Thursday 31 October 2013

Baby Bow Headband (Crochet)

I recently hosted a girl's night where we knitted and crocheted together, wore track pants, and ate junk food (i.e. the perfect Friday night in my books). My friend decided to make a headband for her cousin's baby and it turned out so cute that I decided to make my own! This is one of those projects that I feel kind of silly writing a pattern for because it really is so simple and easy to modify, but I know that many beginners benefit from having something to follow, and everyone benefits from some inspiration.

This pattern can be crocheted, and is a great beginner project. It is really simple, and doesn't take that long to complete. If you don't follow the pattern exactly, that is OK too. If you have slightly bigger/smaller crochet hooks, make it a bit bigger or smaller, then that is fine. Be creative with colours! Just be aware that if you use thicker yarn then you will need to make it a bit shorter. Enjoy!



Crocheted Baby Bow Headband

Materials:
Baby yarn in two colours (size 3/light yarn)
Size G/6 (4.25 mm) crochet hook
Scissors, needle

Headband:
With the colour you want for the headband, LOOSELY chain 50 stitches (*note: if you do it too tight then it won't be stretchy).

Turn, and single crochet in second chain from hook, and to the end.

**Chain one, turn, single crochet in second chain from hook, and to the end.**

Repeat from ** to ** until it is the desired width (approx. 1.5", or 6 rows)

Sew the ends together to form a headband, and weave in the yarn ends.


Bow:
With the colour you want for the bow, chain 15 stitches.

Turn, and single crochet in second chain from hook, and to the end.

**Chain one, turn, single crochet in second chain from hook, and to the end.**

Repeat from ** to ** until it is the desired width (approx. 2.5", or 10 rows)

Sew the yarn ends in.


To Assemble:
With the bow colour, sew in and out of the middle of the bow and tie the two ends together to scrunch it up. With the long end (that is attached to the ball), wrap it around the middle a bunch of times. Cut the yarn with a 6" tail, and tie the two ends together. Sew in the shorter end. With the longer end, sew the bow to the headband on top of the seam. Weave in the end to hide it. And done!


Chunky Button Cowl (Crochet)

This is a pattern that I created for a super easy, crocheted, chunky button cowl (inspired by Pinterest of course). This pattern is really easy, and would be suitable for a beginner. The hardest part is probably finding buttons big enough! Enjoy!


Materials
1 ball Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick Yarn (or another really chunky yarn)
Size 11.5mm crochet hook (or around there, gauge isn't important)
Yarn needle
2 big buttons

Chain 18 stitches.
Turn, double crochet in 3rd chain from hook and to end.
*Chain 3, double crochet to end.*
Repeat from * to * until your piece measures approximately 35" (or until you are out of yarn).
Sew buttons onto the outside edge of one of the ends, so that when the scarf is wrapped around your neck, the two corners line up (see picture). Sew in loose ends and voila! 



Note that you don't have to make button holes if you are doing double crochet, you can just use one of the gaps as a button hole. 

If you don't know how to double crochet, you can do this pattern in single crochet, or half double crochet instead, if you do this, you will need to add button holes as so:

Follow the pattern as above, except use single or half double crochet. For single crochet, only chain 1 at the end of each row instead of 3, and for half double crochet, chain 2 at the end of each row instead of 3.
Once your piece measures approximately 33", chain 1 or 2, single or half double crochet 3 stitches, chain 1, skip 1 space, single or half double crochet 7 stitches, chain 1, skip one space, single or half double crochet to end. 
Continue to work the piece as above for 2 more rows.