2012 Top 100 Patterns - Guess who's in there? ;)

Mustard Colored Ruffled Scarf

Our Mustard Colored Ruffled Scarf has been featured by AllFreeCrochet.com as a 2012 Top 100 Pattern of the Year!  :)  I am SO honored and excited!  Thanks for all the love, my friends!

November Giveaway Winner!

My sincerest apologies for not posting the winner WAY earlier!  I've been very ill, and we also recently found out we are moving out of state (headed back home-woohoo!), so the last few weeks have been hectic. 

Our winner is:

Kellie Cole Ledbetter!

Kellie, I've sent you an email.  Please reply, so I can send out your pattern.  :)

I haven't set up a December contest, because I know I will not be able to keep up with it this month.  However, I should have something fun set up for you guys in January!  ;) 

Hooded Cowl

Hooded Cowl

Materials:

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn in Barley

N Hook

*Note on adjustments:  This pattern was created for my 3 year old daughter.  It is easily adaptable, though!  1) Simply begin with more chains to make larger (or less chains to make smaller), 2) when beginning the hood you'll need to figure out how big to make the opening for the size you're looking for (you'll begin in the same stitch, but will end in a different stitch than is written), and 3) add more (or less) rows to the hood.

Keep all stitches slightly loose to allow the hood to move easier while wearing.  Thick yarn like this can easily be pulled too tight and just be stiff.

Ch 35, loosely.  Join with sl st in first ch made.

R1-R5: Ch 2.  DC in each st around.  Join in top of first DC made.

R6: Ch 2.  DC in each of the next 25 st.

R7-R16: Ch 2, turn.  Skip first st.  DC in each st to end of last row, placing final DC in top of turning chain.

 At the end of R16, you have a couple of options.  You can tie off the ends here, then use a yarn needle and a long piece of yarn and sew along the top edge of R16 to create the hood.  OR, you can do what I did:  Ch 1, turn.  Put ends of top of hood together and either sl st or SC across the entire work.  Then, tie off you yarn.  Turn the entire project inside out to hide that seam and you're done.  :)

Big Bow Headband

Big Bow Headband

This is going to be a fun hair accessory for girls to wear to all of those holiday gatherings!

Materials:

Caron Simply Soft yarn in your choice of color (I used Autumn Red)

H Hook

*Note: This pattern was written to fit my petite 3 year old.  The pattern is adjustable, though!  To make larger or smaller, just begin the band with enough chains to fit your child's head snugly.  Once you start to stitch into the chains, they will stretch slightly-plus, as the headband is worn, it is likely that it will stretch out a bit and you want it to stay fairly snug on the child's head.  You can also consider purchasing some elastic (as in the elastic used for waistbands in sewing) and sew that inside the headband. 

Band:

Option 1:

Ch 68 (or to fit circumference of head).  Join with sl st in 1st ch made. Ch 2.  DC in each stitch around.  Join in top of 1st DC made.

Option 2-a little more snug:

Ch 68 (or to fit circumference of head).  DC in 3rd ch from hook, and each ch across.  Tie off yarn.  With this option, you should attach a button or some elastic to hold it in place on the head.

Bow:

Ch 30. Join with sl st in first ch made.  

R1-R4:  Ch 2.  DC in each st around.  Join with sl st in top of first st.

 At the end of R4, tie off yarn.

Center of Bow:

Ch 10.  DC in 2nd ch from hook and each st across.  

Putting it all together:

Lay "Bow" on top of band where you would like to attach it.  Take "Center" and wrap it around the bow and the band, then sew the ends together on the inside (where it will lay against the head).  I recommend using a few stitches to attach the bow directly to the band as well, otherwise the bow will slide freely along the band.

Star & Wreath Ornaments

Star and Wreath Ornaments

Star Ornament

Materials:

H Hook

Cotton Yarn (I used Peaches & Cream in Ecru)

Optional Materials:

Wooden Button

Thick Ribbon

Sewing Needle & Thread (to sew on button)

Glue Gun (to ensure that threads don't come loose after sewing)

Ch 5.  Join in first ch made to form a ring.  

R1: Ch 3 (counts as DC).  2 DC in ring.  Ch 5.  *3 DC in ring.  Ch 5.*  Repeat 3 more times.  Join in top of first ch 3.  You should have a total of 5 chain spaces.

R2: Ch 1.  * SC in first st.  Sk 1 st.  SC in next st.  In ch sp: 3 SC.  Ch 2.  SC in 3rd SC made to create picot.  2 SC*  Repeat around to create star.  Join with sl st in first st made.  

Optional Decorating:  Cut a length of ribbon and fold in half.  Place the cut ends underneath a point of the star.  Place button on top of the star and sew through all layers to attach button and ribbon to the star.  Use a dot of hot glue on the ends of thread after sewing to ensure that your knots don't come undone.

Wreath Ornament

Materials:

H Hook

Cotton Yarn (I used Peaches & Cream in Forest Green)

Optional Materials:

Buttons

Thin ribbon

Glue Gun

Ch 10.  Join to form ring.

R1: Ch 1.  15 SC around chains.  Join in top of first SC made.

R2: Ch 2.  Working in FRONT LOOPS ONLY:  3 DC in each st around.  Join in first st made.  Ch 1.  Sl st around the post of ch 2 (you are working toward the base of this round).  Ch 1.  Sl st into bottom of the first DC made and drop yarn from hook.  Turn the entire piece over.  The side you are now looking at is the front.  

R3: Insert hook through the work in the place closest to where you dropped the yarn from the hook.  Pick up yarn and pull it through to the front.  Turn work 180 degrees (upside down, but keep the front facing you).  Working in FRONT LOOPS ONLY (these are what was the back loops that you did not work in previously):  3 SC in each st.  Join in top of first SC made.  Tie off and hide ends.

Optional Decorating:  Create a bow out of the thin ribbon.  Use glue to tack down the ends of the bow.  You can also embellish with small buttons, glued to the bow.

I also tied yarn to the top of the wreath to create a loop to hang from the tree.

Autumn Scarf

Autumn Scarf

Materials:

H Hook

Vanna's Choice Yarn in Autumn Print

Ch a multiple of 4.

R1: [2 TC, ch2, 1 DC] in 6th ch from hook.  *Skip next 3 ch.  [2 TC, ch2, 1 DC] in next ch.*  Repeat to last 2 st.  Skip next ch.  1 TC in final ch.  Turn.

R2: Ch 3 (counts as first DC).  *[2 TC, ch2, 1 DC] in next ch 2 sp.*  Repeat across.  1 TC in top of turning chain.

Repeat R2 for pattern.

Consider adding a fringe or a fun border to this scarf!

November Giveaway!

This month, Design Adventures is giving away a copy of our most popular pattern:  Boot Socks!  This pattern is at the intermediate level, but produces such a beautiful result!  We've sold many pairs of these socks and copies of the pattern, so we know you will all love this one!  Simply "like" us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, become a follower of our blog, and leave us some love here on this post.  For each of these, you will receive one entry into the drawing-so you can get 4 entries total!  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway