Tag: CAL

Posted on by — 5 Comments

Benjamin Turtle CAL Part 3

TGIF! I hope everyone is enjoying the Benjamin Turtle pattern. Today’s post is the final one for this crochet-along. You will be making the bottom flap and assembling the nap buddy.

Directions:

Bottom:

Row 1: With Dark Olive yarn, ch 30, hdc in 2nd ch and in each ch across (29 hdc).

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, 2 hdc in first st, hdc across (32 hdc at end of Row 4).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 1 hdc, ch 1, sk next st, 30 hdc.

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each hdc and ch-1 sp.

Rows 7-14: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st.

Rows 15-24: Repeat Rows 5-14.

Rows 25-26: Repeat Rows 5-6.

Rows 27-29: Ch 1, turn, dec over first 2 sts, hdc across (29 hdc at end of Row 29). Do not fasten off.

Edging:

Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across top, down side, across unused loops on bottom, and up the other side with 2 hdc in each corner. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing.

Finished flap measures approximately 10” x 11”.

Assembly:

turtle blanket centers

Mark centers of blanket and turtle. Measure from center, 5” to left and 5” to right and pin blanket to turtle at these spots. Sew center 10” of blanket to turtle using Dark Olive yarn and back stitch. For extra security, sew edges of blanket to turtle with whip st.

Fold blanket into thirds and roll it, then fit it inside the turtle. Pin bottom flap centered over the blanket/turtle seam and sew in place.

turtle bottom flap

Sew buttons to bottom of shell corresponding to buttonholes in bottom flap.

turtle buddy bottom 

Head:

Rnd 1: Ch 2 (or magic circle), 6 sc in 2nd ch. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout head.

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).

Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (30 sc).

Rnds 6-9: Sc in each st.

Rnd 10: *Dec, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (24 sc).

Rnd 11: Sc in each st.

Insert eyes at Rnd 4, approximately 1” apart.

Rnd 12: *Dec, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (18 sc).

Rnds 13-16: Sc in each st. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length.

Stuff head and sew to front of turtle at the top edge of the center hexagon. Weave in all ends.

turtle buddy both small

Part 1 of the CAL can be found at Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL.

Part 2 of the CAL can be found at Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL Part 2.

Free Turtle Jewelry Pattern

Four Free Turtle Patterns

Please post your turtle photos to Facebook or Instagram.

Rainbow Nap Buddy

Bunny Nap Buddy Crochet Pattern

Summer Solstice Giveaway

I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing crochet pattern giveaway! There are 25 designers, each offering a different summer pattern. Use coupon code SUMMER2020 on Ravelry through 6/24/2020. These amazing patterns should keep you busy for quite a while this summer!

Summer Solstice Giveaway

My contribution to the roundup is also available at First Day of Summer – easy butterfly flip flop pattern. If you prefer video tutorials, please see YouTube.

National Zoo & Aquarium Month

June 50% off patterns continue with today’s animal being the Polar Bear. We still have over a week to go in June with lots more half price patterns. Thursday’s sale is also still available – Fish Dish Towel. Makes a great Father’s Day gift!

June2020calendar

National Zoo & Aquarium Month 2021 Blog Hop

Turtle Christmas Ornament

For the bargain shoppers among you, this week’s Etsy specials are 20% off yarn and 30% off select finished products.

King Snake crocheted in Bernat blanket yarn

king snake coiled

I spent this week working on a giant snake plushie. Bernat blanket yarn is so soft and squishy, I just love using it to make stuffed animals! The pattern is complete, but I need a couple of people to test it. If you would like to test, please join my Facebook group for the King snake and other testing opportunities. The snake in the photo measures 100″ long, and instructions are also given for a 66″ snake.

Panda Bear Eyeglass Holder

panda

For the Addi knitter, this cute panda pattern is quick and easy.

Panda Eyeglass Holder Addi Pattern

Have a safe and happy summer. Happy crocheting!

 

 

 

 

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL Part 2

Good morning everyone! We had a cool front come in this week with gorgeous morning temps. It will be a hot one in the afternoon, but I’ve been enjoying my morning coffee on the patio enjoying the 70-degree weather.

Benjamin is proving to be as popular with crocheters as I had hoped – he’s just so cute! Please share your color combinations on Instagram or Facebook. This week we’ll be making the African flower motifs for his shell and putting them together. Next week will be making the turtle head and bottom flap, then attaching the blanket to the turtle shell.

Part 1 is available at Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL.

Part 3 is available at Benjamin Turtle CAL Part 3

Free Turtle Jewelry Pattern

Turtle Directions

African Flower (Make 10):

Rnd 1: With Sungold yarn, Magic Ring (MR), ch 3 (counts as dc), dc, ch 1, *2 dc, ch 1,* repeat 4 times, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3. Fasten off Sungold.

Rnd 2: Attach Mild Green yarn in any ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc, ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next 5 ch-1 sps. Join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 3: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in same ch-1 sp, 7 dc in remaining 5 ch-1 sps. Join with sl st in top of beg ch-3. Fasten off Mild Green.

Rnd 4: Attach Toasted Almond yarn at first dc of any 7-dc group, ch 1, *sc in each of 7 dc across top of shell, sc in sp between shells two rows below in Rnd 2,* repeat 5 times. Join with sl st in top of first sc. Fasten off Toasted Almond yarn.

Rnd 5: Attach Dark Olive Yarn, ch 1 (does not count as st), *hdc in each of 8 sc across side of hexagon, ch 1,* repeat 5 times. Join with sl st in top of first hdc. Fasten off Dark Olive Yarn. Block squares and sew together in the following configuration.

turtle assembly

Each side of the hexagon is 8 hdc with a ch at each end. Sew these sts together. On the hexagons that form the outer edge (as indicated in photo below by arrows), continue this seam for an additional 4 sts.

turtle hexagon arrows

Edging:

Rnd 1: Attach Dark Olive yarn at any st, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next st and each st around. Some hexagons will still have ch-1 sps. Skip these. At seam, work dc dec across both sides of seam. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off Dark Olive.

Rnd 2: Attach Sungold yarn, ch 1, sc in same st, *sk 2 sts, 6 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st,* repeat around. It may be necessary to manipulate the skipped sts towards the end of the rnd in order to finish with a shell st rather than a sc. Join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off Sungold.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions on this pattern. The pattern PDF is available at My Fingers Fly. If you prefer Ravelry, turtles are the featured animal on June 13 – Benjamin Turtle. Each day in June, a different animal pattern is half price.

Rainbow Nap Buddy

Bunny Nap Buddy Crochet Pattern

More Turtle Patterns

World Oceans Day – 4 Free Turtle Patterns

Free Turtle Earrings Pattern

Turtle Christmas Ornament

June2020calendar

National Zoo & Aquarium Month 2021 Blog Hop

Last year I published an Elephant Crochet Pattern ebook, but I just wasn’t satisfied with the amount of patterns, so I added a few more patterns. The ebook PDF is now available on Etsy and My Fingers Fly. Kindle and paperback versions are also available on Amazon. ElephantBookCover

Miles the Jazzy Elephant was so much fun to make; I hope you’ll enjoy him too. Elephant patterns are also available separately on Ravelry, Etsy, Lovecrafts, and My Fingers Fly. Also included in the book is an Elephant Ear Saver Crochet Pattern (free on the blog).

Miles and Benjamin will both be included in my next book, A to Z Animal Crochet. Animal patterns are so much fun!

I still have a few 2020 Crochet Calendars left – just pay shipping. Even though the year is almost half gone, the 12 kitchen crochet patterns can be used forever.

Stay safe and happy crocheting!

Posted on by — 13 Comments

Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL

Businesses across the country are beginning to open again, and people are returning to work. Do you have a little one who is returning to day care? Benjamin Turtle would be the perfect companion. He’s a cute plush toy that unfolds to reveal a toddler blanket for naptime.

Benjamin Turtle video

This crochet-along will be published in three parts over the month of June:

  1. Toddler blanket
  2. Turtle shell – Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL Part 2
  3. Assembly – Benjamin Turtle CAL Part 3

Free Turtle Jewelry Pattern

I hope you enjoy making him as much as I enjoyed designing him. Thanks to also to tester Sharon Reid who provided me the beautiful photos.

Materials

I Love This Yarn worsted weight

21 oz. Dark Olive

6 oz. Mild Green

5 oz. Toasted Almond

2 oz. Sungold

Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook

Fiberfil

Yarn needle

Two 8-mm black safety eyes

Three 3/4” buttons

Blanket Directions:

Row 1: With Dark Olive yarn, ch 101, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in remaining chs (100 hdc).

Rows 2-10: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st.

Rows 11-12: Ch 1, turn, switch to Mild Green yarn and hdc in each st.

Repeat stripe pattern of 10 rows Dark Olive and 2 rows Mild Green 9 times. Then work another 10 rows of Dark Olive hdc.

Edging:

With Dark Olive yarn, ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across top with 3 hdc in corner. Turn to work down side, work hdc with approximately 3 sts for every 2 rows. Lay work on a table occasionally to make sure it is laying flat; adjust sts as necessary. Turn to work across bottom with 3 hdc in corner, hdc in each unused loop of starting ch, 3 hdc in corner. Turn to work up next side using the same number of sts as the other side. Join with sl st in 1st hdc.

20200430_111936

Okay, the easy part is done. Stay tuned for part 2 to make the turtle shell which will hold the blanket. Pattern PDF is available for download at My Fingers Fly. Please feel free to share photos on Instagram or Facebook.

Rainbow Nap Buddy

More Turtle Patterns

Free Turtle Earrings Pattern

World Oceans Day – 4 Free Turtle Patterns

National Zoo & Aquarium Month

Check out my Ravelry shop for 50% off a different animal crochet pattern each day.

June2020calendar

Stay safe. Be kind. Happy crocheting.

National Zoo & Aquarium Month 2021 Blog Hop

Turtle Christmas Ornament

Posted on by — 8 Comments

Sugar Skull Jewelry

sugar skull jewelry

With the country just beginning to open back up, travel is still on hold for us. In the meantime, I’ve been working on my next book – Halloween crochet. This week I’m offering a simple pattern for sugar skull jewelry. If you have some cotton thread to use up, this is a great project. I normally prefer working with worsted yarn, but lately I have come to love using thread to make earrings.

Materials:

Aunt Lydia’s Cotton–

15 yards ivory

Few yards of a few bright colors for skull decorations

Size 1.5 mm steel crochet hook

Needle

Directions:

Row 1: With ivory thread, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 5 ch (6 sc).

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, inc, sc across to last st, inc in last st (12 sc at end of Row 4).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Sc in 1st 3 sts. Leave remaining sts unworked.

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Leave loop hanging. Using separate piece of yarn, go back to Row 4. Skip 6 sts, sc in each of last 3 sts.

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Ch 6, join with sl st in first section of Row 6. Fasten off. Pick up loop on Row 6, sc across 3 sts.

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc across all sts & chs (12 sc).

Rows 9-10: Repeat Row 2 (16 sc).

Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 12: Repeat Row 2 (18 sc).

Rows 13-14: Repeat Row 11.

Row 15: Ch 1, turn, sc in 4 sts.

Row 16: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 2 sts (3 sc).

Row 17: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 18: Ch 1, turn, inc, sc in next 2 sts (4 sc). Leave loop hanging. With separate piece of yarn, sk 3 sts on Row 14. Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, ch 1, turn, dec twice. Ch 1, turn, sc in 2 sts. Ch 1, turn, inc twice. Ch 3, sl st in 1st st of Row 18. Fasten off.

Go back to Row 14. Sk 3 sts, ch 1, sc in last 4 sts. Ch 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, dec (3 sc). Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Ch 1, turn, sc in 2 sts, inc next st (4 sc). Ch 1, sl st in middle section of Row 18. Fasten off.

Row 19: Pick up loop on first section of Row 18. Ch 1, sc in each st and ch (18 sc).

Rows 20-22: Ch 1, turn, dec first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec last 2 sts (12 sc).

Row 23: Dec, sc next 8 sts, dec, continue down side, sc around entire skull. Join with sl st in 1st sc of Row 23. Stop here for single-color skull.

To make multicolored skull, continue with adding colors.

With pink yarn, sc around both eye openings.

Heart:

With pink yarn, ch 3. In 3rd ch from hook, work 2 dc, 4 hdc, ch 1, 4 hdc, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st in same ch. Fasten off leaving 12” length and sew to forehead of skull.

Nose:

With purple yarn, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, sl st in 3rd ch. Fasten off leaving 6” length and sew to center of face.

Attach jump ring and necklace chain or earring hooks.

This PDF pattern is available to download on Ravelry, separately or included in the Sugar Skull Crochet Patterns ebook. If you prefer, it is also available on Amazon as a Kindle download or paperback.

Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy, World Turtle Day

turtle buddy both small

Next month I will start the first CAL for My Fingers Fly, Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy. The toddler blanket folds up after naptime and is stored in Benjamin’s shell, giving your child a plush toy the rest of the day. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn with a simple striped blanket and the African flower motif for the turtle. The pattern will be published in stages throughout June 2020, and I hope you will share your progress photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Benjamin Turtle on YouTube

Finished blanket measures approximately 50″ long by 28” wide (with instructions to make it longer if necessary). When rolled up, Benjamin measures approximately 18” long by 10” wide by 7” tall.
Materials you will need:
Worsted weight yarn (I used I Love This Yarn)
21 oz. dark olive
6 oz. light green
5 oz. tan
2 oz. gold
Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Fiberfil
Yarn needle
Two 10-mm black safety eyes
Three 7/8”-1” buttons

June is National Zoo & Aquarium Month

To celebrate June, each day will have a different animal or fish pattern on sale on Ravelry. I will post a calendar by June 1 with more details.

Rattlesnake Wreath

rattlesnake wreath plain

This week I completed another pattern which will go into my Halloween crochet book, Rattlesnake Wreath. For this weekend only, it is introductory priced at 50% off. Already well on its way, but I still have a list of patterns to make for this book. Is there a Halloween pattern you would like to see included?

Now that restaurants are opening up, I’m off to have lunch with the hubby. Happy crocheting everyone! Stay safe.

More Halloween patterns

halloween patterns

 

Halloween Pattern Roundup