Pattern - Christmas Star Bunting

I have whipped this Christmas Star Bunting for my fireplace for this year. We had a new lick of paint so I needed new bunting to compliment it, any excuse really!

There are really quick and easy to make so you could easily hook up a set for this Christmas, or maybe several? The addition of the sparkly tassels really gives it a luxury Christmas feel!



Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn
Yarn A - Cotton DK Weight in various colours that you wish (I used Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique in Shell Pink, Fondant, Sky Blue, Peppermint, Lavender, Mauve and Fuchsia) 
Yarn B - Cotton DK Weight in White
Yarn C - DMC Lumina Metallic Thread in Silver

Special Stitches
tr2tog - treble crochet 2 stitches together
tr3tog - treble crochet 3 stitches together
dc-spike - spike stitch using dc, worked in row below current row  being worked
Please see my stitch guide for a explanation on how to work these stitches if required

Star
Make 7, 
With Yarn A make a magic ring and work first round into ring (alternatively you can make ch2 and then work into the 2nd chain)

Round 1 - Ch2, tr2tog (this counts as 1 st), *ch3, tr3tog*, repeat from * to * 3 times, ch3, join with a sl st to top of beginning tr2tog (5 sts)

Fasten off and join any Yarn B to any ch3 sp of previous round

Round 2 - Ch1 (does not count as a st), *1 dc into ch3 sp, 1 dc-spike, 1 dc in same sp, 1 dc into top of next tr3tog*, repeat from * to * 4 times and join with a sl st into top of first dc (20 sts)

Round 3 - sl st into next st (should be top of a dc-spike from previous round), *ch5, work 1 dc in second ch from hook, 1 htr in next ch, 1 tr in next ch, 1 dtr in last ch, sl st into top of next dc-spike*, repeat from * to * 4 times, join with a sl st in st where first ch5 was made (20 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends

Tassels

Make 8,

Using Yarn A and Yarn C, make your tassels, using twice as much white as silver with the silver used last so it is on the top of the tassels

Making Up

With Yarn C ch40, 1 dc into the top of a tassel, ch20, dc into the top of any of the 5 points of a star, continue to with the rest of the stars and tassels, working ch40 at the end

Happy Hooking!

Kelly@lovedotty

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty  

Pattern - Mini Christmas Bauble Bunting

Here is a super quick and easy pattern for making Mini Christmas Bauble Bunting! 
I made these last year in colours to match my kitchen and they looked so cute I wanted to keep them up all year! 
I have also used the crochet bauble to embellish gift tags, there is probably loads of other uses, cards, hanging decorations etc..



Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn - Cotton DK Weight (I used Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique)
Yarn A - A selection of Sky Blue, Fondant, White, Poppy and Soft Lime
Yarn B - Sunflower

Bauble
Make 15, 3 in each colour
With Yarn A make a magic ring and work first round into ring (alternatively you can make ch2 and then work into the 2nd chain)
Round 1 - Ch3 (counts as st throughout pattern), 14 tr into the ring, join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch3 (15 sts)
Round 2 - Ch3, 1 tr in same st, 2 tr in each st around to end, join with a sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch3 (30 sts)
Round 3 - Ch1 (does not count as st throughout pattern), 1 dc in same st and in each st around to end, join with a sl st into first dc (30 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends

Top of Bauble
Join Yarn B to any dc from previous round on WS of bauble
Row 1 - Ch1, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 3 sts, turn (4 sts)
Row 2 - Ch1, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next st, ch5, 1 dc in last 2 sts (4 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends

Making Up
With Yarn B make Ch20, *work the next ch through the ch5 top on the top of the bauble, ch20* and repeat from * to * until you have connected all baubles ensuring you have worked another ch20 at the end.
Fasten off

Here is my bunting strung up on my kitchen shelves last Christmas. It will be there again, pride of place this year!

Happy Hooking (and Christmas!)
Kelly@lovedotty

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty  

Misty Vintage Patch Blanket

Wow my Sunshine Vintage Patch Blanket has proven to be really popular!

Click here to see the original blog post and tutorial!

It is such a fun blanket to make and because of the repetitiveness works up relatively quickly, so with this in mind I decided to make another! My best friend was planning on moving into a new home so seemed like the perfect house warming gift and also a chance to to try the blanket in a whole new colour palette.



So first up was choosing a colour palette, and this is what I chose, all in Stylecraft Special DK again:-

Patches were made up of Lemon 1020, Raspberry 1023, Soft Peach 1240, Pale Rose 1080, Sherbert 1034, Wisteria 1432, Parma Violet 1724, Violet 1277 and 1708 Petrol. 

Joining yarn was Silver 1203.

So I made all the patches using the same methods in my tutorial of making each round one at a time which ensures all colours are used evenly and no patch is the same! Don't they look yummy!

Once all the patches (99 in all, same as before), are made and blocked the fun bit of joining commences..

This is also the bit where you see whether you have picked the right joining colour or not! Turned out I was very happy with my choice. The patches are made up of very vibrant happy colours and the silver yarn accentuates that beautifully..

And then ta-dah!

 

So I have named this one the 'Misty Vintage Patch Blanket' for now and I think I love them both the same!

Happy Hooking!
Kelly@lovedotty

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty.

Pattern - Mini Flowers

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 4.5mm

Yarn - Cotton DK Weight (I used Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique)
Yarn A - Sunflower, Yarn B - Selection of White, Shell Pink, Sky Blue, Fondant and Greek Blue

With Yarn A make a magic ring and work first round into ring (alternatively you can make 2 chain and then work into the 2nd chain)
Round 1 - 1 ch (does not count as st), 10 dc, join with a sl st into first dc (10 sts)
Change to Yarn B
Round 2 - *2 ch, 2 tr into same st, 2 tr into next st, 2 ch, sl st into bottom of same st, sl st into next st*, repeat from * to * to end making 5 petals with the last sl st being made in the first st of the round (30 sts)
Fasten off and sew in ends.

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly.

Pattern - Mini Donuts

As a nice little accompaniment to my Donut Cushion Pattern I have designed these little mini donuts! You can use them for keyrings or bagcharms, make them into a necklace, or some bunting, or just have some dotted around the house for decoration. 

Lets face it, something as cute as these just have to be made even if they will serve no useful purpose! Add a face or keep them plain, up to you!



UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn - Stylecraft Classique Cotton

Yarn A - 1 Ball of any colour of choice for the top of the donuts. For the donuts in the pictures I used (clockwise) Shell Pink, Wisteria, Tropical Jade (unfortunately discontinued)  Hot Pink and Sky Blue

Yarn B - 1 Ball of Wheat

Decoration - oddments of different colours of yarn, any colours of your choice

Face & Cheeks (optional) - oddments of black yarn for the eyes and mouth and Fucshia for the cheeks

Finished donut should measure 5cm (2 inches) across.

This mini donut is made in the amigurumi style, so it is worked a continuous spiral with no need to join at the end of each round. It may be helpful to use a stitch marker to mark the last stitch of each round, moving up to the next round as you work.

With yarn A, make 12 ch and join with a sl st in the first ch
Round 1 - 1 ch (does not count as st), 1 dc in each ch to end (12 sts)
Round 2 - *2 dc in first st, 1 dc in next st*, repeat * to * 6 times (18 sts)
Round 3 - *2 dc in first st, 1 dc in next 2 sts*, repeat * to * 6 times (24 sts)
Round 4 - *2 dc in first st, 1 dc in next 3 sts*, repeat * to * 6 times (30 sts)
Round 5 - *2 dc in first st, 1 dc in next 4 sts*, repeat * to * 6 times (36 sts)
Round 6 - 1 dc in each st to end (36 sts)

Change to Yarn B
Round 7 - Repeat Round 6 (36 sts)
Round 8 - *2 dctog, 1 dc in next 4 sts*, repeat * to * 6 times (30 sts)
Round 9 - *2 dctog, 1 dc in next 3 sts*, repeat * to * 6 times (24 sts)
Round 10 - *2 dctog, 1 dc in next 2 sts*, repeat * to * 6 times (18 sts)
Round 11 - *2 dctog, 1 dc in next st*, repeat * to * 6 times (12 sts)
Round 12 - Repeat Round 6 (12 sts)

Using a whip stitch and with the RS facing, sew together Round 1 and 12 to approximately a third of the way round.

Stuff the donut as much as you can using toy stuffing

Continue sewing and stuffing as you go along, when you finish, fasten off and sew in ends.

Sprinkles
Using different oddments of yarn in your choice of colours, sew random sprinkles over the coloured part of the donut. 
Depending on your preference you can embroider the sprinkles either before you sew and stuff or after. I find embroidering after is much easier and I have a picture tutorial on my blog to help, just click here to view!
Use the pictures as a guide and go nuts!

Face (optional)
Using the pictures as a guide, sew eyes, mouth and little rosy cheeks!

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty

Tutorial - Embroidering Pre-Stuffed Crochet

So for this tutorial we will be looking at embroidering onto crochet items post stuffing and sewing up. It is a much easier way of doing it and much better to sew onto the finished piece where you can see the size and positioning, than onto an item 'pre-stuffing' where you are not quite sure if it will end up exactly where you want! Because I am pretty useless at sewing (despite my desperation to be a sewing queen!) I have always struggled with this bit, so when I discovered this way of doing it was a relief!

For this tutorial I will be showing how I embroidered the sprinkles onto my mini donuts, however the principle is the same whatever you are embroidering and this will give the basic idea.

So here we go...

Cut a piece of yarn long enough to do all the embroidery required. So for my piece I am going to embroider blue sprinkles onto my pink mini donut..

Thread the yarn onto a wool needle. Decide where on the piece you will be beginning your embroidering and insert the needle into the bottom of the piece near to where you are beginning..

Pull the needle all the way through to the top of piece, coming out of the area where you will be beginning your embroidery..

Pull the yarn through until you leave a little tail on the bottom half, enough to be able to tie into a knot later. You will need to either secure this or hold it so it doesn't pull through when you begin your embroidery..

Begin working your embroidery as required. For my sprinkles, I made lots of random lines across the top of the donut..

When you have finished embroidering, on your last stitch, you need to insert the needle all the way through the piece and out of the same hole on the bottom you worked the first stitch into, where the tail should still be..

Pull the yarn through and your should be left with two ends of yarn poking out of the same hole..

Cut the yarn and then tie both pieces together into a knot and pull firmly to secure, keep an eye that you don't pull too tight in case it pulls at the embroidery you have just completed..

Cut the tails so you are just left with the knotted bit..

Using the end of your needle or a crochet hook, push the knot all the way inside of the piece until you cannot see it anymore..

Then, ta-dah! We are complete, you can't see any ends and no-one would even know!

Repeat as required, as I did with my finished donut!

I hope this made sense and you find it useful! If you fancy trying out your skills, you can use them on my FREE Mini Donut pattern on my blog!

Happy hooking!

Kelly@lovedotty

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty 

Pattern - Puff Heart Granny Square

To celebrate Granny Square Day 2019 on 15th August, I have designed these quick and easy granny squares with a puff heart centre. I'm using mine as coasters or you can string them up as bunting to celebrate on the day!

If you aren't aware of Granny Square Day, the idea is on 15th August, we need as many people as possible to upload a picture of a crochet Granny Square to Instagram with the tag #GrannySquareDay2019 which then creates a virtual granny square blanket on your feed! 

For more info, visit @simplycrochetmag on Instagram!






Pattern in UK Terminology
Hook - 4mm
Yarn - Cotton DK, I used Stylecraft Classique Cotton in:
Sunflower
Soft Lime
Hot Pink
Azure

Please refer to the pictures as a guide to the colour combo's I used. For this pattern I will refer to the colour changes as Yarn A, B and C.
Special Stitches:-
puff - Puff Stitch, see stitch guide for definition if required.
In this pattern the puff stitch will be worked with 5 stitches
beg-puff - Beginning Puff Stitch, worked the same as a puff stitch with the first stitch consisting of 2 chains

With Yarn A make a magic loop

Round 1 - Working in the magic loop, beg-puff, 2ch, *puff, 2ch*, repeat from * to * twice more, sl st to top of beg puff to join (4 sts)

Round 2 - Sl st into next 2-ch sp, [beg-puff, 2ch, puff] in same sp, *1ch, [puff, 2ch, puff]* in next 2-ch sp, repeat from * to * twice more, 1ch, sl st to top of beg-puff to join (8 sts)

Round 3 - Sl st into next 2-ch sp, [beg-puff, 2ch, puff] in same sp, 1 ch, puff in next 1-ch sp, 1ch, *change to Yarn B (carry yarn A behind work), [3tr, 2ch, 3tr] in next 2-ch sp, 1 ch, change to Yarn A, puff in next sp, 1ch*, repeat from * to * [puff, 2ch, puff] in next 2-ch sp, 1ch, change to Yarn B, 3tr in next sp, 1ch, sl st to top of beg-puff to join (22 sts)

Fasten off Yarn A and carry on with Yarn B working in a traditional granny style

Round 4 - Sl st into next 2-ch sp, [3ch (counts as a st throughout pattern) 2tr, 2ch, 3tr] in 2-ch corner sp, continue to work *3tr in each 1-ch sp and [3tr, 2ch, 3tr] into each 2-ch corner sp of previous round*, sl st to top of beginning 3ch to join (48 sts)

Round 5 - Sl st into top of next 2tr of previous round and into 2-ch corner sp, [3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr] in 2-ch corner sp and then repeat as per Round 4, from * to *, sl st to top of beginning 3ch to join (60 sts)

Fasten off Yarn B and join Yarn C to any 2-ch corner of Round 5

Round 6 - 1ch (does not count as st), work [1dc, 1ch, 1dc] into each corner sp and 1dc into each tr st of previous round, sl st into first dc to join (68 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends
You can block the finished square if you wish but I found blocking wasn't essential. The squares in the picture aren't blocked

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly of lovedotty