Strawberries and cream

So a little while ago I really truly got back into crochet. I had learnt it as a child but apart from a few hats I never really made anything.

Let's say I never really knew the potential and ease that comes with crochet.

I tried knitting lots of different things; well honestly I knit(ted?!) mostly scarves and hats... I once did finish a sweater but it wasn't really fit to wear outside so it has since been unraveled.

And then... Well I can't remember for certain what brought me back to crochet. I would like to say it was falling pregnant. That would make a nice story and I did make my first little afghan for my son, but that's not what started it all.

It probably was something more trivial; like my husband needing a beanie for work.

But regardless of how I got started again I'm just so happy I finally got back into it and continue to create beautiful crochet treasures.

This post was actually not supposed to be about how I got back to crochet but about one of my favourite pieces. The strawberry and cream clamshell pram blanket I made for a friends baby girl.

Strawberry and cream clamshell blanket

This was the first time I spent serious money on real wool (well my friend actually paid). Until then I only worked with the acrylics you can get cheap at the dollar store. This time I used the lovely wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills. Even just looking at the scrumptious skeins make my fingers want to start a new work in progress :) 

Lovely wool from Bendigo

The lovely Sedef from Down Grapevine Lane told me about a crochet along (CAL) led by Sandra from Cherry Heart on ravelry she wanted to do and I just hopped onto the bandwagon.

You can find the clamshell tutorial by the lovely Cherry Heart here. 

After trying (and succeeding) to crochet the pattern in the round I managed to make a questionable and slightly dodgy looking beanie (or we could call it a Fez).

mmh... more Fez than beanie

And then I tried my luck with a small baby blanket. 

I knew how the pattern worked and was so glad when my friend, who originally just wanted a simple ripple, told me I could also do the clamshell. She had picked the delicious strawberry and cream colors. 

Gorgeous Strawberry and Cream

Just so beautiful in its simplicity.

And the patterns just works up like a treat :)

They do look like little hearts, don't you think?

Can you see the hearts?

For the border I decided to add some texture with little bobble cluster stitches and used simple shell stitches to mimic the clamshells of the blanket.

I have yet to make another clamshell blanket as I have been caught up with other vintage stitches and bunting makings (will post about these soon) but I will definitely revisit this colour combination and pattern.

Strawberry and Cream clamshell blanket

Stay juicy Planet Earth,

Superfruity 

The Fox and the...

The Fox and the ....

This is my first blog post :) 

I have long thought about starting a blog about my crochet endeavours and finally this beautiful Sunday... well I finally started.

and I thought I'd start with goodie; sharing my fox hat pattern. This is also my first pattern ever so there might be mistakes and I would appreciate it if you could point them out or ask for clarifications so I can make the necessary adjustments...

This is the fox hat I made for my son for our road trip to cold Melbourne in July 2013...

Here is the fox hat with a knight at our hotel in Albury, NSW.

Very good photo prop when visiting the BIG MERINO sheep in Goulburn, NSW and it was freezing!

and also with Ned Kelly in Glenrowan, Victoria.

So yes we had fun on our trip. But now the pattern:

The Fox Hat pattern

size 6-12 months roughly (my son has a big head)

I used 8 ply yarn. A little more that half of a 100 g skein of orange and maybe 25g of white and very very little black :)

The stitches

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet (insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop, 2 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook)

Hdc = half double crochet (yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook)

Dc = double crochet (yarn over, insert hook into the next stitch, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook, yarn over and pull loop through first 2 stitches on hook, 2 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops on hook)

Sc2tog = single crochet two together (insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, 2 loops on hook, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook)

Hdc2tog = half double crochet two together ( yarn over, insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook. Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop, 5 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops on hook) 

The Hat

Use a 5.5mm hook (I hook)

Row 1: Start with a magic circle and hdc into circle 8 times, join to first stitch, ch 2 (8).

Row 2: 2Hdc in same stitch as ch, *2Hcd in next stitch, *repeat all around, join to 1st Hdc, ch 2 (16)

Row 3: 2Hdc in same stitch as ch, *Hdc in next stitch, 2Hdc in next stitch, *repeat all around, join to 1 st Hdc, ch 2 (24)

Row 4: 2 Hdc in same stitch as ch, *Hdc in 2next stitches, 2Hdc in next stitch, *repeat all around, join to 1st Hdc, ch2 (32)

Row 5: 2 Hdc in same stitch as ch, *Hdc in 3next stitches, 2Hdc in next stitch, *repeat all around, join to  st Hdc, ch 2 (40)

Row 6: 2 Hdc in same stitch as ch, *Hdc in 4next stitches, 2Hdc in next stitch, *repeat all around, join to  st Hdc, ch 2 (48)

Row 7: 2 Hdc in same stitch as ch, *Hdc in 5next, 2Hdc in next stitch, *repeat all around, join to  st Hdc, ch 2  (56)


Your flat circle should now measure around 5" and this should fit 6-12 month olds, the next rounds will be done without increases.

Row 8-19 ch 2, hdc in same stitch as ch, hdc all around, join to ch (56)

Row 20 ch 1, sc in same stitch as ch, sc all around, bind off and weave in ends.


Earflaps.

Use a 5.5mm hook (I hook)

Use 4 stitch markers or pieces of yarn

From the seam at the back of the hat count to the 6th stitch, place marker and then count to 16th stitch and place a marker.

Earflaps are worked the same on the left and right.

Row 1, attach new year to the 6th stitch, ch2, hdc in next 9 stitches (this should get you to the other stitch marker), ch2, turn

Row 2, hdc2tog, hdd until last two stitches, hdc2tog, ch2, turn (7)

Row3  repeat row 2 (5)

Row 4 repeat row 2 (3)

Row5 hdc in next 3 stitches, bind off and weave in ends.

Remember the other earflap is worked in the exact same way.


Trim

Use a 5.5mm hook (I hook)

With white yarn, Join new colour to the edge of the hat and sc all around.




The Ears.

You will need to make 4 ears (the orange and black back x2 and the white and black front x2).

Use a 4.00 mm hook (F or G hook).

Row 1 with either orange or white ch 13, sc in 2nd stitch from hook, sc across, ch 1 turn (12)

Row 2 -5 repeat row 1

Row 6 sc2tog, sc in next 8 stitches, sc2tog, ch1, turn. (10)

Row 7 Sc across (10)

Row 8 sc2tog, sc in next 6 stitches, sc2tog, ch1, turn. (8)

Row 9 sc across (8)

Row 10 sc2tog, sc in next 4 stitches, sc2tog, ch1, turn. (6)

Row 11 sc across (6)

Row 12 sc2tog, sc in next 2 stitches, sc2tog,  join black yarn, ch1, turn, (4)

Row 13 (with black yarn) sc across (4)

Row 14 sc2tog, sc2tog, ch 1 turn (2)

Row 15 sc2tog, bind off, weave in ends.


After you made the 4 ears, place the white front on the orange back and join the orange yarn through the front and back ear. Sc all around to crochet both sides together. Repeat for the other ear.


The Eyes

Use a 4.00 mm hook (F or G hook).

Make two of each.

With Black yarn: 

Make a magic circle and do 6 sc into the circle, join to first sc, bind off.

Leave a long tail so you can use it to sew the pupil to the white eye later.



With White yarn:

Row 1 Ch 9, dc in 4th stitch, dc in the next 4 stitches, 6dc in the last stitch. 

Row 2 (this is the bottom row of the row you just worked), dc in the next 4 stitches, 3dc in last stitch. join.

Row3 ch1 and sc all around, join to first ch, bind off


The Snout

Use a 4.00 mm hook (F or G hook).

Make 1 each


With black yarn (the nose)

Row 1 ch5, hdc2tog, hdc2tog, ch1 turn

Row 2 hdc2tog, bind off. 

Leave a long tail so you can use it to sew the nose to the white snout later.


With White yarn

Row 1 ch 11, sc in 1st stitch from ch, sc in next 9 stitches (10)

Row 2 sc2tog, sc in the next 6 stitches, sc2tog, ch1, turn (8)

Row 3 sc across (8)

Row 4 sc2tog, sc in the next 4 stitches, sc2tog, ch1, turn (6)

Row 5 sc across (6)

Row 6  sc2tog, sc in the next 2 stitches, sc2tog, ch1, turn (4)

Row 7 sc across (4)

"Row8" for a nice finish sc all around the snout 



Ties 

make 2

Cut 15 (white) and 15 (orange) strands 20" long. Half the strands and use large hook to pull through  middle stitch of the ear flap, secure by pulling strands to the loop you made when you half them (or youtube how to add ties to a hat because I think I am not really that good at explaining)

Assembly :) 

And done :)

Hope you enjoy making this beautiful hat.

You can sell finished items from this pattern but please include a link to this blog in any advertisement or listings. Thanks.

Stay juicy Planet Earth... 

Superfruity