? Because if I don't have a creative outlet, I will go insane. So it sucks for my health, but it's good for the health of my family. LOL! When I'm stressed, I sew. When I'm worried, I crochet. With two active sons and a daughter that's kept me on the brink of a mental breakdown, it's no wonder I never sleep...but damn I make lots of things!

So, to add to my stress levels, my daughter appears to be suffering from the same type of asthma my eldest son has. On a routine visit, a new doctor was listening to her breathe and taking quite some time. He turned to me and said something that just took me by surprise. He said, "I want to get a chest Xray because I hear a heart murmur. The last Xray you had for her showed an enlarged heart, and I want to see for myself." Well, I was unaware of any enlarged heart, and I was instantly worried. Apparently, heart disease can be masked by symptoms of asthma.

Two EKGs, and echocardiogram and another chest Xray later showed that my baby does indeed have an enlarged heart and blood vessels because, get this, she has a large hole in her heart. It's called an atrial septal defect, ASD. Luckily, because he caught it early, it's fixable and should not pose any problems in her little life. It's not the cause of the asthma, which was not a surprise to me because we have asthma in the family. According to the cardiologist, lots of babies have small holes in their hearts but they heal themselves and no one ever knows about it. Every once in awhile though, the holes are quite large and have to be medically addressed. If my new pediatrician had not listened, really listened, we might not have known until she was older and possibly symptomatic. We went in for asthma and came out with a heart defect, although she definitely still also has asthma.

When it rains it pours. So, does this mean I will have to stress about her for the rest of her life? Have to? No. But will I? Abso-frickin'-lutely.

Anyway, I am going to post a tutorial on a purse pretty soon here. Working on it and taking pics now! Check back later...