Free Crochet Pattern Friday: Bolster Pillow Project

I mentioned this project in my Project Parade post, It’s a Victorian era pattern which is sewn onto a bolster pillow. You can find the original pattern here:

Bolster Pillow Pattern

Bolster Pillow Picture

I made the filet crochet mesh base:

I’m using pink crochet thread size 10 I think. I was given several balls of thread without labels, and I’m still learning how to tell the sizes just by looking at them. I’m also using steel hook size B(1.5mm).

Since my last post, I’ve made the stems and leaves:

They don’t look like much right now, but once they’re straightened out and starched, they’ll be fabulous!

The remaining part is a trio of roses, and I’m using a darker pink/mauve thread that should be size 10 as well. I’ll be using the same size hook too.

When I next post about this project, it should be done or almost done. I’ll be getting a purple bolster pillow to put it on. The picture doesn’t show what colors are used, but the pillow is much darker than the crochet. I think the light pink with darker flowers will look lovely on the dark purple pillow. We’ll see…

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Free Pattern Friday – Sadie Sampler Half Circle Shawl by Kristin Omdahl

This is a gorgeous shawl, and I’m definitely going to be making this in November when I have the money for the yarn.

I love how the designer has layered all the different stitches to make something so light, lacy and feminine!

If you decide to make this, please share pictures of it finished! I’ll be linking this post to the one I’ll be making of the shawl once I’ve made it.

Sadie Sampler Half Circle Crochet Shawl

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Free Pattern Friday: Baby Blankets!

I have two co-workers I have promised baby blankets to. One is a brand new daddy with his first ever baby being born at the beginning of September. He’s been on paternity leave, and he’ll be back when I get back from vacation. I’m hoping the blanket is big enough since he hasn’t told anyone any details about the baby yet.

His blanket is made using Baby Bee Adore-A=Ball in Happy Face. I used 6 balls of yarn and a size M/N(9mm) hook.:

The paw belongs to my son’s orange and white tabby, Butterscotch.

My other co-worker is going to be a brand new granddad with his first grandchild expected in December. He doesn’t know the gender of the baby yet, so I went with white.

This baby blanket is also made with Baby Bee Adore-A-Ball but it’s called Angel:

I’m also using the M/N (9mm) hook for this one too.

I haven’t measured either one but when I do, I’ll update this post.

While I like how this “yarn” feels, I don’t really care for working with it. It’s like homespun only slicker. I won’t be using it for any future projects.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!!

Free Crochet Pattern Friday: Crochet Halloween Fun!

Just found some really cute(and free)patterns on Lovecrafts.com

Boo the Fiendishly Friendly Ghost –

This is an absolutely adorable doll from Paint Box yarn.

Circle of Skulls Wreath

This neat idea uses Red Heart Super Saver yarn!

Monster Hat for Baby

So cute and perfect for baby photo shoots for this holiday season!

Halloween Top Hat

Another great project using Red Heart Super Saver yarn!

You can find even more of these kinds of patterns over on LoveCrafts.com

Personally, I’m going to make the top hat as soon as I can get the materials. I can always change the colors to match whatever occasion I want.

Happy hooking!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Free Pattern Friday: Tablecloth Pt 6

I am learning some more new stitches. One of them, the star stitch, I’ve never even heard of! For those of you who are new here, I am adapting an afghan pattern called Rings of Change into a tablecloth using all the crochet thread in my stash I can. These threads are all sizes and colors, and I’m doing my best to arrange the colors as pleasing as possible.

This pattern is a paid pattern found on Ravelry and created by Frank O’Randle. He has the first 42 rounds of this 112 round pattern made into Mini Rings of Change, and it’s free.

Here is what the star stitch looks like on my piece:

In the above picture, you see Fan Stitch on the very top, next one down are ch2 and ch1 spaces and single crochets. The third line which you can barely see is made up of all double crochets. The next row down are the Star Stitches. Personally, I don’t think they look like stars…

Since Mr. O’Randle’s written instructions on how to make the star stitch left much to be desired, I went elsewhere to find out how to create this stitch, and I found it on my go to site: The Spruce Crafts

The above is the picture of her swatch of star stitches. I still don’t see any stars….

After the Fan Stitch which, I have made before, comes the Double Treble Stitch. I have never had cause to use this stitch, and it’s going to be a thread eater. Still, I have a full ball of green thread I can use for this row.

I’m up to row 62 now with another 50 to go, I think. Something like that. I may add some extra rows to give it more length. I’m going to start taking picture of it draped over the table I’m making it for so you can gauge my progress better that way. 🙂

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Free Pattern Friday: Tablecloth Pt. 5

I finally got the crocodile stitches done, and I’ve begun the next section which will be done in shades of green.

Here is what it looked like last time I posted:

I’d just begun the crocodile stitch part. This section was done with all of the frames being made first and the stitches made going down afterwards. Typically, the frame is made and then the stitch one at a time. Confused yet?? There are a lot of great YouTube videos showing how the crocodile stitch is made if you’re interested.

Here is what it looks like now:

The top row didn’t sit flat until I put the green row on.

This picture was taken at an angle, and I didn’t flatten out the green edges. Still, it’s looking good! I measured it at almost 2 feet across, and I still have another 60 – 62 rows to go!

I’m not sure what stitch I’ll be doing next. The green is all double crochets just to help flatten out the crocodile stitches and set up for the next fun stitch I’m sure.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Free Pattern Friday: Tablecloth Pt. 4

I don’t understand why the Crocodile Stitch was such a big deal. Personally, I find it too much effort for very little result. If the pattern didn’t call for 3 rows of it, I wouldn’t bother with it. To make things even more annoying, the pattern is worked almost totally in reverse from the way other stitchers make it. I watched a video from the Crochet Crowd

It’s not like what’s in the pattern Rings of Change by Frank O’Randle. It has foundation rows made before the stitches are made.:

This row isn’t sitting down like in the video, it had to be curled down. I’m hoping the other three rows will pull it all down so they sit properly.

I know my stitches are small, but that’s not what’s causing me not to like the stitch. It’s just labor intensive and eats a lot of thread(yarn if you’re using it for the afghan in the original pattern).

Visually, I don’t see the appeal either. I think shells and clusters look nicer, but that’s just me.

That’s as far as I’ve gotten this week. I’ve spent more time cross stitching than crocheting because of this section, but I’ll try harder to spend more time on it. This section won’t last forever, and the journey once begun must come to an end.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!!

Free Pattern Friday: Tablecloth Pt 3

This tablecloth is an adaptation of a pattern written by Frank O’Randle and sold on Ravelry under the name Rings of Change. He has a free pattern called Mini Rings of Change which is the first 42 rows of the main pattern. The full pattern is around 112 rows. The original pattern is for an afghan as well.

I am using crochet thread and a size 1.0mm crochet hook. I’m not sure if that’s a steel hook size or not since I was given a hook with a blue plastic handle with 1.0mm on it, and I’m using it. I’m also using what thread I have on hand that was given to me over the years. None of them have labels on them, and they’re of various sizes. This makes the tablecloth curl in places, but I’m okay with that. This project is for me.

The last time I posted, it looked like this:

I believe I’d finished the Mini Rings of Change at this point and had decided to buy the full pattern when I could. I bought the full pattern this past week, and now, it looks like this:

The tablecloth is now at row 50. The next 4 rows create the foundation for the Crocodile Stitch. This is one I have been avoiding trying since it was first developed many many years ago. I just didn’t see the point in doing that much work for something with limited use. I can’t avoid it now, not if I want to continue with the pattern. So, I’ll tough it out and go on knowing I at least tried it once.

Overall, this project has been a lot of fun, and I’m going to have something pretty and colorful to use when it’s done.

What projects are you working on?? Share them in the comments as I’d love to know what creative things everyone is into these days.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!!

Free Pattern Friday: A New Beginning

The first sock I started for my co-worker, R, is going to have to be reworked after she tried it on and found it too tight around the toes. While I was waiting on her to try it on, I began a sock for my co-worker, J, and she managed to try hers on before R. 🙂

The top part of the sock is going to be the heel. The yarn is Red Heart It’s a Wrap Hues in Jammin Grape size 2. I’m using a “D” 3.25mm hook just like the first one.

I’m finding the pattern very easy to follow. It has lots of pictures which are annoying at times but helpful at others. I’m very grateful for the designer.

Step-by-Step Crocheted Socks

I have a third pair to make, for my co-worker, T. Hers is going to be pink mainly. Funny thing happened today though, a male co-worker saw the two partial socks I had with me, and he asked me to make a pair for him too. I’ve not had a man ask me to make him a wearable before. 🙂

Next week, I should have the purple socks done, and I should have the first mostly black sock reworked in time for Friday’s post. 🙂

Anyone made socks before – either crochet or knit?? If so, would you post any pictures of them you might have?? I’d love to see what others have done!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

Free Pattern Friday: Making Socks!

I have never made socks before, and I’m now going to teach myself how. I’m also crocheting them as knitting and I don’t get along. I found a pattern that is quite easy, and I plan to make three pairs of socks, for three co-workers.

Sorry the first one is upside down even though I saved it right side up.. The colorway is Mountain Range. I am using a size “D” – 3.25mm aluminum crochet hook.

This is where I’m at right now. The pattern I’m using is Step-by-step Crocheted Socks Tutorial.

This pair of socks is for my co-worker, Rebecca. She’s going to try on what I’ve made so far over the weekend and let me know where adjustments need to be made before I move on to making the heel. She wants mid-calf high socks so she can wear them under her boots. I’m making hers first.

This pattern is so simple and easy to read I’m enjoying it a great deal. There’s lots of pictures too. So far, the stitches have been simple: slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet and grit stitch which is just a combo of single and double stitches.

The yarn is a cotton blend so it has some stretch and moisture wicking properties. It was a bit of a chore finding the yarn at a reasonable price too, and I ended up having to order it online because nobody local carries this yarn.

I’ll keep you updated on my progress with the socks, but I’m liking the journey so far!!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!