OWL AMIGURUMI KEYCHAIN by ANNIEGURUMI

This owl amigurumi is quick to make and will bring a smile to the receiver! The pattern works up nicely with La Mia Cottony and adding a keychain would make a great gift. Make a few owls and then turn them into a mobile for a nice hanging decoration for a nursery.

 

I made this on a whim back in the early 2000 while making a mini hat for one of my amigurumi. I turned the hat upside down and thought it would be a great base for an owl. I hope you enjoy the pattern as much as I do! Please be sure to tag me on Instagram @anniegurumi so I can see your owls.

 

 

Materials:

La Mia Cottony in Blue-P4-L014 (or your desired owl colour)

La Mia Cottony in White-P1-L001

La Mia Cottony in Pinkish Orange-p17-l017

Polyfil

9mm amigurumi eyes (2 total)

Keychain

Tapestry Needle

2.5mm Crochet Hook

 

Eyes: (make two, with white yarn)

R1: 6sc in MR

R2: inc around (12)

R3: (inc, sc) repeat (18)

R4: (inc, sc 2) repeat (24)

FO leaving long tail.

 

Owl: (with purple yarn)

R1: 6sc in MR

R2: inc around (12)

R3: (inc, sc) repeat (18)

R4: (inc, sc 2) repeat (24)

R5: (inc, sc 3) repeat (30)

R6: (inc, sc 4) repeat (36)

R7-17: sc around (11 rounds)

Add the animal eyes through the white circle eyes you made earlier between R12-13 on the body of the owl and secure. Then sew the white eye circles securely onto the body of the owl. Add the second eye in the same matter, ensuring the white portions of both eyes are touching. Using the peachy orange, embroider a beak.

R18: (dec, sc 4) repeat (30)

R19: (dec, sc 3) repeat (24)

 

*Stuff your owl and flatten to work sc through both sides.

Using a few sl st to move your stitch so you start at the right edge of the owls head if it’s not there already.

Pinch the ears into a point.

Add a keychain if you prefer using the long tail from the owl’s body. secure well.

Wings: (make two, with  purple yarn)

R1: 6sc in MR

R2: inc around (12)

R3: (3dc in first st), sc in next, (3 dc in next st), sc in next. Leave remaining stitches unworked.

FO leaving long tail.

 

Sew wings on the side of the owl. Fasten in all ends.

Hope you enjoyed my owl pattern! Please check out my youtube video tutorial for reference if you should need it. 🙂 Thank you so much and please tag me if you make your own owl.

You can find me on instagram, Facebook and my patterns on etsy.

The Knitting Spies of History

The history of knitting is an interesting topic to think about. Knitting, as we all know, it is the process of creating loops of threads that lock on each other row by row with the use of needles and yarn. The word “knit“ originates from the word “cnyttan” which means to tie with a not. We still don’t know the exact date of “first knitting project” the mankind has ever created till this day, however, we know that knitting is said to date in the Middle East, Mesopotamia, like the spinning and weaving, and we hear some speculations about the Egyptians invented knitting. Some fragments of knitted fabric were discovered in Eastern Syria by an independent researcher named Rudolf Pfister, which date to 250 A.D.  Those early prototype of socks were using the technic called nailbinding, which is a knotless fabric creation technic that predates knitting. Nailbinding was time-consuming, so mankind had to invent a better way to create fabric. This was the time when the knitting came along.

Historians believe that the trading routes of ancient times helped knitting and nailbinding spread across the world, evolved and became the modern day craft that we all love. And even in the darkest times of humanity, we have never stopped knitting to this day.

Wartime has involved knitters throughout history. All around the world, women were encouraged to support troops from their hometowns by knitting items for soldiers; items like socks and hats. But besides that there is a history between knitting, espionage and spies. Yes, you read it right. Since knitting was a common craft for women in ancient times, no one would suspect a woman knitting and the craft was exploited by spies and soldiers throughout the wars.

American Revolution

Before the Revolutionary War, all clothing was handmade, so crafts like knitting and sewing were practically important, but these crafts also provided women a way to express themselves and their own political views. Boston Tea Party (was a political protest that occurred on December 16th, 1773. American colonists, dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor to protest taxation.) is one of the examples of Americans protesting British taxation. Women in colonies were also avoiding taxation on textiles by making their homemade clothing.

One of the most famous among the knitting spies is Molly “Old Mom” Rinker. She was one of George Washington’s spies who sat on a hilltop on a beautiful day and knit, according to An Encyclopedia of American Women at War. Actually, she was spying on the British during the Revolutionary War. When she was knitting, she hid messages in balls of yarns to share the information through these balls with fellow soldiers. We can call her one of the famous amongst American knitters of all time.

Civil War

Before the Civil war; knitting was a hobby for wealthy women, like knitting for charity as machine-knit items were getting popular. After the war broke out; soldiers were using machine-knit stockings, but they were seen as sleazy because machine-knit socks would wear out easily. This was causing soldiers to be left barefoot, which would cause blistered and infected feet. Many women began knitting for troops, sending their handmade socks and hats to military camps and hospitals with letters full of encouraging notes.

World War 1 and 2

The US entered World War 1 on 1917 and after a year the war was over, when German surrender on 1918. During this time period, the need for knit items was still high. The Red Cross put out calls for millions of knit items, such as wristlets, sweaters, and pairs of socks. Just like Civil War, knit socks were especially important. Personal knitting during this time was frowned upon, as was hoarding yarn. Knitters were expected to return completed items or return the yarn within almost a month, 21 days to be exact.

Knitting for troops continued throughout World War 2. Even Queen Elizabeth II (who was not yet the queen) was knitting for troops during this era. Before Pearl Harbor, American knitters were preparing care packages for allies like Britain and France, containing food and knit items. After Pearl Harbor, they turned their attention to American troops.

During World War 2, female spies used knitting as a disguise and used the craft to send secret messages to fellow soldiers. Like Morse Code, and ordinary loop creates a dot, and the purl stitch can be used to create the dash, according to the authors of Writing Secret Codes and Sending Messages. The knitting spies even used a form of steganography to drop messages into the knitted material. The Belgian Resistance during World War 2; used the method of dropping a stitch to form a hole, and purling a stitch to form a bump to track the movements of the Germans. And no one suspected the grandmas sitting in-front of their windows knitting peacefully.

Knitting and spying often go hand-in-hand that maybe you might want to try to hide messages to your projects; using the Morse Code or even binary coding languages, using knits and purls like zeros and ones. Possibilities are endless. Even though the history of knitting involves dark times like wars, hiding secret messages in your crafting projects might be fun for today.

Flower Corners Crochet Blanket Pattern by Zarkashaaty

If you like c2c stitch, you are definitely going to like this blanket pattern by Zahraa Altaan from @zarkashaaty, c2c stitch are worked in an unusual way. Where the stitches are made around a main flower square to create bigger squares, after making four squares and the border then they are joined together to create a pretty blanket to treasure forever.

For this pattern you will need:

One ball of Kartopu Lulla baby in four colors (H2250H2252H2253H2254)

Three balls of Kartopu flora in cream color

Hook 3.5 mm

Darning needle

To download the pattern, click HERE

The Cable Knit Pillow Cover Pattern by BrennaAnnHandmade

Hi Makers! Brenna from @brennaannhandmade here, with another super fun, FREE pattern for the home, made in collaboration with HobiumYarns! 🙂 Today’s tutorial features their lovely, Kartopu Elite Wool Grande yarn in this pretty burnt mustard color! They have SO many choices to choose from though, so pick your favorite to create your very own knit cable pillow too! 😉

Are you ready to get started? Great! Let’s go! 😉

(Finished cover fits an 18″x 18″ pillow insert)

Materials needed:

4 skeins of Kartopu Elite Wool Grande Yarn (it acually only takes 3 1/2 skiens to complete 1 pillow cover, so I would recommend purchasing 7 skeins & making 2 matching pillow covers! 😉

1 pair of 10mm knitting needles (straight or circular, whichever you prefer)

A cable needle

A tapestry needle

A pair of scissors

A 18″ x 18″ pillow insert

 

Abbreviations:

CO = cast on

K = knit

P = purl

 

Directions:

(Knitting the pillow)

CO 40

Row 1: K7, P2, K7, P8, K7, P2, K7, turn.

Row 2: P7, K2, P7, K8, P7, K2, P2, turn.

Rows 3-9: Repeat rows 1 & 2, alternating.

Row 10: P7, K2, P7, Cable the next 8 stitches by transferring the next 4 st onto the cable needle,

then K 4,

next put the 4 st (on the cable needle) back on the left needle,

and then K those 4 st you just transferred back. Finally, finish the row by P7, K2, P7. Turn.

Rows 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, 91-100: Repeat rows 1-10.

Rows 101-109: Repeat rows 1 & 2, alternating.

Row 110: CO in Row 2 pattern. Pull yarn through & cut, leaving a long tail for sewing.

(Sewing the pillow)

Step 1: Fold the pillow so the right sides are facing inwards towards each other, and thread the tapestry needle with the long tail.

Step 2: Next, seam up the sides as pictured.

Step 3: Turn the cover inside-out the right way, and put the pillow insert inside the cover. Finally, seam the opening together to close, cut yarn, and weave in all ends to finish.

Ta Da! You’re all finished! 🙂

Brenna Ann is the designer and maker behind BrennaAnnHandmade. She crochets & knits cozy pieces of knitwear and accessories at her handmade shop on Etsy. She also has a blog, YouTube channel, and shares behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram @BrennaAnnHandmade.

Boho twist, warm winter headband by hadley paige designs

This headband is super soft & has lots of stretch for comfort!

(one size fits most ages 5yrs-adult)

(quick, easy, one piece) – great holiday gift & last-minute craft show stock up idea.

*pattern outlines two headband widths you can choose depending on your preference for fit.  I like to make ages 5-10 in the thinner width and the teen/adult a little wider.

 

Skill level:

Beginner /easy – with some crochet experience required.

 

Materials needed:

Abbreviations:

  • Fsc – foundation single crochet
  • Ch – chain
  • T – turn
  • Sc – single crochet
  • Blo – back loop only
  • Sl st – slip stitch
  • Sp – space
  • St(s) – stitch(es)
  • Acr – across

Pattern/ directions:

Row 1: fsc 80 sts. Ch1, t. (80sts)

Row 2: sc in 1st. Now in blo, sc 78 more sts acr. Sc last st through both loops. Ch1, t. (80sts)

Rows 3-5: rep row 2. (80sts)

  • For children/ages 5-10yrs: 5 rows is usually a good fit, once assembled it doubles this width.

For teen/adult sizing i like to add another row:

Row 6: rep row 2. (80sts)

Continune on for both size options (kids&adult)

 

Arrange to form shape:  

A little trick for shaping: look for the “x” shape in the front

& the “=” shape in the back.

Seam: ch1. Sl st up side of rows, working through both ends held together as one. (5sts/6sts)

 

Ch1 after last sl st worked.

Pull a long tail through loop on hook for stitching (roughly 60”/ or long arms length). Cut end. Pull tight. Turn seam inside out.

Assemble/ close up shape to form headband: using medium to loose tension & working in blo –

Sl st (18 sts – for kids /16 sts – for adult) acr.

At end, ch1 & cut end leaving small tail for weaving in. Pull end tight to secure.  (if you do your sl sts too tightly the circumference of the headband may fit too snug).

We begin in the top of seam which should now be inside out. This new seam we go around with, will be another raised row on the outside of the headband.

Note: you are holding the two sides together like an “=” sign; and going through the two at once, sandwiching them together.  One side will be a back side of the fsc row sts and the other will be the top of a regular sc stitched row, you can spot the two loops on the regular row.  (*when going through the regular row, go through blo – this makes the seam less crisp working through 2 loops vs all 3 from both sides together).

With back side facing. Flip so unfinished/ opened side is on the left now & rejoin at seam again in center of back then repeat above method for closing up this 2nd side. (18 sts acr for kids/ 16 sts acr for adult).

*note: since the adult headband is wider, having less stitches allows for the criss cross “x” in the front to fit through better.

At end, ch1 & cut leaving enough tail for weaving in. Pull end tightly to secure.

Turn headband inside out and weave in any remaining tails, i like to use a smaller crochet hook and pull them through minimum 5 sts acr of nearby row.

*if you have two tails near your back-side seam, knot them together and weave in from inside. Turn headband right side out again and tada! Your ready to wear & enjoy!

 

Measurements:

Height:

  • Children: 4.5”
  • Teen/ adult: approx. 5.5”

Width:

  • Roughly 8” acr (unstretched) – fits 20-22.5” head circumference worn.

(remember this is very stretchy but if you would like a larger headband or looser fit – all you have to do is add a few more sts in your beginning fsc row1).  E.g. if you add 6 sts. You will need to increase your sl sts at your seam around by 3 on ea side.)

Any questions don’t hesitate to ask!!

www.hadleypaige.ca

Find more fun patterns at:

www.etsy.com/shop/hadleypaigedesigns

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Thanks for trying out my pattern!  I hope you enjoy as much as i do!