Crocheted & felted Witch's Cauldron

Just in time for Halloween! Make one as a table decoration and fill it with all sorts of gruesome goodies, or put a long handle on it and take it with you as a candy basket when you go Trick or Treating :) It measures 20cm across and 25cm from top to bottom before felting, and 17 and 22cm respectively after felting.

This basket is crocheted rather loosely and then felted. If you don't want to felt it you should adjust the hook size to get a firmer fabric. This will make a smaller basket, so you will probably need to use thicker yarn if you want a bigger, non-felted cauldron.

You will need:

* 6mm crochet hook

* Bulky pure wool yarn in black (make sure it's not Superwash - that won't felt!)

* Needle for sewing

* Small amount of polyester stuffing

Please note: 

The cauldron, the lid and the lid handle are all made in joined rounds. Always substitute the first stitch of a round with 'chain 2' (this counts as the first stitch), and always close the round with a sl st in the first stitch. The legs and pot handles are made in continous rounds, so use a stitch marker to keep track :)

Special stitches:

There are two unsusual stitches in this pattern: The bobble stitch, and something I call triple increase, which is nothing more fancy than three sts in the same space :) 

Make the bobble as follows:

*yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops on hook; repeat from * five more times, until you have a total of 7 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all loops at once.  (The bobble will want to pop to the back of your work, and for this pattern that's the whole point :) In other patterns you have to poke the bobble to the front of the work with your crochet hook or something.) Continue crocheting like normal.

The Cauldron:

Make ring, chain 2, 

7 hdc in ring, pull ring closed, sl st in top of chain 2 to join - 8 sts

Inc in each stitch around - 16 sts

*1 hdc, inc* eight times - 24 sts

*2 hdc, inc* eight times - 32 sts

*3 hdc, inc* eight times - 40 sts

*4 hdc, inc* eight times - 48 sts

*5 hdc, inc* eight times - 56 sts

*6 hdc, inc* eight times - 64 sts

Hdc around

*7 hdc, inc* eight times - 72 sts

Hdc around

*8 hdc, inc* eight times - 80 sts

Hdc around for 10 rounds

*8 hdc, dec* eight times - 72 sts

Hdc around

*7 hdc, dec* eight times - 64 sts

*7 hdc, bobble* eight times - 64 sts

*7 hdc, inc* eight times - 72 sts

*8 hdc, tr inc* eight times - 88 sts

Break yarn and weave in end...

Legs:

6 sc in ring

Inc around - 12 sts

*1 sc, inc* six times - 18 sts

Sc around 4 rounds

*1 sc, dec* six times - 12 sts

Sl st in next, break yarn, leave end for sewing...

Make three legs, stuff them lightly and sew them to the bottom of the cauldron, approx. 7 rounds from the center.

Handles:

6 sc in ring

Inc around - 12 sts

Sc around

Dec around - 6 sts

Sc around for 20 rounds

Inc around - 12 sts

Sc around

Dec around - 6 sts

Break yarn, weave end through the front loops of the 6 last sts, pull tight to close the hole...

Make two handles and use yarns end to sew the handles on each side of the pot, approx. 3 rounds from the top.

The lid:

Make ring, chain 2, 

7 hdc in ring, pull ring closed, sl st in top of chain 2 to join - 8 sts

Inc in each stitch around - 16 sts

*1 hdc, inc* eight times - 24 sts

*2 hdc, inc* eight times - 32 sts

*3 hdc, inc* eight times - 40 sts

*4 hdc, inc* eight times - 48 sts

*5 hdc, inc* eight times - 56 sts

*6 hdc, inc* eight times - 64 sts

*7 hdc, inc* eight times - 72 sts

Hdc around

Break yarn, weave in ends and set aside...

Make another part like the first, but do not break the yarn when finished. Place the first piece behind the last and crochet them together with a round of single crochet, stitching through both layers.

Handle:

Make ring, chain 2, 

9 hdc in ring, pull ring closed, sl st in top of chain 2 to join - 10 sts

Inc in each stitch around - 20 sts

*1 hdc, inc* eight times - 30 sts

Break yarn, leave end for sewing... 

Place the circle with the right side down on the middle of the lid and use the yarn end to stitch across the middle of the circle, stitching all the way through the lid.

Then, fold the handle up along the stitched line and sew the edges together to make a half-circle. Weave in the ends, and you're done! :)

Felting:

Put the parts in the washing machine on a normal or quick cycle at 40-60 degrees C. If possible, use a setting with less water as this increases the felting. Put a pair of jeans or towels of matching colors in to help with agitation. You can also skip the spinning cycle at the end if possible, because this can cause creases in the felted fabric that will be hard to fix later. And remember it's better to use lower temperature and felt several times than to over-felt it the first time :)

I felted the cauldron once, and then I stretched and pulled it into the shape I wanted before leaving it to dry properly.When it's dry, it will keep its shape nicely. Enjoy your cauldron and have a happy Halloween! :D

Changes

Don't know if you even noticed, but I made a few changes to the layout and theme of this blog tonight to make it tidier and easier to read. Think I've succeeded :) What do you think? I also added a couple of widgets to the sidebar with links to my Etsy and Ravelry shop, in case anyone should be interested in any of the amigurumi patterns I have for sale. 

Most of the patterns from this blog can be found on Ravelry, so you can upload your photos there, or you can post them on my Facebook page. I'd love to see the things that you people make from my patterns! Just a suggestion :)

Oh, and by the way, I have a new free Halloween pattern coming up in a day or two, so stay tuned! :)

Nesting love birds

Here's a cute, quick and easy Valentine's Day pattern for you, hope you like it :)

What you need:

3.75mm & 4mm crochet hooks

Bulky weight yarn in red, pink and brown

Scraps of orange felt

Two pairs of eyes (8-10mm)

Stuffing

The birds:

With red yarn & 3.75mm hook,

6 sc in ring

6 inc - 12 sts

*1 sc, inc* six times - 18 sts

*2 sc, inc* six times - 24 sts

Sc around 8 rounds

If you're using safety eyes, attach them now. Insert them between rounds 6 and 7, counting up from the edge

*3 sc, inc* six times - 30 sts

Sc around 4 rounds

*3 sc, dec* six times - 24 sts

*2 sc, dec* six times - 18 sts

*1 sc, dec* six times - 12 sts

Stuff the bird

*1 sc, dec* four times - 8 sts

Break yarn, weave end through the front loops of the remaining sts and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in end. 

Make the pink bird like the red. If you want it shorter, like mine, just drop one straight round in the head and one in the body. 

Beaks:

Cut small triangles of felt and glue them to the birds' faces.

Nest:

With brown yarn and 4mm hook,

make ring, chain 3, 11 dc in ring, sl st in top of chain to join - 12 sts

Chain 3, dc in same space as joining, dc inc in each st around, sl st in chain to join - 24 sts

Chain 3, dc inc in next, *dc, dc inc* eleven times - sl st to join - 36 sts

Chain 3, dc in next, dc inc, *2 dc, dc inc* eleven times - 48 sts

Chain 3, *front post dc, back post dc* around, front post dc in last st, sl st in chain to join

Chain 3, dc around

Chain 3, *back post dc, front post dc* around, back post dc in last st, sl st in chain to join

Chain 1, sc around, sl st in chain to join

Break yarn, weave in ends

Place the love birds together in the nest, and they're done :)

Tutorial: Cheap & easy plastic tatting shuttles

Here's a quick tutorial for how to make your own tatting shuttle, if you should ever need one in a hurry :) 

They are not quite like the shuttles you buy in a store, but they do work (I have tested them myself). You might need to get used to using a shuttle like this, because it is just a single "blade" and therefore has no bobbin to hold the thread out of the way while you tat. The thread also tends to get caught in the slits on the sides, but you'll get used to that, too, and soon you learn how to avoid it :) These shuttles can be made in card instead of plastic, but they are probably a lot less durable than the plastic ones.

What you'll need:

A plastic lid or box of some sort (thicker than paper, but thin and soft enough to cut with scissors)

Scrissors

A sharp knife

Hole-punch

Glue (optional - if you want to glue two pieces together to make a thicker shuttle)

The shuttle:

Start with cutting off edges and bends of the plastic you're using - it's easier to cut out the right shapes when you are working with a flat sheet of plastic:

Cut out one or two shapes (or more, depending on how many shuttles you want), in whatever shape or size you prefer :) It's no big deal if the parts are not identical if you intend to glue them together - just hold the pieces together and cut away the edges that stick out. 

When you are happy with your shapes, use the hole-punch to make two holes in the shuttle. Exact placement of the holes is not that important, just make sure you make them far enough from the edge to avoid cracking the plastic.

Next, cut slits in the shuttle from the edge to the holes - these are the grooves needed to wind the thread onto the shuttle, so make sure they are wide enough to fit the thread you plan to use :)

If you think the edges are rough, too pointy or uneven, use the knife to round off the corners and smooth out the edges to prevent the thread from catching and fraying when you use the shuttle.

Finally, glue two (or more) pieces together if you want a sturdier shuttle. I found that a single sheet of plastic was strong enough, but thinner sheets might need to be glued together. Wait for the glue to dry completely, cut/scrape away any edges left by the glue, and the shuttle is ready for use :)

Wind some of your favorite thread onto the shuttle and you're good to go :D

Crocheted strawberry

Great as a summer treat! I have used bulky wool yarn and a 3.75mm crochet hook to make a  fairly large strawberry. Use thinner yarn and a smaller hook for a smaller berry :)

You will need:

* Red & green yarn

* A suitable crochet hook

* A little stuffing

* Needle for sewing

Berry:

With red yarn,

6 sc in ring

*1 sc, inc* three times - 9 sts

Sc around

*2 sc, inc* three times - 12 sts

*3 sc, inc* three times - 15 sts

*4 sc, inc* three times - 18 sts

*5 sc, inc* three times - 21 sts

*6 sc, inc* three times - 24 sts

Sc around

*3 sc, inc* six times - 30 sts

Sc around 2 rounds

*1 sc, dec* ten times - 20 sts

10 dec - 10 sts

Stuff the strawberry

5 dec - 5 sts

Break yarn, weave the yarn end through the last 5 sts and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in end

Leaves on top:

With green yarn,

6 sc in ring, sl st in first sc to close round

*chain 4, trc dec (the same as a trc cluster with 2 trc) in same space, chain 2, sl st in 2nd loop from hook, chain 4, sl st in next sc from first round* repeat five more times to make six leaves

Break yarn, pull the end through to the back and use this to attach the leaves to the top of the strawberry

Make a bunch of these and place them in a pretty bowl to decorate your summer table :)

Crocheted hat

After a few attempts at making the Swedish Olympic hat, I finally gave up and made up a hat pattern of my own. This is the result, hope you like it. I have made both a tight fitting hat and a longer, more floppy beanie style hat. The hat is pretty stretchable and this size will fit most people :)

You will need:

* 8mm crochet hook
* 6.5mm crochet hook (optional, it's for the flower)
* Two or four balls of super bulky yarn, depending on which style you choose to make (I have used DROPS Eskimo)

Hat pattern:

With 8mm hook,

Chain 4, join into a ring

Chain 2, 9 hdc into the ring, sl st in top of chain 2 to close - 10 sts

Chain 2, hdc in same space, hdc inc in each st around, sl st to close - 20 sts

Chain 2, hdc inc in next, *hdc, hdc inc* nine times, sl st to close - 30 sts

Chain 2, hdc in next, hdc inc, *2 hdc, hdc inc* nine times - sl st to close - 40 sts

Chain 2, hdc around, sl st to close - 40 sts

Chain 2, hdc in next 2, hdc inc, *3 hdc, hdc inc* - nine times, sl st to close - 50 - sts

Chain 2, hdc around, sl st to close - 50 sts

Chain 2, hdc in next 8, hdc inc, *9 hdc, hdc inc* four times, sl st to close - 55 sts

Chain 2, hdc around, sl st to close - 55 sts

Repeat the last round seven times for a total of 8 rounds without increase

Chain 1, sc around, sl st to close - 55 sts

Repeat the last round once

Finish off the hat with a round of crab stitch or backwards single crochet. Check out this video tutorial if you're unsure of how to do it.

If you want to make the longer, floppy version of the hat, simply crochet 7 more rounds without increase. Crochet 3 rounds of sc instead of 2 to make the hat more steady. Finish off with a round of crab stitch.

Flower pattern:

With 6.5mm hook,
8 sc in ring, sl st in front loop of 1st sc
Continue working in the front loops only:
*Chain 4, sl st in same st, chain 4, sl st in next st* around - 16 loops
Break yarn, pull the end through to the back

Assembly:

Attach the flower to the hat and weave in all ends. All ready to wear :)