Bernat Handicrafter Holidays

Recently I bought a big ball of Bernat Handicrafter Holidays cotton yarn to crochet dishcloths ... an easy practical gift to give at Christmas. 

This big ball of yarn made fourteen and a half dishcloths. I folded the dishcloths twice and tied them in bundles of two to give as hostess gifts.

With the half dishcloth, I joined the short ends to make a cup cozy ... perfect for mugs without handles when they're too hot to hold.

If you would like to make dishcloths too, you can find my free pattern here. It's one of my favourite easy things to make.

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Pink Boo Bears

I have been busy making Boo Bears using pink yarn from my stash. So far I have made a total of four. Four Pink Boo Bears each with a unique look and character created using different types of pink yarn.

I usually start with the head then make a hood to fit. Next I make and attach the ears before adding a face. I prefer to keep the face simple stitching two black eyes plus a nose and sometimes eyelids. From there I make the legs and body followed by two arms and a tail. 

This Pink Boo Bear posed before and after joining. I love how the final assembly creates a new little Boo Bear ready and waiting to be cuddled. 

The next Boo Bear was made using slightly thicker yarn so is bigger than the rest. Also this Boo Bear's arms are a slightly different shade of pink. Working with yarn from my stash often requires improvisation.

So far I have finished four Pink Boo Bears. Two tall dark Pink Boo Bears and two small light Pink Boo Bears. The bigger bears were made with chunky yarns and the smaller bears with fine fuzzy yarn. 

All four of my Pink Boo Bears had fun posing together for these photos. 

 

 

Each Pink Boo Bear looks a little bit different yet still completely cute. 

If you would like to make a similar looking Boo Bear, check out my free pattern here. As always, happy crocheting.

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A Lamb and a Pumpkin

A Lamb and a Pumpkin together ... a perfect pairing for fall.

I continue to crochet using yarn from my stash most recently completing A Lamb and a Pumpkin. 

This lamb was was made using a multi-coloured textured yarn for the hood and body while the face and legs were made using beige worsted weight yarn. The textured yarn was challenging as it varied from thin to thick tending to snag and catch on the hook. Challenging yet so worth the extra effort. I love the look of this lamb. Isn't he sweet?

 

In keeping with the season, I also made a little orange pumpkin. 

A Lamb and a Pumpkin ... most definitely a perfect pairing for fall.

If you would like to make an adorable Little Lamb similar to this one, you can find the free pattern here designed by blogger Ashleigh at Sewrella.

If you would like to make a cute little pumpkin, you can find that free pattern here designed by blogger June at PlanetJune.

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Three Bear Hats

Our daughter and granddaughter stopped to admire hand-made hats on Pearl Street in Boulder. When our daughter mentioned Grammeo could make hats like that, our granddaughter asked for a bear hat. One without ear flaps. She is totally into bears these days.

They sent a photo for reference. Like this, but without the bee please.

I started our granddaughter's bear hat one week before our trip to Boulder. The first one was too big. I could tell because it fit me. The second one looked about right. I couldn't be sure because our daughter forgot to send measurements. Since these hats worked up quickly, I did one more in a smaller size for our littlest grandson making Three Bear Hats in total. A perfect surprise for our granddaughter and daughter.

 

 

 

 

 

These Three Bear Hats were a big hit with our granddaughter. She enjoyed donning her hat pretending to be a bear. Our youngest grandson tolerated his hat for short periods. The largest hat fit our daughter perfectly. I can just picture the three of them dressed as bears on cold winter days walking to school to pick up our oldest grandson ... so sweet.

To make these hats, I used worsted weight acrylic yarn in brown, off-white and black with a 5.0 mm hook. For the base of the hat I followed this panda hat pattern at Repeat Crafter Me making three sizes: child, toddler/preschooler and 9-12 months. I made the ears from my Buster Bear pattern. The muzzle is a simple circle worked using half double crochet. The nose is an elongated circle in single crochet. I added button eyes and embroidered the face using the long tail from the nose. Hats like these are an easy project sure to impress the little ones in your life.

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Honey Bee Pattern

HONEY BEE PATTERN

PDF Version

For more photos of this crochet Honey Bee check out my last post here.

Materials used:

1 ball (5 oz) of worsted weight yarn in bright yellow.

1 ball (5 oz) of worsted weight yarn in black.

Hook size = 3.5 mm

yarn needles to join pieces

Polyester Fiberfill for stuffing

Stitches used:

ch - chain stitch

ss - slip stitch

sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
tc - triple crochet

inc - sc increase

dec - sc decrease (sc2tog - single crochet 2 together)

Magic Circle - see how here (start each piece with magic circle)

Use stitch marker to mark end of rows (work in continuous rounds with no joining)

Time to Complete - 16 hours (approximately)

Finished size - 14 inches tall

Head

Use yellow yarn.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)

R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)

R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)

R8 - (6 sc inc) x6 (48)

R9 - (7 sc inc) x6 (54)

R10-18 – sc around (54)

R19 - (7 sc dec) x6 (48)

R20 – sc around (48)

R21 - (6 sc dec) x6 (42)

R22 - (5 sc dec) x6 (36)

R23 - (4 sc dec) x6 (30)

R24 - (3 sc dec) x6 (24)

R25 - (2 sc dec) x6 (18)

R26 - (2 sc dec) x3 + 6 sc (15)

R27 - sc around (15)

R28 - sc around (15)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for stitching nose. Stuff head and neck firmly to hold shape.

Cap

Use black yarn. Check to make sure cap fits head and adjust tension based on fit. You may have to move up a hook size if the cap is too tight.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)

R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)

R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)

R8 – sc around (42)

R9 – sc around (42)

R10 – sc around (42)

R11 – (6 sc inc) x6 (48)

R12-24 - sc around (48)

R25 - ss loosely around (48)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Position on head as shown in photos above. After attaching head to body, I like to wrap the tail from the cap around the neck to cover joining stitches.

Antenna (x2)

Use black yarn.

R1 - 4 sc (4)

R2 - inc x4 (8)

R3 - (sc inc) x4 (12)

R4 – sc around (12)

R5 - sc around (12)

R6 – (sc dec) x4 (8)

R7 – sc – dec – sc – dec – 2 sc (6)

R8-16 – sc around (6)

Finish off leaving 8" tail for joining. Attach to head (see photo above).

Body (black with three yellow stripes)

Start with black yarn.

R1 – 6 sc (6)

R2 – inc x6 (12)

R3 – (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 – (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5 – (3 sc inc) x6 (30)

R6 – (4 sc inc) x6 (36)

R7 – (5 sc inc) x6 (42)

R8 – (5 sc inc) x6 (48)

R9-12 – sc around (48) à Switch to yellow yarn using jogless join.

R13 – (7 sc inc) x6 (54)

R14 – sc around (54) à Switch to black yarn using jogless join.

R15-17 – sc around (54) à Switch to yellow yarn using jogless join.

R18 – sc around (54)

R19 – (7 sc dec) x6 (48) à Switch to black yarn using jogless join.

R20 – (6 sc dec) x6 (42)

R21-22 – sc around (42) à Switch to yellow yarn using jogless join.

R23 – (5 sc dec) x6 (36)

R24 – sc around (36) à Switch to black yarn using jogless join.

R25 – sc around (36)

R26 – (4 sc dec) x6 (30)

R27 – sc around (30)

R28 – (3 sc dec) x6 (24)

R29 – sc around (24)

R30 – sc around (24)

R31 – dec – 10 sc – dec – 10 sc (22)

R32 – dec – 9 sc – dec – 9 sc (20)

Finish off. Stuff body firmly.

Right Leg

Use black yarn.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5-R6 - sc around (24)

R7 - sc2tog x4 + 16 sc (20)

R8 - sc2tog x4 + 12 sc (16)

R9 – sc2tog x2 + 12 sc (14)

R10 – sc2tog x2 + 10 sc (12)

R11 – sc2tog x2 + 8 sc (10)

R12-R30 - sc around (10)

Finish off leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff only foot and part way up leg.

Left Leg

Use black yarn.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5-R6 - sc around (24)

R7 – 16 sc + sc2tog x4 (20)

R8 – 12 sc + sc2tog x4 (16)

R9 – 12 sc + sc2tog x2 (14)

R10 – 10 sc + sc2tog x2 (12)

R11 – 8 sc + sc2tog x2 + 8 sc (10)

R12-R30 - sc around (10)

Finish off leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff only foot and part way up leg.

Arms (x2)

Start with black yarn

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - sc around (18)

R5 - (4 sc dec) x3 (15)

R6 - sc around (15)

R7 - (3 sc dec) x 3 (12)

R8 - sc around (12)

R9 - (4 sc dec) x 2 (10)

R10-R30 - sc around (10)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff only hands and part way up arm.

Fore Wings - larger (x2)

Use light grey yarn.
Chain 15 leaving a long starting tail for joining
tc into third chain from hook, 3 tc, 3 dc, 3 sc, 3 ss (work in back bumps of chain)
Without turning work around bottom side of chain
ss into first chain, 2 ss, 3 sc, 3 dc, 3 tc
2 sc around post of last tc, 1 sc into ch (centre), 3 sc around starting 2 chains
ss to narrow end of wing
Finish off leaving a long tail for joining (should be two yarn ends together)

Hind Wings - smaller (x2)

Use light grey yarn.
Chain 12 leaving a long starting tail for joining.
tc into third chain from hook, 2 tc, 2 dc, 2 sc, 2 ss (work in back bumps of chain)
Without turning work around bottom side of chain
ss into first chain, 2 ss, 2 sc, 2 dc, 2 tc
2 sc around post of last tc, 1 sc into ch (centre), 3 sc around starting 2 chains
ss to narrow end of wing
Finish off leaving a long tail for joining (should be two yarn ends together)

Refer to photos of Honey Bee before joining the pieces. I like to pin pieces in place and pick the most pleasing look before attaching. 

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Crochet Honey Bee

I was inspired to make a Crochet Honey Bee way back in June when our niece named her baby "Beckett" which literally means "bee cottage". 

Since I couldn't find a free bee pattern, I decided to make my own. 

How hard could it 'Bee'?

I started with the head and cap (similar to my other patterns) then a striped body followed by two legs, two arms, two antenna and lastly four wings. I worked slowly a few rows at a time putting it down for long stretches busy with all sorts of other things. This was my summer crochet project. It took ages, but I finally finished and took some photos to share.

What do you think of this Crochet Honey Bee? Isn't he adorable?

If you would like to make a Honey Bee just like this one, I will be sharing the pattern soon on my Free Crochet Patterns page ... a Free Bee.

 

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Counting Crows Chair

I spent my birthday money on a chair with hand-carved images created by a Celtic artist who runs Sidhe Ring shop at the Western Fair Market. It was the last in a series he had done using old chairs rescued from Odd Fellows and Rebekahs Temple Caterers in St. Thomas when they renovated. He added a small stylized white hare to each piece calling them "Hare Rescue Chairs". Functional artwork from old chairs ... love it.

I was drawn to the crows on this chair. Seven crows hold strings supporting a girl in flight to represent a nursery rhyme called "Counting Crows". Above that a crow skull depicts the crow spirit. There are crows on either side of the chair perched on pointing hands with three crows on the arm of the chair. I just love the whimsical nature of these carvings. 

Counting Crows
One for sorrow, Two for joy
Three for a girl, Four for a boy
Five for silver, Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told.

I love love love my Counting Crows Chair ... a perfect choice for me.

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