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Crocheting Q & A

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It’s no secret that the art of crocheting appears to be a dying art. Although within our crocheting community it is ever growing and changing, to the general public crocheting isn’t a common hobby. Being a crocheter, especially a crocheter from a very young age, I frequently get asked a lot of questions. I decided what better way to address those questions than writing up a blog post to help people interested in learning how and/or learning more about crochet. Listed below will be multiple questions that I get asked about this “hooklife.” While reading this, if you think of any more questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below and I’ll answer them as soon as possible.

Question 1: How do I begin? Like where do I start to learn the basics?

Answer: What I was told years ago when I wanted to learn was that it is impossible to learn how to crochet from a book. I tend to agree. So I will always say if you know someone who crochets, asking them to show you is probably going to be the most helpful and quickest way to learn. At least if they can show you the very minimal basics of how to crochet in person. For example, to show you how to do a simple chain and how to hold your hook. Things like that when you have no experience at all with it is much easier to learn when you are in person with an actual instructor.

When I was probably in 1st or 2nd grade, a lady in my church sat with me at a Children’s Quiz meet and showed me how to chain and do double crochet (thanks Pam!!) I did that stitch for years and years. I made countless scarves because that’s all I knew how to do. I got some books but from that point on when I was in elementary school, I couldn’t learn from the books and I couldn’t read patterns. It wasn’t until I was a little older that I got much more into the art of crocheting.

Then entered YouTube. I cannot stress enough how helpful YouTube has been. I can’t even give you certain YouTube accounts that have helped me the most. There are hundreds of YouTubers out there that can teach you any and every stitch, pattern, project or technique you could ever dream of learning. As soon as I dove into the world of YouTube for crochet, my skills have multiplied ten fold. From just doing basic stitches, to learning intricate stitches and techniques, to finding fun patterns to make and to just watching for refreshers on certain stitches, I am constantly YouTubing for crochet.

So that would be my suggestion. Ask someone you know to show you some basics and then use YouTube to go from there. But if you don’t know anyone that can teach you, YouTube would be such an awesome tool for you to use to learn about anything you want to learn.

Question 2: What yarn should I use to start?

Answer: I will always suggest plain, simple acrylic yarn for any beginner. You need to learn the fundamentals before you can delve into any fun, fancy yarn. Pick yourself up some cheap yarn from Walmart and a cheap hook from there as well and just practice and practice and practice until it becomes muscle memory. You might just be making a square or practice making a scarf, something very basic, until you have the stitch down and engrained in your head.

Yarn comes in many different sizes, shapes, materials, and textures. You name it, there is a yarn like that. That’s why learning on basic acrylic yarn is so important. Some yarn is hard to work with. Some yarn you can’t see the stitches you are making. Some yarn is so thin, it will take you eighteen years to make a scarf. Some yarn is so big it won’t fit on your hook. Once you learn the basic fundamentals, then it will be time to experiment with all the different kinds of yarn. And let me tell you, it will SO be worth the wait. This is the best/worst part of being a crocheter. Yarn comes in so many pretty and wonderful options and you have to try them all, regardless of what your bank account is telling you.

Question 3: What size hook should I use?

Answer: This question depends on if you followed my instructions for question number two. 🙂 So as mentioned in the last answer, each yarn has a different weight to it. That weight depends on what hook size you should use. It took me quite a few years to realize this. When picking out your yarn, look for a little square box on the back of the label. You will see a little crochet hook that has a number in millimeters next to it. That is the suggested hook size for that specific yarn. This isn’t a set in stone number, which once you get more into crocheting, that will make more sense. But for a beginner, this is a good suggestion to go with when picking out your hooks.

The box I’m pointing to is the suggested hook size box. So for this specific yarn, it’s saying using a 5 mm or U.S. H/8 hook is the best. Also pictured, to the left of that box, the box that has a skein of yarn with the number is saying this is a medium weight, size 4, yarn.

Another feature about crochet hooks that you should be looking at is whether you get an inline or tapered hook. This honestly comes down to personal preference so once you get a hook and get familiar with it, you can always try the other kind and see what you like better. I personally like tapered hooks better. I think the round edges make me crochet faster and smoother because the yarn doesn’t get separated as much. But some projects I like the inline hooks better because I need the point and deeper groove in the head of the crochet hook. There honestly is no right or wrong. Some crocheters love inline and some love tapered. So you will just have to find what works best and is more comfortable for you.

The crochet hook on the left is an inline hook. The crochet hook on the right is a tapered hook.

Question 4: What project should I make first?

Answer: This is probably dependent on the teacher. I always suggest a square or a very basic scarf to learn. Although it might be boring to just do a square, I think learning the fundamentals is extremely important before jumping on board with some project that is more difficult and overwhelming for beginners. The most important thing to do after learning how to make a stitch is learning how to count your stitches. This is something that even extremely experienced crocheters must do. And it’s also one of the most common mistakes of beginner crocheters.

Each row you make must have the same number of stitches in it. At first, this is extremely easy to miss and mess up. (Hence the reasoning behind starting with basic acrylic yarn. It’s easier to see and count your stitches compared to other yarn.) This is why I always say start with a basic square or a scarf. Something that is narrow enough to be able to easily count from row to row and get used to going into the last stitch of a row. Once you master this, then you won’t have to worry about your edges zigzagging all the way up your project. But if (and when) that happens, there’s no reason to be discouraged. Every crocheter has been there and experienced that. It’s all part of the practice makes perfect for crocheting.

Question 5: Isn’t crocheting for old ladies?

Answer: ABSOLTELY NOT. When I was growing up, I always felt like I was from the wrong era. I loved to crochet and craft and do all these things that most kids my age didn’t do. When I hit college I discovered I was craving to crochet and work on new projects. It didn’t dawn on me until a few years ago that crocheting is literally my therapy. When I get stressed about life, the thing I want to do most is crochet. Which explained why when I was nearing graduation from my bachelor’s degree that’s all I wanted to do and when my wedding plans were getting ripped apart because of Covid that’s all I wanted to do; crochet my stress away.

Fiber arts’ hobbies are making a come back. When I started getting into crocheting more I just randomly decided to look up crochet on Instagram and my whole view of the art changed. There are thousands upon thousands of women and men that have thousands and thousands of followers on their accounts solely based on crochet. When I thought my whole life I was in the minority, I quickly realized I was not alone. People are designing and making businesses all based on this hobby. And not just crocheting projects but creating designs and creating and dying yarn. The possibilities are endless with this art. There are literally so many people that use crochet as a hobby, outlet, stress relief and their career!

So I guess my answer is no. It’s not just for old ladies, old ladies are the smart ones to use this as a way to create and destress. It’s not just for old ladies, it’s not just for women, it’s not just for adults. There’s children learning and there’s men learning. This art is taking off in a whole new direction. It’s no longer just the ripple afghans that your great aunt made your parents when you weren’t born yet. It’s not just about the granny square blankets that every house had lying on their couch in the seventies. This is about creating modern, beautiful pieces that are functional and unique.

I can go on and on about crochet, but I will save more questions and answers for a part two of this blog someday. Until then, I want all you beginners to know that if you ever want any help, just ask me! I’m trying to make this website a place where beginner crocheters feel comfortable. I write my patterns very beginner friendly because I want all crocheters to be able to create something they are proud of. Check out all my patterns and see if there’s anything that you might want to try to make. And keep checking back, because I have a lot of pattern ideas floating around in my head.

If you aren’t a beginner crocheter, this website will also contain fun projects for you to mindlessly do as well as highlight other patterns that I’ve tested for people over the years that aren’t quite at a beginner level.

Regardless of what skill level of crocheting you are at, you are welcome here and I am so happy to have you go along this journey with me.

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment on here or email me at [email protected]. If you want, feel free to follow me on Instagram. Also, feel free to use the hashtag #madisonsmakings on Instagram if you start working on something or are getting started crocheting. You can check out my Pinterest board to see what all I’ve been making or working on by clicking here. Or if you would like to purchase any patterns, feel free to check out my Etsy page by clicking here. While you are on any of these social media platforms, you can search through my accounts and see how many hundreds of fellow crocheters are out there.

As always, happy crocheting friends! 🙂

Christmas Crochet Projects 2020

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Hello friends! I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy during this pandemic. With Christmas just about a week away, I hope you are finishing up all your last minute projects; whether it be crocheted Christmas gifts that you’re trying to finish up on time, decorating, baking, wrapping or dare I say shopping still. This year has been a little crazy to say the least. I think we all needed this wonderful holiday season and the warm, inviting feeling that only the Christmas season can bring.

I know this year I struggled to get in the mood for Christmas. Usually my nickname around Christmas time is Buddy the Elf. Yet this year I felt more like an elf from the South Pole. I wanted to enjoy the holiday and go all out, yet this year it required a little extra motivation in some aspects.

Luckily, this year being our first Christmas married, Corey helped me get lots of the shopping and decorating under control much earlier than I usually have it done. That was a huge blessing and has provided me with the chance to work on all these Christmas projects that I will be sharing with you in this post.

I only had one big order for Dishtowel Pals this year which has opened up my time to try a handful of fun projects this season. As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I have a new niece and nephew that are just six days apart. Now that I have started making baby projects, I never want to stop. They are so much fun to make! So obviously they each needed a crocheted Christmas item for the season. Once those were finished, I was able to start on a fun project for myself that I’m very excited to wear for the holiday. And I even found my new favorite Christmas decor project that I will be making lots of to sell at craft shows next year (fingers crossed we will in fact be able to have more of those next year.)

So without further ado, let’s just jump right into these projects and get a dose of Christmas spirit for the day.

The first project I finished was the Mrs. Claus’ Santa Hat and Skirt outfit designed by Thoughts, Knots & Stitches LLC. My mother-in-law found a picture of this outfit and shared it with me for me to make for my niece, Alyessia. The moment I saw it I absolutely fell in love with it. After a quick Etsy search (I love Etsy SO much), I came across this pattern. This pattern was literally so much fun to work up! I have made adult Santa hats before but this one takes the cake for being my favorite. I just LOVE the bow!

This pattern uses very basic stitches that allows any crocheter to be able to tackle this project. Not only that, Thoughts, Knots & Stitches’ pattern is so straight forward and detail oriented. There are multiple picture tutorials along with very descriptive notes on how to do every part of this pattern. It came in multiple different sizes which makes it very cost effective, because you buy one pattern and can use it to make multiple different sizes of this cute little outfit. I mean in this one pattern she has instructions on how to make them for newborns all the way up to 24 months! You could make them for your little girl two years in a row, at least! I recently saw on her Instagram account that the toddler size of this outfit is now available as well!

If you want to find this pattern to create your own adorable Mrs. Claus’ Santa Hat and Skirt along with other awesome patterns that she has designed, you can find her on Instagram here. Go to her page and follow her so you can stay up to date on all her patterns. I can’t wait to keep making more of her awesome designs. But until then, I can’t wait to see pictures of Alyessia in this outfit.

The second Christmas project I completed was the Reindeer Hat for my nephew, Connor. Since I was making a Christmas project for Alyessia, I had to make one for Connor too. After asking my sister-in-law what type of hats or outfits she would like little Connor to have, she said she needed a Christmas hat for him. I looked up some ideas for baby hats on Etsy and came across some super cute reindeer hats that were different than just a normal Santa hat. That’s when I came across the Reindeer Hat with a Reindeer Doll pattern by Jocelyn Sass from Too Cute Crochet. Her lineup of endlessly cute baby hats and projects were so fun to look through on her Etsy shop.

This hat uses a single crochet stitch which I don’t think I’ve ever used for a beanie but I loved it! It gives it a whole different texture than other beanies I’ve made. Her pattern comes in multiple different sizes and has very easy to follow instructions. Like she mentions in the pattern to measure head size of the recipient, I had to add a few extra rows for it to fit him perfectly. But the sizing guide matched so close to his head size. I was impressed! That’s my fear of crocheting hats and it always makes me hesitant to make them because I’m so scared of it not fitting. But it fit him great! I also had to add a few extra stitches to the antlers to make them a smidge longer because I wanted them to be fairly tall considering I added the few extra rows for length on the beanie.

The directions were so easy to follow and read. She uses a lot of pictures explaining everything you need to know to make this reindeer come to life. I’m so happy with the finished product and so is my sister-in-law. This hat is sure to keep little Connor warm all winter long. This pattern also comes with a little reindeer doll that I’m sure to make at some point, just ran out of time before Christmas with all the other projects I have going on. If you’d like to make your own reindeer hat or doll, check out her pattern here.

The next thing I crossed off my Christmas crochet to do list was these amazing Christmas trees that I ran across on Instagram from MJs off the hook designs. It’s called the Bobble Tree Sweater pattern. I always am on the lookout for things that work up quick, that are easy to make a lot of and can be used as decorations. Some of the things I’ve sold the most of have been little pumpkins at my craft shows over the years. As soon as I saw these I knew this would be my “pumpkin” project for Christmas time. I bought the pattern and got to work. Another awesome part about these is that it’s a great stash busting project of any size six yarn you might have lying around. The colors you can make of these are endless!

I’ll be honest, working in the round can sometimes intimidate me. But this is not one of those patterns. Once you start working on it, you get in such a routine with this pattern and it becomes so much fun to work on. I even found a YouTube video for the pattern that she made for any visual learners out there who have trouble reading patterns. This is a great beginner project for learning how to work in the round. Not to mention it uses very beginner stitches and the one special stitch in the pattern she gives very detailed notes about it in the written form and on the video.

All around this is an awesome pattern. I wish I could have come across it earlier in the year so that I could have busted out a big tree farm of them to sell at my craft show. But that just means I can start now for next years shows! That is that the world is back to normal by then.

If you would like to make some festiveness for your house, check out the pattern on her blog here. She explains in her post about how she uses cones made out of foam to help the trees hold their shape. I was only able to find one of those in stock because I went to the store just a few weeks before Christmas. But I’m excited to be able to snag some more cones after Christmas to make them sturdy to be on display at my craft shows. However, for just around my house, they stand up very well without it.

Last but not least, since I do love the Christmas season, I had to make something for myself. I found A Crafty Concept’s pattern for the Crochet Christmas Light Headband and instantly became obsessed with it. I am a radiation therapist for my day job. I give cancer patients their daily radiation treatments and get them set up for their treatments. In the past, we have been able to wear festive headbands for holidays and all I could think about when making this headband is how much this would make my patients smile so much on Christmas Eve when I wear this.

This pattern was so much fun to make! It is such an awesome stash buster because I literally went through all my yarn stash and grabbed any color of regular acrylic yarn I could find that I thought would look good as a lightbulb. Not to mention I am not able to get to my polyfill (long story short: Corey and I hit a deer in my car, my car is in the shop for weeks now, my polyfill is in the back of my car from a trunk or treat we did in October, thus I can’t get to my polyfill), so I grabbed a fluffy type yarn that I really don’t like working with. I chopped that yarn into a bunch of little pieces and used that to stuff my light bulbs. It worked like a champ and I almost got rid of that annoying skein that’s been lying around for years!

Just like the Christmas tree pattern, this pattern comes with a YouTube tutorial explaining everything you would need to know to make this pattern. Also, the written pattern on her blog had so many “pro tips” that made it even easier to make. I thoroughly enjoyed this project and I don’t think I’m ever going to take it off my head. I even thought about using this light bulb pattern and making some garland out of it for future Christmases. Keep stash busting my acrylic yarn lying around and keep making more and more fun, festive Christmas decor in the process!

If you would like to make your own Crochet Christmas Light Headband, you can find the pattern and everything you need to know here. Trust me on this, you will not be disappointed! I can’t wait to wear this to work and Christmas parties and Christmas craft shows next year and for many years to come.

Well my friends, that’s all the new Christmas projects I’ve been working on the past couple weeks. I hope that you get inspired to start crocheting them all and spreading Christmas cheer with each and every stitch you make. If you are still looking for more last minute Christmas projects, check out the rest of my blogs. I have a quick headband pattern and a quick scarf pattern that you could make within a couple hours.

This year has been a little crazy to say the least, but it’s also been filled with so many blessings. I hope that your holidays are overflowing with love, joy, peace and happiness and I pray the new year finds you with a renewed spirit. Read Luke chapter two in the Bible to be encouraged and filled with peace and joy. Truly He is the only true Joy to be found.

Happy crocheting my friends! I hope you all have a merry Christmas filled with so many blessings.

Photo Taken by Christine Schleif Photography

Victorious Infinity Scarf

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Happy almost Thanksgiving!

This is the perfect pattern and blog to share with you all this time of year when we think more about what we are thankful for.

First of all, this is the first pattern I ever designed myself. I have been making this scarf for years but never felt like I was good enough at crocheting to officially write it up. Now that I’ve gotten a couple original patterns under my belt, I guess it is time to share the easiest scarf pattern you will ever find. This pattern is a reminder to me of how far I’ve come in this crochet world. I was so scared to start creating my own patterns now here we are, with this being my FIFTH pattern that I’ve released in the last few months. I’ll be honest friends, I never thought I would be here.

Second, and most importantly, this scarf reminds me of what I’m most thankful for and why this scarf is named the Victorious Infinity Scarf. While working on this and while my testers were working on it, my family had a scary couple weeks. My dad had to get surgery and while it is usually routine, there was a few other scary things that were discovered leading up to the procedure. My family was praying continuously for God’s healing hand and comfort during those few weeks. I’m happy to announce everything went completely textbook for his surgery and he is recovering very well. But all I can think about is how awesome our God is and He made us victorious in that very scary, nerve wracking time. God is so good, friends.

Now more about the pattern itself. It is a very beginner friendly pattern. This uses two basic stitches and a v stitch. I use Lion Brand Scarfie yarn for it because the color way of that yarn mixed with this scarf is so perfect. The length of each row just happens to be the length of each color in the skein, creating sharp and concise rows of different colors. And let’s also talk about the drape. Scarfie yarn has thee most perfect drape for an infinity scarf. My goal for this scarf is to be a soft, flowy, and loose scarf. Scarfie is designed for that. Besides having a beautiful and useful scarf, another goal of mine for this scarf is to give you a pattern that you can sit down, turn on Hallmark Christmas movies and snuggle up under a blanket and mindlessly bust this project out in a few hours. It’s the perfect project to make a couple of and gift it to your friends and family. Check out all of the wonderful colors Lion Brand has to offer here. I feel like every time I buy Scarfie yarn, Lion Brand has come out with new color ways and I promise there will be a skein and color way to match everyone’s style (or coat) that you know.

Another fun part about this project is that it is totally customizable. The pattern is written to how I like my scarves to fit, but it can be customized to however you like your scarves to fit. If you want it thinner, then just take rounds away. If you want it to be thicker, add more rounds. If you want it to be tighter around your neck, get rid of some stitches. It is 100% customizable to how you like a scarf to fit. After all, you’re the one buying the yarn and taking the time to make it so you might as well have a finished product that is 100% how you like it.

What you will need to make this pattern:

  • About 215 yards of Lion Brand Scarfie Yarn (1 skein)
  • 8.0 mm hook
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle

Some abbreviations you will see in this pattern:

  • Ch = Chain
  • St = Stitch
  • Sts = Stitches
  • Sk = Skip
  • Hdc = Half Double Crochet
  • Tr = Treble Crochet
  • * * = Repeat instructions inside the asterisks cross the row until otherwise noted

Gauge:

  • Gauge isn’t a necessity in this pattern, it all depends on how you want the look of the scarf to be and how long or short you like your infinity scarves.
  • My finished dimensions are 29″ wide and 7.75″ tall.
  • Depending on your gauge and the size you make your scarf, the amount of yarn used will vary.

Notes:

  • This pattern uses a treble crochet v stitch.
  • The ch 2 at the beginning of the hdc rows does NOT count as a stitch.
  • The ch 4 at the beginning of the tr rows does count as a stitch.
  • If needed, feel free to do a foundation hdc for the first row if your tension is tight on the ch and first row.
  • If you would like this pattern to be shorter lengthwise, simply chain an even number of stitches to get started.
  • Likewise, if you would like it to be wider or narrower height wise, just add or remove tr v stitch rows.
  • Each round’s stitch count will be in parenthesis at the end of the round’s instructions.

Pattern:

  • Ch 122, sl st to the first ch. Be careful to not twist your chain.
  • Round 1: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, sl st into top of ch 2 (122)
  • Round 2: Ch 4, tr into the first st, sk st, *2 tr in the next st, sk st, 2 tr in next st,* repeat across. Sl st into top of ch 4 (122)
  • Round 3: Ch 4, tr in between space of previous rows ch 4 and first tr, *2 tr in space between the next group of tr from previous round, sk st, 2 tr in space between the next group of tr from previous round,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (122)
  • Round 4-8: Repeat row 3 (122)
  • Round 9: Ch 2, hdc in each st across (122)
  • Tie off and weave in ends.

Yup. That is IT. It is such a short and sweet pattern. The treble crochet stitches make it build up quick (which is why I love treble crochet). And they also help create the wonderful drape I was going for.

I hope this pattern helps you cross some people off your Christmas shopping list and in the process allows you to relax in this busy holiday season. You can even order the yarn online through the link above so you don’t have to go out and deal with all the crazy drivers and this year, the crazy Covid rules and restrictions.

This has been such a staple pattern for me throughout the years and I hope it becomes a favorite pattern for you too. I would love to see all the finished scarves you’ve made! Please tag me on Instagram with all your lovely makes and use the hashtag #VictoriousInfinityScarf. You can pin this on your Pinterest board by clicking here. And if you would like a print out of the pattern, you can purchase it from Etsy here. If you have any questions about this pattern, you can message me on Instagram or email me at [email protected].

Happy crocheting and I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for.

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

Feel free to make as many of these as you would like and feel free to sell them. I just ask that you please acknowledge Madison’s Makings when you do. Please do not steal or copy this pattern and/or my pictures and credit them as your own work. Thank you!

*This post contains affiliate links that I receive a small commission from when yarn is purchased through the link provided. This commission will allow me to continue to create new patterns for you to enjoy. For further information, please see my Privacy Policy.

Dish Towel Pal

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Hello everyone! It’s been a hot minute! A lot has gone on the past few months. First of all, I now have a niece and a nephew! They were born just six days apart! I am in absolute love with them both. Corey and I live a little over an hour away from them, so we have been going home home almost every weekend to get our fill of baby snuggles every chance we can get.

Another big thing lately is I was able to pattern test for my friend Stitch and Hound again and made the most beautiful sweater ever! Once she releases the pattern I will be writing a blog post all about that awesome project. I cannot wait to share that with you all. Sarah knocked it out of the park with this design (like she always does).

Also, I had a craft show this past weekend! I have been prepping on it ever since I finished the pattern test sweater. I’m so glad I was able to do this show. Most shows have been canceled this year because of Covid. Luckily, this one was outside and we had the most perfect weather for it. I set a goal for myself and I exceeded that goal which I am so excited about.

I have a few days off this week and decided I wanted to put a quick little project out there on the blog until I am able to get my new scarf pattern out and until I can post about the sweater. So that is how you are getting this Dish Towel Pal pattern! This project is one of the most stereotypical crochet projects out there I think. I am pretty sure everyone and their brother’s grandmothers and great grandmothers have made it through the years. For so long I had wanted to try making them but never got around to it. Luckily, a coworker of mine asked me to make him some of these to give to his family as gifts as all of their dishtowels were all worn out. I had always known the pattern itself appeared to be easy, but it was the part of getting the yarn through the towel that intimidated me. A quick YouTube search brought me to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdj6n6pWmoY. As you watch this, you can see she uses an awl tool to poke through the fabric. She made it look so easy and I highly doubted it would work that well until I got the tool and it worked like a CHARM. From that point, I looked at my friend’s old towels and made some changes to the original pattern that his grandmother used to make it my own. Since then I have made a bunch of these towels and have another big order for them come Christmas time (which is very fast approaching!)

As most of these last few projects have been, this is also another great stash buster project. It requires very little yarn and works up so quick. It makes the perfect gift and also a great project for beginners because of the basic stitches and easy decrease method. This pattern varies some from the normal layout of a pattern. There is a lot of pictures throughout this post to help make it as simple as possible and to explain it step by step as much as I can. I hope it helps!

What you will need to make this pattern:

  • Dish towel
  • 5.0 mm hook
  • A small amount of size 4 cotton yarn
  • Awl
  • Yarn needle
  • Slightly smaller needle (to fit through the button holes)
  • One 3/4 inch button
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker

Some abbreviations you will see in this pattern:

  • Ch = Chain
  • St = Stitch
  • Sts = Stitches
  • Sk = Skip
  • Sc = Single Crochet
  • Dc = Double Crochet
  • * * = Repeat instructions inside the asterisk across the row until otherwise noted

Notes:

  • The chain three at the beginning of each row does count as a stitch.
  • Each row’s stitch count will be in parenthesis at the end of each row.
  • This is a beginner friendly pattern.
  • Row 7 has some variance with the pattern, see the picture of it at the bottom.

Pattern:

First things first, you need to lay out your dish towel flat and fold it so the front (side of the towel to be viewed) is turned over so that you are facing the back side of the towel. Take the top part of the towel and fold it in half so you can now see the front side of the towel. From here, take a measuring tape and measure the top of the towel (at the folded part). My towel measured about 15.5 inches. I divided 15.5 by 62 and that equals .25 inches. That’s how many holes you are going to poke through the towel.

With the measuring tape still lying flat at the top of the towel, take your marker and dot every .25 inch spot about a half inch below the top of the fold. After you have all the dots marked out on the towel, now you will start making the holes and your first row.

This is where the awl will become your best friend. At your first dot on the right side of the towel, poke the awl through the towel. Make sure you push the awl all the way through the towel because doing so will make the hole bigger allowing your crochet hook to fit better. (Since we are mentioning crochet hooks, I usually prefer tapered hooks for 99% of my crochet projects. However, for this project, I have found that the inline hooks work better because it allows the yarn to get tucked into the hook more which helps it not get caught on the other side of the towel as much when pulling it through the hole in the towel.) Now that you have your first hole made, put the crochet hook through the towel. On the back side of the towel, pick up the yarn and pull the yarn through the hole of the towel, yarn over and pull up a loop. You have now completed your first sc!

Another tip I discovered after learning the hard way, only do one hole and one stitch at a time. If you try to go through and poke all the holes first, the holes will close up some and will get the front and back hole jumbled up in the meantime. It takes a little extra time but I promise it will be ten times smoother to do one hole and one stitch at a time.

Your hook may fall out of the stitch you just made while you are poking the next hole but that is perfectly alright. Just keep going all the way across the towel until all of your dots that you marked in are replaced with holes and a single crochet stitch.

Once you are all the way across, your first row of sc will be complete. You should have 61 sc stitches. Just ch 1 and turn your work.

Row 2: Sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (61)

Row 3: Dc in first st, sk 1, *dc, sk 1,* repeat across until 2 sts remain, dc one in each of the last 2 sts, ch 1, turn (32)

After row 3, it will start to pucker some. That is okay because we are starting a pretty quick decrease.

Row 4: Sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (32)

Row 5: *Dc, sk st, dc,* repeat across, ch 1, turn (17)

Row 6: Sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (17)

End of row 6.

Row 7: Sk first st, *dc, sk st, dc,* repeat across, ch 1, turn (9)

Unlike the last decrease rows, where you have crocheted in the first st like you normally would, for row 7 you need to sk the first st.

Row 8: Sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (9)

Here is a close up picture of the decrease portion before tapering it off to the continuous 9 sts per row for the rest of the pattern.

Row 9: Dc in each st across, ch 1, turn (9)

Row 10: Sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (9)

Rows 11-24: Repeat rows 9 and 10 (9)

Row 24 should be a single crochet row. Tie off and weave in all ends.

The next step of this pattern is to sew the button on. Turn the towel so that the front of your project is facing you. At row 8, place the button in the center of the row. After threading the smaller needle with yarn, bring it up through one of the holes in the button. I like to try to go through the yarn threads of one of the sc stitches so that it has more to hold on to. Work the needle back down through another button hole, still trying to go through the threads of the yarn strand underneath the button. Go back up and down through the button holes until you feel the button is secure. Turn your work over and tie a knot between the beginning and end of the yarn used to sew the button on. Weave in those ends.

And there you have it! You have completed the Dish Towel Pal! It is such a simple project, no wonder all our grandma’s and great grandma’s made these all the time! They would be so proud of us for carrying on their tradition.

My favorite part about this pattern versus many of the other dish towel topper patterns is that you can make the loop as tight or loose around your oven or dishwasher handle as you want. The dc rows act as built in button holes. There is no need to make a certain button hole which essentially locks you into one length of the loop.

I hope you all enjoy this pattern! It makes a great holiday or housewarming gift because most people have had these at some point during their lives. But as the towels become worn out over the years, they throw them away and more than likely they probably don’t know anyone that crochets to have them make them more of these. It’s a gift that nobody thinks they want until they see them. I know I will have plenty of these on my hook before Christmas is here.

I would absolutely love to see your finished products! Please tag me @madisonsmakings and use the hashtag #DishTowelPal on Instagram. Also, if you would like to pin this pattern on Pinterest, click here. And if you would like to purchase the pattern on Etsy, that can be found here. Each purchase of one of my patterns helps support Madison’s Makings to keep new patterns coming. As always, if you have any questions about this pattern at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to me either by email or on Instagram. I would be happy to help you bring this pattern to life.

I’ll be back very soon with a new scarf pattern, just in time for Christmas orders. In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy this beautiful fall season.

Happy crocheting!

Feel free to make as many of these as you would like and feel free to sell them. I just ask that you please acknowledge Madison’s Makings when you do. Please do not steal or copy this pattern and/or my pictures and credit them as your own work. Thank you!

The Sophie Headband

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Hello everyone! I have a new pattern for you all and I am SUPER excited about this one! It’s officially August now, one month closer to fall and chilly weather. I wanted to get a quick and easy, stash busting pattern out for anyone that might be able to do a fall craft or vendor show, even with all this pandemic stuff STILL going on.

I’ve had a busy couple weeks and procrastinated a little too longer on a blanket for my soon to be nephew. The baby shower for my sister-in-law was last Saturday and I was able to finish his blanket last Saturday with about three hours to spare. WHEW! Corey and I stayed with my parent’s the night before the shower so that we could be in our home town and be able to help set up for the shower. In the meantime, he had a wedding to go to the same afternoon. I asked if he could gather up my crochet stuff and pack it away whenever he left for the wedding. Luckily, some yarn and hooks were hiding from him, which gave me a few hours and a few skeins of leftover Hygge Red Heart Yarn and some random hooks I had lying around. This was enough for me to come up with, what I think, is the softest and warmest headband out there!

Earlier in the week, my coworker had this super cute headband holding back her hair that had a little knot on the center of it. She said it was a regular headband that she knotted herself and I just loved the way it looked! So while sitting at my parent’s house, snuggling with my puppy Sophie, fiddling around with some Hygge yarn, I started experimenting to try to make a headband/earwarmer that had that knot on the top of your head.

That is how the Sophie Headband was created! With the help of my puppy, I was able to create this super cute headband using leftover yarn. To say this is a great stash buster is an understatement! All this takes is about 57 yards of yarn, that’s it! It also is all one piece which makes it super quick and hassle free when it comes to putting it all together. It uses half double crochet which paired with the thicker Hygge yarn, allows it to work up so fast. Give yourself a few hours and you can have a few of these done in no time!

Currently, this pattern is for a typical, female adult’s head, I would love to transform it for all sizes very soon, so stay tuned! Until then, let’s get started!

What you will need to make this pattern:

  • 6.0 mm hook
  • 57 yards of Red Heart Hygge Yarn
  • Yarn Needle
  • Scissors

Some abbreviations you will see in this pattern:

  • Ch = Chain
  • Hdc = Half Double Crochet
  • Blo = Back loop only
  • Hdc2tog = Half double crochet two together
  • St = Stitch

Special Stitches:

  • Half Double Crochet Two Together: Yarn over, insert hook into the first stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook into the next stitch, pull up a loop. There will be 5 loops on your hook. Yarn over, pull through all 5 loops.

Dimensions:

  • When finished and lying flat, it should be about 11.25 inches long and 4 inches tall at the tallest part. *see photos at the end*

Notes:

  • This is sized for an adult female. If the headband is too big, simply do fewer rows at the end of the pattern.
  • Each row’s stitch count will be in parenthesis at the end of each row.
  • This is a very beginner friendly pattern.
  • The ch 2 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch.

Pattern:

Ch 15

Row 1:  Hdc in 3rd ch from the hook, hdc in st across, ch 2, turn (13)

Row 2:  Hdc in first st, blo hdc across until one st remains, hdc in last st, ch 2, turn (13)

Row 3-17:  Repeat row 2 (13)

Row 18:  Hdc2tog, hdc in blo in the next 9 sts, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn (11)

Row 19:  Hdc2tog, hdc in blo in the next 7 sts, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn (9)

Row 20:  Hdc2tog, hdc in blo in the next 5 sts, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn (7)

Row 21:  Hdc in first st, hdc in blo until one st remains, hdc in the last st, ch 2, turn (7)

Row 22-35:  Repeat row 21 (7)

Row 36:  2 hdc in first st, hdc in blo across until one st remains, 2 hdc in last st, ch 2, turn (9)

Row 37:  2 hdc in first st, hdc in blo across until one st remains, 2 hdc in last st, ch 2, turn (11)

Row 38:  2 hdc in first st, hdc in blo across until one st remains, 2 hdc in last st, ch 2, turn (13)

Row 39:  Hdc in first st, hdc in blo across until one st remains, hdc in last st, ch 2, turn (13)

Row 40-53:  Repeat row 39 (13)

Secure last chain.  At this point, tie a single knot at the center of the headband at the narrowed part. Once complete, put the hook back in the project to finish the last row.

Row 54:  Hdc in blo of previous row and blo of first row to join the ends together (13)

Here is a picture of what it should look like when you crochet the two ends together. Don’t forget the ch 2 and turn before starting this step.

Tie off and weave in all the ends.

Here’s the picture of the finished dimensions. You can tell I come from a family of contractors when I have a tape measure like this instead of the normal kind. 🙂

And there you have it my friends! The Sophie Headband! As mentioned in the notes, if the headband is too big or too small, just adjust the amount of rows in rows 22-35 and rows 40-53. If you need it smaller, take away one or two rows from each section. If you need it bigger, add one or two rows from each section. Remember though, yarn will relax and stretch as you wear it. The purpose in this pattern for crocheting in the back loops only is to make it stretchy and comfy.

I hope you all enjoy this pattern! This is my favorite pattern I’ve made to date and I cannot wait to see all of you guys’ creations with it! Please feel free to tag me on Instagram if you do make it and use the hashtag #SophieHeadband. If you would like to pin this on your Pinterest board, you can click here to view it. And some more exciting news, Madison’s Makings is officially on Etsy! So if you want a print out of this pattern, please click here to buy a copy of it. If you have any questions about this, or any of my patterns, please feel free to message me on Instagram or email me at [email protected].

Happy crocheting!

Feel free to make as many of these as you would like and feel free to sell them. I just ask that you please acknowledge Madison’s Makings when you do. Please do not steal or copy this pattern and/or my pictures and credit them as your own work. Thank you!

Buoy Bag – Grocery Bag Holder

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I’m not sure if this was all 90’s moms or just mine, but does anyone else remember those cloth grocery bag holders that used to hang somewhere in your kitchen? The one that had a cinched top and bottom so you could stuff a bunch of grocery bags in the top and pull one out at the bottom whenever you needed one? My mom’s broke a long, longg time ago but my mother-in-law still has hers and I loved how convenient it is to grab a grocery bag at their house whenever we need one. I decided there was nothing stopping me from making my own since I have no idea where I could buy one anymore.

So that’s why I created the Buoy Bag! Clearly the name came from the way it hangs on the side of our cabinets like a buoy hangs off a boat. But I got so sick of taking up a whole cabinet that is filled with soo many grocery bags and each morning digging around to try to get just one to put my lunch in it.

The pattern is so fast and quick to make. This now being my second original pattern, you probably have noticed a pattern that I am trying to use up some of my cotton yarn that I have lying around. I used cotton for it, but there’s no reason why you can’t use any type of acrylic yarn. I’m sure I will be making a bunch of these with acrylic yarn to so I can have more color choices and to help bust down some of my yarn stash.

What you will need to make this pattern:

  • 5.0 mm hook
  • About 95 yards of weight 4 yarn
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors

Some abbreviations you will see in this pattern:

  • Ch = Chain
  • St = Stitch
  • Hdc = Half Double Crochet
  • Tr = Treble Crochet
  • * * = Repeat instructions inside the asterisk across the row until otherwise noted
  • Sl st = Slip Stitch

Gauge:

  • Due to the “lacey” appearance of this pattern, gauge is difficult to calculate and will not make too much of a difference in this pattern.
  • Finished dimensions: 14.0 inches tall and 7.5 inches wide at the widest, most center portion of the bag.

Notes:

  • The ch 2 or 4 at the beginning of each round counts as a stitch throughout the pattern.
  • Each round’s stitch count will be in parenthesis at the end of the round’s instructions.
  • This bag can hold at least 20 plastic bags when finished.

Pattern:

Ch 35

Sl st into first ch of first st – do not twist the chain

Round 1: Ch 2, hdc around, sl st into top of ch 2 (35)

Round 2: Ch 4, tr in first st, ch 3, sk next 3 stitches, *tr in next 2 st, ch 3, sk next 3 st,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (35)

Round 3: Ch 4, tr 2 in the space between the ch 4 and first tr from previous round, ch 3, *tr 3 into the space between the two tr from previous round, ch 3* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (42)

Round 4: Ch 4, tr 1 into space between ch 4 and middle tr from previous round, tr 2 in space between middle and third tr from previous round, ch 4, *tr 2 in space between the first and middle tr group from previous round, tr 2 in space between the middle and last tr in group from previous round, ch 4,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (56)

Round 5: Ch 4, tr 2 in space between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, tr 1 in space between third and fourth tc from previous round’s tr group, ch 4, *tr 1 in space between first and second tr from previous round’s tr group, tr 2 in space between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, tr 1 in space between third and fourth tr from previous round’s tr group, ch 4* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (56)

Round 6-12: Repeat round 5 (56)

Round 13: Ch 4, tr in space between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, tr in space between third and fourth tr from previous round’s tr group, ch 3, *tr in space between first and second tr from previous round’s tr group, tr in space between second and third tr from previous rounds tr group, tr in space between third and fourth tr, ch 3,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (42)

Round 14: Ch 4, tr in between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, *ch 3, tr in space between first and second tr from previous round’s tr group, tr between second and third tr from previous round tr group,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (35)

Round 15: Ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, sl st into top of ch 2 (35)

Ch 15 and sl st the last ch into the last st of the previous round to make a loop.

Tie off and weave in all ends.

Make 2 separate chains of 55 stitches each.

Tie off and sew in ends of each strand.

To assemble the bag:

  • Weave the ch strands in and out of the hdc st posts in rounds 1 and 15.
  • Tighten each end to the desired width.
    • I tighten the top one pretty tight and leave the bottom one about half way open to be able to pull the bags out of the bottom easier.
  • Try to aim it so that both ends of the chains will be centered and even in the front of the bag, making it easier to tie off.
Sl st the last of the 15 ch into the last st of previous round to make a loop.
Weave in and out of rows 1 and 15’s hdc posts to add a “cinch” effect, ending and beginning in the front of the bag.
Picture of the bag’s stitch pattern.
The Buoy Bag finished and laying out flat.

That’s it! Not too bad, huh? Now you can clear out some cabinet space and stash those (way too many) grocery bags that you have in something that is more functional. As mentioned in the notes, this bag held 20 grocery bags for me. If you want it to hold more, you could always add more rounds in the middle.

I hope you enjoyed this pattern! If you would like to make one sometime, please pin it on your Pinterest board. Click here to open up the pin on Pinterest. If you make one, please tag me in your pictures of it on Instagram so I can see how you put your own spin on it. Also, feel free to use the hashtag #BuoyBag when you do post about it.

I have some more pattern ideas in mind, so always check back to see my latest creations. If you have a question about this pattern, please feel free to message me on Instagram or email me at [email protected].

Happy crocheting!

Feel free to make as many of these as you would like and feel free to sell them. I just ask that you please acknowledge Madison’s Makings when you do. Please do not steal or copy this pattern and/or my pictures and credit them as your own work. Thank you!

Stitch and Hound’s Half Moon Tote Bag

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First and foremost, I want to introduce everyone to Sarah Truesdell, the person behind Stitch and Hound. She has become such a good friend and a very big reason why I am where I am in the world of crochet. We met during a pattern testing for another designer and from there, I became a pattern tester for her patterns. Her patterns are all fantastic! She has inspired me and pushed me to try things I never thought I would ever be able to do. Each of her patterns are so easy to reproduce and with the tasks that I had never done before, she would always help me and encourage me to keep going. I cannot give enough thanks for her help. She’s even the one who encouraged me to start writing my own blog!

One pattern in particular that I wanted to share with everyone, is her Half Moon Tote bag made entirely out of grocery bags. Yes, you read that right. One hundred percent out of old grocery bags. A couple years ago, I had the idea to make something out of grocery bags but was never able to successfully transform the bags into something that I could easily crochet with. When Sarah first told me about this pattern, I knew I had to try it. I don’t know about you guys, but I had a box filled with grocery bags and also a cupboard filled with them too. They were eagerly anticipating a project just like this.

Since my wedding was quickly imploding on itself at that time because of COVID, I desperately needed a project to keep my mind busy and that did just the trick. I started chopping up all those plastic bags I had stashed away and starting making my plarn AKA plastic yarn. Sarah was able to show me in about two pictures what I had struggled with a few years prior. She even has a post explaining how to make it here: https://stitchandhound.com/how-to-make-plastic-yarn/.

That process was honestly the longest part of this pattern. It takes about seventy plastic grocery bags to make this bag. I ended up using two colors of grocery bags so once I finished cutting up all the bags, I rolled them into two different balls of plarn. I had a grey plarn ball and a blue plarn ball. (You can tell I frequent Giant Eagle and Wal*Mart.) This task becomes very mindless and is great to do while you are relaxing and watching TV. Once those were complete, I got out my hook and started bringing this plarn bag to life.

One of my favorite things about Sarah’s patterns is how easy they are to read, follow and complete. A few hours later I had the bag portion done. It consists of two half moon shaped panels. For my bag, I made these panels, the body portion of the bag, grey and I made the strap portion blue. The layout of the bag is to have the strap wrap around the whole bag; it essentially is the bag’s width. I loved using the two different colors for this reason. It gave it a very unique look and I loved having that option of using both colors!

Peep my Hook Nook interchangeable hook! I’m telling ya, they will become your favorite hooks! 🙂

After finishing the strap, the construction of it was very easy. You just lined up the panels with the strap portion and whip stitch them together. All while still using plarn to sew them together. As a finishing touch, I added a little tab made out of the blue plarn and sewed the bottom of it to the back panel. Then I used an old water bottle lid, had my (now) hubby poke a couple holes in the top, and sewed that onto the front panel of the bag. I have a terrible habit of my bags spilling out all over the place and I wanted to be able to close it somewhat for when I take this to the beach with me. It worked out better than I anticipated with the bottle cap!

And there you have it! The Half Moon Tote bag was so much fun to make! This has to be one of my favorite and most talked about patterns that I have ever tested. Just the fact it is made one hundred percent out of old products just lying around your house makes it unique and fun. Like always, Sarah knocked this pattern out of the park!

If you want to make one of these yourselves and make use of some of your old grocery bags, because let’s be honest, you can only use so many bags each week before you go back to the store and get a whole other shipment of them, I highly, highly suggest it! Like I’ve mentioned, Sarah’s pattern has so many informative pictures and helpful tips on creating this bag. Here’s the link to the free pattern on her blog: https://stitchandhound.com/plarn-half-moon-tote/. While you are there, check out all her other patterns on her website. Like my other personal favorite that I use everyday, the Wayfarer Woven Tote Bag: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wayfarer-woven-tote-bag.

Talking about grocery bags, I am accumulating more and more of them like always. They are filling up my cupboard again. Until I make another Half Moon Tote bag, I crocheted a grocery bag holder to hold some of my excess grocery bags in. Remember those cloth bags with the cinched top and bottom that you pulled a grocery bag from the bottom when you needed one? Well I decided to create one of those using basic crochet stitches and yarn that is just lying around. I like to call it the Buoy Bag! Check back on my blog next week for a free pattern to help you get to peak grocery bag storage organization!

Until then, happy crocheting!

Switchin’ It Up Nintendo Switch Cover

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This is my first ever original design and written up crochet pattern. I never dreamed I would be to this point yet, but here we are!

I started thinking of this design when my husband gave me the Nintendo Switch game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons when we were on our week long, stay home honeymoon (thanks Corona.) For total transparency, I am pretty awful at video games. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to play a game where I have to move my head and the camera at the same time. Way too much going on there. So when some of my friends got Animal Crossing, Corey knew this would for sure be my speed of game. And boy was he right! I quickly got really into it. I even brought my (his) Nintendo Switch to work with me so I could check turnip prices and do some fishing on my lunch break.

This resulted in total destruction of the Switch screen (sorry honeys!) It became a victim of my bottomless purse filled with receipts, random nail polish bottles and the real culprit of the Switch’s downfall, a nail file. I randomly woke up one morning and thought, “I need to make myself a Switch cover!” I didn’t need a case; it’s not like I had intentions of throwing it on the floor. I just needed something thin and durable to put my Switch in before I throw it onto the battlefield inside my purse.

I did a quick Google search to see what it had to say about some of the sturdier crochet stitches. This is when I came across the lemon peel stitch. I now love this stitch and cannot wait to use it in so many more patterns. It gave such an awesome texture to the pattern and the fact that it is reversible makes it so much more mindless when it comes to finding the front and back side of your project. I’m discovering that I love finding new stitch patterns that use very basic stitches but in unique ways. Like this stitch for instance, just uses single and double crochet stitches. If you’re anything like me, double crochet was the first stitch I ever learned and single crochet I learned shortly after. It also works up quickly because of the height of the double crochet in each row.

What you will need to make this pattern:

  • 5.0 mm hook
  • About 140 yards of weight 4 cotton yarn
    • I used almost a full skein of Sugar n’ Cream cotton yarn
  • One 3/4 inch button
  • Yarn needle
  • Slightly smaller needle (to fit in the button holes)
  • Scissors

Some abbreviations you will see in this pattern:

  • Ch = Chain
  • Sc = Single Crochet
  • Dc = Double Crochet
  • Sk = Skip
  • St = Stitch
  • ** = repeat instructions inside the asterisks across the row until otherwise noted

Special stitches you will see in this beginner pattern:

  • Decrease by one for lemon peel stitch: Essentially you will be crocheting a sc and dc together. Insert hook into first stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook, yarn over, pull through remaining 3 loops on hook
  • Crochet 3 together for lemon peel stitch: Insert hook into first stitch, pull up a loop, insert hook into second stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook into third stitch and pull up a loop. You should have 4 loops on your hook. Yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook, yarn over, pull through remaining 3 loops on your hook.

Gauge:

  • A 4″ x 4″ square should be 14 stitches long, alternating between dc and sc and about 13 rows tall.
  • For a better sizing method for this specific project, the final dimensions prior to sewing should be about 10.5 inches wide and 13.5 inches tall for the larger Nintendo Switch.

Notes:

  • First and foremost, this is NOT a Nintendo Switch case. This is strictly to try to prevent scratches on the screen. I am not liable if you drop your Switch in this case and it breaks. It is not the purpose of this pattern at all. 🙂
  • As previously mentioned in the gauge section, this pattern is written for the larger Nintendo Switch. It can easily be modified for the smaller version, but in this pattern, the dimensions are for the larger one.
    • To make a smaller version, ch an odd number to your desired length and change the amount of rows to your desired height.
    • My pattern testers made multiple of these for their Nintendo Switch Lites with little change to the pattern. For a snug fit, they used 30 stitches across which can vary with each crocheter’s gauge.
  • This pattern uses the lemon peel stitch. I tried to word this pattern to be beginner friendly, but if assistance is needed, Google had a lot of information on this stitch that I found very helpful.
  • Each row’s final stitch count will be in parenthesis at the end of the row’s instructions.

Alright, now that you have all that you need to know prior to starting this fun pattern, we are ready to get started!

Pattern:

Ch 35

Row 1: sk first chain from hook, *sc, dc* repeat across, ch 1, turn (34)

Row 2: *sc, dc* repeat across, ch 1, turn (34)

Row 3-26: repeat row 2 (34)

Row 27: decrease by one, *sc in next st, dc in next,* repeat across until there are two stitches left, decrease by one (32)

Row 28: decrease by one two times (in the first four stitches), *dc in next st, sc in next,* repeat across until four stitches are remaining, decrease by one two times (28)

Row 29-30: Repeat row 28

Row 31: decrease by one, *sc in next st, then dc in next,* repeat across until you have two stitches left, decrease by one (18)

Row 32: decrease by one, *sc in next st, then dc in next,* repeat across until you have two stitches left, decrease by one (16)

Row 33: decrease by one, *dc in next st, then sc in next st,* repeat across until you have two stitches left, decrease by one (14)

Row 34: decrease by one, *sc in next st, then dc in next st,* repeat across until you have two stitches left, decrease by one (12)

Row 35: decrease by one, *dc in next st, then sc in next,* repeat across until you have two stitches left, decrease by one (10)

Row 36: decrease by one, sc, dc, ch1 and sk st, dc, sc, dc, decrease by one (8 including ch space) *This is the button hole row*

Row 37: decrease by one, dc, sc, sk over ch space, dc, decrease by one (5)

Row 38: decrease by one, dc, decrease by one (3)

Row 39: crochet all three stitches together *see special stitches section of pattern*

Tie off and weave in all ends.

To assemble the cover:

  • Lay the bag out flat with the triangle shape at the top.
  • Fold the bottom half of the rectangle shape to the bottom of the triangle portion of the bag.
  • Sew up the straight edges of the sides of the pouch using a whip stitch and your yarn needle. *see photo below
Sew the cover where the black lines are drawn with a whip stitch. Sew in ends after securing the whip stitch.
  • Sew in all ends that you may have after sewing the sides of the bag up.
  • Place the button on the front of the pouch so that it will fit with the button hole that you made on row 36.
  • Sew the button securely on with the thinner needle.
Securely sew the button on in the middle of the cover so that the button hole is directly over the button when the flap is closed.

And there you have it! You now have a weapon of your own to protect your Nintendo Switch from all the chaos in your purse. Now you can play Animal Crossing where ever you want.

If you enjoyed this pattern, please share it with your friends! You can purchase this pattern on Etsy by clicking here. If you would like to make one one day, please pin it on your Pinterest board! Click here to open up the pin on Pinterest. If you make one, I would love for you to tag me in your creations on Instagram so I can see all the different ways you guys made them your own. Also, feel free to use the hashtag #SwitchinItUpNintendoSwitchCover when posting your pictures.

My awesome pattern testers did an incredible job with this pattern! Check out my Instagram page to see all of their Switchin’ It Up Nintendo Switch Covers. Also be on the lookout for new updates and new patterns on Instagram, along with more blog posts too! I have a couple more original patterns of mine in the works. If you have a question about this pattern, please feel free to message me on Instagram or email me at [email protected].

Happy crocheting!

Feel free to make as many of these as you would like and feel free to sell them. I just ask that you please acknowledge Madison’s Makings when you do. Please do not steal or copy this pattern and/or my pictures and credit them as your own work. Thank you!

Baby Galore!

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The last few months have been filled with lots of baby crochet projects! To sum it all up, my brother and sister-in-law are having a baby boy in September and my sister-in-law and her husband are having a baby girl in August and a friend of mine is having a baby boy in a couple weeks. These are the first babies in my family in a very long time, so to say I have had very little experience in the realm of baby projects is an understatement. I went on the search to make something as personalized to each baby as possible without losing all the wonderful soft and cozy features that I believe all baby items should obtain.

The first project I started working on was a cactus themed nursery blanket for my friend’s baby. We went on a Mission’s trip to Arizona last year which inspired her and her husband to have their nursery be a cactus/desert/Arizona theme and so I ran with that. I checked out Nella’s Cottage because I love how personalized her baby blankets are. I started with her granny square blanket and used Caron’s Simply Soft yarn. I love using this yarn for granny square blankets or blankets where there is going to be color change because there is such a huge selection of color options to choose from. Not to mention, this yarn is so soft and works perfectly for blankets. For this blanket specifically I used a combination of Taupe, Grey Heather and Off White for the main stripes portion. For the cactus applique, also from Nella’s Cottage, I used Pistachio and Dark Sage and added a few accent stripes in these green colors on the edge of the blanket. For the flowers on top of the cacti, I used some light blue scraps of yarn I had lying around in the never ending abyss of my yarn collection. (Don’t tell my hubby that I said it’s never ending, because then I won’t be allowed to go back to the yarn store.)

I had never sewn anything like the applique onto a blanket before. It was a little tricky at first, but once you started sewing it on, it became easier and more stable. The one thing to pay attention to is that you are placing your needle in a good “hiding spot.” A few times I would flip the blanket over and realize that I sewed in some of the back most parts of the stitches which exposed the sewing stitches. It’s a quick and easy fix, but just something to be mindful of while making it.

If you would like to try making this blanket, I highly suggest it! The pattern is easy, fun and mindless. Nella’s Cottage has soo many amazing applique patterns and different pictures and styles on her Instagram to inspire a blanket for any and all occasions. You can find all these at http://www.nellascottage.com.

The next project I worked on has been a long time in the making. As soon as I found out my brother and sister-in-law were having a little boy, I wanted to make him something special. My brother is a big Pittsburgh sports fan, especially of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. (If I’m honest, most of my family is, myself included.) I had only made one baby outfit as a pattern tester and that was the extent of my baby clothing experience but I knew I really wanted to try to make him a little hockey outfit. A quick search on Etsy and I discovered Grandmabilt’s shop that is filled with adorable little baby outfits for every sport you could imagine.

Before the world shut down from COVID, I made a quick trip after work to Joann’s to search for black, gold and white yarn that could work for a baby outfit. This was my last outing before Ohio shut down nonessential stores. But I knew that things were going to be closing soon and I had to make this for them. Walking into Joann Fabric’s into the yarn section, I realized I had greatly underestimated how challenging it would be to find black, size three, baby yarn. I had just about given up hope when I turned to walk out the store and saw The Hook Nook’s new yarn line. I have been a fan of her products for awhile but hadn’t had any experience with her new yarn line yet. (I am totally obsessed with her interchangeable hooks!) She has a type of yarn called Small Stuff which miraculously had black, white, and yellow, size three yarn. I gathered up way more than I would ever need, but let’s be honest, COVID made us all hoarders. The official color names of the yarn are Tattoo Ink, Minimalist, and Warm Sunshine.

The pattern itself was so easy to follow and recreate. It worked up fast and came together so much better than I ever imagined. The part that took the longest was sewing in all the ends of the color changes, but that might have been just all in my head since that’s my least favorite part of crocheting. I made the little jersey first, then the pants and the skates last. When I first looked at the skate’s pattern I thought it was beyond my skill level when I got to the blade part. But as I’ve found out before, just start with the first row and keep tackling the pattern one step at a time and it always works out. That is now one of my favorite parts of the pattern because having the actual blade of the skate made out of yarn was a very nice and realistic touch on the designer’s part.

I couldn’t keep the secret anymore so gave it to my brother and sister-in-law for a Father’s Day/Belated Mother’s Day gift to them. My whole family loved it and now I can’t wait to see my little nephew in it when he arrives.

If you are looking for any type of outfit that is sport’s related, please check out http://www.grandmabilt.com. She has a huge selection of awesome patterns! This will not be my last experience with her patterns because there is just so many adorable ones to choose from. These would be perfect patterns to make for newborn pictures.

The third project I worked on was a blanket for my sister-in-law and her husband’s baby. I knew that I wanted to make my soon to be niece a warm and cozy blanket so I ventured into the wide selection of baby blankets that Daisy Farm Crafts has. I knew that their nursery was going to be a blush pink color along with other neutral colors. I came across the Crochet Hygge Powder Puff Blanket on their website and knew that was the one. I absolutely love Red Heart Hygge yarn. It has to be one of the coziest, softest, squishiest, most beautiful yarn I’ve worked with. While shopping for the yarn, I discovered that Red Heart has made a lot more colors in this type of yarn. When it first came out there was just a handful of colors to choose from, but now, there is about any color you could think of which is great!

The pattern was very easy to follow and turned out great! The Hygge yarn gave the blanket the perfect amount of weight and softness. It also helped the blanket work up quickly with the thicker yarn. The stitches were very easy and basic, making this a great project for beginners. The pattern itself intertwined a couple basic stitches which gave the finished product a very detailed look. I loved it! I plan on using this pattern a lot in the future.

If you are wanting to delve into this squishy, soft blanket, the pattern can be found at https://daisyfarmcrafts.com/crochet-hygge-powder-puff-blanket/. There is also a YouTube video that goes along with this pattern if you are a more visual learner.

Last but certainly not least, I made the Butterscotch Baby Onesie from megmadewithlove for my soon to be niece! When I first saw her post about the pattern getting released, I knew I needed to make it. It also really matched the style of clothing that my sister-in-law and I talked about making for her little one. I had some Baby Bee Sweet Delight yarn, in the color Naked, from Hobby Lobby lying around and decided to put it to use for this special project.

The pattern worked up fast and took form quickly. The instructions for not only the pattern but also the assembly were so easy to follow with helpful pictures to go along with it. I made the newborn size, but the pattern came with sizes all the way through to twelve months. I finished it with some wooden buttons which I thought complimented the off white yarn well. It turned out so much cuter than I expected from only my second baby onesie that I’ve ever made. Like the other projects, it used basic stitches but incorporated them in a way that gave the onesie a very beautiful and finished look.

If you would like to create this beautiful little outfit, check it out on her blog! The pattern can be found at https://megmadewithlove.com/blog-2/2020/3/11/the-butterscotch-onesie-free-crochet-pattern.

This has been enough baby projects to keep me busy for the past couple months, but there is definitely a couple more already on my hooks. I’ll be sharing them as they come on my Instagram for sure and maybe here too. Please check out all the designers that made these wonderful patterns that inspired this post. If you decide to make any of these, please share them with me (and them). I would love to see what all you create!

I hope this inspired you to want to start crocheting something new! Have fun and happy hooking!