Zooty Owl's Crafty Blog

Colourful Crochet, Craft, Cooking, and Contemplations

Showing posts with label Tutorials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tutorials. Show all posts

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Granny Star Pattern

I have always made little embellishments for gift bags and as appliques for blankets or "plain-looking" projects.  

Going through my craft room I came across these very quick and easy to make granny stars made last year (takes longer to sew in the tails than it does to make the stars!)


crochet stars

A print friendly version of this pattern can be found HERE

GRANNY STAR PATTERN

TERMS: 

My patterns are all written in US TERMS

I have made this little conversion chart to make it easy for my UK readers to also follow the pattern


crochet terms conversion chart

YARN:

Raeesah Cotton Soft DK

(This is a matter of choice - as gauge does not really matter here, you could use anything from cotton floss to t-shirt yarn, depending on how you are going to use your stars)

HOOK SIZE:  

4.00mm

(here again use whatever hook you are comfortable with for your choice of yarn)

Foundation:   5ch, sl st into 1st chain to form a circle.


crochet stars

Row 1:  3ch into same place as sl st (counts as 1dc), 2dc into the circle, 3ch;   (3dc into the circle, 3ch) x4;  sl st into the top of 3ch at start to close;   break off yarn.


crochet stars

Row 2:   Join yarn in any 3ch sp;   3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc, 3ch, 3dc into same place as join;   (3dc, 3ch, 3dc into next 3ch sp) x4;  sl st into the top of 3ch at start to close;   break off yarn.


crochet stars

Row 3:  Join yarn in any 3ch sp;   3ch (counts as 1dc), 2dc, 4ch, 3dc into same place as join; 1sc spike into top of "middle" dc on row 1;  (3dc, 4ch, 3dc into next 3ch sp;   1sc spike into top of "middle dc on row 1) x4;   sl st into the top of 3ch at start to close;   break off yarn.


crochet stars


crochet stars


crochet stars

Row 4:  Join yarn in space to the left of any sc spike; 1ch (counts as 1sc) in same sp as join;  1sc in space between next 2dc;   3sc into 4ch sp;   15ch, sl st into top of last sc; 3sc into 4ch sp;  1sc in space between next 2dc;  (1sc into sp before dc spike;   1 picot; 1sc into sp after dc spike;  1sc in space between next 2dc;   3sc into 4ch sp;   1 picot; 3sc into 4ch sp;  1sc in space between next 2dc) x 4;   1 picot, sl st into 1ch at start to close;   break off yarn

Note:   A picot is formed by crocheting 3ch then sl st into the top of the last sc, in exactly the same way as the 15ch loop is made.     The 15ch loop can be replaced with a 3ch picot if you want to use the star for an applique.


crochet stars


crochet stars

Work in ends

Depending on the yarn used and your tension you may need to block your star (a puff of steam and a gentle flattening with palm is usually sufficient)


crochet stars

So cute!

So colourful!

(And a super fun way to use up those teeny tiny bits of yarn!)

(PS:   This pattern was written and "tested" by me, myself and I - so if you find any little bloopers please do not by shy to point them out!)

Tuesday 6 May 2014

Granny Mini Mandala

crochet mandala

Pattern Terms:  US 


Yarn:  Raeesah Cotton Soft DK (100% cotton) 
Hook:  4.00mm 
Size:  18cm (7 inches)

Skill Level:  Novice


crochet mandala

Foundation:  4ch,  ss into 1st ch to form circle 

Row 1:  3ch (counts as 1dc);  11 dc into circle;  ,ss into 3rd ch at start to close (12dc)


crochet mandala

Row 2:  Join yarn into any sp between dc,  3ch (counts as 1dc) 1dc in same space as join (2dc grouping);  *2dc into each sp between dc  (2dc grouping)* *to* to end;   ss into top of 3ch at start to close (24dc)


crochet mandala

Row 3:   Join yarn in any space between 2dc groupings;  3ch(counts as 1dc), 2dc in same sp as join (3dc grouping);  *3dc in next space between 2dc groups (3dc grouping)* *to* to end,  ss into top of 3ch at start to close (36dc)


crochet mandala

Row 4:  Join yarn in any sp between 3dc groupings;  3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc, 1ch, 2dc (4dc grouping), 1ch into same place as join ;    *2dc, 1ch, 2dc (4dc grouping), 1ch into next sp between 3dc groupings* *to* around to end, ss into top of 3ch at start to close


 crochet mandala

Row 5:  Join yarn in 1ch sp in the centre of any 4dc grouping;   3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into same sp as join; into next 1 chain sp (separating 4dc groupings)  work 1dc, 1dc spike into top of 2nd dc in 3dc grouping on Row 3, 1dc;  *2dc into next 1ch sp in the centre of the next 4dc grouping;   into next 1 chain sp (separating 4dc groupings) work 1dc, 1dc spike into top of 2nd dc in 3dc grouping on Row 3, 1dc*  *to* around to end;   ss into top of 3ch at start to close


crochet mandala


crochet mandala

Row 6:   Join yarn in any sp between dc groupings;  in same sp as join work 3ch(counts as 1dc), 1dc spike between 2dc directly below on Row 4, 1dc;  *into next sp between dc groupings work 1dc, 1dc spike between 2dc directly below on Row 4, 1dc* *to* around to end, ss into top of 3ch at start to close.


crochet mandala


crochet mandala

Row 7:  Join yarn in any sp between dc groupings;  3ch (counts as 1dc) 2dc in same sp as join;  *3dc into next sp between dc groupings* *to* around to end,  ss into top of 3ch at start to close.


crochet mandala

Row 8:  Join yarn in any sp between dc groupings:   3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc, 2ch, 2dc into same sp as join;  *2dc, 2ch, 2dc into next sp between dc groupings* *to* around to end,  ss into top of 3ch at start to close.


crochet mandala

Monday 5 May 2014

Traditional Granny Squares: Baby Groovyghan CAL(8)

I am still suffering from extreme Manda-litis.     This seems to be having a serious impact on my other crocheting - that is why this post is a little late - I am still playing catch up with my own Baby Groovyghan!

For those joining in now (or for those who are a little behind) here are the links to the previous posts:

WEEK 1 - RAINBOWS AND DAISIES SQUARES

WEEK 2 - RAINBOW HALF GRANNY SQUARES

WEEK 3 - THE FIRST STRIPES

WEEK 4 - CIRCLES IN SQUARES

WEEK 5 - ZOOTY OWL SQUARE

WEEK 6 - ITS STARTING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE A BABY GROOVYGHAN

WEEK 7 - POPCORN FLOWER SQUARES 

This is what my Baby Groovyghan looked like at the end of Week 7:

crochet baby blanket 

I chose the Mirage 4ply, which comes in these cutesy little 25g balls, because it the only locally available brand with a selection of wonderful bright (almost neon) colours!   A number of people have asked me where they can acquire yarn in the colours used in this project.   Mirage 4py does, however, only seem to be available here in South Africa,  but I have noticed that our South African 4ply is more or less equivalent to the Stylecraft Special DK HERE.

There are 59 shades to choose from in the Stylecraft Special DK range, among which you will find a lovely bright orange, yellow, a green, a pink and a purple!   Deramores delivers worldwide and their service is brilliant!

Our final row will be a row of Traditional Granny Squares since no Groovyghan would be quite complete without at least 1 row of grannies!

Pattern Terms:  US 
Yarn:  Mirage 4ply 
Hook Size:  350mm

My patterns are all written in US terms.  For those readers who are used to UK terms I will be including this little conversion chart in all my patterns for ease of reference.


Crochet 5 Stripes onto the bottom of the row of Popcorn Flower Squares as follows:

Row 1:   Join your white yarn (or whatever colour you are using as your border colour) into the corner 3ch of the first square in the row;    3ch in same place as join (counts as 1dc);  1dc into the top of each dc, when you reach a corner on a block 1dc into corner, 1dc into loop of  join, 1dc into corner on next block.   Repeat this to the end of the row of blocks.  1dc into the last corner 3ch. 

Rows 2 - 5:   "Granny Stripe"

Row 2:  Into space between first 2 double crochet on the wrong side of your work, crochet 3ch, 2dc,  *skip two spaces, into third space from hook 3dc* rep *to* to last 4dc, 3dc into space between last 2dc. 

Row 3:  turn work - now working on the right side;  ch 4;  *3dc into space between clusters* rep *to* to last sp between clusters, ch 1, 1dc into sp between last dc on final cluster of Row 2

Row 4:   Working on the wrong side of your work;  3ch, 2dc into 1ch sp at end of prev row (i.e the start of this row);  *3dc into space between each cluster* rep *to* to last sp between clusters

Row 5:  Repeat Row 3

Crochet 5 Stripes onto the Top of the row of Popcorn Flower Squares as follows:

Row 1:   Join your white yarn (or whatever colour you are using as your border colour) into the corner 3ch of the first square in the row; 
3ch in same place as join (counts as 1dc);  1dc into the top of each hdc, when you reach a corner on a block 1dc into corner, 1dc into loop of  join, 1dc into corner on next block.   Repeat this to the end of the row of blocks.  1dc into the last corner 3ch.

Row 2 - 5:   In the colour of your choice join yarn into first dc of previous row;  3ch (counts as first dc), 1dc into top of each dc; 1dc into the 1ch over each join;  repeat to end

NOTE:  Rows 1, 3 and 5 are worked on the right side of your work;  Rows 2 and 4 are worked on the wrong side of your work.


Join the 5th (bottom) row of the Popcorn Flower Squares  to the 5th (top) row of the Zooty Owl Squares using the VISIBLE JOIN

crochet baby blanket

Another photo hurriedly taken while precariously perched on a wall!  (Hubby fears finding me lying on the ground with a few broken bones!  - so I quickly take photos from my "perch" when he is not looking!)

For the final row make 8 Traditional Granny Squares.

granny square

I was going to do a little tutorial for the Granny Square, but I found a brilliant one over at LITTLE TIN BIRD 

Join your traditional granny squares using the Visible Join.

Crochet 5 Stripes onto the Bottom of the row of Traditional Granny Squares as follows:

Row 1:   Join your white yarn (or whatever colour you are using as your border colour) into the corner 3ch of the first square in the row;  
3ch in same place as join (counts as 1dc);   1dc into the top of each hdc, when you reach a corner on a block 1dc into corner, 1dc into loop of  join, 1dc into corner on next block.   Repeat this to the end of the row of blocks.  1dc into the last corner 3ch.

Row 2 - 5:   In the colour of your choice join yarn into first dc of previous row;  3ch (counts as first dc), 1dc into top of each dc; 1dc into the 1ch over each join;  repeat to end

NOTE:  Rows 1, 3 and 5 are worked on the right side of your work;  Rows 2 and 4 are worked on the wrong side of your work


Next week is the final instalment of this CAL - the border!!

Happy crocheting until then!

Friday 2 May 2014

Starflower Mandala: Row by Row

Two or so weeks back I posted my STARFLOWER MANDALA PATTERN


crochet mandala

The original plan was to provide photos of each row  - but there was such a high demand for the pattern (long weekend = lots of crochet time) - so I decided to go ahead and publish with just the few photos of the first four rows!

Hundreds (maybe thousands?) of people have by now made the Starflower Mandala (the pattern has been viewed some 65 000 times! - and counting!)

YAY!   So exciting to see all the colourful versions of my pattern showing up everywhere!

I thought I would do a row by row breakdown of the pattern anyway - "pattern-speak" can make the mind boggle a bit and a picture always makes it a bit easier to fathom!

My patterns are all written in US TERMS, which could prove a bit confusing if you are used to UK Terms!   I  made this little conversion chart, which I will include in all my patterns from now on, for ease of reference.



My original STARFLOWER MANDALAS were crocheted with Stylecraft Special DK and a 3.50mm hook, giving a finished Mandala of 33 cm in diameter.

crochet mandala

The Starflower Mandala in this post was made with Raeesah Cotton Soft DK and a 4.00mm hook, giving me a finished Mandala of 45cm in diameter.

crochet mandala

Yarn weights are referred to quite differently in various regions, so I thought I would also include this rather useful RAVELRY LINK for Standard Yarn Weights.

Crochet Hook Sizes are also referred to differently - if you need to know which hook to use go and have a look HERE

The photos were taken at various times over the course of a few days -  so there is a bit of variation in the colouring.   

The Starflower Mandala pattern can be found HERE!


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala


crochet mandala

The photo above is a little bit out of focus (I was precariously perched on a wall when taking this photo!)

crochet mandala

crochet mandala