Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Atraya Booties - Free Crochet Pattern



New booties today. Actually, this pattern was kind of a happy mistake. I was aiming for a bonnet (trying to be a smarty and start with a closed back) but it turned into booties! It's name, comes from a random fantasy name generator, because I really REALLY struggle thinking of names. Ahh  generators, so much fun.



Anyway, today's booties are open heeled and feature a gathered toe and a built in strap. I think they would be ok for either gender but they look particularly cute in blue. The gathered toe may take a little concentration but once you see the pattern it takes no time at all, in fact I can make an entire bootie in about 10 minutes. They will fit 32-34 weeks gestation and are just under 3 inches in length.


You will need:
dk weight (8ply) yarn
4mm hook
needle for weaving in ends


Atraya Booties Make 2

1. ch11, hdc in the 2nd chain from hook and next 8 chains, 3hdc in the last st, DO NOT TURN working on the opposite side of the chain, hdc in each st to the end (8hdc), do not join, ch2, turn.

2. hdc in each st around, ch2, turn

3. repeat above row

4. ch3, turn, dc in the next 6 stitches, (gathered toe, yo, insert hook, yo, pull through (3 on hook)yo, pull through 2 (2 on hook) yo, insert, yo, pull through (4 on hook)yo, pull through 2, (3 on hook) yo, insert, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2, (4 hook)yo, insert, yo, pull through (6 hook), yo pull through 2, (5 hook), yo, insert, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2, yo, insert, yo, pull through (8 hook) yo, pull through 2, (7 hook) yo, insert, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2 (8 hook) yo, pull through all stitches), ch1, dc last 6

5. ch1, turn, sc 4, ch3, skip (2 stitches, the chain from the gather, and the next 2 stitches) sc in the last 4

6. the next row will be worked around the HEEL of the bootie. ch1, sc 12 times evenly across the heel, ch1, turn

7. sc 4, sc2tg twice, sc 4

End off and weave in ends.

add ties of ribbon or chained lengths of yarn. I sl st to the corner and ch18 on each side to have ties connected to the bootie

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Lavani Moses Basket



Before I get started with this pattern, Did you notice my new tab up above? Ive created pages that provide a quick list of all my patterns, so you can find them easier and don't have to scroll through the entire blog to find the one you want. So happy with it :)

As promised, here is another little bed.  I named this one the Lavani Moses Basket, as Lavani means "Grace" and I thought that was fitting. This one will fit a bub up to about 16 weeks gestation. It can however be made as large as you like by increasing the base.

You will see a pattern forming on the base where the increase stitches are, they go up by 1 every round so if you just keep increasing at the same rate you can make this bed as large as you choose. Just remember that the larger the bub inside, the heavier it will be so be sure to make an adequate mattress for the bed to help with stability. You may also like to add a few increases to the height if you are making it larger.

I tried to keep this one simple while still adding some dainty trim. The trim is really what sets these little beds off and makes them special.

 Ok so you will need:
2 strands of DK weight (8ply) yarn in main colour
1 strand of yarn in a contrasting colour
5.00mm hook
Needle for darning
10 small pearls or decorations if you wish to add them (and a way of sticking them on)
To make the mattress for the bed please refer to THIS POST


Bed:

1: ch18, dc 3 times in the 3rd ch from hook, dc in the next 14 chains, 4dc in the end chain, do not turn, working round the corner, on the opposite side of the chain, dc in the next 14 stitches, join.

2: ch3, 2dc in the same st and the next 3 stitches, dc in the next 14 st, 2dc in the next 4 stitches, dc in the next 14 st, join

3: ch2, dc in the same st, *dc, 2dc in the next* 4 times (total of 12dc) dc next 13, *2dc, dc* 4 times (12 dc) dc next 14 stitches, join

4: ch2, *2dc, dc, dc* 4 times (16dc) dc in the next 14 st, *2dc, dc, dc* 4 times (16dc) dc in the next 14 st, join.

5: ch2, hdc in the back loops only of every stitch around (60hdc)

6 - 10: ch2, hdc in each st around, join.

End off main colour and weave in all ends.




Trim:
With dk OR baby yarn and a 5mm hook

Join yarn to the front loop that was leftover (unworked) from round 5, in the same st you joined chain 1, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, *sl st in the next stitch, in the next stitch do (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc)* (this created a small shell) repeat around, join with a sl st and end off.

Join yarn to the top of the cradle and sc around, join.

In the FRONT loop *sl st in the next 2 stitches, in the next stitch (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc)* Repeat this around, join and end off, weaving in all ends.

I also added small "pearl" hearts to every other shell around the top for a little something extra.
2 or 3 of my shell stitches on the top part of the trim sat up a little more then I liked, so a quick dab on the back with the glue gun and pushed them down so they sat against the bed and problem solved :D