Make it ! The Granny Bunny !!!

You know, this picture from my Instagram feed has collected more than 900 likes ...

... and a colourful crocheter named Karin @woolfieber, made her own version just looking at my pic (you can find her work HERE ) !!!!

My idea, since the beginning , was to prepare a photo tutorial for you, but do you really need one ? These Granny Bunnies are so easy to crochet, believe me !!!!

YOU NEED :

• some colourful mercerised cotton
• a 3,5 mm hook
• a pair of scissors
• a tapestry needle
• beads for embellishments (optional)

Please note that I follow the US crochet terminology, thank you !

Each bunny measures 13 cm in height and it can be used for different purposes : bunting, hanging decorations, appliques, brooches, on napkin rings and more !!!! The sky's the limit !!!

You can use this pattern even with different yarns and, consequently, hook sizes !!! ;oD

Abbreviations :

DC = double crochet

ch = chain

SC = single crochet

2SCtog = 2 single crochets worked together to decrease

THE BODIES : GRANNY TRIANGLE and GRANNY CIRCLE

Granny Triangle :

make a slip knot on your hook with the chosen colour. Chain 4 and slip stitch in first chain to form a ring.

1st round : chain 2, [3 DCs into ring + ch 2] 3 times. Slip stitch in top of first DC and in following 2 DCs and corner. Cut yarn and fasten off.

2nd round : join new colour in corner and chain 2, then [3 DCS, ch 2, 3 DCS in same corner + ch 1] 3 times. Slip stitch in top of first DC and following 2 DCs and corner. Cut yarn and fasten off.

3rd round : join new colour in corner and chain 2, then [(3 DCs, ch 2, 3 DCs in same corner + ch 1) + (3 DCs + ch 1)] 3 times. Slip stitch in top of first DC, cut yarn and fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

Granny Circle :

make a slip knot on your hook with the chosen colour. Chain 4 and slip stitch in first chain to form a ring.

1st round : chain 2 and work 12 DCs into ring. Slip stitch in top of first DC, cut yarn and fasten off. (12 stitches)

2nd round : join new colour in any space between 2 DCs and chain 2. Work [2 DCS + ch 1] in each space. Slip stitch in top of first DC, cut yarn and fasten off. (24 DCs and 12 chain-1 spaces)

3rd round : join new colour in any chain-1 space and chain 2. In each chain-1 space work [3 DCs +ch 1]. Slip stitch in top of first DC, cut yarn and fasten off. (36 DCs and 12 chain-1 spaces)

Weave in all ends.

LEGS and ARMS

Let's start with the legs !

You need to work in the two chain-1 spaces located along the triangle side. (choose your side and remember that they are all equal ! ;oD)

Choose any colour for your bunny, as it can be any hue you prefer, ok ?

Make a slip knot on your hook and insert the tip in the first chain-1 space on the right.

1st row : work 2 SCs , chain 1 and turn

2nd and 3rd rows : work 2 SCs, chain 1 and turn

4th row : decrease with 2 SCtog. Cut yarn, fasten off

Repeat the same pattern for the other leg in next chain-1 space !!! 

Weave in all ends.

Now we can add the arms !!!

This time you have to work into the chain-1 spaces close to the top corner of the triangle and repeat the pattern used for the legs, but with an extra row !

With the same colour, make a slip knot on your hook and insert the tip in one of the chain-1 spaces (right or left).

1st row :  work 2 SCs , chain 1 and turn

2nd, 3rd and 4th rows : work 2 SCs, chain 1 and turn

5th row : decrease with 2 SCtog. Cut yarn, fasten off

Repeat the same pattern for the other arm in opposite chain-1 space !!! 

Weave in all ends.

IMPORTANT : 

You have to repeat the above patterns even for the bunny with the "granny circle body".

The only difference between the two bodies is which chain-1 space to consider to crochet in arms and legs.

Nothing difficult at all ! In my specific case, I was trying to be more symmetrical as I can be, but you can choose any space for your bunny's legs and arms, just to give it more personality!!! ;oD

HEAD and EARS

With the same colour used for the limbs, make a slip knot on your hook, chain 4 and slip stitch in first chain to form a ring.

1st round : chain 2 and work 10 DCs into ring. Slip stitch in top of first DC. (10 stitches)

2nd round : chain 2 and in same stitch work 2 DCs. Crochet 2 DCs in each stitch. Slip stitch in top of first DC. (20 stitches)

3rd round : chain 16, slip stitch in first chain made, then slip stitch in next stitch of the round, chain 16, slip stitch in first chain, slip stitch in next stitch of the round, cut yarn and fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

With the help of few stitches, stitch the head on the top of the body/bodies !!!

front

back

You have to crochet loads of bunnies, just to play with shapes and colours !!!

If you like you can add a pompom tail on the back, too !!!!

What I did, instead, was to add a velvety bead as a nose ...

... well, I'm curious to see your bunnies, now !!!

Happy Weekend, xxxx Alessandra

If you like to play with more patterns and photo tutorials, just have a look at this PAGE !!!!

Make it ! Mini mandalas hanging decorations !!!

Hi my dear friends!!
I have to apologize for my long absence from the blog, but we had a lot of problems with internet (will they ever stop????) and my laptop is almost dead, so I'm using the one of my husband...
This is even the reason, you will find me more often on Instagram, as you need just a photo and a little caption.... the right solution for me, at least for the moment!
I really miss my blogging activity, but my internet reality is not easy!
Anyway, I did a photo tutorial for you and I hope you will love it!!!

It's all about my mini mandalas (shown for the first time HERE) and they look like the followings

I think you got the idea, right? ;oD

WHAT YOU NEED:

• some colourful yarns from your personal stash. I was using acrylic leftovers from other projects and still have some, so other decorations are on the way!!!!
• a hook, in my specific case : a 4mm hook
• a pair of scissors
• a yarn needle
• a tape measure
• some stitch markers (optional)

Please, note that I follow the US crochet terminology!
The project calls for different sizes of double crochet (abbrev. DC) circles : the bigger is made of 5 rounds, then we have one circle of 3 rounds, one of 2 rounds and the last one is just made of one round!
You can choose to work these 4 circles separately and then sew them together. I prefer to join them as I go.... It's up to you and, honestly, the final result doesn't change because of the sewing or joining method!

PATTERN

I always start with the bigger one (5 rounds). The smaller ones follow the same pattern, shortened!

Select two colours to work with. I prefer to start with the darker one (name it "A") and then use the lighter one (name it "B"). You are not obligated to follow this rule and feel free to use more than two colours, if you like! This choice of mine, is just a simplification for the project to follow.

Pick the first colour (A) and make a slip knot on your hook. Chain 3 and insert the tip of your hook in the 1st chain made to crochet one DC (= double crochet). Make other 11 DCs in the same chain. Slip stitch in top of first DC to close the round. Your first round is done! (12 stitches)

second round : join colour B (do not cut colour A!), chain 2, work 2 DCs in each stitch. Slip stitch in 1st DC to close the round. (24 stitches)

third round : rejoin first colour A (do not cut colour B!), chain 2, repeat [1 DC + 2 DCs in same stitch] 12 times. Slip stitch in top of first DC to close the round. (36 stitches)

fourth round : rejoin second colour B (do not cut A!), chain 2, repeat [1 DC + 1 DC + 2 DCs in same stitch] 12 times. Slip stitch in top of first DC to close the round. (48 stitches) Now you can cut yarn B!

fifth round : rejoin colour A, chain 2, repeat [1 DC + 1 DC + 1 DC + 2 DCs in same stitch] 12 times. Slip stitch in top of first DC to close the round. (60 stitches) Cut yarn, fasten off and trim in all ends.

Once the big circle is completed, you can crochet the other ones (3 rounds, 2 rounds and one round) individually and then sew them together : the "2 rounds circle" at the bottom of the decoration-to-be, while the "3 rounds circle" will be at the top of the bigger circle and the "one round circle" will be at the top of all them, as the hanging loop will be at its top!!!

I prefer to work differently! Follow me, if interested in this alternative way to join!

I have to prepare my big circle

I use 4 pins as stitch markers to mark the stitches I will use for the joining. A total of 4 stitches are involved at the top of the big circle and the same amount of stitches are considered at the bottom of the same circle.
As the last round of the circle is made of 60 stitches, the stitches left free on both sides are 26 : 26+26+4+4=60 !
I start the joining at the bottom of the big circle, while working a "2 rounds circle"
Once the first round is done, I start the 2nd round and the first two stitches of it are joined to the two stitches (of the bigger circle) on the left

It's not difficult! When you are starting to work the second part of your DC, before wrapping the yarn around your hook, push the tip of your hook under the top of the Dc of the bigger circle, then wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it to the front of your work and the two loops of the DC to complete!!! Join and DC done at the same time!

After the first two DCs are joined, continue to work the round as usual and stop before the last two stitches are done

These last two stitches will be joined with the tops of the two DCs of the big circle as the first two

See?
Cut yarn, fasten off and trim ends in !

This time, we have to do the same with the top 4 stitches of the big circle and the bottom 4 stitches of the "3 rounds circle"

In this situation, you need to join the stitches 17, 18, 19 and 20 to the 4 stitches of the big circle

and this is how the 3 circles appear joined together

Now, to complete the body of the hanging decoration, we need to join the last circle (made of just one round) to the top 4 stitches of the "3 rounds circle"

You start to work the first 4 DCs of the last circle and you will join the following 4 to the other DCs of the "3 rounds circle"

As the "one circle" is made of 12 stitches, after the joining you need to work 4 more DCs and then slip stitch in the top of the first DC.
Work extra 20 chains and slip stitch in the first chain made and then slip stitch in the top of first DC : the loop is done, too!!!

Cut yarn, fasten off and trim in all ends!

You need to embellish your decoration!
To make a tassel : I cut 10 lengths of one colour + 10 lengths in a different colour (each length is about 30 cm long). Fold together these lengths in two , pass two strands under the fold and knot them together. You need other two strands to knot around and form the "head" of the tassel. Knot the tassel at the bottom of the last circle. Trim it.

Before adding the tassel, you can embellish your hanging decoration with some slip stitches in contrasting colours and add an extra edging at the bigger circle, made of single crochets or even picots!
Have a look :

Have fun, xxxx Alessandra

Make it ! The Cheeky Monkey Heart !!!

I made a first try crocheting this funny heart one year ago, but I was not happy with my attempts, so I left it in a corner of a drawer, where I collect all my crochet ideas and patterns ... they are so many, that I could write more than one book with all them!!! ;oD

Last week, I told myself to try again and crochet a better heart and during the weekend I DID IT !!!
So now I'm going to share with you my new Valentine's Day pattern :

... named the "CHEEKY MONKEY HEART" as you can point out a monkey face in it (or not?)!!!

Before starting to crochet this decorative heart, you need to gather :

• some yarn (minimum 2 different colours), any kind or weight
• crochet hook, size according to the type of chosen yarn
• a pair of scissors
• yarn needle
• stitch markers (optional)

Please remember that I follow the US crochet terminology, thank you !!!

To start this project, you have to choose first the colour for the inner part of the heart, as we will start crocheting the 3 circles : I've been working with a 5,5mm hook and some grey yarn (acrylic from Indonesia).

Make a slip knot on your hook and chain 4, then insert the tip of the hook in the first chain made to form a ring. Chain 2 and work 12 double crochet (=DC) into the ring. Close this first round with a slip stitch in the top of the first DC done :

The second round is done as follows : chain 2 + 2 DC in same stitch and then 2 DC in each following stitch, so that you will end with a total of 24 DC. Close this round with a slip stitch in the top of the first DC, cut yarn (leaving a long tail) and fasten off :

This first circle will find it's place in the top left part of your heart!

Now start the second circle and complete the first round, as before :

Starting the second round of the second circle you are even going to start the join between the two circles (five stitches are involved). In fact, just after the chain 2 you'll crochet the first DC in the same stitch, but stop when the first half is done : at this point, insert the tip of your hook under the first DC (see the above picture for the stitches notation!) :

and wrap once the yarn around your hook and pull it through the stitch of the first circle (you'll have a loop)

and pull this loop through the two loops of the second half of your first DC to be completed

First DC and join done !!!
Repeat the same process for the following 4 DC, remembering that you are working the second round of a DC circle : 2 DC in each stitch!!
you'll have something like the following :

The 6th stitch shown in the above picture is part of the same stitch as the 5th one, but it's not joined to the first circle!

You can complete the second circle as usual and after the closing slip stitch, cut yarn (leaving a long tail) and fasten off :

The second circle will overlap the first one and it is located on the top right of your heart!

Start the third (and last!) circle. After the first round is done, you will join it to both the previous circles, as done between the first and second. The first 6DC of the third circle will join 3 DC on the second circle (first) and then 3 DC on the first circle. These DC are the ones included between the two stitch markers in the below picture:

So, after you've joined these stitches

you can complete the third circle (slip stitch, cut yarn and fasten off), which will overlap the other two and turn upside down the motif created

At this point, you have to change the colour to crochet the edge of the heart. The third circle can be divided into two groups of nine stitches each and you'll start to crochet on the top of the left side of the circle. In This first stitch you will join the new yarn and chain 3, then you'll make your first treble (=Tr) in the same stitch :

and so you can follow this pattern for the next 8 stitches :

• Tr
• hTr (half treble)
• DC
• DC
• DC
• hTr
• Tr
• double treble (wrap yarn around hook 3 times)

and you'll see something like this along the side of the third circle

Continue to crochet, this time on the side of the second circle, the following pattern :

• triple treble (wrap yarn around hook 4 times)
• double treble
• Tr
• Tr
• hTr
• DC
• hDC (half double crochet)
• hDC
• hDC
• hDC
• DC
• DC
• DC
• hDC
• hDC
• SC (single crochet)
• SC

.... and the right side of the heart is done ....

You have to repeat the same patterns (symmetry is required!) on the left side of your heart, reading both patterns from the bottom to the top, this time !!!

To close the edge, just make a slip stitch in the top of the first treble!
You can even decide if to keep or not a long tail : I've used it (after chaining 5 stitches) to attach a little tassel ! ;oD

If you knot together the tails left at the end of both circle 1 and 2 you can make a loop to hang your cheeky monkey heart ...

the mini tassel was made just wrapping some red yarn around my fingers (20 times) !!

Different yarns and  colours combo make a difference :

Have fun and make a lot of these hearts even for a lovely bunting !!!!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR !!! YEAR OF THE MONKEY !!!!

.... it seems it was a good idea to leave this pattern in a drawer for the right year and moment!!!!

xxxx Alessandra