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Spring

Springtime Bolero Crochet Pattern

23 April 2016 by Naomi 8 Comments

Today I finally have a new pattern for you all!

Crochet Circle Cardigan

Do you remember the Springtime Cardigan in this post?

Well I have tweaked the things that needed tweaking and decided on calling it a bolero and… ta-dah! A crochet pattern freebie for you all 🙂

This bolero is a very forgiving fit which means it will comfortably fit a child from ages 2-5. I hope to work on a bigger size… particularly an adult version at some time in the future… but I’m afraid no promises as to when that might be!

There is a fair bit of terminology and stitch guidance at the beginning here but stay with me, keep scrolling and you will find the pattern! 😉

Crochet Circle Cardigan

As usual, you may sell any items you crochet using my pattern with the due design credit given but the pattern is not to be reposted or sold….. it is available for FREE here! :) Thankyou.

Supplies
Stylecraft Special DK (two colours or as many as you like!)
7mm hook
darning needle
Button

Terminology/Handy Hints

To fit ages 2-5.

Read the pattern through first! 😉

Tension Gauge – 13 treble stitches across 7 rows = 10cm square

I use UK terminology in all of my patterns.

st(s) = stitch(es)
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
ss = slip stitch
dc = double crochet (single crochet US)
tr = treble crochet (double crochet US)
dtr = double treble crochet (treble crochet US)
dtr4tog = double treble crochet 4 together (decrease)

double treble crochet(dtr) [tr for the US] – Yarn over hook twice, insert hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull yarn through stitch (4 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops left), yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook (2 loops left), yarn over and pull through all remaining loops. (double treble crochet complete)

dtr4tog – *Yarn over hook twice, insert hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull yarn through stitch (4 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops left), yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook (2 loops left)* work this** through 3 more times working into the next 3 sts, yarn over and pull through all remaining loops on the hook. (decrease complete)

Tall Cluster – This is essentially a dtr4tog worked over 3 stitches not 4, the 2nd and 3rd dtrs are worked into the same stitch. *Yarn over hook twice, insert hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull yarn through stitch (4 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops left), yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook (2 loops left)* work this ** twice into the next st and then once more into the following third stitch, yarn over and pull through all remaining loops on the hook. (cluster complete)

Short Cluster – This is the same as above but worked in trebles not dtr. *Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull yarn through stitch (3 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook (2 loops left)* work this ** twice into the next st and then once more into the following third stitch, yarn over and pull through all remaining loops on the hook. (cluster complete)

Pattern

R1) Chain 4, slip stitch into 1st chain to form a ring

R2) ch3, work 13tr into the ring, ss to close the round (14sts)

R3) ch4, work (tr, ch) into each stitch, ss to close (28sts)

R4) ss into the next chain space, (ch3, 2tr) in this space, then 3tr in each ch sp around, ss to close (42)

R5) Work a Tall Cluster chaining 4 in place of the 1st dtr, ch3, *Tall Cluster, ch3* repeat** to end, ss to close (56)

R6) ss into ch sp, (ch4, tr, ch, tr, ch) in this space, (tr, ch, tr, ch, tr, ch) in each ch sp around, ss to close (84)

R7) ss into ch sp, (ch3, tr) in this space, 2tr in each ch sp around, ss to close (84)

R8) Work a Tall Cluster chaining 4 in place of the 1st dtr, ch3, *Tall Cluster, ch3* repeat** to end, ss to close (113)

R9) ch4, (dtr, ch, dtr, ch, dtr, ch) in the next 6 ch spaces, ch20, skip 4 ch spaces, (dtr, ch, dtr, ch, dtr, ch) in the next 7 ch spaces, ch 20, skip 4 ch spaces, (dtr, ch, dtr, ch, dtr, ch) in the next 6 ch spaces, (dtr, ch, dtr ch) in the next ch sp, ss to the top of the starting chains (160)

R10) ss into ch sp, (ch3, tr) in this space, 2 tr in each single chain space around. In the long chain spaces work 23tr. Ss to close. (162)

R11) Work a Short Cluster chaining 3 in place of the 1st tr, ch2, *Short Cluster, ch2* repeat to end, ss to close (162)

R12) ch4, (tr, ch, tr, ch, tr, ch) in each ch sp around, (tr, ch, tr ch) in the last ch sp, ss to the top of the starting chains (324)

R13) ch3, *2tr in the next ch sp, 2tr in the next ch sp, 1tr in the next ch sp*, repeat all the way round, working the last single tr in to the same space as the original ch3, ss to close. (271)

R14) Work a Tall Cluster chaining 4 in place of the 1st dtr, ch, *dtr4tog, ch* repeat all the way round, ss to close. (136)

This is the start of the edging, so a good natural place to change colour if you want to.
R15) The following round is worked only in the previous decrease stitches not in the chain stitches.
ch3, 7tr in the same st, ch1, dc in the next st, ch2, (2tr, ch, 2tr) in the next st, ch2, dc, ch1, *8tr, ch1, dc, ch2, (2tr, ch, 2tr), ch2, dc, ch1*, repeat** to the end 17 repeats total, ss to close. (357)

R16) ch3, tr in next 7 sts, ch1, (2tr, ch, 2tr) in the cluster ch sp, ch1, *tr in the next 8 sts, ch1, (2tr, ch, 2tr) in the ch sp, ch1*, repeat ** to the end, ss to close. (255)

R17) ch3, tr in next 7 sts, (2tr, ch, 2tr) in the cluster ch sp, *tr in the next 8 sts, (2tr, ch, 2tr) in the ch sp*, repeat ** to the end, ss to close. (221)

R18) ch3, *(2tr, ch, 2tr) in the space between the 4th and 5th tr of the previous round – the centre of the fan, ch2, 8tr in the cluster ch sp, ch2*, repeat ** to the end, ss to the first tr to close. Fasten off. (289)

Darn in any ends you have and at this point I would recommend blocking. I just did a quick pin out and steam block with my iron but it made the world of difference to the drape. Now all that is left to do is add a button if you wish. My daughter has two now, one with and one without, I personally prefer it with. The pattern of this bolero is lacy enough that it doesn’t really need a specific buttonhole just use any hole already there!

I hope you enjoy this pattern! If you have any feedback or questions for me just let me know in the comments below 🙂
If you do make a bolero for a little person in your life and use Instagram I would love to see! Please tag me @ourlovelylittlelife and use the hashtag #springtimebolero 😉

Naomi-16

 

Posted in: Lovely Little Crochet, Patterns Tagged: April, crochet, free patterns, Spring, yarn

Springtime Crochet

29 March 2016 by Naomi Leave a Comment

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter weekend! We have been blessed to spend time with lots of family we don’t see too often which was lovely and a certain little girl was gifted far too much chocolate 😉

Crochet Circle Cardigan

It definitely felt like spring had arrived this weekend, we had some beautiful warm sunny days along with a spring storm for good measure. Emma has seen the sunshine and decided the only appropriate clothing is tiny little summer dresses, every morning starts with a battle to get a t-shirt and leggings on underneath! I realised that what her wardrobe lacks is a lightweight cardigan or shrug for this type of weather. Cue a new crochet project!

Crochet Cardigan

Crochet Circle Cardigan

This worked up so quickly, even though I was making it up as I went along. I’m really pleased with how it has turned out and my picky little miss actually wears it! It is only Stylecraft Special DK, so it’s purse friendly, wearable and washable!

There are a few little kinks I want to iron out, so another one is in the works but then I will be putting the pattern up for you all. Just in case anyone would like to make one for a little person in their life?! I think I might have to scale it up for an adult version too. 😉

I do have a question for you though…. Is a cardigan without sleeves still a cardigan or is it a shrug or something else?? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Naomi-16

Posted in: Lovely Little Crochet Tagged: cardigan, crochet, March, Spring, stylecraft, sunshine

The Ordinary Moments #3

21 March 2016 by Naomi 1 Comment

It’s funny, if you asked me my favourite colour I would probably say I don’t have a favourite and then choose green if you pushed me.
If you asked Emma what mummy’s favourite colour is she will undoubtedly tell you it’s purple. Just as she tells me!
But as I looked back through the photos I have taken in the last couple of weeks there does seem to be rather a lot of purple. As if I gravitate towards it without noticing, yet Emma had!

crocus patch

I too often forget that at the age of 4 she is much more observant and aware of what is going on around her than I tend to give her credit for. She also has a long term memory that defies belief and is starting to catch us out! (Like the Eeyore teddy that was an unfortunate victim of a sick bug when she was barely 2, it was never going to be clean in my eyes again so got chucked. This went by completely unnoticed until she asked for it recently, recalling the exact circumstance in which she last saw it two years ago.)

dsc_0831.jpg

I find that I am spending more and more time battling with my expectations of Emma. I flip between ‘Am I expecting too much, 4 is still so little after all!’ and ‘She’s 4 of course she should be able to …..’! Parenting can definitely be a battle but I am starting to realise most of the battles take place between me and myself.

I am much the same with Matthew, on the one hand I am desperate for him to stay my baby because he will most likely be our last and I can’t bear the thought of him turning 1 next month (this deep seated denial is probably why I’ve still done nothing about a birthday party!!). On the other hand I can’t wait for him to start walking a little and be safe on his legs so I can safely put him down when my arms are aching and I’m trying round up Emma and her shoes/bags/cardi’s/coat/random items at nursery.

Emma Matthew

Perhaps lately I have spent too much time over thinking and not enough time doing. I really want to make the most of the next 5 months, making memories with my lovely little family as we are now before September arrives and we enter a whole new season of life. Between the weather and many little illnesses I feel we haven’t got off to the start I’d hoped but it was the 1st day of Spring yesterday so hopefully we can turn a corner and get out a bit more!

We have managed a couple of little walks recently and I’ve taken to demanding a cringeworthy family selfie each outing which I actually love. One of my biggest bug bears is that we have virtually no pictures of us as a whole family and if this is the only way to do it then so be it!

family shot 1

family shot 2

This post has turned into something of a brain emptying exercise, I hope my rambling just about makes sense. These are certainly our ordinary moments though!

Linking up with Mummy Daddy Me for #OrdinaryMoments.

Naomi-16

 

Posted in: Lovely Little Family, Things We Do Tagged: Emma, family, March, Matthew, nature, ordinary moments, outdoors, parenting, Spring
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