One of my favorite things as a business owner is receiving an online order from a friend.  It’s like a little surprise.  Normally when an order comes through from my Etsy store, I get an e-mail listing the item purchased and the buyer’s information.  The information is there and I take it in, but seeing your friend’s name in the “buyer” section comes as a slight shock.

If you sell crochet things, I’m sure you can relate. Most orders from friends tend to come in the form of verbal “suggestions”.  You’re more than willing to crochet things, but when your friends say things like “I’d love a black scarf!” over Friday night dinner, you never know how serious they truly are.

That’s why Emily’s order meant so much to me.  She treats JJCrochet like a real business and is thoughtful in her support.  It’s rare to find a friend like that.

I knew Emily in college and, though in different sororities, we never seemed to notice.  As is clear from the pictures, Emily (affectionately known as “Rexy”),  is just bursting with life.  She brights up rooms with her smile and contagious laugh.  She’s a bright ray of sunshine. Emily is one spunky girl.

A couple weeks ago, Emily purchased a ruffle crocheted headband and a summery crochet headband.  Because she is a dear friend, I also included a special gift when I packaged up her items – A red cowl that I knew would look great with her dark hair.

Emily surprised ME the other day by sending an e-mail with beautiful pictures.  I told her I had to share them on my crochet blog.  Thank you, Emily, for being a wonderful friend and for all the joy you’ve brought to me and everyone else in your life. Keep living the dream!

I don’t know about that, ha, but maybe you’ll enjoy them too.  Would these quotes have inspired you to buy a hat?

After three tries, I finally crocheted what I deemed to be a good bird shape.  How cute are they?!  So  adorable. They take only minutes to make and a few yards of yarn.

Materials

Size G (4.25mm) crochet hook

Worsted weight yarn

Free Crochet Bird Pattern

Chain 4, join with sl st to form ring

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as first dc), 14 more dc into ring (15 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1 (counts as first sc). Into same stitch, work [dc, 5 trc, dc, sc].  (Bird head). Sc in each of next 10 sc (around  bird belly).  Into next stitch, work [sc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, sc] (bird tail). Sc in each of next 3 sc (bird back).

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Bird Beak

Join yellow yarn at base of your bird’s head. Ch 4, sl st back into the stitch where you joined your yarn.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Bird Eye

With black or white yarn and a big yarn needle, sew a couple stitches onto your bird’s face for an eye.

The dirty side of pattern writing...

But what better way to “shed my skin” then with this latest project.  Prompted by Juliana’s post on JJCrochet’s Facebook page, I designed and crocheted a reptile.

Yes, you read that correctly, a repitle.  A snake, to be exact.  It’s kinda cute… right?

Juliana’s request: “That is really nice of you! Ok, I know there are lots of patterns for snakes, but I have some leftover wool-ease thick and quick in greys that would make a cool snake. Do you think you could give me direction (or pattern) for a snake using thick and quick (since all the patterns I’ve found use thin yarn). Or maybe using thick and quick for a snake wouldn’t work? It was just a thought!” 

I had some Wool-Ease Thick & Quick here with me and thought this would be a fun crochet project so I began. Free pattern below so you can make your very own snake.  I hope you enjoy yours, Juliana!

Materials

Size L (8.0 mm) crochet hook

50 yards super chunky yarn.  I used Lion Brand’s Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in “Grey Marble”

Free Crochet Snake Pattern

Starting at snake tail: Ch 8, join with sl st to form ring

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as first hds), Work 1 hdc in each chain (8 hdc). Join with sl st to first hdc

Rounds 2 – 25: Ch 2, do not turn. Hdc in the FLO (front loops only) of each st around (8 hdc).  Working in only the front loops of each stitch will give the snake a “textured”, scale-y look.  

Repeat Round 2 for as long as you want your snake to be.

Begin working the snake’s head.

Round 26: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each the FLO of each stitch (16 hdc).

Rounds 27 – 28: Ch 2, do not turn. Hdc in the FLO (front loops only) of each st around (16 hdc).

Round 29: Decrease Round. Ch 2, hdc 2 tog in next two sts and in each st around (8 hdc).

Rounds 30 – 31: Ch 1, sc in each st around (8sc).

Fasten off.

Whip stitch the bottom and top of your snake together.

Textured Snake Skin

Snake Eyes

Size J (6.0mm) hook

Worsted Weight black yarn

Chain 3, join with sl st to form ring.

Round 1: ch 1, work 9 more sc into ring (10 sc).

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing onto the snake’s face.  Make two eyes.  Sew onto the snake’s head.

Snake’s Tongue

Size L (8.0 mm) crochet hook

Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Yarn in “Cranberry”

Think of making the snake’s split tongue like a Y

Chain 8, fasten off. (the straight long part of the “Y”)

Join yarn at the end of where you fastened off, Chain 4. Fasten off (one “prong” of the “Y” made)

Join yarn at the same point where you fastened off, Chain 4. Fasten off (the other prong of the “Y”).

Weave in ends.

Sew tongue to your snake face.  Enjoy?

Maria responded to my request, “I’m so excited about this idea. I’m 8 and a half months pregnant, I’ve been looking for a simple and easy newborn dress pattern but if that’s too big maybe a nice headband with flower or flowers for spring? Thanks”

Instead of tackling a bigger project like a newborn’s dress, I instead designed a headband.  Maria, I’ll be mailing this out to you next week .  Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your daughter… I hope she enjoys her new headband!

Materials

Size E crochet hook

45 yards Worsted Weight yarn.  I used Lionbrand Wool-Ease Worsted Weight in “Natural Heather” and some extra pink yarn.

Button for center of flower (optional)

Finished size

Headband measures 13 inches in diameter + stretch; 1.25 inches high

Crochet Headband Pattern for Newborn Girls

Fch 50.  Join with sl st to form ring.  (for instructions on how to work the “foundation chain” (fch), check out this post)

Round 2: ch 2 (counts as first sc + ch 1).  Skip next stitch. *sc, ch 1, skip next stitch*. Repeat around.  (25 scs, 24 ch-1 sts)

Rounds 3 – 5: ch 2, *sc in ch-1 space, ch 1*. Repeat around (25 scs, 24 ch-1 sts).

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Open Chain Flower

Ch 3, join with sl st to form ring.

Round 1: chain 9 (counts as first sc + ch 8). Ch 12, sc into ring. *Ch 8, sc, Ch 12* Repeat around until you have 5 loops/ petals (3, ch-8 loops, 2 ch-12 loops). Join to first sc with sl st.

Round 2: Working in back sc of previous round, sc. *ch 13, sc in next sc*. Repeat around until you have 5, ch-13 loops/ petals.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn to sew flower onto headband.

Sew flower onto left side of headband (button center optional).

Here’s the deal: I’m sitting here with my crochet hooks, camera, and a pile of yarn.  I’m in the pattern-writing mood.  This means I’m here to help.  If you’ve been scouring the web for a crochet pattern that you can’t seem to find, look no more.

You + Idea + My Brain = Free Crochet Pattern

Today and today only (February 25th) I am your personal-pattern generator.  If you need a crochet pattern for something, I will crochet the item for you and post the free pattern. Does this sound cool or is it just me, still in my post wake-up haze?

Here’re the deals:

• Leave what you want me to crochet in the comments
• Pictures are helpful
• Thorough descriptions are even better
• In favor of creating a couple free patterns for people, please no large items (nothing bigger than a hat/ scarf – ie. no afghans or sweaters).
• I’ll crochet the item, write a pattern, then post the free pattern here on my crochet blog

So yep, that’s the deal.

What do you want me to crochet?

Crocheted beards hold some inexplicable intrigue.

That’s why I was delighted to come across Lauren Strasser, a crochet designer who blogs about life at The Production Department.  Lauren has been crocheting since she was 15, but really started cranking things up when she was 19.

I contacted Lauren about becoming JJCrochet’s first guest post author.  She obliged and I couldn’t be more delighted to bring you Lauren’s latest free pattern: the crochet beard hat.   Enjoy!

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Reasons you need to make this project, this weekend:

1. It’s freezing out there!
2. The lumberjack look is so hot this season.
3. St. Paddy’s Day leprechaun costume?
4. My beard is way comfier than this beard.

I had been wanting to make a beard hat for awhile, but all the patterns I could find online weren’t quite what I was looking for. My wish list included: a big enough mouth space, ear coverage, and full chin coverage.

So I made my own and now you can too.

I loved using the foundation chain (fch) stitch in this pattern. The foundation chain lets the beard be stretchier than using a plain chain would allow. And stretch is key when you’re pulling this hat on like a face mask.

The foundation chain also makes the mustache area just a tiny bit thicker and we don’t want any wimpy mustaches around here. Here’s how to do the foundation chain (dch): Chain 2 Insert hook into 2nd chain from hook

Yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through both loops (1 loop on hook). First fch made.

First fch made

For remaining fch stitchs, insert hook under the strand to the left (if crocheting right handed) of the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over pull through two loops.

What you’ll need for the beard:

• Red Heart worsted weight yarn (about 50 yards)
• Size K crochet hook

Ready? Let’s go!

Crochet Beard Free Pattern

Fch 31

Row 1: Chain 1 (counts as first sc now an throughout), * dc, sc *, repeat * to * 15 more times (31 stitches).

Row 2: Chain 2 (counts as first dc now and throughout), * sc, dc *, repeat * to * 15 more times (31 stitches).

Rows 3-8: Repeat rows 1 and 2.

Row 9: ch 1 (Counts as first sc), *dc, sc* 5 times (11 stitches), fch 9, (up to 20 stitches).  Skip 9 stitches. Work *sc, dc* 5 times, end with another sc. (31 stitches total)

Row 10: Repeat Row 2 (31 stitches).

Fasten off.

Optional step: Hold the beard up to your face, look in the mirror, and laugh until your sides hurt. Now sew the beard to a hat.

I used this men’s free crochet hat pattern (from JJCrochet). Here the hat is inside out to show approximate placement I like. The beard goes smack dab in the middle of the hat then the front tilts up an inch or two. Just sew along the edges of the beard, not all the way to the edge of the hat. You’ll see why soon.

I think it looks like a football helmet inside out-anybody else?

One more cool thing about this hat; even with the beard sewn in, it can be worn as a plain hat. just fold the hat in and off you go! (This is why you only sewed along the edge of the beard back there)

I swear, there's a beard in there!

You are now the proud owner of a beard hat! Gift it away, stay warm outside, and make up a stack for your jealous friends. If you already have too many projects in process and don’t have time for this one, you can head over to my blog and order a custom made crochet beard .

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Many thanks go out to Lauren for creating this fantastic pattern and allowing me to share it on my blog.

Currently, my workplace is participating in “Full Beard February” (no joke – it’s a real thing), but being a girl, I was feeling left out.  After Lauren’s pattern – no more! I was so excited for this beard pattern and immediately tested it out to make myself some facial hair.

I can confirm it is the most bizarre, most wonderful thing I have crocheted for myself in a while.  I tried the beard on, checked myself out in the mirror, and laughed myself silly. I guarantee it’ll be an instant hit when you crochet one.

Lauren’s favorite yarn to crochet with is Red Heart worsted weight and her least favorite chore around the house is vacuuming the stairs.  The best part about her day is her lunch time where she spends her a few precious minutes crocheting or reading.  During the week, she teaches 25+ preschoolers at her church and couldn’t be happier.  To learn more about Lauren’s crochet work, visit her at The Production Department.

While researching my favorite hobby–crocheting–I came across a few interesting facts that made me love crochet even more. I didn’t think it was possible to appreciate it even more, but it was and I do.

Share if you learned something new and interesting about crochet!

HTML Code:

<a href=”http://jjcrochet.com/blog”><img style=”border-image: initial; border-width: 4px; border-color: black; border-style: solid;” title=”Learn About Crochet” src=”http://jjcrochet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/crochetinfographic.gif” alt=”Learn About Crochet – 7 Interesting Facts by JJCrochet” width=”610″ height=”676″ /></a>

One of the women in my Bible Study is due right around Valentine’s Day.  She’s having a baby girl and was the inspiration for my latest crochet project.   This hat will fit a  newborn/ 3 month old baby girl and is right in time for Valentine’s Day.  Because it’s so tiny, this hat works up quickly, uses relatively little yarn, and is guaranteed to generate lots of “awwws” when worn.

Materials

Size H (8/5.00mm) Crochet Hook

70 yards Worsted Weight Yarn – I used Vanna’s Choice in light pink, dark pink, and white

Special Stitches

Materials

Size H (8/5.00mm) Crochet Hook

100 yards Worsted Weight Yarn (I used basic Red Heart Super Saver)

Special Stitches

Double crochet 2 tog (dc2tog): Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through two loops (2 loops on hook). First half of dc made. Yo, insert hook in same stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all three loops.

Double crochet 3 tog (dc3tog): Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through two loops (2 loops on hook). First dc made. Yo, insert hook in same stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops (3 loops on hook). Second dc made. Yo, insert hook in same stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops (4 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all four loops.

Size

Hat will fit newborn to 3 month old child.  Measures approximately 11 inches wide; 5 inches high.

Crochet Hat Pattern

Chain 3, join with sl st to form ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as first HDC).  Work 9 more HDC into ring (10 HDC). Join with sl st to top of ch 2.

Round 2: Ch 2, HDC in same stitch.  *2 HDC in each stitch*  Repeat around (20 HDC). Join with sl st to top of ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 2, DC in same stitch (counts as first dc2tog cluster).  Work dc2tog cluster across next 3 stitches.  *Work two dc2tog clusters in next stitch.  Work one dc2tog cluster in each of next 4 stitches,* Repeat around (22 dc2tog clusters). Join with sl st to top of ch 2.

Rounds 4 – 9: Ch 2, 2 DC in same stitch (counts as first dc2tog cluster).  *Ch 1, work 1 dc3tog cluster in between each cluster stitch from previous round,* Repeat around (22 dc2tog clusters + 22 chains). Join with sl st to top of ch 2.

Round 10 - (Use different color for edging, if desired):  Ch 1, sc in each cluster stitch and ch-1 stitch across (44 sts). Join with sl st to ch 1.

Fasten off.

Crochet Heart Pattern

Chain 3, join with sl st to form ring.  (You’ll need to squish all your stitches as you work since you’re working a lot of stitches into the ring)

Round 1: Starting on left “hump” of heart, Ch 2 (counts as first dc). Work 2 tr, dc, 6 sc.  Dc, 2t r, dc, 2 sc into ring. Join with sl st to top of ch-2.

Round 2: ch 2 (counts as first hdc). Work 2 hdc, 4 sc across next stitches.  2 sc in next stitch (forms bottom point of heart).  4 sc, 3 hdc, sc.  Fasten off by working sl st into top center stitch of heart.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew onto hat.  (I found my heart had more shape if I sewed the end straight down, almost pulling the tail down so the “humps” would have more definition.)

Crochet this newborn girl’s  hat with others on Ravelry:

This hat was designed for a guy, but could easily be adapted for a girl.  The ribbing on the bottom might be a tad masculine, but if it’s your style – go for it!  Teaser: This hat pattern would be the perfect compliment to JJCrochet’s first guest post, so keep it in your back pocket.

Materials

Size H (8/5.00mm) Crochet Hook

100 yards Worsted Weight Yarn (I used basic Red Heart Super Saver)

Special Stitches

FPDC (Front Post Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook from right to left behind post of stitch from previous round. Yarn over, pull loop from behind post (3 loops remain on hook). Yarn over, pull through two  loops (2 loops on hook).  Yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.

Pictures always help (click to enlarge):

Step 2: Insert hook (from right to left) behind post of stitch from previous round

Step 3: Yarn over

Step 4: Pull yarn behind post (3 loops on hook)

Step 5: Yarn over, pull through one loop.

Step 6: Yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook

FPSC (Front Post Single Crochet): Worked the same as FPDC, but no yarn over at beginning. Insert hook from right to left behind post of previous round. Yarn over, pull loop from behind post (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.

Gauge

First 3 Rows in Pattern = 4 Inches in Diameter.  To ensure a perfect fit, take time to check your gauge and adjust hook size if necessary.

Men’s Crochet Hat Directions

Chain 3, join with slip stitch to form ring.

Round 1: CH 2 (counts as first DC, now and throughout).  12 more DC into ring (13 sts).  Join to top of ch-2 with a SL ST.

Round 2: 2 DC into each stitch around (26 sts). Join to top of ch-2 with a SL ST.

Round 3: *2 DC into next stitch, 1 DC in next stitch,*  Repeat around (38 sts). Join to top of ch-2 with a SL ST.

Round 4: *2 DC into next stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches,* Repeat around (50 sts). Join to top of ch-2 with a SL ST.

Round 5: * 2 DC into next stitch, 1 DC in next 6 stitches,* Repeat around (55 sts). Join to top of ch-2 with a SL ST.

Rounds 6 – 10: 1 DC into each stitch around (55 sts). Join to top of ch-2 with a SL ST.

Rounds 11 – 13: Ch 2, *FPDC into next stitch, DC in next stitch,* Repeat around (55 sts). Join to top of ch-2 with a SL ST.

Round 14: Ch 1 (counts as first SC), *FPSC into next stitch, SC into next stitch,* Repeat around *(55 sts). Join to top of ch-1 with a SL ST.

Fasten Off.

Enjoy!  Crochet this men’s hat with others at Ravely: