So I Needed a Hand Towel for the Bathroom...

Seriously! That's how this design came to be. I needed one more pattern to round out the "Table and Tub" group from my Blog Collection and I toyed with several ideas: table runners, napkin rings, oven mitts . . . But nothing clicked for me. Then, one day, I found myself using a store-bought kitchen towel as a placemat. I was eating lunch at my desk and didn't want to get food on my laptop, so I draped the towel over it. After the lightbulb turned on over my head, I set to work and threw together a few notes and a quick sketch.

It's taken me about two years to get around to actually working and writing the pattern, but here it is. I finally knuckled down to make this because I realized we only had two hand towels for our bathroom. Of course, I love a pattern with some versatility, so I've included instructions for adding that cute little hanging loop you see on the corner. That's where the hand towel thing figures in. This little guy is just the right size to use for a placemat or as a hand towel. Besides, I like the way it looks in the bathroom hanging from that little loop.

Have fun with this one!

The Blog Collection

Placemat Pattern

by Laurie Laliberte Designs

A simple pattern to protect or accent your table top. Make a full set for yourself or to give as a hostess gift.

Finished Measurements:

approximately 12" x 16"

Supplies Needed:

size I-9 (5.5mm) crochet hook

about 2 oz. worsted weight yarn in Color A

about 1 oz. worsted weight yarn in Color B

smaller hook or yarn needle for weaving in ends

Samples were stitched using 100% cotton Sugar 'n Cream and/or Peaches & Creme worsted weight yarn.

All instructions use American Terminology.

Special Instructions:

BLO -- back loop only

FLO -- front loop only

Instructions:

Notes:  Each row is 39 sts across.

If you are working in two colors, change colors at the beginning of the Rows with the *.

ch 40

Row 1:  sc in 2nd ch from hook, [ch1, sk next ch, sc in next ch] across, turn

Row 2:  ch1 (does not count as 1st st here or in following rows), sc in 1st sc, sc in next ch1 sp, [ch1, sk next sc, sc in next ch1 sp]

Row 3:  ch1, sc in 1st sc, [ch1, sk next sc, sc in next ch1 sp] across, ending w/sc in last sc, turn

Rows 4-10:  repeat Rows 2-3 ending w/a Row 2

*Row 11:  ch1, sc in each sc and ch1 sp across, turn

Row 12:  ch1, sc in BLO of each st across, turn

Row 13:  ch1, sc in FLO of each st across, turn

Row 14:  ch1, sc in BLO of 1st st [dc in BLO of next st, sc in BLO of next st] across, turn

Row 15:  ch1, sc in FLO of 1st st [sc in FLO of next st, dc in FLO of next st] across ending w/sc in each of last 2 sts, turn

Row 16:  rep Row 14

Row 17:  rep Row 15

Row 18:  rep Row 14

Row 19:  ch1, sc in FLO of each st across, turn

Row 20:  ch1, sc in BLO of each st across, turn

Row 21:  rep Row 19

*Row 22:  ch1, sc in 1st st, [ch1, sk next st, sc in next st] across, turn

Row 23:  ch1, sc in 1st sc, [sc in next ch1 sp, ch1, sk next sc] across ending w/sc in each of last 2 sts, turn

Row 24:  ch1, sc in 1st sc, [ch1, sk next sc, sc in next ch1 sp] across ending w/sc in last sc, turn

Rows 25-57:  rep Rows 23-24 ending w/a Row 23

Finishing Round:

sc evenly around working 3sc in each corner

  

Optional Hanging Loop:

ch 10, sl st in 1st sc of Finishing Round, sl st in each ch back to beg, sl st to close loop at base

finish off, weave in ends

  

Designer's Note:

Any pattern I design is my intellectual property. Please do not duplicate any of my patterns for any reason especially to sell. Instead, please link to my blog or to the pattern page in one of my shops when referencing one of my patterns.

You are more than welcome to offer finished items made from my patterns for sale. In fact, I encourage it. However, I'd really appreciate it if you gave me credit for the design. Please reference my blog or the pattern page.

Happy Crocheting!

I'm Posting a Day Early Because. . .

It's Christmas in July! that time of year when some of us are panicking because we only have five months left to make all those homemade gifts. Others are just beginning to make them and completely relaxed. So who will still be hooking away on Christmas Eve?

My advice? I tend to go by the KISS rule: Keep It Sweet and Simple. Along that vein, I leave you with a Christmas in July present for those oft forgotten fur babies. My roommate's kitten loves these things. So much so, that she keeps stealing my samples before I can photograph them.

Keep it Simple Cat Toy

by Laurie Laliberte Designs

This fun and simple project is a great pick-up gift to sell at craft bazaars or just to make for your favorite fur babies. I use a single plastic grocery bag to stuff the ball*, but a small amount of polyester stuffing works well too.

The design includes a reinforced chain with a finger loop at the end to make it an interactive toy, but many cats are just as happy to knock it around the house without any prompting from the people they own.

Finished Measurements:

ball, approximately 2" in diameter

string, approximately 12" long

Supplies Needed:

size G-6 (4.0mm) crochet hook

small amount of worsted weight yarn

small amount of polyfil or one plastic grocery bag for stuffing

small hook or yarn needle for weaving in ends

All instructions use American Terminology.

Instructions:

Round 1:  sc 6 in magic loop (6 sts)

Round 2:  2sc in each st around (12 sts)

Round 3:  [2sc in next st, sc in next st] around (18 sts)

Round 4:  [2sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts] around (24 sts)

Rounds 5-9:  sc around (24 sts)

Round 10:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in each of next 2 sts] around (18 sts)

Note:  Now is the best time to stuff the ball, just be careful that you keep your stuffing inside as you close the ball.

Round 11:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in next st] around (12 sts)

Round 12: [sc dec in next 2 sts] around (6 sts)

Continue sc dec until the top of the ball is closed OR close by stitching with a yarn needle.

Optional play string:  

chain 50, sl st in 10th st from chain and in each chain back to the top of the ball, end with sl st to top of ball, fo, weave in ends

*While this item is machine washable, if you choose to stuff it with a grocery bag, make sure you wash it in cold water and DO NOT tumble dry it.

Missy the Toy Thief keeps swiping my samples. I think I've made seven so far.

Merry Christmas in July!

Call Me a Tease if You Must . . .

. . . just so long as you call me. ;)

Hey all! I've been sick, and working, and working, and sick. Right now, my priorities include projects with Tony Healey, Bernard Schaffer, Reeni Austin, and a newbie by the name of Tony DePaul. However, we all know I try to squeeze in some crochet time whenever I can because it maintains my sanity.

Of course, crochet for me is more than just pleasure; it's work. Rarely do I crochet only for the love of the craft. Chances are, if you see a hook in my hand, I'm working on a gift for a friend, an item for a craft show, or a sample for a new pattern.

Over last weekend, it was a sample called "Movie Night." I actually sketched out the design two or three years ago and then it sat, waiting for me to get back to it. The problem with the creative process, whether designing crafts, writing music, or writing prose or poetry, is that when it rains, it pours.

Once I get started, I can't stop. I sketched out about fifteen designs all at once and this one got lost in the shuffle, but it's always been in the back of my mind to finish it. I even bought the yarn for the sample way back when.

You see, the reason I named it "Movie Night" is that it was inspired by the red-and-white striped boxes that the old theatres used to serve popcorn. The basic design will be on a plane of white with red stripes in the form of post stitches and embellished with yellow popcorn stitches.

I've only reached the point where the pattern for the towel is worked out and written, but I'm pretty excited about it.

Meanwhile, the latest crochet book is well on its way to being finished. All of the samples are done except for one which needs pictures to be taken step-by-step for part of the pattern. And the clearer, more formal writing of the instructions and formatting need to be laid out.

So what else could I possibly have going on? Well, there's a serial I'm co-writing with Tony Healey that I hope we'll be able to reveal officially next month, and a couple of story ideas I'm developing with/for Reeni Austin that I hope we'll be able to publish within the next couple of months. That one's been slower going than I expected. Friends, a word of advice: writing is fairly easy, but writing romance is HARD!

Anyhow, I'll keep you posted, so stay tuned.

Namaste.

Single Shoulder Strap Pattern/Tutorial

Just in case you missed it, a couple of weeks ago, I posted the pattern for my Blog Collection Round Hobo Bag, possibly my favorite bag so far. Although that Windmill bag... Maybe I should just refrain from playing favorites.

Anyhow, because the straps of the bags in this collection are meant to be interchangeable, I chose not to post it all in one go. That, and I had yet to write up a coherent pattern.

Please be aware that the instructions for the strap are specific to the Round Hobo Bag, but a quick note about changing it up for other bags follows the pattern.

**********

Single Shoulder Strap

chain 120, do not turn, skip next 54 sts

Design Note:  For now, ignore those 54 skipped stitches, but you may want to mark the first and last skipped stitch so they're easier to find later.

Round 1:  being careful not to twist chain, connect to next st w/sc, sc in next 53 sts, sc in each ch across (174 sts)

Round 2:  sc in each of next 53 sts, skip next st, sc in each of next 119 sts, skip last st (172 sts)

Round 3:  skip 1^st st, sc in next 51 sts, skip next 2 sts, sc in each of next 117 sts, skip last st (168 sts)

Round 4:  skip 1^st st, sc in next 49 sts, skip next 2 sts, sc in next 115 sts, skip last st (164 sts)

Round 5:  skip 1^st st, sk in next 47 sts, skip next 2 sts, sc in next 114 sts, join w/sl st in 1^st st (161 sts)

finish off, weave in ends

(opposite side) Round 1:  connect w/sc at 1^st skipped st, sc in next 53 sts, sc in each unused loop of ch (174 sts)

Rounds 2-5:  repeat Rounds 2-5 above

finish off, weave in all ends

**********

Modifying this strap to fit any bag is fairly simple. Instead of skipping 54 stitches, use the stitch count of the last row/round of your bag. Divide your total stitch count by two. This is the number of stitches you will skip.

In the coming months, as I post other bags from this series, I will also post the how-to's for their respective straps including a slightly narrower shoulder strap and a much shorter rolled handle. In the meantime, have fun playing with this one.

Happy Crocheting!

Free Crochet Pattern and a Sneak Peek at the New Crochet Book

Hey y'all! I decided I needed a short (heh) vacation, but I'm back. More important, I'm back with post number 200 here on the blog.

In honor of this milestone, I've brought you a gift: a free pattern you're going to love. As promised, I'm continuing to drop patterns from my new, almost finished, crochet book. This one just may be my favorite of the bunch simply because I'm addicted to round hobo bags.

This week, you get just the basics, the body of the bag, but the recommended amount of yarn is for the whole thing. The shoulder strap pattern/tutorial is something I will share with you within the next couple of weeks.

As usual, I worked the sample in Lily Sugar 'n Cream yarn, but it will work with any worsted weight yarn. The colors here are Hot Pink and Hot Orange. Grab your hook and get to work!

The Blog Collection Hobo Bag

Finished Size:

body – 9" diameter x 11" high

strap – 32" long x 2 ½" wide

Supplies Needed:

3 balls of yarn for body

2 balls of yarn for contrast

size H-8 (5mm) crochet hook

stitch markers or pieces of scrap yarn

yarn needle or smaller crochet hook for weaving in ends

Instructions:

Round 1: using magic ring method, 12 sc in ring, pull ring tight to close gap (12 sc)

Round 2: 2sc in each st around (24 sc)

Round 3: sc in each st around (24 sc)

Round 4: [2sc in next st, sc in next st] around (36 sc)

Round 5: sc in each st around (36 sc)

Round 6: [2sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] around (48 sc)

Round 7: sc in each st around (48 sc)

Round 8: [2sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] around (60 sc)

Round 9: sc in each st around (60 sc)

Round 10: [2sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] around (72 sc)

Round 11: sc in each sc around (72 sc)

Round 12: [2sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] around (84 sc)

Round 13: sc in each st around (84 sc)

Round 14: [2sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] around (96 sc)

Round 15: sc in each st around (96 sc)

Round 16: [2sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] around (108 sc)

Round 17: sc in each st around (108 sc)

Round 18: in BLO sc around (108 sc)

Round 19: sc in each st around (108 sc)

Rounds 20-27: repeat Round 19

change colors*

Round 28: sc in each st around (108 sc)

Round 29: repeat Round 28

Round 30: in BLO sc around (108 sc)

Round 31: repeat Round 30

Round 32: in BLO [sc in next st, dc in next st] around (108 sts)

Round 33: in BLO [dc in next st, sc in next st] around (108 sts)

Round 34: repeat Round 32

Round 35: repeat Round 33

Round 36: repeat Round 32

Round 37: in BLO sc around (108 sc)

Round 38-39: repeat Round 37

Round 40: sc in each st around (108 sc)

change colors*

Rounds 41-55: sc in each st around (108 sc)

do not finish off*

Before you move on to the shoulder strap, make sure this length works for you. If you do follow my instructions for the strap, you'll be adding another five rows (about 1 1/4") to the top of the bag, so keep that in mind as well.

Happy Crocheting!

How to Get a Free Hat Pattern, Volume 2

My younger nephew at age five
modeling the Astro Hat

I am very pleased to say that in the year since the original post, I've had quite a few requests for

patterns from my readers. It warms my cold, dead, tired heart. Heh.

So please, please, PLEASE, keep up the good works, and keep requesting those freebies. I will gladly continue to send out those free pdfs to any of you who request them. Now, for those of you who have no idea what in the world I'm talking about, keep reading . . .

Since my income doesn't allow for a whole lot of charitable contributions, and because I find most charities to be shams, I choose to contribute what I CAN give: crochet. Cancer patients, among others, can always benefit from hats/chemo caps, so I make all of my hat patterns available free to those of you who pledge to make at least two of the pattern as donations to the charities of your choice.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me first give you an updated list of, and links to, all of my hat patterns:

1. Big Girl Hat #1*
2. The Blog Collection Beanie*
3. Simple Earth Hat
4. Astro Hat

Okay, now a list of organizations I like to support or that have been suggested by my readers:

• Dana Farber Cancer Institute because several friends of mine (survivors and those not so fortunate), who have had cancer, have spent quite a bit of time there
• Boston Children's Hospital because one of my closest friends, who died of Cystic Fibrosis, called this his second home
• Teal Hat Project (yes, your donation to them should be teal, their signature color) begun by an online pal a couple of years back, gathers hats to donate to ovarian cancer patients
• Halos of Hope recommended by Jessica, one of my blog readers, last year

Now for more details and the official rules:

• Place your request and your email address in the comments below this post and I will send your pattern via email within about 72 hours. (The best way to post your email is like this: biggirljewelry at yahoo dot com.) Some of the patterns will come from my biggirljewelry email, some from ravelry. It depends on where I have the file stored, so keep your eyes peeled.
• For each hat pattern you request, you pledge to make two hats to give to the charity of your choice. You don't have to choose from my list; you may give them to whomever you want, like your local church or homeless shelter.
• Just for clarification, if you request all four patterns, you pledge to make eight hats for charity. After you've fulfilled your obligation, go right ahead and make as many as you wish for family and friends or even to sell on Etsy or local craft fairs.
• More clarification . . . this applies to my hat patterns only. Requests for other patterns will not be filled. The original purpose of this program was to encourage my readers to make chemo caps. I began it in memory of a friend of mine who lost her fight with leukemia last year.
• I would love to see pictures of your finished projects. Please don't be shy about emailing them to me.

My older nephew, then age eight,
modeled the Simple Earth Hat

I plan to continue this program for as long as I have this blog. If I add any hat patterns to my collection, regardless of whether I have posted them in the list, I will include it.

*In the interest of full disclosure, know that each of these two patterns is also available here on the blog at no charge, but I don't sell the pdf versions. If you request it, I will send the pdf to you via email, but the same rules apply to these as my paid patterns.

My niece reluctantly modeled The Blog Collection Beanie for me when she was three

Happy Crocheting!

To reiterate: You are pledging to make two hats for each pattern you request. Four hats are available as of 1/8/2013. If you request all four patterns, I would expect that you would make and donate eight hats, two of each pattern. Also, I specifically request that you do NOT email your requests to me. Leave a comment below in the comments section. Emailed requests are not likely to be answered as this is not my main email account.

Free Pattern Blog Collection Tablet Sleeve Tutorial

Hey ya'll! I promised you a new free pattern this week and it's here. Unfortunately, I have yet to take really good pictures, so bear with me. The one I have on file will do for now. Anyhow, you're all more interested in the pattern than looking at pretty pictures, right? So let's get to it!

The Blog Collection

Sleeve for 10" Tablet

Note: The sleeve in the picture is for my Nexus 10 and began with a chain count of 25. Yarn used was Lily Sugar and Cream, 100% cotton 1 ball Hot Green and 2 balls Hot Orange.

This project is crocheted in continuous rounds. I don't join and ch1 at the end of each round, but you may if you choose. This method, like Amigurumi, can cause your first stitch to travel or twist. Notes are added throughout the pattern to tell you where to adjust for that twist.

Supplies:

worsted weight yarn of your choice (approx. 150 yds of main color and 70 yds of accent color)

size H-8 (5mm) crochet hook

stitch marker

yarn needle or smaller hook for weaving in ends

1" button

Work a beginning chain long enough to fit the width of your tablet. If you plan to line your finished project, add 4 or 5 more depending on how tightly you crochet. If you do not plan to line it, add 2 or 3 more to ensure you have enough wiggle room for inserting and removing your tablet.

Round 1: 3sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each chain across except for the last, 5sc in last ch turning toward back, sc in remaining loops of each ch across except for the last (the one with 3sc already), 2sc in last ch

Round 2: sc in each st around

Round 3-19: repeat Round 2

Round 20: repeat Round 2, change colors

Note: Before you change colors, check that your last stitch is on the end of your project. If not, work a few more sc so your color change will be on the edge, so it's less obvious. This is also a good spot to fit your sleeve to your tablet and ensure you have enough play to slide the tablet in and out of the sleeve.

Round 21: sc in each st around

Round 22: repeat Round 21

Round 23: sc in back loop only of each st around

Round 24: repeat Round 23

Round 25: [sc in back loop only of next stitch, dc in back loop only of next stitch] around

Round 26: [dc in back loop only of next stitch, sc in back loop only of next stitch] around

Note: Yes, because you have an even number of stitches, you will have two of the same stitch next to each other as you transition between rounds here. I've found that this section works pretty straight, so you really shouldn't see this in your finished project.

Round 27: repeat Round 25

Round 28: repeat Round 26

Round 29: repeat Round 25

Round 30: sc in back loop only of each st around

Rounds 31-32: repeat Round 30

Round 33: sc in each st around, change colors

Note: Before you change colors, check that your last stitch is on the end of your project. If not, work a few more sc so your color change will be on the edge, so it's less obvious.

Round 34: sc in each st around

Rounds 35-end: repeat Round 34 until your sleeve is long enough to cover your tablet and have two extra rows for complete coverage

Final Round/Finishing: Find the middle front of your project and mark it for attaching your button. Find the corresponding stitch on the back of the project and mark it for the button loop.

sc in each st stopping at marked st on back of project, ch12, attach in same st w/sl st, sl st in each ch around loop, sc in next st and each st around

Note: Before you finish off, check for the twist in your project. If necessary, continue to work sc around until you reach the edge. Join with a sl st in next st and finish off.

**********

This pattern/tutorial is offered at no cost, but will be available to purchase as a part of my next crochet book. It has yet to be fully tested, so I welcome all comments and questions. Please do not email them to me; instead leave them in the comments section below so that others may benefit from the answers.

As always, you are welcome to make as many as you wish to sell in your Etsy shops or at craft sales, etc. I ask only that you give me credit for the design and do not re-post or print and sell the original pattern. Instead, link to the pattern when referring to it.

Happy Crocheting!

The KAS Takes on Comic Con

My original intent today was simply to reblog Alexander Maisey's post recapping the boys' trip to Philly ComicCon. However, the entire KAS panel had great posts to talk about last Sunday's shenanigans. So, I will instead share with you the links to each author's blog post and encourage you to check them out.

Alexander Maisey

Bernard Schaffer

Michael Shean who didn't actually make it, but blogged about it anyway ;)

William Vitka

And, in my desire to inject at least one photo into every one of my posts, I offer you a sneak peek at my most recent crochet projects. They will all appear in my next crochet book, but you will also find them here on the blog* . . . eventually.

I can barely put into words how much I am enjoying this project.
Shown are the Large Tote and the Tablet Sleeve.

*The motif on every piece in this collection is the Big Girl/Blog Collection motif. I have every intention of keeping my original promise to my readers that those patterns will be available on my blog free of charge. I have no release date for the book yet, but the patterns in it will be released on the blog, one at a time, over the next twelve months.

By the way, the boys plan to take on New York next. Stay tuned to the Kindle All-Stars website for more news.

Keep Calm and Comic Con!

Lining and Cheating

Hey y'all! Perhaps one day I will blog about this week's adventures and tell you how much fun it isn't to have a mile-wide tornado headed straight for your neighborhood, but not today.

I won't have time to offer you a proper blog post, so instead I will round out the Windmill Bag series with a link to a fabulous tutorial I found for making a lining for your bag. I plan to use this one myself if I can find just the right fabric. (Call THAT a great excuse to visit my favorite Wal-Mart on the other side of town.*)

I can't tell you how deeply I've fallen in love with this bag. My version, the original that inspired it, and all the many incarnations shown in the project pages on Ravelry. (Confession: sometimes I visit the project page of that one just to ogle the various ideas Ravelers have come up with.)

I guarantee, if you are a Handbag Queen, like I am, you will be making more than one whether it's mine, or a version of the original, or a concoction of your own.

So, here's that link and a sneak peek (check out the pic below) at what you might see when I release this series in the Kindle store!

Fun right? The yarn is Lily Peaches and Cream in Hot Blue and Hot Pink.

*Oklahoma City is such a huge land mass (according to the 2010 census, OKC covers 606.41 square miles) that there are at least ten Wal-Mart locations inside the city limits.

Happy Crocheting!

Get a Grip (Free Pattern/Tutorial for Windmill Bag Shoulder Straps)

click to see the ravelry project
which will take you to the pattern

I get very excited about crocheting handbags because when I make one for myself I use it . . . a lot. That said, this method of putting straps on a bag came from some trial and error while making the two other bags pictured in this post. I'm really proud of them, though, so I MUST show them off to you. I'm so emotionally attached to these bags that when I first made one or the other, I slept with it under my pillow. I still have, and use, both of them.

All three bags were made from yarn seconds which might otherwise have been discarded. Further, the Hakelbeutel used squares that I made to test a pattern for another designer, which I doubt I would have used for anything else had I not come across that pattern. Add to that the shapes of those two bags actually inspired this series, and you now get a glimpse into my own creative process.

Enough with the background information; let's get to work.

If you've followed my Windmill Bag pattern, you've now got a sack with four points at the top. Each point should be 17 stitches high and this pattern can simply be followed as a pattern to give you a finished bag. You could also use this pattern as a tutorial for adding straps to your hakelbeutel. Simply adapt the stitch count to fit the bag you're working.

The finished straps end up being a bit over an inch wide (just a bit wider than 4 rows of sc). And the top border is just a hair wider than the straps (5 rows of sc). This method makes two very long shoulder straps as shown in the picture of the finished bag. Feel free to adjust to your preference.

Finishing the Windmill Bag

Supply Note: For a full list of supplies, consult the original pattern for the Blog Collection Windmill Bag.

Design Note: Rounds are worked continuously so as not to show joins.

Place stitch markers at each of the four peaks of the bag. You may wish to mark the four valleys (lowest points) of the bag and your very first stitch as well (whatever you need to do to make it easier to identify these key spots). Make sure bag is turned right side out.

Straps

Round 1: beginning at any peak, join w/sc in 11th st, sc in each of next 6 sts, [sc in end st of each row (for a count of 17), *2sc in next st, sc in each of next 16 sts] 3 times, sc in end of each row (for a count of 17), *2sc in next st, sc in each of next 9 sts (140 sc)

*Move stitch markers to the first sc in the 2sc. This becomes your new peak.

Round 2: sc in 1st st and in next 5, [sk next 2 sts, sc in next 16 sts, *3sc in next st, sc in next 16 sts] 3 times, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 16 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 10 sts (140 sc)

*Move stitch markers to the center sc in the 3sc. This becomes your new peak.

Round 3 (first round of straps): sc in 1st st and in next 4, [sk next 2 stst, sc in next 17 sts (last st should be in a marked st--do not move marker), ch 90, being careful not to twist ch sk next 34 sts, sc in next sc (this should be your next marked st--do not move marker)], sc in next 16 sts, rep from [ to ], sc in next 11 sts

Round 4: sc in next 4 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 16 sts, sc in each loop of ch (just as you would if beginning a pattern), sc in next 16 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 16 sts, sc in each loop of ch, sc in next 12 sts

Round 5: sc in next 3 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 14, sk next st, sc across single row (next 90 sts), sk next st, sc in next 14 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 14 sts, sk next st, sc across single row, sk next st, sc in next 14 sts, sc in next 11 sts

join w/sl st in 1st st of Round 5, fo, weave in ends

the blog collection
windmill bag

Front and back openings

lay bag with unfinished portion facing you, attach yarn with sc at marked st to the right

Round 1: sc in next 16 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 17 sts, sc in rem loops of ch across (next 90 sts)

Round 2: sc in next 15 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 15 sts, sk next st, sc in each sc of strap

sk next st, sc in next 14 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 14 sts, join, finish off, weave in ends

Repeat for opposite side of bag.

Design note: Although the pattern and tutorial for the panels and assembly have been tested, the pattern for the straps has not. I plan to remake the bag very soon, so I will be testing it myself. If you find mistakes, feel free to let me know in the comments below and I will make corrections as soon as possible.

Believe it or not, I used a very similar method to make the straps for the shell bag because the original called for a store bought handle. I prefer a long shoulder strap so the bag itself is not in my way and so it can be easily hung on the back of a chair.

All bags pictured were crocheted using Pisgah Peaches and Creme yarn seconds, 100% cotton, which is no longer available. However, the company was purchased by Lily, the makers of Sugar and Cream, and another yarn I highly recommend.

Happy Crocheting!

click to see the ravelry project which will also lead to the original pattern

I've Finally Gotten It Right (Free Crochet Pattern)

I'll spare you the details of the saga. Suffice it to say, my poor, beloved, decrepit, hot pink, Dell laptop went belly-up a couple of weekends ago. The battery has been useless for about two years, but the power cord is now fried. (Thank you, Hurricane Sandy!) Ironically, she finally breathed her last breath maybe twelve hours after the new one shipped. The good news for me is that because it's just a power issue, if I choose, I can replace the battery and cord and have a backup.

The good news for you, my beautiful, highly intelligent readers, is that because I spent a few days without a computer I finally found the time to finish the beanie pattern I've been promising for about a year.

Before I post that, however, I need to tell you how awesome Newegg.com and UPS are. Between fast service and fast shipping, I had the new machine in five days. That, mind you, was over a weekend. And the price was fabulous. The new baby was on sale, so for what would have been the full price, I was able to get Office installed on it as well. You can bet I'll be checking Newegg whenever I need electronics in the future.

Okay, enough about my new toys, let's talk crochet! This has definitely been the most difficult pattern I've ever developed. I could not get it to work right no matter what I did. Then I finally figured it out. It wasn't so much the pattern but how I was going about it. Getting the right curve in a round pattern comprised mainly of single crochet is tough. It wants to flatten. So I flipped it over and treated it like piece of amigurumi. That's when it all came together. It's still not quite as domed as I would have liked, but once the wearer has the hat on, the curve is more pronounced.

Some of you will find it odd stitching a hat from the bottom up rather than the top down, but trust me on this. It gives you a better curve at the top. Still, all that work wasn't for naught. The "failed" attempts at making the  hat showed me exactly what I need to do to make the handbag pattern I wanted to put together. THAT you'll just have to wait for. Heh. What can I say? I love to tease you.

Sample was crocheted using 100% cotton
worsted weight Peaches and Cream (discontinued)
and yielded a small/medium adult sized hat

The Blog Collection Beanie

by Laurie Laliberte

Supplies needed:

about 4 oz. (180-190 yds.) worsted weight yarn

size I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for main body

size G-6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook for band

stitch marker or scrap of yarn for marking end of rounds

yarn needle or smaller size hook for weaving in ends

All instructions use American terminology and standard abbreviations.

Special Stitches:

front post double crochet (fpdc)—yo, insert hook behind post of stitch (from front to back to front), yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through remaining 2 loops

back post double crochet (bpdc)—yo, insert hook around post of stitch (from back to front to back), yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through remaining 2 loops

single crochet decrease (sc dec)—insert hook in next st, yo, pull up loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next st, yo, pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 3 loops (counts as 1 stitch)

Construction note:

The term join, as used in this pattern means join with slip stitch in first stitch of round.

You will notice that I do not instruct you to join at the end of every round.  I found it easier to work the body of the pattern in continuous rounds.  This prevents having a visible seam up the back of your hat.  If you choose to join at each round, begin the next round with a ch1, even when that round begins with a dc.

If you join and ch1 at each round, your ch1 does not count as your first stitch.

with smaller hook, ch 72, join w/sl st in 1^st ch being careful not to twist chain

Round 1:  ch3 (counts as first stitch), dc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each each ch around, join (72 sts)

Round 2:  ch2 (counts as first st), [bpdc in next dc, fpdc in next dc], 35 times, bpdc in last dc, join (72 sts)

Round 3:  ch 2 (counts as first st), [bpdc in next bpdc, fpdc in next fpdc], 35 times, bpdc in last bpdc, join (72 sts)

Round 4:  repeat Round 3, switch to larger hook

Round 5:  ch1 (does not count as first st), sc in each st around (72 sts)

Round 6:  sc in back loops only (blo) around (72 sts)

Round 7:  repeat Round 6

Round 8:  [sc in blo of next st, dc in blo of next st] around (72 sts)

Round 9:  [dc in blo of next st, sc in blo of next st] around (72 sts)

Round 10:  repeat Round 8

Round 11:  repeat Round 9

Round 12:  repeat Round 8

Round 13:  sc in blo of each stitch around (72 sts)

Round 14:  repeat Round 13

Round 15:  repeat Round 13

Round 16:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in each of next 4 sts] 12 times (60 sts)

Round 17:  sc in each st around (60 sts)

Round 18:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in each of next 3 sts] 12 times (48 sts)

Round 19:  sc in each st around (48 sts)

Round 20:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in each of next 2 sts] 12 times (36 sts)

Round 21:  sc in each st around (36 sts)

Round 22:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in next st] 12 times (24 sts)

Round 23:  sc in each st around (24 sts)

Round 24:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in each of next 2 sts] 6 times (18 sts)

Round 25:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in next st] 6 times (12 sts)

Round 26:  [sc dec in next 2 sts] 6 times (6 sts)

Round 27:  [sc dec in next 2 sts] 3 times (3 sts)

At this point, you should be able to draw a loop through the remaining stitches and close any gap you may have.  Finish off, weave in ends.

To increase size slightly:

Add to foundation chain by twos until desired size is reached. Adjust decreases at end to compensate.

To increase size significantly:

Begin with 84 chains instead of 72 (stitch count for Rounds 1-15 will be 84) and add the following after Round 15

Round 15a:  [sc dec in next 2 sts, sc in each of next 5 sts] 12 times (72 sts)

Round 15b:  sc in each st around (72 sts)

Now proceed to Round 16 and continue pattern from there.

For links to all of my free patterns, click the link to the left.

To find out how to get a free pdf of this, or any of my other hat patterns, go here.

The Blog Collection Beanie as modeled by my adorable four-year-old niece

Da Roolz:

Any pattern I design and post here is my property. Please do not duplicate my patterns for any reason especially to sell. Instead, please link to my blog or to the pattern page when referencing one of my patterns.

You are more than welcome to offer finished items made from my patterns for sale. I see no reason why you should not profit from your hard work. However, I'd really appreciate it if you gave me credit for the design; please reference my blog or the pattern page.

If you do make any of my patterns, I'd love to see your finished items; please feel free to email pictures to me. Also, if you make my patterns to sell and want a bit of free advertising, send me pics and a link. I'd love to send customers your way.

BigGirlJewelry at yahoo dot com

Happy Crocheting!