Puffed Shell Stitch Scrap Yarn Blanket and Scarf

56" x 43" Afghan

Since I crochet a lot, I have a plethora of scarp yarn. When I finish a project and have so little yarn left that I can't make anything with it, I tie one end of the yarn with other scrap yarn and roll it into a ball and just keep adding to the ball. I had four rather large balls of scrap yarn until last year when I found a use for it: I made an afghan and a scarf. 

Both pieces use the same basic pattern, a puffed shell stitch, which can be found here on Lion Brand Yarn's website under the name "popcorn stitch." The scarf uses 36 ch sts in the base chain, making it about 10" wide (which is a little too wide in my opinion). I don't know how many the afghan uses because it is currently at the Maryland State Fair (it got first place in Shell Stitch Afghan, Adult Crochet). 

Overall, to change the width of the pattern, use chains in sets of 3 for the base chain.


The purple scarf doesn't use scrap yarn, of course, but it does follow the same pattern. I think this has 21 base chain sts.


Cheers

Waffle Stitch Winter Hat

With school about to start, I thought I would make one more hat pattern before I am consumed with studies about extinct animals and weekly 15-page physical chemistry lab reports. This is a hat that I've been meaning to try for some time now and I think it turned out well. It is a little bit more complicated than the other hat patterns (because it uses front post double crochet (fpdc) stitches), but it is definitely not the hardest pattern I've ever completed. 


To see a child size version of this hat, see this blog post.


Note: For the hat that is pictured, I used two worsted weight yarns at the same time. I believe the same can be accomplished by using one bulky weight yarn.

Pattern:


Materials:
Bulky weight yarn (or two worsted weight yarns used at the same time)

K hook


Waffle Stitch Base
Row 1. Ch 14. Dc in third ch from hook. Dc across. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 2. Dc in first st. *Dc in next st, fpdc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * twice more. Dc to end. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 3. Dc in first st. *Fpdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * twice more. Fpdc in next st. Dc in last st. Ch 2. Turn.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until piece measures approximately 20 inches long. End with Row 2 and ch 1 instead of ch 2. Fold the piece in half so that the first row is next to the last row (with the waffle pattern facing out). Slip st together each st of the first row and the last row. Ch 2 at the end. Do not turn.

Shaping the Top

Round 1. Dc 47 sts evenly across the top of the waffle stitch base. This roughly correlates to 3 sts per waffle square. (Note: I chose 47 because that appeared to the be the number when there wouldn't be any visible holes between dc sts.) Join with sl st to first dc st of round. Join in this way throughout the rest of the piece. Ch 2. Do not turn.

Round 2. Dc in st that was slipped to (start each round this way). Dc 1 in next 4 sts. Dc2tog in next 2 sts. *Dc 1 in next 5 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. End with dc in last st. Join. Ch 2.
Round 3. *Dc 1 in next 4 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Dc in last st. Join. Ch 2.
Round 4. Dc2tog in first 2 sts. * Dc 1 in next 3 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. End with dc 1 in next 2 sts, dc2tog in last 2 sts. Join. Ch 2.
Round 5. *Dc in next 2 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 2.
Round 6. *Dc in next 1 st, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 2.
Round 7. Dc2tog around. Join.
Fasten off. Weave yarn through last 8 stitches and pull tight to close the top of the hat. Weave in ends.

Double-Crochet Ribbed Winter Hat

Last night, I decided to make a double-crochet version of my ribbed winter hat just out of curiosity for how it would turn out. In the end, I think it turned out okay. As with the single-crochet ribbed hat,  it is easy to alter the pattern to fit different sized heads. Here's the pattern if you'd like to try it:


Pattern (Adult Size):


Materials:
K hook
Worsted weight yarn

1. Chain 37.

2. Dc in third ch from hook. Dc across. Ch 2. Turn.

3. Dc across in back loops only. Ch 2. Turn.

4. Repeat step 3 until you have 29 rows total. End with ch 1.

5. Fold the piece in half so that the first row is next to the last row. Slip st together each st of the first row and the last row. Ch 1 at the end.

6. Sc across the top of the piece in every row. Do not join to ch st or first sc.

7. *Sc in next 2 st, sc2tog in next st, repeat from * around until there are 12 sts left.

8. Sc2tog six times.

9. Fasten off. Weave yarn through last 6 stitches and pull tight to close the top of the hat. Weave in ends.

Roll up the bottom until it no longer covers the eyes when worn.

2 rows dc, 2 rows sc

As an alternative to strictly using double crochets, you can do two rows of double crochet (using BLO) followed by two rows of single crochet (also using BLO). Repeat this pattern until the desired length.

Butterfly Scarf

A couple days ago I found the Olivia's Butterfly hat pattern by Valerie Whitten. It is a very easy and simple child's hat pattern that is perfect for a young girl. However, the pattern, like the Cluster Stitch Cloche, didn't have a scarf to go with it. So again, I made my own, and here is the pattern. If you are having trouble with the stitch that goes around all of the chain rows, Mrs. Whitten has photos of that stitch in her hat pattern.


Pattern:
Materials:
1 skein worsted weight yarn (about 250 yds)
J hook


Row 1. Chain 19.
Row 2. Dc in third ch from hook. Dc in next 2 ch sts. Ch 10. Skip 10 ch sts. Dc in third ch st from the end of row 1. Dc to the end. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 3. Dc in  next 3 dc sts. Ch 10. Sk 10 ch sts (from row 2). Dc in next dc and to end. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 4 and 5. Repeat Row 3.
Row 6. Dc in next 3 dc sts. Dc in first 4 ch sts. Dc over and around all ch 10 rows by bunching the rows together. Sk 1 ch st. Dc in last 5 ch sts. Dc to end. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 7. Dc in each dc across. Ch 2. Turn.
Repeat Row 7 until scarf is 2 inches less than desired length.

Finishing
Row 1. Dc in first 3 dc sts. Ch 10. Sk next 10 dc sts. Dc in last 3 dc sts. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 2. Dc in first 3 dc sts. Ch 10. Sk next 10 ch sts. Dc in last 3 dc sts. Ch 2. Turn.
Row 3. Repeat Row 2.
Row 4. Dc in first 3 dc sts. Ch 10. Sk next 10 ch sts. Dc in last 3 dc sts. Ch 1. Turn.
Row 5. Sc in first 3 dc sts. Ch 5. Sc in 5th dc st of skipped dc sts from last row before Finishing rows, going around and bunching together all of the ch rows. Ch 5. Sc in next dc st and to end.
Finish off.

Free Patterns and Finished Projects

I thought I would upload some pictures of some of the patterns I have completed over the summer.

One Skein Bunny, Caron
A wonderful pattern. I definitely recommend trying it. It is 29" x 10" x 7". It won first place in Adult Crochet, Needle Arts in the Home Arts Department at the Howard County Fair. 

Kitten, MarmaladeRose
It is about 6" long. This pattern uses British stitch notations, not American. This means that the "dc" in the pattern is actually "sc" to an American. But a very cute pattern indeed. :3

3 Piece Baby Set
Simple Baby Set, Lion Brand Yarn (sweater only)
Booties, from Crocheted Gifts: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give (not free, unfortunately)
Hat, see Ribbed Winter Hat post

Bunny Baby Blanket, Lion Brand Yarn
It's about 24" x 18". I had to alter the pattern a little by including more rows and more chain stitches because 10 ch sts is too few to knot. Also, I recommend making the ears first and attach them to the head before starting the blanket. If the ears and the face are on the head, you can stuff it when finished and sc it shut to act as the first row of the blanket instead of attaching the head to the blanket later. Hopefully, that made sense.

Cluster Stitch Scarf and Accompanying Hat

Every year, I enter items in the Home Arts Building at the Howard County Fair. This year, I had made the Cluster Stitch Hat (see the comments below for a current url for the hat pattern), but in order to enter it in the fair, I needed an accompanying scarf. So I decided to make my own pattern. It worked out pretty well considering it won first in Scarf and Hat Set, Adult Crochet. It will be at the Maryland State Fair in a week. (Update: Neither the hat nor the scarf placed at the MD State Fair. There was a lot of competition.)

Scarf Pattern:

Materials:

3 skeins of worsted yarn (about 510 yds)

Large-eye blunt needle to weave in ends

I hook (I know the hat pattern calls for a J hook. For some reason, I used an I hook for the hat and the scarf. Feel free to use the J hook, and in fact I recommend it for the hat at any rate, since I can barely get mine over my head. Just keep in mind that a J hook will make the scarf a little wider.)

Stitch Explanation:

CS (cluster stitch) - (yarn over (YO), insert hook in next slip st, YO and pull up 1/2" loop) twice, YO and draw through all 5 loops on hook, ch 1. CS made. 

Important Note: For CS on all rows after the first row using CS, instead of inserting the hook in the next slip st, insert the hook from front to back and back out to front around the CS of the previous row. Treat these CS as if they are post stitches around the previous row's CS.

1. Ch 21.

2. Sc in second ch from hook. Sc across. Turn. Do not ch 1.

3. Sl st across in each sc. Ch 1. Turn.

4. Sc in the two loops facing front (i.e. the loops of the sc sts) across.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 two more times.

6. Repeat step 3, but end with ch 2.

7. Going through the two loops facing front, dc 1 in first st, CS 1 in next st, skip next st, CS 1 in next st, skip next st, CS 1 in next st, dc 1 in next 6 sts, CS 1 in next st, skip next st, CS 1 in next st, skip next st, CS 1 in next st, skip next st, dc 1 in next two sts. Do not ch. Turn. Sl st across in the top of each st and around each ch st. Ch 2. Turn.

8. Repeat step 7 twice, but use 6 hdc sts instead of the 6 dc sts in the middle. Follow the pattern of using dc in one row followed by two rows using hdc. This prevents the middle section from bulging and keeps it more even with the rest of the row. Continue until scarf is 1" from desired length. Ch 1 instead of 2 in last row.

9. Sc 20 st evenly across. Do not ch. Turn.

10. Repeat step 3 and 4 three times. Do not ch 1 in last row. Finish off. (Note: you could do one more row of step 3 before finishing off. I didn't, but now that I look at my scarf, I think it would look better with one more row of step 3.)

If there are problems with this pattern, please comment and I will try to fix it.

The Dulaan Project

Donated to The Dulaan Project.

Helping people is one of my goals in life. I think that if we have the ability to help others, we have the responsibility to, and in the process can make the world a better place to live in. Yeah, I know that sounds cliché and like something from the Declaration of Independence, but I believe it. In sticking with that conviction, I have donated some of my crochet creations to the Dulaan Project.

Based out of Flagstaff, AZ, the Dulaan Project gives warm knitted and crochet items to the homeless and impoverished of Mongolia. Since 2005, the project has received 44,806 items. Visit their website for more information about the charity.

The items donated:

3 crocheted hats

    -Two are in the style of my ribbed winter hat pattern

    -The third is from Lion Brand Yarn: Einstein Hat

1 crocheted scarf

    -Crocheted using back loops only like the hats

1 crocheted child's poncho

    -Pattern from Lion Brand Yarn: Cutie Pie Poncho

3 sewn hats

Cheers

Ribbed Winter Hat

I love making this pattern. It is so easy and makes an extremely warm, winter hat. Also, the pattern can be easily altered to make a different sized hat or to spice things up and add stripes. 

I like to make this hat using worsted weight yarn and a K hook (but sometimes super bulky yarn with an M hook). However, depending on the yarn, sometimes the top of the hat (i.e. from step 6 on) becomes rather open between stitches. If this occurs, switch to a smaller hook, like an I or H.

Stitch Explanation (from Lion Brand Yarn):

sc2tog (sc 2 sts together) - Insert hook into st and draw up a loop. Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook - 1 st decreased.

Pattern (Adult):

Worsted Weight Yarn Hat

1. Chain 36.

2. Sc in second ch from hook. Sc across. Ch 1. Turn.

3. Sc across in back loops only. Ch 1. Turn.

4. Repeat step 3 until you have 60 rows total. End with ch 1.

5. Fold the piece in half so that the first row is next to the last row. Slip st together each st of the first row and the last row. Ch 1 at the end.

6. Sc across the top of the piece in every other row. Do not join to ch st or first sc.

7. *Sc in next 2 st, sc2tog in next st, repeat from * around until there are 12 st left.

8. Sc2tog six times.

9. Fasten off. Weave yarn through last 6 stitches and pull tight to close the top of the hat. Weave in ends.

Super Bulky Yarn Hat

Pattern Using Super Bulky Yarn (Adult):
Use an M hook. Follow the pattern for the worsted yarn hat, but use 21 sts in the base chain and about 41 rows total.

Pattern (Newborn [the orange one]):

1. Using a K hook, chain 26.

2. Sc in second ch from hook. Sc across. Ch 1. Turn.

3. Sc across in back loops only. Ch 1. Turn.

4. Repeat step 3 until you have 37 rows total. End with ch 1.

5. Fold the piece in half so that the first row is next to the last row. Sl st together each st of the first row and the last row. Ch 1 at the end.

6. Switch to an H hook. Sc across the top of the piece in every other row. Do not join to ch st or first sc.

7. Sc around until you are back to the seam. Do not decrease or join. (I'm not sure what this round accomplishes, but that is how I did it.)

8. *Sc in next 3 st, sc2tog in next st, repeat from * until you are back to the seam.

9. *Sc in next 2 st, sc2tog in next st, rep from * until you are back to the seam.

10. *Sc in next 1 st, sc2tog in next st, rep from * until you are back to the seam. At this point, you can fasten off and finish this hat like the adult hat, or you can proceed to the loops.

12. From the last completed sc, ch 20. Sl st into next sc. Do this around in every sc.

Fasten off. Weave yarn through last round of stitches and pull tight to close the top of the hat. Weave in ends.

For all hats, roll up the bottom until it no longer covers the eyes when worn.


Hope they keep you warm in winter :)