Topknot stripes baby hat

Hello there!

Here's a new pattern for you - a cute baby hat with a knot in the top. It exists in two sizes - 0-3 months and 3-6 months, and in two different categories of yarn, dk and worsted.

Here's the pattern in the first size and in dk yarn, instructions for alternative size and yarn can be found at the end of the pattern.


You will need:

• Small amount of yarn in two colours. I used Rowan by Amy Butler belle organic dk (cotton/wool)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook
• 4 mm crochet hook

This pattern uses US crochet terms hdc and dc. In English terms these are half treble and treble.

Gauge for dk:  4 dc and 2.5 rows per inch with 4 mm hook
4 dc and 3 rows per 3cm with 4 mm hook.

The hat is crocheted from the top down.

You'll need to know how to make a magic circle (see this video)

Do not cut off the yarn between rows but leave the yarn in the INSIDE of the hat and pick up the new colour for each alternate row. 

How to change colour:
Finish off each row with a slip stitch. Then pull through a loop of the other colour (B), and pull the thread of colour A to tighten it and make it (practically) invisible below colour B. Work three ch at the beginning of the new row with colour B, and continue crocheting around. 

You will work the odd rows in colour A and the even rows in colour B

Row 1 - With Colour A and 3.5 mm hook make a magic circle and work 8 hdc into it. Join with ss to the first stitch.

Row 2 - Join Colour B, work 3 ch, 1 dc in base of the 3 ch, then 1 dc in each st around. (9 sts)

Row 3 - Join Colour A, work 3 ch, then 1 dc in each st around. (9 sts)

Rows 4-19 - Continue in pattern

Row 20 - 3 ch, [2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts] to end (13 sts)

Row 21 - 3 ch,  [2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 sts] to end (15 sts)

Row 22 - 3 ch, [2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts] to end (20 sts)

Row 23 -  same as row 22 (27 sts)

Row 24 - 3ch, [2dc in next st, 1 dc in next st] to end (40 sts)

Row 25 - change to 4mm hook and work 1 dc in each st around (40 sts)

Row 26 - 3ch, [2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 sts] to end (47 sts)

Row 27 - 3ch, [2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 6 sts] to end (1 dc in last 3 sts) (53 sts)

Row 28 - 3ch, [2dc in next st, 1 dc in next 7 sts] to end (1 dc in last 4 sts) (61 sts)

Rows 29-32 - 1 dc in each st around

Row 33 - 1 hdc in each st around, fasten off.

Now fasten a loose knot in the top of your hat and you're done!

Using worsted weight yarn:


Gauge for worsted: 4 dc and 2 rows per inch with 4 mm hook
5 dc and 2.5 rows per 3 cm with 4mm hook



To make the 0-3 months size, follow the pattern down to row 26. Then from row 27 onwards, do not do any more shaping. Work 6 rows in straight dc, then finish with a row of hdc.

To make 3-6 months size, follow the pattern down to row 32. Then work two more rows in straight dc, and finish with a row of hdc.


I hope you enjoy making these little hats. If you have any questions or comments, please tell me and I promise to respond.

As usual, please do not sell this pattern. Do not post this pattern to any website, but link directly to my blog. No file sharing of this pattern.

Zigzag

I've been working on this granny ripple blanket for a while. I've promised myself and its future owner that it will be finished before the cold weather starts again, let's say in mid-September. It's my first big blanket, and I'm working on lots of other projects as well so I really need to give myself a deadline. Can I ask you other blanketers how long it took you to finish off a single-bed size blanket?

PS I'm still testing the new pattern I mentioned last time, should be ready soon...

A cushion to join the other grannies

Hello there!

You may remember this post where I introduced my granny pouffes and sofa armrests. That was way back in December!  Well since then, I'd been meaning to make a matching cushion to brighten up my boring beige but very comfy sofa. Well, here it is:

Before I forget, thanks to Barbara at Made in K-town for introducing me to Photoscape, with which I made this photo mosaic.

As you can see, the cushion is different on each side, one side's more colourful and the other side is more classy, I find. What do you think? I'm now out of stock of all that yarn but I still have one beige and two dark red cushions to cover, so I'm wondering if I have any other suitable yarn in my stash... Hmmm...

I've also been busy working on a new pattern... but more of that next time.

Owl Obsession

Yes, most of the lovely followers of this blog will have realised by now that I have A Thing About Owls.

Little felt owl brooches, crochet owl key rings, amigurumi owl toys, owls, owls, owls. And recently I've made some more owls. Would you like to meet them?

Here's an owl made with my free pattern, that was to be given away as a gift. I made a little owl tag saying it was an organic and fair trade owl, and giving the washing instructions and the address of my blog.  I do  like this pink and purple owl. I hope its new owner likes it as much as I do.

And here's a big fat cushion owl, made for my daughter. I took its photo next to a 'normal' sized owl so you can see how much bigger it is. I made this owl with some turquoise variegated wool for the bottom part and the wings, and bobbly turquoise cotton for the top. I was so pleased to find those buttons for the eyes. They add a bit more character, don't you think?

I used some more organic fair trade cotton yarn (Debbie Bliss eco aran) to make this owl hat. I used a simple ear flat hat pattern and added eyes, "ears" and a beak to transform it into an owl . I used this pattern, but there are plenty of free earflap hat patterns available. The ties aren't as long as I'd have liked, but I ran out of yarn! I can't buy that yarn around here, unfortunately, and I only had one ball of each colour so had to make do. But I think it looks OK. It's for a two-year-old.

I even like books about owls. I still have two of my children's books about owls: One in English called Owl Babies that now comes with a free DVD, which YES!!! is also available online. It is so cute. The other book about owls is in French and its title is Onze Petites Chouettes (Eleven little owls). This book is so beautifully illustrated, here are some photos I took of the wonderfully detailed illustrations for you to enjoy: 

Toowhit toowhooo!

Sunshine Award

I have received the Sunshine Award from Barbina at Little Things made with Love and MarieAnge from Lokipan Crochet Designs. Thank you to both of you! I particularly like this award because there are things to do. And here they are:

Sunshine Award Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Answer the 10 questions on your favourite things.
3. Nominate 10 blogs to receive the Sunshine Award and let them know they've been nominated.

So I've done the first one, now here's the rest:


1. Favourite animal

Giraffes are my favourite animals. They are so, so beautiful, elegant and graceful. I love that they are so tall and unique. I love the pattern on their coats, I love their long tongues and their long sweeping eyelashes. Yes, giraffes are definitely my favourites.

2. Favourite number

I've never really thought of this before, but upon reflection my favourite number must be pi. Pi is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. We all remember using it at school, 3.14.... And that's another thing that's fascinating about Pi. It has lots and lots of numbers after its decimal point. Some people have fun memorising them, but I don't do that, I crochet.

3. Favourite drink

Hmmm. Grape juice. Red grape juice, please. Nice and cold from the fridge.

4. Facebook or Twitter

I do have a facebook account, but I don't mix it with my blog.

5. My passion

Crochet!

6. Getting or giving

Both.

7. Favourite pattern

Oh there are lots of these! One I have been wanting to make for a while is the Chevron Lace Cardigan. It looks absolutely stunning when it's well made, it's a pattern I could not possibly write myself, and it looks fairly simple and quick to make. Who could ask for more?


8. Favourite day of the week

Saturday. It's the first day of the weekend and I spend time doing things I like. I go to the market in the morning and buy lots of lovely fresh fruit and veg, and enjoy spending time with my family, but also reading, crocheting, checking out my favourite blogs, ravelry and my email, and even sometimes do a bit of housework and ironing!

9. Favourite flower

My favourite flowers are freesias. I love their smell and they remind me of my Mum.

10. Favourite country

I need to visit some more countries before I can decide on my favourite. I like England because I was born there, France because I live there, but I'm still searching for my favourite. Considering how old I am, I've not been to many places. Let me think... France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, England, Wales, Scotland, Morocco, Tunisia, South Korea and Venezuela. Over the next year or two I'm hoping to visit South Africa, Spain and Iceland.


Now for my ten nominations:

Janet from Yellow, Pink and Sparkly

Lynda from Hookin' with Laalaa

Marlene from pontinhos meus

Grace from The Smiling Robot

Kim at Woolly Toons

Sandra at Cherry Heart

Christelle from A voir etc.

Sarah from Repeat Crafter Me

Tracy at Patchwork Chickens

Sue at Sue Webb

Now I'm off to spread the news!

Holiday memories no. 2 - Giant crochet lions at Chatsworth

Before I left on holiday I'd seen a link (I think it was on one of the Ravelry forums) about a exhibition of giant crochet lions that was travelling around the country before landing in London in time for the Olympics. So I clicked on this link, and discovered that the first part of the lions' journey would be at Chatsworth. Chatsworth is a gorgeous English stately home in the Peak District in the north of England. And it is not far from where my family lives. So of course, we arranged a trip to Chatsworth. We chose the first very sunny day, and enjoyed the drive among the green rolling hills, spotted with little white fluffly lambs. So cute!

Chatsworth House

Chatsworth has been the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire since the 17th Century. It is a huge estate, and the house and its gardens are only a part of it. I must say that it is extremely well run, very beautiful and a great day out!

We started by visiting the house itself. We missed the guided tour but in fact it was fine. The house had plenty of staff to answer questions and each room contained printed sheets with all the information and history. Sorry I didn't take any photos!  After lunch, we also visited the gardens.

The fountains

The waterfall

Bluebells

And then we went to find the lions. They were in a big glass case, just in front of the house but as we'd accessed it from the side we'd almost missed them. Because of the glass case it was a bit difficult to take decent photos... these are the best I could do!

The BBC very recently made a three-part documentary about Chatsworth (but filmed before the lions moved in). If you can see it, it's really worth watching.