Buffalo Plaid Ankle Sock Pattern

I’ve had it in my head for a while that I wanted to knit some buffalo plaid ankle socks with a black sole, but I was struggling with how to make the stranded colorwork work over the instep portion.  If I carried it, the tension would end up funky and likely too tight.  If I cut the contrasting color every row, that would be a nightmare to work in all of the ends, and I would still probably end up with weird tension.  I also didn’t want to work it in rows and then sew the sock together.  Then an idea came to me.  What if I worked it in rows, but instead of leaving an edge I created a wrap and turn connection similar to what is used in short rows?  I tried it, and it worked beautifully!  The socks are worked all in one piece with a nearly invisible “seam” along the bottom.  I couldn’t love these socks more.

Buy the pattern for $5 on Etsy here or on Ravelry here.

Materials:

Go to this link to buy a kit with everything you need to make these socks on Amazon.

  • Sock yarn in two colors (I used Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock Yarn in Black (MC) and Red (CC))
  • 5 Size US 1.5 (2.5 mm) double pointed needles
  • Tapestry needle


Stitches and Techniques Used:

Please comment below with any questions!

Buffalo Plaid Earwarmer

Buffalo plaid has been everywhere this winter season.  If you know me, you know I’m not that in to fashion trends.  However, something about buffalo plaid really appeals to me.  Since spring decided to let winter have a big last hurrah (at least I hope it is the last), I decided to design one more winter pattern:  buffalo plaid ear warmers.  The pattern features buffalo plaid stranded colorwork and a turban-like twist in the front.

Buy the pattern for $3 on Etsy here or on Ravelry here.

Materials:

Go to this link to buy a kit with everything you need to make this hat on Amazon.

  • Worsted weight yarn
  • 3 size 6 double pointed needles
  • Tapestry needle


Stitches Used:

Please comment below with any questions!

Simple Crochet Christmas Ornaments

I love to make homemade gifts for people.  With teacher Christmas gift time approaching, I decided to make some simple crochet ornaments (in addition to contributing to class gift cards).  Gift cards, while appreciated, feel so generic to me.  I like to give at least a little something that is special.  

That being noted, I also bit off a little more than I could chew and didn’t finish six of them before Christmas.  Better late than never, right?  I got a set of three to Zoe’s three teachers before the holidays, but Jack’s teachers just got their today.

I chose a set of three free patterns from 5 Little Monsters that I found on Pinterest.  Didn’t they turn out cute?


Elmo Inspired Hat version 2

I made up an Elmo Inspired Hat pattern a few years ago to go with my Oscar Inspired Hat; however, I wanted a hat without a mouth to go with my Zoe Inspired Hat, so here is a no mouth version with a slight variation on the eyes that I like much better.

This is my son wearing the hat as part of his Halloween costume.  He is Elmo-obsessed right now.

Materials:

  • Red yarn (I used Vanna’s Choice in Scarlet)
  • White yarn (I used Vanna’s Choice in White)
  • Black yarn (I used Vanna’s Choice in Black)
  • Orange yarn (I used some Red Heart yarn from my stash.  I’m not sure the exact shade)
  • Tapestry needle
  • Size E crochet hook
  • Knitting needle size needed for my basic hat pattern
  • Fiber fill


Stitches Used:

Directions:

Hat:

First, knit your hat in the size desired using my basic hat pattern using red.  I purposely sized up one size on my son’s hat below so that he can wear it longer.

Here is my daughter wearing a more fitted version of the hat.

Eyes (make 2) (This is different from the original pattern because it is worked in continuous rounds.  It makes the pupil of the eye look more uniform):

R1:  With black use magic ring technique to start round, ch 1, sc 8, on the last stitch switch to white   Cut black yarn and work in ends. (8 stitches)

Continue with white.

R2:  2 sc in first stitch from R1 and in each sc around (16 stitches)

R3:  Sc 3, 2 sc in next stitch around (20 stitches)

R4-R6:  Sc in each stitch around (20 stitches)

R7:  Sc 3, sc2tog around (16 stitches)

R8:  Sc2tog around (8 stitches)

R9:  Sc2tog around (4 stitches)

Cut yarn and leave tail for sewing.

 

Nose:

R1:  With O use magic ring technique to start round, ch 1, sc 8 (8 stitches)

R2:  2 sc in first stitch from R1 and in each sc around (16 stitches)

R3:  Sc 3, 2 sc in next stitch around (20 stitches)

R4-R10:  Sc in each stitch around (20 stitches)

R11:  Sc 3, sc2tog around (16 stitches)

R12:  Sc2tog around (8 stitches)

R13:  Sc2tog around (4 stitches)

Cut yarn and leave tail for sewing.

Using a picture of Elmo as inspiration, tack the eyes and nose onto the hat using a tapestry needle and yarn.  I would also suggest tacking the eyes and nose to each other.

 

Zoe Inspired Hat

My daughter Zoe is going to be Zoe from Sesame Street for Halloween. I made her a Zoe inspired knit/crochet hat to be worn with a ballerina outfit since Zoe from Sesame Street loves to dance!

Materials:

  • Gold worsted weight yarn (I used Yarn Bee Soft Secret in Saffron)
  • Gold “eyelash” or “fur” yarn (I used Yarn Bee Haute Fur in Goldenlash)
  • Small amounts of black, white, brown, pink, teal, and purple worsted weight yarn
  • Red crochet thread
  • Knitting needle size needed for my basic hat pattern
  • Size E crochet hook
  • Size 3 crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • Fiber Fill


Stitches Used:

Directions:

Hat:

First, knit your hat in the size desired using my basic hat pattern using gold worsted weight yarn.

Eyes (Make 2):

R1:  With black using a magic ring, sc six, on the last stitch switch to white (6 stitches)

R2:  Two sc in each sc around (12 stitches)

R3 and R4:  Sc in each sc around (12 stitches)

R5:  Sc2tog around (6 stitches), stuff eye with fiber fill

R6:  Sc2tog around (3 stitches), break yarn and leave end for sewing

R1:  With teal using a magic ring, sc eight (8 stitches)

R2:  Two sc in each sc around (16 stitches)

R3, R4, R5:  Sc in each sc around, on last stitch of R5, switch to brown (16 stitches)

R6:  Sc in eash sc around, break yarn and leave end for sewing

Sew eyelids onto eyes using pictures below for placement.  Sew the eyes to the hat using pictures for placement.  Sew the eyes to each other for stability.

Nose:

R1:  Using pink using a magic ring, sc six (6 stitches)

R2:  Sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc twice, 2 sc in next stitch, sc (8 stitches)

R3:  Sc in each sc around (8 stitches)

R4:  Sc, sc2tog, sc twice, sc2tog, sc (6 stitches), stuff nose with fiber fill

R5:  sc2tog three times (3 stitches), break yarn and leave end for sewing

Sew nose to hat between the eyes.  Sew to eyes for stability.

Hair:

Cut the “eyelash” yarn into six inch pieces.  Follow this tutorial for how to attach the hair to the hat.  I placed one “hair” approximately every half inch on the entire back half of the hat.

Bow:

R1:  With purple ch 4, sc in second chain from hook and in next two chains (3 stitches)

R2 – R6:  Sc in each sc across (3 stitches), break yarn and work in ends.

Cut long piece of purple yarn.  Wrap the yarn around the center of your crocheted piece several times tightly to make it look like a bow.  Used the remaining yarn to sew it to the hat.

Dragonfly:

R1:  With red crochet thread and size 3 hook, ch 5 (foundation chain), sc in second ch from hook, sc, ch 5, sl st in fifth ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, sc in next foundation ch, ch 7, sl st in seventh ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, sc in last foundation ch 3 times, working in back of foundation ch sc in next ch, ch 7, sl st in seventh ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, sc in next foundation ch, ch 5, sl st in fifth ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, two sc in last foundation ch, sl st to first sc

R2:  Working in foundation ch, sc over first sc from R1, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in chain loop, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr 3 times, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in next chain loop, skipping two foundation ch, sl st in next foundation chain (end chain), sc three times, sl st in same foundation ch, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr 3 times, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in next chain loop, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in next chain loop, skipping two foundation ch, sc in next foundation chain, sc in same foundation ch, ch 3, sl st in third chair from hook, sc in same foundation ch, sl st to first sc in R2, break off and leave long piece of yarn for sewing.

Sew dragon fly to head as shown.

Check out the full costume in my Elmo and Zoe Halloween Costumes post!

Where the Wild Things Are Amigurumi

About two months before Jack’s second birthday I started thinking about themes, and Where the Wild Things Are seemed perfect. He is definitely a wild thing!  I had also really been missing crafting. When I stumbled upon a wild thing amigurumi pattern, I knew I had to make it. The main pattern is here; however, I did not want to glue on felt eyes and teeth. This, after all, would eventually be a toy for a rough and tumble two-year-old.  The edits I made to the pattern can be found below. Enjoy!

Materials for Eyes and Teeth:

  • US Size E Crochet Hook (4 mm)
  • Tapestry needle
  • Red Heart Super Saver in Bright Yellow (Y)
  • Red Heart Super Saver in Black (B)
  • Red Heart Super Saver in White (W)


 

Stitches Used for Eyes and Teeth:

Original Pattern:

Unnamed Monster Pattern

Directions for Eyes and Teeth:

Eyes (make 2):

Row 1:  With B, ch 3, 6 sc in first ch, cut yarn and leave extra for sewing

Row 1:  With Y, ch 4, 6 dc hdc in first ch, cut yarn and leave extra for sewing

Center black semi-circle along flat edge of yellow semi-circle and sew on.

Sew eyes on instead of gluing felt accord to the directions in the original pattern.

Teeth:

Row 1:  With W, sl st to face near cap just below eye as shown in the picture below, p, (sl st, p, sl st) into face curving halfway between nose and beard, the curving back up to just below other eye.  End with final sl st of pattern.