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 ! Variations of a crochet pattern!!!!

I found this crochet pattern and I did this....

I just followed the written instructions and the related chart. Easy.
I've crocheted this triangle using a 3,5mm hook and a 8 ply acrylic yarn and I've chained 30 stitches to start my work.
It's all worked with 3 DCs (aka : double crochet stitch) shells (please note/remember that I follow the US crochet terms!)

Then, I added this one...

....and this one, too, .....

Are you curious to know how I did all those squares???

I'm going to tell you right now!!!!!

a) the 2 colours square :

I made another triangle using the hot pink yarn.
I chose another colour and from the large base of my triangle I started to crochet with it. I crocheted in the top of each previous DCs, so that I had 7 shells in the new colour : I've just duplicated my first row of 7 shells!!! Then I continued to crochet following the original pattern!
You obtain a nice square!!!

b) the diamond square :

This time was even easier!!!!
In fact, just after completing a new triangle in yellow, I turned it upside down and using the same colour, I started to crochet a shell of DCs in the first space (located between the first and the second shells) and I went on in this way! Look at the row included between the blue arrows : you see 6 shells this time! This is not a duplicated row!!! Follow the original pattern until the end of your last row!

Honestly, nothing difficult ( I like this), but I was not really satisfied with the results....
So, I thought to try a little change in the given pattern...

Wanna have a look ?
Here we go....

...some more...

...and...

Using the same yarn and the same hook size (3,5mm), I decided to try to use trebles (Tr), instead of DCs !!!

I prefer this way for simple reasons :
the pattern has wider holes beetween the shells and the triangles are bigger !!! I like it!!!!

c) the 2 colours square made with Trs :

This time I chained 31 stitches (so you chain a multiple of 4+3, because of the trebles!) and make your first Tr in the 5th chain from the hook!
I followed the Granny Triangle Pattern (thank you Brittany!!!) as before!
I did my first triangle : on the left!
Then I crocheted another one (blue), to which I added the green one. The procedure is the same as in a), with the difference that you have to substitute the DCs with Trs : remember that!!! ;oD
This time, I see a rhombus rather than a square !!!

d) the diamond square with Trs :

As in c), I made a chain of 31 stitches.
When I completed my orange triangle, I turned it upside down and, picking the same colour, I crocheted my first row (between the green arrows) of 6 Trs ! Even this time, I followed the original pattern, just remembering to change each DC with a Tr !!! ;oD

e) the colourful triangle

chain 31 stitches, make your first Tr in the 5th (not in he 4th, as for the DC!) chain from the hook, and follow the original pattern. Change DCs with Trs !!!
You have to change colour at the beginning of each row, starting to join in the first space between the first shell and the second one! In this specific case, you work always in the front of your work and you don't need to use slip stitches!
After the last shell in the 7th row, you can bind off!

For each square, after binding off, remember to trim and weave in the ends!!! ;oD
If you want a nicer effect, block your squares with iron steam (I didn't!)
N.B. : each time you start the first row of shells, the first shell is made of 4 stitches, not 3!!!

xxxx Alessandra

Following these examples, you can crochet a BANDANA !!!! Try and tell me !!!! ;oD

Today links : Creative Friday, Link your Stuff!, busy fingers showing off #15 and Craft Schooling Sunday!!!

Make it ! My home bunting to celebrate Yarndale 2013 (29 and 28 of September)!!!

I would love to visit the Yarndale Festival at the end of this September, but you know....is quite impossible as it's not just around the corner for me !!!!!

My granny triangles (here and here), instead, will be flapping in the wind of Yarndale, so in some way I'll be there, too!!! They are my participation to the invitation given by Lucy from Attic24 to join the challenge to make the longest bunting ever (!!!!!!) , but you know, I decided to "be there" even in a different way!!!!

Following the granny bunting triangles tutorial written by Lucy, I decided to crochet some more (extras !) granny triangles....

....to have my personal "Yarndale Bunting", just to remember myself I was there too, with my sent triangles and my heart!!!

If you like, I'll show you how I did embellish them!!! Follow me !!!

Scallop edging :

Starting from the "A" corner, make a single crochet (SC), then in the first shell, precisely in the top of the second stitch, crochet 4 double crochets (DCs) and make a SC in the next chain-1 space! Follow this pattern until point "B", where you finish with a SC.
Cut yarn and weave in the ends.
Start the same pattern (with the same colour, a different one, two colours or more!!!) at point "C" and finish to crochet at point "D".
Cut yarn and weave in the ends.

Chain edging :

With a contrasting colour, make a SC in the "A" corner, chain 8, make a SC in the first chain-1 space that you encounter. Repeat this scheme until you reach point "C".
Cut yarn and weave in the ends.

Pointy edging :

Do you remember my spiky baby blanket ???? Well, the inspiration comes from that one!!!

Starting from "A", crochet a SC, chain 5, make a slip stitch in the 4th chain from the hook, crochet a SC in the 3rd one, a half double crochet in the second one and a DC in the first one (I'm still counting from the hook!). Now, make a SC in the first chain-1 space you meet.
Repeat the pattern to point "B", where you finish your work with a SC.
Cut yarn and weave in the ends.
Repeat the identical scheme from point "C" to point "D".
Cut yarn and weave in the ends.

So here they are....!!!!.....

Obviously I've added some embellishments, as you can see (fringes and tiny butterflies !!!)....

Then I had to decide how to arrange the triangles on the bunting-to-be....

Some little details.....

I decided to hang (with knots) my triangles on a long line crocheted with a 10mm hook (200 chains) and using a B&W gingham ribbon (2cm wide)...

I think she thought to be really helpful....

....and I had to crochet (with a 3,5mm hook) some little "cords" ( 20 chain stitches long, 3 for each triangle) to help me in the knotting process...

...after a while, it was done...

YIPPIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now this personal Yarndale bunting is hanging here in Jakarta....

.....just to remind myself that I've joined this big event, too!!!! In my own way!!!! ;oD

xxxx Alessandra

Today links : Link your Stuff! and Craft Schooling Sunday !!! See you there, too!!!! xxxx