Free Patterns, Stocking Stuffers

Until I figure out how on earth I can edit my web page more easily, I'll add a few free patterns here.
Just in time for Christmas, for that naughty someone on your list...

Lump of Coal


App. size:  5.75cm in diameter
Materials:
worsted weight acrylic yarn
eyelash or fake fur yarn
12mm-15mm safety eyes
polyester stuffing
crochet hook size H (5mm)
Lump is worked by holding acrylic and eyelash yarn together as one.
Rounds are not joined, place marker in first stitch of each round to keep track.
To sc 3 sts tog:  draw up loop in each of next 3 sts.  YO, draw through all 4 loops.
To dec:  draw up loop in each of next 2 sts, YO, draw through all 3 loops.

Rnd 1:  Ch2.  8sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Rnd 2:  (3sc in 1 st, sc in next) around.  (16)
Rnd 3:  Sc in 1 st.  (3sc in one, sc in 3) three times.  3sc in next st, sc in last 2.  (24)
Rnd 4-6:  Sc around.
Place safety eyes on one side between rnds 4&5. 
Rnd 7:  (Sc in 1 st.  Sc 3 sts together.) around.  (16)
Stuff.
Rnd 8:  Dec around.  (8)  FO, leaving long end for weaving.  Finish stuffing tightly.
With long end, weave in and out of stitches of last round, pull tightly to close and weave in securely.

And for those that weren't quite so naughty:

Everlasting Snowballs


Materials:
worsted weight acrylic yarn
eyelash or fake fur yarn
12mm-15mm safety eyes
polyester stuffing
crochet hook size H (5mm)
Snowball is worked by holding acrylic and eyelash yarn together as one.
Rounds are not joined, place marker in first stitch of each round to keep track.
To dec:  draw up loop in each of next 2 sts, YO, draw through all 3 loops.





Round 1:  Ch2.  6sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Rnd 2:  2sc in each stitch.  (12)
Rnd 3:  (2sc in 1 st, sc in next) around.  (18)
Rnd 4-6:  Sc around
Rnd 7:  (Dec, sc in next st) around.  (12)
Place safety eyes between rounds 4&5.  Stuff piece firmly.
Rnd 8:  Dec around.  (6)  Join, FO, leaving long tail for weaving.
Stuff more firmly.  With long tail, weave in and out of stitches of rnd 8, pull tightly to close and fasten in end securely. 


*I've also made these snowballs with a Christmas eyelash yarn in white with red and green flecks along with white acrylic yarn for a 'peppermint' ball.  They make great Christmas ornaments, just thread some ribbon or invisible nylon line through the top and make a hanging loop.


**These patterns have been tested by myself.  If you do find an error, please feel free to contact me at crochetsal (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Window Shopping

Window shopping for now!  But, I do have a brother whose wife is expecting twins later this year. : )
I think I spotted this seller in the forums on Etsy:  her avatar was enticing enough to make me click, and I am so glad I did!

DiaperCakeBaby not only sells completed diaper cakes, but offers instructional videos for creating adorable accents out of washcloths!  They would look awesome on a diaper cake, but I am also thinking some would make great shower favours, like these lollipops (click on images to see the listing):

 Some would be great in a bouquet centrepiece for the mom-to-be, like these tulips

The seller has other wonderful instructional videos for carrots, peas in a pod, cars...and does sell a licence agreement in order to sell items made from her designs.  So, whether you want to have some fun creating something special for the mom-to-be and the new baby (or babies, as in my sister in law's case!), or would like to create diaper cakes adorned with these wonderful pieces to sell, DiaperCakeBaby's shop is a must-see!

***Images used with permission from DiaperCakeBaby.

Fall is Coming!

It has to be coming!  Our Sears Fall & Winter catalogue arrived a month or so ago, so autumn can't be too far away.  Since the catalogue arrived before we'd had any real summer weather, I put off opening it, wanting to enjoy summer for a while before thinking about fall!  It is waiting patiently in its plastic wrapper to be opened when the time is right.

I've started designing a few Hallowe'en items, along a goblin line.  I had such fun with the bulging eyes and protruding nose on my Snot-Nosed Goblin Hat

that I wanted to try something similar in other projects.  I was describing to my neighbour about the water bottle cover I was working on, how I hated setting it aside just when I got 'into' it to get dressed and trot off to work, when she mentioned 'wine bottle'.  So, there's another project or two.  :)
Now, if only I can stay off the computer long enough on my day off to 'get into' my water bottle cozy, I may just finish it today.