Toadstool Potholder

I love anything with mushrooms, strawberries, mice, or gnomes!  So I decided I wanted to try to write a pattern for a toadstool potholder, since eventually Id like another kitchen with lots of strawberries and other garden goodies (i.e. toadstools)  So here is the pattern!  For free, no less!!

Materials
I hook 5.5mm
1 skein of red worsted weight yarn (A)
1 skein of white worsted weight yarn (B)
small amount of green for the grass (C)
Yarn darner for sewing ends of yarn in

With A Chain 13
1. hdc in third chain from hook and all the way across (11) ch2 turn
2. 2hdc in first space, hdc in next 9 spaces, 2 hdc in last space (13) ch2 turn
3. 2hdc in forst space, hdc in next 11 spaces, 2 hdc in last space (15) ch2 turn
4. 2hdc in first space, hdc in next 13, 2 hdc in last space (17) ch2 turn
5. 2hdc in first space, hdc in next 15, 2hdc in last space (19) ch2 turn
6-13. hdc across, ch2 turn (19)

Break off A
 
Attach B on the 5th hdc of the bottom of the mushroom cap you just created
1. hdc in next 11 spaces, ch2 turn (11)
2-7. hdc across, ch2 turn (11)

Break off B attach C
1. hdc across (11)

Break off C attach B

With B Single Crochet all the way around the entire mushroom until you reach the point where you started, making sure to add an extra sc at each corner so it doesnt bunch. Break off and weave in ends. Set aside.

For the back
with white (or whichever color you choose for your back) follow same exact pattern for mushroom above, but with only one color, leaving a tail long enough to sew your two mushrooms together.  I usually leave more than I think I will need, just to be on the safe side.

*When single crocheting around entire mushroom, chain 7 when you get to the middle top of the mushroom and reattach with a slip stitch in same space.  This will give you a ring to hang your potholder.

For circles on mushroom
With white (C)

Large circle-make 1

chain 2
6sc in first chain (6)
2 sc in each sc around (12)
leave a long tail for sewing onto mushroom

small circle-make 2
Chain 2
6 sc first chain
attach to first sc with slip stitch, leave a long tail for sewing onto mushroom

When you have your circles, sew them onto the red part of your mushroom, weave in ends.
Place the two mushrooms parts together right sides facing outward, and sew around with the long tail you left on the white mushroom, taking care to keep the mushrooms lined up.  Weave in tails.

Voila!  A toadstool potholder!!

Please feel free to ask me ANY questions regarding this pattern.  Hope you enjoy it!

Ribbed Winter Hat

Here is a pattern I came up with for a hat for my husband. I love crocheting hats but lets be honest, they dont always look great on men. I love the knit look but I have yet to learn to knit, probably in part because I love to crochet so much. So here is my pattern for a "knit style" crocheted hat. Its obviously crochet but has that ribbed, albeit chunky, knit look. I used two colors, which is totally my own preference, it would work fine with one. So here goes!!

Materials needed

1 skein of Stitch nation full o sheep yarn in Honeycomb

1 skein of Stitch Nation full o sheep yarn in black (although this pattern would work fine with any worsted weight yarn)

size J 6.00 crochet hook

yarn needle

*Gauge isnt really important since hat stretches to fit most adult size noggins

*Please note: This pattern is worked in back loop only but the FIRST and LAST stitch of EVERY row is worked in both loops for stability.

Chain 41

1. Sc in second chain from hook and all the way across, chain 1

2-72. Sc in back loop only all the way across, chain 1

Leave a long tail for weaving hat together and sewing ends in

When you have finished with all the rows put the two ends together so you have a long tube. Using your hook sc all the way across connecting the two longer ends. You should end up with a tube.

Using your yarn needle and the tail you left to finish off, weave tail in and out of the top of the tube until you come all the way back around to where you started. Pull tightly on the tail to close the tube. Tie off and sew in ends. This should leave you with a scrunched looking top to the hat.

on the open end of the tube, using your contrasting color, attach and sc all the way across, weaving ends in and tying off.

Make a pom pom for the top with the contrasting color and attach to top of hat. Voila!!!

If you are not sure how to make a pom pom, I posted an instructional video from youtube (which is not mine) on the sock monkey hat pattern.

Hope you enjoy and Happy crocheting!!!