Lines by ELK – Summer Hat

School has kept me busy so there hasn’t been much time for crocheting or designing this week.  Last week I made the Lines by ELK hat and thought that a summer version would be great.  I made this hat using Cascade Ultra Pima 100 % cotton.  I love the soft feel it gives and the colors are so radiant. I’ve never used any type of wiring for a hat but knew that I wanted the brim to stand out so I asked my husband if he had anything in his shop.  Emory came back in with some craft wire that worked brilliantly!  I think I’m keeping this one for myself.

Lines by ELK - Summer Hat Lines by ELK - Summer Hat

I wanted to add other pictures.  I just finished this one today!  03-06-13

Summer Hat Pink Summer Hat Poolside Summer Hat

Blog Hop Button Its Back! Colorful Spring Crafts Blog Hop + Giveaway  I entered this hat in a contest and would love it if you would vote for me!  There is no registration.  You only need to click on the gold star!  The link below will take you directly to the website.  Thank you so much for your support!

http://www.favecraftsblog.com/colorful-spring-crafts-blog-hop-favecrafts/

UPDATE:  03/21/2013

The contest is over and I WON!  Thank you to everyone that participated!

I pray everyone has a blessed week!

Free Waves and Seashells Boot Cuff Pattern

My computer crashed last week and I still haven’t gotten it back yet, but thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law I have use of a loaner. I had to reconstruct this boot cuff and rewrite the pattern because all my information was on the other computer. It has certainly been a task but finally got it completed!

I worked this project using two different types of yarn. I enjoy using I Love this Yarn because it is soft and comes together nicely but wanted to try something new. I love the Cascade yarn too because it gives the cuff an even softer feel (because it is cotton) and is much thinner in comparison to the acrylic yarn. I like this because some of my boots have a snug fit and the cotton is a better fit.

I Love this Yarn Cuff

This the is cuff made from I Love this Yarn.

Waves and Seashell Boot Cuff Pattern 005_edited-1 Waves and Seashell Boot Cuff Pattern 006_edited-1This is the cuff made from the 100% Cascade Yarn.

Here is the free pattern:

Supplies:

  1. I used I LoveThis Yarn medium (4) worsted weight.  The color I used was ivory.
  2. Crochet Hook Size – H
  3. Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends.

Gauge:  8 stitches and 3 Rows  = approximately 2 inches.

Supplies:

  1. Cascade Ultra Pima – 100% pima cotton.  The color I used was cream.
  2. Crochet Hook Size – G
  3. Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends.

Gauge:  8 stitches and 4 rows = approximately 2 inches.

I was pleased with the width of the cuff, but did need to increase the number of rows worked in comparison to the acrylic cuff to fit my calf.

Special Directions:  sctog, fpdc, bpdc

sctog – Sc in next st, draw through only one loop (2 loops left on the hook), sc in next st and draw through remaining 3 loops.

fpdc – YO, insert hook from front to back around the post of next st, YO and pull up a loop and complete as a dc.

bpdc – YO, insert hook from back to front around the post of next st, YO and pull up a loop and complete as a dc.

Abbreviations:

ch – chain

st – stitches

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet

sl st – slip stitch

YO – yarn over

sctog – single crochet 2 together (see special instructions)

fpdc – front post double crochet (see special instructions)

bpdc – back post double crochet (see special instructions)

Top Portion of Boot Cuff

Ch 15

Row 1:  dc in third ch from hook and in next 3 ch, skip 2 chains, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch, skip 2 chains, dc in next 4 ch, ch 3 turn.  (13 st) (ch3 counts as first dc here and throughout)

Row 2:  bpdc in next 3 dc, skip next 2 dc, (2dc, ch1, 2 dc)  in ch 1 space, bpdc in next 3 dc, dc in top of ch 3, ch 3 turn. (13 st)

Row 3:  fpdc in next 3 dc, skip next 2 dc, (2dc, ch1, 2 dc)  in ch 1 space, fpdc in next 3 dc, dc in top of ch 3, ch 3 turn. (13 st)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the desired measurement ending with row 3.  Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Turn pattern wrong side out and join ends together using the long tail and take the side just fastened off using the tapestry needle to sew through both loops of the stitch and the bottom loop of each stitch on the first row.  Fasten off and weave in the ends.  Turn pattern right side in before working the bottom part of the cuff.

Bottom Portion of Boot Cuff

Row 1:  Join to cuff by ch 1 and sc evenly around, sl st into first sc (not the ch 1).  (Hint)  You will later be decreasing stitches so be sure that your stitches will divide by 4 evenly then add two more sc.  (Example:  Sc 44 stitches plus 2=46 stitches around.)  46 will actually be a good number to use on the average size cuff.

Row 2:  ch 2, dc in next dc and around,  Sl st in top of ch 2 st.

Row 3:  ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next st and around, sl st in first sc.

Row 4:  ch 2, dc in next dc and around,  Sl st in top of ch 2 st.

Row 5:  ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next st and around, sl st in first sc.

Row 6:  ch 2, dc in next dc and around,  Sl st in top of ch 2 st.

Row 7:  ch 1 and sc in same space, sc in next 3 dc, *sctog in next sc, sc in next 3 dc, sctog in next dc*, repeat from * to * across, sl st in first sc.

Row 8:  ch 2 and hdc in next stitch and around, sl stitch in top of ch 2 st.

Row 9:  ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next stitch and around, sl stitch in first sc.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Add buttons if desired.

Please feel free to make or sell products from this pattern!  I believe in free enterprise but just ask to link back to my site.  Please do not copy this pattern as your own.  Please do not re-publish photos as your own.  You can also follow me on my ELK Studio Facebook page for updates of upcoming pattern releases!

Sideways Cluster Boot Cuff Pattern

Here’s another free boot cuff pattern.  I really like the way this cuff turn out.  Now I’m ready to see what it looks like in some different colors.  I hope you enjoy this pattern and if there are any errors, please feel free to let me know!  The only way to improve is feedback!

Sideways Cluster Boot Cuff Sideways Cluster Boot Cuffs

UPDATE 02/03/13 – I had an error and had an additional row of dc’s.  This has been corrected.  I am sorry for the confusion.

Supplies:

  1. I used I LoveThis Yarn medium (4) worsted weight.  The color I used was ivory.
  2. Crochet Hook Size – H
  3. Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends.

Special Directions:  Sideways cluster

(YO, insert hook around post of last dc, YO and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 5 times, YO and draw through all 6 loops on hook.

Abbreviations:

ch – chain

st – stitches

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet

sl st – slip stitch

YO – Yarn over

Sideways Cluster – see special directions

 Gauge:  8 stitches and 3 Rows  = approximately 2 inches.

Top Portion of Boot Cuff

Ch 14

Row 1:  dc in third ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 3 turn.  (12 st) (ch3 counts as first dc here and throughout)

Row 2:  dc in next two dc, work sideways cluster, *skip next dc, dc in next two dc, work sideways cluster repeat from *1 more time across to last dc, dc in top of ch 3, ch 3 turn. (12 st.)

Row 3:  dc in next dc, dc in next 2 st of top of sideways cluster, dc in next dc, *dc in next 2 st of top of sideways cluster, dc in next dc, *repeat 1 more time and across to last dc, dc in  top of ch 3, ch 3 turn. (12 st.)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the desired measurement ending with row 3.  Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Turn pattern wrong side out and join ends together using the long tail and take the side just fastened off using the tapestry needle to sew the front loop only of the stitch and the bottom loop of each sc on the first row.  Fasten off and weave in the ends.  Turn pattern right side in before working the bottom part of the cuff.

Bottom Portion of Boot Cuff

Row 1:  Join to cuff by ch 1 and sc evenly around, sl st into first sc (not the ch 1).  (Hint)  You will later be decreasing stitches so be sure that your stitches will divide by 4 evenly then add two more sc.  (Example:  Sc 40 stitches plus 2=42 stitches around.)  42 will actually be a good number to use on the average size cuff.

Row 2:  ch 2, dc in next sc and around,  Sl st in top of ch 2 st.

Row 3:  ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next dc and around, sl st in first sc.

Row 4:  ch 2, dc in next sc and around,  Sl st in top of ch 2 st.

Row 5:  ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next dc and around, sl st in first sc.

Row 6:  ch 2, dc in next sc and around,  Sl st in top of ch 2 st.

Row 7:  ch 1 and sc in same space, sc in next 3 sts, *skip next sc, sc in next 4 st*, repeat from * to * across, sl st in first sc.

Row 8:  ch 2 and hdc in next sc and around, sl st in top of ch 2 st.

Row 9:  ch 1 and sc in same sp, sc in next hdc and around, sl st in first sc.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Add buttons if desired.

Please feel free to make or sell products from this pattern!  I believe in free enterprise but just ask to link back to my site.  Please do not copy this pattern as your own.  Please do not re-publish photos as your own.  You can also follow me on my ELK Studio Facebook page for updates of upcoming pattern releases!

Do You Dream of More?

Boot Cuff The moment when you finished the last stitch and the project is complete!  Well, there isn’t much more exciting for me than to have a finished product sitting in my hands.  I just finished 5 pair of boot cuffs for a customer today and feel pretty pumped!

Although I have crocheted for years, up until recently I have only made things for my family.  Never have I “sold” anything to anyone.  It’s so much fun when you get a picture of your customer wearing your product!  I post all of them of my Facebook page proudly!  There is so much work and truly even more love that goes into every stitch to make that hat, scarf or boot cuff look perfect and to see your work in a picture along with someone smiling, well it’s all worth it.

It truly is an honor and mostly a pleasure to sit down and write out a pattern to share with others or to make those cuffs for a woman so that she feels beautiful.  I believe we are all talented in some way and that crochet is just a way for me to let out my creative side and to sooth my soul on those trying days when life gets hard.

What does crochet do for you?  Is it just a hobby or do you dream of owning your own business?  Share your story.

The Patterns Keep Coming!

Boot Cuffs Boot Cuffs

So after many hours of “wrestling” with my yarn, I think I finally created the boot cuff pattern I was attempting to make.  Joining the cuff without a break in the fpdc ((front post double crochet) was the hardest part.  I am sure I understand how I did it, but have you ever tried to write out a pattern and wonder if it will make sense to other people?

Before I post it on Ravelry, I need a name for the cuff.  Any suggestions?  Creating a name have never been my true gift.  I would rather spend time just creating and crocheting than “wasting” time thinking up a name.  Help!

Happy Crocheting and God Bless to Everyone!!

Kathy