Little Crochet Birdie - crochet experience preferable

This is easy to crochet. Make 5 or 7 chains (or more, depending on how large or small you want this birdie to be) Single crochet 'all around' cast-on chain - increasing 1 single crochet, at each end - I'm afraid, you will need to judge the increases as you go. Continue building up the size until required size is achieved (folding it in half will show you). Sew up straight opening (top of birdie) - leave a small gap to push in stuffing. Sew up remaining gap. Decorate with a beak, an eye and wings. If you have any problems, please email me.

Granni Squares- Crochet

found a lovely website with lots of lovely free patterns for Granni Squares: 

Link to "Spincushions"

Granny Square Scarf - Crochet - very easy

For this very easy scarf - I crochet'd a basic Granny Square, then just continued with trebles, on one side, until I'd used up a ball of (multi coloured) yarn  (or 1/2 length required), made another one and seamed the two together.

basic pattern for the scarf continuation is: 3 trebles, 1 chain, 3 trebles.  
At the end of the row - 1 treble, 1 chain, just before the 3rd treble of previous row. Turn.
3 trebles in next space - continue with 3 trebles and 1 chain along the row.

When the scarf is finished, add a border row on top and bottom edges, 

of 1 dbl.crochet and 1 chain in each stitch - or edging of choice.

YARN: Adriafil Knitcol TRENDS - Col. 058 011
10sts and 29rows = 4" (4.5 mm)

Peyote Stitch - Small Hearts Motifs

Peyote Stitch hearts - use design for bracelet/cuff.

Tubular Beadwork

(close up)

The above are mainly Peyote Tubular work variations, but here are some instructions for a Spiral technique:
Method 1
Spiral Technique
1. Thread on 4 core beads plus 4 beads for outside spiral.
2. Bring the thread back up thru the 4 core beads.  Two lines of beads will sit neatly next to each other.
3. String on 1 core bead and 4 outside (spiral) beads and slide these down towards the work done.
4. Go back up thru the top 4 beads of the core column, including the one you have just added. 
Nudge this line of beads to the left - next to the first column.

Method 2
1. Thread on 4 core beads and 4 beads for the outside spiral
2. Bring the needle back up thru the 4 core beads and the 2 lines of beads will sit neatly next to each other.
3. String on 1 core bead and 4 outside spiral beads.
5. Take your needle up thru the last 3 core beads threaded, pull needle thru, then take your needle thru the new core bead you have just added.
6. Nudge your beads to the left and continue Step 3, repeating till required length .................. join up.



close-up of beaded spiral

 

Tubular Peyote Instructions link - (these instructions are  from Beading Daily - a very useful site, but you have to join up)

 



Free Beadwork Instructions for Orange Mandala

Orange Mandala

Seed Beads used (11s)
White pearly Delicas used - Delicas can be used for the whole project.

Persian Tile - Peyote Beadwork Chart

 

This chart can be used for - amulet bag or bracelet/cuff

Free Knitting Pattern - Fingerless Mitts

 I'm into knitting Mitts at the mo - they're really similar to knitting socks - (almost!)
small bag pattern given here

FINGERLESS MITTS 
Instructions

Basic Pattern - - using sock yarn (fine)

Needle size: 3.25 mm (double pointed set + 1)

Size: small to medium sized hand 

Using the thumb method - cast on 56+1**sts. on 1 needle.

For the first row: knitting the correct amount of stitches on to each separate needle.  Join up into your 'round' using the extra stitch: (k2tog.) thus joining up the 'round'. (Using last stitch and first stitch.)


I find this a lot less faffing about, than trying to sort out twisted needles and which is the right side.  (The Purists wont like it - but hey .............. ! :) )

Stitches on needles as follows:

28 sts (1st needle) :  14sts. : 14sts.  

RIB/CUFF: (knit stitches through back of loop for cuff and thumb rib only).

K1 (tbl), P1, rib for 3.5 inches, then

K 10 rounds** (knitting through back of the loops) - *or to your own length.  

**You can also continue to knit in Rib - I find the gloves fit very nicely when all Rib'd.

Once your Rib and (10)* rows have been knitted, commence the 

Thumb Gusset increases:

1. K 27, make 1 (pick up loop - between stitches - from previous round, place on left needle and K thru back of the loop, replace on right needle),  k1, make 1, K to end of row.

I tend to keep my thumb gusset stitches on a separate needle, which is a little fiddly, but saves using stitch markers - which I find a bit annoying.  I think this also makes the increasing easier to see.

2. K 1 row.

3. Repeat these 2 rows, making 1 extra stitch (at beginning and end = 2 sts) on each alternate row until you have 17 stitches as your thumb gusset - thread these onto a spare bit of waste yarn - knot yarn so the stitches dont fall off !

4. Continue knitting in the round, carefully joining up again - (pull working yarn taught when joining up on thumb edge).  

Knit until the glove approx. reaches the base of your fingers.

Rib however many rows you fancy, and cast off in rib.

Thumb: 

Rejoin yarn to stitches on waste yarn, picking up  4 stitches in the 'thumb valley'.  
Again, pull thread slightly taught so as not to get too large a hole :).  (If you do get a hole, you can carefully stitch this up afterwards!) 
Knit a few rows then Rib for a few rows (of choice) and cast off in rib.

Sew all ends in neatly.

2nd Mitt - repeat as above.

The instructions always look more complicated than they are, but once you've got the hang of it, it's pretty straightforward.  If you're used to knitting socks ..... this will be a doddle.

(I dont think I've made any errors in the pattern instructions, but if you find anything - please let me know.)

Free Basic Hat Pattern from Purl Soho

  The Purl Bee

Purl Soho.com - everything you need! Gorgeous website - check it out.

• A US #11, 16-inch circular needle :  8 mm
• A set of US #11 double pointed needles :  8mm
• A jumbo stitch marker (optional)

Baby (Toddler, Kid, Women's, Men's)

12 (14, 16, 18, 20) inches in circumference

6 (6 3/4, 7 1/2, 8 1/4, 9) inches high           

Baby - about 36 yards

Toddler - about 47 yards

Kid - about 58 yards

Women's - about 69 yards

Men's - about 80 yards

Gauge: 3 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Sizes: Baby (Toddler, Kid, Women's, Men's)

12 (14, 16, 18, 20) inches in circumference

6 (6 3/4, 7 1/2, 8 1/4, 9) inches high

THE CUFF

Cast 36 (42, 48, 54, 60) stitches onto the circular needles.

Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K3, p3, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 four (4, 5, 5, 6) more times.

THE BODY

Knit every round until piece measures 4 1/2 (5, 5 1/2, 6, 6 1/2) inches from the cast one edge.

THE CROWN :

Baby: start the crown with Round 9

Toddler: start with Round 7

Kid: start with Round 5

Women's: start with Round 3

Men's: start with Round 1

Round 1: *K8, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (54 stitches)

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: *K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)

Round 4: Knit.

Round 5: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (42 stitches)

Round 6: Knit.

Round 7: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (36 stitches)

Round 8: Knit.

Changing to double pointed needles...

Round 9: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (30 stitches)

Round 10: *K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)

Round 11: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (18 stitches)

Round 12: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (12 stitches)

Round 13: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (6 stitches)

Cut the tail and thread it through the remaining stitches.

Weave it into the inside of the hat. Weave in the other ends and you're done!

Free Basic Hat Pattern - link



FREE Knitting/Crochet Pattern - Cushions - very easy

 

close-up of back seams

These were really easy to make (while watching telly) - using up some odd balls of double knitting yarn and some old cushions.

Needles and Hook - according to yarn used.

The central squares on the fronts are knitted, then the rest of the cushion is crocheted around the square, using single crochets - - with 3 single crochets in each corner on each round.  

At the beginning of each round, slip st. into the centre of the first 3 single crochets to make the next three.

I made each cover large enough to fit my cushion pads, when folded into 1/4s (diagonally) - see above shape in pic.

The seam edges are on the outside and are just sewn together with a straight stitch, using matching yarn colour.

Stitch 3 seams, push the cushion inside then sew up the 4th seam. 

Centre Squares:

Cast on 3 stitches.

K. one row.

Knit all rows -  increasing in the last stitch on each row until you have half-triangle shape to the size you want.

Begin your decreases - again at the end of each row - K2tog. until  you have completed your square and have 3 stitches left.  Cast off 2 sts. and thread yarn through last loop, pull gently.  

You should then have a diagonally knitted square.

That's it really.

Knitted Haloween Beanie

I found this pattern on Whodunnknit - it's a really simple knitted beanie and you can decorate it how you want - they give you some good ideas too.