Crocheted Grammy Star Pattern

Here’s sweet little star shaped motif that I’m going to call the “Grammy Star.” You only need three different colors for each star. Of course, you can work with however many sets of colors you want so it’s a great way to use up your smaller pieces and skein ends.

As I love to do, I’m using Peaches and Cream, 100% cotton yarn–because it comes in every color imaginable and because I love the natural soft feel of cotton.

Directions:

With color A, ch 6, join with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 2 for first hdc, 11 hdc in ring, sl st to top of beg ch. Fasten off.

Rnd 2: Join color B in any hdc. Draw up 1/2″ lp, yo, draw up lp, yo and through all lps on hook (beg puff st completed), ch 1, (yo and draw up a lp) twice in next st, yo and through all lps on hook (puff st completed), * ch 3, puff st in next hdc, ch 1, puff st in next hdc, rep from * around, ch 3, sl st to top of first puff st. Fasten off.


Rnd 3: Join color C in any ch-3 sp, ch 3 for first dc, (dc, tr, ch 3, tr, 2 dc) in same ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-1 sp, *(2 dc, tr, ch 3, tr, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-1 sp, rep from * around, sl st to top of beg ch. Fasten off.

Shape your star by gently tugging at the star points.

Otherwise, it may just look more like a flower than a star. I do suppose it’s pretty either way.

My favorite thing is how they just fit so snugly together. I haven’t sewn my stars together yet, because I haven’t made up my mind about what these little stars are going to be when they grow up.

Any suggestions?

Winter Warmth

Three years ago, today–the world…well, my world at least, was covered over with bits of yarn and crochet projects in every room of the house. Some were for Christmas, some were for the new baby coming, and some were because there must be something on that silly hook–at. all. times. The project for this day, back then, was a pair of warm and toasty slippers for my Dane in Lithuania. It has always fascinated me how much warmth can be created from a piece of colored string.

Not too much is different these days–only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. There are bits of yarn everywhere–to be sure, and slowly progressing projects in every room–as always. Various hats and scarves for Christmas gifts, soap bags and Toddler Winter sets for the shop, and because I can’t help myself–there will be more slippers…big, huge ones this time, for the Bald Kid in Siberia–out of thick, bunchy wool, I think.

Soon enough, we’ll be nesting again and finding all the ways there are to keep a winter baby warm and snugly.

I think—quite certain, in fact, that it will involve a few balls of colored string.

The African Flower Granny Hex Pattern


Discovered these little lovelies on Pinterest a while back and after checking around a bit, I realized that they are actually all over the internet right now–everywhere you turn…

a sort of African Flower madness.

And no wonder–they are absolutely adorable–don’t you think? Imagine the possibilities!

And seriously, there’s something goose bumpy about watching those pretty hexes stack up. It just makes my heart pound a little faster. Kinda like that feeling you get when you’ve bottled eighty-five-thousand quarts of peaches and they are all lined up on the counter ready to make someone’s life incredibly…better.

Well, kinda like that.

I’m all about living proof that you’ve really done something worthwhile with your day. And since you could make a pillow, a tote bag, and even an afghan…

the African Flower Grammy Hex…

totally qualifies.

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African Flower Crochet Hex

Abbreviations:

sl knot = slip knot
st = stitch
ss = slip stitch
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
Rnd = round

Pattern:

Beginning– ch 6, ss into first ch to make a ring.

Rnd 1 – ch 3, 1 dc, ch 1, *2 dc, ch 1, * repeat until you have six spaces and six 2dc. ss to the 3rd chain of the beginning round. Fasten off.

Rnd 2 – Change color: Starting in any space~ ch 5, 2 dc in same space, *ch 1, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next space – repeat * 5 times, 1 dc and ss into the 3rd ch of the beginning round.

Rnd 3 – ch 3, 6 dc in the 2-ch space, ch 1, * 7 dc in next 2-ch space, ch 1, repeat * 5 times. ss the 3rd ch of the beginning round. Fasten off.

Rnd 4 – Change color: ch 1, sc around and make a long stitch down in round 2 between each flower petal. End with ss. Fasten off.

Rnd 5 – Attach next color yarn in any first stitches past the long stitch of previous row.

Ch 3, dc in next 3 stitches, ch 1, *dc 1 in the same st as last dc, dc in next 3, ch1 (skip long stitch of the previous round), dc in next 4, ch1, repeat 5 times, dc 1 in the same st as last dc, dc 3,ch1, ss to the 3rd ch from the beginning round. Fasten off.

[Note: ch1 in bold should be at the center of the flower petal, this is the corner of the hexagon]

Be brave my friends…

try it!

Note: I used Lily Sugar & Cream Cotton Yarn for this project. :}

Soap Sacks

For those of you who commented or emailed me for the pattern for the sweet little Soap Sack— here you go.

Crocheted Soap Sack

Using Cotton thread and an H hook–

Chain(ch) 6, to form a ring.

Row 1-  Ch 4, (dc, ch 1) in the ring 11 times. Join in  3rd stitch of beginning ch 4.

Row 2-  Slip stitch(sl) in first ch 1 space, ch 4. (dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join in 3rd stitch of beginning ch 4.

Row 3~7  Repeat row 2.

Row 8-  Sl in first ch 1 space. Chain 5, (dc, ch 2) in each ch 1 space around. Join in third space of beginning ch 4. Do not fasten off.

Hang loop: Chain 65. Secure last chain to first chain and fasten off.

Tie a knot at the base of the hang loop…

close to the bag.

After you drop your favorite soap into the bag, weave the hang loop through several of the top chain 2 spaces and cinch the bag closed.

Now my friends–you can begin your Christmas gift stash RIGHT NOW.

Sweet Little Easter Basket

Have you ever seen such a sweet little Easter basket in all your life? Hence the name, I suppose, but you must admit, it would look lovely as a centerpiece. It just melts my mushy little heart thinking of all the jelly beans, and Cadbury Mini Eggs and Reese’s Bunnies you could fit in this little thing. Yum…

But I digress.

If you crochet—and who doesn’t? (haha)–then you’re going to love this EASY project.

I’m not kidding–I made one and a half of these while watching Voyage of the Dawn Treader last night–which is fabulous, by the way…the movie, I mean…well, and the speed crochet too, I guess. So both.

It’s made in a continuous round…

using 3 strands of your favorite yarn. You know I’m going to say that I used Peaches and Cream 100% cotton–because I love it beyond belief–and it’s soft and comes in a million colors. Good thing because I’m making a few baskets and I need them all slightly different.

A”K” hook worked the best for me–but you can play with it.

Sweet Little Easter Basket

Beg at base of basket, with 3 strands your favorite yarn held tog, ch 2.
Rnd 1: Work 8 sc in first ch. Place marker in first st for beg of rnd; move marker up as each rnd is completed.
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around – 16 sc.
Rnd 3: *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * around – 24 sc.
Rnd 4: *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc; rep from * around – 32 sc.
Rnd 5: Working in back loops only, sc in each sc around.
Resume working through both loops of each st again.
Rnd 6: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 7: *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc; rep from * around – 36 sc.
Rnd 8: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 9: *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc; rep from * around – 40 sc.
Rnd 10: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 11: *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 9 sc; rep from * around – 44 sc.
Rnd 12 : Sc in each sc around.

Rnd 13: Incorporate a piece of floral wire under each stitch and sc in each sc around. Note: Adding the wire is optional–but it helps the basket hold it’s shape much better.

Fasten off.

HANDLE
With 3 strands held tog, ch 31.
Rnd 1: Work 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 28 ch, 4 sc in last ch; rotate piece to work along opposite side of foundation ch (at the base of the sts you just worked), sc in next 28 ch–incorporating a piece of floral wire under these stitches, 2 sc in last ch; join with slip st in first ch.

Note: Again, the wire is optional–but it helps the handle hold it’s shape so it doesn’t flop over.

Fasten off.

FINISHING
Sew ends of handle outside top edge of Basket. Weave in ends.

And there you have it my dears. I do hope you’ll try this one. If you’d like help or if you’re new to crochet–go to Crafting Tutorials and scroll to the bottom. There are some easy links to show you the basics–step by step.

Do it–you’ll love it.

Now…to fill this lovely basket with all that good stuff. See’s catalog anyone?

Heh, heh, heh.