Fingerless Gloves crochet pattern

I made up this little crochet pattern because I couldn't find anything similarly simple on ravelry.com
However, it is entirely possibly that there is a pattern just like this floating around somewhere on the internet; if so, I haven't found it yet. Anyway, here is my version.

Materials:
Yarn: worsted weight (I used Red Heart Super Saver in lilac)
Hook: H / 5 mm
Size: child large/adult small.

To begin: chain 28.
Row 1: HDC in 3rd ch from hook, HDC in each stitch across. Ch 2, turn. (stitch count: 26)
Rows 2-15: Repeat row 1.

Now you will fold up the sides of your rectangle, matching the stitches on each side, and stitch them together. (You are basically creating a rectangle, then sewing the sides together, to make a tube. You will leave a space for the thumb, and voila! You've got gloves.)

Row for thumb opening: Sc 8 into both sides together, sc 5 into ONE SIDE ONLY, turn, HDC into 5sts on opposite side, sc 5 into ONE SIDE ONLY, sc into both sides together until the end of the row. F/O.

Check the fit on you/your model's hands to made sure it doesn't need adjustments.
You can easily adjust the beginning chain or number of rows to create a custom fit.

I also made another (larger) pair using DC rather than HDC.
It goes something like this:
Using 5mm hook and ww yarn, chain 33.
Row 1: DC in 4th ch from hook, DC in ea. st. across. Ch 3, turn. (stitch count: 30)
Row 2-18: Rep. row 1.

Row for thumb opening: Fold rectangle in half. Match up stitches together.
Working with both sides together: sc 8. sc 7 into ONE SIDE ONLY, turn, HDC into next 7sts. on opposite side, sc 7 into ONE SIDE ONLY, sc 15, to end of row. F/O.
Done!

These make great last-minute gifts, for birthdays, socking stuffers, teacher presents, etc.

Happy Crocheting! :)

easy peasy dc bracelet - free crochet pattern

Here's another free crochet pattern for you. You can also find it listed on Ravelry.

NOTE--
+Please keep in mind that although this is a free pattern, I would appreciate if you didn’t sell the pattern OR the finished product. If you like it and want to use it, that’s great! But please give me credit if you do. A linkback or a comment would be much appreciated. Thanks.+

Easy Peasy Double-Crochet Bracelet
My 8yo and I have been making these fun little bracelets during the hot, boring summer afternoons and handing them out as "friendship bracelets". I used a variated yarn for mine, but you can use any color or style of worsted weight yarn. You could probably use any yarn you want, you just might need to adjust the hook size and stitch counts. You might also need to adjust the number of beginning stitches to get a comfortable fit.

Supplies needed: a size G hook and about 10yds of yarn.

Row 1: Chain 30.
Row 2: DC in 3rd ch from hook and each st across. ch2, turn.
Row 3: DC in ea st. across. Ch1, turn.
Row 4: sc in each dc across. ss ends closed. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

It should look something like this when you're done:

You can optionally create a buttonhole closure and sew a button on the other end to make it look a little more "grown up". Or switch colors every row to make a pattern. Have fun with it. :)

Celebrate! Free crochet pattern: princess headband

My newest hobby is crochet. I started learning to crochet at the end of December, about 6 months ago. I taught myself the basic stitches by watching YouTube videos, believe it or not. My daughter started practicing too, and she can do a really great chain stitch :) She sometimes manages to make things like bookmarks and bracelets.

Today we were celebrating the birthday of one of her dear friends. I love giving handmade gifts, but I had this particular friend with me most of the week, and didn't have to time to create or buy anything without her seeing it. I checked around a little bit on my favorite crochet site, www.ravelry.com, but didn't see anything particularly fast and easy. So I made up my own pattern. (Isn't that usually why patterns are made up?)

Here's the cupcake decorating station.
Her mom made special gluten-free cupcakes.

And here are the kids' party favors: They got to decorate their own flip flops! They turned out really cute!

And here's is my Princess Headband pattern, free for your personal use and enjoyment.
Use any ww yarn and size G hook. This size fits teens-adults.
Adjust the beginning chain length, if needed, for a different size, such as for a smaller child.

Terms used:
ss - slip stitch
sc- single crochet
sk- skip a stitch
dc- double crochet
trc- triple crochet
dc4tog- double crochet 4 stitches together. Do this as if you were decreasing by one stitch, but instead of one, pick up 4 dc stitches. Yarn over, and pull through all stitches on your hook. There, you've done it. It's not hard, it just looks a little odd at first.

R1: ch93.  turn.
R2: Beginning in 2nd ch from hook, sc in 30 sts. ch2, sk2, 5dc in next st. (sk3, 5dc) repeat six times. Then ch2, sk2, sc. Turn.
R3: ch5, sc in 2nd dc, dc4tog. (ch2, sk3, dc4tog) rep. 6 times. TRC in 1st ch. of previous row. Turn.
R4: (ch5, sk3, sc) rep. 3 times. Then ch12, sk3, sc. Again, (ch5, sk3, sc) 3 times. (Note: You will sc into the first "ch5" of the previous row, Row 3. Hope that helps.) Continue by ss into the next 6 sts. sc in ea. st across. ss to join, making sure your chain isn't twisted. Fasten off, weave in ends. All done! :)

Total working time: 10-15 minutes.
This is a sweet little headband for dress-up, birthdays, a quick "get-better-soon" gift, or "just because." You could also add small beads or use metallic thread for some extra glitter and sparkle. Have fun. Happy crocheting...

NOTE--
+Please keep in mind that although this is a free pattern, I would appreciate if you didn't sell the pattern OR the finished product. If you like it and want to use it, that's great! But please give me credit if you do. A linkback or a comment would be much appreciated. Thanks.+

Crochet, our new favorite hobby. Free pattern included!

My oldest is sick, so we are spending a lazy Saturday at home in our pj's, watching movies and playing board games - which is a rare treat for my kids.

Around Christmastime, the 8yo and I began to teach ourselves how to crochet. At first we watched youtube videos to figure out what we were doing. Then we graduated to borrowing crochet books from the library. Now we are finding new patterns online. In February, I found my newest favorite crochet website, www.ravelry.com  They have so many good resources, patterns, and fun ideas there!

It is still somewhat difficult for the 8yo to read and understand patterns, so most of the time when she wants to make something, I still have to preview and decipher it for her. I made up this simple six-petal flower pattern because I had a hard time finding a flower pattern that doesn't include the triple crochet stitch - something that is still difficult for her.

So here it is:
Simple six-petal flower pattern
Row 1. Chain 6. ss to join in ring. (6 stitches total)
Row 2. 2sc in ea st. (12 total)
Row 3. (2sc, 3dc) rep. 6x. ss.
Row 4. (sc, ch4, sk 4, sc) rep. 6x. ss to join.

Congrats, you've made a flower!
You can use any hook size and any yarn. 
Experimenting with shape, size, and fabric is half the fun! Enjoy :)