October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A couple of years ago I designed this scarf for my sister-in-law, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. (She just passed her 5 year mark - yay!) I've made the pattern is available for free download from my Ravelry shop for you to  make for someone special.

download now

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Approximately 6 oz. of worsted weight yarn
Size F crochet hook (metric size 3.75; English size 8)

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZE: 5" wide by 55" long

Oreo cookies that never get stale

I had some leftover black and white yarn from an amigurumi class that just finished up. Guess what I couldn't get out of my mind? For each cookie, make two black and 1 white of the following:

• CH 2. Work 6 SC in the second CH from the hook.


• Make 2 SC in each of the 6 stitches (12 SC total.)


• (SC 1, make 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (18 SC total.)


• (SC for 2, make 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (24 SC total.)


• SL ST to the next SC and finish off. Weave in loose ends.

Use a tapestry needle and a length of the black yarn to sew together the three pieces with a running stitch. Now I'm off to the store to compare them to the real thing...

Felt Easter Egg Tutorial

These felts eggs are easy to make and I'm pretty sure they are fun to play with.


You'll need:

• craft felt (a 12" x 9" square will yield 6 eggs and cost about 25 cents at the local big box store)



• polyfill for the stuffing



• embroidery thread and an embroidery needle



• three straight pins



• sewing scissors



• an egg template

For the template just trace an egg and then add 1/4" all the way around. You can also get find a free template here but you will need to reduce it to 75% the original size to get an egg that will fit in an egg case.

• Cut out the egg shapes using the template. I fold the felt in half, pin the template to the felt and then cut two egg shapes at once. Two pieces will make one egg.



• Whipstitch the two pieces together using the embroidery thread. I find that about a 30" length of embroidery thread is just about right length for me.



• Leave about a 1" gap on the bottom of the egg for turning it inside out.
  
  



• Turn the egg inside out.



• Stick your finger in the egg and push out the seam all the way around.



• Stuff with the polyfill nice and tight.
  
  
  Now whipstitch the bottom of the egg closed. Have fun!
  

Free Yarmulke Crochet Pattern for Passover

The Purl Bee has graciously posted the pattern for these crochet kippot . These skullcaps would be perfect gifts for Pesach, which starts next Thursday, April 9. These are so appealing they almost make me wish women also wore them.

Free Felted Coasters Crochet Pattern

I saw something similar to this somewhere and thought it might be fun to make up a set. The coasters and their case make an easy project for the beginning crocheter - they work up fast and make an unusual gift. You'll need:

• about 3 oz of 100% wool medium weight yarn. (Make sure it's wool - otherwise it won't felt.) I like Lion Wool Brand and Paton's Classic Wool. If you are using 2 colors like I did, a couple oz. of each color should be enough.
• a size F or G crochet hook
• a 28-30 oz can of vegetables (say, a 28 oz. can of tomatoes)
• a zippered mesh laundry bag (like the kind you wash delicates in)
• a tennis ball or a pair of jeans

You're going to do all the crocheting in a spiral rather than end each round and start a new one. I think working in spirals is SOOO much easier, plus it's going to be felted in the end anyway so who will know?


THE COASTER (Make 4 of these):

1. Make a circle of 6 SC. You can do this one of two ways. You can CH 2 and then make 6 SC in the second CH from the hook. Or, you can use the 'Magic Adjustable Ring.' Check the video I have for this if you don't know what I'm talking about.
2. Make 2 SC in each SC around (12 SC total.)
3. (SC 1, 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (18 SC total.)
4. (SC 2, 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (24 SC total.)
5. (SC 3, 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (30 SC total.)
6. (SC 4, 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (36 SC total.)
7. (SC 5, 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (42 SC total.)
8. (SC 6, 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (48 SC total.)
9. SL ST to next stitch and finish off.

THE CASE:

1. Repeat steps 1-8 of the coasters.
2. (SC 7, 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (54 SC total.) If you want a two-toned holder, here is a good place to switch to your second color.
3. SC in each stitch all the way around (54 SC total.)
4. Repeat step 3 for 9 more times.
5. SL ST to the next stitch and finish off.

FELTING:

Now you are ready to felt this stuff. Put everything in that mesh laundry bag and put it in your washing machine with that tennis ball or pair of jeans. The tennis ball (or jeans) will help agitate the wool and get it to felt up. Set the wash on the lowest water setting, the highest agitation setting and use hot water. Run it through a wash and rinse cycle. If the pieces aren't felted enough to your liking, you can wash 'em again. Trim any loose ends. Now to shape everything. It should be pretty easy to get the coasters flattened out - just stretch with your hands, if needed . As for the case, put it over the end of the vegetable can and tug it into shape. You make have to pull a bit on this one. It should look something like this (can you tell I live in Texas?):

Once you get it evened out, let everything just sit until it's dry. This could take up to 24 hours but overnight usually does it for me. That's it! Here's my set going for a test drive.

Let me know how yours turn out!

Free Amigurumi Heart Pattern

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Surf on over to roxycraft.com to find the free crochet instructions for these cute amigurumi hearts.