Scarf with a surprise!

Good morning lovelies!  I've been working on this scarf for the past couple of days...I will be getting the pattern up soon...it has a fun little surprise twist that I have in store for you...stay tuned and see!

Granny square goodness for a doll's house

I've been trying to whip up a few little gifts for the upcoming holiday season this week so I can tuck them away and feel like I'm ahead of the game!  Here is something I've been working on...aren't these colors wonderful?

These are going to spruce up a doll's house, because I believe everyone (even dolls) should have hand stitched loveliness surrounding them at all times, am I right?  The granny square is going to grow a bit and become a blanket and the round scalloped number is going to be a little rug.

In case you missed it a while back, here's how to make your own granny squares:

Click here for Granny Square photo tutorial

As for the round scalloped "rug" I used this pattern:

Click here for Kitchen Lovelies crochet pattern

Happy stitching to you on this beautiful fall Wednesday!

Free Crochet Pattern...Pumpkin Patch Edging!

Here is a cute edging for your fall festivities...a crochet edging with sweet little pumpkins in a little row!  It is super simple and fast...you can have your own pumpkin patch in no time!  Suitable for chunky yarns or lighter weight yarns too...experiment to see what you like best!

Pumpkin Patch Crochet Edging

By Jennifer Dickerson

Note: This edging looks super cute in a multitude of different yarn weights...the pumpkins above were made with Wool Ease Thick and Quick (N hook), while the pumpkins below in the tutorial were made with worsted weight (H hook), see what you like best!

Here's what you do:

For demonstration purposes, I made a little swatch to build it off of...just a few rows of double crochet,

The edging is made of multiples of 3, so plan accordingly.  The edging has a single crochet foundation row, so I tied the "dirt" color for my pumpkin patch into the left corner...

Now work a row or single crochet in each space all the way across, 

Now tie your pumpkin color in the left hand corner of your piece as well (I didn't weave in my ends as I went along, but it is much less work later if you do it as you go along).

Now in the first space, work one single crochet, next space work one single crochet...now you're ready for your first pumpkin! 

In the next space (the entire pumpkin will be in this space), work a slip stitch,

then a double crochet, 

then a treble crochet, 

now chain three for the stem,

and make a slip stitch in the third chain from the hook to finish the stem,

stem is now complete...

now work another treble crochet, 

and a double crochet,

and finish it off with a slip stitch. 

To keep going, work a single crochet in the next space, a single crochet in the next space, and you're ready for another pumpkin!

There you have it...add some pumpkins to garments, a cozy fall afghan, or embellish the top of a Halloween goodie bag!  How about a fall scarf too?

Free Crochet Pattern...Pavement Infinity Scarf!

When I designed this scarf, I wanted to create something minimalistic and elegant, and let the stitches speak for themselves.  This is a lovely piece for both fall and winter and is crocheted with a simple but beautiful stitch sequence.  This is an a ideal gift pattern because the recipient can choose just how they want to wear it!

Pavement Infinity Scarf

By Jennifer Dickerson

Materials:

• N (9.0 mm) Crochet Hook
• 1.5 Skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick
• Tapestry Needle (for weaving in ends)

Sizing: 

• Width-6.5 inches
• Circumference-Scarf pictured is 60 inches long.  Easily customize to the length you need by adding or subtracting rows.

Instructions:

Ch 19

Foundation Row: In the 4th chain from the hook, work dc, ch 1, dc in the same ch. *Skip two chains and then in the next ch, work dc, ch 1, dc in the same ch.  Repeat 3 more times from * to end, then in the last ch, work 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc in the same ch.

Row 1: Turn, ch 3 and work dc, ch 1, dc in each of the chain 1 spaces from the previous row (center of each "V").  At the end of the row, finish with a dc in the last space (ch 3 turning space).

Repeat row 1 until 60 inches long or desired length.

Finishing:

Whip stitch the two ends together.  Weave in all ends and you're finished!  

Here are a few more ideas for wearing your scarf...you can wear it in a "keyhole" style...

Bunched up around your neck...

Or in long loops like a necklace...

© Jennifer Dickerson 2013

Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only. In addition, if you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog (including other languages). Thank you!

If you like this pattern, you'll like these too:

 

Click here for Meringue Cowl pattern

Click here for Pinot Noir Infinity Scarf pattern

Almost finished...

I'm almost finished this one...I'm using one of my tried and true go-to yarns, Wool Ease Thick & Quick...I especially love this color, a soft gray, very elegant.   Looking forward to sharing this one with you soon!

How to Knit Seed Stitch

Seed stitch in knitting is one of my most favorite stitch patterns.  It is also referred to as British Moss Stitch or Irish Moss Stitch.  It is simple to do, lays flat, is full of texture, and is so incredibly beautiful.  What more could you ask for?

Here's how to do it...cast on any number of even stitches (work in multiples of two stitches).   I cast on 10 to show you here.  Now, follow this pattern:

Row 1: *Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: *Purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until desired length is reached.

Here we've cast on...

First row complete,

Second row,

And after a few rows, you can see the beautiful seed stitch beginning to develop...

Here's a free pattern you can try to practice more seed stitch:

Click here for the Bubblegum Cowl Knitting Pattern

A little sneak peek...

Here's a sneak peek of a project I've been working on...I am hoping to get the pattern up early next week...I am really enjoying working with this yarn too, it's Trabajos del Peru by Plymouth Yarn.  The colors are so soft and pretty and the yarn itself is a chunky single ply with a thick and thin texture.  I think that raspberry shade is beautiful for both fall and winter...might have to hang onto this one for myself.  Very pleasant yarn to work with!

Happy stitching to you today!

10 Adorable Hats For Special Little People

One of my missions in life is to keep little heads warm, my own kids, charity, or little people I know.  Every year I knit new hats for the upcoming cold season when little heads grow, for mamas to be who will put them on new babies, and for friends who need some hand stitched goodness.  

A major priority of mine too is charity work...every year I make a dozen or two hats for homeless kids in my area, and for NICU and preemie babies in local hospitals.

For all the special little people in your life, I've gathered some special hats to knit when the world needs our handmade lovelies most...

Baby In Bloom Hats

Cotton Candy Hat

Rock Candy Hat

Toddler Rugby Hat

Preschooler Rugby Hat

Lightning Fast NICU and Preemie Hats

Her Royal Highness Hat

Baby Bunny Newborn and Preemie Hats

Super Pink Hat

Baby Bear Newborn or Preemie Hats

Click here for more free knitting patterns...

Click here to learn to knit and other knitting tutorials...