Free Crochet Pattern-- X-O Afghan

Wednesday, December 19, 2018




If you are looking for the perfect afghan to crochet, you have to make my X-O Afghan. The yarn used for this project is purely soft and makes for a cozy blanket.

One Saturday, my husband gave me a chance to break away from the kids and go shopping for yarn. I mean seriously, I think I have a yarn obsession. Anyways, I went into Michael's and browsed the yarn selection and came across some Caron Latte Cakes. I'm not, for one, into the cakes but I just had to touch this yarn. The yarn screamed lush and believe me when I say it is super cozy. My kids couldn't keep away from playing under this afghan when it was in progress.

Anyways, the one color that I liked from the bunch was called Blackberry. Unfortunately, there was only one skein of it. So I debated for a while, picking it up and putting it down, picking it up and putting it down. I couldn't decide what to do because there was only one skein. So eventually I bought it cause the feel of the yarn was just undeniable. I told myself that I would buy more online when Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales were happening. Just my luck, they were all sold out on Micheals.com! Ugh! So I ended up getting six skeins of a different color and I'm glad that I did because it came out beautifully in this afghan. If you don't plan to make this pattern, at least get some skeins of Caron Latte Cakes. It won't disappoint.

The pattern is made up of little bean, cross and double crochet stitches. 

The little bean stitches represent your Os and the cross stitches are your Xs.

Hope you enjoy this pattern.

Materials

5 skeins of Caron Latte Cakes in color Kissy Kissy
6.5mm hook 
Scissors
Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations


FDC- foundationless double crochet 
You can visit HERE if you would like to see a picture tutorial.
Lbs- little bean stitch
Yo, insert hook in the next st, yo and pull up a loop; yo and pull through one loop on your hook, yo insert hook in same ch, yo and pull up a loop, (5 loops on your hook) yo and pull through through all loops 
dc-double crochet
st-stitch
yo- yarn over
- Repeat stitches from first asterisk to second asterisk 
ch- chain

Gauge

Gauge is really not that important. 

Notes

Beginning chain does not count as a stitch throughout.

You can make your afghan as long or as wide as you want. 

When you start your FDC, crochet in multiples of 4.

The blanket in this pattern is roughly 60in wide x 55in long.

Pattern

For the ad-free and inexpensive PDF version, please visit Etsy or Ravelry


To pin this pattern for later, visit Pinterest.




Row 1: FDC 180, ch 2 and turn your work

Row 2: dc in the first 2 sts,  *skip the next st and dc in the following st, go back to the previous st you skipped and dc (this makes an x)* repeat until you have 2 stitches remaining, dc in the last two, ch2 and turn you work

Row 3: dc across, ch 2 and turn your work

Row 4-6: dc in the first 2 sts,  *skip  the next st and dc in the following st, go back to the previous st you skipped and dc (this makes an x)* repeat until you have 2 stitches remaining, dc in the last two, ch2 and turn you work

Row 7: repeat row 3




Row 8-9: dc in the first 2 sts, *Lbs in the next st, ch 1 and skip a st* repeat until you have 2 sts remaining, dc in the last 2 sts, ch 2 and turn your work 

Row 10-100: Repeat rows 3-9  (If you decide to make your afghan longer or shorter, take into account that there are 3 more rows to end your afghan.)

Row 101: Repeat row 3

Row 102: Repeat row 2
Row 103: Repeat row 3

Fasten off and weave in any loose ends.

If you wish, you can crochet a border. 


Leave your thoughts and comments down below. I'd love to hear from you.

Happy crocheting!





This post may contain affiliate links. I am paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links on my site. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way. 


The K-Pop Mask

Saturday, December 15, 2018




I had no idea how worldwide K-pop (Korean pop) and K-drama were nowadays. I really didn’t see it coming. Growing up, watching k-drama was only possible by renting them out on VHS from a local Korean store. Now, it’s on Netflix, Amazon, Viki, and so on and so on. Who would have thought? I certainly didn’t.

This past summer I went to my first k-pop concert with my aunt and mom. I really wanted to see Eric Nam, also a Korean-American, who made it in the music industry in Korea. I was expecting Korean people to show up at this concert only to find myself being the minority of the bunch. It was amazing. I felt proud to be a Korean and grateful that other ethnicities were there to support a Korean singer.


A month later I made a visit to the bank to open up a new account. As usual, I made small talk with the manager responsible of opening accounts. She asked me what my ethnicity was and when I told her I was Korean she literally jumped out of her seat repeatedly saying that she wanted to live in Korea. Then she proceeded to tell me that both of her little girls were into K-pop and K-drama and going on and on about Korean “stuff”.


If you follow these K-pop and K-drama celebrities, you must know about these black masks they wear all the time, right? To be honest, wearing a mask in Korea is not really out of the norm. When I lived in Korea for three and a half years, there were plenty of occasions where I wore them. I wore them mostly when I was sick and didn’t want to spread my germs, but also when I had to walk out and didn’t want to show my bare face. And you know what? That’s exactly why k-pop stars wear them. Oh, and of course trying not to get spotted out in public. But really, how can you not get spotted? You’re a celebrity.


Anyways, I thought that this would be a great quick project to do especially with the flu season in and the winter months upon us.


If you happen to read this in the spring to fall months, this would also make a great mask to avoid breathing in pollen during the allergy season.


UPDATE: THIS WILL NOT PROTECT YOU FROM THE CORONA VIRUS!

Pattern

To get a copy of the K-Pop Mask you can visit my Etsy or Ravelry stores.
To pin this for later, visit Pinterest.

Measurements of the Mask

4.5" in height and 9" wide

Materials

-1 Skein of Lion Brands Vanna’s Choice in Black and in Linen
-4.5mm hook
-scissors
-tapestry needle




Optional Bear Motif 










Comment below and don't forget to follow me on my social media accounts.
Happy crocheting!


This post may contain affiliate links. I am paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the link on my site. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way.

Free Crochet Pattern -- Pikachu Keychain

Wednesday, December 12, 2018





I remember watching Pokemon as a kid and honestly, I still cannot believe that this cartoon is still airing on TV. I have no clue what the current Pokemon show looks like today but I am aware that kids are still watching it. So in honor of Pokemon and its many years of airing I have created a Pikachu keychain pattern.

I looked high and low for a free pikachu pattern online but all the amigurumi patterns for Pikachu were quite time consuming. So I decided to create a keychain pattern for this cute little Pokemon.

Materials

Any worsted weight yarn (yellow, black, and red, Loops and Threads Impeccable yarn was used in the picture)
One pair of 9mm or 10 mm safety eyes
Stitch marker
Polyfil Stuffing
A keychain of your choice
3.5 mm or 4.0mm hook
tapestry needle


Abbreviations


sc- single crochet
inc- single crochet increase (2 single crochets in 1 stitch)
invdec- invisible decrease (crochet two stitches together by using front loops only)
slst- slip stitch
* Repeat stitches from first asterisk to second asterisk
mc- magic circle
( )- the number of stitches at the end of the round
Make stitches tight as to not let the stuffing come through the stitches. 

Pattern

To save this pattern for later, pin it in Pinterest.


Ears 

Make two
Round 1: Starting with black yarn create a magic circle and make 4 sc into the circle. (use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning stitch of each round)
Round 2: *2sc in next stitch, 1sc in next stitch*(6)
At this time, pull the end of the yarn to close the magic ring. I like to make a knot to make sure the ring doesn’t open again.
Round 3-6: Change yarn color to yellow, sc around
Stuff the ear with polyfil stuffing
Round 7:  Invdec, sc to the end of the round (5)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing

Red Cheeks

With red yarn
MR and put 6 sc into circle , slst into first sc and leave a long tail. Close the circle.

Head

Round 1: Using a mc and make 6 sc
Round 2: 2sc into each stitch (12)
Round 3: *1sc, 2sc* repeat  (18)
Round 4: *1sc in the next 2 stitches, 2sc in the next*(24)
Round 5: sc all around to the second to last sc, 2sc in last stitch (25)
Round 6-7: sc around
Round 8: sc around until you have 2 sc left and do an invdec (24)
Round 9: *sc in next two stitches, invdec* (18)
Round 10: sc around


Using black yarn make a nose between rows 9 and 10.  Sew in both ears.  Place safety eyes between rows 8 and 9 about 4-5 stitches apart. Attach the red cheeks on either end of the face.
I like to attach my keychain at this time.
Round 11: *1 sc, invdec* (12)
Stuff the head with poly-fil.

Round 12: invdec to the end (6)
Fasten off and leave a tail to close the head and weave in the end.
Firmly stuff the head and close the opening by weaving in and out of the stitches. Weave in the remaining.
I hope you enjoy your Pikachu keychain! 








Happy crocheting!


This post may contain affiliate links. I am paid a small commission if you make a purchase through the links on my site. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way.