Crochet

Crochet: Lady Edith Coasters

April 1, 2013Craft, OrganisationCrochet, Crochet Patternsubversivereader One comment

I have a new crochet pattern! And, in fact, I have a new crochet website!

I’ve decided I didn’t want to flood you over here with lots of patterns, so I’ve decided to move them over to Crochet of a Subversive Reader. This means more books and parenting type stuff here, and all my patterns together over there. I’ll still link to the patterns each week, though, so you won’t miss a thing.

Today I finished writing up the pattern for the Lady Edith coasters. The best news? I’ve written them in both UK and US terminology!

Adventures of a Subversive Reader: Downton Coasters

Crochet: Cookie Monster Bag

March 28, 2013CraftCrochet, Crochet Bag, Crochet Pattern, Free Crochet Pattern, Sesame Street Crochetsubversivereader View all 16 comments

This was the final of my little Sesame Street designs. Since the coin purse, pencil case and nesting bowls were all able to hold things, I wanted to continue that with this piece. And every Cookie Monster needs a bag for their cookies!

The body of the bag is made up with rows with multiple double crochet in one stitch and rows with clusters. Clusters take a little bit of time to get right, but really get the up and down pattern.

I hope you enjoy this pattern!

Cookie Monster Crochet Bag: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

Cookie Monster Bag

Download the pattern here (PDF)

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Yarns – Blue yarn. Small amounts of white, black and two shades of brown (I used acrylics, but quite thick ones. You might need to add rows or adjust tension to get the exact size you want)
Hooks – 5mm and 3mm
Other stuff – scissors, yarn needle, material for lining (if required)

CROCHET (US terminology)

Special Stitch

Cluster stitch – (3 dc cluster) Yo, draw yarn through stitch, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops, (2 loops remain on hook) yo, draw yarn through next stitch, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops (3 loops remain on hook) yo, draw yarn through next stitch, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops (4 loops remain on hook) yo, draw yarn through all loops (like decreasing 3 dcs together)

Front/Back (Make 2)

Use 5mm hook and blue yarn

Chain 33
Row 1 – sc into 2nd chain from hook, sc to end (32)
Row 2 – ch 3, dc 3 into third stitch from end, *skip 2, dc 3 into next stitch, continue from * until two from end, skip 1, dc 1 (31 dc)
Row 3 – ch 1, sc across, last sc in third chain (32)
Row 4 – ch 4, make a cluster stitch beginning 2nd stitch from chain, *ch 2, cluster stitch, continue from * until one from end, dc 1 (10 clusters)
Row 5 – ch 1, sc across, (last 2 dc into the 3rd and 4th chain from row 4) (32)
Rows 6 – 21 – repeat rows 2-5
Row 22 – 23 – repeat rows 2-3
Row 24 – (creating the handle) – ch 4, cluster stitch (from 2nd stitch), ch 2, cluster stitch, ch 2, cluster stitch, ch 14, cluster stitch starting at the10th stitch from the end, ch 2, cluster stitch, ch 2, cluster stitch, dc 1
Row 25 – ch 1, sc in each (32)
Row 26 – 27 Repeat rows 2-3

Eyes

Use 3mm hook and white yarn

Row 1 – sc 6 into a magic circle, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – ch 1, inc in each stitch, ss to close (12)
Row 3 – ch 1, inc, sc around, ss to close (18)
Row 4 – ch 1, sc, inc, sc around, ss to close (24)
Row 5 – ch 1, inc, sc, sc, sc, ss to close (30)
Row 6 – ch 1, sc around, ss to close (30)

Use black yarn to embroider eyes on, off center

Cookie

Use 3mm hook and light brown yarn

Use darker brown yarn to embroider choc chips on

Putting it together

Sew the eyes with white yarn just under the handle on one of the two sides. As you sew, stuff the eyes with some toy stuffing to make the eyes 3D
Sew the cookie with brown yarn near the bottom on the other of the two sides
Sew the two sides together at the bottom

Line the bag with fabric, making sure that the fabric stops below the handles, and just short of the edges (I used a sewing machine, but you can hand sew it in.)

Sew the sides of the bag together using blue yarn

Wordless Wednesday – Pattern

March 27, 2013PicturesCrochet, wordless wednesdaysubversivereader View all 8 comments

Adventures of a Subversive Reader: Pattern

Linking with My Little Drummer Boys

Crochet – Big Bird Nesting Bowls

March 22, 2013CraftCrochet, Crochet Pattern, Sesame Street Crochetsubversivereader Leave a comment

When I was little, Big Bird was definitely one of my favourite Sesame Street characters. It took me a little while to work out what I would create with a Big Bird theme, but in the end, nesting bowls seemed obvious!

The joy of these nesting bowls is that they’re very adaptable. Adding or removing rows will allow you to make different sized bowls and allow for different nesting combinations. You can also try these bowls in different colours!

Big Bird Nesting Bowls

Downloadable Version (PDF)

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Yarns – Yellow (about a ball) small amounts of pink and blue (I used acrylics, but quite thick ones. You might need to add rows or adjust tension to get the exact size you want)
Hooks – 4mm
Other stuff – scissors

CROCHET (US terminology)

Small Bowl

Big Bird Nesting Bowl: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

Use blue yarn and 4mm hook

Base

Row 1 – Make a magic circle, sc 6 into it, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – Ch 1, increase in each, change to yellow in the ss (12)
Row 3 – Ch 1, [inc, sc] around, ss to close (18)
Row 4 – Ch 1, [sc, inc, sc] around, ss to close (24)
Row 5 – Ch 1, [inc, sc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (30)
Row 6 – Ch 1, [sc, sc, inc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (36)
Row 7 – Ch 1, [inc, sc 5] around, ss to close (42)

Sides

Row 8 – Ch 1, (work in back loop only) sc in each stitch, ss to close (42)
Row 9 – Ch 1, (work in both loops) sc in each stitch, ss to close (42)
Row 10 – Ch 2, hdc in each stitch, ss to close (42)
Row 11 – 14 – Repeat Rows 9 and 10, change to blue on the last ss
Row 15 – Ch 1 – sc in each stitch, ss to close – change to yellow on the ss (42)
Row 16 – Ch 1, [sc, hdc, dc, tc, dc, hdc, sc] six times, fasten off

Middle Bowl

Use yellow yarn and 4mm hook

Base
(Use back loop only, unless otherwise stated)

Row 1 – Make a magic circle, sc 6 into it, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – Ch 1, increase in each, ss to close (12)
Row 3 – Ch 1, [inc, sc] around, ss to close (18)
Row 4 – Ch 1, [sc, inc, sc] around, ss to close (24)
Row 5 – Ch 1, [inc, sc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (30)
Row 6 – Ch 1, [sc, sc, inc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (36)
Row 7 – Ch 1, [inc, sc 5] around, ss to close (42)
Row 8 – Ch 1, [sc 3, inc, sc 3] around, ss to close (48)

Sides

Row 9 – (front loop only) ch 1, sc in each, ss to close (48)
Row 10 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close (48)
Row 11 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close changing to blue (48)
Row 12 – (front loop only) ch 1, sc in each, ss to close, changing to yellow (48)
Row 13 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close, changing to pink (48)
Row 14 – (front loop only) ch 1, sc in each, ss to close, change to yellow (48)
Row 15 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close (48)
Row 16 – (creating the posts for crocodile stitch) ch 3, dc in the same spot, ch 2, skip 2, dc two into next stitch, continue around, ss to close (16 pairs of posts)
Row 17 – (crocodile stitch) ch 1, turn basket on side, base facing to your left, dc 5 around the top post, ch 1, rotate basket 180 degrees, dc 5 around the pair of the first post. ch 1, skip the next pair of posts, repeat crocodile stitch around the bowl, ss to close (8 ‘scales’)
Row 18 – ch 1, sc around the top of the basket, fasten off.

Large Bowl

Use Yellow yarn and 4mm hook

Base

Sides

Row 11 – Ch 1, sc around circle in back loops only, ss to close (60)
Row 12 – (creating the posts for crocodile stitch) ch 3, dc in the same spot, ch 2, skip 2, dc two into next stitch, continue around, ss to close (20 posts)
Row 13 – (crocodile stitch) ch 1, turn basket on side, base facing to your left, dc 5 around the top post, ch 1, rotate basket 180 degrees, dc 5 around the pair of the first post. ch 1, skip the next pair of posts, repeat crocodile stitch around the bowl, ss to close (10 ‘scales’)
Row 14 – ch 1, sc around the top of the basket, fasten off

Here’s the big bowl in a different colour combination!

Crochet – Elmo Pencil Case

March 19, 2013CraftCrochet, patternsubversivereader View all 2 comments

After finishing the Grouchy Oscar Coin Purse, it made total sense to create some more Sesame Street inspired goodness. One of my best friend’s has an Elmo-Obsessed toddler, so I had to experiment with red and orange to make a little pencil case. This pencil case would be perfect to hold your crochet hooks, or a selection of crayons for your next drawing.

Note – At the moment, I only have US terminology for the pattern (that’s what I crochet in). If enough people are interested, I’d be willing to ‘translate’ a UK terminology pattern.

Downloadable Pattern

Online Pattern

Elmo Pencil Case

Elmo Crocheted Pencil Case: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Yarns – small amounts of Red, Orange, White and Black. (I used acrylics, but quite thick ones. You might need to add rows or adjust tension to get the exact size you want)
Hooks – 4mm and 3mm
Other stuff – scissors, yarn needle, zipper or other fastening

CROCHET (US terminology)

Ends (Make 2)

Use orange yarn and 4mm hook

Row 1 – Make magic circle. Crochet 6 into circle, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – Inc in each stitch (12)
Row 3 – [Inc, sc] around (18) Fasten off
Row 4 – attach red yarn at a different spot. [sc, inc, sc] around (24)
Row 5 – [inc, sc, sc, sc] around (30)
Row 6 – [sc, sc, inc, sc, sc] around (36) Fasten off

Body

Use red yarn and 4mm hook

Foundation – Chain 37
Row 1 – sc into second chain from hook, sc to end (36)
Row 2 – (crochet in back loop only) sc in each to end (36)
Row 3 – (crochet in back loop only) ch 2, hdc in second loop from end, hdc to end (35)
Row 4-7 – Repeat Rows 2 (finishing last stitch in the starting chain) and 3, change to Orange on last stitch
Row 8 – Repeat row 2, change to Red on last stitch
Row 9 – Repeat Row 3
Row 10 – 17 – Repeat Rows 2 – 9, change to Orange on last stitch of Row 17
Row 18 – (crochet in back loop only) ch 2, hdc in second loop from end, hdc to end, change to red in the last row(35)
Row 19 – (crochet in back loop only) ch 2, hdc in second loop from end, hdc to end (35)
Row 20 – crochet in back loop only) sc in each to end, putting the last sc in the starting chain(36)
Row 21 – Repeat Row 19, change to orange in the last stitch
Row 22 – Repeat Row 2, change to red on the last stitch (36)
Row 23 – Repeat Row 3 (35)
Rows 24-31 – Repeat Rows 2-9
Rows 32-35 – Repeat Rows 2-3 (twice)
Row 36 – Repeat Row 2 (36) Fasten off

Eyes (make 2)

Use black yarn and 3mm hook

Row 1 – Make a magic circle and crochet 6 stitches into it, ss to close circle. Fasten off (6)
Row 2 – Attach white yarn. Inc in each stitch, ss to close (12)
Row 3 – ch 1, Inc, sc around. ss to close (18)
Row 4 – ch 1, sc, inc, sc around, ss to close (24) Fasten off

Nose

Use orange yarn and a 3mm hook

Row 1 – Make a magic circle and crochet 5 stitches into it. ss to close (5)
Row 2 – ch 1, inc, inc, sc 3 into next stitch, inc, inc, ss to close (11)
Row 3 – ch 1, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, inc, sc, inc, sc, ss to close (17)
Row 4 – ch 1, sc, inc, sc, sc, inc, sc, sc, inc 3, sc, sc, inc, sc, sc, inc, sc, ss to close (24) Fasten off

Putting it together

Use a yarn needle and yarn to sew the eyes together. Sew the nose between the eyes

Sew the eyes and nose to the case (either side ways or up-and-down ways)

Sew the ends to the top and bottom of the case (stitches should correspond) Crochet (sc) around the opening

Add fastening (zip, velcro, buttons etc)

Crochet – Grouchy Oscar Coin Purse

March 13, 2013CraftCrochet, patternsubversivereader View all 2 comments

While I was on my holiday, I was playing around with some stitches and different colour yarns. When I got back I thought I’d play a little more and ended up with an Oscar the Grouch-esque coin purse. This one isn’t completely finished – I haven’t been able to buy a zipper to fasten it – but it has been crocheted a couple of times by me, and I’m pretty confident that the pattern will work. I’d be thrilled with any feedback and feel free to share this patter around as well.

Note – At the moment, I only have US terminology for the pattern (that’s what I crochet in). If enough people are interested, I’d be willing to ‘translate’ a UK terminology pattern.

Downloadable Pattern

Online Pattern

Grouchy Oscar Crochet: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Yarns – small amounts of green, light brown, white and black. I used acrylics
Hooks – 5mm and 3mm
Other stuff – scissors, yarn needle, zipper or other fastening, small piece of material for lining (optional), sewing needle and thread (optional)

CROCHET (US terminology)

Purse

Use green yarn and 5mm hook

Foundation – Chain 21
Row 1 – sc into second chain from the hook, sc into each chain in the row (20)
Row 2 – (crochet in back loop only) chain 2, hdc into 2nd stitch from hook, hdc in each stitch in the row (19)
Row 3 – (crochet in back loop only) chain 1, sc in each stitch finishing in the chain from the previous row, change to brown in the last stitch (20)
Row 4 – (crochet in back loop only) chain 1, sc in each stitch, change to green in the last stitch (20)
Row 5 – (crochet in back loop only) chain 1, sc in each stitch, (20)
Rows 6 – 9 – Repeat rows 2-5
Row 10 – 15 – (crochet in both loops) ch 1, sc in each (20)
Row 16 – 19 – Repeat rows 2-5
Row 20 – 23 – Repeat rows 2-5 without changing colour
Row 24 – (crochet in both loops) ch 1, sc in each (20), tie off

In green yarn, sc around the whole rectangle

Eyes (make 2)

Use black yarn and 3mm hook

Row 1- Make a magic circle, crochet 6 stitches into it, ss to close circle (6)
Row 2 – Inc in each stitch, ss to close circle and fasten off (12)
Row 3 – Use white yarn. Inc, sc around circle, ss to close circle (18)
Row 4 – Inc, sc, sc around circle, ss to close circle (24) Fasten off

Crochet (using sc) the two eyes together (about three sc)

Eyebrows

Use brown yarn and 3mm hook.

Attach brown yarn on the outer side of one of the eyes

Row 1 – sc in each across the top of the eye, in the joining sc and to the side of the other (25)
Row 2 – ch 1, ss 3, sc 3, hdc 4, ss 5, hdc 4, sc 3, ss 3, fasten off

Putting it all together

Place the ‘purse’ so that the two brown stripes are towards the bottom. Use white yarn to sew the eyes onto the top. (Sew only around the eyes, not the eyebrows)

Sew lining to the inside of the purse if you’re including it (I’ve used red felt)
Fold the purse in half and sew up the sides as far up as you want
Add a fastener of some sort. I intend to add a zip when I buy one! You could also add a snap fastener, a button or velcro