Monday 24 March 2014

Latest Pattern RAMBLER Hat Headband Cowl

free crochet patterns, how to crochet, hat, headband, cowl, neckwarmer

Spring is in the air

Spring is here and the sun is shining and temperatures are getting warmer, I am so excited!

A week ago on Sunday, we walked the Chilham Circular (approx 10 miles) starting and finishing at Chilham, Kent, UK.  It was a fabulous day with loads of sunshine, a fresh breeze blowing reminding us it is still only March, and the temperature rose from 11C in the morning to 17C in the afternoon.

We thoroughly enjoyed  walking the woodlands, Yew forests, the Kentish Downs, upland and downland fields, panoramic views, bluebell woods (not blooming yet) and passed through the Godmersham Park estate.  What a fabulous walk, we will definitely go back and do it again when all the leaves are on the trees.

It's all this lovely spring weather walking which is guiding my crochet projects at the moment.

Spring crochet 

I have loads of crochet hats for winter walks and desperately need spring time hats, something to keep my head warm and keep the wind out of my ears, especially when the fresh breeze carries with it a "wind chill factor", and not a hat made with wool or alpaca, but a lighter weight cotton or bamboo yarn.

Ta-dah! the little Rambler hat headband cowl was created using a lovely 80% bamboo 20% wool yarn from Sirdar called "Smiley Stripes".  At first I wasn't too sure about the orange but when the lovely pattern started to emerge with each row, I was loving it.


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I can wear it to keep my head warm, or open up the end and double it over for a headband and ear warmer, or slip it down and wear it around my neck, just lovely.  Rambler is similar in style to my first hat/headband/cowl which I made in autumn 2012 on our Scottish highlands trip (see this post) a totally different pattern, whereas this spring design is super easy and quick to make.

Here's my first SPRING design for 2014
RAMBLER Hat Headband Cowl

See below for the pattern details and instructions

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PATTERN DETAILS:

A simple crochet hat, headband, cowl, for spring/autumn weather walking.

SKILL:  Easy
YARN:  Sirdar Snuggly Smiley Stripes DK - 80% Bamboo 20% Wool - 2 x 50g/95m/103yd
SUBSTITUTE YARN:   any other similar DK yarn
HOOK:  G/6 (4mm)
MEASUREMENTS:  Circumference 20in (50.8cm) , Height 8in (20.3cm)
TENSION/GAUGE:  20sts x 20 rows to 4in; in pattern stitch.

PATTERN NOTES:  The tension/gauge is only a guideline, it is not critical to this pattern.  As long as your circumference is big enough to fit your head, and the height is long enough for the hat to cover your head and ears, that is all you need to achieve here.

ABBREVIATIONS:  USA (American) Crochet Terms
ch = chain, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, st = stitch

Row 1:  Ch41, sc in back bump 2nd ch from hook, sc in back bump of each ch to end. Turn. (40sts)
Row 2:  Ch1, sc in back loop of each st to end. Turn.
Row 3-91:  Repeat Row 2.
Row 92:  Repeat Row 2, do not fasten off, continue with join, as follows:
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Joining row

Row 93:  Join last row to first row, sc into back loop only of each st to end.  Do not turn, do not fasten off, continue to crochet the drawstring edge.
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Drawstring Edge

Rnd 94:  Ch2, dc in end of each row, join.  (92dc)  Fasten off.

Make a Drawstring

Leave a 3-4in tail, Ch120, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc to end.  Cut yarn leaving a 3-4in tail.
Thread your tails into a yarn needle and feed the drawstring 2dc at a time round the drawstring round.
Hide ends into the drawstring, pull on the drawstring to minimize the hole, tie a knot close to hold secure, tie another knot at end, to hold drawstring ends together.
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To Wear the Hat, Headband, Cowl:
  • Wear the hat with the drawstring tightened, option to roll up brim.
  • Wear the headband by releasing the knot closest to drawstring round, and fold in half.
  • Wear the cowl by releasing the knot closest to drawstring round, and fold over one third.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue and Favorites


LET ME KNOW how you go with this pattern and please share your creations.  I am always happy to help if you have any questions in regards to the pattern.

enjoy
ciao, ciao!

© 2008 Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet. All rights reserved. 

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Saturday 22 March 2014

How to Crochet a Mitered Square

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Here is my version of the basic instructions for mitered crochet square.

HOW TO Mitered Crochet Squares using single crochet:
1. Decide what size square you wish to make. 
2. Start with a chain double the length of one side of the square.
3. For a 3in square, length of chain needs to be 6in. 
4. Even number of stitches plus one stitch for centre.

Simple Crochet Mitered Square
ABBREVIATIONS:  USA (American) Crochet Terms
ch = chain, st = stitch, sc = single crochet, sc3tog = single crochet 3 stitches together.

Row 1:  Ch25.
Row 2:  Ch1, sc in 11ch, sc3tog, sc in next 11ch. Turn. (23sts)

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Row 3:  Ch1, sc in 10sts, sc3tog,  sc in next 10sts. Turn.  (21sts)
Row 4:  Ch1, sc in 9sts, sc3tog, sc in next 9sts. Turn.  (19sts)

Keep decreasing in same manner for each row as follows:

Row 5:  Ch1, sc in 8sts, sc3tog, sc in next 8sts. Turn.  (17sts)
Row 6:  Ch1, sc in 7sts, sc3tog, sc in next 7sts. Turn.  (15sts)
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Row 7:  Ch1, sc in 6sts, sc3tog, sc in next 6sts. Turn.  (13sts)
Row 8:  Ch1, sc in 5sts, sc3tog, sc in next 5sts. Turn.  (11sts)
Row 9:  Ch1, sc in 4sts, sc3tog, sc in next 4sts. Turn.  (9sts)
Row 10:  Ch1, sc in 3sts, sc3tog, sc in next 3sts. Turn.  (7sts)


Row 11:  Ch1, sc in 2sts, sc3tog, sc in next 2sts. Turn.  (5sts)
Row 12:  Ch1, sc in 1sts, sc3tog, sc in next 1sts. Turn.  (3sts)
Row 13:  Ch1, sc3tog.
Fasten off.

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You can change colour after every 2nd or 4th row.

You can make your mitered squares individually or "join as you go".  If you plan to create different patterns with the squares then you will want to join your squares later.  

Remember to check out what I did with my mitered squares HERE


BE CREATIVE
HAVE A PLAY AND HAVE SOME FUN!

YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR CREATIONS 
BELOW IN THE COMMENTS 
OR 


Enjoy!
ciao, ciao!
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com
Copyright (C) 2008-2015 Barbara Summers - All rights reserved.
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Thursday 20 March 2014

Summer Crochet Bags

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LATTE crochet bag PATTERN is now AVAILABLE in 

UK British and USA American Crochet Terms

PLEASE SELECT THE CORRECT PATTERN TERMINOLOGY prior to purchase

from these online stores:

RAVELRY        CRAFTSY 


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BE CREATIVE
PLAY AND HAVE SOME FUN!

YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR CREATIONS 
BELOW IN THE COMMENTS 
OR 


Enjoy!
ciao, ciao!
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com
Copyright (C) 2008-2015 Barbara Summers - All rights reserved.
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Tuesday 11 March 2014

It's a MAN CUSHION... mitered squares


Here is the MAN CUSHION - MITERED SQUARES

Yarn:  Aran Wool 100%
Hook:  4mm

Check out the previous posts for the construction of this cushion here and here


Saturday 8 March 2014

BEING SQUARE Cushions and Pillows with Crochet SQUARES

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Here I am into the second week in March and still haven't finished my mitered squares cushion, terrible really but I have good reasons for the delay. I was too sick one week with an URTI which annihilated my desire for any crocheting and any attempt at focusing on pattern writing was a huge failure. UGH!

A week of indoor-ism was so tedious, and as soon as my strength returned and throat cleared, I was keen to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Basically, I have indulged myself with wandering the countryside instead of getting back into my crochet projects

Totally lovely!
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We visited Canterbury and walked the wall in the hope of photographing the yearly display of glorious daffodils round the perimeter of the wall, and we weren't disappointed at all!

How lovely are these?

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The weather has been really lovely, with a wonderful feeling of spring in the air.  Some days it's a bit windy but the sunshine has made up for the wind chill factor.  

We enjoyed our Canterbury Walk so much we ventured on an eight (8) mile walk the very next day.

Drove to Chilham, parked up and walked from Chilham to Chartham and back again.  Country walking with a bit of historical sightseeing to make it really interesting.

Loved Chilham, so much history here, (if you would like to see more photos of our walks, do check out MiFotoLife blog)

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Chilham Castle
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And best of all we finished our walk with some lovely cream teas - two scones, freshly baked that day, with strawberry preserve and clotted cream, at Shelly's Tea Rooms in Chilham. Oh so delicious and ever so naughty!  yum yum!

CROCHET TALK

OK so let's move on and talk a bit about these CROCHET SQUARES - CUSHIONS/PILLOWS - WIP (work in progress)

The small mitered squares (see previous post) which I crocheted with aran wool are now joined together, by a single crochet join, and I've added a single crochet border, alternating the colours.  As you can see in the photo below.

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For the back of the cushion, I've introduced a third colour, and just crocheting a striped square in alternating colours and irregular widths of colour.

Ever so simple, and a striking contrast to the front of the cushion which is in two colours and includes the mitered squares.  I am making this cushion cover for my husband so I am making sure the stitches are going to be strong and durable, by using the 100% aran wool and a 4mm hook.  The back of the cushion is crochet using single crochet in back loop, resulting in a lovely texture and ridged effect, a very masculine and robust cushion cover.  

It's my MAN CUSHION!

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This cushion back is nearly finished, it won't be long and I will be able to crochet the front to the back and add some buttons at one end for the opening.  Promise to post an update when I have completed the mitered cushion cover, so do come back for the finale!

enjoy
ciao, ciao!

BE CREATIVE
HAVE A PLAY AND HAVE SOME FUN!

YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR CREATIONS 
BELOW IN THE COMMENTS 
OR 


Enjoy!
ciao, ciao!
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com
Copyright (C) 2008-2015 Barbara Summers - All rights reserved.
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