Free Pattern: Mug Cosy (Tunisian Crochet)

Here is another quick and easy gift to make if you have a hook and some yarn.

I have used my Afghan 6mm hook, although a normal hook will do for this if you can squeeze the 27 stitches needed for the project.

I used an Aran weight yarn in red.

Basic instructions for this one at the moment as I am preparing for a craft fair!

1. chain 27
2. forward pass, insert into next chain on hook, yarn over, pull up and leave on hook, continue until you have 27 loops.
3. backward pass, yarn over, pull through one, *yarn over pull through two, continue until you have one loop left on the hook.
4. forward pass, tunisian simple stitch, miss the first bar, insert hook into the bar, yarn over pull up and leave on hook, continue until you have all 27 stitches on your hook.
5. backward pass as 3.
6. continue with rows 4 and 5 until you have 9 completed rows (this means repeat these rows 9 times)
7, miss first bar, insert hook into bar, yarn over, pull up onto hook and yarn over and pull through both loops, continue to finish off in this manner, at the end of the row chain 7, slip stitch in the same stitch to form a loop for your button, slip stitch to the other end of the side, chain 7, slip stitch to form a loop for your button, finish off and weave in ends.
8.  PLEASE NOTE YOU MAY NEED TO ADDRESS YOUR CHAIN LOOPS FOR YOUR BUTTONS.  Attach your buttons to the opposite side of the loops and place upon your mug.  Enjoy!

I created a cross stitch chart to embroidery on the front, but you can decorate with flowers or other embroidery as you wish.  Shout if you would like me to share the chart!

Free Pattern: Quick and Easy Baby Bear hat

I love crocheting hats and making things for loved ones etc, with no babies of my own to need to 'make for' (as if I need an excuse lol) I share here one of my quick and favourite baby hats.

Please note I tend to write in American Terms first then I will change to British Terms.  (I find American terms and symbols make sense to me and flow off my tongue...sorry ;)


American Terminology 
Size 5mm using 2 strands of DK 
1. magic ring, chain 4 (counts as dc, chain), *dc, chain, repeat until 9 dcs in the middle providing 6 spaces. Slip stitch to join.
2. Slip stitch into chain one space.  chain 3, dc, chain, *2dc into the next chain one space, chain  repeat 5 times slip stitch to top of chain 3 at beginning of round. 
3 .Slip stitch to chain one space, Chain 3, 3dc into space,chain, (the following are created in each chain one space respectfully) 3dc,chain, 4dc, chain, 3dc,chain,  4dc,chain, 3dc, chain, slip stitch to join.


NOTE:  Each 4dc cluster of previous row will be split in half and a 3dc positioned within. Each chain one space will have 3dc within it.  Giving a total of 9 3dc's Instructions below:
4.Slip stitch, chain 3, 2dc, chain, *3dc, chain, repeat from * seven times slip stitch to join.
5. slip stitch into chain one space, chain 3, 3dc,chain, 3dc,chain, 3dc,chain, 4dc,chain,  3dc,chain, 3dc,chain,  4dc,chain, 3dc,chain,  3dc, chain, slip stitch to join.

NOTE:  Each 4dc cluster of previous row will be split in half and a 3dc positioned within. Each chain one space will have 3dc within it.  Giving a total of12 3dc's Instructions below:

6.Slip stitch, chain 3, 2dc, chain, *3dc, chain, repeat from * ten times slip stitch to join.

7 -10 Slip stitch into chain one space, chain 3, 2dc, chain, *3dc, chain, repeat 11 times. slip stitch to join.

11. chain one, sc into each stitch. slip stitch to join.

12. chain 2, hdc into each stitch slip stitch to join, weave in end.

13 Contrast colour: chain one, sc into each stitch, slip stitch to join.

14 chain 4, sc into next stitch, *chain 4, sc into next stitch repeat to end, slip stitch and weave in end.

Ears x2

Contrast colour

1. magic ring, chain 2, 5hdc into the ring (6hdc) DO NOT JOIN,  TURN

2, chain 2, hdc into same space, 2hdc into each stitch. (12 hdc), chain one turn.

3. sc into each stitch, chain one. Turn.

4. sc into each stitch finish off leave a long tail to attach.

PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN MAKE YOUR EAR BIGGER IF YOU WISH, BY MAKING ROW 2 dc's instead of hdc's etc or by adding another row ie chain 2, hdc into the same space, hdc, 2hdc,* hdc, 2hdc repeat to end. then adding the 2 rows of sc around that creates the lovely shaping of the ear edge. 

I decorated my bottom of my hat with surface crochet chain between sc and hdc rows of hat. I also added a ribbon bow and rose.  I would love to see your handiwork! if you decide to have a go ;)

I hope you enjoy.  This may be a little rough at the edges, but I hope workable.  

English Terminology 

Size 5mm using 2 strands of DK 

1. magic ring, chain 4 (counts as tr, chain), *tr, chain, repeat until 9 trs in the middle providing 6 spaces. Slip stitch to join.

2. Slip stitch into chain one space.  chain 3, tr, chain, *2tr into the next chain one space, chain  repeat 5 times slip stitch to top of chain 3 at beginning of round. 

3 .Slip stitch to chain one space, Chain 3, 3tr into space,chain, (the following are created in each chain one space respectfully) 3tr,chain, 4tr, chain, 3tr,chain,  4tr,chain, 3tr, chain, slip stitch to join.

NOTE:  Each 4tr cluster of previous row will be split in half and a 3dc positioned within. Each chain one space will have 3tr within it.  Giving a total of 9 3tr's Instructions below:

4.Slip stitch, chain 3, 2tr, chain, *3tr, chain, repeat from * seven times slip stitch to join.

5. slip stitch into chain one space, chain 3, 3tr,chain, 3tr,chain, 3tr,chain, 4tr,chain,  3tr,chain, 3tr,chain,  4tr ,chain, 3tr,chain,  3tr, chain, slip stitch to join.

NOTE:  Each 4tr cluster of previous row will be split in half and a 3tr positioned within. Each chain one space will have 3tr within it.  Giving a total of12 3tr's Instructions below:

6.Slip stitch, chain 3, 2tr, chain, *3tr, chain, repeat from * ten times slip stitch to join.

7 -10 Slip stitch into chain one space, chain 3, 2tr, chain, *3tr, chain, repeat 11 times. slip stitch to join.

11. chain one, dc into each stitch. slip stitch to join.

12. chain 2, htr into each stitch slip stitch to join, weave in end.

13 Contrast colour: chain one, dc into each stitch, slip stitch to join.

14 chain 4, dc into next stitch, *chain 4, dc into next stitch repeat to end, slip stitch and weave in end.

Ears x2

Contrast colour

1. magic ring, chain 2, 5htr into the ring (6htr) DO NOT JOIN,  TURN

2, chain 2, htr into same space, 2htr into each stitch. (12 htr), chain one turn.

3. dc into each stitch, chain one. Turn.

4. dc into each stitch finish off leave a long tail to attach.

PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN MAKE YOUR EAR BIGGER IF YOU WISH, BY MAKING ROW 2 tr's instead of htr's etc or by adding another row ie chain 2, htr into the same space, htr, 2htr,* htr, 2htr repeat to end. then adding the 2 rows ofdcc around that creates the lovely shaping of the ear edge. 

I decorated my bottom of my hat with surface crochet chain between sc and hdc rows of hat. I also added a ribbon bow and rose.  I would love to see your handiwork! if you decide to have a go ;)