Archives for March 2016

Easter Hats

March 28, 2016 By: Sharon Frazier

Easter hats! – Free crochet patterns

On Easter, my two beautiful Great Nieces modeled the hats I designed for them…and they looked beautiful!

The two hats have common design elements like the flowers and the 3-stitch shells, but they’re different enough for a baby and a very grown-up five year old.

Adorable!

Here is the link to the pattern for the big girl hat. And here is the one for the baby hat.

Baby hat – free crochet pattern

Both hats are easy to make, but the baby hat is super-quick. I think I had the whole hat done (including the flower) in 2-3 hours!

These were made for Easter, but the big girl hat would make a great sun hat for the beach or pool, and the baby hat is a great year-round baby gift.

Enjoy!

More Sandwich Fixins! – Free Crochet Pattern

March 25, 2016 By: Sharon Frazier

Fried Egg Sandwich – Free crochet pattern

A reader requested additional sandwich patterns, and I really couldn’t wait to get to them! These are so much fun to make because they’re super cute, and if they’re not perfect, it’s okay. After all, you want the peanut butter to look like you quickly spread it on the bread, so it’s not a perfect rectangle. Eggs aren’t circular and the yolks of a fried egg aren’t always in the center. So feel free to mess them up a little bit to make them more realistic!

I’ve included patterns for peanut butter and jelly, bologna, American cheese, and fried egg. In addition, you can find the patterns for the bread and bacon, lettuce and tomato here.

I hope you enjoy making them as much as I did!

Gauge is not important for these projects. I used an I hook (5.5 mm) for all of them. I like the sandwich ingredients to stick out of the bread on the sides a little bit. If you’d like to neatly fit on the bread, I’d use an H hook.

Abbreviations

CH = chain
SC = single crochet
SC2TOG = single crochet 2 together
ST = stitch
SS = slip stitch
MC = magic circle
PM = place marker
DC = double crochet
HDC = half double crochet
TC = triple crochet

PBJ with grape jelly

Peanut Butter & Jelly (they both use the same pattern)

Worsted weight yarn. I used Vanna’s Choice Deep Gold for the peanut butter. Cascade Yarns Avalon in Crown Jewel for the grape jelly. And some leftover red yarn with a strand Vanna’s Glamour in Ruby Red for the strawberry jelly. This one was my favorite, because the sparkly yarn looks like strawberry seeds!
Size I Crochet Hook (5.5 mm)
Yarn needle to weave in ends

You’ll need to know how to SC 2 together for this pattern. It’s super easy. Here is a quick video to show you how.

Peanut butter & Strawberry Jelly – the jelly has little specks that look like strawberry seeds

Pattern

Ch 12

Row 1 – SC in 2^nd CH from hook and each CH across. Turn. (11 ST)
Row 2 – CH 1. 2 SC in first ST. 1 SC in next 8 ST. SC2TOG in last ST. Turn. (11 ST)
Row 3 – CH 1. SC2TOG. SC in next 8 ST. 2 SC in last ST. Turn. (11 ST)
Row 4 – CH1. SC in each ST across. Turn (11 ST)
Rows 5-13 – Repeat rows 2-4 three times.
Border – CH1. SC in each ST across the top. Turn work ¼ and 3 SC in side of ST just made. 12 SC evenly down the side. 3 SC in corner. 10 SC in unused loop of beginning chain. 3 SC in corner. 12 SC evenly up the last side. 3 SC in corner. SS to 1^st SC of border
Finish off. Weave in ends.

Bologna Sandwich

Bologna

Size I Crochet Hook (5.5 mm)
Worsted weight yarn – I used Vanna’s Choice in Pink
Stitch markers
Yarn needle to weave in ends

You’ll need to make a magic circle or magic ring for this project. Here’s a video to show you how.

I tried a couple of different ways to crochet in the round for this, and a continuous circle or spiral worked best. You’ll be marking your first stitch in each round with a stitch marker so you know when you’ve completed that round.

Pattern

Magic Circle

Round 1 – CH 1. 6 SC in MC. SS to 1^st SC to join. CH 1.
PM in 1^st ST of this round and move to 1^st ST of each round. Do not SS & CH 1 moving forward. Just continue each round in a spiral.
Round 2 – 2 SC in each ST (12 ST)
Round 3 – *2 SC in next ST. 1 SC in next.* Continue around. (18)
Round 4 – *2 SC in next ST. 1 SC in next 2 ST.* Continue around (24)
Round 5 – *2 SC in next ST. 1 SC in next 3 ST.* Continue around (30)
Round 6 – *2 SC in next ST. 1 SC in next 4 ST.* Continue around (36)
Round 7 – *2 SC in next ST. 1 SC in next 5 ST.* Continue around (42)
Round 8 – *2 SC in next ST. 1 SC in next 6 ST.* Continue around (48)
Round 9 – SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC in round to join.

Finish off – weave in ends

Grilled Cheese

American Cheese

Worsted weight yarn. I used leftover yellow yarn for this project.
Size I Crochet Hook (5.5 mm)
Yarn needle to weave in ends

Pattern

Ch 12

Row 1 – SC in 2^nd CH from hook and each CH across. Turn. (11 ST)
Rows 2-11 – CH 1. SC in each ST across. Turn (11 ST)
Border – SC in each ST across the top. Turn work ¼ and 3 SC in side of ST just made. 10 SC evenly down each side and in unused loop of beginning CH. 3 SC in each corner. SS to 1^st SC of border.
Finish off. Weave in ends.

Fried Egg Sandwich – Free crochet pattern

Egg

Worsted weight yarn. I used leftover yellow yarn and Lily’s Sugar N Cream in white.
Size I Crochet Hook (5.5 mm)
Small amount of stuffing
Yarn needle to weave in ends

You’ll need to make a magic circle or magic ring for this project. Here’s a video to show you how.

Round 3 of the white is somewhat random. Feel free to improvise!

Pattern

Yolk

Magic Circle
Round 1 – CH 1. 6 SC in MC. SS to 1^st SC to join.
Round 2 – CH 1. 2 SC in each ST. SS to 1^st SC to join. (12 ST)
Round 3 – CH 1. *2 SC in next ST. 1 SC in next.* Continue around. SS to 1^st SC to join. (18 ST)
Round 4 – CH 1. SC in each ST. SS to join, fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

White

Magic Circle
Round 1 – 12 DC in MC. SS to 1^st DC to join
Round 2 – CH 3. 2 DC in each ST. SS to 1^st DC to join (24 ST)
Round 3 – CH 2. 2 HDC in first ST. 1 HDC in next. 3 DC in next. 1 DC in next. 2 HDC in next. 1 HDC in next. 1 DC in next. 3 DC in next. 1 DC in next 3 2 DC in next. 1 DC in next. 2 DC in next. 2 TC in next. 3 TC in next. 2 TC in next. 2 DC in next 4 ST. 1 HDC in next. 2 HDC in next. 1 HDC in last. SS to 1^st ST in round to join.
Round 4 – CH 1. SC in each ST around. SS to join.
Finish off – weave in ends
Sew the yolk to the white and add a bit of stuffing to make the yolk stand up.
Use with bacon from my BLT pattern for a great breakfast!

It’s Spring! Baby Sun Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

March 18, 2016 By: Sharon Frazier

It’s Spring! Baby Sun Hat – Free Crochet Pattern by Sharon Frazier

I have 2 beautiful Great Nieces, and their Mom bought them matching pink and white Easter dresses. I decided they also needed matching hats! Like the dresses, I wanted to use the same yarn and some basic design elements, but I wanted to make them different since they’re almost five years apart.

Here’s the second one. It’s for the baby and will fit most 3-6 month olds. She’s actually 7 months old, but she’s a preemie, so she’s still a little tiny…but growing like a weed! This one is sooooo fast and easy to make because her head is so small! Just like the Big Girl Hat, this pattern can also be used for a beach sun hat.

The two hats together

Most hats crocheted in the round count the first chain as a stitch. I prefer this method where I don’t count it as a stitch. Then I join it to the first real stitch in the round so the chain slips behind the row. It makes the joining seam much less obvious. However, as you’ll see in the pattern below, I switch to the conventional method when I start the more open pattern of the shells.

I’ll definitely post a picture of them wearing their hats after Easter!

What You’ll Need:

75 yards of DK weight white yarn. I used Butterfly Mercerized Cotton
Small amount of contrasting yarn. I used 16 yards of hot pink and 26 yards of paradise pink in the same Butterfly Mercerized Cotton
A ¾” or 1” button for the flower
Crochet Hook Size F (3.75 mm)
Yarn Needle to weave in ends
Needle and thread to sew on button

Gauge

In HDC, 14 rows and 17 stitches = 4”
Hat dimensions are:
- Hat Circumference – 15 3/4”
- Hat Length (Crown to bottom of scallop) = 5 3/4”

Abbreviations

SS = slip stitch
CH = chain
HDC= half double crochet
DC = double crochet
SC = Single crochet
ST = stitch
SK = skip
SP = space

Pattern

Make a Magic Circle. You can always, chain 3, ss to join, and crochet into that circle instead.
Round 1 – CH 1. 12 HDC into circle. SS to 1^st HDC to join.
Round 2 – CH 2. (Does count as a HDC) 2 HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC allowing CH-2 to fall behind the round. (24 HDC)
Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in same ST. 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join. (36 HDC)
Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in same ST. 1 HDC in next 2 ST.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join. (48 HDC)
Round 5 – CH 2. 2 HDC in same ST. 1 HDC in next 3 ST.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (60 HDC)
Rounds 6- 13 – CH 3. (For this section of the hat, the CH-3 DOES count as a DC) 2 DC into same ST. SK 2 ST. *3 DC in next ST. SK 2 ST.* Repeat around. SS to top of CH-3 to join. (20 shells). Once you’ve completed round 6, you’ll be putting your shell in the first DC of each shell in the previous row.
Round 14 – CH 1. SC in each ST around. SS to first SC to join. (60 SC)
Round 15 – Change color. Repeat round 14.
Rounds 16 – 18 Change color. Repeat round 14 three times.
Round 17 – Change back to same color as row 15. Repeat round 14.
Round 18 – Join white yarn. CH 1, SK next SC. 5 DC in next SC. SK next SC. *SS to next SC. SK next SC. 5 DC in next SC. SK next SC* Repeat around. SS to into same SP as CH-1. (15 shells)
Finish off. Weave in ends.

Flower

I wanted the flower slightly smaller than on the big girl hat, so I used a size E Crochet Hook. I also reversed the colors so this one had more light pink
For the flower, I used: #3 Colorful Flower on this site just completing 3 sets of petals.
Sew the flower on the hat through the button.

Please post your projects on Ravelry and link to the pattern so I can see what you’ve done!

Do I have enough yarn? An easy trick to calculate how much yarn you have left

March 17, 2016 By: Sharon Frazier

We’ve all done it. We want to start a new project, and we check out our stash to see if we have any yarn that will work. We have tons of partially used skeins, but we’re not sure if it’s enough, so we run out to the local yarn store to buy more. Or worse yet, we start the project with what we’ve got, only to get 90% done and run out of yarn!

Well, there’s a super-simple way to determine if you have enough yarn with no guessing! All you need is:

Yarn
A kitchen scale – the kind you use to measure ingredients when baking or to weigh foods so you know the calorie count
The yarn label or at least the type of yarn so you can look up the info online

You’ll need your yarn, a kitchen scale and the yarn label

If you have those 3 things, you’ll always know if you have enough yarn. Here’s how it works.

Weigh your yarn in grams
Look at the label to find the total number of grams in a new skein of yarn
Divide the weight of your yarn by the total in a new skein
Look at the label to find the total number of yards in a new skein
Multiply your percentage from step 3 by the number in step 4

Okay, that sounds more complicated than it really is, so let’s look at an example using really simple math.

You weigh your yarn, and it’s 50 grams.
The label says a new skein is 100 grams.
50/100 = 50%. You have ½ a skein left.
The label says a new skein is 200 yards.
200 X 50% = 100 yards.

You can complete any project that calls for less than 100 yards.

So let’s try it using numbers that aren’t so straightforward. Let’s say I want to make the It’s Spring! Sun Hat on my blog. I want to use this pink yarn for the main color. My pattern says that I need 135 yards of the yarn.

My yarn weighs 101 grams

I weigh the yarn, and it’s 101 grams.
The label says that a new skein is 125 grams
101/125 = 80.8% of the skein left
The label says a new skein is 249 yards
249 X 80.8% = 201 yards left
My yarn label

I have plenty of yarn for this project!

It’s so easy and works every time!

It’s Spring! Girl’s Sun Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

March 16, 2016 By: Sharon Frazier

It’s Spring Girl’s Sunhat – Free Crochet Pattern by Sharon Frazier

It’s Spring! Girl’s Sun Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

Here’s the first one. This is the big girl hat. It worked up very quickly, so there’s still time for Easter. However, this pattern is great for a summer beach hat as well! It’s made for a 5-year old, so it’s just a little small on my model, Lexi, who is 9. This hat should fit a girl who is 4-8 years old. If you want to make it for an older girl, use a larger hook.

Here’s Lexi modeling the hat

Most hats crocheted in the round count the first chain as a stitch. I prefer this method where I don’t count it as a stitch. Then I join it to the first real stitch in the round so the chain slips behind the row. It makes the joining seam much less obvious! However, as you’ll see in the pattern below, I switch to the conventional method when I start the more open pattern of the shells.

I love the side angle! It’s Spring! Girl’s Sun Hat

Special thanks to my beautiful model, Lexi!

What You’ll Need:

135 yards of DK weight white yarn. I used Butterfly Mercerized Cotton
Small amount of contrasting yarn. I used 40 yards of hot pink and 25 yards of paradise pink in the same Butterfly Mercerized Cotton
A ¾” or 1” button for the flower
36 – 38” of Brimlock & Joiners or Hat Wire. I ordered from Judith M . It’s inexpensive, but you do pay shipping, so order enough for 3 or 4 hats. I’ve used it for many projects including my Mandala Clock
Crochet Hook Size F (3.75 mm)
Yarn Needle to weave in ends
Needle and thread to sew on button

Gauge

In HDC, 14 rows and 17 stitches = 4”
Hat dimensions are:
- Hat Circumference – 18”
- Hat Length (Crown to last hot pink stripe before V-stitches) = 6 3/4”
- Brim circumference = 36”

Abbreviations

SS = slip stitch
CH = chain
HDC= half double crochet
DC = double crochet
SC = Single crochet
ST = stitch
SK = skip
SP = space

Pattern

Make a Magic Circle. You can always, chain 3, ss to join, and crochet into that circle instead.
Round 1 – CH 1. 12 HDC into circle. SS to 1^st HDC to join.
Round 2 – CH 2. (Does count as a HDC) 2 HDC in each ST around. SS to 1^st HDC allowing CH-2 to fall behind the round. (24 HDC)
Round 3 – CH 2. *2 HDC in same ST. 1 HDC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join. (36 HDC)
Round 4 – CH 2. *2 HDC in same ST. 1 HDC in next 2 ST.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join. (48 HDC)
Round 5 – CH 2. 2 HDC in same ST. 1 HDC in next 3 ST.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (60 HDC)
Round 6 – CH 2. 2 HDC in same ST. 1 HDC in next 4 ST.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st HDC to join (72 HDC)
Rounds 7- 15 – CH 3. (For this section of the hat, the CH-3 DOES count as a DC) 2 DC into same ST. SK 2 ST. *3 DC in next ST. SK 2 ST.* Repeat around. SS to top of CH-3 to join. (24 shells). Once you’ve completed round 7, you’ll be putting your shell in the first DC of each shell in the previous row.
Round 16 – CH 1. SC in each ST around. SS to first SC to join. (72 SC)
Round 17 – Change color. Repeat round 16.
Rounds 18-19 – Change color. Repeat round 17 two times.
Round 20 – Change back to same color as row 17. Repeat round 16.
Round 21 – Join white yarn. CH 4 (Counts as 1 DC and CH-1). DC in same ST. *SK 2, (DC, CH 1, DC) in next ST. SK 1, (DC, CH 1, DC) in next ST* Repeat around. SS to 3^rd CH of CH-4. (29 V-stitches)
Round 22 – SS to center of V-stitch. CH 4. DC in same SP. *(DC, CH 1, DC) in center of each V.* Repeat around. SS to 3^rd CH of CH-4.
Round 23 – SS to center of V-stitch. CH 4. DC in same SP. *(DC, CH 2, DC) in middle of next V. (DC, CH 1, DC) in middle of next V.* Repeat around. SS to 3^rd CH of CH 4.
Round 24 – SS to center of V-stitch. CH 5. (Counts as DC and CH-2). DC in same SP. *(DC, CH 2, DC) in middle of next V.* Repeat around. SS to 3^rd CH of CH-5.
Round 25 – CH 1. SC in same ST. 2 SC in middle of V, SC in next ST. *SC in next, 2 SC in middle of V, SC in next.* Repeat around. SS to 1^st (116 SC)
Round 26 – CH 1. SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st SC
Round 27 – Change color. *SC in next 3 ST, 2 SC in next ST.* Repeat around. SS to to 1^st (145 SC)
Round 28 – Change color. SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st
Round 29 – CH 1. SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st
Round 30 – Change back to color used in round 27. SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st
Round 31 – Change back to white. SC in each ST around. SS to 1^st
Round 32 – SC in each ST and around Brimlock. I cut a 38” piece of Brimlock and crocheted around it, all the way around the hat. Then I cut it back 2” (until I felt like the brim was right), and unraveled some of my stitches to join it. You join it using a lighter, so I didn’t want that near my work! Once it was cool, I crocheted around to the end. Join with SS.
Finish off. Weave in ends.

Flower

For the flower, I used: #3 Colorful Flower on this site just completing 3 sets of petals.
Sew the flower on the hat through the button.

Please post your projects on Ravelry and link to the pattern so I can see what you’ve done!

BLT Sandwich – Free Crochet Pattern

March 8, 2016 By: Sharon Frazier

BLT Sandwich – Free crochet pattern by Sharon Frazier

I have always loved fake food! I don’t know what it is, but it just makes me smile! Last year, I used my very basic sewing skills to make felt pasta, vegetables, and spaghetti sauce. This year, I decided to crochet a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich! This was a lot of fun to make, and the whole sandwich can be completed in 2-3 hours using inexpensive yarn, making it a perfect gift for the little ones in your life!

Make the whole sandwich in an afternoon!

Gauge is not important for these projects. I used a small hook when I wanted the piece to be more rigid…like the tomato.

Abbreviations

CH = chain
DC = double crochet
SK = skip
SC = single crochet
ST = stitch
SS = slip stitch
CH-SP = chain space
PM = place marker
HDC = half double crochet

Bread

Bread – free crochet pattern by Sharon Frazier

Each slice of bread took me approximately 30 minutes.

I used 3 different yarns so they could pretend that it’s white, wheat, toast or multi-grain. These are all Lily’s Sugar ‘N Cream. I used Soft Ecru, Warm Brown, Jute and Sonoma Print. Any worsted weight yarn will work.

Size I Crochet Hook (5.5 mm)

Yarn needle to weave in ends

Pattern

Ch 10

Row 1 – SC in 2^nd CH from hook and each CH across. Turn. (9 SC)
Row 2 – 8 – CH 1. SC in each ST across. Turn (9 SC)
Row 9 – CH 1. 7 DC in 2^nd SK 2 SC. SS into next sc. SK 2 SC. 7 DC in next SC.
SS to last SC. Finish off.

Repeat above a 2^nd time, but do not SS or finish off.

Crochet the 2 pieces together

Insert hook in last SC in row you just completed, and then in the same ST on the other piece. SC 2 together all the way around as follows:
7 SC down the side. 3 SC in corner
7 SC across bottom. 3 SC in corner
7 SC on side +1 in the hole just before the DC
1 SC in each of the 7 DC, 1 SC in the SS, 1 SC in each of the 7 DC, SS to 1^st

Change colors. Attach in the center SC in one of the bottom corners. 3 SC in the first ST. SC in each SC around, putting 3 SC in the other bottom corner. SS to 1^st SC.

Finish off. Weave in ends

Bacon

Bacon – free crochet pattern

Size H Crochet Hook (5 mm)

Worsted weight yarn – I used Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Terra Firma

Pattern

Ch 22

Row 1 – DC in 4^th CH from hook. *SK 1 CH; DC in next* (2 times). DC in next. 5 DC in next. DC in each of next 2 CH. *SK 1 CH; DC in next* (4 times). DC in next. 3 DC in last CH.
Row 2 – CH 1, turn. SC in each ST. 3 SC around last DC. SC in unused loop of starting chain including each CH-SP. (You’ll be working along the opposite side of the bacon, back up to where you started to SC.) 3 SC around last DC. SS to first SC to join.

Finish off – weave in ends

Lettuce & Tomato – free crochet pattern

Tomato

Size G Crochet Hook (4.25 mm)

Red worsted weight yarn – I used Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Red

Pattern

Round 1 – 12 SC in a magic circle. SS to 1^st SC to join. (You can also chain 3, and join with a SS to make a circle, then crochet 12 sc inside instead of using the magic circle)

Round 2 – CH 1. 2 SC in each SC. SS 1^st SC to join (24 stitches)

Round 3 – CH 3. 2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next. 2 DC in next ST. CH 4. SK 4. (*1 DC in next ST. 2 DC in next. * Repeat from * to *. CH 4. SK 4) Repeat between ( ). SS in top of CH-3 to join. (You’ll have 3 segments with 6 DC and 3 CH-4 spaces)

Round 4 – CH 3. 1 DC in next ST. 2 DC in next. 1 DC in next 2 ST. 2 DC in next ST. 4 DC in CH-4 SP. (* 1 DC in next 2 ST. 2 DC in next. * Repeat from * to *. 4 DC in CH-4 SP.) Repeat from ( to ). SS to top of CH-3 to join. (36 stitches around)

Round 5 – CH 1. SC in each ST around (36 stitches)

Finish off. Weave in ends.

Lettuce

Size I Crochet Hook (5.5 mm)

Red worsted weight yarn – I used Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Lime Stripes & Hot Green

Pattern

Ch 9

Row 1 – SC in 2^nd CH from hook & in each CH across. CH 1. PM in CH 1. SC in unused loop on other side of CH. (8 SC on each side with a marked CH-SP between). CH 1. Turn.

Row 2 – SC in next 2 ST. HDC in next 2 ST. *2 DC in next ST. 1 DC in next.* Repeat from * to *. 5 DC in marked CH-1 SP. *1 DC in next ST. 2 DC in next*. Repeat from * to *. HDC in next 2 ST. SC in last 2 ST. CH 1. Turn. (25 stitches)

Row 3 – *1 SC in first ST. 2 SC in next. * Repeat from * to *. 1 HDC in next. 2 HDC in next. *1 DC in next. 2 DC in next. 1 DC in next. 2 DC in next 7 ST. 1 DC in next ST. 2 DC in next. 1 DC in next. 2 HDC in next. 1 HDC in next. *2 SC in next. 1 SC in next* Repeat from * to *. (40 stitches)

Row 4 – SC in next 8 ST. 2 SC in next 8. 3 SC in next 8. 2 SC in next 8. 1SC in next 8.

Finish off. Weave in ends.