Tag: Yarn Projects

Fun, Festive & Simple Christmas Garlands

Two years ago, I had the idea to do a week of semi-simple crochet patterns for Christmas that I would call Crochetmas. I saw it on Instagram, and it sounded like a fun idea. Bringing it to fruition was another story. I came up with the patterns, tested them, but then doing the actual write-up for the blog posts just didn’t happen as I got busy finishing up orders for my Etsy shop and friends last year. So, this year I decided to share three of the patterns in one blog post. They are super simple, the patterns are pretty much variations of each other and you could call them stash busters since they don’t require much yarn to create. They are for a Christmas Tree Garland, Santa Hat Garland and a Light Bulb Garland. If you are feeling creative, you could crochet a few of each pattern to create a very festive garland. Either way, I would suggest using an odd number of components (Tree, Hat or Light Bulb) this way when you hang it it will be symmetrical with a clear middle.

First up, a Light Bulb garland. This project is a great stash buster since you can use whatever color you choose for the bulb part.  Make them all one color or get creative with a bunch of colors. The one color I would keep consistent is the one you use for the “socket” and for the “wire.” I am partial to lights strung on green wire, but white is popular as well.

Next up a Christmas Tree garland. I posted a picture of this garland two years ago on Instagram. At the time I wasn’t sure if I was going to share the pattern via a blog post. I posted a bunch of recipes for baked goods that year that I just didn’t know where to fit it in. And then I got the idea to do Crochetmas that I decided to hold-off, but as I mentioned that didn’t come to fruition. But finally, I am sharing it with you today. What’s fun with this one is that depending on the green you choose it can really change the look and feel of the garland. With this lighter green it has more a rustic feel to…

But with a darker green it has more of a traditional feel…

And the final garland, a Santa Hat Garland. This pattern is very similar to the Christmas Tree Garland since both have the same shape, a triangle. The Santa Hat pattern has one extra row added at the beginning to give it a more elongated look and to account for adding a pom-pom on top and three rows of single crochet in white yarn are added to the bottom for the trim.

The Patterns:

For all of these I used Red Heart Super Saver Yarn and worked with a size H-8 (5mm) crochet hook.

To assemble the garlands, thread a large tapestry needle with a long piece of yarn and then weave through the back of each component (Light Bulb, Christmas Tree or Santa Hat). Leave a long tail on each end to create a loop to hang.

Light Bulb

Ch 2

Row 1: SC in 2nd chain, Ch1 & Turn

Row 2: 2 SC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 3: 2 SC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 4: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next 2 stitches, 2 SC in last stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 5: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next 4 stitches, 2 SC in last stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Rows 6 – 9: SC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 7: SC2Tog, SC to last 2 stitches in row, SC2Tog, Ch 1 & Turn

Repeat Row 7 until 2 stitches remain.

Final Row: SC2Tog, Ch 1

SC around the entire light bulb. Fasten off and weave in ends.

For the “socket”: (With either green or white yarn, or the color of your choice)

On the top of the light bulb (the straight edge), attach your yarn in the first stich of the right side (right side facing you), Ch1, SC in the next 2 stitches. Ch 1 & Turn.

SC across, Ch 1 & Turn. Repeat this one more time then fasten off and weave in the yarn.

Abbreviations:

Ch – Chain

SC – Single Crochet

SC2Tog – Single Crochet 2 Together

Christmas Tree

With green yarn:

Ch 2

Row 1: 2 HDC in 2nd chain, Ch1 & Turn

Row 2: 2 HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 3: HDC, 2HDC in next 2 stitches, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 4: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 5: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 2 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 6: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 7: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 4 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 8: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 9: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 6 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 10: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 11: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 8 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 12: HDC in each stitch, Fasten off and weave in ends.

With brown yarn:

Row 1: Join brown yarn in 6th stitch from the right. Ch1 (counts as first SC), then SC in next 3 stitches. Ch1 & Turn.

Row 2: SC in the 4 stitches, Ch 1 & Turn

Repeat Row 2 two more times. Fasten off and weave in end.

With white yarn:

Magic Ring. *Ch 2, SC in 2nd chain from hook, Sl st into MR*. Repeat ** until you have 5 points. Pull the ring tight to close the circle and then fasten off. Leave a long tail to sew the star onto the tree.

Abbreviations:

Ch – Chain

HDC – Half Double Crochet

SC – Single Crochet

MR – Magic Ring

Santa Hat

With red yarn:

Ch 2

Row 1: 2 HDC in 2nd chain, Ch1 & Turn

Row 2: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 3: 2HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 4: HDC, 2HDC in next 2 stitches, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 5: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 6: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 2 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 7: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 8: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 4 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 9: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 10: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 6 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 11: HDC in each stitch, Ch1 & Turn

Row 12: HDC, 2HDC, HDC in next 8 stitches, 2HDC, HDC, Ch1 & Turn

Row 13: HDC in each stitch, Fasten off and weave in ends.

With white yarn:

Row 1: Join white yarn in last stitch on bottom of the right side. Ch1 (counts as first SC), then SC across the row. Ch1 & Turn.

Row 2: SC across, Ch1 & Turn

Row 3: Repeat Row 2. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Make a mini pom-pom using a mini pom-pom maker or with a fork, leaving a long tail, and then attach to the top of the Santa Hat.  

Abbreviations:

Ch – Chain

HDC – Half Double Crochet

SC – Single Crochet

A Blanket, a Tote Bag and Some Pumpkins

As I mentioned in my last post, I haven’t been doing much baking – although now that the temps & humidity are dropping I am hoping to get back into it – but one thing I have been doing is a decent amount of crocheting.

I’ve been working on a granny square tote bag. Out of nowhere these bags started popping up on my Instagram feed and I figured since I knew how to make a granny square why not try one. Well, it’s taken me a bit longer than I thought it would. First, I was trying to come up with different color variations so no two squares would be the same. I gave up on that plan quickly and then decided to settle on a few variations and work with those to create a pattern for the bag. I made a slight mistake while stitching them together but decided it was okay… It’s a prototype. LOL!  Then it was time to work the border and make handles… Not sure what happened but I didn’t like how it was coming out, so I ended up frogging the whole border and the handles to start over. I am at that point now. 

I recently finished a baby blanket in a ripple stitch pattern. While I normally like to use white as the accent/separator color the person requesting this blanket asked that I use green instead. While I initially had my doubts about how it would look, I ended up really liking the variation.

I also finished a few pumpkins to add to my Etsy shop. I made these pumpkins using the bobble stitch. It’s a fun stitch that gave the pumpkins a nice 3D texture. Some might say that they are reminiscent of a pumpkin with warts, but just in a more uniform pattern. Either way, they are cute! It was the first time I used the stitch and while it’s a super easy stitch that results in a nice design it is one that requires a lot of yarn. It’s a yarn eater! The reason is because the stitch consists of multiple double crochets that are grouped together in the same stitch. Not sure I would ever make something larger than these pumpkins using the stitch.

They are available on my Etsy shop now.  

I also have other pumpkins available that were made with a simpler stitch but are just as equally cute.

One great thing about these pumpkins is that they will last all season year after year!

And that’s about it when it comes to my yarn projects. I have some ideas for a few other things I would like to make but I haven’t gotten to them yet. Hopefully soon!