More Embroidery

 Salt & Pepper Buddies! I made this as a "thank you" for a friend of mine:

We were invited to a summer wedding, so I wanted to make a more detailed towel that I could still finish within a week.

During this project, I discovered that I REALLY like using variegated embroidery floss. It made the project deadline easier since it was so interesting, and I like how it worked on the flowers.

Finally, this towel was for a small housewarming gift. I'm really happy with how classy the red turned out with the monogram.

Busy Summer

We've been enjoying a busy June and beginning of July. Busy - not like the swamped feeling of too much to do, but the feeling of trying to get the most out of the time that one possibly can.  We've been taking lots of trips to parks, lakes, the wading pool... and the craft store.  There happen to be a lot of babies on the way this year - how exciting! - and that means a lot of knitting and crocheting for me.  I love it.

Dam near St. Cloud State University, Mississippi River
(The water is very high this year.)

Knitting More... Crocheting Some
(Hat is From Norway with Love by Pickles)

Adventures at the Lake

Munsinger Gardens, St. Cloud Minnesota

In Case it's a Girl... Attach a Flower

Making a gift for someone who doesn't know what they're having?  This is a spin-off of an idea I saw called, "In case of girl, attach bow." I can't seem to find that pattern again, but if I do, I'll come back and link it.

Anyway, the trick here is to make something that could work for a boy

...and then making a nice flower that the mom-to-be can attach easily if she finds she's had a girl.

This is a fun way to get out of the normal colors we sometimes feel stuck with when we don't know whether it's a boy or girl - not that I have anything against those colors.  It's just nice to have choices! It also makes the piece a little more unique because it is given in pieces and you can make a neat little card if you want (see pattern below).

In Case it’s a Girl… Attach a Flower
By Erica Knudson

Materials Used: The example flower in the photo was made with worsted weight yarn, size J crochet hook and a blunt needle.

Larger Flower:

1. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to make ring.

2. 12 sc in ring, sl st to join.

3. *Ch 3, skip one st, sl st in next st* around. At end, join with sl st.

4. Ch 1, *7 sc in ch-3 space* around. At end, join with sl st.

5. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Smaller Flower:

6. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to make ring.

7. 12 sc in ring, sl st to join.

8. *Ch 3, skip one st, sl st in next st* around. At end, join with sl st.

9. Fasten off and weave in ends

Finishing:

10. Fasten flowers together with coordinating yarn and blunt needle.

11. Attach 10-12 inch piece of coordinating yarn to back of flower piece.

12. Include a note or tag – “In Case it’s a Girl… Attach a Flower”

Key:
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
*…* = repeat

**Please don’t sell this pattern.

Baby Ripple Hat

Baby Ripple Hat

Baby Ripple Hat
Erica Knudson

By Erica Knudson

This pattern is a simple but textured hat for babies 0-6 months and 6-12 months (more sizes coming soon!). It can be made for a boy or girl by choosing one finishing row or the other (explained below).

Materials used: Size J hook, worsted weight yarn, and a stitch marker.

All sizes start the same and you will see instructions for varying sizes in the pattern.

Start with an adjustable ring.

1. Hdc 8 into loop. – 8

Place st marker and move up with each round.

2. In the front loops only, (2hdc) in each st across – 16

3. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next st) repeat around – 24

4. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts) repeat around – 32

5. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts) repeat around – 40

6. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts) repeat around – 48
**For size 0-6 months, proceed to step 9. For larger size, continue with step 7.

7. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts) repeat around – 56

8. In the front loops only, hdc around.

9. In the front loops only, hdc around.

10. In the front loops only, hdc around.

11. In the front loops only, hdc around.

12. For 0-6 month size: In the front loops only, (hdc2tog, hdc in next 4) – 40

For 6-12 month size: In the front loops only, (hdc2tog, hdc in next 5) – 48

13. In both loops, hdc around.

14. In both loops, hdc around, sl st in last st.

“Finishing Row”(could be changed to a standard sc around for boys):

15. (Ch 2,sl st in next st) around. Sl st to end.

16. Fasten off and eave in ends.

**In the photo here, the pink and white hat was made using the Finishing Row.  The smaller multicolor hat was finished using a single crochet border only.

Key:

ch = chain
hdc = half double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch
sc = single crochet

**Please do not sell this pattern.

Making Posts...

The Baby Flower Headband has been my most popular pattern by far.

Happy Sober Mama mentioned my Baby Flower Headband pattern in a post, so I thought I'd share it here: http://happysobermama.blogspot.com/2011/10/quick-baby-crochet-headband.html

If you'd like to make it, too, you can find the Baby Flower Headband pattern here:
http://handmadebyerica.blogspot.com/2011/05/baby-flower-headband.html

Liesl's Flower Headband

Liesl’s Flower Headband

Liesl's Flower Headband
Erica Knudson

By Erica Knudson

The example in the photo was made with bulky yarn (multi-color), worsted weight yarn (purple) and a size G crochet hook. It is a child’s size.

Headband

1.       Chain 90. Join new yarn.

2.       In the 2^nd ch from the hook: *sl st, (ch 1, sl st in next).  Repeat ( to ) 7 times – (in total covering 10 sts)*

3.       Sc in next 20.

4.       Hdc in next 30.

5.       Sc in next 20.

6.       Repeat * to *

7.       Fasten off, sew in ends.

Liesl's Flower Headband
Erica Knudson

Flower

1.       Leave 4-inch tail. Chain 5. Sl st in first ch to make ring.

2.       10 sc in ring.

3.       (sc in next, ch 3).  Repeat ( to ) 9 times. Sl st in last st.

4.       Leaving another 4 inch tail, fasten off.  Attach to headband with tails and sew in/trim off ends.

Key:ch = chain

sl st = slip stitch

sts = stitches

sc = single crochet

hdc = half double crochet

**Please don’t sell this pattern.

BABY FLOWER HEADBAND (PATTERN)



Baby Flower Headband
Erica Knudson



Baby Flower Headband

By Erica Knudson

The example in the photo was made with worsted weight yarn, size G crochet hook and a blunt needle.

1. Ch 71.
(I believe that this is a 6-9 month size.  "rcultice" from Ravelry added that you can chain 50 for a 2 month size - row 2 would then be 49 sts.  Thank you!)

2. Sc in each st across. (70)

3. Fasten off, leaving tail to join band at ends.

4. Join band at ends.

Flower:

1. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to make ring.

2. 12 sc in ring, sl st to join.
(Change color if multi-colored flower is desired)

3. *Ch 3, skip one st, sl st in next st* around.  At end, join with sl st.

4. Ch 1, *7 sc in ch-3 space* around. At end, join with sl st.

5. Fasten off, leaving tail to sew flower onto band.

6. Using a blunt needle, fasten flower at desired location on headband and weave in ends.

7. Enjoy!

Key:ch = chain
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
*…* = repeat

**Please don’t sell this pattern.