Tangled in Knots

For my annual crocheted Christmas gift, this year I made polar bear ear warmers.  I utilized the pattern created by Hopeful Honey.

In continuing with my rule of only using scrap yarn, I changed the color scheme from brown to all white.

I also modified the pattern to add eyes.  To make the eyes, I created two chain stitches.  Then I made 6 single crochets into the first chain stitch.  I then closed the circle by making a slip stitch into the first single crochet.

One of my friend's nephew adores Elmo, so I decided to make him a hat to wear this winter.

For the children's hat pattern, I utilized my favorite hat pattern by RepeatCrafterMe.  I created the toddler size hat in some leftover red RedHeart yarn.

For the eyes and nose, I utilized another crocheter's pattern.

For the mouth, I created two rows of single crochet in black and decreased on both ends.

In keeping with Christmas tradition, I created another animal themed gift for my family's gift exchange.  This time I created a pig scarf, hoping that my pig-loving aunt would end up with this gift.  Because everyone knew she wanted the scarf, a game of keep away started making this Christmas's gift exchange even more memorable that last year.  And luckily everyone was nice enough to let her have it in the end.

I got my inspiration from this pattern available on Etsy, but I designed the scarf on my own and I'm not sure that I could recreate one that looks just like it.  I also followed the advice from this blog post in making a curly tail.  The scarf is made completely out of half double crochet and a soft pink yarn.  The most complicated part was making the nose look realistic.  I used small black buttons for the eyes and gave the pig two 3-D ears and four legs.

Some of my friends and I decided to make a gag gift for one of our co-workers after he asked for a crocheted blanket for Christmas.  None of us have the time to make a blanket as we all have several other projects going on for family members.  So we decided to make a bath set of loofas and wash clothes out of scrap yarn instead of an adult size blanket.

I created a loofa as part of the set.  It was super easy and it only took about an hour to complete (pattern here).  Even though this piece was easy to create this is probably the most fun I've ever had crocheting, watching as it curled in on itself.


If you actually want to create these for bathing rather than gag gifts, I would suggest getting a soft cotton yarn as my loofa made from a mint Red Heart yarn is rather heavy and a little scratchy when it's dry.

One of my friends crochets and knits, so I decided I would make her an all-around case that would allow her to carry either crochet needles or knitting needles.  I followed the pattern for the crochet case until I need to create the inside.  Instead of creating a pouch across the entire length, I created a pouch across the width, making it a deeper pouch for carrying those sometimes longer knitting needles.

I've really enjoyed making patterns with all of these different colors of blue yarn, but I think I'm finally starting to run low on blues, so I'll probably have to switch to some other color patterns soon.

I've only made one adult sized throw as I typically don't have the patience to finish huge projects.  But I really enjoyed making this throw because it is crocheted in 9 huge pieces with 4 different patterns that you eventually piece together.  I liked the pattern enough on its own that it didn't need different colors like the original pattern showed, so I decided to make it all in I Love This Yarn! in navy blue.

I created this blanket for my husband about 4 years ago for his birthday.  Unfortunately when his birthday came, I only had the 9 columns of the blanket completed, and I didn't have the time to piece them all together.  So I had to wrap up the 9 huge pieces that looked like huge scarves.  He was really confused when he opened it, but it made more sense when I finished piecing it together the next week.

I typically go through phases in my crocheting where I make as many items of the same kind that I can until I find a new item to obsess over.  And about 4 years ago I went through a tote and purse phase where I made quite a few totes and purses for several of my friends.

I made this pink tote for my friend Becca to match her bright pink scarf. Unfortunately, I lost the pattern for this tote a long time ago.  I remember it being a pretty simple design where you crochet the front piece and the back piece.  And then creating a large loop for the handle and sides.  Finally all three pieces were sewn together.  I found two patterns to create a similar tote that could be modified to look like this one just by changing the stitches to single crochet: Shopaholics Shopper Tote and Eco-Friendly Tote.

I made this hat, mitten, and scarf set for my friend before she left Alabama for Delaware.  This set was made out of a lime green baby yarn, and I trimmed the edges of the hat and gloves with a snow white yarn.  I've long since lost the pattern that I used for the mittens and hat, but I found a similar pattern for the hat.  I'll also provide a hat pattern that is probably my favorite hat pattern, the Divine Hat.  The scarf was made by crocheting the width of the scarf in double crochet.

Lately, I've been running out of crochet projects to make as I have made all of my friends and family members multiple crochet gifts.  Luckily one of my friends decided to start crocheting, so it gave me the opportunity to make her a crochet needle case.  Following my new rule of using only yarn that I already own, I finally found the perfect use for this dark purple, light pink, and bright pink yarn.  I altered the pattern slightly so that the ripple pattern was more visible.  Instead of changing colors every row, I changed colors after every fourth row.

One of my new rules for crocheting is that I must use the yarn I currently have before buying any new yarn.  Luckily there are a lot of patterns out there for scrap yarn, and I loved the look and the ease of this pattern.  Not to mention it’s adaptable for almost any color scheme.  Because I was creating a baby blanket for a baby boy, I decided to use all the different shades of blue that I had, and luckily I had enough of each color to make at least 2 rows.  I’m looking forward to making this same blanket for a baby girl with pinks and purples.

As a "Dirty Santa" Christmas gift this year, I created another animal hat, this time a shark.  Even if you don't create the fins, teeth, or eyes for the shark the hat turned out very well on its own (pattern here).

I tried to replicate a very cute dog pattern, for a fluffy dog.  And from this pattern I learned a really cool trick about using a wire brush on the yarn to make crocheted animals appear like they have hair.  Unfortunately, you have to use a much thicker yarn to make your dog look more like the pattern and less like my dachshund imitation.

This is one of the easiest types of cactuses to keep alive.  And it was very easy to make.  I found this pattern here and I made several different types of the cactuses on her site.

Over the span of a year I made almost 15 of these infinity scarves because they were easy and fun to make.  Unfortunately, I've lost this pattern that was originally posted as a free crochet pattern on Caron's website.

I made this houndstooth scarf for my mother so she could show her Crimson Tide pride at work before game day.  I adapted this houndstooth scarf from a pattern for a dog's scarf.  Basically I increased the width and length by adding more stitches and rows.  The pattern itself is very simple.  Make a chain the length that you would like your scarf to be.  In the second chain stitch from the hook single crochet.  In the next chain stitch double crochet.  Continue this pattern until you reach the end of your chain.  Tie off.  Attach your second color of choice to the same side you began your first row of alternating single and double crochets.  For the remaining rows alternate your pattern.  So in every double crochet you will make a single crochet and in every single crochet you will make a double crochet. Always start your new row from the same side of the scarf and continue alternating colors until you have achieved the width you desire.

At one point in time, Caron had a crochet pattern for these elf slippers posted online.  Unfortunately the crochet pattern was very difficult to understand and complete correctly, and required two different colors of yarn.  I just used the basic dimensions and general instructions to build these crocheted elf slippers in one solid color in a single crochet stitch.  You can find the knit pattern and dimensions for the original inspiration here or search for it in the Ravelry community pattern directory.

This scarf was made with a Light Raspberry Red Heart Yarn.  It was made by creating a row of chains to the total length of the scarf.  Then a double crochet was made in every third stitch with two chains in between.

Once that row was completed, 6 rows of single crochet were created with two single crochets in each chain stitch hole that was created in the first row.  For the last row, the same pattern as the first row was followed with a double crochet in every third stitch.

This was one of the first scarves I ever created and is probably the best pattern for a beginner to practice.  It was created with a Baby White Red Heart Fiesta Yarn.

Chain across 17 stitches, then in the second stitch from the hook, single crochet all of the way to the end of the chain.  Chain one and turn.  Continue this pattern for the length desired.

To add the tassels simply cut the strings to double the desired length.  Fold in half.  Combine as many strings as you wish.  Put the needle through the end of the scarf.  Loop the tassel strings over the needle and pull through the scarf.  Pull the loose strings through the loop created to create a knot.  Repeat the tassel tying process until you have as many tassels as you like