Crochet Button Bracelet

 This is a super quick and easy crochet pattern for a cute bracelet.

Yarn: About a metre or two of any embroidery thread

Needles: 4.5mm / US 7 crochet hook and large eyed needle.

 
Extras: One cute button, crimp bead (optional) and pliers (optional). 


Directions:


Using a large eyed needle, thread the button onto your embroidery thread about 20'' away from the end (see picture).

 

Make a slip knot about 3'' from the end of the thread, and chain until you're bracelet is as long as you want it to be (i.e. so it's quite tight round your wrist, but fits over your hand).  You'll work past the button as you chain, this can be a bit tricky, but just try to keep your loops tight!

When the chain is as long as required, with one loop on the hook, push the hook through the first loop in your chain. Bring the yarn over the hook and pull it through the two loops already on the hook. Cut the yarn and pull the end through the loop. Tie the ends together and trim excess thread. I used a silver crimp bead (these are available in most craft shops) to cover up the knot.

Agata Hat

This is a bit of shameless advertising.... but just to let you all know there's a new pattern available for sale in my Ravelry and Etsy shops. 

 It's a slouchy lace cloche hat decorated with vintage buttons. Casual but stylish, this is an easy lace project that works up quickly. It's made with k1 yarns selkie, a gorgeous cashmere and merino yarn that I absolutely adore. This hat only uses around half a ball so you'll have plenty left to play with!

Mae Geri Scarf

Please note: this pattern is now available to download as a pdf from Craftsy for $2. It will still be freely available on this blog, but I thought people might want the opportunity to download a pdf version. 

 I knitted this scarf for my dear old mum. The name sounds very poetic and Japanese, maybe you'd guess it meant cherry blossom or something similar, something suitable for a lacy silk scarf. It means front kick. You see, my mother is in fact a third dan black belt in shotokan karate (i.e. she means business). But, like the ninja she is, she keeps this quite well hidden: a lacy scarf is just part of her disguise...
 

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk. Two balls =250m

Needles: 4.5mm / US 7 needles

Gauge:  22 stitches = 4'' in stocking stitch with 4mm/US 6 straight needles
 
Size: One size, 6'' x 60''

Notation: 

k = knit

p = purl

CO = cast on

k2tog = knit two stitches together

yo = bring the yarn to the front of your knitting on knit rows and the back on purl rows

k2togtbl = knit two together through the back of the loops

p2tog = purl two stitches together

p2togtbl = purl two stitches together through the back of the loops

Directions:

CO 29 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 8 rows. Now work pattern as follows:

Row 1: k6, *k2tog, yo, k5* to last 2 stitches, k2.
Row 2: k2, p3, *p2togtbl, yo, p1, yo, p2tog, p2* to last 3 stitches, p1, k2.

Row 3: k4, *k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso* to last 4 stitches, k4.

Row 4: k2, purl to last 2 stitches, k2.

Row 5: k4, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k5* to last 4 stitches, k4.

Row 6: k2, p1, *p1, yo, p2tog, p2, p2togtbl, yo* to last 5 stitches, p3, k2.

Row 7: k3, *k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, yo,* to last 5 stitches, k5.

Row 8: k2, purl to last 2 stitches, k2.

Repeat these 8 rows until scarf measures 60'', or as long as desired. Knit 8 rows and bind off on wrong side. Weave in loose ends.

Carsaig Wristwarmers

Chunky knit wristwarmers in gorgeous, super-bulky, extra soft and smooshy yarn.  Love the pattern but don't have the time to make them? Then there's a pair in my etsy shop waiting for you!

Yarn: One ball Debbie Bliss Como = 42m

 Needles: 10mm / US 15 needles

Gauge:  10 stitches = 4'' in stocking stitch

Size: One size, 15cm x 20cm circumference

Notation: 

k = knit
p = purl

CO = cast on

Directions:

Mitts (Makes 2):

Tip: I knitted both mitts at the same time using yarn from the outside and from the centre of the ball of yarn so that I could get them as long as possible with one skein. Feel free not to do this though!

CO 19 stitches. Work every row as follows:
k1 p1 *k2 p1* to last two stitches, k2.

When mitts are 15cm long (or as long as desired) bind off. Sew the two edges together leaving a hole for the thumb. Weave in loose ends.

Yuzen Cushion Cover

I made this cushion cover seamless and reversible because I couldn't decide which side I liked best, they're both so nice! I absolutely love this yarn, the colours are so beautiful I smile every time I look at it.

Yarn : 2 balls Noro Yuzen = 220m

Needles : One 4.5mm = US 7 circular needle

Extra Materials: 8 buttons, scrap yarn for provisional cast on, 40cmx40cm cushion.

Gauge: 17 stitches = 10cm in stocking stitch.

Size: 40cm x 40cm

Notation: 

k = knit
p = purl

CO = cast on

k2tog = knit two stitches together
yo = bring the yarn over the needle

Directions:

Using a provisional crochet cast on, cast on 56 stitches (see tutorial). Now cast on 50 more stitches the normal way. Knit stocking stitch in the round (i.e. knit every stitch) until cushion cover measures 40cm when slightly stretched (there's not quite enough yarn in 2 skeins of yuzen to make the cushion cover unstretched (sadly)) . Slip 53 stitches onto one side of the circular needle and 53 to the other and bind off using kitchener stitch. 

Now pick up the remaining 56 stitches from your provisional cast on, so that you start on a right side row (= stocking stitch, not rev st. st.). Work as follows:

Row 1: (right side) knit 

Row 2: k2 purl to last two stitches, k2.

Repeat these two rows until you have worked 2'' from provisional cast on. 

Next row: k9 k2tog yo *k10 k2 tog yo* 3 times k9.

Work row 2 as above once more, then knit two rows. BO on wrong side.

The yo's form buttonholes. Sew buttons onto each side to meet up with buttonholes so that the cushion cover is reversible.

Weave in loose ends along the wrong side rows on a stripe of the same colour.

Dochart Scarf

This is a bit of shameless advertising, but I've got a pattern up for sale on etsy and ravelry that's really lovely! It's a really beautiful scarf, with a braided pattern on one side and twists on the other. It knits up very quickly and would make a really nice present, the yarn is so soft and fuzzy and comes in lovely colours. It uses left twists and right twists for a cabled effect, but they're much easier than using a cable needle.

Available for download for a very reasonable $2 at ravelry (you need to be a ravlery member) or etsy. 

Hillhead Mittens

I knitted these up as a Christmas present for my brother. He's just got a job working outdoors so I thought he could do with some more insulation! They fit an average sized man's hand, but they're easy to adapt to make smaller or larger. 

Yarn : Rowan pure wool dk, 2 balls = 248 m (hardly used any of second ball though). Scraps of rowan alpaca cotton for snowflake design.

Materials: Set of 4 4mm / US 6  double pointed needles, embroidery needle for swiss darning, two stitch marker, stitch holder (or scrap of yarn).

Gauge: 22 stitches = 10cm in stocking stitch.
         
Size: One size, fits average man's hand.

Notation: 

k = knit
p = purl
sl = slip
k1bf = knit into the back of a stitch then the front, slide stitch off left hand needle.
k1bfb = knit into the back of a stitch, then the front, then the back again. Slide off left hand needle.

CO = cast on
pm = place marker
ssk = slip two knitwise onto right hand needle, then knit them together
k2tog = knit two stitches together

mc = main colour = rowan pure wool dk
cc = contrast colour = rowan alpaca cotton

Directions:


Fisherman's Rib in the round:
Row 1:  *k1 p2* to end of row
Row 2: *sl1 p2* to end of row

Snowflake Chart:

Mittens (make two):
CO 45 stitches across 3 dpns in mc (15 stitches per needle) and join in the round. Work in fisherman's rib for 16 rows. Now work 6 rows in stocking stitch (i.e. knit every stitch). Now  k22 ,pm, kfbf, pm, k22.
Next row: knit
Next +1 row: knit to marker, slip marker, kfb, knit to one stitch before next marker, kfb, slip marker, knit to end of row.

Repeat these last two rows until you have 15 stitches between your markers. Next row, knit to marker, remover marker, place the next 15 stitches on a holder, remove second marker, kfb into next stitch, knit to end of row. Continue in stocking stitch until mitten measures 7'' from cuff or until it's approx 1'' shorter than the hand it's intended for. Next row: k19 ssk k2 k2tog k17 ssk k1.

Now divide the stitches so there are 21 on the first needle, 11 on the second needle and 10 on the third. Repeat the following two rows until 12 stitches remain.
Row 1: knit
Row 2: Needle 1:  k1 k2tog knit to last three stitches on needle, ssk k1. Needle 2: k1 k2tog, knit to end of needle. Needle 3: knit to last three stitches, ssk k1.

When 12 stitches remain, slip the stitches from needle 2 onto needle 3 and bind off using kitchener stitch.

Put the 15 thumb stitches back on the dpns (5 stitches on each). Work in stocking stitch until thumb measures 2 1/2 inches, or 1/2'' shorter than required.
Next row: *k3 k2tog* to end
Next +1 row: *k2 k2tog* to end
Next+2 row: *k1 k2tog* to end.
Cut yarn leaving a 6'' tail. Thread remaining stitches onto the yarn, pull tight and secure inside the mitten.


By swiss darning, (see tutorial) embroider the snowflake design using cc onto the front of each mitten. Weave in loose ends.