Tag: summer craft

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!

DIY – Double Crochet Dish Cloth

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.

I’ve always wanted to crochet some of my own dish cloths and now is the perfect time! This pattern is simple, textured and ideal for any level of crocheter (beginners included)! Any cotton yarn can be used for this dish cloth.

Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES
  • Crochet hook (size 5 mm)
  • Cotton yarn
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle or small crochet hook
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Create a slip knot and then 30 chain stitches.
  2. Turn your chain around and double crochet (dc) into the third stitch from the hook, then continue to dc all the way across your chain.
  3. Chain 2 and turn your work. Dc into the back loop of the third stitch from the hook, then continue to dc in the back loops of each stitch all the way across your project.
  4. Repeat step 3 for the next fourteen rows for a total of 16 dc rows.
  5. After the last dc of your last row, chain 1 and rotate the dish cloth 90 degrees to the right.
  6. Single crochet across this side of the dish cloth to give it a more finished look. There will be no distinct loops to follow, but try to stitch in regular intervals, your hook will know where to go!
  7. Chain 1 and rotate the dish cloth 90 degrees to the right again, lay the original tail along the original chain, then single crochet around it (to weave it in) as we single crochet all the way down the original chain.
  8. Chain 1 and rotate the dish cloth 90 degrees to the right again, then single crochet across this side of the dish cloth to give it a more finished look. There will be no distinct loops to follow, but try to stitch in regular intervals, your hook will know where to go!
  9. After the last single crochet, use the scissors to disconnect the yarn from the skein and pull the loose end in through your crochet loop.
  10. Using the yarn needle, weave the loose end into the dish cloth and cut off any extra.
  11. Enjoy!

DIY Crochet – Bee Plush

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.

I’ve seen some adorable bee plushies in the animated shows my daughter watches, and I wanted to create one for her!

This bee is soft and cuddly! The pattern is easy, and ideal for any level of crocheter (beginners included)! Any size 6 chenille-style yarn can be used in this pattern, but I used Bernat Baby in buttercup yellow and lapis blue, and for the white of the wings. You can use whatever color combination you prefer!

Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES
  • Crochet hook (size 6.50 mm)
  • Chenille-style yarn (size 6)
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle or small crochet hook
  • Fiber fill
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Round 1: With the yellow yarn, create a magic ring with 6 single crochets (total of 6 stitches). Place a stitch marker in the last stitch of this round.
  2. Round 2: Increase in each stitch around (total of 12 stitches). Place a stitch marker in the last stitch of this round (henceforth remove it and move it up to the last stitch in each round after this one).
  3. Round 3: 1 single crochet, 1 increase, alternating around the round (18).
  4. Round 4: 2 single crochet, 1 increase, alternating around the round (24).
  5. Round 5: Single crochet in each stitch around (24).
  6. Round 6: Switch colors to blue (or whatever color you choose for the bee’s stripes), then single crochet in each stitch around (24). 
    • To switch colors insert your hook into the first stitch, yarn over and pull through so there are two loops of yellow on your hook. Hook onto the blue and pull in through the two loops of yellow to create the first stitch of Round 6 (for extra security, bring the two loose ends together inside the project and double knot).
  7. Round 7: Single crochet in each stitch around (24).
  8. Round 8: Switch colors back to yellow then single crochet in each stitch around (24).
  9. Round 9: Single crochet in each stitch around (24).
  10. Round 10: Switch colors back to blue then single crochet in each stitch around (24).
  11. Round 11: Single crochet in each stitch around (24).
  12. Set the main body aside for now and begin the wings.
  13. Wings Round 1: With the white yarn, create a magic ring with 6 single crochets (total of 6 stitches). Place a stitch marker in the last stitch of this round.
  14. Wings Round 2: Increase in each stitch around (total of 12 stitches). Place a stitch marker in the last stitch of this round.
  15. Cut the yarn about 8 to 10 inches from your hook and pull the loose end through the last stitch, then set it aside.
  16. Repeat steps 13 through 15 to create a second wing.
  17. Thread your yarn needle with the loose end of one wing, position it where you would like (somewhere on the band of yellow between the two black stripes), and insert your needle through one of the stitches. Pull through until the wing stops at the body of the bee. Position wing and stitch through the bottom of the wing where it comes into contact with the body of the bee. Repeat this stitching process along the bottom of the wing.
    • If there is a tail from creating the magic ring, conceal it by stitching it into the wing and/or into the body of the bee.
  18. Repeat for the second wing.
  19. Attach the safety eyes.
  20. Body Round 12: Switch colors back to yellow, then 2 single crochet, 1 decrease, alternating around the round (18).
  21. Body Round 13: 1 single crochet, 1 decrease, alternating around the round (12).
  22. Begin stuffing the bee to your preference.
  23. Body Round 14: 6 decreases around (6).
  24. Cut the yarn off 8 to 10 inches from the project and pull it through the last stitch.
  25. Stuff the bee a little more if necessary.
  26. Thread the needle and insert the needle through each stitch, then pull tight.
  27. Knot and sew the remaining tail of yarn into the yellow stitches around.
  28. Enjoy!