Loopy Pink Cowl

This pretty pink cowl is soft and fluffy--and surprisingly easy to crochet. The fun texture is created with the loop stitch, which is really just a variation on the single crochet stitch. The only tricky part, for me anyway, is keeping the size of the loops uniform. When you're learning loop stitch, the "a picture is worth a thousand words" rule definitely applies. So, rather than try to describe the process, I'm sharing a link to a Loop Stitch tutorial on the Annie's website. (They're the publishers of some of my favorite needlework magazines--Crochet World, Crochet!, and JustCrossStitch.) 

When you master the stitch and you're ready for a project, give this cowl pattern a try. For the model shown in the pictures, which is 7 inches high by 28 inches diameter, I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in color #9719 Soft Pink and a size I/9 crochet hook. I made my loop stitches long so they cowl would be extra fluffy. Follow the instructions below, or click here to download a printable pattern.

Loopy Pink Cowl Pattern

Row 1: Chain 26, single crochet in second chain from hook and in each chain across, turn. (25 single crochet)

Row 2: Chain 1, loop stitch in first single crochet and in each single crochet across, turn. (25 loops)

Row 3: Single crochet in each stitch across, turn. (25 single crochet)

That's the pattern--I told you it was easy! Just repeat rows 2 and 3 until the piece measures 28 inches long, and then fold it in half widthwise, with the loop sides facing. Stitch the two short edges together with slip stitch. Fasten off the yarn, turn the cowl to the right side, and your cowl is ready to wear. I added a few heart charms to dress my mine up for Valentine's Day, but I think it's just as pretty plain. 

Mistletoe Garland Scarf

Is it a scarf? Is it garland? Yes! You can use this easy-to-crochet strand of mistletoe to deck the halls--or to deck yourself out for the holidays. It's worked entirely in chain stitch, slip stitch, and single crochet, so it's a super simple project for crocheters of all skill levels. The pom-poms are tied on when the stitching is finished. I used two skeins of Vanna's Choice yarn from Lion Brand in Kelly Green, one skein of Simply Soft Party yarn from Caron in Snow Sparkle, a size I/9 crochet hook, and a 1 3/8-inch pom-pom maker from Clover.

The extra-long scarf (mine has a length of about 80 inches) is constructed of chain-stitch loops worked on the top and bottom of a chain-stitch base. Follow the instructions below, or click here to download a printable pattern.

To begin, chain 250 with the green yarn.

Row 1: Single crochet in the 20th chain from hook, (chain 16, single crochet in the next stitch) across, ending with a single crochet in the last stitch.

Row 2: Turn work upside. Chain 20, single crochet in the base of first stitch, (chain 16, single crochet in the next stitch) across, ending with a slip stitch in the base of the last stitch. Fasten off.

For the "berries," make 18 pom-poms from the white yarn and tie them to the scarf in an arrangement you like. To finish, weave in any yarn ends.















Ta-da! Your mistletoe garland is ready to wear or display. If you'd prefer to make a holly garland, swap the Kelly green yarn for a darker shade and use bright red yarn instead of white. (I've really got to make one of those myself!)

I'll be taking a break from the blog next week to spend some quality Christmas time with my family. Hope you all are doing the same!

Crocheted Trellis Cowl

This cute little cowl is much easier to make than it looks. A repeating chain-and-pineapple stitch pattern creates a textured, openwork look that looks the same on the front and back. Each of the unjoined rounds is worked identically, making it a fun project that requires minimal concentration. Once you get the pattern in your head, you can just stitch away while you watch TV--which is how I spend most of my fall evenings.

The yarn I used is Cascade 220 Superwash in Como Blue #811. It's 100% washable wool, so it feels cozy and has just the right amount of stretch. Of course, you can use any worsted-weight yarn you have on hand. I used a size I-9 crochet. I tend to crochet tightly, so I used a hook that's a bit larger than I would ordinarily use for this yarn to keep the pattern loose and lacy. Experiment with your yarn to find the hook that creates the desired effect before you begin making the cowl.

This pattern uses one special stitch--the pineapple stitch--which creates the tiny "puffs" that give the cowl texture. Follow the instructions below, or click here to download a printable pattern.
Here's how to make it:

Pineapple stitch: [Yarn over hook, insert hook, yarn over hook, draw a loop through] 4 times in the same stitch, yarn over hook, draw through first 8 loops on hook, yarn over hook, draw through remaining 2 loops on hook.

To begin the cowl, chain 140, join with a slip stitch in the first stitch to form a ring. (The circumference of my cowl is about 26 inches.)

Round 1: [Chain 3, skip 3 stitches, single crochet in next stitch, chain 3, skip 3 stitches, pineapple stitch in next stitch] 17 times. To end the first round, chain 3, skip 3 stitches, single crochet in the joining slip stitch.

Remaining rounds: [Chain 3, skip 3 stitches, pineapple stitch in the next single crochet, chain 3, skip 3 stitches, single crochet in top of the next pineapple stitch] around, without joining rounds.

Work in this pattern until the cowl reaches the size you like. (Mine is 8 inches high.) To finish the cowl, chain 3, slip stitch in the next single crochet, fasten off, and weave in ends.

See My Design in "Crochet! Winter Warmers"

Scarf and shawl season is almost upon us, and I couldn't be happier! If you're a crochet addict like me, and you're looking for some cool-weather accessories, wearables, and home decor items to make, look for "Winter Warmers" on your newsstand (it's a special publication from Crochet! magazine). I'm thrilled to tell you that my Ridge Rock Shawl is one of the featured designs. These photos give you a sneak peak.

I really can't wait for the weather to get just a little bit cooler so I can wear it. In the meantime, I'll keep busy crocheting. This issue has certainly given me a lot of inspiration!

Crocheted Bookworms

I have to admit, I love my Kindle. But sometimes I like to read a real book with paper pages, and for that I need a bookmark--preferably one that's handmade.

My grandmother made crocheted "bookworms" like these back in the 1970s. I relied on my memory to re-create her design to make these cute little guys. I'm not sure if my grandmother used pompoms on her bookworms, but I couldn't resist!

This project perfect for using up scraps from your yarn stash. (As you can see, I'm down to my last yards of magenta.) The instructions are simple, and each bookworm takes just minutes to make. I used worst-weight yarn and a size G hook, but you can experiment with whatever supplies you have on hand. Here's the pattern:

Chain 60, place a marker, and then chain 43 more stitches. Make 3 double crochets in the third chain from the hook and in each stitch across, until you reach the marker. Remove the marker, 1 half-double crochet in the chain stitch that was marked, make 1 single crochet in the next chain, slip-stitch in the next chain, and fasten off.

When you adjust the double crochets so they spiral, your bookworm should look like the one in the photo above.

Make a pompom for each bookworm and tie it to the tail, then weave in any loose strands of yarn. See how easy that was? And kind of addicting, right? If you get carried away and make more bookmarks than you need, you can use them as gifts for your favorite human bookworms.

Itsy-Bitsy Spider Necklace

I used to love coming up with crazy Halloween costumes every year--for myself, when I was younger, and later for my two daughters. These days, my costume consists of a black shirt with a ghost applique that I pull out of the closet once a year. But even though I don't dress up for my second-favorite holiday anymore, I still like to have some fun with Halloween accessories. This year, I came up with a simple, spooky spider necklace.

I got the idea for this project when I found these little metal spider charms at my local Michael's store. Spiders need webs to hang from, so I put some crochet thread that I had on hand to work. It's Aunt Lydia's silver metallic crochet, so it has a little sparkle.

To make the necklace, use a size 4 steel crochet hook and chain about 40 stitches. Attach one of the spiders by drawing the thread through the loop on the charm with the crochet hook, then complete the stitch to hold the charm in place. Continue working in chain stitch, adding a spider charm every 40 stitches or so until the strand reaches the length you want. Join the end chain to the beginning chain with a slip stitch and fasten it off. You can wear your necklace in a single strand or double as shown in the photo below. 

An extra treat . . .

If you're looking for another adorable Halloween accessory, how about a pair of candy corn hair clips? Click here to go to the original post, which appeared on my blog last October.

Summer Craft Roundup

Happy Fourth of July! To celebrate, I've rounded up six of my favorite summertime crafts. They're all simple projects that you can cross-stitch, crochet, stitch, or craft. Click on the title of the project below to visit its original blog post. 

Crocheted Sea Glass Pendant

Use embroidery floss and crocheted chain stitch to transform a piece of colored sea glass into a unique pendant.

Star-Spangled Garland

This simple paper star garland can be a family project--grownups can do the tracing and cutting, the kids can glue the layers of stars together with glue stick.

Crocheted Paillette Necklace

Another easy crochet accessory. This one uses paillettes (oversize sequins) and embroidery floss to create a frothy necklace.

Summer Sun Watch

A little cross-stitch sun replaces the clock face on this wrist watch. Who cares what time it is when you're on vacation?

Flowery Fabric Pendant

To make this summer accessory, embellish a scrap of pretty fabric with embroidery and mount it in a pendant setting.

Felt Watermelon Basket

This fresh felt watermelon basket looks good enough to eat. You can use it to hold coasters or other tabletop trinkets.

Crochet-Covered Earrings

Who wouldn't love a pair of crochet-covered earrings for Mother's Day? They're cute and cool and--best of all--easy to make. I started with a pair of plastic earrings that I found in a jewelry box and some bright blue worsted-weight yarn. 

If you don't have any earrings just like these, don't worry. You can crochet over many types of hoop earrings--use your imagination. And of course you can use any color yarn you have on hand. I had just bought a big skein of this beautiful blue, but you really only need a small amount. You could also try yarn of a different weight, but I really like the coverage and texture that the worsted-weight created.

There are no tricky stitches involved--just single crochet. To begin, wrap the end of the yarn around one of the earring hoops and start working in single crochet. Just stitch through the center of the hoop as if you were working through a crochet stitch. As you crochet around the hoop, work over the starting end of the yarn. I spaced my stitches so they were close together, but not bunched up; I wanted to let a little of the hoop peek through. When the stitching is finished, cut the yarn and knot the last stitch closed. Use a large-eyed needle to pull the yarn ends under the stitches, and then trim any stray ends that try to poke through your crochet stitches.  

Repeat the process for the second earring and you have a one-of-a-kind Mother's Day gift--or a new pair of earrings for yourself.

Crocheted Alpaca Bracelets

Last Christmas, I knitted a shawl for my sister from baby alpaca yarn. I loved working with the alpaca--it was so soft and luxurious--so I was thrilled when I ended up with a little ball for myself when the shawl was finished. I challenged myself to come up with a project that used the yarn, and after some trial and error, I finally came up with these crocheted bracelets.

You can adapt these designs to any leftover yarn from your stash. Just pick up your favorite crochet hook and follow the simple (and I mean simple) patterns below.

Textured Bracelet

Chain 6 and slip stitch in first stitch for form a ring. Single crochet in each chain, and then work in rounds, making a single crochet through the back loop only of each single crochet. After a few rounds, you'll begin to see a ridged, spiral pattern emerge. Continue working in the single crochet pattern until the length of your crocheted tube fits loosely around your wrist. (You want to be able to slip it over your hand, but not have it so loose that it falls off.) When the tube reaches your desired length, fasten off and cut the yarn, leaving a tail that's a few inches long. Use a large-eyed tapestry needle to sew the two ends of the tube together. Weave in the loose ends and your bangle is finished.

Flat Bracelet

Make a length of chain stitch that fits loosely around your wrist. Slip stitch in the first stitch to form a large ring. Slip stitch in each chain stitch around. Continue working in rounds, slip-stitching in each stitch. Make as many rounds as you like. My bangle is about 3/4 inches wide. (I would have made it wider, but I reached the end of my precious ball of baby alpaca.) To finish, fasten off the cut the yarn. Use a tapestry needle to weave in the ends. Bangle two complete!

These bracelets are fun to wear--they're so soft! I'm going to try this with some of my other leftover yarn.  

Crocheted Bangle Bracelets

I hang on to a lot of odds and ends that "I'm going to use someday." Jewelry that's broken--or just worn out and tired--is one of my favorite crafting supplies. When I found a pair of plain black plastic bangle bracelets in a jewelry box, I decided they were in need of a makeover. To transform the bangles from boring to beautiful, I just grabbed a skein of metallic embroidery floss and a crochet hook. 

I used a size E hook to crochet around the bangles with the DMC Light Effects floss, which can be tricky to work with. (Its six strands don't always like to stay together.) To begin, wrap the end of the floss around one of the bangles a few times and then started working in single crochet. Just stitch through the center of the bangle as if you were working through a crochet stitch. Cover the starting end of the embroidery floss as you work around the bangle to secure it. 

As you crochet, place the stitches close together so they cover the bracelet completely. When the stitching is finished, cut the floss and knot the last stitch closed. Use a large-eyed needle to conceal the floss ends under the stitches. 

I used DMC Light Effects E168 (silver) to make these bracelets, which I think could be worn in any season. Light Effects comes in all sorts of metallic and pearlescent colors, so I think I'll be looking for more boring bangles that need a facelift. 

Crocheted Paillette Necklace

Who doesn't love sequins? They're colorful and sparkly--and a little magical. I used blue paillettes--which are really just big, flat sequins--and blue embroidery floss to make this pretty necklace. It's shimmery and frothy, and I think it looks like something that could have watched up on an enchanted beach.

This necklace is one of my "use what you have" projects. The paillettes are from leftover scraps of trim. I had skeins of old embroidery floss in different shades of blue, so I just wound them all together to make a ball of crochet thread. The only skills you need for this project are chain stitch and a bit of patience. I used a tiny No. 10 steel crochet hook, which fit through the holes on the paillettes, and just stitched until I ran out of paillettes and floss. Instead of counting stitches, which would have driven me crazy, I used measurements when I made the necklace. 

To begin, I made a short length of chain stitch and added my first paillette. (Don't be intimidated; you just push through hook through the hole in the paillette, pull the thread through hole, and then continue chain stitching.) I then continued crocheting and placed paillettes randomly, but fairly evenly spaced, as I worked.

When the chain was about 28 inches long, I fastened it to the starting stitch with slip stitch. I made two more slip stitches and went back to chain stitch. To give the necklace a layered look, I varied the lengths of the strands from about 28 inches to 32 inches. I also made several strands without paillettes. Each time I reached the starting point, I slip-stitched in the three existing slip stitches and returned to chain stitch. When I got to the end of my ball of floss, I finished with three slip stitches, cut the floss, and wove the end into the chain stitches.

I love this project because it's so simple and adaptable. If you're not an embroidery floss hoarder like me, you can use crochet thread or pearl cotton. And if you don't have leftover paillette trim on hand, you can find bags of flat sequins in all sizes and colors and crafts stores and fabric shops.

Crocheted Sea Glass Pendant

I don't get to the beach as often as I'd like, but on one of my visits I found this beautiful piece of sea glass. It's a real treasure--I love its color and texture. I've been keeping it in a bowl of seashells, but I decided it deserves better treatment. The idea for this project came about when I was sorting my box of embroidery floss (one of my favorite activities) and realized that the lovely DMC #3813--Light Blue Green--matches the color of the glass perfectly. One thing led to another, and I ended up with this sea glass pendant.

If you can chain stitch, you can make a pendant like this one. Just remember that, like seashells, no two pieces of sea glass are alike. You'll have to adjust your design according to the glass you use. For best results, use an irregularly shaped piece that has notches that will hold your crochet chains in place.

To begin my pendant, I made a crochet chain that was just long enough to fit snugly around the center of the glass, and then I joined the ends together with a slip stitch. Next, I continued the chain and joined it to the center of the crocheted chain on the front of the pendant. I made several more lengths of crochet chain this way, securing them around the ridges of the glass and joining them to the center of the chains on the back and front. When the glass was contained securely in the crochet chains, I knotted the floss tightly on the back.

Jewelry-making is not one of my strengths, so I kept the construction of the pendant simple. I slipped a silver jump ring through the crocheted chain at the top of the pendant, fastened a second jump ring to the first, and then added a silver box chain. I think a silk cord or piece of twine would look pretty too. 

Knit and Crochet Your Veggies!

I'm not much of a vegetable gardener. I have better luck with herbs and perennials. But I do like making vegetables from felt, floss, and yarn. The teeny carrot and radish on the right were crocheted from embroidery floss. I made up the designs as I worked along, so I apologize, but I don't have any written instructions to share with you. I honestly don't know how amigurimi artists keep track of all those little stitches!

I knitted the crop of vegetables in the photos below with double knitting wool-blend yarn. I found the patterns--which are way beyond my knitting design skills--in the awesome book "Knitted Vegetables" by Susie Johns. I'm showing you some of my favorite veggies here, but the book actually contains 20 patterns. They were really fun to make, and I just love how realistic the shapes and textures are. Johns has also published a book of knitted fruit patterns, so I think I'll try my hand at knitted apples and strawberries next.

Heart Charm Bracelet

When I realized how many heart baubles had accumulated in my bead box, I decided it was time to finally do something with them. The result is this cute heart bracelet, which I made just in time for Valentine's Day.

So where are the hearts from? Some are from pieces of broken jewelry, like the sparkly rhinestone and pearl charm. It was part of a pin that was one of my go-to accessories in the '80s. (It was in style then, I think.) Other hearts are leftovers from projects gone by. To get the hearts ready for stringing, I gave them hanging wires and dressed them up with more beads.

And now for the easy part -- crocheting the beads onto a strand of narrow red ribbon. I used a steel crochet hook small enough to fit through the wire loops, chained five chain stitches, and added the first bead by crocheting right through the loop. I attached the remaining beads the same way, making five chain stitches between them. Before I finished the chain I made sure the bracelet fit around my wrist (it's a Valentine present for myself). No fancy jewelry techniques for attaching the clasp and ring; I just tied them to the ends of the chain and wove the extra ribbon into the stitching.

Crocheted Icicle Garland

Aside from early adventures with crayons and construction paper, crochet was the first craft I learned. I think I was seven when my grandmother patiently guided me through a pot holder made from gray Aunt Lydia's Rug Yarn. This sparkly crocheted garland is even easier to make than a pot holder--and, I think, a lot prettier. If you can chain stitch and count, you have all the skills you need.

You can find plastic "crystal" teardrop beads like the ones shown here at a craft store. I used purple embroidery floss and a size 10 steel crochet hook, but you can use crochet thread and a hook of your choice. Just make sure the point of the hook fits through the hole in the beads. 

To make the garland, chain 50 stitches and add a bead: push the point of the hook through the bead's hole, wrap the crochet thread around the hook, and then pull it back through the hole and through the stitch on the hook. Chain 30 and add another bead. That's all there is to it. Keep chain-stitching and adding beads until the garland is the length you want (or, like me, you run out of beads). End the garland with 50 chain stitches. Hang your finished "icicle" garland on your Christmas tree or drape it around a mirror or window.

Tip: To keep the garland from tangling, wrap it around a cardboard tube for storage.