hedghogs, hedgehogs everywhere

How about a free hedgehog pattern?  I've written it out at http://crochetstitchwitch.com/?p=337 but even better than that...I've made videos - two of them in fact.  Huzzah.  It was very time consuming and editing is really, really dull so future videos will definately be shorter but here ya go..

and part two

Let me know how you get on with them!! xx

crochet sheep free pattern!!

Still in the spirit of the sheep, I couldn't resist making a little bobble version. I love bobbles. They are easy but gobble up the yarn so you'll need more than you think. I probably used about half a ball (25g ish) of the bobble colour, this was Drops Nepal in off white I think they call it. It's aran/worsted weight and I used a 3.5mm hook. (Btw, I always use American crochet terminology since I taught myself to crochet using Youtube videos)

To make a crochet bobble (bob): yo, insert hook in next sc, yo, pull through sc, yo pull through 2 on hook, *yo, insert hook in same sc, yo, pull through sc, yo, pull through 2 on hook*  repeat from * to* until 6 loops on hook then yo and pull through all 6.

The bobbles are a lot easier to execute if you just accept that they are on the wrong side, this is just fine, turn it inside out when you've done.  A slight complication arises if you switch to normal sc crochet (as with this crochet sheep) because you don't want to continue working the sc with the wrong side out (or maybe you do - go for it!) It honestly doesn't show that much if, when you join the different colour yarn, you also make your rounds go the other way and any little hiccup that does show, is easily hidden under the ear!

Pattern: Printable Version

	Body & Head
Row	Instruction	count
1	Make 6sc in adjustable loop	6
2	(sc, bob) 3 times might want to skip this row to avoid a 'pointy bottom (tho I quite like the torpedo shape!)	6
3	inc 6 times	12
4	(sc, bob) 6 times	12
5	(sc, inc) 6 times	18
6	(sc, bob) 9 times	18
7	(2sc, inc) 6 times	24
8	(sc, bob) 12 times	24
9	24sc	24
10-11	repeat row 8 & 9	24
12	Switch to face colour, 24sc (going the other way so bobbles are now on the right/out side)	24
13	24sc	24
14	(2sc, dec) 6 times. Stuff firmly. (Stick safety eyes in if using.)	18
15	(sc, dec) 6 times	12
16	dec 6 times	6
	cut yarn, pull last loop out (not through the loop) thread end through outer loop of remaining 6sc and pull up to close.
	Legs (make 4)
1	Make 6sc in adjustable loop	6
2	inc 6 times	12
3	12sc	12
4	(dec, 2sc) 3 times	9
5	9sc	9
6	(dec, sc) 3 times	6
	cut yarn about 9", pull last loop out and use end to sew to underside of body, between bobbles
	Ears
1	Make 6sc in adjustable loop	6
2	inc 6 times	12
3	(inc, sc) 6 times	18
	Pinch one edge of the circle and sew to the edge of the face, about a third of the way down.
	Embroider some eyes and a nose.

Slinky Glove pattern

For a child(adult) glove, I used sirdar snuggly dk and size 4mm hook.  This pattern is not fully tested and probably quite wrong in some places but it works up quick so not a major disaster when it does go wrong!

Here is the video explaining the rib:

Initially I did the side joins just with a sl.st/ch2 which is quick and easy but with the yarn I was using looked a bit tatty...it may look ok with a fluffier yarn.  After much faffing about, I decided the best join I could do was as follows (of course you could always just work it flat and sew up the side when you've done):

And so putting this new found knowledge to good use here's what I did to make small size glove with (large size in brackets):

ch 30(34)
hdc in 3rd from hook, 27(31)sc, join with a sl.st to the top of the ch3, join (as above as are all joins from now)
27(31) hdc in lowest loop of previous row (as rib video) join and repeat this row.
You'll be able to see after a few rounds if this is likely to be a good fit (does it go over the intended hand?) if adjustments need to be made, you can alter the number of the initial chain.  If your going with the bobble trim, you'll need a starter chain that is a multiple of 4, plus 2

repeat this row for as long as you want the cuff (ending with a right side row).

Increase by 4 stitches to accomodate the palm so:
for the smaller size: 2hdc (6hdc, pick up the next in-between loop and create a new hdc) 4 times, 1hdc
for the larger size: 2hdc (7hdc, pick up the next in-between loop and create a new hdc) 4 times, 1hdc

Then do 4 more hdc rib rows to the base of the thumb but just work the sl.st. of the join then proceed:
turn, ch7, skip 5. 26(30) hdc in lowest loop of previous row as before,join to 2nd on ch7
ch2, turn, 31(35) hdc in lowest loop of previous row (including the 5chain), join - you should now have a thumb hole

work a few more rows of hdc rib to the base of the fingers, ending with a right side row and finish off unless you want a bobble row in which case:


at the end of the final row do sl.st, turn as normal then: ch1, then through the usual part of the hdc (rather than the lower loop as rib) sl.st, bobble, (3sl.st, bobble) to last 2 then sl.st to end.
finish off.


bobble:
yarn over
insert hook through next hdc
yarn over, pull through (3 on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 (2 on hook)
insert hook in same space, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through 2, (3 on hook)
repeat last line till 6 on hook then yarn over and pull through all 6

thumb:
rejoin yarn at the first of the missed 5sc and pick up 14hdc around the hole
work 3 or 4 rows of the hdc rib and finish off.

If you're bothered about the join showing slightly on the top then the thumb hole should probably be worked at the end of the round rather than the start for the left glove.  So the ch7, skip is worked at the 26(30)th stitch.

pattern in progress - part deux

I tested out a few different so called crochet rib patterns and rather liked this hdc one.

None of them have much give in them like rib should so it's a purely decorative thing.

So I made a strip wide enough to wrap round my wrist....then discovered that the rib looks much better the other way around and bunches up rather sweetly.  Of course round the other way, it was too small for my (bony as they are) wrists and so to model my latest creation, I had to enlist the help of my daughter...who couldn't stop cackling at the idea of being a hand model since they had just watched Zoolander.

I think this really has potential.  Going to have to work on getting a neat side join (the nature of the stitch means it can't be worked in the round) and a thumb will be forthcoming and maybe a matching hat :)

pattern in progress...

I was getting a weeny bit bored of single chain and its myriad variations, so thought it was time to learn something new...something....bobbly!

You could do a lot worse than watch a few of this chaps videos http://www.youtube.com/user/mikeyssmail.  I wanted a rib for the cuff and some bobbles for the main body of my glove and learnt both from his videos.  Huzzah.

Anyway...the first result was....semi-successful

Pros:
I love the bobbles and it works up fairly quickly
The bobble trim (same pattern but with slip stitch between bobbles instead of hdc) looks great

Cons:
What a miserable coloured yarn - nice to work but dismal (and to think I bought it to make a tank top with!)
Don't like the cuff...it's just too...chunky
Don't like the linear nature of the bobbles (not that they are very linear in this sample since I kept getting muddled)
Think perhaps bobbles on the palm would be really annoying.

I think I have something to work with though :)