Pages

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Skull Crochet Pattern




Hello friends!
Yes, here it is! As promised, this is my Skull crochet pattern.
You can use any yarn you like, in any weight, just match your hook size to your yarn :-)
You can do lots of fun things with your crocheted Skull. You could make a bunch of them and join them on a long crocheted chain to make some Skull Bunting, you could attach one to a chain to make yourself a necklace, you could use it as an applique and sew it onto to something fun, you could join them together, end to end, to make a VERY clever scarf :-) (check out my pictures for some examples :-)


Skull Crochet Pattern

Materials:
Approx 5-10m of yarn (this could differ depending on your yarn choice, but it will still be a very small amount)
Appropriate size crochet hook for your yarn choice.
Tapestry needle to weave in ends.

Tension/Gauge:
Tension/gauge is not essentially important to this pattern, however I like to make mine a little tighter than the normal tension you would use for your chosen yarn. For example, when I made some skulls using 8ply/DK weight cotton, I used a 3.5mm hook instead of the recommended 4mm or 4.5mm hook for this particular yarn.
I found that the tighter your tension/gauge the more stable your skull is & it holds it's shape better :-) but it's up to you! if you're going to make a scarf by joining your skulls end to end, then you might like to have a looser tension/gauge, so that your scarf drapes nicely :-)

Abbreviations (the pattern is written using standard British/Australian crochet terms, with a conversion explanation in the abbreviations below for U.S. crochet terms):
ch: chain
dc = double crochet (U.S. sc = single crochet)
htr = half treble (U.S. hdc = half double crochet)
tr = treble (U.S. dc = double crochet)
dtr = double treble (U.S. tr = treble)
st/s = stitch/es
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
sp = space

Pattern:

Ch 8
Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc to end. Turn. (7sts)
Row 2: 2ch (to count as 1htr), 1htr into st at base of 2ch, 1 htr in each of next 5 sts, 2htr in last st. Turn. (9sts)
Row 3: 2ch, 1htr into st at base of 2 ch, 1 htr in each of next 7 sts, 2htr into last st. Turn (11sts)
Row 4: 2ch, 1htr into st at base of 2 ch, 1 htr in each of next 9 sts, 2htr into last stitch. Turn (13sts)
Row 5: 2ch, htr to end. Turn (13sts)
Row 6: As Row 5.
Row 7: 1ch (to count as first st), sl st in next st, 5ch, sk 2 sts, sl st across next 5 sts, 5 ch, sk 2 sts, sl st to end. Turn.
Row 8: (3htr, 7tr) into 5 ch sp, sk next st, 1dc in next st, (7tr, 3htr) into next 5ch sp, sl st into last st. Turn.
Row 9: sl st across first 4 sts, 1dc in each of next 4sts, 1ch, 1dtr in dc of previous row (in-between "eyes"), 1ch, sk 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 4 sts. Turn. (This row may appear uneven, but it will even out in the end :-)
Row 10: 2ch (to count as 1 htr), 1htr in each of next 2 sts, 1htr in 1ch sp, 1htr in next st, 1htr into 1ch sp, sk next st, 1htr in each of next 3sts. Turn (9sts)
Row 11: 3ch (to count as 1htr, 1ch), *sk 1 st, 1htr in next st, 1 ch* repeat from *to * 3 times, 1 htr in last st. Turn. (9sts)
Row 12: As Row 11. (Do not cut yarn)
Now work 1 round of dc around the entire skull, doing 2 dc in each top corner, and 3 dc in each bottom corner. This helps the skull to lay flat :-)
Weave in ends. Finished!

To make the necklace pictured above I used a 4ply (Fingering weight) cotton and 2.5mm hook and it measures approximately 7.5cm (3") tall. So that it could be worn as a necklace, I attached it to a chain during the last round of dc, carrying the chain along with my work at the top of the skull.

To make the bunting pictured above and below, I used 8ply or DK weight cotton and a 3.5mm hook and each skull measures approximately 10cm (4") from top to bottom. I made 10 skulls, then joined them using the following method: using the same size hook & yarn, I made 90ch, then slip stitched across the top 7 stitches of the skull, then did 32 chain, I repeated this until all skulls were attached, then I finished with 90 chain :-) The bunting is approximately 2.5 metres long. I hope the bunting instructions makes sense!



© Copyright Shara Lambeth Designs 2011. These images & this pattern/tutorial are protected by copyright laws. Copying, duplicating, or distributing this pattern in any form electronically or otherwise is a direct breach of copyright. Feel free to link back to this post from your blog/site etc. And yes, you can sell the finished items made using this pattern/tutorial in your online store such as Etsy, but please do the right thing and credit the pattern to it's original source: here! :-)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Productive Weekend


Hello friends!
I hope you all enjoyed your weekend :-) I did! Had a friends Birthday on Friday night, had a bit of an extra late sleep in on Saturday...then we wandered down to the Collingwood Childrens' Farm so I could give the goats a pat. Then on Sunday I took myself shopping in the city :-)
But, inbetween all that I managed to design a few more crochet patterns to share with you on my blog!
Start getting excited for a skull, a butterfly, a love heart & an apple! Woo hoo!
So watch this space for the new free patterns to arrive over the next week or so :-)

P.S. Just in case you're wondering, the goats have names :-) The 2 big guys are Kyle (on the left) and Robert (on the right) and the little guy underneath Robert is Aristotle.
Aristotle is my favourite, because he's little and has spots (but don't tell Kyle & Robert...okay? ;-)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Georgette Collar



Here is another pattern for you all to enjoy!
I really love the look a detachable "Peter Pan" style collar can add to an outfit so I decided to make one for myself :-)
The pattern is easy and quick. You could easily have one completely finished in under an hour. You can use any 8 ply or DK weight yarn you like. A nice woolly one for winter, or a cotton one for summer, perhaps :-) They're also GREAT for using up all those little bits of lovely yarn sitting at the bottom of your knitting basket. But because they use such a small amount of yarn you could always splash out and buy yourself a ball of something luxurious to make yourself a special treat :-) And of course, they make lovely gifts too!
And you can find readymade Georgette Collars in my Etsy store HERE :-)

Georgette Collar
What you need:
4mm crochet hook
Approx 35-40m ( 38-44 yds or approximately 20g) 8 ply or DK weight yarn.
Wool needle to weave in ends.
Scissors
Tension/Gauge:
15 tr (dc) x 8 rows = 10cm (4").
Tension or gauge are not essentially important to this pattern, however if you know that you normally crochet tightly, you might like you go up a hook size and if you know you normally crochet loosely, you might like to go down a hook size.
Abbreviations:
This pattern is written using Australian/British crochet terms, however if you like to use U.S. crochet terms you see them "converted" in this abbreviation explanation :-)
Ch: chain
Dc: Double crochet, or U.S. sc: single crochet.
Tr: Treble, or U.S. dc: double crochet.
Dtr: Double treble, or U.S. tr: treble.
Sl st: slip stitch
st/s: stitch or stitches
Pattern:
Ch 71
Row 1: dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc to end. Turn. (70sts)
Row 2: 3ch (to count as 1 tr, here and throughout pattern), 1tr in each of next 8 sts, (2tr in next st, 1tr in each of next 9sts) 6 times, 1tr in last st. Turn. (76sts)
Row 3: 3ch, 1tr in each of next 9sts, (2tr in next st, 1tr in each of next 10sts) 6 times. Turn. (82sts)
Row 4: 3 ch, 1tr in each of next 9sts, (2tr in next st, 1tr in each of next 11sts) 6 times. Turn. (88sts)
Row 5: Skip first 3 sts, (4tr, 1dtr) in next st, 1dtr in each of next 7sts, (2tr in next stitch, 1tr in each of next 12sts) 5 times, 2tr in next st, 1dtr in each of next 7sts, (1dtr, 4tr) in next st, sl st into last st of row.
Fasten off.
Make ties:
There are a few different tie variations to choose from.
The picture above shows where to attach the ties to your collar :-)

Disc Ties (above):
4 ch. 11tr into 4th ch from hook, join with sl st in ch #4 at the beginning of your disc. Ch 60, join with sl st to top corner of your collar. (See pic above)
Make another tie the same, joining it to the other top corner of your collar using a sl st.
Weave in ends & you're finished!


Flower Ties (above):

2 ch.
- Sl st into 2nd ch from hook, then *2ch, 2tr, 2ch, sl st* into same space, repeat from * to * 4 more times, creating 5 "petals" in total. Ch 60, join with sl st to top corner of your collar. (See pic above)
Make another tie the same, joining it to the other top corner of your collar using a sl st.
Weave in ends & you're finished!

Leaf Ties (above):
10 ch. 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 2htr, 1tr, 1dtr, 1tr, 2htr, 3dc in last ch, turn to work along the other side of your foundation ch, 2htr, 1tr, 1dtr, 1tr, 2htr, 1dc, sl st into 1st st at beginning of leaf. Ch 60, join with sl st to top corner of your collar. (See pic above)
Make another tie the same, joining it to the other top corner of your collar using a sl st.
Weave in ends & you're finished!
**For a few more exceptionally cute Tie option take a look over at the Sister Outlaws Blog for a Love Heart and a Sugar Skull!!


The collar above is made using a love Saffron coloured wool blend yarn, with flower ties.
The collar above is made using some very beautiful yarn that is a wool/silk/alpaca blend, with disc ties. To make this collar I used the dark colour to make the foundation chain & Row 1, then I changed to the lighter colour yarn for Rows 2-5, I then did a row of dc around the outer edge of the collar (adding a few extra stitches are the corners so it would sit flat & wouldn't curl up. I them made the disc ties as per the instructions above, then added a round of dc in the darker colour (with 2 dc in each tr), then continued with the dark colour to make the chain part of the tie, then attached it as usual to the collar :-)
The collar above is made using some lovely pure wool yarn, I used the same method as written above, using two shades of green. I then added a some scallops to the outer edge and attached the disc ties.
I used the same method as written above to make the two colour version of the collar pictured above, I then added Leaf Ties :-)
Have fun with this pattern. Make one for a friend to make them smile :-)
Coming soon is the Toddler/Child version of this pattern! :-)
Also, if you're not a crocheter you can find ready made version of the Georgette Collar in my Etsy store HERE & I do take custom requests if you have a yarn fibre or colours in mind :-)
© Copyright Shara Lambeth Designs 2013. These images & this pattern/tutorial are protected by copyright laws. Copying, duplicating, or distributing this pattern in any form electronically or otherwise is a direct breach of copyright. Feel free to link back to this post from your blog/site etc. And yes, you can sell the finished items made using this pattern/tutorial in your online store such as Etsy, but please be kind and credit the pattern to it's original source, here! :-)

Monday, August 15, 2011

Get ready to get excited!

Hello friends!
It's time to get excited.... because I am adding a new, free crochet pattern to my blog for you to enjoy :-)
Watch this space tomorrow (16th August, 2011) for the simple & quick pattern to make a Georgette Collar just like this one!
Great in wool or cotton (or what ever you like :-)
Super fast to make!
Uses very little yarn :-)
Great for stash busting.
Fun for you & great for gifts!

See you back here tomorrow! xox