Crochet Hacky Sack

April 3, 2017 by Bethany 19 Comments

The idea for today’s free crochet pattern is brought to you by my husband Dallas! He was a real whiz with a hacky sack back in the the day (still is!). It’s funny, and really cool, how you can be married to someone for almost a decade but still learn little things about him/her. He can keep this crochet hacky sack going for a while, and it’s fun to watch him teach our 5 year old his mad skills! I was never good at it, but it’s fun to stand around in a circle laughing, chatting and kicking around a foot bag (fun fact: “foot bag” is the generic term for a Hacky Sack).

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Rock-a-bye-baby Bunting – A Free Crochet Pattern

March 23, 2017 by Abbey Swanson 4 Comments

The Rock-a-bye-baby Bunting is a guest post written by Abbey from The Firefly Hook. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Sweetly festive and as colorful as you choose to make it, this bunting looks like a celebration and this superwash wool launders beautifully. You can pull it out every year for party decorations or crochet it in the colors of baby’s room and leave it up for whimsical décor.

Get the FREE PDF here:

Rock-a-bye-baby Bunting

Favorite or queue on Ravelry here.

The Rock-a-bye-baby Bunting is one of seven designs included in the latest eBook by The Firefly Hook:

You can purchase the entire 35 page eBook for $10.50 on Ravelry and Etsy.

Single patterns are on sale at The Firefly Hook’s Etsy shop.

Crochet Star Flower Lights

March 8, 2017 by Bethany 6 Comments

I absolutely love Christmas lights. My favorite ones to put on my tree are the rainbow colored ones (as a kid they reminded me of the cherry candy canes, yum!). Let me be clear, I don’t leave my Christmas lights up all year! But I love the ambience that those tiny twinkling lights bring, and I refuse to believe they are only for winter holidays. Sipping drinks in the warm backyard while the kids play is one of my favorite summer pastimes and these Crochet Star Flower Lights make the perfect decor to our back porch.

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Crochet Gerbera Daisies Pattern

March 1, 2017 by Bethany 6 Comments

I really don’t mind the winter. I rather enjoy wearing hats, soft sweaters and my boot slippers. But when Mother Nature pulled a nasty trick last week with beautiful 50 degree weather only to drop 2 feet of snow, I admit, my heart sank. I was ready for a change! So even though spring is still (probably) a month off, I can still bring springtime inside with these beautiful crochet Gerbera Daisies.

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Free Pattern: Double-Layered Handle Holder by The Firefly Hook

December 14, 2016 by Abbey Swanson 5 Comments

The Double-Layered Handle Holder is a guest post written by Abbey from The Firefly Hook. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

We are huge fans of cast iron in our house.

I won’t wax on about how awesome cast iron is or start a debate on how to properly season your pans. I’ll refrain because if you are looking to make an accessory for your pans you are already well-aware of cast iron’s many benefits and I’m sure you’ve formed all your opinions about the way to properly care for these superstars of the kitchen.

One thing I will share is my favorite dish to make in my cast iron: Shepherd’s Pie. Cook the meat, add veggies, plop mashed potatoes on top and throw the entire pan in the oven. It’s a one-pan-wonder! (My favorite recipe is from 100 Days of Real Food in case you need it)

There you are in a kitchen that smells heavenly with nothing but a cutting board to wash and some time to crochet until dinner. By the time your shepherd’s pie gets bubbly delicious inside, you can whip up one of these cozies.

I designed a cast iron handle cozy a few years ago – double layered and worked in a tube. I’m going to be honest – I really hate working on little projects. It hurts my hands and fingers when I can’t hold onto the project while I’m crocheting. (Am I the only one?)

I wanted to design a cozy that could be worked in rows then folded twice so it would be more fun for me to make them. The cozy on a cast iron needs to be double-layered because the pans are so heavy. If you only have one layer, your fingers could press against the holes in the cozy (which is supposed to function as a protection against the heat) and you’ll get a burn and probably a broken toe when you drop the pan.

So here you are – a cozy to make your hands happy twice: worked in rows and double layered.

Double-Layered Handle Holder:

Yarn: Wool and the Gang Shiny Happy Cotton 100% Peruvian Pima Cotton (100 g/142 m/ 155 yds per skein) in True Blood Red (CB) and Brick Red (CA)

Hook: Size (I-9) 5.5 mm

Gauge: 7 sts and 7 rows = 2” in sc

Abbreviations:

CA color A

CB color B

ch chain

sc single crochet

sl st slip stitch

Note: You can adjust the length of the handle holder by increasing or decreasing the initial chains; width is adjusted by increasing or decreasing rows.

Pattern:

With CA, ch 18.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (17 sc)

Rows 2 – 35: Ch 1, sc in each st across.

Finish off.

Fold in half. Attach CB to any side.

Working through both sts on each side of fold, sc evenly around and 3 sc in each corner.

On folded edge, sc evenly across.

Fold in half once more and sl st around bottom and side working through both sts on each side of fold. Leave top open for slipping onto handle.

Slip onto your favorite cast iron pan and get cookin’!

Favorite or queue on Ravelry here.

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Happy crocheting,

Abbey

Crochet Plaid Wreath – Free Crochet Pattern

December 10, 2016 by Bethany 6 Comments

This simple wreath is made with the plaid technique, a fun and versatile stitch technique. This wreath is perfect for your holiday or Christmas front door, and brings touch of rustic to your home. Make it using this free crochet pattern.

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Crochet Plaid Pillow – Free Crochet Pattern

December 5, 2016 by Bethany 17 Comments

This chunky crochet plaid pillow works up very fast and makes a quick and easy way to add some rustic holiday flair to any room. Use this free crochet pattern to make pillows for every room!

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Crochet S’more Ornament – Free Crochet Pattern

November 26, 2016 by Bethany 17 Comments

This darling crochet s’more ornament is a fun, simple beginner-friendly project! If your family has the tradition of eating s’mores during the holidays, this cute ornament will go perfectly on your Christmas tree.

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The Pioneer Rug – A Free Crochet Pattern

November 25, 2016 by Abbey Swanson 12 Comments

The Pioneer Rug is a guest post written by Abbey from The Firefly Hook. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

The Pioneer Rug

My kids and I recently listened to all the Little House on the Prairie books. I love connecting to that time in history when people lived off the land and depended on each other to survive.

My son Benjamin especially enjoyed listening to all of Laura’s adventures. He connected to her wild and free spirit and wishes he could be friends with her.

It’s truly special when you kids connect deeply with something you held so dear as a child.

I love simplicity. I find it difficult to achieve, but I envy the Ingalls’ small Christmas celebrations. Everyone adored each small part because that’s all there was! One small gift or one special dessert wasn’t taken for granted.

I remember when the Ingalls girls pooled their money together to buy a gift for Pa: store-bought suspenders. Many gifts were handmade: socks, dolls, crocheted collars.

Remember in The Long Winter when Laura and her friends would sit together in Pa’s shop while they knit and crocheted lace collars? The crochet-lover in me wished I could sit and crochet with Laura and her friends as they watched people passing by on the street. I wish I could find a pattern for the collars they made!

In the spirit of a handmade Christmas, let me introduce the Pioneer Rug.

Crocheted with a 12mm hook and three strands held together, you can whip up one of these in a few hours. What’s more – I made this 28” rug for $7.00!

You can tailor the colors and size depending on who you are making the gift for and make it the perfect addition to any home, accommodating any style!

Enjoy!

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The Pioneer Rug

Yarn:

Any inexpensive worsted weight acrylic.

Size shown used 14 ounces.

Hook size: 12 mm

Completed Dimensions: 28″ diameter

Gauge: 6 sts and 4 rnds = 4″ in dc

Abbreviations:

CA—color A

CB—color B

ch—chain

dc—double crochet

rep—repeat

rnd(s)—round(s)

sc—single crochet

sl st—slip stitch

st—stitch

Pattern:

Note: Hold three strands together; use 3 separate skeins or make 3 balls from 1 skein. Carry unused color on wrong side of work. Change color on the yarn over of the sl st when connecting rnds.

Rnd 1: With CA, ch 4 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in fourth ch from hook. (12 dc)

Rnd 2: Sl st in first dc from rnd 1 and switch to CB, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc here and throughout pattern), dc in same st as ch, 2 dc in each st around. (24 dc)

Rnd 3: Sl st in first dc from previous rnd and switch to CA, ch 3, dc in same st as ch (place marker), [dc in next st, 2 dc in next st (place marker in second dc)] around, dc in last dc. (36 dc)

Rnd 4: Sl st in first dc from previous rnd and switch to next color, ch 3, dc in same st as ch (move marker), [dc in each st to marker, work 2 dc at marker (move marker to second dc)] rep around, dc in each st to end of rnd. (48 dc)

Rnds 5 – 13: Rep rnd 4 alternating colors on each rnd. (each rep adds 12 to the stitch count)

Rnd 14: Sl st in first dc from previous rnd and switch to CB, ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), sc in same st as ch, [sc in each st to marker, work 2 sc at marker] rep around, sc in each st to end of rnd.

Rnd 15: Sl st in first sc from previous rnd and switch to CA, sl st in each st around, sl st in first sl st, finish off.

Favorite or queue on Ravelry here.

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Happy crocheting,

Abbey

Crochet Candle Cozies

November 11, 2016 by Bethany 12 Comments

Happy Friday! The weather in my neck of the woods has been unseasonably warm, it’s been unbelievable. A trip to the park left us all wore out but happy to be soaked in warm sunshine. It’s hard to believe that the Holidays are just around the corner. I am holding off to get my tree out until after Thanskgiving, but these little pops of holiday cheer make me so happy! These adorable crochet candle cozies are a cute and quick way to bring some holiday color to your decor.

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Crochet Key Fob – Free Crochet Pattern

August 17, 2016 by Bethany 42 Comments

This cute crochet key fob is a great beginner project and uses basic stitches. You will enjoy pairing different colors together. These key fobs are a cute, small gift or would be great for your summer craft fair booth! Enjoy the free crochet pattern.

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Aurora Flora Crochet Square

August 8, 2016 by Bethany 6 Comments

Happy Monday Whistlers! Yesterday was a relaxing, spiritual Sunday that ended with my family and I sitting on the back porch listening to the rain and thunder. It was wonderful, and I am glad my flowers and plants all received a hearty drink. I recently decided to give my “garden” back to the grass (I had dug out a small corner of my yard, attempting to grow vegetables with little success and a constant battle with the grass), and decided to seed it with Kentucky Blue Grass. I felt a burden lifted! I lost the battle, but I am winning in the front yard with my ENORMOUS tomato plants, so I am satisfied. I thought this week would be a fitting time to share my new Aurora Flora Crochet Square, a pretty little thing I worked on all last week. They are great fun to work up, and the defined lines look so pretty.

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Crochet Super Chunky Wool Rug

July 25, 2016 by Bethany 20 Comments

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you are ready to start a new week! I am having a hard time today. I spent last week on the mountain with some youth from my church. It was a wonderful experience to be a camp leader for those amazing girls! Even though I missed my sweet kids, it was hard to come down off that beautiful mountain and away from the lovely fresh air. I did enjoy the opportunity to wear my striped hipster beanie since it got a bit chilly at night, but since I am back to 100 degree weather, I am sharing a non-wearable today: a super chunky wool rug.

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Crochet Pretzel Pillow

July 19, 2016 by Bethany 30 Comments

You guys! IT’S DONE. I am so excited to finally share this project with you today. If you have been following me on Instagram, you may have wondered what in the world I have been working on. I think I crochet pretty slow, so this thing took quite a few hours to complete, but I love the finished project. The Boy was pretty excited about this Pretzel Pillow, and was constantly asking me if I was almost finished with it. And now I am–I present…The Crochet Pretzel Pillow!

This pretzel pillow is actually very simple. It’s made entirely of sc stitches, so it is a perfect beginner’s project. I connected the ends with Velcro, and it ended up being a fun, multifunctional pillow.

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13 Awesome Granny Square Projects

July 13, 2016 by Bethany 11 Comments

Even though it’s Wednesday, it sure feels like Monday around here. My husband and I took an overnight trip at the beginning of the week. Even though it was a blast to get away for 24 hours, it’s taking some time to be productive today. My house is a mess and my hair is in a bun, but at least the kids are fed and happy (right?!). Ever since I posted my Granny Square Earring, I have been looking for more ideas for granny squares. Granny Squares are really growing on me, especially when granny squares are used in other ways besides afghans. Today, I am sharing my favorite granny square projects from around the web. I hope you try a few of these! I am digging colorful granny squares right now and I have some awesome ideas for the when the weather turns cool here!

1. Granny Square Earrings – Whistle and Ivy

2. Granny Square Bunting – Tea and Crochet

3. Granny Square Pillow – Rescued Paw Designs

4. Happy Crochet Chair Covers – Poppy Creates

5. Granny Square Hat – Drops Designs

6. Granny Square Baskets – Vika Moka via This Little Street

7. Granny Square Zipper Pouch – Skip to my Lou

8. Little Granny Square Purse – Lululoves

9. Mini Granny Square Tech Case – Sugarbeans

10. Granny Square Tote – B. hooked

11. Granny Square Shrug – Lulu Loves

12. Granny Square Dog Bed – Joann

13. Starburst Granny Square Arm Warmers – Whistle and Ivy

I hope you are inspired by these granny square projects, and have a wonderful rest of the week!

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Happy crocheting,

Crochet Diaper Pouch

July 5, 2016 by Bethany 11 Comments

It’s really nice when the baby outgrows the diaper bag. I won’t lie, I hate carrying that big thing around. It’s obviously essential when the baby is small and you need everything except the kitchen sink to run to the grocery store. However, once I switched over to a smaller bag, I noticed another problem: mashed diapers. I don’t know why this bugs me so much, but when I put a flat, crisp diaper in my bag, and pull out a mashed, matted diaper only hours later (that can NOT be re-flattened) I get super annoyed. This happened, of course, with my first which is why I made myself a crochet diaper pouch to carry my crisp, fresh-from-the-package diapers in my not-diaper bag.

Unfortunately, the first one never made it on the blog. I am not quite sure why not, but I was looking through a folder on my computer labeled “Working on Patterns” and found it! I had lost my original diaper pouch, so I was happy to find the pattern and make another one.

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26 Free Crochet Decor Patterns

July 1, 2016 by Bethany 11 Comments

I absolutely love that crochet is on trend right now. I love boho, I love fringe and I love seeing crochet everywhere from fashion to home decor. All this crochet makes my heart sing! I gathered a few of my favorites in crochet decor to share with you for some potential weekend projects. I hope you are inspired by these talented artists and you can hopefully start working on some crochet decor projects of your own!

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Chevron Crochet Tablet Pouch – Free Crochet Pattern

June 29, 2016 by Bethany 36 Comments

Get the free crochet pattern for this Cheron Crochet Tablet Pouch. Although this one is sized an iPad mini, but you can easily size it up or down for whatever device you may have! This post includes affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you use my link to make a purchase. Thanks for supporing Whistle and Ivy.

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12 Patriotic Crochet Projects

June 13, 2016 by Bethany 1 Comment

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you are having a lovely beginning to your week.

It just dawned on me that the 4th of July is around the corner! In my search for some fun Patriotic-themed crochet projects, I found a few favorites that I wanted to share with you.
I hope you pick a couple and make them this month!

(If you love one of these projects, be sure to click through and pin from the original source)

1. Patriotic Baby Flip Flops

2. Patriotic Crochet Stars – Repeat Crafter Me

3. Patriotic Pillow – Red Heart

4. 4th of July Beach Bag – Yarnspirations

5. Americana Afghan via All Free Crochet

6. Star Spangled Banner Crochet Bunting – Petals to Picots

7. Stars and Stripes Lanyard – Repeat Crafter Me

8. Just Be Happy Doily Coasters – Alessandra Hayden

9. Crochet Star Granny Square – Stitching’ Mama

10. Patriotic Party Banner – Red Heart

11. Americana Pillow – ASE Keepin’ Creative

12. Americana Place Setting – Red Heart

I hope you enjoy these awesome projects! Have fun preparing for your country’s birthday, and have a wonderful week!

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Happy crocheting,

Hexie Puff Seat Cushion

May 24, 2016 by Bethany 8 Comments

Happy Tuesday ya’ll!
I hope your week is going well. I am finishing up some personal projects this week, and it feels good to make time for other things. One of these projects is a Whistle and Ivy Original embroidery pattern. I am so excited to share it! I want to give it to the intended recipient before I can share it, but tune in next week for the free pattern. I am loving this new craft and I am brimming over with ideas. Now, I just need to find the time to make them happen!

Today I am sharing the pattern I shared on Stitch and Unwind a few months ago, this fun Hexie Puff Seat Cushion crochet pattern.

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Twinkling Stars Crochet Wall Hanging

May 20, 2016 by Bethany 14 Comments

My husband and I have recently decided that we will make Saturday our night to be together, distraction-free. I admit, at first I was nervous. Blogging takes tons of time, guys. Like, a lot. And since I am Major Worry, I was scared I would be “wasting” precious working time.
I am so glad I was wrong.
It doesn’t matter when you are doing, you need to take a break. That is part of the reason I picked up embroidery, and why I am ready to learn how to knit.
The break is refreshing and lovely. I get to reconnect with my best friend, have discussions and enjoy time together. I honestly feel like I am replenished and more productive the following Monday.

Buuuut that doesn’t mean my hooks don’t come out to play for a few minutes on the weekend. This pretty Twinkling Stars Crochet Wall Hanging was my project last weekend and I love how it turned out. It is currently hanging on the wall adjacent to Sis’s crib and it looks fab in her room.

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Crochet Speech Bubble Coasters

April 27, 2016 by Bethany 26 Comments

This week started with a fail and ended in success. Well, it started with a couple of fails actually. This speech bubble idea came in the form of a pillow, but after several hours of frustration (I couldn’t get the shape exactly right), I switched gears to these coasters. After a funny venture with paint and stencils, I finally completed these adorable crochet speech bubble coasters, and I’m glad at how they (eventually) turned out.

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Crochet Beach Waves Pillow

April 11, 2016 by Bethany 7 Comments

This post is sponsored by Red Heart and also includes affiliate links (I earn a small commissions if you make a purchase from my link). All opinions are 100% my own. THANK YOU for supporting Whistle and Ivy!

This past winter was a winter of chunky yarn. I had so much fun making scarves and hats that I almost didn’t want the cold weather to go away. The warm weather has a silver lining though (and I am not even talking about shorts and flip-flops), it pushed me to make something pretty with chunky yarn! This Beach Waves pillow brings beachy and cool colors into my home, and I love how BIG and CHUNKY this yarn is! Red Heart Grande has pushed it’s way into my top favorite chunky yarns.

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Chevron Zipper Pouch

March 16, 2016 by Bethany 12 Comments

This post has affiliate links, which means I make a small commission from your purchase. Thanks for supporting Whistle and Ivy!

I am not a huge fan of bulky purses. In fact, I only carry a bag because I have kids; apparently those little people need lots of things. So I grin and bear my ginormous diaper bag full of snacks, water bottles, wipes and Transformers (which are completely crucial for a grocery store run). When it’s just me, however, I like to travel light: the essentials only. This chevron zipper pouch is perfect for carrying the things that you really need for a day (or night) out.

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1. Patriotic Baby Flip Flops

2. Patriotic Crochet Stars – Repeat Crafter Me

3. Patriotic Pillow – Red Heart

4. 4th of July Beach Bag – Yarnspirations

5. Americana Afghan via All Free Crochet

6. Star Spangled Banner Crochet Bunting – Petals to Picots

7. Stars and Stripes Lanyard – Repeat Crafter Me

8. Just Be Happy Doily Coasters – Alessandra Hayden

9. Crochet Star Granny Square – Stitching’ Mama

10. Patriotic Party Banner – Red Heart

11. Americana Pillow – ASE Keepin’ Creative

12. Americana Place Setting – Red Heart

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