Video Tutorial: Crochet the PERFECT Pumpkin! with FREE Pattern

 

This new video is an ode to the ultimate easy home decor project: The Small Pumpkin :) These are seriously so quick and easy to make - I made 5! This video has a step by step tutorial, but I'm also writing out the pattern here for anyone who prefers to have it typed out (that would be me, lol). So watch the video below and then scroll down to find the complete pattern. Enjoy!

Little Pumpkin Pattern:

Supplies:

• Approximately 1/2 a skein of Hobbii Honey Bunny Candy Halloween Yarn  in Pumpkin colorway (2 skeins makes 5 pumpkins)
• 10 grams Vanna's Choice yarn in Toffee colorway
• US H crochet hook
• Darning Needle
• 18mm craft eyes
• Polyfill
• Scrap of black yarn

Directions:

Pumpkin:

1. C2, SC 6 times into 2nd c from hook (6 sts)
2. SC 2 in each stitch (12 sts)
3. *SC 2 in next st, SC in next 1 st* repeat 6 times (18 sts)
4. *SC 2 in next st, SC in next 2 sts* repeat 6 times (24 sts)
5. *SC 2 in next st, SC in next 3 sts* repeat 6 times (30 sts)
6. *SC 2 in next st, SC in next 4 sts* repeat 6 times (36 sts)
7. *SC 2 in next st, SC in next 5 sts* repeat 6 times (42 sts)
8. *SC 2 in next st, SC in next 6 sts* repeat 6 times (48 sts)
9. - 14. SC around for 5 rows (48 sts)

    15. *SC2TOG, SC in next 6 st* repeat 6 times (42 sts)

    16. *SC2TOG, SC in next 5 st* repeat 6 times (36 sts)

    17. *SC2TOG, SC in next 4 st* repeat 6 times (30 sts)

Stop to add eyes: Place eyes on Row 9 or 10 with 5 stitches between them. Stuff body.

    18. *SC2TOG, SC in next 3 st* repeat 6 times (24 sts)

    19. *SC2TOG, SC in next 2 st* repeat 6 times (18 sts)

    20. *SC2TOG, SC in next 1 st* repeat 6 times (12 sts)

    21. *SC2TOG* repeat 6 times (6 sts)

    22. SC2TOG stitch 1 and 4. Fasten off leaving 2 foot long tail.

Thread tail through top center of pumpkin down into the center of the bottom of the pumpkin and pull tight to cinch down. Thread tail back up through the center of the body 1 stitch over from where you came out and pull to cinch down. Keep tension on the initial cinched section while you thread the tail through the center of the body again and wrap the tail around the outside of the body on one side of the face, threading back through the center top of the pumpkin and pull to cinch. Wrap tail yarn through the center of the body and around to make 5 cinched sections. Fasten off snugly to maintain the cinched shape.

Stem: 

1. With brown yarn, make magic loop and SC 6 sts (6 sts)
2. *SC2 in next st, SC 1 in next st* repeat 3 times (9 sts)
3. SC in each st (9 sts)
4. *SC2TOG in next st, SC 1 in next st* repeat 3 times
5. Fasten off. Sew to top divot on pumpkin body.

Embroider Mouth 2 rows down from eyes in the center 2 stitches.

Enjoy your new pumpkin!

FO: Sewing Slump Plantain

I put out a video about this shirt, but it's been so long since I did a usual blog post that I thought I would post this as well :) 

I find when I'm having a hard time sewing things, I need to grab a simple project that I've made before so I can forget about fitting issues and just sew. The Plantain Top is the perfect pattern for this purpose. I've made this shirt many times over the years, and it's perfect if you're not feeling super confident about your tummy.

I used a 1 yard cut of Art Gallery jersey called Love Story Flower Stamp Adore that I grabbed at The Sewng Studio this past July for a steal. I love the color and this fabric is wnoderfully soft. Very comfortable.

I did raise the neckline of this pattern years ago by combining the Plantain with the Renfrew neckline - easy peasy. Now it's a comfortable height so I don't have to worry about showing more than I want to.

All in all, this was the perfect project to get me out of my sewing slump :) If you haven't seen the full making process, head over here to see it on You Tube :)

Summary:

Fabric: 1 yard of Art Gallery Love Story Flower Stamp Adore Jersey - $7.94

Pattern: Deer & Doe Plantain Tee - Free

Notions: Knit Stay Tape - $0.25, thread - $0.50

Time: 3 hours

Total Cost: $ 8.69

Video: Working with Hand-Dyed Yarns: How to Get the Results You Want!

This video came about because I had a sweater quantity of hand-dyed yarn and I wanted to use it to its best advantage! Come along as I show you some of my hand-dyed yarn projects from years past, both successes and failures, and see things you should do or avoid when you use hand-dyed yarn n your projects. We all want to have a finished object as beautiful as the yarn was in the skein! Ths is how  decide what patterns and styles will do that most effectively. 

Head over to You Tube by clickin through the video below!

Video: Top 5 Sources for High End Yarn on a Budget

I managed to finally make a much requested video - this is my Top 5 list of places I, personally, get high end yarns for the best prices possible. I have spent 12 years using yarn on a serious budget, yet  have managed to stil knit wth the good stuff", so head over to my channel and see how I do it.