Craft. Crochet. Create.
These crochet boat slippers look a bit like crochet Sperrys! You will love making them and love wearing them. They feature a double sole for extra comfort, and the ties are both decorative and to keep the slippers cozy and in place. Be sure to add one of these 7 tried and tested methods and make your slippers non-slip.
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What have you been working on this summer? I have been focusing on light and fast projects, and brainstorming Christmas and Fall (yes, it’s time to start thinking about it!). This boho crochet headband was a pattern I designed four years ago, and it was always a design I liked, but the delivery and pattern design were seriously lacking (if you don’t remember, it had a large button on the back and was worked rather funky with unattached chains). The pattern was confusing but since it was 4 years ago, I wasn’t sure how to make it better. I’m happy that I finally got around to fixing the pattern for this cute boho crochet headband this week! Not only is it easy, but it’s super fast too. You will want to make them for everyone :) I have included 3 sizes, but this headband is super easy to change into whatever size you want or need.
Wonderland Blocks is a guest post written by Abbey from The Firefly Hook. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
These blocks make a sweet toy for baby. Light enough to be stacked or thrown, these soft playthings are safe for little ones and add charm to any nursery. Place a jingle bell or sound maker in the interior for a playful noisemaker!
Get the FREE PDF here:
Favorite or queue on Ravelry here.
The Wonderland Blocks pattern 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.
The Finger Knit Cowl is a guest post written by Abbey from The Firefly Hook. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
I teach crochet classes, and I love thinking of projects that younger children can make all by themselves. I am especially on the hunt for those projects that look amazing and not at all “kiddish” or only cute because your kid make it for you. You know what I’m talking about, right?
Enter the finger knit cowl. I came up with the idea when my oldest went to Kindergarten and he REALLY wanted to crochet a scarf for his teacher. Since I already taught him to finger knit (and he was a little too young to pick up crochet skills to make a scarf before Christmas) I put his forever-long finger-knit strands to good use.
I also like teaching kids to finger-knit because it’s a great way to get kids excited about yarn and interacting with it in a positive way. There’s no better feeling than making something with your hands! And finger knitting perfectly demonstrates the fundamental skill in knit AND crochet: wrapping yarn over an instrument (needle, hook, and in this case – finger) and pulled through a loop. I’ve found that kids who learn to finger knit are ready to crochet or knit with hook or needle, respectively.
There are a couple of ways to accomplish getting the yarn around each finger- wrapping or weaving. I am going to share my preferred method – wrapping.
1. Begin with the tail of your yarn between your thumb and first finger.
2. Wrap yarn clockwise around your first finger.
3. Wrap yarn clockwise around your second finger.
4. Wrap yarn clockwise around your third finger.
5. Wrap yarn clockwise around your fourth finger.
6. Wrap yarn clockwise around your fourth finger once more.
7. Wrap yarn counter-clockwise around your third finger.
8. Wrap yarn counter-clockwise around your second finger.
9. Wrap yarn counter-clockwise around your first finger and leave yarn dangling behind your hand between your first and second finger.
10. Observe that there are two loops on each finger. We will pull up the bottom loop on each finger and pull it up and over the finger (without pulling the top loop off.)
11. Pull loop off first finger.
12. Pull loop off second finger.
13. Pull loop off third finger.
14. Pull loop off fourth finger.
15. Push loops down on your fingers.
16. Wrap yarn counter-clockwise around your first finger.
17. Then counter-clockwise around second, third and fourth fingers. Note that the yarn ended between the first and second fingers the first time we pulled the bottom loops off our fingers, and this time the yarn ended between the third and fourth fingers. The yarn will alternate between these two ending spots at each pass.
18. Pull the bottom loops off each finger.
Repeat wrapping fingers and pulling loops off until finger knit section is to desired length. The finished cowl pictured used one skein of jumbo #7 yarn and measured approximately 6 feet. Thinner yarn will need more length to properly fill out the cowl.
Don’t forget to leave about five feet of yarn to wrap around the cowl.
I coiled up his strand so they were all even and tied the two ends together. Make sure to leave yourself a long (like five feet) tail when you cut the yarn. Then take your loooooong tail and wrap it around your coil to keep it in place. You could also tie the loose tails tight around your coil and sew on a button or flower. The wrapped yarn covers up the seam from the ends being tied together and keeps the coiled sections in place.
I used super-super bulky yarn (Jumbo or #7) because it filled in really nicely. Super bulky yarn will work well, too. And using high quality yarn will make your kiddos project shine without much effort.
Tip: If your kid (or you!) would like to take a break, carefully pull each loop off and slip them onto a pencil or clip together with a clothes pin. When you are ready to pick it up again, carefully slip the loops of and place each one on a finger.
Favorite or queue on Ravelry here.
Happy finger knitting!
Abbey
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