bow

Monster Wreath

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I have wanted to make this wreath for so long (as I have the movie completely memorized) and I am so happy to finally be able to bring it to life using crochet as my art medium.  For this pattern I will not use abbreviations so as not to confuse anyone. The pattern is written in US terminology. I hope you enjoy it as well!  Due to the number of pictures they will all be thumbnails that you can click to see the full-size image.

Feel free to sell/give away/do whatever with your finished project.  Please just make sure you give me credit for the pattern.  DO NOT sell or reproduce my pattern without my permission.

Materials:
Fake wreath approximately 18″ inner diameter
Size H hook
Worsted weight yarn in colors red, white, yellow
Polyfil
Darning needle

Bow:
Row 1: Chain 22 and double crochet in 3rd chain from hook and across for a total of 20 double crochet.
Row 2: Now chain 2 (which will not count as a stitch) and double crochet in each stitch across for a total of 20 double crochet.
Repeat row 2 until your strip measures 48 inches long. Single crochet evenly around the strip making sure to put 3 single crochet in the corners. Bind off and weave in the end.

Tying the bow:
Fold the strip in half. Lay it down on the floor with the ends right side up.
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About 10 inches from the ends, gather the strip together. Now take your red yarn and wrap tightly around the gathered strip roughly 10 times.
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Now bring down the middle of the strip, place it on top of the already gathered spot.
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Finally wrap the yarn in the middle about 10 more times. Now tie off, weave in ends and arrange the bow.
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Middle bow strip:
Row 1: chain 7, double crochet in 3rd chain from the hook and across giving you 5 double crochet.
Row 2: Chain 2 (which does not count as a stitch) double crochet in each stitch across for a total of 5 double crochet.
Repeat row 2 until your strip fits around the middle of the bow. Mine was 8 inches and 15 rows, but this will vary depending upon how you tied your bow.
Single crochet around the bow strip, placing 3 single crochet in each corner. Bind off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Wrap the bow strip around the middle, having the ends meet at the back. Now sew the two ends together. Then make another few stitches attaching the bow strip to the bow securely. Do not cut the yarn. You will need this to secure the bow to the wreath.

Eyes (make 2)
The eyes will be worked in the round, amigurumi style. This will help give it shape and substance in your wreath. They can be done with either yellow or white depending on preference. You will need a stitch marker for each round. Also, I continued to use my H hook since I tend to crochet a bit tightly and this doesn’t have to be quite as tight as when I make amigurumi. If you are a looser crocheter, please feel free to drop down to a G hook.
Round 1: start with a magic circle (or a chain 2, working in the 2nd chain from the hook) and place 6 single crochet inside the circle.
Round 2: *single crochet increase (2 single crochet in same stitch) in first stitch, single crochet in next 2 stitches* repeat x1. (8 single crochet)
Round 3: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 3 stitches* repeat x1. (10 single crochet)
Round 4: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 4 stitches* repeat x1. (12 single crochet)
Round 5: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 5 stitches* repeat x1. (14 single crochet)
Round 6: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 6 stitches* repeat x1. (16 single crochet)
Round 7: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 7 stitches* repeat x1. (18 single crochet)
Round 8: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 8 stitches* repeat x1. (20 single crochet)
Round 9: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 9 stitches* repeat x1. (22 single crochet)
Round 10: *single crochet increase, single crochet in next 10 stitches* repeat x1. (24 single crochet)
Rounds 11-14: single crochet evenly around.
Round 15: *single crochet decrease (insert hook and pull up a loop through first stitch, insert hook and pull up a loop through second stitch, yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook), single crochet in next 10 stitches* repeat x1. (22 single crochet)
Round 16: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 9 stitches* repeat x1. (20 single crochet)
Round 17: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 8 stitches* repeat x1. (18 single crochet)
Round 18: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 7 stitches* repeat x1. (16 single crochet)
Round 19: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 6 stitches* repeat x1. (14 single crochet)
Round 20: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 5 stitches* repeat x1. (12 single crochet) Stuff eye ever so slightly, just enough to hold flattened oval shape.
Round 21: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 4 stitches* repeat x1. (10 single crochet)
Round 22: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 3 stitches* repeat x1. (8 single crochet)
Round 23: *single crochet decrease, single crochet in next 2 stitches* repeat x1. (6 single crochet)
Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew opening closed and do not cut yarn.
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Iris: (make two)
With black and H hook. Note that if you want you could embroider the iris on making them smaller if you prefer.
Round 1: start with a magic circle (or a chain 2, working in the 2nd chain from the hook) and place 6 single crochet inside the circle
Round 2: *single crochet in the next 2 stitches. In the next stitch do 3 double crochet* repeat x1 slip stitch to first single crochet in round. Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew iris onto the eyes. Exact placement isn’t critical as he could be looking around. Play around with how you want your monster to look.
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Teeth (make as many as you want and have fun with it! This is the basic tooth pattern, but you can make some longer by adding single crochet rounds or add some increase rounds or increase more early on in the tooth. The tooth pattern is worked top down, slightly stuffed to keep shape.)
With white and H hook (or G hook if you crochet loosely)
Round 1: start with a magic circle (or a chain 2, working in the 2nd chain from the hook) and place 6 single crochet inside the circle
Round 2: single crochet in each stitch (6 single crochet)
Round 3: *single crochet increase (2 single crochet in same stitch) in first stitch, single crochet in next 2 stitches* repeat x1. (8 single crochet)
Round 4: single crochet in each stitch
Round 5: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 3 stitches* repeat x1. (10 single crochet)
Round 6: single crochet in each stitch
Round 7: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 4 stitches* repeat x1. (12 single crochet)
Round 8: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 5 stitches* repeat x1. (14 single crochet)
Round 9-11: single crochet in each stitch
Round 12: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 6 stitches* repeat x1. (16 single crochet)
Round 13: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 7 stitches* repeat x1. (18 single crochet)
Round 14-16: single crochet in each stitch
Round 17: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 8 stitches* repeat x1. (20 single crochet)
Round 18: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 9 stitches* repeat x1. (22 single crochet)
Round 19: *single crochet increase in first stitch, single crochet in next 10 stitches* repeat x1. (24 single crochet)
Round 20-24: single crochet in each stitch. Bind off, leaving a long tail.
Stuff lightly to hold shape and sew opening closed. Do not cut your yarn.

Now, all that is left is to sew the pieces onto your wreath using the tails from your parts. Mine had these nice wire basics to sew onto to. This doesn’t mean it was easy.

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And that’s it! Mad hooking!

Sweet Shells Baby Bonnet and Blanket Edging

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I have to admit, I love the edging I wrote for the Granny Square and Ribbon Blanket.  I use it so very often anymore as a go to for a statement, lacy edging on fleece blankets and it never fails to make the recipients of the blanket happy.  I recently used it on a baby blanket for my brother/sister-in-law coming soon little girl and I wanted a matching hat and shoes.  I couldn’t find what I wanted, so what follows is the pattern for the edging and the bonnet.  The shoes, if you want that pattern as well, can be found here (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-bootie-slippers) for free even if I did my bow a little different…

As with all my patterns feel free to use and sell what you make if you want. I would ask that you link back to where you found the pattern when possible.  However do not reproduce my pattern in any format. Essentially, don’t be a troll.

Edging:

Size H hook.

The yarn I used in the picture was Red Heart with Love in Bubblegum.  To make the holes I use this nifty little tool I got from Kay’s Crochet (http://kayscrochetpatterns.com/) but I ordered mine off of their Amazon store because me and Amazon have a tight relationship like that…

Round 1: sc into the holes you made into your fleece.  Depending on how spaced apart your holes are you might do 2 sc in each hole like I do, just so you aren’t bunching up the fleece.

Round 2: sc around, placing 3 sc in the corner sc.  Don’t worry, this isn’t an exact science.  Truly don’t worry, just roughly where the corner is, throw in the 3 sc in one sc.

Round 3: Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same st as joining. Skip 1 st, *dc in next, skip 2 st then (3dc, ch 1, 3dc) in next st, skip 2 st* around. Corners:  When you get to the corners though you will only be skipping 1 st instead of the 2.  Sl st into top of beginning ch 3.

Round 4: Sl st in the first two dc and into the space.  Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in same space. *fpdc (front post double crochet) around the dc in middle of groups, (3dc, ch 1, 3dc) in next ch 1 space* around. Corners:  Nothing special to do in the corners for a change. Sl st into top of beginning ch 3.

Round 5: Sl st in the first two dc and into the space like last round. Ch 3 and do 6 dc in same space. *fpdc around previous round fpdc, 7 dc in ch 1 space* around.  Corners:  Again, nothing special to do in the corners. Sl st into top of beginning ch 3. Bind off and weave in your ends and that’s it for the edging.

Bonnet:

Size H hook.

I used Red Heart with Love in White (I had this in my stash without the label so I’m not exactly sure of the name) and Bubblegum for this and according to my chart it should be for a 3 month old babe.  So, depending on your yarn it could change the size of your hat.  I have found this blog/sizing chart to be helpful (http://anniespictureperfect.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-properly-size-crochet-hats-chart.html?m=1)

With white, create a magic circle then ch 2

Round 1: 10 dc in the magic circle ,sl st to first then ch 2

Round 2: 2 dc in each dc around, sl st to first then ch 2

Round 3: *2 dc in first dc, 1 dc in next* around, sl st to first then ch 2

Round 4: *2 dc in first dc, 1 dc in next 2* around, sl st to first then ch 2

Round 5: *2 dc in first dc, 1 dc in next 3* around, sl st to first then ch 2

Round 6: dc in each of the next 45 st leaving the last 5 unworked, ch 3 and turn

Round 7: *dc in next, skip 2 st then (3dc, ch 1, 3dc) in next st, skip 2 st* across until the last 2 dc.  Dc in the last 2, ch 3 and turn

Round 8: fpdc (front post double crochet) around the second dc, *(3dc, ch 1, 3dc) in next ch 1 space, fpdc around next dc* then dc in top of ch 3, ch 3 and turn.

Round 9: bpdc (back post double crochet) around the second dc, *(3dc, ch 1, 3dc) in next ch 1 space, bpdc around next dc* then dc in top of ch 3, ch 3 and turn.

Round 10: fpdc (front post double crochet) around the second dc, *(3dc, ch 1, 3dc) in next ch 1 space, fpdc around next dc* then dc in top of ch 3, ch 3 and turn.

Round 11: bpdc (back post double crochet) around the second dc, *(3dc, ch 1, 3dc) in next ch 1 space, bpdc around next dc* then dc in top of ch 3 changing to pink, ch 3 and turn.

Round 12: fpdc (front post double crochet) around the second dc, *7 dc in next ch 1 space, fpdc around next dc* then dc in top of ch 3 do NOT cut yarn.

Round 13: ch 20, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch back to the bonnet.  Sc evenly along the side and back until you get to the beginning of round 12.  Ch 20, 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch back up to the bonnet.  Cut and weave in your yarn.

Mad Hooking!

Baby Turban Hat with a Bow

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I had a request for this style hat for a baby… I found a precious few free patterns and none for the light weight yarn. So like more often than not I found myself coming up with my own patten. I’m just proud that I actually wrote it down to share.

G hook
Baby light #3 yarn I used Bernat softee baby yarn because I had it in my stash

Ch 2, 12 dc in first chain, sl st into top of first dc

Ch 2, 2 dc in same as joining, *2 dc in each st around then sl st in first dc.

Ch 2, 2 dc in same as joining, 1 dc in next, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next* around then sl st in first dc.

Ch 2, 2 dc in same as joining, 1 dc in next 2, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 2* around then sl st in first dc.

Ch 2, 2 dc in same as joining, 1 dc in next 3, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 3* around then sl st in first dc.

Ch 2, 2 dc in same as joining, 1 dc in next 4, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 4* around then sl st in first dc.

For the next 4 rows: Ch 2, dc in same as joining and then in each st around.

Ch 1, sc in joining and each st around, sl st in first sc.

Ch 1, hdc in joining in the back loop only and in each st around. Sl st in first hdc.

Repeat last two rows for total of 8 rows.

Ch 1, sc in joining and each st around, sl st in first sc.

Finish off and weave the ends.

Bow

Ch 27, dc in 3rd Ch and across. Turn

Ch 2,  dc across.

Repeat for a total of 8 rows. Finish off and leave a really long tail.

Weave the tail to the middle of the square, pinch together the middle and wrap about 10 times. Thread your yarn into a needle.

Now place it on the hat roughly where the second row of hdc is and holding tightly in place you want to insert your needle where you want the bow to be. Now bring up the yarn on the outside of the hat and pull tight creating the v. Do this another 10ish times and knot the yarn on the inside of the hat.

I then added some hidden stitches to hold the bow into place about an inch from the edges of the bow. Just my preference honestly. Just make sure to weave in the ends when you are done.

Mad Hooking!

Tulle Dress for 12″ Doll

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There is something about the old school just pain plastic dolls that I love and think every girl should have… but of course we have to make it a pretty dress too!

H hook
Worsted weight yarn
12″ doll
Tulle
2 small buttons

Bodice

Ch 20

Ch 1 sc across, turn

Ch 5 (for button hole closure) and sc across, turn

Ch 2 (gives a smoother edge to the dress opening)  *dc in next 3 sc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next sc* repeat 1 time. Dc in next 4 sc.  *dc in next 3 sc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next sc* repeat 1 time. Dc in last 3 sc, turn

Ch 2, 4 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 5 dc (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 6 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 5 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 4 dc, turn

Ch 2, 5 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 7 dc (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 8 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 7 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 5 dc, turn

Ch 5, sl st in first dc. Ch 2, 6 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 9 dc (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space,  dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 10 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch 1 space, 6 dc, turn

Ch 2, 7 dc. Now you do a dc decrease in the next two ch 1 spaces. This creates the sleeves. 12 dc, dc decrease in the next two ch 1 spaces, 7 dc, turn

Ch 2, dc across, sl st in first dc created.

Ch 1, sc same as joining. *Skip 1 dc, 5dc in next, skip next dc, sc in next* repeat across ending with a 5dc fan and a sl st in first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Attach tulle to the under side of last dc across row. Essentially cut the tulle just over double the length you want for the tulle skirt. Use your hook to go around the post of the dc and make a knot in the middle of the length of tulle. The knot is on the under side.

For a different look you can double up on the tulle.  Personal choices, but it seems to look quite full enough I think with the single row.
Bow

Ch 12, hdc in the 3 ch to make 10 total hdc.

Rows 2 – 5 are ch 2, hdc across. Leave a really long tail. Cut four pieces of extra tulle just a little bit larger than the hdc square. Bring the tail to the backside of the square and then place on the tulle. Now using the tail wrap tightly in the middle of the square roughly 10 or so times. Now grab a hair elastic band and place it on the back and wrap another 10ish times going through the middle of the band. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Mad Hooking!