Crochet Rainbow C2C Arm Warmers

March 14, 2017 by Bethany 18 Comments

Happy March, Beautiful! I live in Utah, where the weather is incredibly unpredictable. I am sitting here typing this post, while the warm breeze blows into my office and it’s so heavenly. And would you believe me if I told you I just learned how to work the C2C technique? Well I did. And it’s so. much. fun. My head is bubbling over with ideas for graphs (I am wrapping up designs for a CAL coming SOON, so stay tuned!) and these Crochet Rainbow C2c Arm Warmers were something that I thought of and decided to try.

Women Crochet Rainbow Shamrock Slouchy

February 23, 2017 by Bethany 27 Comments

I have graphs on the brain lately. My 8-bit Heart Slouchy was the first of many ideas. In fact, I am working on a c2c graphgan, which will hopefully be ready in a month or so (Stay tuned it’s going to be a fun one!). The idea for this Crochet Rainbow Shamrock Slouchy came as I was designing a terrible mash between rainbows and plaid (it didn’t end well). I decided to go with ONE idea, and it turned out so pretty! It’s themed St. Paddy’s Day, but could be worn all winter/fall long.

Galilee Crochet Slippers Crochet Pattern

January 31, 2017 by Bethany 21 Comments

These beautiful crochet slippers use different stitches to create stunning color work. Mix and match colors and each pair will be complete unique. This post is a review of the Galilee Slippers pattern written by Mamachee and includes affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Whistle and Ivy!

Women’s Quick and Cozy Crochet Slippers

January 20, 2017 by Bethany 35 Comments

Happy weekend friends! Today brings a pattern that I have been working on for a few weeks, which is crazy because they work up so quickly, only 4 rounds! To be fair, my original design idea was a slipper boot (which IS coming in a few weeks), but halfway through I thought they looked cute as low-top slippers. So today’s pattern is Women’s Quick and Cozy Crochet Slippers.

Puppy Love Arm Warmers – Free Crochet Pattern

January 18, 2017 by Bethany 18 Comments

These beautiful and comfortable crochet heart stitch arm warmers feature a pretty heart stitch, which is easier to make than it looks! Switch up the colors to make it ombre or even rainbow. You will love your new arm warmers and you will love this free crochet pattern.

Chunky Diagonal Weave Hat

December 16, 2016 by Bethany 16 Comments

This post includes affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Whistle and Ivy!

Happy Friday friends! Today brings a moment of triumph as I stepped outside my comfort zone and completed this Chunky Diagonal Weave Hat, designed by the very talented Jennifer Dougherty. Isn’t that weave texture marvelous?! I was given an opportunity to review her brand spankin’ new book Crochet Style, and was so pleased to give her patterns a try. The book includes over 30 patterns, each contains sizing for the whole family, and each made with amazing textures like this one! There are several more projects I intend to make in the near future. Plus, Sis would look adorable in a toddler size.

Crocheted Pocket Scarf

December 15, 2016 by Bethany 19 Comments

This post is sponsored by Hobby Lobby. All opinions are 100% mine!

I love living in my rural small town. We have just enough conveniences to feel like we aren’t missing out, but still have a lovely small-town feel. I admit, I prefer the city with its hustle and bustle and things to do everywhere, all the time, but we are definitely happy here. That being said, we don’t have a Hobby Lobby, which is not great. When we lived in Arizona several years ago, there was a Hobby Lobby down the street and I was very happy to spend a lot of time there (hubby –not so much). When they contacted me about trying out their Yarn Bee line of yarn, I was exited (to say the least) to have an excuse to make a special trip to Hobby Lobby in “the big city”. This yarn worked out perfectly for my new Crocheted Pocket Scarf. Can’t wait to try it out when we go look at Christmas lights next week!

Crochet Plaid Arm Warmers – Free Crochet Pattern

December 7, 2016 by Bethany 30 Comments

These crochet plaid arm warmers are perfect for when your hands and wrists are cold, but you still need to use your fingers. Leave the bow on or off, or embellish with your own idea! Enjoy this free crochet pattern.

Stripes and Solids Crochet Scarf

December 2, 2016 by Bethany 4 Comments

Hello all! Today I am taking part in a fun scarf blog hop! I actually started this scarf last year, and I unfortunately made it too short and too narrow. It sat in my closet for several month. I thought, this scarf is so cute and it’s such a waste! So I decided to remake it so it fit better and was cozier. It’s very simple to make, and I love the solids and stripes together. This is a really great beginner project if you are ready to dive into crocheting!

Autumn Frost Slouchy Hat Crochet Pattern

October 19, 2016 by Bethany 21 Comments

I found myself yarn shopping a few months ago. My color choices can sometimes be a bit drab. What can I say? Gray will always have my heart. But something made me decide to order a very bright, very hot pink yarn. I bought it in a few weights and fibers (you can see it in this Chunky V-Stitch Cowl), and I have decided it’s going to be my winter color theme! It’s such a bright, gorgeous pop to the drab winter months of the year. And I love the contrast between my lovely and humble gray, and the hot, bright pink. Isn’t this hat gorgeous? I call it the Autumn Frost Slouchy Hat.

(Heaven help me, coming up with names is not someting I excel at.)

Cowgirl Meets Minneapolis – Free Crochet Cowl Pattern

October 18, 2016 by Abbey Swanson 2 Comments

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

Cowgirl Meets Minneapolis

Tumbleweed or graffiti art, cowboy coffee or artisan lattes, lonely mountains or crowded streets…it turns out you can love both.

I recently moved from Wyoming back to Minneapolis, and the culture, slang, and rhythms of both ways of life pulse together through my veins and find their way into my designs.

Growing up in a quiet, sleepy farm-town in rural MN, I lived on the same street my entire life until college. Minnesota with its crisp apples, wild snowstorms, and intense turn of the season is forever dear to my heart.

My husband and I moved to Wyoming shortly after we married, and we both fell in love with the stark prairie beauty and sunsets that fill the entire sky. After 8 amazing years and 3 amazing kids later, we moved back home to be near family.

This bandana cowl combines the spirit of the wild west with the urban fashion of south Minneapolis. Both places will always be a part of me and I love that this piece incorporates design elements from places so disparate and equally wonderful.

The piece is worked into a triangle, then after two corners are joined together, the cowl is created by working stitches in a tube. This is a straightforward project with simple stitches that crocheters of any skill level will enjoy.

Whether you are working up this project on a ranch or on a subway, you will no doubt find a way to wear this bandana that’s all your own.

Cowgirl Meets Minneapolis

Materials:

Yarn: Madelinetosh Pashmina 75% merino wool/15% silk/10%cashmere sport weight yarn (360 yards/329 m per skein): 1 skein in Whiskey Barrel.
Hook: Size (H-8) 5 mm

Gauge: 2 rows and 4 sts = 1 inch in dc

Completed dimensions: 19″ circumference, 14″ in height

Abbreviations:

ch—chain

sc—single crochet

dc—double crochet

st—stitch

sp—space

ch-sp—refers to space under the chain already made.

yoh—yarn over hook

Reverse Single Crochet (reverse sc) – working backwards across the row, insert hook into next st to the right (if left handed – insert hook into next st to the left), yoh, draw loop up (2 loops on hook), yoh and draw through both loops on hook, 1 reverse sc complete.

Pattern:

Row 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc in 4^th ch from hook, ch 1, work 4 more dc in same sp. (8 dc)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc here and throughout pattern), turn, dc in same st as ch, dc in each st to ch-1 space, (2dc, ch 1, 2dc) in ch-1-sp, dc in each st working 2 dc in last st. (14 dc) Note: Stitch count increases by 6 each row, here through row 22.

Row 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in same st as ch, dc in each st to ch-1-sp, (2dc, ch 1, 2dc) in ch-1 space, dc in each st working 2 dc in last st.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st to ch-1-sp, (2sc, ch 1, 2sc) in ch-1 space, sc in each st working 2 sc in last st.

Rows 5, 6: Rep row 4.

Rows 7 – 9: Rep row 3.

Rows 10 – 12: Rep row 4.

Rows 13 – 18: Rep rows 7 – 12.

Row 19: Rep row 3.

Rows 20 – 22: Rep row 4.

Finish off.

Top of cowl:

Row 1: Attach yarn to corner of triangle and sc evenly across entire top of triangle, working across ends of rows 1 – 20.

Row 2: Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across.

Row 3: Rep row 2.

Row 4 – 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.

Row 6: Rep row 2.

Rows 7 – 8: Rep rows 4 – 5.

Finish off.

Sew ends of rows 1 – 8 just worked for top of cowl together.

Edging:

Work a reverse sc around top of cowl. Finish off.

Work a reverse sc around bottom of cowl. Finish off.

Favorite or queue on Ravelry here.

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Happy crocheting,

Abbey

Chunky V-Stitch Cowl Crochet Pattern

October 13, 2016 by Bethany 6 Comments

I think I found my new favorite accessory. I have never been a huge cowl fan until today. Not that I HATED them, I just had a hard time finding one (or making one) that I loved. My (almost) 30 Minute Cowl is easy and cute, but it’s not my go-to scarf. As I pulled out my hook and yarn to design this cozy Chunky V-Stitch Cowl, I decided I would try and make it with 3 balls only. This led me to make it rather small around the neck. It was such a happy result! I am now understanding that all my cowls have been too big for my liking. Next time I made my 30 Minute Cowl, I will work at least 3 fewer rows, so it’s cozy and snug around my neck.

You learn something new every day, I guess!

Wolf Pup Slouchy Hat Crochet Pattern

September 26, 2016 by Bethany 9 Comments

I pretended that today was cool enough for long sleeves and scarves. It truly was for a few hours, however when 2:00 hit while running errands, I soon realized that my scarf and sweater were killing me. Even still, I think I will pretend again tomorrow. If you are like me, pretending the weather is doing something different than it is (or it might actually be a bit cool where you are!), then give this cute Wolf Pup Slouchy Hat a try. I love the gradient variegated coloring in this Scarfie. It’s also kind chunky, which I like too!

The Occasional Cowl – A Free Crochet Pattern

September 5, 2016 by Abbey Swanson 7 Comments

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

I live in a lovely little lake town in rural Minnesota.

It’s cute.

Really, really cute.

The downtown is cozied up to the lake shore and nestled between two major highways. (And by that I mean they’re “major” for the country roads west of the big cities!)

There are big box stores strung along the highway, but just a few blocks south of the bustle is where all the magic happens.

Coffee shops, local shopping, the library, the little theater and… my favorite… the neighborhood yarn shop.

I’m a yarn snob, okay?

Don’t judge me.

I love wool. Beautiful, soft wool. Blends of fibers and combos that make me swoon. And I know local yarn shops have the goods. I have to show restraint!

My little town is also full of occasional shops.

I had never heard of them before moving here so let me explain what they are. I’ll give you my definition, but know others may explain it differently.

I think of them as awesome garage sales: almost like a pop up-restaurant for sweet finds. No junk. No dirt. No strange smell. People pricing the items actually know their value.

Vintage finds are speckled throughout each store.

Do-it-yourself and Pinterest projects finished and ready for you to display proudly in your home (without the tears).

Feel what I’m feeling?

Yeah.

So, imagine my delight when I stumbled upon locally handspun wool & silk yarn at one such shop.

Joy. Delight.

I wanted to buy it all.

Now.

But since my dear friend (who is also my photographer and business partner and one to whom I refer as the string to my kite since she is a bit more calculated and logical in her decisions) was with me, I couldn’t buy them all.

(Fine. I could have. I’m a grown woman. But it may have caused the friendship schism of 2016 had I filled my arms with yarn and marched to the check-out.)

I had to have a plan.

So I chose one skein for each of my kids. The string to my kite approved. Schism averted.

Enter these three lovely skeins:

Each skein perfectly reflects each of their personalities.

Benjamin is my eldest and “his color” has been orange since he was born. It’s bright and bold, just like his kind heart. If being a good friend could be a super-power, it would be his.

Naphtali is my pickle in the middle (and kindred spirit since I also grew up in the middle). He is serious and focused and seems to blend in until you get a little closer and then, like the yarn I chose for him, you can see the rich, regal colors of his heart.

While Benjamin is a lot like Daddy and Naphtali is a lot like Mommy, we call Iva our “Sparkle Fairy Princess” since everything she does is filled with glitter and performed in a sweet theatrical fashion. She is filled to the brim with pure joy, so soft pinks and pastels made the perfect yarn color choice.

When I got home with my treasures, the skeins practically jumped onto my crochet hook and begged to be turned into cowls. I wanted to design something flexible enough to work with any yarn and hook combo so you all can go find a yarn treasure and replicate the pattern.

So here’s a cowl in honor of the occasional shops and the joy of finding a perfect gift:

The Occasional Cowl

Materials: Bulky yarn (ounces needed per size indicated below)

Hook: 8 mm

Gauge: 11 sts and 12 rows = 4” in sc

Sizes, completed dimensions (lying flat, width x height) and ounces of yarn needed:

1 – 3 years 9.5” x 8” 3 oz

4 – 6 years 10” x 10” 3.25 oz

7 – 12 years 10.5” x 11” 4 oz

Teen/Adult 11” x 13” 5 oz

Skill level: Beginner

Necessary Skills: single crochet, working in a tube

Abbreviations:

ch—chain

rep—repeat

rnd—round

sc—single crochet

sl st—slip stitch

st—stitch

Notes:

Rnds worked in a spiral, do not connect rnds.

How to replicate with any yarn/hook combo: If your yarn doesn’t have a suggested hook size, you can find the right hook for your yarn by placing the yarn inside the crook of the hook and choose the hook that the yarn fills completely without popping out of the crook too much; chain the number of chains to get the desired width of the specific size you want and follow the rest of the pattern exactly from rnd 1.

Pattern:

Ch 52 (58, 62, 65) sl st in first ch to connect ch (careful not to twist ch).

Rnd 1: Sc in each ch around.

Rnd 2: Working in the back loop of the st, sc in each st around. (52, 58, 62, 65 sc)

Rnds 3 – end: Rep rnd 2 until cowl measures desired height/size, do not finish off.

To finish: Sl st in each st around, finish off.

To wear:

Iva (pink cowl) is wearing her cowl with the right side facing. This shows the loops left from the back loop single crochet stitches. (See photo below.)

Benjamin and Naphtali are wearing theirs with the wrong side facing. This shows off the little curly nubs from the other side of the back loop single crochet stitches. This is how I envisioned the cowl being worn. (See photo below.)

Abbey Swanson is a crochet designer and teacher of The Firefly Hook.

You can see more of her work over on her website: thefireflyhook.com
If you live near Minneapolis, MN you can find all the classes Abbey has to offer in your area on her facebook page!

Favorite or queue on Ravelry here.

Sign up for The Firefly Hook’s monthly newsletter!

(almost) 30 Minute Crochet Cowl

September 2, 2016 by Bethany 18 Comments

Happy Friday friends! I am finishing off the week by sharing this chunky, cozy and QUICK crochet cowl pattern with you. I called it the “almost” 30 minute crochet cowl because, in all fairness, it took me 35 minutes to complete. But doesn’t 30 minute crochet cowl sound better? Plus, I believe I am a rather slow crocheter, so I would be interested in seeing how fast you can crochet it.

Crochet Tassel Necklace

August 22, 2016 by Bethany 4 Comments

I made this funky crochet tassel necklace quite some time ago. To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t sure if it would make in on the blog. Sometimes blogging can be weird; you can’t quite see the forest through the trees. It’s hard to step back and analyze whether the projects are cute or not! I tested the waters on Instagram, and everyone seemed to like it, so I decided to add it to my blog this week.

Crochet Llama Cowl Crochet Pattern

August 1, 2016 by Bethany 2 Comments

The Crochet Llama Cowl pattern is a guest post written by Abbey from The Firefly Hook. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Llamas. You may think of them as the pack animal of the southern hemisphere, but I think of gorgeous yarn (Okay, fine. I may also think of spitting).

These fascinating majestic beasts do indeed protect themselves by spitting. They also spit to show their dominance or disapproval for fellow llamas (And I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them do it just for fun.).

As the moniker “pack animal” suggests, they are pretty good at carting stuff around: they can carry loads weighing up to 100 lbs for 10 – 12 miles!

Their yarn has interesting qualities too. Compared to sheep wool, it’s lighter, has no oil (like the lanolin in wool) so you get more yarn per ounce because it has no oil to be washed out and it doesn’t shrink when it is washed. Llama hair has very little crimp making it difficult to spin, but it blends very well with other fibers.

So how does llama yarn feel like and how does it work up?

The outer guard hairs are coarse and need to be separated from the fine down fibers. These down fibers are soft and have more crimp which produce a lovely, soft yarn that can be worked up into something worn close to the skin such as hats and sweaters. Yarn made from the outer guard hairs make excellent rugs and ropes – things that need to withstand wear and tear.

While visiting a local llama farm, I got my hands on a few skeins and worked up a design to share with you. If you are looking for 100% llama yarn you can purchase it at the farm I visited: https://www.carlsonsllovablellamas.com/wool/

CROCHET LLAMA COWL

Since I purchased this yarn at a specific llama farm, you may not be able to replicate this cowl exactly. The yarn is 100% llama. Most yarns online are a blend of llama with other fibers.

Places to buy llama yarn:
-Juniper Moon Farm’s Sabine
-The Fibre Company’s Knightsbridge and Meadow
-Cascade’s Nevado

You can find these yarns at jimmybeanswool.com – tell them thefireflyhook {at} gmail.com sent you!

Materials:

3 skeins llama yarn (blend or 100%) in tan, cream & brown.
5 mm hook

Note: Cut yarn after each color change. Switch to new yarn color on slip stitch connecting round.

Pattern:

With tan, chain 90, join chain with slip stitch.

Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as 1 double crochet), double crochet in each chain around, slip stitch in first double crochet.

Rounds 2 – 4: Repeat round 1.

Rounds 5 – 8: Switch to cream and repeat round 1 four times.

Rounds 9 – 12: Switch to brown and repeat round 1 four times.

Rounds 13 – 15: Switch to tan and repeat round 1 three times.

Rounds 16 – 18: Switch to cream and repeat round 1 three times.

Rounds 19 – 21: Switch to brown and repeat round 1 three times.

Rounds 22 & 23: Switch to tan and repeat round 1 twice.

Rounds 24 & 25: Switch to cream and repeat round 1 twice.

Rounds 26 & 27: Switch to brown and repeat round 1 twice.

Round 28: Switch to tan and repeat round 1 once.

Round 29: Switch to cream and repeat round 1 once.

Round 30: Switch to brown and repeat round 1 once, finish off.

Final round: Attach brown to initial chain and slip stitch around.

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Crochet Granny Square Earrings

July 8, 2016 by Bethany 12 Comments

Happy Friday, friends! Yesterday I completed a project I have been thinking about doing for a while: granny square earrings. I have only crocheted earrings once before (these peacock feathers), so it’s still an area where I am new. I hesitated because I wasn’t sure if they would really fly. BUT I like them, so I guess that’s all that really matters, right? Plus, they work up quickly, which you may know, I LOVE.

Crochet Business Card Pouch

April 8, 2016 by Bethany 10 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. Thank you for supporting Whistle and Ivy!

Maybe this has happened to you: you head out to run errands in a super cute scarf (or headband, or mitts or any other beautiful handmade item), and you get stopped by someone who asks where you got your beautiful accessory! Well this is perfect, because not only did you MAKE it, but you make and sell lots of things! You dig in your bag, trying to find a loose business card (or maybe you don’t carry business cards) and can’t find one. Ugh! You swear you will have business cards next time someone asks.

Well this adorable little crochet business card pouch might help you with this problem. Make a few of these pouches and put one in your car, or in your bag or in your pocket and you will be sure to get every sale and every lead that you run in to.

Chunky Ribbed Infinity Scarf

February 11, 2016 by Bethany 7 Comments

With winter wrapping up, I am looking forward to sharing some fun warm-weather crochet patterns. I have been brainstorming ideas, and I think this is the first summer that I am excited about (as far as crochet pattern designing goes, of course)! I have a growing list of fun things so I am excited, but I am trying to hold my horses. Since it’s still below freezing here in Northern Utah, I really wanted to sneak in a few more cool weather patterns before the season change. This chunky ribbed infinity scarf is my absolute favorite scarf this year. It works up insanely quickly, and it’s so cozy and warm. I don’t leave the house without it.

Starburst Granny Square Arm Warmers

January 11, 2016 by Bethany 20 Comments

This post uses affiliate links (click here for more info), which means I earn a small commission from your purchase. Thanks for supporting Whistle and Ivy!

How is everyone doing on your resolutions? I hope you’re still at it. My main goal this year is to be more organized and use my time more wisely. I am feeling like I am doing much better. The internet seems to be a black hole that sucks up all my free time, so I have been trying to steer clear of time wasters, and focus on being productive when I have some extra time. I have also been trying to do more brainstorming which can be an exercise in frustration, and definitely takes practice to be productive. The idea for these Starburst Granny Square Arm Warmers came to me over Christmas, but it took a bit of time to perfect them and get them blog-ready. I am so excited that I finished and I can finally share them with you!

Ric Rac Striped Scarf

January 4, 2016 by Bethany 15 Comments

I usually love the beginning of the week, but I have been dragging my feet lately. The last few days have been a bit of challenge. I am feeling overwhelmed, and I know it’s due to my own lack of organization. I also feel like I am losing on the parenting front. My 4-year-old son is so sweet, so silly and funny, but he has really been challenging my patience this week. Maybe it’s hard because I see such a stark difference between him and my 13-month-old. She is happy ALL DAY LONG. She plays and giggles and never talks back, which is how my son used to be. But then he and I snuggle under the covers after reading a book, and I am reminding of how much I love being a mother. I should probably just stay in bed all day tomorrow and hold on to it.
Crochet has been an extra important outlet, and these chunky, quick projects have been so cathartic. This Ric Rac Striped Scarf was made as a gift, but I am tempted to make one for myself, it’s so cozy and fun.

Super Chunky Crochet Granny Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

December 9, 2015 by Bethany 55 Comments

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I have been pretty excited to share this pattern with you today. I have been LOVING chunky projects lately. They work up so fast, and the texture is so lovely. I might go back and re-release all my slipper patterns as chunky. I almost can’t bear to make them, they take me so long. I experimented a bit with my women’s boat slippers, the chunky texture is so fun, and the big yarn cuts the crochet time in half or more. This beautiful chunky crochet granny hat takes literally 30 minutes (or less) to make. It would be a perfect craft fair project, as you could make so many of them so quickly. It fits with a bit of slouch, but you can always add more rows to make it more slouchy, or add a pom-pom for a different look.

Striped Hipster Slouchy Beanie

September 23, 2015 by Bethany 38 Comments

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Today I am revamping an old pattern–my first pattern actually. I didn’t have any idea what I was doing then(I am still learning, actually), but I was so proud of my first design. It was after this pattern that I decided I loved designing, and that I wanted to take my blog in a different direction.

Crochet. More crochet.

Since this pattern needed a bit of work and new photos, I decided to give it new life. I still love wearing my Striped Hipster Slouchy Beanie. It works up quickly, has a classic shape and is so comfy.