Quick Easy Christmas Crochet Gifts

Quick, Easy Christmas Crochet Gifts

Are you thinking of Christmas giving? Do you want to make it special? Then give the gift of HAND MADE. You can make these super quick and easy crochet gifts!

*  Crochet Hats SWEET and DUDE  *

*  Crochet Scarf  SHADOW  *

*  Crochet Slippers TRAVELLER with Heart or Flower*

*  Crochet Mittens COUNTRY  *

*  Crochet Mittens SHELLS  *

A total of eight (8) simply perfect crochet patterns available in one (1) eBook, so you can crochet your Christmas gifts quick smart before the ***snow falls***

HOTCHPOTCH Crochet Gifts eBOOK

IS AVAILABLE FROM MY ONLINE SHOPS

Ravelry       Craftsy

Enjoy every moment,

focus on every stitch,

create a masterpiece....

ciao, ciao...

CROCHET INSPIRATION from the HIGHLANDS of Scotland

HIGHLANDS SECRET

We had an awesome wonderful two (2) weeks of exploration and relaxation in remote Ardnamurchan land, a 50-square-mile (130 km2) peninsula in the West Highlands, and here we found the most westerly point of mainland Great Britain, Corrachadh Mòr.

In the photo above I am wearing my Scottish highlands inspired crochet hat/neckwarmer, while exploring the ruins of Castle Tioram. I designed it especially with an opening at the crown where a drawstring brings the opening together and closes for a hat, or your could leave it open a bit for your bun or ponytail to poke out the top. I simply wear it as a hat or totally open wide the crown and wear it as a neckwarmer. Simple really.

I can truly say I have been inspired by the colours of the highlands, it's rugged landscapes and in places the lush growth of mossy, fern-rich woodlands. 

These magnificient colours of the highlands especially during the end of autumn were truly magical.

Now we are back I am keen to get into some serious crocheting after a day or two of rest.

Unfortunately, I am totally committed to a crochet submission project for DMC, and until that is finalized there is definitely no time to spare for any pattern designing or writing for my website or blog.  

In the meantime, you can always view my free patterns here for those great crochet winter accessories which are always perfect for Christmas gift giving.

Also you could check my Scottish inspired patterns listed below.

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YOU MAY LIKE THESE SCOTTISH INSPIRED PATTERNS:

RETURN FROM DOWNUNDER

I am back...

Last cuddle with CC

from down under...  

Winter warmers - MITTENS crochet

Time to rug up

A decent drop in temperature overnight, 1 degree celsius at 7am this morning. How do I know?  I was out in it, ice covered windscreens to boot. Not complaining,  we have had a very mild autumn here in UK.

Perfect timing

So, the colder weather is perfectly timed with my latest pattern for full crochet mittens. I made these mittens for myself, just love these DEBBIE BLISS yarns

Debbie Bliss "Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran"

Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Aran is a wool/angora blend. So if you love tweedy yarns but prefer something softer, this is the yarn for you. 

and Debbie Bliss "Fez"

Debbie Bliss Fez is a camel hair/merino mix and is simply stunning and ever so soft.

Both yarns are delicious to work with, and both yarns soften and relax the more you work with them.

I am sure you will just love these yarns, the tweed is non-scratchy and there is also a great range of colours, do check it out.

PATTERN NOTE:

Unfortunately, I had to buy a second ball of the Donegal Tweed yarn to finish the last 4-5 rounds of the mitten and the thumb section.  DOH!

However, if you were to use more of the Fez for the rib band you should be able to make the mittens using only 1 ball of each yarn.

Pattern Details:

Easy crochet mittens with simple rib cuff and rice stitch over the palm. Optional wristband.

Worked in rounds starting at the cuff. No seams to sew. 

Wear the mittens on either hand. 

Pattern is the same for both left and right mittens.

Size: Ladies M/L = medium to large
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran 2 balls; and Debbie Bliss Fez 1 ball
Hook: 5mm
Terminology: USA - AMERICAN crochet terms

This pattern can be adapted to other yarns.

TWEED Mittens Crochet Pattern

is available from my online stores:

C R A F T S Y              E T S Y             R A V E L R Y

ENJOY

ciao, ciao!

Crochet Designs - Mittens and Headbands

Mittens and Headbands

As autumn comes around we start thinking of mittens and scarves, hats and headbands. So here is a little pattern I worked on, oh some time ago, and only now have managed to write up the pattern. It is one of the most time consuming parts of pattern designing and not much fun for me. I really have to be strict with myself to get it all together, I would much rather be crocheting instead or better yet out in the countryside enjoying nature and taking photos.

When I first made these mittens I was thinking of a quick and simple pattern for mittens, which can be made from cotton for those days or evenings when a little warmth on your hands is all you need and it doesn't have to be full-blown woollen warmth, although you can easily use this pattern to make yourself a lovely pair of mittens and headband using a lovely pure merino wool yarn.

My love of Bendigo Woollen Mills

I just love the yarns from Bendigo Woollen Mills in Australia, my favourite has to be their 8ply and 4ply pure cotton. These cotton yarns are just so soft and come in nice big balls of 200g. Just perfect for large projects and helps you eliminate continually having to hide yarn ends.

OK that's enough said about the cotton yarn, they also carry a good range of other yarns. It is well-worth visiting their website, even with shipping costs their prices are quite reasonable.

DO check the lovely BWM yarns HERE   and see for yourself.

PATTERN DETAILS:

Simply perfect Fingerless Mittens and Mobius Headband with a ribbed and textured pattern. Trimmed with a simple contrast at cuff edge and palm edge.

Crochet in the round, no seams to sew. Wear the mittens on either hand. Pattern is the same for both left and right mittens.

Mobius Headband is worked in the round, tapered width at back and complimented with a simple contrast edge.

Size: Ladies M/L = medium to large.  Hints for adjusting size are included with pattern instructions.

Basic Stitches: single, double, front/back post double crochet

Yarn: Bendigo Cotton 8ply

Yarn substitutes: Rowan Belle Organic DK, James C. Brett Pure Merino DK or any other similar yarn

Hook:  3.5mm or 4mm

Terminology: USA American crochet terms

LILAC Crochet Mittens and Headband PATTERN 

is available from my online shops:

Ravelry      Etsy      Craftsy

WHERE you can shop at your leisure in your favourite shopping destination

Enjoy!

ciao, ciao!

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com
2008 (C) Copyright - All rights reserved.

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Crochet "Just for Men"

CROCHET PATTERNS for MEN

Here it is my latest pattern for THE MAN in my life! This crochet pattern is totally a man thing! Robust with a sensual earthy style.  

These crochet mittens were made with Patons Wool Blend Aran, a classic autumn/winter yarn and it is ever so worthwhile to go and check out the lovely yarn colour palette. Yarn shades range from creams to browns and from blues to greys.  Perfect colours for manly crochet garments and accessories.

I simply love crocheting with this yarn, it's a great wool blend aran with 63% wool and 27% acrylic, ball weight 100g and recommended hook 4.5mm. However, I have written this pattern using a 5mm hook, because using a 4.5mm hook with the FPdc stitch pattern will make the finished material too tight and rigid with a limited stretch factor.  

These crochet fingerless mittens are a huge hit with my man!  He loves the textured design and has already asked for another pair in a dark blue colour. 

Here are the PATTERN DETAILS:  

COUNTRY Man Mittens Crochet Pattern

This mittens pattern is easy and quick, with a double rib texture for the cuff and single rib texture over the palm.  Trimmed with contrast colour at cuff edge and palm edge.   Crochet in the round, with optional thumb section.  No seams to sew.  Wear the mittens on either hand.  The pattern is the same for both left and right mittens.

One Size:  Adult Man = Medium to Extra Large
Basic Stitches:  single, double, front post double crochet.
Yarn:  Patons Wool Blend Aran 63% Wool 27% Acrylic
Hook:  5mm
Terminology:  USA AMERICAN crochet terms

This pattern can be adapted to other yarns.

COUNTRY Man Mittens Crochet Pattern is available from my online stores:  Ravelry      Craftsy       LOVECROCHET

I hope you enjoy my latest crochet pattern, I am off to relax a bit, and then tomorrow is another day!  I am working my way through my "Crochet To Do" list.

COUNTRY Man Mittens Crochet Pattern 

is available from my online stores:

  Ravelry         Craftsy         LOVECROCHET

Enjoy!

ciao, ciao!

Copyright © 2008

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.

All rights reserved.

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Just Clone Me!

I want to be cloned

Why isn't there another me? Another Barbara who can spend all the time she likes on the laptop keying in crochet patterns, sorting through photos, tagging everything (and I mean tagging EVERYTHING) and just getting everything organised?

I would like to spend my day exploring new crochet ideas, crocheting, playing with a variety of yarns, creating at my leisure, and jotting down pattern notes, which could be deciphered and turned into written patterns by the other me.  Where is this other me? 

CROCHET PROJECTS

Some days I look around and I have a stash of projects all finished and a notebook full of my scribbles and notes, and no inclination at all to sit down at the laptop and key it all in - I need help, I prefer to play with my crochet hook, not sit at the keyboard recording the steps!

PREVIEW of PATTERNS

Anyway here is a little snippet of some crochet patterns I am working on and when the urge to sit at the laptop for a few hours to write out the patterns occurs, they will be available for purchase and few will be FREE.

1. SEASIDE Crochet Doily and Coasters

This crochet doily and coasters set will be a great addition to my festive table come Christmas. I love the blues with the green, however, I may try making a set in a range of festive-type colours such as - yellow, pomegranate, fuschia and green. Wow it's only August and I am already thinking of Christmas!

PATTERN DETAILS:

Simple crochet doily and coasters pattern, colours of the sea, you can make them as colourful and festive as you like.

Two simple coaster patterns – both same size, but with a variation to number of rows worked and the stitch sequence. For that eclectic look!

YARN: Patons 100% Cotton DK

HOOK: 4.5mm

MEASUREMENTS:  Doily 11.5ins (29cms) diameter; Coasters 4.25ins (11cms) diameter 

I just love the amazing colour range Patons has available in this DK cotton yarn.  A good substitute yarn is Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton DK.

FREE CROCHET PATTERNS  SEASIDE Doily and Coasters Crochet Patterns are available from my online stores RAVELRY and CRAFTSY

2. Crochet Mobius (Neckwarmer) and Mittens

Basically my thoughts have been focused on Christmas and the cold weather mainly because this summer has been lacking in warmth, just a wee bit. I am already thinking mittens and neckwarmers and doing a bit of work on my crochet MAN stuff, like crochet mobius for men with matching mittens. What do you think?

Unfortunately for this little project the yarn I used was a left-over from last winter and definitely a yarn I would not recommend, it's by Sirdar called Tweedie Chunky 40% Wool, 15% Alpaca and 45% Acrylic (I think it has been discontinued). I don't like the texture when it's crocheted - the feel is just too r-u-b-b-e-r-y, yep that's right rubbery. Why do they even bother making this awful stuff?

Anyway I made the mobius and one mitten and I hate it so much I have binned it, yeah it's that bad, honesty I couldn't even bring myself to feel comfortable giving it to a charity shop!

THERE IS NO PATTERN for this disaster!  I totally gave up trying to make it in another yarn, I was so put off by the texture and feel of this yarn. C'est la vie!

3. Chunky Mobius for THE MAN

Here is my favourite mobius pattern for men SHADOW named after the yarn I used.  It's a really nice chunky yarn Patons Shadow Tweed 56% Wool 40% Acrylic 4% Viscose. It's not exactly my favourite all natural fibre yarn, but my darling suffers with wool itchiness, no matter how it comes, merino wool, cashmere, or alpaca, you name it, he finds it itchy! go figure! So this is a nice bearable, non-itchy yarn for him to wear.  For substitute yarns check out this website: YARNSUB

SHADOW Crochet Mobius is a great Christmas gift, it can be made with only one skein (using 7mm hook) and Patons has a nice assortment of colours available in this yarn.  UPDATE: now discontinued check with YARNSUB website for substitute yarns.

I am seriously thinking about making a few more of these as quick gifts for Christmas, however even though it is only 56% wool it is still HAND WASH only, which can be an issue for some. 

SHADOW Mobius for Men Crochet Pattern is available from my online stores:  RAVELRY         CRAFTSY         ETSY

MORE CREATIVE IDEAS

There will also be a simple pattern coming soon of how to make a mobius headband with some basic shaping involved. I have made it with cotton yarn and before I release the new pattern want to also make it with wool. So it's something you will have to wait and see when I next post my blog. HERE IS A SNEAK PEAK PHOTO.

Well that's all for now, I am busy crocheting myself another sleeping beanie, oh yeah!

Ciao Ciao!

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