Lucky Shamrock Patch

    Just a little patch, nothing too dramatic. 

 

This will be a good patch for St. Patricks day... The four leaf clover is a traditional symbol for good luck.  The shamrock, or regular 3 leaf  clover is the traditional symbol for the Irish St. Patrick, and is supposed to represent the Catholic trinity.  I placed it on an orange background, because Irish Protestants wore orange to commemorate the Protestant William of Orange.   In America at least, these rules have relaxed on the holiday, and people who are proud of their  Irish heritage will wear green, and possibly both colors, to display their pride.  The shamrock would look just as good on a white or black background.

 

 

 

Using green bedspread cotton, and a size 6 hook, chain 12. 

 

By1st leaf...

*in 4th ch from hook, work 4 tr.  ch 4.   sl st in same st you worked the 4 tr. 

 

for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th leaf,  ch 4 then repeat from * 

 

stem... work a sc in the nest ch of the beginning ch, then sc in remaining  ch, ending with  2 hdc.  Tie off

To work the background... beginning with either a magic circle or ch 5 closed with a sl st.

Rnd 1:  ch 3( to count as 1st dc ,throughout)  work 14 more dc in ring.  sl st into begining ch 3.  (15 dc total)

Rnd 2. Ch 3.  work 1 dc in same st as joining sl st.  * work 2 dc in next dc of previous rnd.  Repeat from * all around, ending with a sl st into top of begining ch 3 (30 dc total)

Rnd 3.  ch 3, 1 dc in same st as slip stirch on prev round, 1 dc in next st.  *  2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st.  Repeat from * all the way around.  Closing with a. Sl st into begining ch.

Work 2 more rounds, increasing 1 dc in every round.  

Edge with contasting color by working a sc in every st around.

Crochet skull pattern

The crochet skull pattern is one I came up with just before Halloween, and a lot of interest has been expressed in it.  

I'll admit that not entirely happy with it, But out does get the point across, and I do like it a bit better than those I  see on etsy.

Before we begin... I am in no way selling my original patterns... at least not as the moment.  I am however retaining the copyright.  Please don't claim them as your own and sell them.  That's just tacky. 

While you certainly have every right to crochet these up and sell the finished product... I would appreciate a credit or a shout out.  Thanks.

This is worked in standard knitting worsted with a size G hook.

And this is a smaller applique. 

 

 

The  above pic is the same pattern worked in standard crochet cotton, with a size 6 hook.  This one was sewn onto a black crocheted circle, but it could also be sewn onto a denim patch, an iron on patch, or used as a patch without any backing. 

 

These smaller pieces can also be sized with white glue to use as a component to hair bows, jewelry, etc.  You could also glue on a small pink bow, as that seems popular now...

 

 

Start with a magic circle.

Half circle for top of skull...

Row one:  Ch 3 (counts as first dc)  6 dc in circle.  Do not close ring with sl st.  ch3, turn {7 st total}

Row 2:  dc in first st.  *2dc in next st.  repeat from * across {14 dc total)  

Row 3: ch 3 turn, 1 dc in first st, 1 dc in next st,  * 2dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next st.  repeat from * across, ending with 1 dc in turning ch of prev row, {21 dc total)

Row 4:  ch 3, turn, 1 dc in first st. 1 dc in each of next 2 st,   *2 dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 2 st.  Repeat from * across, ending with a dc in turning ch of prev. row.  {28 dc total}  ch 1, do not turn.

Row 5:  working across flat side of semi-circle, * 2 sc in bar of dc across. repeat from star 4 times total.  1 sc in center of beginning circle.  repeat from * 4 more times. ch 1 turn.

Row 6:  1 sc in first st.  1 hdc in next st, 1 dc in next st.  Ch 8, skip next 4 sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc, ch 8, skip next 4 sc, 1 dc in next st, 1 hdc in next stitch, 1 sc in next st,  ch 1, turn.

Row 7:  sc in next 2 st.  skip next st, 10 sc in ch 8 loop, sk next st, 1 sc in next st, sk next st, 10 sc in ch 8 loop, skip next st, 1 sc in next 2 st.

Row 8:  1 sc into 3rd st from hook, (that's the 1sc in ring) 1 sc into next 6 sc, ch 2, skip 3 st, 1 trblc into next st, ch 2, skip next 3 st, sc into next 7 st, sl st into end of row.  ch1, turn.

Row 9:  sl st across first 5 st.  ch 3 (counts as first dc) 1 dc into next 3 st, 2 dc into ch 2 sp, 1 dc into trblc, 2 dc into ch 2 space, 1 dc into next 4 st.  ch 3 turn

Row 10:  (ch 3 counts as 1s dc) 1 dc into next st, *ch 1,  1 dc into 2nd st from hook, repeat from * 5 times, end with 1 dc into turning ch of last row.  ch 3 turn. 

Row 11:  repeat row 10, ending with ch 1, turn.

finish:  work 1 sc in every st and space across, then continue working sc all the way around the skull, ending with a sl st into beginning ch 1 of this round.  tie off.   

  

Since people have offered to buy the patterns, I am including a PayPal donation button below.  Don't feel obligated.  While I may someday declare myself a crochet designer, and start selling the patterns, I am not doing so now.  If you think this is the best pattern you've seen in a month of Sundays, and feel like donating a couple of bucks... I am grateful...

If you cannot donate, or just plain don't want to... no worries.  It's strictly voluntary. 

donations

Option 1 $2.00 USD Option 2 $3.50 USD Option 3 $5.00 USD

 

Crocheted stars

These small crocheted stars are great when made in crochet cotton, and can be used as small patches across the back of denim jackets, or possibly on the brim of a stocking cap. 

They're not my original pattern.  I found them as an embellishment for an Afghan, made of knitted worsted.   (McCalls Big Book of Afghans, 1976 edition.  ) 

I have since found the pattern in several other places, even in books dating back to the 1950's, and these small stars are very popular as appliques on Etsy, Zibbet, eBay,  etc.  I strongly suspect that it would be impossible to trace the actual creator of this pattern.  

Here is the pattern as i found it.  My notes and changes are in (parenthesis)

Work in knitting worsted and size G hook.  (Or crochet cotton and size 5 hook.)

 Ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to form ring. (I use a magic circle to give a solid center.)

Rnd 1;  ch 2, work 14 hdc in ring.  Join with sl st in top of ch 2.  (Works just as well  with dc)

Rnd 2:  { points }  *Ch 7, Turn;  Sl st In 2nd ch from hook.  Sc 

in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, tr in next ch, skip 2 hdc of rnd 1, sl st inn next hdc; repeat from * 4 Times.  End off.   

That's it.

To make them easier to applique, hit them with spray starch and iron them, face down, on a soft cotton towel. 

 

To give them a permanent sizing, wet them with white glue, the kind school children use is fine, then stretch them out on a piece of cardboard covered with tin foil.  Use straight pins to pierce the points and push the pins through the foil into the cardboard.  After the glue dries, you'll have a permanently stiffened piece that will hold its shape and can be used for earrings, hair bows or Christmas tree ornaments. 

 

Enjoy

Just a simple little place to collect patterns, ideas, etc... so I don't have to keep track of a hundred little pieces of paper...