New FREE Crochet Pattern Alert: The Tay Beanie

 

IT'S PATTERN LAUNCH DAY!

Hello! I'm always excited about pattern launch day but this beanie pattern is especially exciting beacuse I've lined it up to launch on the day of The Scottish Yarn Festival at Errol Showground, Perthshire which is also today! I've designed my Tay Beanie using the Clan DK wool from The Scottish Yarn Festival and it seems fitting to release the pattern into the world on this special day!

I've spoken at length in previous blog posts about how much I LOVE this wool, but if you missed those you can find them on my blog here.

The Tay Beanie pattern is FREE for you here in this blog post with the option to upgrade to the paid-for pattern on either my website or on Ravelry. The paid-for version has another two sizes plus a video tutorial to accompany the pattern. It also includes my prompts for taking the pattern and creating your own spin on it, something I love to encourage! Use the code BEANIE for 25% off the paid-for version!

To make this beanie, you'll need:

• 1x 100g skein of The Scottish Yarn Festival Clan DK (230m/ 100g, 80% Shetland/ 20% Cheviot), I used colourway Sinclair. Link to buy yarn  https://thescottishyarnfestival.com/our-custom-yarn

• 5.5mm (I/9) crochet hook

• Needle for sewing in ends

The full instructions to make the medium size hat are below, in both UK terms followed by US terms! If you make one, don't forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see!!

Tension 

6.5 stars x 8 rows per 10cm (Star Stitch pattern in rounds, unblocked with 5.5mm hook or required hook to achieve gauge). No time for gauge swatches? At the end of Round 5 of the Crown, the diameter should be approximately 11cm.

Measurements

Medium size: to fit 53-58cm; finished hat circumference 58cm; brim to crown height 20cm. My medium sized sample used just under 60g of yarn.

For the small and large sizes visit my website or Ravelry to download the paid-for pattern.

Abbreviations

UK terms		US terms
bptr	back post treble    ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	bpdc	back post double crochet
ch	chain	ch	chain
chsp	chain space	chsp	chain space
flo	front loop only	flo	front loop only
fptr	front post treble    ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	fpdc	front post double crochet
fptr2tog	front post treble 2 together   ⇨  ⇨	fpdc2tog	front post double crochet 2 together
htr	half treble    ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	hdc	half double crochet
htr2tog	half treble 2 together   ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	hdc2tog	half double crochet 2 together
RS	right side	RS	right side
ss	slip stitch	ss	slip stitch
st(s)	stitch(es)	st(s)	stitch(es)
tr	treble     ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	dc	double crochet
tr6tog	treble 6 together   ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	dc6tog	double crochet 6 together
WS	wrong side	WS	wrong side

Notes 

• Begin at the Crown and work down to the Brim in rounds with RS facing at all times. Do not turn at the end of rounds.

• Some testers found that they went up a hook size (or two!) for the Star Stitches. If you feel your Star Stitches are too tight, go up a hook size then back down a hook size for the Brim. You can try on the hat for size & fit after each reset round of Star Stitches.

• If you’d like more length to your beanie add extra rounds of the Brim section.

• Stitch counts are only given at the end of rounds with a change of count from the previous round. If there is no stitch count stated, it’s unchanged since the previous round.

Special stitches

• Star Stitch is worked over 2 rounds. In the first round you will tr6tog/ dc6tog with the first part of each tr/ dc worked as follows; in chsp just made, in mid side leg of last star worked, in lower side leg of last star worked, in same st as last leg of last star, in each of next 2sts, yo, pull through all 7 loops on hook, ch1 = tr6tog/ dc2tog made. To complete the stars you will work a round of (1tr, 2htr)/ (1dc, 2hdc) in each chsp around - be careful not to miss the last chsp before the ss join! A reset round is then worked to bring the stitch count back down.

• To begin a round of Star Stitch; ch4, then tr6tog/ dc6tog with the first part of each tr/ dc worked as follows; in 2nd ch from hook, in 3rd ch from hook, in 4th ch from hook, in the same space as joining st at end of last round, in first st, in 2nd st, yo, pull through all 7 loops on hook, ch1 = tr6tog/ dc6tog made

• Front post stitches (fptr/ fpdc) & back post stitches (bptr/ bpdc) are worked in almost the same way as regular trebles/ doubles except they are worked around the post of the stitch instead of in the top.

I’d like to thank my tech editor Ruth Brasch for checking over the fine details; my testers (their photos are in the collage above) - Gillian Clifford, Mary Dodds, Daniela Haible, Carmen Heffernan, Raffaella Invernizzi, Angela Lawton & Hannah Wingfield; my photographers, stylists - Niamh Mitchell & Joy Saunders; my model Niamh Mitchell! Thank you everyone, this design wouldn’t have been possible without all your help. xx

Video links 

I’ve made two YouTube video tutorials to help you with this beanie. If you purchase the paid-for pattern on my website or on Ravelry, you will have access to my introduction video which talks you through the construction of this beanie. 

How to work back post/ front post ribbing  https://youtu.be/WH21Ohlq4IE

How to work the Star Stitch  https://youtu.be/2Y4v6VxATuc

Show Mum You Care with a Bouquet that Blooms Forever: 
Free Crochet Flower Pattern for Mother's Day!

Hello! Are you looking for a unique and heartfelt gift for your mum this Mother's Day? Ditch the wilting flowers and pick up your crochet hook! Mother's Day is on the 31st of March this year in the UK and this blog post features a free and easy crochet flower pattern, perfect for creating something beautiful and lasting that your mum or mother figure will cherish.

This easy crochet flower pattern is perfect from beginners onwards and can be used for many decorations. With just a magic loop and two basic stitches, you can quickly whip up a bouquet of blooming love for the most important woman in your life.

So, grab your yarn, crochet hook, and a cup of tea, and get ready to create something special for your mum this Mother's Day! I took some of my finished flowers, glued them to blank cards, added stems in black pen and gave them as cards. I even added buttons to the centres of some of the flowers.

This is a BEGINNER level crochet pattern, written in both UK & US terms

You will need

A small amount of yarn in any thickness you choose!

Appropriate size of crochet hook for the yarn you've chosen

Needle for sewing in ends

I used DMC Natura Just Cotton (100% cotton, 310m/100g, 4ply weight yarn) & 3mm hook.

Notes

You’ll need to know how to make a magic loop. I've made a YouTube tutorial if you’re unsure, go take a look!

UK instructions

ch - chain

dtr - double treble

ss - slip stitch

Begin with a magic loop, [ch3, 2dtr into loop, ch3, ss into loop] 5 times. Cut yarn. Pull the starting tail to tighten the magic loop. Weave in the ends on the back.

US instructions

ch - chain

tr - treble/triple crochet

ss - slip stitch

Begin with a magic loop, [ch3, 2tr into loop, ch3, ss into loop] 5 times. Cut yarn. Pull the starting tail to tighten the magic loop. Weave in the ends on the back.

Crochet Chart

The chart above will be a handy guide to visualise the placement of each stitch of the flower. This can make it easier to follow along, especially if you're new to crochet. Once you've completed a few flowers, the process will become automatic and you'll be whipping them up in no time - the muscle memory will kick in, and you'll be surprised at how quickly you can create a beautiful bouquet of crocheted flowers!

💡 Top tip! If you leave your ends long these can later be used to sew your finished flower to your project.

This pattern is completely free for you to enjoy and share with your fellow crochet enthusiasts.

If you find this pattern helpful and would like to show your appreciation, please consider 'buying me a coffee'! It's a small way to support my work and help me continue creating free, high-quality crochet patterns for you to explore. Whether you choose to support me or not, I hope you have a blast crocheting these beautiful blooms!

Happy crocheting,

Marta xx

Free Crochet Beanie Pattern!

Free Crochet Beanie Pattern!

Hello! I'm super excited to announce the release of my new free crochet beanie pattern, the Perth Beanie! I designed this crocheted beanie with a few things in mind: Firstly, I wanted to create a hat which was both stylish and functional - I love the way it fits snugly around the head and ears, keeping you cosy on even the coldest days. Secondly, I wanted to create a beanie which showed off the gorgeous Scottish provenance wool from The Scottish Yarn Festival at its best - I think I pulled this one off, I'm so happy with the texture I created!

You'll find the the medium size FREE crochet beanie pattern below, or you can upgrade via my website or Ravelry to all 4 sizes PLUS a 10 minute bonus video guiding you through the textured section. 

The four sizes available with the full pattern are Child, Teen, Medium (adult) and Large (adult), with plenty of scope within the ranges to get the fit you really want. As with all my more recent patterns there's a section at the end with suggestions for how you can take my design and add your own twist to really personalise it and create something special (paid-for version only). Check out this blog post of mine for loads more inspiration on personalisation.

Whether you're a seasoned crocheter or you're much newer to the craft, I'm confident that you'll love crocheting the Perth Beanie. It's a fun and rewarding project which will produce a stylish, practical beanie that you'll cherish for years to come.

Inspiration for a Mother's Day card

Hello! It's Mother's Day here in the UK this Sunday and if you're still looking to make a card I have some crochet card inspiration for you here!

I was wondering what kind of card to make my own mum when I remembered a pattern I had written for a simple crocheted flower. I thought it might look quite cute stuck on a card and began playing around with different ideas, with and without the added pen lines.

When I looked up the pattern, written back in 2016, I found it looked totally alien to my current way of writing so I gave it a makeover! This design includes both UK & US terms, a chart AND a photo tutorial! It's rated beginner level and I'm confident that even if you're new to crochet you will manage to make a cute flower.

I used DMC Natura Just Cotton (310m/100g, 100% cotton) in Cerise, Giroflee and Passion for these cards. For the smaller pink (Cerise) flowers I used a 2.5mm hook and pulled the centres in really tightly. For the larger flowers I used a 3mm hook and left the centres open slightly. My plain white cards are square 12.5mmx12.5mm (I think I bought these in Hobbycraft but they're widely available or you could fold a sheet of card in half). I used PVA glue for sticking - a glue gun would work too, especially if you're in a real hurry!

The beauty of this pattern is that it will work with ANY yarn and the appropriate size hook. Of course, the finished flower can be used for all sorts of decorative purposes, it can be sewn on to items as well as glued.

You can find the FREE pdf download for the Simple Flower on Lovecrafts here and on Ravelry here (please note that the Ravelry website can cause issues for people with photosensitivity).

I hope this inspires you if you're making a last minute card - please tag me on Instagram if you make one, or leave a comment below, I'd love to know how you get on!