It’s officially the first day of spring, even though we’ve had spring-like weather for about a month now in South Texas. The trees are covered in new leaves, the oleanders are blooming, and everything is covered in a thin yellow haze of pollen. Bees and butterflies are returning to take advantage of the pollen.
Butterflies are such a great symbol of spring with their quiet beauty and their beautiful colors.
Spring is a time of renewal. Along with the bees and butterflies returning, many animals have their babies in the spring. Here are some adorable baby animals for you to crochet this spring.
Are you excited for St. Patrick’s Day? When I lived in New York City, I worked on 5th Avenue and 44th Street, which was the staging area for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. School bands lined up waiting for their turn. Bagpipe players tuning their instruments. Men straightening their kilts to be sure they were just right. We didn’t get much work done that day, because we were sitting on the window sills to watch the festivities. Quite a few of the staff were first generation Irish-Americans, so this was a significant day for them.
Leggy Leprechaun was made while thinking of all those St. Patrick’s Days that I spent in New York. I hope you enjoy making him.
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn:
40 yards green
10 yards ivory
30 yards black
10 yards rust
30 yards green ombre
1 yard red
Size G (4.0 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle
Fiberfill
Marbles
Cardboard
Gold pipecleaner
8-mm wiggly eyes
8-mm pink pompom
Finished leprechaun measures approximately 11” tall.
Directions:
Hat:
Rnd 1: With black yarn, ch 2 (or MR), 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds unless otherwise specified.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (24 sc). Join with sl st in same sp as last sc.
Lay top of hat on cardboard and mark. Cut out circle and set aside.
Rnd 5: In BLO, sc in each st. Do not join.
Rnds 6-7: Working in both lps, sc in each st. Do not join.
Rnd 8: Sc in each st. Join with sl st in same sp as last sc. Fasten off black.
Rnd 9: Attach green yarn, sc in each st. Join with sl st in same sp as last sc. Fasten off green.
Brim:
Rnd 10: Attach black yarn in FLO of Rnd 9. Working in FLO, *sc in 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (32 sc). Do not join. Work another rnd of sc in each st. Join with sl st. Fasten off black.
Insert cardboard into top of hat and stuff hat.
Face and beard:
Rnd 11: Go back to use the unused lps of Rnd 9. Turn work so unused lps are now front lps. With joining st of brim on far side of hat, attach rust yarn on right side.
Ch 1, lp st in first st, lp st in next 11 sts. Change to ivory yarn, sc in next 12 sts. Do not join.
Rnds 12-16: Working in both lps, rust lp st in first 12 sts, ivory sc in next 12 sts. Join at end of Rnd 16.
Fasten off rust and ivory yarn.
Body:
Rnd 17: Turn, join green yarn, ch 1, sc in each st (24 sc). Do not join.
Rnd 18: Sc in each st.
Rnd 19: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 20: Sc in each st.
Rnd 21: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (36 sc).
Rnd 22: Sc in each st.
Rnd 23: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (42 sc).
Rnds 24-26: Sc in each st.
Stuff neck.
Rnd 27: Working in BLO, *dec, sc in next 5 sts,* repeat around (36 sc).
Stuff body with Fiberfill, then add a few marbles to weight him down. Cut another cardboard circle to fit the bottom of the body and insert after marbles.
Rnd 28: Working in both lps, *dec, sc in next 4 sts,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 29: *Dec, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (24 sc).
Rnd 30: *Dec, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 31: *Dec, sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).
Rnd 32: Dec around (6 sc). Close with Ultimate Finish.
Ultimate Finish: Fasten off yarn leaving 6” length.
Thread length through yarn needle and pick up outer
lp of each st around. Pull tight to close.
Ultimate Finish tutorial: https://youtu.be/jVpTr8mId3I
Beard:
Attach rust yarn at edge of ivory sts just below hat. Work lp sts down the side of the face, across the bottom of the face, and up the other side of the face. Sl st in same sp as last lp st. Fasten off rust.
Legs: (Make 2)
Rnd 1: Using green ombre yarn, ch 2 (or MR), 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join.
Rnd 2: Sc in each st.
Repeat Rnd 2 until leg measures approximately 5” (or desired length). Close with Ultimate Finish.
Boots:
Rnd 1: With black yarn, ch 8, sc in 2nd ch, sc in next 4 ch, 2 sc in each of next 2 ch. Working on opposite side of foundation ch, 2 sc in each of next 2 ch, sc in next 5 ch. Join with sl st. (18 sc).
Rnd 2: Ch 1, using BLO, sc in each st. Join with sl st.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, dec 5 times, sc in next 4 sts (13 sc). Join with sl st.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, dec, sc next 3 sts tog, dec, sc in next 3 sts (9 sc). Join.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, sc next 3 sts tog, sc in next 3 sts (7 sc). Join.
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in each st. Join. Fasten off black.
Stuff boots and sew to ends of legs. Sew legs to bottom of body at Rnd 28.
Arms: (Make 2):
Rnd 1: Using ivory yarn, ch 2 (or MR), 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join.
Rnd 2: Sc in each st. Join with sl st in same sp as last sc. Fasten off ivory.
Rnds 3-9: With green yarn, sc in each st. At end of Rnd 9, join with sl st. Close with Ultimate Finish.
Embroider mouth with red yarn.
Glue on eyes and pompom for nose.
Buckles:
Fold pipe cleaner into 3 small squares. Glue one to hat and one to each boot.
Directions:
Row 1: With yellow yarn, ch 14, sc in 2nd ch, sc in next 12 ch (13 sc).
Rows 2-13: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Row 14: Ch 1, turn, sc in BLO of each st.
Rows 15-30: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st (both lps).
Row 31: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 9 st, dec (11 sc).
Row 32: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 7 st, dec (9 sc).
Row 33: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 5 st, dec (7 sc).
Row 34: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 3 st, dec (5 sc).
Row 35: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next st, dec (3 sc). Fasten off yellow yarn.
Go back to Row 1 and use unused lps of foundation ch. Attach yarn in first st, sc in
each st (13 sc). Fasten off yellow yarn.
Using the BLO sts of Row 14 as a guide, fold up Rows 1-13. Attach yellow yarn at bottom edge and sc through both sides of
edges of chick. Continue in sc across edges of remaining rows all the way to the top, sc across the top, then sc down the other side.
Fasten off yarn.
Beak:
Rnd 1: With orange yarn, ch 2 (or magic ring), 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 2 sts. Join with sl st. Fasten off orange leaving 6” tail for sewing.
Sew beak to center of Row 5.
Glue eyes on either side of beak.
Cut 3 pieces of yellow yarn approximately 4” long. Pull through top center 3 sts of chick. Trim to approximately 1”. Use yarn
needle to separate strands of yarn.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love ice cream, especially soft serve ice cream. When the children were young, we used to take them to walk the Poteet flea market, La Pulga. The children were interested in raspas (snow cones), but my favorite stand was the soft ice cream stand. The best vanilla soft serve in the San Antonio area!
For my mom’s birthday, I got her a Cuisinart ice cream maker. She loved it so much, I got one for myself. Last week I made homemade peach ice cream. Tonight I’ll be making lemon sorbet. It’s so easy – just freeze the bowl for 24 hours, then combine your ingredients and pour them in. When you turn it on, the bowl spins slowly, and 20 minutes later you have wonderful homemade ice cream. Yummy!
I love ice cream so much, I made an ice cream cone pillow using Bernat blanket yarn. It’s nearly 3 feet tall and super squishy!
Materials:
Bernat Blanket or other super bulky (6) yarn
12 oz. Sunsoaked (yellow)
10 oz. Whipped Cream (ivory)
Size M (13.00 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle
Fiberfill
Finished pillow measures approximately 32” tall by 44” diameter (at widest point).
DIRECTIONS:
CONE:
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (or magic circle), 7 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (14 sc).
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (21 sc).
Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (28 sc).
Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (35 sc).
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (42 sc).
Rnd 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (49 sc).
Rnd 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (56 sc).
Rnd 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (63 sc).
Rnd 10: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (70 sc).
Rnd 11: Working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rnds 12-29: Working in both loops, sc in each st.
Rnd 30: Working in FLO, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (87 sc).
Rnd 31: Working in both loops, *sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (96 sc).
Rnd 32: Working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rnds 33-37: Working in both loops, sc in each st. Join with sl st at end of Rnd 37. Fasten off Sunsoaked. Stuff.
ICE CREAM:
Rnd 38: Attach Whipped Cream, working in BLO, sc in each st.
Rnd 39: Working in both loops, sc in each st.
Rnd 40: *Dec, sc in next 14 sts,* repeat around (90 sc).
Rnd 41: Sc in each st.
Rnd 42: *Dec, sc in next 13 sts,* repeat around (84 sc).
Rnd 43: Sc in each st.
Rnd 44: *Dec, sc in next 12 sts,* repeat around (78 sc).
Rnd 45: Sc in each st.
Rnd 46: *Dec, sc in next 11 sts,* repeat around (72 sc).
Rnd 47: Sc in each st.
Rnd 48: *Dec, sc in next 10 sts,* repeat around (66 sc).
Rnd 49: Sc in each st.
Rnd 50: *Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (72 sc).
Rnd 51: *Sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (78 sc).
Rnds 52-53: Sc in each st.
Rnd 54: *Dec, sc in next 11 sts,* repeat around (72 sc).
Rnd 55: Sc in each st.
Rnd 56: *Dec, sc in next 10 sts,* repeat around (66 sc).
Rnd 57:*Dec, sc in next 9 sts,* repeat around (60 sc).
Rnd 58:*Dec, sc in next 8 sts,* repeat around (54 sc).
Rnd 59:*Dec, sc in next 7 sts,* repeat around (48 sc). Stuff.
Rnd 60:*Dec, sc in next 6 sts,* repeat around (42 sc).
Rnd 61:*Dec, sc in next 5 sts,* repeat around (36 sc).
Rnd 62: Sc in each st.
Rnd 63:*Dec, sc in next 4 sts,* repeat around (30 sc).
Rnd 64: Sc in each st.
Rnd 65:*Dec, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (24 sc).
Rnd 66: Sc in each st.
Rnd 67:*Dec, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 68: Sc in each st.
Rnd 69:*Dec, sc in next st,* repeat around (12 sc).
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