Bushy stitch Dish Cloth

New stitch Monday!!  I have been practicing new stitches again and really like this one because it is such a nice texture and the bonus is that it makes a pretty scalloped edge!!  For this I used Lily Sugar and Cream Ombre in Country Sage but you can make it any color you like.   The bushy stitch is a combination of single and Double crochet stitches that form an asymmetrical shell.  (2 DC, ch 2, 1 SC)

I used a size I hook
yarn needle to weave in the end.

To start you will need to chain 31. (multiples of 3 then add one to make something bigger or smaller).


Row 1:  sk 3 ch, (1 DC, ch 2, 1 SC) in the next ch,  *sk 2 ch, (2 DC, ch 2, 1 SC) in the next ch*, repeat from *, ch 2 and turn.
Row 2:  *(2 DC, ch 2, 1 SC) in each ch 2 space* from the previous row across, ch 2.  Repeat row 2 until your cloth is square, approximately 18 rows.

You can leave the bottom straight or go across it to finish the edge by joining in the bottom right hand corner of the foundation chain and work across in the bottom of each shell, sk the first 2 ch
 *(2 DC, ch2, 1 SC), sk 2 ch* across and tie off at the end.

Hungry Caterpillar Baby Hat

Size 6 to 12 months.
For this hat I used Lion Brand, Vanna's Choice Yarn

in the following colors:

Scarlet

Kelly Green

Radiant Yellow 

Espresso

I also used a size H or 5mm Hook and a yarn needle to sew on the parts. 

The base of the hat is worked in Double Crochet (DC) and the bottom is worked in a front post stitch where you alternate with one Single Crochet in the first stitch then one DC in the post of the stitch above your next stitch.  This gives it a little nicer finish at the bottom.  

Working in Scarlet:

You can either start with a magic loop, or chain 4 and make a loop, then chain 2.

Round 1:  make 10 DC in the loop, sl st to the top of the first st, and ch 2.

Round 2:  do 2 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (20 DC)

Round 3:  *2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next st*, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (30 DC)

Round 4:  *2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 2 sts*, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2.  (40 DC)

Round 5:  *2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 3 sts*, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (50 DC)

Round 6:  1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (50 DC)

Round 7:  *2 DC in the first st, 1 DC in the next 9 sts*, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2. (55 DC)

Rounds 8-12:  1 DC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 2.  After round 12 ch 1.  

Rounds 13-14:  *1 SC in the first st, do a DC post st in the stitch above the next st*, repeat around, and sl st to the top of the first SC, ch 1.  (28 post stitches).

Eyes:  working in Kelly Green, make a loop, ch 2.

Round 1:  do 3 DC, 2 TC, 3 DC, 3 TC in the loop, sl st to the top of the first DC, tie off and switch to yellow, ch 1.

Round 2:  2 HDC in each st around, tie off leaving enough yarn to sew the eye on.  

Antennae:  Working in Espresso make a loop and ch 2. (Make 2)

Round 1:  6 DC, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 1.

Round 2 & 3:  1 HDC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 1.

Round 4:  1 HDCD in the first two sts, 1 HDC in the next 4 sts, sl st to the top of the first st., ch 1.

Rounds 5-7:  1 HDC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 1.  At the end of round 7 tie off leaving enough yarn to sew on. 

Nose:  Working in Kelly Green make a loop and ch 1.

Round 1:  do 6 HDC, 4 SC in the loop, sl st to the top of the first st and tie off leaving enough tail to sew on the nose.

Patriotic Starburst Dishcloth

This is another new stitch for me, actually I tried to make a dishcloth from a book I purchased and could not get it to work, so I had my sister try it, then my niece tried as well and we all failed.  After looking at the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework we got it figured out.  Turns out the pattern in the book was missing a couple of key steps to finish the starburst.  After a trial I decided it also needed a base chain that is first chain stitches, then one row of single crochet to keep the bottom neat.  This pattern also requires DC decrease stitches worked in multiple stitches and I will try to give a good description of that so it makes it easier.  In this dish cloth I used the following:
Size I or 5.5 mm hook
yarn needle
Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in Cornflower, Red and White.

The starburst stitch is worked in multiples of 8 plus 2 in the base chain, so for a dishcloth I used 34 for my base chain starting with the Cornflower chain 34.
Row 1:  ch 1 then do 1 SC in each stitch in your chain, turn.
Row 2:  ch 1, sk the first st, SC in the next st, *sk 3 sts, 9 DC in the next st, sk 3 sts, 1 SC in the next st*, repeat across, ending with a SC in the last st.  Tie off and change to White turn.
Row 3:  ch 3 sk the first SC, 4 DCD in the next 4 sts. (*yo, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yo pull through first two loops*,  repeat in the next three sts, yo pull through all 5 loops on the hook, ch 4), SC in the next st, ch 3 start next starburst by doing [9 DCD in the next 9 sts.  *yo, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yo pull through two loops on the hook* repeat in the next 8 sts, yo pull through all 10 loops on the hook, ch 4, sc in the next st, ch 3], start the next starburst.  After making the third starburst end the row with 5 DCD in the last 5 sts, (yo, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yo pull through the first two loops* repeat in next 4 sts, yo pull through all 6 loops on the hook, ch 3 turn.
Row 4:  4 DC in the top of the starburst, 1 SC in the SC, *9 DC in the center of the next starburst, 1 SC in the next SC* repeat in the next 2 starbursts, 5 DC in the top of the last starburst, tie off, switch to red ch 3 turn.
Row 5:  sk the first st, *9 DCD in the next 9 sts, ch 4, sc in the next st, ch 3*, repeat across and end with a SC in the turning ch, ch 1, turn.
Row 6:  SC in the SC *9 DC in the top of the starburst, 1 SC in the next SC* repeat across ending with 1 SC in the turning ch, tie off and switch to white, ch 3.
Row 7 to Row 17:  repeat intructions from Row 3-6 changing colors every two rows.
Row 18:  SC evenly across the top securing the ch 3 stitches to the DC below in the starbursts to elimanate gaps.  Tie off and weave in all ends.

Making the Starburst stitch.

Minion In Overalls Hat

If you search Ravelry, I'm sure you'll find some cute minion hats - they are out there - but they are all missing one key feature - the overalls! You can't make a minion without the overalls. It's like s'more without the chocolate.

Here is the minion with his pants on:

Materials:

Cascade Superwash 220 in Colonial Blue Heather (904), Lemon (820), and scraps in black, white, navy, and grey.

Size 7 circular needles (I used a 16")

Stitch Marker

Pattern:

Cast on 88 stitches in Colonial Blue. Place maker (important), join and work in a knit 2, purl 2 rib for 10 rows.

Work next row in all knit stitches in Colonial Blue.

For the next few rows you will be carrying colors not in use on the inside of the work. It is very important to make sure that you leave enough yarn inside the work for the piece to stretch. This is a rather difficult balance to master so that the yarn inside isn't too loose or too tight - it may take a couple attempts if you have not knitted with multiple strands at the same time.

Overalls:

Rows 1-3: Knit 10 in Lemon, Knit 4 in Blue, Knit 16 in Lemon, Knit 4 in Blue, Knit 20 in Lemon, Knit 4 in Blue, Knit 16 in Lemon, Knit 4 in Blue, Knit 10 in Lemon.

Row 4: Knit 10 in Lemon, Knit 10 in Blue, Knit 4 in Lemon, Knit 10 in Blue, Knit 20 in Lemon, Knit 10 in Blue, Knit 4 in Lemon, Knit 10 in Blue, Knit 10 in Lemon

Rows 5-6: Knit 10 in Lemon, Knit 24 in Blue, Knit 20 in Lemon, Knit 24 in Blue, Knit 10 in Lemon

Row 7: Knit 20 in Lemon, Knit 4 Blue, Knit 40 in Lemon, Knit 4 Blue, Knit 20 in Lemon

Rows 9-10: Knit in Lemon

Row 11: Knit 37 in Lemon, Knit 1 in Black, Knit 12 in Lemon, Knit 1 in Black, Knit 37 in Lemon

Row 12: Knit 37 in Lemon, Knit 14 in Black, Knit 37 in Lemon

Row 13: Knit 37 in Lemon, Knit 1 in Black, Knit 12 in Lemon, Knit 1 in Black, Knit 37 in Lemon

Rows 14-26: Knit in Lemon

Rows 27-29: Knit in Black

Rows 29+: Knit in Lemon to desired length for size - I knitted 15 rows for a large adult hat

Decrease:

DRow 1: Knit 9, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 2: Knit

DRow 3: Knit 8, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 4: Knit

DRow 5: Knit 7, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 6: Knit

DRow 7: Knit 6, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 8: Knit

DRow 9: Knit 5, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 10: Knit

DRow 11: Knit 4, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 12: Knit

DRow 13: Knit 3, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 14: Knit

DRow 15: Knit 2, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 16: Knit

DRow 17: Knit 1, K2tog. Repeat

DRow 18: K2tog. Repeat

Sew up remaining stitches and firmly attach. Weave in all loose ends (will be quiet a few).

To make one eye:

With navy yarn and size f crochet hook, chain four and join. Chain 2 then double crochet into loop 15 times and slip last stitch to first chain. Switch to white yarn and double crochet into each stitch on the previous round twice. Work two rounds in White, then switch to grey yarn and work around eye again in grey. Sew eye onto hat so that it is centered about mouth and on the black band.

Wagon Wheel Sunflower Dish Cloth

Here is another sampler pattern from the old Reader's Digest Book my sister gave me, this one is the wagon wheel which in itself is beautiful, and you can get very colorful with the circles using lots of scraps.

I decided to turn the wagon wheel into a sunflower since there are so many beautiful ones growing in area gardens.  This pattern is easy and can be made larger by repeating rows 3 and 4 until you get the desired size.  For this I used Sugar 'n Cream Yarn in the following colors:
Warm Brown
Sage Green
Yellow
I think it would also look nice with the Wine color in place of the green.
I used an I or 5.5mm hook
yarn needle to weave in ends

To start the wagon wheel working in brown you chain 4 and make a loop.
Round one:  ch 3 and do a petal stitch in the ring [(yo, insert hook, draw up a loop)2 times, yo, draw through all 5 loops, ch 1], make 7 more petal stitches in the ring, sl st to the top of the beginning chain, then sl st to the first ch 1 space.
Round two:  ch 2, 1 DC in the same ch 1 space, ch 2. (2 DC ch 2) in each of the next 7 ch 1 spaces, sl st to the top of the beginning chain, then sl st to the first ch 2 space.
Round three:  ch 2, (1DC, ch 1, 2 DC, ch 1) in the first space, (2 DC, ch 1, 2 DC, ch 1) in each of the next 7 ch spaces, sl st to the top of the beginning ch 2 and sl st to the first ch 1 space.
Round four:  ch 2, 2 DC in the same ch sp, ch 1, (3 DC ch 1) in each of the next 1 ch spaces, sl st in the top of the beginning ch 2 and tie off.
Round five:  join with Sage Green, ch 1 then do 1 SC in each st around and 1 SC in each sp, then sl st to the top of the first ch and tie off.
Round six: join with yellow above any of the ch 1 spaces from round 4 and ch 1, sk the next st, and in the next stitch (which is above the middle st from the 3 DC cluster in round 4) do *1 HDC, 1 DC, 3TC, 1DC, 1HDC, sk the next st, SC in the next st, and repeat around for a total of 16 petals, sl st to the top of the first ch.
Round seven:  *1 sc in the next three sts, in the next st which is the top of the petal do 1 SC, ch 3, 1 SC, then 1 SC in the next 3 sts, sl st in the next st and repeat around each petal.  End with a sl st at the bottom and tie off and weave in the ends.

Ripple Stitch Dish Cloth

My sister Susan found an old Needlework book that was published by Reader's Digest, in it are a couple of pages of different crochet stitches with directions on how to do the stitch.  I have been making dish cloth size samplers and decided to share this one as it is my favorite so far.  The ripple stitch is a small asymmetrical shell stitch and would also make a nice baby blanket or place mat.  For this I used Sugar and Cream cotton in Red and then did another in orange, pink and varigated, I loved them all!!

Here is what you need to get started:
Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton in your favorite color
Size I crochet hook
needle to hide your ends

This is a slight variation of their pattern as I found a couple of errors in theirs.

To start this pattern you need a multiple of 3 for your foundation chain.  I used 33.
Chain 33.
Row 1:  Skip the first 2 ch, 2 DC in the next ch, skip the next two ch, *(1 SC, 2DC ) in the next ch, sk 2 ch, repeat this across ending with a SC in the last stitch, then ch 2 and turn.  (10 shells across).

Rows 2-24 areworked in only the SC stitches from the previous row.  
Row 2:  2 DC in the  first SC, sk the next 2 DC stitches and do *(1SC, 2DC) in SC from the previous row, sk the next 2 DC and repeat across.  End the row with 1 SC in the turning ch and ch 2.

I repeated row 2 until my cloth was square or about 24 rows.  Tie off after your last SC and weave in the end.