TIME TO KNIT...

A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY  

Every now and then, I need a break from crochet, it is in these moments I turn to my knitting and this time I wanted to knit something fast and super easy. 

The best way to achieve this was with a CHUNKY YARN and an UNCOMPLICATED PATTERN. This is what I came up with, a knit hat with a chunky concertina style rib.

I made this hat for my darling (naturally he always needs more hats) and because he is blessed with a bald head and has a sensitivity to natural yarns, I choose a 10% Wool 20% Alpaca 70% Acrylic yarn, which he can manage to wear without needing a cotton lining to protect his scalp.

NEEDLE SIZE

This yarn is super chunky and I did not use the needle size recommended on the yarn label, I dropped down a few sizes, quite a few actually. The label recommends a NEEDLE size of 10mm (US 15), however, I went ahead with a 6mm (US 10), which gave me a nice chunky warm hat (without big holes between stitches).

YARN WEIGHT

The yarn is Wendy "Serenity" Super Chunky 100g, 80m (87yd) and they have a nice selection of thirteen (13) colours - from cream to black, pink to purple, and teal to blue, basically enough colours to satisfy everyone.

I liked the look and feel of my husband's knit hat so much, I made myself one as well in purple, my favourite colour. Check it out below.

The best thing about this knit hat pattern it is knit flat on straight needles, you don't need to use double-pointed needles, or circular needles, simply knit each row and then whip stitch the seam. AND it takes no time at all to complete. So, so easy, you have to give it a try.

SCARF YARN

I loved knitting this chunky concertina rib, I decided to use it in a scarf (cowl) pattern as well. However, this time I turned to my favourite circular needles and knit in the round and wow what a great scarf. The yarn is James C. Brett "Passion" Chunky, 100g, 146m (160yd), 70% Acrylic 30% Wool, the colours are fantastic and create a beautiful striped effect. I used two balls (200g) to make a scarf long enough to go around the neck twice. See photo below.

I loved the subtle colour change, combined with the chunky rib so much, I made three (3) scarves. LOL!  Each scarf is a different colour, and I think they will end up under the Christmas tree for some lucky people. 

And for everyone else, I have written up the pattern, yes it is a KNIT pattern, NOT crochet, and yes it is my first KNIT pattern made public.

I hope you enjoy knitting these as much as I did.

PATTERN DETAILS:

KNIT HAT

• Size:  Adult - Medium and Large
• Yarn:  Wendy "Serenity" Super Chunky (1 ball) 
• Needles:  6mm

KNIT SCARF

• Measurement: approx. 
• Yarn:  James C. Brett "Passion" Chunky (2 balls)
• Needles:  6mm

RIBS Knit Cowl and Hat PATTERN 

is available from my online stops: 

RAVELRY             CRAFTSY          LOVECROCHET

Enjoy every moment, 

focus on every stitch, 

create a masterpiece.

ciao, ciao.

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KEEPING WARM THIS WINTER

Are you sensitive to the cold? 
and need to wear a hat?

GIFT OF GIVING - SMALL IS GOOD

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

You know that saying "good things come in small packages" which is the opposite of "the bigger, the better". Well, it literally means the size of things, doesn't always indicate the quality.

CROCHET GIFT BAGS

With this thought in mind, I've come up with these precious little gift bags for those precious little gifts like jewellery, airline tickets, diamonds, gold nuggets! Well, a girl has to have dreams. Right?

The crochet patterns for these three (3) bags are really easy, and they take no time at all, you could have a bag load by the end of the week. 

You can adjust the pattern and make whatever size you desire AND you can adapt the pattern to different yarn weights and hook sizes.

Try it and see, make them wider, longer, bigger if you wish.

I have laid out the basics and it's up to you to play and have fun!

PEARL GIFT BAG Free Crochet Pattern

PATTERN DETAILS:
Skill Level:  Easy
Yarn:  DMC Petra 5
Hook:  2.5mm
Stitches:  hdc, dc
Gauge/Tension:  not critical for this pattern
Measurements:  4in (10cm) L X 2.5in (6.5cm) W
Terminology:  USA - American crochet terms

USA - American Crochet Terms		UK - British Crochet Terms
Ch = chain
sc = single crochet		dc =double crochet
hdc = half double crochet		htr = half treble crochet
dc = double crochet		tr = treble crochet
tr = treble crochet		dtr = double treble crochet
dtr = double treble		ttr = triple treble
sl st = slip stitch
st/sts = stitch/es
cont = continue
rep = repeat
rnd = round
beg = begin/beginning
yo = yarn over	yrh = yarn round hook
FDC = foundationless double crochet	FTR = foundationless treble crochet
Esc = extended single crochet	Edc = extended double crochet
BL = back loop	blo = back loop only
FL = front loop	flo = front loop only
BPdc = back post double crochet	rtrb = raised treble back
FPdc = front post double crochet	rtrf = raised treble front
Abbreviations List ©2015  Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.  All rights reserved.

START of PATTERN

Rnd 1:  With MC, Ch13, 3sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in each st to end, 5sc in last ch, sc in each st along the other side of ch, 2sc in same st as beg 3sc, join with sl st. (30sts)

Rnd 2:  Ch2, hdc in BL of same st, *hdc in FL of next st, hdc in BL of next st, rep from * around, miss last st, join with sl st.  

Rnd 3-12:  Rep Rnd 2.

DRAWSTRING RND

Rnd 13:  Ch3, dc in each st around, join with sl st.

INCREASE RND

Rnd 14:  Ch1, sc in same st, *2sc in next st, sc in next 4sts, rep from * around, join with sl st.  (36sts)

Rnd 15-17:  Rep Rnd 2.  Change to CC

DECORATIVE EDGE

Rnd 18:  *Ch2, 2hdc in same st, skip next st, sl st in next st, rep from *around, join with sl st.

Finish, cut yarn and hide ends.

MAKE DRAWSTRING

With CC, make a chain approx. 14ins long.

With yarn needle thread the drawstring through the drawstring rnd, two (2) dc at a time.  

Hide yarn ends of drawstring.

You can collect the complete set of 

FREE GIFT BAG PATTERNS

 from my online shops

Ravelry AND Craftsy

Enjoy every moment, focus on every stitch,

create a masterpiece.

That's all from me for now, my friends,

ciao, ciao!

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com

Copyright © 2008 Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet. All rights reserved.  All materials contained on this website, including images, are protected by the UK and International Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Barbara Summers. Please CONTACT me at crocknit@gmail.com if you wish to obtain such permission.

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It's CROCHET MAGIC... MAGIC 7

MAGIC COASTER CROCHET

Here is my super special MAGIC coaster, you may ask why is it magic?  Well, because it is based on multiples of seven (7). Yes that's right a crochet coaster with not six (6) and not eight (8) but seven (7) multiples.

I tried real hard to fit it into 6 or 8 multiples, but it kept insisting on being a SEVEN. So, I gave in and stayed with it,  forced myself to add some colours and was amazed at the outcome. Hope you like it too?

This is a great little coaster which would suit any celebration, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR, EASTER and SPECIAL OCCASIONS. 

You can change the mood by changing the colours, and end up with an amazing variety of coasters created from one crochet pattern.

MAGIC Coasters could just be the perfect gift for giving, maybe this Christmas?

QUICK and EASY crochet coasters for your celebrations - make your coasters with one, two, or three colours to bring out a variety of patterns within the one coaster.

POINT OF INTEREST:   

Did you know in the human brain, seven is a magic number?

Countless psychological experiments have shown that, on average, the longest sequence a normal person can recall on the fly contains about seven items. This limit, which psychologists dubbed the "magical number seven" when they discovered it in the 1950s, is the typical capacity of what's called the brain's working memory.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news178220995.html#jCp

PATTERN DETAILS:

• Skill Level:  Easy 
• Yarn:  DMC Petra 5 or similar yarn
• Hook:  2mm
• Stitches: single, half double and double crochet
• Gauge/Tension:  Not crucial
• Measurements:  approx. 4in (10cm) diameter
• Terminology:  USA - American crochet terms

MAGIC COASTER Crochet Pattern

is available  from my online shops

Ravelry      Craftsy

Do come and have a play with the

MAGIC COASTER Crochet Pattern

use as many colours or as few as you dare!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

to explore my other coaster crochet patterns 

which are listed below

Enjoy!
Ciao, ciao!

Copyright © 2008

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.

All rights reserved.

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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: