My favorite free crochet patterns: Easter Chicks

I found this free pattern a couple of years ago and finally got around to making some for Easter decorations. I think they turned out cute!

I didn't have some of the recommended materials on hand so I used regular cotton yarn, a size E4 - 3.5mm crochet hook, 6mm black plastic safety eyes and I didn't make the feet out of pipe cleaners. I made the beak from orange cotton yarn as follows:

Rnd 1: 4 sc into an adjustable ring and pull the ring closed (4).
Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc around, sc in next 2 sc (8).
Finish off leaving a tail for sewing. Fold beak in half and sew to chick between the eyes.

I also made them each a nest using some left over faux suede yarn that I had, but any worsted weight yarn would work. Here is the pattern for the nest. Use a size H8 hook and work with 2 strands of yarn throughout.

Rnd 1: 6 sc into an adjustable ring and pull the ring closed (6).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12).
Rnd 3: [sc in the next sc, 2 sc in the next sc] 6 times (18).
Rnd 4: [sc in the next 2 sc, 2 sc in the next sc] 6 times (24).
Rnd 5: [sc in the next 3 sc, 2 sc in the next sc] 6 times (30).
Rnd 6: [sc in the next 4 sc, 2 sc in the next sc] 6 times (36).
Rnds 7-9: sc in each sc around (36).
Finish off. To make the nest look more natural, I didn't weave in the ends.

New Crochet Pattern: Dino Bath Mat

As part of redecorating my sons' bathroom in a dinosaur theme I couldn't find a bath mat that I liked. So I got the idea to crochet a bath mat out of cotton yarn in the shape of a dinosaur. It was a bit daunting and at times I thought I was going to have to scrap the whole project, but here is the finished product. I love it! The pattern will be available for sale in my shop in a day or two if you are interested :)

Number Towel Hooks

Now that we are expecting our third child I needed to add another towel hook in the bathroom. Okay, so I know that is not the first thing you think of when expecting a new baby but we're in the process of redecorating the boys' bathroom anyway :)

I really wanted these cute towel hooks from Pottery Barn Kids but I couldn't bring myself to spend $30 plus tax plus shipping on hooks (and they've since sold out anyway). So instead I bought some wood numbers from my local craft store and some wood pegs. My husband attached the pegs to the bottom center of each number and then I painted them. In hindsight, it would have been better to spray paint them, but it is freezing here and I can't spray paint in the house! The wood isn't very good quality so I had to sand some rough areas and you have to be very careful drilling into it or you will split the wood. For a few bucks I think the towel hooks turned out kinda cute :)

My favorite free crochet patterns: Cotton Hand Towel

I am in the process of redecorating my sons' bathroom so that it is a little more grown up. I found this fantanstic shower curtain at Target. It doesn't come with coordinating towels or bathmats so I decided to make mine own.

Because of all the bright colors in the shower curtain I chose neutral accessories. I had some brown cotton yarn left over from another project and decided to make a hand towel using this super easy pattern (it's the one for the striped cotton dishtowel but I made mine all one color so it doesn't have a stripe). I was worried that a crocheted towel would be too bulky, but this one isn't. I don't know if I did something wrong, but my towel was already 24" long by the time I got to Row 88, so I went back and ripped out 11 rows (i.e., I only made Rows 13-77) then followed the rest of the pattern from Row 89 on. I also didn't do Round 2 of the edging.

And I have an awesome idea for a bath mat ... more on that to follow soon!

Free Crochet Pattern: Mug Cozy

Here is a pattern for a mug cozy that has a bottom too, so it also works as a coaster! It will fit an average size mug that is 3" in diameter and 4" tall. See below for instructions on how to easily adjust the size of the cozy to fit other mugs :)

Materials:
- Cotton yarn
- Size H8 - 5 mm crochet hook
- Button that is 1" in diameter
- Needle

Rnd 1: 6 sc into an adjustable ring and pull the ring closed (6).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12).
Rnd 3: [Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (18).
Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (24).
Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (30).
Rnd 6: [Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (36).
Rnd 7: working in back loops only, sc in each sc around (36).
Rnd 8: sc in each sc around (36).
Now you are going to work in rows.
Row 9: ch 1, turn, sc in next 32 sc, ch 1, turn (32).
Rows 10-19: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (32).
Continue to sc evenly along the opening for the handle until to reach the top of Row 19 on the other side of the opening. Ch 18 (this forms the loop that goes around the button).
Row 20: Continue to sc in first sc on Row 19 and sc in each sc across (32).
Finish off and weave in ends.
Sew on button.

If your mug is a different diameter, you can easily make it smaller or larger by comparing the size of your work to the bottom of the mug after each round. After Rnd 4, place your work against the bottom of the mug to see if you will have the right size after Rnd 5. Or if your mug is larger, you may need to make a new Rnd 7 that is six stitches more than Rnd 6 (i.e., [sc in next 5 sc, 2sc in next sc] 6 times (42)). The bottom of the mug cozy will lay flat if you continue to make each round 6 stitches more than the previous round. Then, when you start making the rows up the sides of the mug, just leave 4 open stitches for the handle. For example, in my pattern Rnd 8 was 36 stitches so Row 9 was only 32 stitches.

If your mug is shorter or taller just adjust the number of rows that you make, fitting the cozy around the mug every so often as you work.

Enjoy!

Free Crochet Pattern: Apple Cozy

I have to admit that before Etsy I had never seen nor heard of an apple cozy! But I think they are so cute and very easy to make. Here is a simple pattern that works up in minutes:

Materials:
- Small amount of worsted weight cotton yarn in colors of your choice for cozy and leaf.
- Crochet hook sizes E and H
- Button that is at least 1/2" in diameter
- Thread and needle to sew button on.

With color yarn of your choice and a size H hook,
Rnd 1: 6 sc into a double loop start and pull the loop closed (6).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12).
Rnd 3: [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (18).
Rnd 4: [sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times (24).
Rnd 5: sc in each sc around (24), ch 1, turn.
Now you are going to work in rows
Row 6: sc in next 22 sc, ch 1, turn (22).
Row 7: sc2tog, sc in next 18 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn (20).
Row 8: sc in next 4 sc, 2sc in next 2 sc, sc in next 8 sc, 2sc in next 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn (24).
Rows 9-14: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (24).
Continue to sc evenly around the opening on the side of the apple cozy until you reach the top of Row 14 on the other side of the opening.
Ch 20 (this will create the loop that goes around the button to close the cozy).
Row 15: Continue to sc in next stitch on Row 14, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog twice, sc in next 8 sc, sc2tog twice, sc in next 4 sc, sl st in next sc.
Finish off and weave in ends.

Leaf: with green yarn and size E hook
Ch 9; sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next 3 ch, sc in next 2 ch, sl st in 2 next ch, working the free loops on the other side of the chain, sl st in next loop, sc in next 2 loops, dc in next 3 loops, sc in next loop. Finish off leaving a long end. Sew leaf to apple cozy. Weave in ends.

Sew on button.

My favorite free crochet patterns: Baby grab ball

Here is another one of my favorite free patterns. I have only made a couple of these but everytime someone sees one they ask me where I found the pattern. I made mine using a size D hook and Patons Grace yarn, following the instructions for the sport weight yarn rather than thread.

They are super easy to crochet but the assembly is a little time consuming. Here are some tips that may make assembly easier. When you finish each oval, leave a tail for sewing that is 12" long or so. You will use this tail to sew the oval to the cone and then join the cones together. Also, it may be a little easier to assemble if you delete rows 3 and 5 of the triangles. I'm going to try that next time because the triangles seemed a little too long and when you assemble the ball the points of the triangles all bunch together in the center. Finally, you have to be careful not to stuff the pieces too much or it makes it hard to sew it all together.