How to: Front Post Triple/Treble Crochet

1.        Yarn over hook twice

2.       Front post triple crochet: from the front of the piece, insert hook into, then behind and around the post of the stitch from the previous row and back to the front.

3.       Yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook (2 loops on hook).

4.       Yarn over, draw through last 2 loops on hook.

Back post triple crochet: from the back of the piece, insert hook into, then in front of and around the post of the stitch from the previous row and back through to the back.

Repeat steps 3-6.

How to: Make Any Size Hat

If you just want to make a basic hat or are trying to make a pattern for one, here's how to do it.

Step 1: 12 dc (or sc or whatever size stitch you want...I'll use dc here) in a magic ring
            OR
           Ch 4, join with slip stitch to first ch, 12 dc around
Step 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same dc, [2 dc] in each around
Step 3: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc] around
Step 4: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 2 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc] around
Step 5: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 3 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc] around
Step 6: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 4 dc, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc] around

Use this pattern of increasing until your circle reaches the following diameters (courtesy of Crochet in Color):

*Remember diameter is all the way across through the center of the circle.

Age                                    Diameter of circle

Newborn                                      4 inches

3-6 months                                   5.5 inches

9-12 months                                 6-6.5 inches

24 months                                    6.5-6.75 inches

Toddler and small child                  7 inches

Adult woman                                7.25-7.5 inches

Once you've reached the diameter for the size you want, dc in each around until you've reached the following length:

Age                                          Finished Length

Newborn                                       5 inches

3-6 months                                    6-6.5 inches

9-12 months                                  7 inches

24 months                                     7-7.5 inches

Toddler and small child               7.5- 8 inches

Adult woman                                8.5-9 inches

Large adult                                    10 inches

You can continue to dc (or sc or whatever stitch you decided to do) in each around until you've reached your length and stop there, or a nice finishing technique would be to fpdc or fpsc for the last inch or 2.

Free Pattern: Chunky Doggie Cowl

My uncle's dog is really old (16 years!) and likes to be kept warm so I decided to make a doggie cowl for her.  I tested one out on my own dog shown below (she hates the camera!)  Also, sorry it's not the best pattern for sizes, I just kind of whipped it out last night.  It works up super quick and hopefully you will have a dog on hand to test it out :)

Yarn used: Lion Brand Hometown USA Tweeds (Super Bulky)

Hook used: P-15 (10 mm)

Ch = chain

Sl st = slip stitch

Hdc = half double crochet

My dog is 20 pounds and wears a small collar for an 11-14 inch neck.  If you do the foundation chain loosely, the cowl will be stretchy.

I chained 26 (for my uncle's dog who wears a size Xtra small collar I chained 22, so maybe increase/decrease by 4 or 5 to change sizes).  Sl st to 1st ch.

Round 1:  Ch 2.  Hdc in each ch around.  Sl st to top of ch 2.

Round 2:  Ch 2.  Hdc in each around (work in back loops if you would like more detail).  Sl st to top of ch 2.

Repeat round 2 until you've reached your desired length.  I did 7 rounds total but my dog kind of has a stubby neck :)  The next one I make will probably be longer so it can bunch up a bit more.  

Fasten off and weave in ends.  Add a button or a ribbon bow to spruce it up if you'd like.

So as you can see it was not a ground breaking pattern but hey it looks super cute and my dog doesn't even mind!

Free Pattern: Chunky Newborn Hat

I've recently become obsessed with chunky yarn.  I bought a bunch of it but then realized how expensive it is to actually make anything big with it, so I went in search of smaller projects to do with it.  Here's a pattern I found on another blog (here) that is really simple and really fast - like really, really fast.

I'd recommend making your stitches a little looser, at least at first, otherwise it'll end up really stiff.

I used Michael's Loops & Threads for the cream one and Lion Brand Hometown USA for the burgundy one.  Any super bulky yarn will work. 

Use a P or N crochet hook.

Ch 3, Sl st in 1st ch to join,

R1: ch 1, 5 sc around, sl st in 1st ch to join.

R2: ch 1, sc in same st *2 sc in each st* around, sl st to join
R3: ch 1 sc in same st * sc in next st, 2 sc in next* around, sl st to join
R4: ch 2, hdc in same st, *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in in next* around, sl st to join
R5-7: ch 2, *hdc in each st* around, sl st to join
R8: ch 3, *sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1* around, sl st in 2nd chain to join.
Weave in ends, run ribbon through spaces between dc's, and tie a bow.

Free Pattern: Easy Chevron Afghan

There are toooons of ripple/chevron afghan patterns out there.  I've finally just made one that I like and I've found the secret to making them.  Well I haven't just "made" it, I'm still in the process of making it, but I'm 1/8 of the way done and I like the way it looks.

Yarn Used:  Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn (Worsted size 4)

Hook Used: I/9 (5.50 MM)

Gauge: 2 rows = 1 inch; Peak to peak/valley to valley = 6 inches

Ch=chain

Dc = double crochet

Dc2tog = *Yarn over, insert hook through next stitch, yarn over and pull loop through stitch, yarn over and pull through first 2 loops on hook; Repeat from * once. Yarn over and pull through remaining 3 loops on hook.

Dc3tog = *Yarn over, insert hook through next stitch, yarn over and pull loop through stitch, yarn over and pull through first 2 loops on hook; Repeat from * twice. Yarn over and pull through remaining 4 loops on hook.

Ch multiples of 20 plus 2.

160 ch will make an approximately 48” wide afghan.

Row 1: Dc in 3^rd ch from hook;  dc in next 8 ch; 3 dc in next ch; dc in next 8 ch; *Dc3tog over next 3 ch; Dc in next 8 ch; 3 dc in next ch; dc in next 8 ch.  Repeat from * across.  Dc2tog in last 2 unworked ch of the row.  Ch 2, turn.

Row 2 (WORK IN BACK LOOPS ONLY IF YOU WANT A RIBBED EFFECT): Skip first dc, dc in next 9 dc; 3 dc in next dc; dc in next 8 dc; *dc3tog over next 3 dc; dc in next 8 dc; 3 dc in next dc; dc in next 8 dc.  Repeat from * across.  Dc2tog in last 2 unworked dc of the row.  Ch 2, turn.

Rows 3+: Repeat row 2 until you’ve reached your desired length.  2 rows is equal to one inch so multiply the number of inches you would like your afghan to be by 2 and that’s how many rows you need to make.  I’m making a 48”x60” afghan so I will need to make 120 rows.  Finish off and weave in ends (leave about 5 inches).

To change color:  At end of row, when working the dc2tog drop the current color of yarn when you have the last 3 loops left on your hook to finish the stitch. Yarn over with new color of yarn and pull through 3 loops on hook.  Ch 2 and turn.

Free Pattern: Rose-Style Heart

I came across this while Pinteresting (great way to find free patterns by the way!) and I fell in love with it.  Other crochet hearts are so blah, you know, and it adds some variation to all the flowers I do. I have yet to try it but it looks like a good challenge.  The OP labels this pattern as "intermediate" but I'd call it advanced since you need to know how to to front posts (it took me forever to learn those, so that could just be me).  Here's the pattern (Click here for the original post):

Materials Needed:
for a heart measuring ~ 2.50 inches by 2.00 inches use worsted yarn and a 3.75mm hook
for a heart measuring ~ 2.00 inches by 1.75 inches use dk yarn and a 3.75mm hook
for a heart measuring ~ 1.5 inches by 1.75 inches use fingering (sock) yarn and 3.50mm hook
for a heart measuring ~ 1.25 inches by 1.5 inches use a double strand of a lace weight yarn and a 3.00mm hook

Glossary
ch - chain
st - stitch
fp - front post (front post video tutorial)
ss - slip stitch
sc - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
dc - double crochet

Pattern Notes:
This heart is made in rounds. Rounds are worked continuously, unless noted otherwise. Blocking is important to shaping.

Rounds 1-3 are worked on the wrong side.

Round 1:  Using a magic circle  make 5dc in loop after ch3 (ch3 counts as first dc), pull closed or
using the ch2 method, ch2, 6dc in second chain from hook - 6dc completed
Round 2:  2 fp dc around each dc of first round - 12dc completed
Round 3:  Each set of stitches in parentheses is done around one stitch of the previous round.
Beginning with the first dc and working around to the last dc,
(2 fp hdc), (2 fp dc), (2 fp hdc), (2 fp sc), (2 fp sc), (2 fp hdc, 1 fp dc),
(2 fp hdc), (2 fp sc), (2 fp sc) (2 fp hdc), (2 fp dc) (fp dc, fp hdc, ch3, fp ss)

Round 4A: 
(slip stitches on this round should be kept fairly loose)
ch1, turn/flip heart over (work is now done from the right side)
2sc around ch3, you do this by:

inserting the hook under the chain like so:

draw up a loop

complete your single crochet by yarning over and drawing through both loops on the hook,

make one more single crochet the same way

1sc in next 5 stitches, ss in next 7 stitches,
3sc in next stitch, ss in next 5 stitches, fasten off.

Round4B: While holding heart with right side facing you and pointed end to the left,
attach yarn to first stitch (the top of the ch3 of Round1) in center of spiral (you may have to reach in the center of the spiral and tug a bit),

ch1 and make one sc in same stitch, 1sc in front loop of next 17 stitches, hdc in the next 7 stitches, sc in the next st, do not fasten off, cut yarn leaving 5 inch tail.

Round4C: With right side still you facing, attach yarn to first sc of Round4A, ch1 and sc in same st,
1hdc in next 8 st, 1 sc in the next 6 st, 2sc in front loop of next st,
1 sc in the next 6 stitches, fasten off.
Using a crocheted invisible join, join to last sc of round 4B (you must skip over the fasten off  point to reach the last sc).

Weaving in Ends:
Note: Go slow and use this step to get desired shaping as well.
From the back of the heart pull center strings tight and knot together. Either weave them in or keep them long to use to attach the heart to another piece. Using the tail from the beginning of Round 4C, secure the left top of the heart to the back of the heart and weave in. Tie the the ends from Rounds 4A and 4C together and weave in or keep long and use for securing the outer parts of the heart to another piece as well. Weave the string from the invisible join down through the last hdc of Round 4B and then through the back of the heart. .

My owl-hat experience (Pattern Link Below)

I first came across this pattern a year ago and made one owl.  Never did anything with the owl - I was going to give it to my nephew but it got buried at the bottom of my closet.  A year later I found it and brought it to work and everybody loved them!  I got a couple different orders for them from my coworkers...here's one of them:

It's a super easy pattern, great for beginners branching out, and I found it here:
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html

Easy Flower Headband Crochet Pattern

The other day I was having trouble finding a headband pattern I like.  A girl I work with asked me to make her one so she didn't have to spend $25 on the one she wanted.  None of the patterns were looking good so I just created one!  It's a super easy beginner level headband that looks like it could be intermediate or maybe even advanced.  It's available for just $3 in my Etsy shop (flower pattern included): https://www.etsy.com/listing/166295373/flower-headband-crochet-pattern?

Free CROCHET Cable "Knit" Tutorial

Update:  I finally actually tried the pattern, and.........................it's great!  Finished the hat no problem.  I did get hung up in one area..The third set of instructional photos I thought was meant for row 7, but the worded instructions for that round were different than what the pictures were saying.  I figured out the pictures were actually for row 8, and I was to follow the worded instructions for row 7.  I made one of these using worsted weight yarn as suggested and it's pretty thick.  I wanted it to be a bit thinner so I used Patons Lace Sequins on my next one and I liked that look a little better.

Original Post: I love the cable knit look, but as the name says, it's a knit technique.  Once upon a time I bought a pattern that was for a cable knit item, but using crochet.  I was totally confused and had no idea what I was doing so I gave up.  Recently, I came across this tutorial on how to do it.
Even if you don't want to make the hat, this is a really helpful cable "knit" crochet tutorial that can be applied to other projects.
Here it is:

http://www.rheatheylia.com/index.php?page=patterns&id=8

Bubble Stitch Crochet Hat

Love this pattern!  Here are a couple hats I crocheted using a bubble stitch.  Really easy and goes really fast!
They are for sale in my Esty shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelyseboutique)

Or here's a link to buy the pattern (which is not mine): http://www.etsy.com/listing/101936271/popcorn-slouch-beret-crochet-pattern?ref=shop_home_active