Flat Lay Heart

Hello!

Today's pattern is for a basic flat lay heart. This is one of my favourites this year, as it's so easy to memories and take in the car :) You can use any yarn and corresponding hook size to really customise the size of your heart. 

Flat Lay Heart

1: Ch2, sc in the 1st ch

2: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the st - 2

3: Ch1, turn, 2sc in each st - 4

4: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in the last st - 6

5: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 4 sts, 2sc in the last st - 8

6: Ch1, turn, sc in each st across - 8

7: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 6 sts, 2sc in the last st - 10

8: Ch1, turn, sc in each st across - 10

9: Ch1, turn, sk the first 2 sts, 6dc in the next st, sk 1 st, slst in the next st, sk 1 st, 6dc in the next st, sk the next 2 sts, slst in the last st.

10: Ch1, do not turn, sc evenly down the side of the heart for 7 sc, in the initial starting ch from round 1 (the bottom point of the heart) do (sc, ch3, sc) sc evenly up the next side of the heart for 8 sc, when you reach the dc section of the heart, sc in the first st, 2sc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, slst in the next 4 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next st, slst to join.

Size Notes:
3.5mm hook + DK Weight/8ply yarn = 7.5cm
2.0mm hook + Fingering/4ply yarn = 5.5cm
2.5mm hook + Fingering/4ply yarn = 6cm

Flat Sheared Heart

Good morning all!

Today's heart is another little sewn number, and it's even easier than the last one!

These hearts are super easy, require no turning and use minimal fabric. Perfect for using up the odds and ends in the sewing draws.

Follow the instructions below to make a pair. 

Flat Sheared Heart

For one pair, you will need:

The template, that you can download and print HERE

2 small rectangles of felt to use as the wadding

4 small rectangles of fabric for the outer pieces. These can be the same fabric for all 4, or you can have the front and back of the heart in different prints.

A pair of pinking shears to trim the edges and stop fraying. (Note, you can use regular scissors but you will need to use outer fabrics that do not fray)

1: Starting with the template, cut out the 3 inch heart.

2: Make a sandwich with your fabrics. Lay one printed piece face down, then the felt in the middle, and the front fabric face up. Place the heart on top and put a pin through all 4 layers to hold it in place. 

3: With your sewing machine (or if you prefer to hand stitch) sew around the outer edge of the heart, being careful not to catch the paper template with the sewing needle. 

4: When you have gone around the entire heart take the pin out, remove the template and cut around the outer edge of the stitch line with the pinking shears.

5: Make a second heart in the same way so you have a matching pair! 

That's it lovelies, like I said, this one is very simple, and a great little project for anyone new to using a sewing machine.

You could easily make this with the 2.5 or 2 inch heart templates also if you have a smaller piece of fabric to use. 

IBGHD 2020 and the Square Bottom Heart

Welcome to the 2020 Itty Bitty GIANT Heart drive!

If you didn’t catch the announcement a few weeks ago, here’s a quick overview on this year's drive.

We’ve done such a smashing job over the last 7 years that Chance’s Clothes Project (CCP here-on) no longer needs such a huge influx of hats! So instead of making hats this year, we’re making HEARTS!

Pairs of hearts are an integral item in every single baby bereavement pack that leaves the CCP headquarters. They are included as a keepsake item, one heart stays with the baby, the other heart with the family. It’s provided significant comfort for many families. As you can imagine, this means a huge amount of hearts are needed! So this year, and probably the next few, hearts will be our focus for the IBGHD.

I have been hard at work working on a handful of patterns to release for the drive, but I will also be sharing links to already existing patterns during the month, because there are already some stunning ones out there! To see all the links be sure to follow on Facebook or Instagram 

If your sharing online, please add #IBGHD2020 to your post to help spread the word! The more the merrier!

Not only do we have CCP on board this year, but we once again welcome some fantastic international groups who are also in need of heart keepsakes. I’ll add all of the organisations and their postal addresses to the bottom of this announcement.

HEART GUIDELINES

1. Hearts must come in a MATCHING pair, meaning 2 identical hearts. This is super important.

2. Hearts must not be bigger than the size of your palm. They can be as small as you like however. This ensures there are hearts to fit all gestational packs, but also makes sure they are not too big to bulk up packaging too much.

3. Hearts can be flat or stuffed, but if you are making 3D/stuffed hearts please do not over stuff them, again this is to help with packaging.

4. Hearts can be made from fabric or felt, knitted, crocheted or sewn. They must be soft (so no origami or beaded hearts) You can use embroidery, a small amount of beading or buttons or attach bows to decorate your hearts but please keep the thickness in mind.

5. When getting your hearts ready for postage, please ensure the pairs are tied together with a piece of thread, yarn, ribbon or even safety pinned. This is so none get misplaced or lost, and to help the volunteers easily sort through the parcels once they arrive. This is super important to keeping everything running smoothly.

6. You are welcome to use whatever pattern you feel like using. You are certainly not obligated to use mine, or the ones I’ll be sharing. In fact the more variety the better!

7. Colour Requirements. This will depend entirely on who you are sending your completed hearts to.

Chance’s Clothes Project: Any colour is fine, but solid colours paired with whites are the best if using 2 colours.

Sleeping Beauties Angel Gowns Kent: White, pastel pink, pastel blue, lilac, lemon yellow and mint green.

Anencephaly Hope: Any colours are fine, however light pink, light purple, Light blue, Navy blue, greys, white, light and bright yellows are used the most.

TALLYS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

This year I have created a form for everyone to fill out once they have COMPLETED and POSTED their hearts, to help keep a running tally. I have also included a question about where you are from and where you donated to. The location question is country only, and is included so I can see if there are groups of people in countries we don’t currently have a recipient charity in, that I can try and find before next year.

You can access the form HERE: https://forms.gle/umzZ6v4zbPhawqhg9

I’ll also be putting a video roundup together again this year, and there are instructions on sending photos in the form <3 

POSTAL ADDRESSES

Like all previous years we post our parcels off on October 15th, which is the International Day of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance.

The charities this year to send your hearts to are 

Australia

Chance's Clothes Project

c/- Cowra Neighbourhood Centre

15 Vaux St

Cowra NSW 2794

Europe

Sleeping Beauties 

29 chilton avenue 

Sittingbourne 

Kent

ME10 4TB

United States

Anencephaly Hope

304 N E Street

Louisiana, Missouri

63353

USA

So, without further ado.. Here is the very first pattern for this year's very first heart drive! Enjoy!

Square Bottom Heart

Using any hook that matches your yarn thickness

1: Ch4, join to the 1st ch to form aloop.

2: Into the ring, ch2, 2hdc, ch2, (3hdc, ch2), 3 times, join to the top of the starting chain.

3: Stst into the next st, in the next st do (dc, 3tr, dc), slst into the next ch2 space, slst in the next st, in the next st do (dc, 3tr, dc), slst into the next ch2 space.

4: Ch1, sc in the next 3 sts, 2sc in the ch2 space, sc in the next 3 sts, sc in the ch2 space, sc in the next 3 sts, sc in the ch2 space, sk the joining st and sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, slst in the next slst, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc in the last 2 sts, join to the first sc.


Size Notes:
3.5mm hook + 8ply/DK Weight = 6cm heart
2.5mm hook + 4ply/Fingering Weight = 5cm heart

5 Petal Flower Keepsake - Free Crochet Pattern

Hello all, gosh it's been a bit!

Behind the scenes has been absolutely crazy lately. Thankfully I've had some time to get a lot of new patterns sorted, and you'll be seeing them over the next few months. Also lots of IBGHD prep, how exciting!

Today's pattern is a simple medium sized 5 petal flower. One of the items Chance's Clothes Project need a LOT of is keepsakes, as they go out in every single pack that gets made. A keepsake is simply a hand or smaller sized soft item that comes in a matching pair. One stays with the family, the other stays with bub. It's something many families appreciate and gives a tactical connection, something that can be held onto.

I've been challenging myself to make 50 keepsake sets, and I've done 12 using this particular pattern. The beauty of using flowers like this is they are easy to make, simple to memorize and use a very very small amount of yarn. In fact each pair uses on average 4g of yarn. You can use any weight of yarn and hook size you like. All the ones I have pictured use various DK/8 ply yarn and a 3.5mm hook.

5 Petal Flower Keepsake

Hook Size: 3.5mm

Yarn Weight: DK/8ply in 2 colours.

Finished Size: 5.5 - 6cm

Amount Of Yarn Used: 3-5g

Special Stitches; Triple Crochet Cluster or TR Cluster:  yarn over twice, insert hook through stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over twice, insert into the same stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over twice, insert into the same stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through all 4 loops. Cluster complete.

With center colour

1: Ch2, make 5 sc into the first chain and join. - 5sc

2: Ch1, sc into the same stitch, 2sc in each remaining stitch around, join to the ch1. -10sc

With petal colour

3: Ch4, TR Cluster in the next stitch, ch4, slst into the next stitch, *ch4, TR Cluster into the next stitch, ch4, slst into the next stitch*, repeat for the remaining petals, slst into the bottom of the initial ch4. End off, weave in all tails.

Mini Crochet Christmas Stocking 2 Ways

Morning all!

Today's pattern is one I've had sitting in my drafts book since forever! I keep coming back and forth to it, and finally got it finished! YAY!

I love mini stockings. Felted, sewn, crocheted, they are all good! I'm hoping to get a bunch more of these done before December, not just for decorating, but because they are such a fun way to package smaller gifts!

Now, Ive done 2 versions here, both from the same pattern. I'll take you through the solid sized one first, then tell you about the alterations for the mini one at the end.

Mini Christmas Stockings

You Will Need:
3.5mm hook
4ply (fingering) weight yarn
Buttons or Beads to decorate

Size:
Cream stocking - 14cm length, 6.5cm wide

hdc2tg - half double crochet 2 together

1. Ch3, dc in the 1st chain 10 times, join.

2. Ch3, 2dc in each stitch around, join.

3-6: Ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join.

5: Ch1, sc in the first 5 stitches, (hdc, dc) in the next stitch, 2dc in each of the next 8 stitches, (dc, hdc) in the next stitch, sc in the last 5 stitches, join.

6-7: Ch1, sc in the first 7 stitches, dc in the next 16 stitches, sc in the last 7 stitches.

8: Ch1, sc 10, hdc2tg 6 times, sc in the last 8 stitches

9: Ch1, sc in each stitch around, join.

10-21: Ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join,

22: Place a stitch market in the centre back stitch. This round can be either normal sc, or reverse sc (crab stitch) the choice is yours. For normal sc, ch1, sc in each stitch until you reach the marker, sc in the stitch with the marker, chain 15, sc into the same stitch with the marker, sc in each remaining stitch and join to the first sc. To finish with the crab stitch, ch1, sc in each previous stitch (working in reverse) until you reach the marker, sc into the stitch with the marker, ch15, sc into the same stitch, continue crab stitching around. End off and weave in tails.

Add any decorations you wish.

Now, to make the super small multi coloured stocking, I used size 8 cotton pearl thread and a 2mm hook. Use the contrasting colour for the first 2 rounds, then switch to the main colour for rounds 3-6. When you reach the heel section, use the contrasting colour for the hdc/dc's in round 5, and the dc's in round 6-7. You can choose to end the colour each round or just carry it with you crocheting over the excess thread as you go. Swap back to the main colour for the 8th and all remaining rounds. Again, weave in ends and decorate as desired.

Red and Green stocking - 11cm length, 4.5cm wide

This mini sized stocking would be perfect for lip glosses or nail polish bottles! The larger one would be fantastic for chocolate/candy bars, small gifts and cosmetics!

Stashbuster Slippers - Free Crochet Pattern

Hello all!

Miss L (Who is now almost 13, my where has that gone??) recently wore a hole in the bottom of her slippers and requested a new pair. It's been snowing on the mountains here lately so slippers are a must have to keep little toes warm. Miss L asked for some that would "cover most of my foot and look like my flats" Hrm, Ok kiddo, one pair of slippers coming up!

These are great stashbusters, not only do they use 2 strands at once (and the more random the colour paring the better!) but they don't use a great deal of yarn, so you can use up them leftover part balls. You should be able to whip these up in an hour or so making them a great last minute gift as well.
I had a strong urge to put a big fluffy pompom on the toes but it was met with looks of unimpressed-ness from the preteen. Ok ok, no pompoms. But I bet they would look really fun with them too!

If you need to make them smaller or larger, adjust the starting chains and then add/subtract from the stitches at the sides (leave the decreases the same)

Size:
Woman's size 5aus (my daughters foot is 23cm long, and it's designed to fit her foot snugly.)

Supplies:
8mm hook
2 balls of DK weight yarn. (I used one ball of white acrylic and one ball of rainbow variegated acrylic)

Scrapbuster Slippers

Holding both strands together;

1: ch22, dc into the 3rd chain from hook. dc in the next 18 chains, dc 6 times in the end chain, working down the opposite side (into the same chains) dc in the next 19 chains, join. (44)

2: ch2, 2dc, dc, 2dc, dc 17, 2dc in each of the next 4 stitches, dc 17, 2dc, dc, 2dc, join. (52)

3: ch1, sc in the back loops only around, join. (52)

4: ch2, dc around, join. (52)

5: ch1, sc 14, sc2tg 12 times, sc 14, join. (40)

6: ch1, sc10, sc2tg 10, sc 10, join. (30)

7: ch1, sc 12, sc2tg, sc 2, sc2tg, sc 12, join. (28)

8: ch1, sc around, join. End off and weave in tails.

Make a second slipper and your done!