DIY – Crocheted Double Pocket Hug

Welcome back friends! Do you crochet? I do! I feel calm and cozy when I’m crocheting, and fiercely proud whenever I complete a project.

My daughter is entering Kindergarten this year and, while I’m sure she’ll love it, I believe she’ll need a little comfort while she’s away. Pocket hugs are a small token that can be tucked into a pocket to remind someone we love that we care for them, even if we’re apart. Zoey carries hers in a pocket of her backpack.

I created two different sized pocket hugs and when I held them together, I admired how much they looked like a cookie with frosting so I had the idea to attach them together. Et voila! Now we have a double pocket hug that looks like a cookie! You could use any color of yarn for this, the possibilities are endless!

Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES
  • Two different crochet hooks (I used sizes 3.75mm and 4.50mm)
  • Two different yarns (I used sizes 2 and 4)
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle or small crochet hook
  • Hot glue gun
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Using the smaller yarn and hook create a magic ring and chain two.
  2. Stitch one triple crochet into the magic ring, then repeat twice more for a total of three triple crochets.
  3. Stitch one double crochet into the magic ring, then repeat twice more for a total of three double crochets.
  4. Chain one, then stitch one triple crochet into the magic ring for the heart’s point, then chain one again.
  5. Stitch one double crochet into the magic ring, then repeat twice more for a total of three double crochets.
  6. Stitch one triple crochet into the magic ring, then repeat twice more for a total of three triple crochets.
  7. Chain three and slipstitch into the magic ring.
  8. Slipstitch into the back loop of the beginning three chains of the heart.
  9. Single crochet under both loops of the first triple crochet from the first round, then single crochet again into the same stitch.
  10. Repeat step 9 on the second and third triple crochets of the first round.
  11. Single crochet under both loops of the first double crochet of the first round.
  12. Repeat step 11 on the second and third double crochets of the first round.
  13. Single crochet under the chain.
  14. Single crochet under both loops of the triple crochet, chain one and then single crochet back into the same stitch.
  15. Single crochet under the chain
  16. Single crochet under both loops of the double crochet.
  17. Repeat step 16 on the next two double crochets of the first round.
  18. Single crochet under both loops of the triple crochet from the first round, then single crochet again into the same stitch.
  19. Repeat step 18 on the next two triple crochets of the first round.
  20. Slipstitch into the back loop of the ending three chains of the heart.
  21. Slipstitch into the magic ring one more time, snip off the yarn and pull the loose end through the final stitch tightly to secure it.
  22. Pull the loose end of the starting yarn to pull the center of the heart in tightly.
  23. Using a smaller crochet hook, weave the starting yarn and ending yarn into the heart.
  24. Repeat steps 1 through 23 again with the larger yarn and hook.
  25. Once both hearts are done, heat up your glue gun and apply a steady amount of glue to the back of the larger heart, within the confines of where the smaller heart will lay, then press the back of the smaller heart to it. If there are any loose edges gently lift them up, apply glue underneath and press it back.
  26. Once cool, give your pocket hug to someone who needs it!

35 Books of Encouragement for your New Kindergartener!

Zoey starts kindergarten this year! She and I are both excited for her to learn new things and meet new friends, but she is also a little hesitant and that’s completely understandable; this is a new experience!

Besides talking about it and offering her my own words of encouragement, I’ve put together a list of 35 books about going to school that we have been reading to help her feel more comfortable with the idea.

  1. A Place Called Kindergarten
  2. Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten
  3. All Are Welcome
  4. Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten
  5. Barnaby Never Forgets
  6. Breathe Like a Bear: First Day of School Worries
  7. Butterflies on the First Day of School
  8. Chrysanthemum
  9. Froggy Goes to School
  10. Giant-Sized Butterflies On My First Day of School
  11. How to Be Kind in Kindergarten: A Book for Your Backpack
  12. How to Get Your Octopus to School
  13. How to Get Your Teacher Ready
  14. I Got the School Spirit
  15. If You Take a Mouse to School
  16. Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?
  17. Junie B. Jones (series)
  18. KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day
  19. Kindergarten, Here I Come!
  20. Miss Bindergarten (series)
  21. On the First Day of Kindergarten
  22. Our Class is a Family
  23. Our Classroom Rules!
  24. School is Cool!
  25. The Berenstain Bears Go to School
  26. The Circles All Around Us
  27. The King of Kindergarten (check out Queen too)
  28. The Kissing Hand
  29. The Night Before Kindergarten
  30. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
  31. The Smaller Spot of a Dot
  32. The Twelve Days of Kindergarten
  33. Time for School, Mouse!
  34. Tomorrow, I’ll Be Kind
  35. Wemberly Worried

What are your favorite books about school?