Colouring pencils holder

Crochet holder for colouring pencils and other little things

Pattern

Video tutorial in Slovak language

This beautiful crochet pencils holder can be yours in a few minutes, but it will please you and your children for ages ;)

MATERIAL NEEDED:

• wool (I used 5.0-5.5 merino wool)
• hook (mine was 5.0 size)
• scissors and needle
• to embroider the face - buttons, felt, movable eye stickers...

ABBREVIATIONS (American terminology):

• mr - magic ring
• ch - chain
• sc - single crochet
• hdc - half double crochet
• dc - double crochet
• slst - slip stitch
• inc - increase
• st - stitch

PATTERN

The holder is crocheted in rounds, each round is joined by slst (slst to the first sc in round) and next round starts with 1 ch and in the same st 1 sc, so 1 ch is not counted as the first sc, it helps us only to move to the same height as sc is.

The height of the holder can be adjusted. When you need the holder to be higher, just crochet a few more rounds. When you need the holder to be smaller, just leave out a few rounds unworked.

The ears are crocheted after the holder is finished and then you can sew them onto the holder. Then you can embroider the face.

1. mr, 1 ch and 6 sc, slst to the first sc in round (6)

2. 1 ch, inc in all st, slst to the first sc in round (12)

3. 1 ch, *inc, sc* repeat from * to * until the end of round, slst to the first sc in round (18)

4. 1 ch, *inc, sc* repeat from * to * until the end of round, slst to the first sc in round (27)

5. 1 ch, *inc, sc, sc* repeat from * to * until the end of round, slst to the first sc in round (36)

6. 1 ch, sc, sc in back loop in all st, slst to the first sc in round (36)

7. - 15. 1 ch, sc in all st, slst to the first sc in round (36)

EARS (make two)

Crochet 10 ch, in second ch from hook crochet hdc, then in next stitches crochet - hdc, hdc, dc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, hdc in the last ch, here crochet two more hdc to move around the chain, then crochet backwards the same stitches which you crocheted up to this point, so crochet - hdc, dc, dc, dc, dc, hdc, hdc, in the last st crochet 2 hdc. Altogether you should have 20 stitches.

VIDEO TUTORIAL (in Slovak language)

Happy crocheting !

Tayo the little bus (crochet appliqué)

Bus - crochet appliqué
Pattern

Do your children also love buses? So here is something exactly for them :)

I sewed the bus on a pillow cover. 

To crochet Tayo we need:

• yarn (blue, white, black, and grey)
• hook suitable for you yarn (my yarn was 3.5 so was my hook)
• scissors and needle to sew all the parts together

Abbreviations:

ch - chain

slst - slip stitch

sc - single crochet

hdc - half double crochet

dc - double crochet
st - stitch

inc - increase

dec - decrease

BODY

Start from the bottom. Foundation ch is 21 ch (20 ch plus 1 turning ch). Always use 1 turning ch.

1. in the second ch from the hook crochet sc, sc till the end (20 sc)

2. inc in the first and last st, sc in between (22 sc)

3. - 14. sc in all st (22)

15. - 25. now we should form white front window - two st at the edge will be always blue, the middle part will be white (2 blue sc + 18 white sc + 2 blue sc = 22)

26. all sc in the row will be blue (22)

27. dec at the beginning and end of the row (20), cut yarn, leave a long tail to sew the body 

EYES (make 2)

In mr crochet 2 ch and 10 hdc. Join with slst to the second ch you made at the beginning. Close the mr, cut yarn, leave a tail to sew. Use black yarn to embroider the rest of the eyes. 

MOUTH

With grey yarn make 15 ch, hdc to the third ch from hook, continue with 1 hdc in each st, in the last st make sc. Turn upside down. The foundation ch should be up. Form the mouth and sew on the body.

MIRRORS (make 2)

Make 6 ch, to the second ch from hook crochet sc, continue till the end (5 sc), 1 turning ch, sc, sc, 1 turning ch, sc, sc. 

WHEELS (make 2)

Make 6 ch, to the second ch from hook crochet sc, sc in next 3 st, dc, inc. 

Sew all the parts together. I sewed mirrors the wrong way - no problem for my son :) So you can turn the mirrors upside down. Embroider the nose and eyebrows.

And dooooooone :)

Happy crocheting!

Crochet stars for your Christmas tree

Crochet Christmas decoration

Written pattern plus video tutorial (in Slovak language)

I love Christmas handmade decoration. So this year I decided to make my own crochet Christmas decoration. Therefore I made these lovely stars (or snowflakes - as you wish).

The stars are easily and quickly made. Only sew a lace or ribbon, add a button and they are ready to make your Christmas tree more personal, more beautiful ;) 

I made two types of stars, in one colour and two colours.

We need:

• yarn (colour is up to you, also the thickness, I used the yarn for hooks 5-6), something glittering to add to yarn  
• hook (mine is 5.0 mm)
• ribbon (instead of crochet lace)
• buttons
• scissors, needle, and thread

Abbreviations:

• mr - magic ring
• ch - ch
• slst - slip stitch
• dc3tog - double crochet 3 together, make one dc, do not finish it, in the same st make another one, do not finish it, in the same st make the third one and now go through all the loops you have on your hook (you made 3 dc with in one st, they have the same top)
• dc2tog - double crochet 2 together
• st - stitch

PATTERN

Star Nr 1

1. mr, in mr chrocet 2 ch, dc2tog, 3 ch, *dc3tog, 3 ch* repeat, at the end you will have 5 inner parts, slst to the st, that closed dc2tog (so do not slst to the second ch from the beginning)
2. 3 ch, in the 3ch loop crochet dc3tog, 2 ch, in the second ch from hook make slst, 3 ch, slst to the st, that closed dc3tog in the previous round, repeat, at the end you have 5 bigger outer parts, finish by making slst to the first slst in the round, cut the yarn
3. crochet lace we can make by joining new yarn by slst to one of the tip, then crochet as many ch as you want (e.g. 20 or 25), slst again to the beginning, cut yarn, sew on the button and done :)

Star Nr 2

1. the same step, but finish by slst and cut yarn
2. join new yarn with slst to one of the 3ch loops, then continue normally as in the first star, but do not slst to close the tip in the st, that closed the dc3tog, instead of it make slst by going around that st, so no yarn from the first step will be seen, and the inner star will go in front (the video from the 15th min)
3. the other parts of the pattern are the same :)

Video tutorial (in Slovak language)

Happy crocheting !

Dog rattle (crochet toy)

A very easy crochet rattle for babies

Pattern

This crochet rattle is very easy to make even for the beginners. It is perfect for little children, and when you embroider the face (no buttons as eyes), it is also suitable for babies.


Material needed:

• yarn (preferably cotton yarn) of different colours and hook suitable for your yarn, but one number smaller hook would be better, as with the normal size hook the stitches can be big (especially for the filling to be seen), I used yarn 3.5 and hook 3.0
• filling
• scissors and needle (also embroidery needle)
• rattle insert 
• stitch marker

Abbreviations:

mr - magic ring

ch - chain

slst - slip stitch

sc - single crochet

inc - increase the number of stitches, so in one stitch crochet two single crochet

dec - decrease the number of stitches, so from two stitches crochet one single crochet, preferably use the invisible decrease
st - stitch

Let's start:

BODY

Body is crocheted from head to handle of the rattle, always in rounds, so do not use slst to join the rounds, but crochet continually without slst, use a stitch marker to mark your first st in the round.

1. mr, 1 ch (do not count as the first sc), 6 sc (6), mark the first sc in the second round and always use a stitch marker when you move from one round to another
2. inc in all st (12)

3. *inc, sc* repeat between stars (18)

4. *inc, sc, sc* repeat between stars (24)

5. *inc, sc in 3 st* repeat between stars (30)

6. *inc, sc in 4 st* repeat between stars (36)

7. *inc, sc in 5 st* repeat between stars (42)

8. - 13. sc in all st (42)

14. *dec, sc in 5 st* repeat between stars (36)

15. sc in all st (36)

16. *dec, sc in 4 st* repeat between stars (30)

17. sc in all st (30)

18. *dec, sc in 3 st* repeat between stars (24)

19. sc in all st (24)

20. *dec, sc in 2 st* repeat between stars (18)

start with filling the body and continue while crocheting

21. sc in all st (18)

22. *dec, sc* repeat between stars (12)

23. sc in all st in front loop (12)

24. sc in all st (12)

25. *inc, sc* repeat between stars (18) 

change colour (in my case to blue), do not cut yarn because you will need it later 

26. - 27. sc in all st (18)

change colour to the original colour (in my case to white), do not cut yarn because you will need it later 

28. sc in all st (18)

change to another colour (in my case to pink), do not cut yarn because you will need it later 

29. - 30. sc in all st (18)

again change colour (in my case again to white, I used the yarn I did not cut), the pink yarn you can cut, make a knot and hide inside the handle

31. sc in all st (18)

again change colour (in my case to blue, I used the yarn I did not cut), do not cut yarn because you will need it later 

32. - 34. sc in all st (18)

again but for the last time change colour (in my case to white), the blue yarn you can cut, make a knot and hide inside the handle

35. sc in all st (18)

36. *inc, sc, sc* repeat between stars (24)

37. - 40. sc in all st (24)

41. *dec, sc in 2 st* repeat between stars (18)

42. *dec, sc* repeat between stars (12)

43. dec in all st (6)

44. dec to close the ring, slst, cut the yarn, make a knot and hide the yarn inside the body

EARS (make 2, use different colours)

1. mr, 1 ch (do not count as the first sc), 6 sc (6)

2. inc in all st (12)

3. - 5. sc in all st (12), slst, cut the yarn, leave a long tail to sew the ears to the head

NOSE

1. mr, 1 ch (do not count as the first sc), 6 sc (6), close mr, but do not slst, only let it loose and sew the nose to the head

Sew all the parts to the body, embroider the face and done :)

Happy crocheting !

Halloween decoration 2014

Crochet decoration for Halloween

Halloween is coming so here is very cute decoration you can easily make on your own.

Happy crocheting :)

THE SIGN HALLOWEEN

I made the letters thanks to Moogly free patterns (click here to see the patterns). For details how to attach the letters on a stick click here.

THE CUTE LITTLE BATS

I know that bats should usually be scary but I couldn't help myself. They are so cute :) I attached them on a stick to hang them anywhere I want. Then two more I only attached to a piece of yarn to hang them separately.

For free pattern for these cute bats click here.


PUMPKIIINS

What would Halloween be like without pumpkins? Here is the free pattern for making your own little pumpkin, again, not scary :).

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Bats

Free step by step photo pattern of bat (applique)

This cute little bat is perfect for your Halloween decoration :) Here is how you can crochet it on your own. 

Happy crocheting :)


Want to see more of my crochet Halloween decoration? Click here.


What you need:

• black and white yarn
• hook, scissors, needle

Abbreviations:

ch - chain
slst - slip stitch
st - stitch
sc - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
inc - increase
dec - decrease

I also made charts for this pattern, this is the legend:

To crochet the bat start with its body, then turn its upper side to bottom, onto the foundation chain of the body crochet head with ears, crochet wings separately and sew them to the body.

BODY

Foundation ch = ch 5

1. in the second ch from the hook crochet 2 hdc (so increase), sc, sc, sc, 2 hdc (inc) in the last st, ch 1, turn around (altogether 6 st)

2. sc in the same st where ch 1 is (so increase), sc (7 times), ch 1, turn around (altogether 8 st when counting the first ch)

 3., 4. sc (7 times), ch 1, turn around (altogether 8 st)

 5. sc in the second next st (skip one st, so decrease), sc (4 times), leave out the last st (so decrease), ch 1, turn around (altogether 6 st)

here you should crochet your first sc in this row

6. sc in the second next st (skip one st, so dec), sc (3 times), leave out the last st (so dec), ch 1, turn around (altogether 4 st)

7. sc in the second next st (skipt one st, so dec), cut the yarn

HEAD

Turn the body around and start in the same st where you started making your first ch of the foundation ch.

1. sc (4 times), ch 1, turn around (altogether 4 st)

2. sc in the same st (so inc), sc (2 times), inc in the last st, ch 1, turn around (altogether 6 st)

3. sc in the same st (inc), sc (4 times), inc in the last st, ch 1, turn around (altogether 8 st)

4., 5. sc in all st, ch 1, turn around (altogether 8 st)

6. now you should form the ears, the first ear = sc, sc, ch 1, turn around, sc, ch 1, cut the yarn, the second ear = make a new slip knot, add new yarn to the other end by making sc into the turning ch, sc, sc, ch 1, turn around, sc, ch 1, cut the yarn

WINGS

Foundation ch = ch 6

1. in the second ch from the hook crochet 2 hdc (inc), then sc (4 times), ch 1, turn around (altogether 6 st)

2. sc (4 times), inc in the last st, ch 1, turn around (altogether 7 st)

3. sc, ch 3, in the third ch from the hook make slst, sc in the next st, ch 3, in the third ch from the hook make slst, sc in the next st, ch 2, in the second ch from the hook make slst, sc in the next st, cut the yarn

FINAL EDGING and SEWING

Make a slip knot and add it somewhere at the edge of the body, make slst all around (evenly). When you come to the ears, at the edge of the ears, make ch 3, go behind the ear and slst at the second edge of the ear, slst between the ears, and then again ch 3, go behind the ear and slst at the second edge, continue slst till the first slst you made.

Sew the wings.

Embroider the face.

Happy Halloween!