Super Simple Fingerless Mitts

Two years ago I decided to write a really easy fingerless mittens pattern...

The original mitts.

I made them to match my stripy snood.

and I made them...then promptly forgot to actually write the pattern up and share it!  So, I've worked out how I made them, made another pair and this time I've actually written the pattern up and here it is!

Photo courtesy of my twelve year old!  Otherwise you only get one hand in the photo!
 

Like this...

...and this!





It's very, very easy to make these larger (increase foundation chain and the amount of rows) or smaller (decrease foundation chain and the amount of rows). The pattern, as it is, makes mitts that are stretchy enough for my massive hands and also work for my twelve year old's hands.

The first mitts were made with Stylecraft Special dk (all 88 colours are available in the Planet Yarn online shop), using alternating rows of Teal and Emperor.  The most recent pair have been made with Purple Haze Stylecraft Caberet, a gorgeously soft, self striping yarn which also has a glittery thread running through it!  I blinking love this yarn, have a look in the Planet Yarn online shop at the other gorgeous colours available - soooooo pretty!

So here it is (finally)!  My super simple fingerless mittens pattern!

Skills needed: US double crochet (dc)/UK treble crochet (tr), crocheting in the round, chain (ch), slip stich (sl st).

Yarn and equipment needed:

 

• dk yarn (approx. 40 grams)
• 4mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Stitch markers (optional but recommended)
• Scissors

Notes: crocheting in the round, especially with double crochet stitches, can be a little confusing…it’s really easy to miscount and add an extra stitch when you end a round. To make it easier put a stitch marker in that third chain (the one that counts as your first dc on each row) then you can do a quick count when you come back around to it and make sure you still have just 30 tr (30dc in US terms) per round. 

I’ve included two versions of the pattern, one in UK terms and one in US terms. 

The pattern in UK crochet terms:

ch 33

Row 1:  tr into fourth chain from hook (counts as second tr), tr along until the end of the chain (you should have 30 stitches, slip stitch into the third chain at the start (taking care not to twist the row)

Row 2: ch 3 (first tr) then tr around the circle you have just created with row1until you reach the ch 3 again.  Sl st into the third chain (30tr)

Rows 3 -9: repeat row 2

Making the thumb hole

Row 10: ch 3 (first tr) then tr into the next 14 stitches, ch5, miss the next five stitches then tr into the final 10 stitches until you meet the ch 3 again.  Sl st into the third chain (30 stitches, 25tr and 5ch)

Row 11: ch 3 (first tr) then tr into the next 30 stitches, when you get to the chains from row 10 just treble over these as you would have done in the previous rows. (30tr)

Rows 12-15: repeat row 2

Break yarn.

Carefully weave in all ends, making sure you take particular care joining the first row neatly, remember the original foundation chain wasn’t joined there is just the slip stitch at the end of the first row. 

Now make another one!

Ta dah! Proudly wear your fabulous fingerless mitts or give ‘em to someone you love!

The pattern in US crochet terms:

ch 33

Row 1:  dc into fourth chain from hook (counts as second dc), dc along until the end of the chain (you should have 30 stitches, slip stitch into the third chain at the start (taking care not to twist the row)

Row 2: ch 3 (first dc) then dc around the circle you have just created with row1until you reach the ch 3 again.  Sl st into the third chain (30dc)

Rows 3 -9: repeat row 2

Making the thumb hole

Row 10: ch 3 (first dc) then dc into the next 14 stitches, ch5, miss the next five stitches then dc into the final 10 stitches until you meet the ch 3 again.  Sl st into the third chain (30 stitches, 25dc and 5ch)

Row 11: ch 3 (first dc) then dc into the next 30 stitches, when you get to the chains from row 10 just treble over these as you would have done in the previous rows. (30dc)

Rows 12-15: repeat row 2

Break yarn.

Carefully weave in all ends, making sure you take particular care joining the first row neatly, remember the original foundation chain wasn’t joined there is just the slip stitch at the end of the first row. 

Now make another one!

Ta dah! Proudly wear your fabulous fingerless mitts or give ‘em to someone you love!

Pointy Petal Flowers

Here's a jolly little pattern for hooking up some bright pointy flowers to cheer up a gloomy day.

Spring is my second favourite season, with Summer being my absolute favourite.  Ah yes!  Sun...well sometimes anyway...but colour, so much vibrant colour!  In celebration of Winter finally ebbing away and Spring peeking around the corner: flowers!  Hurray!

I've used Stylecraft Special DK and a 4mm hook for these particular blooms.

Stitches used (using US terms): single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc) picot and chain (ch)

Round One:
Make a magic loop then ch2 (not counted as a dc) then dc 12 stitches into your loop, gently tighten and slip stitch together for your flower's centre.

Round Two:
Next *ch6, miss a dc then sl st into the next dc* repeat until you've got six loops of chain stitches.

Round Three: into each chain loop: 4sc, picot (ch2 then slip stitch into first ch), 4sc then slip stitch into the same dc from round one that you slip stitched into when you were making the ch6 loops, I've tried to show the particular stitch I mean in the photo below, the needle is sticking out of the stitch your hook needs to slip stitch in.

Repeat for each petal then after your final slip stitch your flower is complete!  Sew in the ends and put it where you like! 

Ta-dah!

I particularly like the way they look when stacked on top of another one, pretty.

This has been written up super quickly on a gloomy Monday evening, if you spot any mistakes, give me a nudge and I'll sort it out.

Planet Yarn Granny Square Pattern and Diagram

There are many, many ways to hook up a granny square.  And this, I find, can be a bit of a problem!  How do you remember which particular variation of the granny square pattern were you using to make your ongoing pile of squares? 

I decided to solve my dilemma by creating a Planet Yarn version of the pattern so I would always know which pattern I'd been using!  I thought it would be useful for other granny squarers out there too, particularly if it had a diagram to go with it too!

I had a brief battle (I was victorious) with a cracking little piece of free software called Stich Works Software and came up with this pretty little picture:



created with Stitch Works Software

Here's the key:

And here's the written instructions:

 

Ch 4 and slst to make a ring

Round 1: ch3, all following double crochet  stitches into the 4ch ring: 2dc, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch 3, stst into third ch of starting chain.

Round 2: ch3, *3dc into next ch space, ch3, 3dc into the same ch space*, repeat until last ch space, 3dc into last ch space, ch3 2dc into same space and slst into third ch of starting ch. 

Round 3: ch3, 3dc into next ch3 space, ch 3, *3dc into same ch space, 3dc into space in round 2, 3dc into ch space, ch3* repeat from * twice, then ch3, 3dc into 3ch space, 2dc into same ch space and slst into third ch of starting ch.

 

Here's a hooked up square using Stylecraft Special dk in Empire and a 5.5mm hook.

 

 

 

Now, if, like me, you have multiple projects on the go and can never remember which hook you were using, I'd like to introduce you to a fantastic little gadget:

 

photo from Lana Bou

 

 

It's a stitch marker with the hook size you're using on it!  Very clever indeed!  A fabulous Etsy shop called Lana Bou stocks these stitch markers. 

My markers have beads that match the handles of the knitpro crochet hooks that I love so much I sell them in my shop!

Give Kate, the shop owner, a message on the checking out part of her shop to let her know which numbers and colours you'd like, she is very friendly and will help you get exactly what you need.  She also made me my rather fabulous 'crocheter' necklace too.  Have a mooch, it's a lovely shop full of pretty yarny related shinies! 

And now a completely gratuitous shot of my very own 12 x 12 granny square blanket I'm hooking up, using my 'Empress' yarn pack from the Planet Yarn Shop.  Oh and look, a handy little stitch marker to remind me which hook I'm using...heh!  

 

 

Happy Hooking!

 

Baby Baseball Boots

Finally, I can post about these adorable little booties!  I was in the very privileged position of knowing that the baby the booties were being made for was going to be a girl, so sharing these fabulous pink booties would rather have given the game away!

I’ve made a few pairs of baby shoes, and I’ve learned: the first one I make is always too tight and to just frog it!  I concentrate so hard on the pattern my muscles must be super tense (I think I may forget to breathe at times too).  Once I’ve relaxed a little bit (by the time I get onto the second one) my tension is far more even!

I’ve tried (and failed) to make teeny baseball boots before so I scrutinised the patterns available on Ravelry to find one I might have success with.  I found this little gem!  Teri’s pattern is fantastically detailed with plenty of photos to reassure me I’m going along the right tracks.  I didn’t realise until after I’d finished but she’s also made a youtube video.  When you’re following a pattern that’s a bit tricky it’s really, really helpful to have so much support, it really helps me persevere.  For more of her wonderful crochet patterns go have a mooch around her fantastically named blog Knot Your Nana's Crochet. 

My only whinge (and it’s all to do with me being a lazy slattern) is that there are soooooo many ends that need sewing in.  But it’s because there are so many yarn changes, not a lot can be done to change that – it’s the nature of the finished item!

Hopefully these little boots will stay on (I always found my babies were very talented when it came to kicking off shoes and socks!) and look adorable on their gorgeous owner Imani.

As usual I used my go to yarn Stylecraft Special dk, because what is not to love about beautifully soft yarn in 82 colours that goes in the washing machine and tumble drier!  I used the colours fondant and white.

Baby Basics Newborn Baby Hat Pattern

"Baby Basics is a volunteer-led project aiming to support

 new mothers who are struggling to meet the financial

and practical burden of looking after a new baby." 

This is how Baby Basics describe themselves on their website baby-basics.org.uk.  On a practical level this means: "volunteers lovingly collect, sort and package a ‘Moses Basket’ of clothing, toiletries and essential baby equipment as an attractive gift to new mothers." As explained on the Bolton Branch’s webpage they are a referral only service, ‘working with midwives, health visitors and other professional groups to provide support directly where it is most needed’.

What drew me to this charity is my own experience of having children. I was surrounded by a support network of family and friends, both me and my partner were in full time employment and it was still a very difficult and challenging time.  I can’t even begin to imagine how isolating and terrifying it must be to be bringing a baby into the world, unsure how you’re going to cope with even providing your baby with basic essentials.  Babies are really, really expensive, we spent hundreds of pounds on clothes, equipment, nappies and so on before our first was even born.  Although Baby Basics can’t hope to replace financial stability and a support network of family and friends what it does do is offer a little bit of practical help for the first few months: a safe sleeping place (moses basket), toiletries, nappies, bedding and clothes.  What is most important, I feel, is the knowledge these families will have that somebody cares and wants to help them.  Feeling alone and isolated can be crippling.  Baby Basics is a discreet, gentle helping hand, a message saying that there are people who care. 

Here are a few moses baskets that have already been sent out.  They remind me of the baby boxes Finnish parents are given.  As you can see a lot of love and care goes into each one.

The charity depends on donations and volunteers.  Without donations of moses baskets, baby clothes and other essentials they cannot offer help.  They gratefully accept donations of new and looked after second hand equipment and clothes, and they really appreciate handmade items too.  A hand knitted cardigan or a crocheted hat is a gift that is very tangible gesture of love and care.

Crafters, generally, love sharing the things they make.  It's also, believe it or not, helpful for your own mental health and well being to give to charity, here's one of the many articles that argue the case that giving makes you happier.  When I learned about the work Baby Basics was doing I wanted to help.  I'm sharing their story to hopefully encourage other crafters out there to support them too.

This is my newborn baby hat pattern, which I wrote specifically to make hats for Baby Basics.  There are also plenty of free patterns out there if you fancy making a knitted hat, or maybe a  blanket or cardigan to donate. This is a nice and simple pattern that won’t take too much time and is quite easy to customize with stripes, pompoms, teddy ears etc.  

Find out if you have a Baby Basics nearby by clicking here.

Baby Basics Newborn Crochet Hat Pattern

 

Using dk yarn (about 25g should be plenty) and a 4mm hook

Row 1 : Magic circle, ch 2 dc 12 into magic circle*, sl st into first dc (12)

Row 2 : ch 2, 2dc in each st, sl st into first dc (24)

Row 3: ch 2, *1dc in next st, 2dc into next st* rep until round completed and sl st into first dc (36)

Row 4: ch 2, *1dc into next two st, 2dc into next st* repeat until round completed then sl st into first dc (48)

Row 5 to 14: ch 2 and dc around, sl st into first dc (48)

Fasten off and sew in ends.

Notes: the ch 2 on every round is not to be used as a dc, it just brings the yarn up to the right height and if it’s missed out you’ll find a gap in your crochet running down the line of all your slip stitches.

*If you’ve never used a magic circle before I urge you to google and youtube it, it makes a lovely neat start to the top of the hat.  If you don’t fancy using one then ch 4, sl st to create a ring and then do your first row into the ring.

It goes without saying that one of these adorable hats also makes a very sweet gift for anyone you know who is welcoming a baby into this bonkers world.  I really enjoy making them.  I hope you do too.

PDF pattern for Stripy Snood / Cowl / Neckwarmer now in the PlanetYarnUK etsy shop!

Finally listed my very first, proper pattern in the shop.  Hopefully now I can be a little braver and start writing up my other patterns too.  It's quite nerve wracking writing up a pattern, I'm so very conscious that it needs to make complete and perfect sense.  I want my patterns to be very straightforward and easy to follow.  My lovely pattern testers helped me out a lot, thank you ladies! 

The Stripy Snood / Cowl / Neckwarmer is going to be my first kit too...just got to get together all the different bits and pieces, take some pretty pics and upload it.  Sadly it's not that sunny today, but hopefully it'll be bright enough to take some good quality photos.

Have a splendid weekend!