Snowy owl magnet or ornament

My recreation of a crochet project pictured here:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=393968.msg4680704#msg4680704

Start with a loop

Chain 3 then 18 triple crochet (TC) into loop, slip stitch to close circle

1^st Head/ear: Chain 4, 4 TC into same space, then [2 SC, slip stitch] into space at top of last TC, chain 4, slip stitch into next space

2^nd Head/ear: In next space, slip stitch, Chain 4, 1TC, [2 SC, slip stitch] into space at top of last TC, 3 TC into same space, Chain 4, slip stitch into next space

Break off yarn

Tail: Join again at bottom of circle so tail is centered below head

1st space-4 chain, TC

2nd space 2TC

3rd space 2TC

4th space 2TC

5th space TC, 4 chain, bind off

Add details with orange yarn

I used brown pipecleaner to fashion little twig

Add magnet or ornament hanger, as needed

Aviator hat for high-flying toddlers

This pattern is based off of several inspiration photos on Pinterest. Incredibly cute on a toddler (see last picture of my niece sporting the first attempt). This pattern is free to use for all non-commercial purposes. Enjoy!

 

Size:  infant/toddler (pretty stretchy to go for an older child, easily made larger--see note below)

Materials:

Size 6 DPNs or magic loop

Size F or G (size not critical) crochet hook

Half skein of brown yarn (worsted weight)

Half skein of white/cream yarn (worsted weight)

Hat:

Cast on 64 stitches (increase/decrease in multiples of 8), join to knit in the round

Knit 12 rows in garter stitch (knit all one row, purl next row)

Switch to knit all rows (stockinette stitch) until hat measures 4.5” from edge

Decrease rows

1: k6, k2tog

2: k5, k2tog

3: k4, k2tog

4: k all

5: k3, k2tog

6: k2, k2tog

7: k all

8: K1, k2tog

9: K2tog

Pass yarn through remaining stitches and tighten to bind off hat

Ear flaps (make two)

Note on placement: Position the two ear flaps a little behind the halfway mark on each side (for 64 stitches, I placed them so there were 20 stitches between the flaps at the front and 12 at the back)

For each flap, pick up 16 stitches (pulling loops to the outside/right side of hat)

Knit four rows (garter stitch)

Decreases: K2tog, knit to end, K2tog

Repeat this for each row until only 4 stitches remain

To create straps:

Knit 14 rows in this pattern:

Right side: K4

Wrong side: K1, p2, k1

To finish off: ssk (slip stitch decrease) and k2tog (2 st remain), pass yarn through remaining stitches to bind off, leave some yarn for finishes

Closure: If desired, you can sew a button onto one flap and then fashion a button loop of yarn on the other flap.

Contrasting white flap:

Pick up 20-22 stitches along the front of the hat between the two ear flaps

Knit all rows for 16 rows (or until flap is as long as the garter edging on the hats)

Bind off final row

Flip the white flap up and tack onto the hat using hat color (or buttons, if preferred)

Finishing (contrasting color):

To give the illusion of a lined hat, add a crocheted edging to the hat:

Slip stitch at one end of the white flap, then single crochet along the brim all the way around until you reach the other end of the white flap again.

Variations:

·         - The first one I made used a seed stitch for the ear flaps and hat border. It’s a cuter stitch, but makes a little bit of a ridge at the seam along the hat brim.

·         - I used a large wooden button on one hat and a crochet-made button on the other. Just be sure it's not a choking hazard!

·         - I was working from my stash, but I think a fluffy white yarn would make the white edging and flap really adorable.

Little Green Man hat (Inspired by the characters from Toy Story)

My sister requested a funny hat inspired by one of her favorite Pixar characters. I haven't figured out how to capture Wall-e yet, so she got a Little Green Man from Toy Story. I haven't seen any other patterns available, so I made it up and created a pattern free for use for all non-commercial purposes.

(Note that the hat in the picture has a different edging than described below. I think the pattern will result in a better looking product.)

Materials:

Size 6 DPNs or magic loop for knitting “in the round”

2 Size 6 DPNs for I-Cord

Yarn needle

Crochet hook, Size G 3.75mm

Worsted weight yarns:

Royal blue (small amount)

Black (small amount)

White yarn (small amount)

Light green (pea green? One skein)

Body of Hat:

Cast on 90 stiches in blue yarn (sized for small/medium adult head. Easily scaled up in multiples of 10)

R1-3: K1P1 around

R4-6: Switch to green; K1P1 around

Continue to knit around in green for four inches beyond ribbed edging (total of 5” or what is needed for fit)

Decrease rows:

R1: k8, K2TOG

R2: K7, K2TOG

R3: K6, K2TOG

R4-7: continue decreasing pattern

R8: K1, K2TOG (20 stitches remain)

R9-10: K ALL

R11: K2TOG AROUND (10 stitches remain)

R12-13: K ALL

R14: K2TOG AROUND (5 stitches remain)

R15: K2TOG, K 3 remaining stitches (4 stitches remain)

Continue knitting in I-CORD about 2.5”, one round of K2TOG, then finish off

Tie I-CORD in a loose knot to form top of antennae

Eyes (make three):

R1: using white yarn, form loop, 1 sc, then make 8 sc in the loop (magic circle 8), slip stitch in first sc to complete round

R2: 2 sc in each of first round, slip stitch in first sc

R3: alternate 1 sc then 2 sc in each sc, slip stitch in first sc

R4: 1 sc all around, slip stitch

R5: 1 sc all around, slip stitch

R6: alternate 1 sc then 2 sc in each sc, slip stitch, pull stitch through to finish off

Leave a tail of at least 10”

Using black yarn and a needle—pass yarn through center of “eye” then through gaps in second row to form pupils

Use a small amount of stuffing and white yarn tail to stitch eyes onto finished hat (character’s center eye is slightly higher than outside eyes)

Ears (make two):

R1: using green yarn, magic circle 8, pull tail,  do not join, ch1 and turn
R2: 1sc then 2sc in the next st
R3: ch1 turn, 1sc then 2sc in the next st
R4: ch1 turn, 1sc in each st 
R5: ch1 turn, 1sc then 2sc in the next st
R6: 1sc in each st 

R7: ch1 turn, 1sc then 2sc in the next st
R8: 1sc in each st 

R9: ch1 turn, 1sc then 2sc in the next st
Finish off, fold corner over as pictured (not quite in half), stitch edges together, then sew onto finished hat

Mouth:

Using black yarn, create mouth as desired (character’s mouth seems to spread a little wider than the two outside pupils)

Inspired by this pattern:

http://www.sharonojala.com/2011/06/crochet-alien-lgm-inspired-by-toy-story_03.html

Ladybug fridge magnets

There are lots of bug magnets online that I looked at before dreaming these up. The steps were:

1. Paint the clothespins black (I pulled the springs out first so they would stay silver and reassembled them once they'd dried a couple of hours)
2. Cut out red craft foam as shown for wings (an oval with a small wedge cut out)
3. Glue black sequins to foam for spots
4. Cut a 2-3in piece of black pipe cleaner and fold it into two antennae
5. Glue wings to the clothespin with about 3/4 inch for the face, then glue anttenae and googly eyes into that space
6. Once things have set up a bit, glue a magnet to the underside (I use fairly powerful round magnets, make sure what you use will stick to the refrigerator and hold some weight)

I think they'd be cuter if I was able to curve the wings downward a bit. You might try to think up some way to do that.

Prettier Notebooks

My sister found a stash of old composition notebooks at home, so I decided to make a project of them. I found a couple of similar projects online, though I can't track them down now. Basically, all I did was ...
1. Cut the paper to size for front and back (not covering the spine) and glue it down using Modge Podge (one site recommended using binder clip to hold paper together and away from glue)
2. Cut ridged ribbon to length (about 1.5-2 inches wide), and seal off ends with clear nail polish
3. Glue ribbon along spine trying to get it fairly even on front and back (helps to stand up notebook on long side and lay ribbon along spine and adhere to both sides at once)

Elegant and easy ornaments

I'm still cranking out ornaments for TPP. My latest effort are these simple paper ornaments. I cut strips of colored paper and stapled them as described. They are so cool looking for almost no effort.

So, what are 40 birds in the hand worth?

I loved these sweet paper bird ornaments because they could be funky or classy depending on the paper I chose. So simple,too. The pattern comes from Better Homes and Garden. I couldn't find cute two-sided cardstock, so I glued two contrasting pieces together before cutting out the bird shapes (the wing on one side is the same pattern as the body on the other).


I also adapted the pattern for felt. I used the exact same stencil on felt, then I used a blanket stitch in contrasting thread to sew it up with just a little stuffing inside. Little black sequins for eyes complete the effect. I used a whip stitch to secure the wings, but left them partially free to move at will.

I really liked making them... so now I have about 40.