• How To's

    How to do a Double Crochet Decrease or DC2TOG

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    Completed double crochet decrease stitch
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Today I want to share my tutorial for how to do a Double Crochet Decrease, which is also known as the DCDEC, DC2TOG or Double Crochet Two Together Stitch. This stitch is a variation of the Double Crochet Stitch and is regularly used as a way to reduce two Double Crochet stitches to a single Double Crochet Stitch but it can also be paired with other stitches to create an upside down “V”-shaped stitch in a fabric. I’ve got both a photo and video tutorial for us today so let’s grab our hooks and our yarn and let’s learn how to crochet the Double Crochet Decrease Stitch.

    Pin it for later Save

    You can use any hook and yarn combination with this stitch but today I’ll be using a Furls Odyssey 5.5mm crochet hook and a Brava Worsted Weight Yarn from We Crochet. You can mix up your hook and yarn weights to change up the look of this stitch. Using a larger hook with a worsted weight yarn will create a more open look and would be great for bags and summer accessories.

    Check out my How to Crochet the Double Crochet Decrease Stitch video tutorial here:

    Abbreviations:

    • CH = Chain
    • DC = Double Crochet
    • DCDEC = Double Crochet Decrease*
    • DC2TOG = Double Crochet Two Together*
    • ST(s) = Stitch(es)
    • YO = Yarn Over

    **You may see DCDEC or DC2TOG used to describe this same stitch in different patterns. I tend to stick to DCDEC in my own designs but know that if you see DC2TOG in other patterns, they tend to mean the same thing.

    How to Crochet the Double Crochet Decrease Stitch

    Step 1: Yarn over (YO) hook and insert hook into the first stitch (ST) from the row below. YO and pull up a loop. You should have three loops on your hook. YO and pull through two loops on your hook.

    step one of the double crochet decrease
    step two of the DCDEC stitch

    Step 2: YO hook and insert hook into the next ST. YO and pull up a loop. You should have four loops on your hook.

    YO hook and pull through two loops on your hook. You should have 3 loops on your hook.

    step 3 of the DCDEC stitch
    last step of the double crochet decrease tutorial

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this for free.

    Step 3: YO hook and pull through all 3 loops on your hook. DCDEC/DC2TOG completed.

    first completed DCDEC stitch
    completed double crochet decrease stitches

    That’s it! Isn’t that’s so simple? Here are some free crochet patterns on my blog that use the Double Crochet Decrease Stitch so you can practice your new skill:

    Want to learn something else? Check out these other great free crochet tutorials:

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  • Crochet Patterns

    Crochet Owl Lovey Free Pattern

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    Crochet lovey made with this crochet owl lovey free pattern in a flat lay
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Last week, I released the first of a series of free crochet lovey blanket patterns, the My Cuddle Bear Lovey. This series of lovey toys was created for you! I’m always wanting to give you guys what you’re asking for so when many of you were requesting patterns for free crochet lovey blanket patterns, I got straight to work three of them. This weeks’ pattern is my crochet owl lovey free pattern which I’ve named My Baby Cuddle Owl Lovey. If this is your first time working with faux fur yarns, don’t worry. I’ve included some resources for you below to help you find as much succses with working with this yarn as possible.

    This crochet owl lovey free pattern was designed to be super cute, fit a woodland nursery theme, be easily customized and be quick enough to whip up in case you need a last minute baby shower gift. For me, that last one is a biggie. I always think I have lots of time to whip up something great for a baby shower and then next thing I know, the shower is one a day or two away. Heck, you could whip this up the night before, or dare I say, the morning of a baby shower. If you’ve got a couple of days before the shower, pair it with my go-to baby shower blanket pattern, The Timeless Teal Chevron Blanket Pattern and you’ll be set to go with a gorgeous gift that’ll have everyone ooh-ing and aahing at your crochet prowess and they’ll never know you did them in a pinch.

    Don’t Forget to Pin this Crochet Owl Lovey Free Pattern for Later Save

    I LOVE using faux fur yarns to create amigurumi for many reasons, one of which is that you can create beautiful amigurumi projects that don’t even look crocheted. I can’t tell you how many times people have been surprised when I show them a toy I’ve made with faux fur yarn and I tell them it’s crocheted. It’s pretty awesome. The other great thing about working with faux fur yarn is that it’s incredibly forgiving. So if you’re not great at sewing on limbs and you think that seam always looks “ugly” that’s not a concern with faux fur yarn. The fur hides it all my friend! Ready to get those hooks into some faux fur? Check out my tips and tricks for using faux fur yarns in the video below (or find the write up HERE) so you can hit the ground running. If you’re looking to give faux fur yarns a try, I recommend using Fable Fur from WeCrochet (found HERE). It’s my favourite faux fur yarn as it has a thick strap on the back of the yarn which helps you feel the stitches, even if you can’t see them.

    Other Free Crochet Patterns Using Faux Fur Yarns:

    If you haven’t seen my other faux fur yarn crochet patterns that I’ve published so far, check them out here:

    crochet security blanket made with this crochet owl lovey free pattern

    Skill Level:

    • Easy


    Terminology:

    • U.S. Terminology

    Supplies:

    If you’re planning on buying the materials for this project, please consider doing so through this affiliate link (or the links in the supply list). It helps to support the blog at zero cost to you and allows me to continue to bring you great free crochet patterns like this one.

    Abbreviations:


    Finished Size:     

    • Owl: Approximately 3.5” tall
    • Blanket Size: 12” x 12”

    Gauge: 

    • Owl: 4 sts x 5.5 rows = 2”
    • Granny Square Blanket: 16 sts x 8 rows = 4”


    Notes:

    • Gauge is not vital to project as long as the same tension is maintained throughout the project and there are no holes that stuffing can be seen through in the bear parts.  Yarn amounts are based on the gauge given so not matching gauge may affect the amount of yarn needed for the project. 
    • A 5.5mm crochet hook is recommended for the project but if you find you are unable to feel your stitches, you can adjust your hook until you can more easily feel your stitches to more easily know where to place your stitches.  This may however affect your gauge and therefore, the amount of yarn needed. 
    • The Owl body is worked in continuous rounds (unless stated otherwise).  Do not join at the end of the row, unless indicated.  A stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the round.
    • All pieces made in the Fable Fur are worked and sewn onto the project with the wrong side facing out to show the better-looking side of the fur. 
    • The CH 3 at the beginning of each round in the granny square blanket counts as a DC.
    • The CH 2 spaces in the corners of the blanket are not included in the stitch count for each row.

    You can purchase an inexpensive ad-free PDF version of this crochet owl lovey free pattern HERE on Ravelry and HERE on Etsy.

    baby crochet owl on a blue crochet security blanket

    Crochet Owl Lovey Free Pattern – My Baby Cuddle Owl Lovey

    Head:

    Round 1: Using Fable Fur and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Round 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
    Round 3: (SC, SCINC) x 6 (18)
    Rounds 4 – 8:     SC around (18) – Place safety eyes in Row 4 with 2 sts between them
    Start adding stuffing, adding a bit more as you work.
    Round 9: (SC 1, SCDEC) x 6 (12)
    Round 10: (SCDEC) x 6 (6)
    FO leaving a long tail to sew up the hole.  Add a bit more stuffing and sew up the hole.  Weave in ends.

    crochet owl made with faux fur cupped in hands

    Wings (make 2):

    Round 1: Using Fable Fur and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Pull the circle tight but do not join. FO, leaving a long tail and sew onto either side of the bird, lining the wings up with the eyes.

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this for free.

    Beak:


    Round 1: Using Brava Worsted in Cobblestone Heather and a 3.5mm hook, make a MC.  CH 3 and DC 3 into the MC. (3)
    Turn and join last ST to the top of the CH 3 with a SL ST.  FO leaving a long tail to sew onto the face. Using the tail from the creation of the MC, sew the CH 3 to the last DC to close up the back of the beak.  Sew onto face between the eyes and weave in ends.

    There is a video tutorial available on my YouTube Channel for the beak. You can check it out here:

    crochet owl beak tutorial image 1
    crochet owl beak tutorial image 2
    crochet owl beak tutorial image 3
    crochet owl beak tutorial image 4
    crochet owl beak tutorial image 5

    Feet:


    Row 1:     Using 3.5mm hook and Brava Worsted yarn in Cobblestone Heather, CH 3. In 2nd CH from hook, SC.  SC in next ST. Turn. (2)
    Row 2: CH 1. SC in each ST. Turn. (2)
    Row 3:  CH 1. SCINC in each ST. Turn. (4)
    Row 4: CH 4. SL ST in the 2nd CH from the hook.  SL ST 2. SL ST in the next SC of Row 3.  CH 4. SL ST in the 2nd CH from the hook.  SL ST 2. SL ST in the next SC of Row 3. CH 4, SL ST in the 2nd CH from the hook.  SL ST 2. SL ST in the last SC of Row 3.  SL ST down the side of the foot, placing a SL ST in the end of each row. 
    FO leaving a long tail to sew onto body.  Sew the feet onto the front of the body, near the bottom pointing outwards at a slight angle.

    There is a video tutorial available on my YouTube Channel for the feet. You can check it out here:

    crochet owl foot used in this crochet owl lovey free pattern

    Blanket:

    Round 1: Using Brava Worsted in Celestial, CH 4 and join last CH to the first CH with a SL ST to form a ring.  CH 3 (counts as first DC here and throughout), DC 2, CH 2, *DC 3 into the ring, CH 2* repeat instructions in the **3 times. Join last ST to the top of the first ST (not the CH 3) with a SL ST (from here on out referred to only as Join). (12)
    Round 2: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 3* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP.  Join. (28)
    Round 3: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 3, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 7* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 2.  Join. (44)
    Round 4 CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 5, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 11* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 4.  Join. (60)
    Round 5: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 7, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 15* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 6.  Join. (76)
    Round 6: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 9, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 19* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 8.  Join. (92)
    Round 7: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 11, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 23* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 10.  Join. (108)
    Round 8: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 13, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 27* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 12.  Join. (124)

    sample made with this crochet owl lovey free pattern


    Round 9: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 15, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 31* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 14.  Join. (140)
    Change to Dove Heather
    Round 10: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 17, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 35* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 16.  Join. (156)
    Round 11: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 19, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 39* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 18.  Join. (172)
    Change to Celestial
    Round 12: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 21, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 43* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 20.  Join. (188)FO and weave in ends.

    Assembling Your Crochet Owl Lovey:

    Position the head with the arms already sewn to it in the center of the blanket, facing one of the corners.  Using a length of Celestial, sew the blanket to the bottom of the head in a circle approximately 1.5 – 2” in diameter.  FO and weave in ends.

    That’s it! I hope you enjoyed this crochet owl lovey free pattern! Stay tuned for another free crochet lovey pattern next week.

    Disclaimer:

    Feel free to sell the item created by this pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://www.theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

    I’d love to see your finished items!  Please share your finished makes by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheLoopyLamb
    Instagram:      www.instagram.com/TheLoopyLamb
    YouTube: The Loopy Lamb YouTube Channel
    Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/theloopylamb
    Newsletter: Sign up for my newsletter!

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  • Crochet Book Reviews

    Mini Amigurumi Animals Review

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    Cover of Mini Amigurumi Animals by Sarah Abbondio in a flat lay with crochet tools
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Today I have a new book to share with you all called Mini Amigurumi Animals: 26 Tiny Creatures to Crochet by Sarah Abbondio. This book was just recently released by Search Press and I was excited to take a look at it and share my thoughts with you.

    Thanks to Search Press, they have provided us with a copy of the book to giveaway to one lucky winner so keep reading to learn you you can possibly win a copy of Mini Amigurumi Animals by Sarah Abbondio for yourself.

    This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

    Pin this Mini Amigurumi Animals Review for later SAVE

    Mini Amigurumi Animals has a lovely hard cover and a fun and colourful image on the front. As the title of the book suggests, there are 26 mini amigurumi project patterns contained in the book. The patterns are:

    • Rabbit
    • Dog
    • Hedgehog
    • Polar Bear
    • Sloth
    • Camel
    • Cat
    • Pig
    • Horse
    • Cow
    • Koala
    • Monkey
    • Leopard
    • Giraffe
    • Elk
    • Raccoon
    • Badger
    • Bear
    • Lion
    • Rhinoceros
    • Panda
    • Elephant
    • Fox
    • Mole
    • Squirrel
    • Mouse
    mini amigurumi animals lined up

    The patterns in Mini Amigurumi Animals are written in the UK terminology but a conversion chart is included in the beginning of the book to assist you should you not be familiar with these conversions already. The reference section at the beginning of the book walks you through the basic stitches used in the book but not much else. There were no extra tips or instructions on amigurumi assembly or finishing techniques were included. This would have been a really nice touch and made this book more accessible for crocheters new to amigurumi. As is, I’d say this book would be best suited for crocheters already familiar with amigurumi and how to assemble them, embroider noses etc.

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this for free.

    three crochet animals stacked in a pyramid

    The patterns use either fingering weight or DK weight cotton yarn and a 2.5mm crochet hook. Each animal, when made with the recommended yarn size, is approximately 2 inches or 6 centimeters tall. There was a note that since the patterns use a small amount of yarn, that these patterns are good for “odds and ends” yarns. I thought that was great but no yardage or actual yarn brand information is included anywhere in the book. Without that, I may not feel really confident in whether I had enough yarn on hand using scraps or odds and ends. The only yan information incuded is that the designer used balls of cotton yarn with between 174 – 185 yards per ball so I guess if you have at least 185 yards in your desired colours, you’d be good to go.

    The toys in Mini Amigurumi Animals are cute and probably some of the tidiest looking mini amigurumi projects that I’ve ever seen. If mini amigurumi projects aren’t your thing, you can always substitute a larger yarn and a larger hook size to make them bigger.

    mini amigurumi moose

    Each pattern is accompanied by at least one clear photo of the project but each pattern is brief and to the point with no additional support photos to guide you through the process. The patterns are clear and easy to understand.

    If you’re looking for a cute mini amigurumi resource then you may be interested in checking out this book as it is chock full of cute mini creatures. If you’re you’re an experienced amigurumi maker that likes a book that just cuts to the chase and doesn’t need all the added supports, then this may be a book you’ll want to add to your crochet library.

    If you’re interested in grabbing a copy of Mini Amigurumi Animals by Sarah Abbondio, you can check it out HERE.

    4 tiny crochet animals from the book being reviewed

    If you enjoy crochet pattern books, you can check out some more of my crochet book reviews on my blog:

    Giveaway!

    Thanks to Search Press, I have a copy of the book Mini Amigurumi Animals by Sarah Abbondio to giveaway to one lucky winner!

    The Mini Amigurumi Animals Giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to participants in the U.S., Canada and U.K. and ends Friday, January 22nd, 2021 at 11:45pm Eastern Standard time.

    To enter, use the King Sumo form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. Only the Email option is mandatory – all other tasks are optional, for bonus entries only. Please note that by entering your email below, you are subscribing to The Loopy Lamb email list. We will not send you spam, just notifications about new free crochet patterns, news and giveaways.

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  • How To's

    How to Do The Russian Join Step-by-Step Tutorial

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    a close up image of a russian join completed with this tutorial
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Getting near the end of your yarn and all you can think about is how you’re going to have to weave in yet ANOTHER end? Friend, I’m right there with you. Sometimes, particularly when I’m working on a larger project, I will do whatever it takes to avoid having any unnecessary ends to weave in. Enter: the Russian Join. Today I’m going to teach you how to do the Russian Join to help you join your ends together so you have less ends to weave in to your project.

    Don’t Forget to Pin this Russian Join Tutorial for Later Save


    The Russian Join is a great way to join yarns together and avoid extra ends to weave in. It can be used for adding a new skein or changing colours. This can be done for both knitting and crocheting and works best with two yarns of the same weight. Sounds great, right? Here’s how to do it:

    To do the Russian Join, you’ll need:

    • two different yarns (the new yarn you want to attach to your project and the working yarn attached to your project)
    • a tapestry or darning needle

    Watch my video tutorial on how to do the Russian Join here:

    1. Thread a tapestry needle with the new yarn that you want to attach and leave a tail a few inches long.
    tapestry threaded onto a strand of yarn, next to a pair of scissors

    2. Turn the needle back towards the strand of yarn and insert it into the plies. Thread the needle through the plies for about 2 – 3 inches (adjust this to be longer for slippery yarns). Keep the yarn tail inside the plies of the yarn. Make sure you keep a small loop near the top – the smaller the better. I like to put a stitch marker here to help make sure I don’t accidentally lose my loop.

    Step 1 of how to do the russian join
    tapestry needle being fed through a strand of yarn.

    3. Pull the needle all the way through and remove the needle from the thread. It will look bunched up but when you smoothe it out, it will cover the rest of/most of the tail. If your loop is too big, tug on the tail to tighten it up. Trim any excess.

    hands manipulating yarn into the russian join
    yarn bunched up on itself, holding a stitch marker

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this for free.

    scissors cutting the end of yarn from the first half of the russian join.

    4. Take your working yarn (ensuring you have a generous tail) and thread it onto the needle, leaving a tail of a few inches. Insert the needle through the small loop at the top of the new yarn that you worked through and insert it back into itself. You can remove your stitch marker now (if you used one).

    tapestry needle being fed through the yarn

    final step of the tutorial, hands holding yarn

    5. Pull the needle all the way through and remove the needle from the thread. It will look bunched up but when you smoothe it out, it will cover the rest of the tail. If your loop is too big, tug on the tail to tighten it up. Trim any excess.

    completed russian join

    And there you have it. A completed Russian Join.

    A word of caution: Although I’ve used this technique successfully many times with a variety of yarns I will say that it doesn’t work with all yarn types. There are some yarns that may look noticably thicker so you’ll have to use your discretion on whether this technique will work for your project.
    For the majority of the yarns I have used this with in the past, it hasn’t been very noticeable and allows me to keep working on my project after only a momentary pause to work the join. I would not recommend using this technique with roving yarns or yarns have have really fine strands to make up a thicker ply like, Caron X Pantone Yarns or as the results I had were messy and too noticeable in my work.

    I hope you enjoyed learning how to do the Russian Join. If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you. Do you have another favourite way to join your yarn or a way you’d like me to demonstrate here? Let me know your thoughts below.

    While you’re here, check out these tutorials and learn something new:

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  • Crochet Patterns

    Teddy Bear Lovey Free Crochet Pattern

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    Teddy Bear Lovey made with this free crochet pattern in a flat lay with crochet accessories
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    I’ve been getting requests from many of you for some lovey toy patterns and I’m happy to say that I have a teddy bear lovey free crochet pattern to share with you all today. My Cuddle Bear Lovey comes with two different blanket types that you can choose from for your toy: a striped blanket made with worsted weight yarn and another blanket made entirely with faux fur yarn. The faux fur yarn version is so soft and lushious that I kind of want one for me. If this is your first time working with faux fur yarns, I’ll include some resources here as well to help you be successful when working with faux fur yarns.

    Don’t Forget to Pin this Teddy Bear Lovey Free Crochet Pattern for Later Save

    Using faux fur yarns to make amigurumi can be intimidating for some people. I get it. I used to be really nervous about trying it but once I actually gave it a try I fell head over heels for working with it. If this is your first time using faux fur yarns, this teddy bear lovey free crochet pattern is a great pattern to finally give it a try. The bear is small and quick to make so it’s not a huge committment in terms of time or resources. Faux fur yarn is incredibly forgiving so if you don’t have the tidiest seaming when putting your teddy bear lovey, no one can tell. The fur hides it all and still looks great! Check out my tips and tricks for using faux fur yarns in the video below (or find the write up HERE) so you can hit the ground running. If you’re looking to give faux fur yarns a try, I recommend using Fable Fur from WeCrochet (found HERE). It’s my favourite faux fur yarn as it has a thick strap on the back of the yarn which helps you feel the stitches, even if you can’t see them.

    Other Free Crochet Patterns Using Faux Fur Yarns:

    If you haven’t seen my other faux fur yarn crochet patterns that I’ve published so far, check them out here:

    Polar bear baby lovey in a flat lay with a plant, crochet hook and scissor

    Skill Level:

    • Easy


    Terminology:

    • U.S. Terminology

    Supplies for Bear with Fur Blanket:

    two amigurumi bears turned into lovey toys in a flat lay next to eachother.

    Supplies for Bear with Granny Square Blanket:

    If you’re planning on buying the materials for this project, please consider doing so through this affiliate link. It helps to support the blog at zero cost to you and allows me to continue to bring you great free crochet patterns like this one.

    Abbreviations:


    Finished Size:     

    • Bear Head: Approximately 3.5” tall
    • Blanket Size (Both Versions): 12” x 12”

    Gauge: 

    • Bear Head & Arms: 4 sts x 5.5 rows = 2”
    • Fur Blanket: 2 sts x 2 rows = 2”
    • Granny Square Blanket: 16 sts x 8 rows = 4”


    Notes:

    • Gauge is not vital to project as long as the same tension is maintained throughout the project and there are no holes that stuffing can be seen through in the bear parts.  Yarn amounts are based on the gauge given so not matching gauge may affect the amount of yarn needed for the project. 
    • A 5.5mm and 8.0mm crochet hooks are recommended for the faux fur portions of the project but if you find you are unable to feel your stitches with the fur, you can adjust your hook until you can more easily feel your stitches to know where to place your stitches.  This may however affect your gauge and therefore, the amount of yarn needed. 
    • The Bear head, ears, nose and arms are worked in continuous rounds (unless stated otherwise).  Do not join at the end of the row, unless indicated.  A stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the round.
    • All pieces made in the Fable Fur are worked and sewn onto the project with the wrong side facing out to show the better-looking side of the fur. 
    • The CH 3 at the beginning of each round in the granny square blanket counts as a DC.
    • The CH 2 spaces in the corners of the blanket are not included in the stitch count for each row.

    You can purchase an inexpensive ad-free PDF version of this pattern HERE on Ravelry and HERE on Etsy.

    Teddy Bear Lovey Free Crochet Pattern

    close up image of an amigurumi bear head made with faux fur yarn

    Head

    Round 1: Using Fable Fur and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Round 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
    Round 3: (SC, SCINC) x 6 (18)
    Rounds 4 – 8:     SC around (18) – Place safety eyes in Row 4 with 2 sts between them
    Start adding stuffing, adding a bit more as you work.
    Round 9: (SC 1, SCDEC) x 6 (12)
    Round 10: (SCDEC) x 6 (6)
    FO leaving a long tail to sew up the hole.  Add a bit more stuffing and sew up the hole.  Weave in ends.

    Nose

    Round 1: Using Fable Fur and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Rounds 2 – 3: SC around (6)
    Join last ST for the first ST with a SL ST. FO, leaving a long tail and sew onto the face of the bear.  Put safety nose through the center of the MC of the nose, add a bit of stuffing and sew onto the face just below the eyes. 

    Teddy Bear Lovey with a fur blanket in a flat lay

    Ears (Make 2):

    Round 1: Using Fable Fur and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Join the last ST to the first ST with a SL ST.  FO leaving a long tail to sew onto the head.  Sew each ear onto the head.

    Arms (Make Two)

    Round 1: Using Fable Fur and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Rounds 2 – 7: SC around (6)
    FO leaving a long tail to sew onto body.  Do NOT stuff.  Sew onto either side of the bottom, center-point of the head.

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this for free.

    Fur Blanket

    Row 1: Using Fable Fur and 8.0mm hook, CH 24.  SC in the 2nd CH from the hook and each CH across (23)
    Rows 2 – 24: CH 1 and turn.  SC across. (23)
    FO and weave in ends.

    Teddy Bear Lovey in a flay lay with a crochet hook and scissors

    Striped Blanket

    Round 1: Using Brava Worsted in Cornflower, CH 4 and join last CH to the first CH with a SL ST to form a ring.  CH 3 (counts as first DC here and throughout), DC 2, CH 2, *DC 3 into the ring, CH 2* repeat instructions in the **3 times. Join last ST to the top of the first ST (not the CH 3) with a SL ST (from here on out referred to only as Join). (12)
    Round 2: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 3* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP.  Join. (28)
    Round 3: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 3, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 7* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 2.  Join. (44)
    Round 4 CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 5, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 11* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 4.  Join. (60)
    Change to White
    Round 5: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 7, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 15* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 6.  Join. (76)
    Round 6: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 9, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 19* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 8.  Join. (92)

    polar bear lovey cupped in a woman's hands


    Change to Cornflower
    Round 7: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 11, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 23* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 10.  Join. (108)
    Round 8: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 13, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 27* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 12.  Join. (124)
    Change to White
    Round 9: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 15, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 31* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 14.  Join. (140)
    Round 10: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 17, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 35* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 16.  Join. (156)
    Change to Cornflower
    Round 11: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 19, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 39* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 18.  Join. (172)Round 12: CH 3, DC in same ST. DC 21, *(DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 43* repeat instructions in ** 3 times, (DC 2, CH 2, DC 2) in the next CH SP, DC 20.  Join. (188)FO and weave in ends.

    Assembly:

    Position the head with the arms already sewn to it in the center of the blanket, facing one of the corners.  Using a length of yarn that matches the blanket you chose to make, sew the blanket to the bottom of the head in a circle approximately 1.5 – 2” in diameter.  FO and weave in ends.

    That’s it! I hope you enjoyed this teddy bear lovey free crochet pattern! I’d love to see your finished makes so if you’re sharing it on Instagram, don’t forget to tag me or use the hashtag #theloopylamb.

    Disclaimer:

    Feel free to sell the teddy bear lovey created with this free crochet pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://www.theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

    I’d love to see your finished items!  Please share your finished makes by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheLoopyLamb
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  • Crochet Book Reviews

    Lovable Amigurumi Toys by Mari-Liis Lille Review

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    Lovable Amigurumi Toys next to a crochet hook with a text overlay indicating this is a crochet book review
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    This week I checked out Lovable Amigurumi Toys: 15 Doll Crochet Projects by Mari-Liis Lille (Lilleliis) and I’m going to share my review with you so you know what it’s all about.

    Thank you to Meteoor Books who provided this book to me free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.

    Pin it for later Save

    Lovable Amigurumi Toys has a lovely hard cover but the colours on the cover wouldn’t have made me excited to pick this up off the shelf in a store. With muted orange and greys, unless this book was sitting directly at eye level it would have unfortunately, been by-passed. It actually kind of reminded me of a toned down version of a For Dummies Guide book. This is a shame because this book contains some really cute toy projects. It’s a perfect example of not to judge a book by it’s cover.

    Patterns Included in Lovable Amigurumi Toys

    There are 15 doll crochet patterns included in Lovable Amigurumi Toys. The toys included are:

    • Sebastian – a little boy wearing a hat and glasses
    • Baby Bumblebee – a sleeping baby wearing a bee outfit
    • Arabella – a female doll with a rufflely top
    • Bianka – A female doll with braided pigtails
    • Mighty Robot – a toy robot
    • Little Ella – a female doll with large braided pigtails and a pixie-style hat
    • Jakob the Brave Soldier – a male doll in a soldier’s costume
    • Katarina the Bllerina – a sweet female ballerina doll
    • Ronja the Troll Girl – a troll doll with tall hair
    • Martin the Light-Hearted Snowman – a cute snowman with a hat and scarf
    • Angel Doll – female doll with large braided pigtails and wings
    • Baby Leo – a baby doll wearing a diaper
    • Froggy – a female doll wearing a frog suit
    • Rag Doll Annie – a femal doll with large pigtails
    • Jester the Christmas Gnome – a male doll that looks similar to a Christmas elf
    Picture of the patterns found within the book being reviewed

    The reference section for Lovable Amigurumi Toys is prominently at the front of the book and is incredibly thorough and well done. It’s got clear, steo-by-step photos for all the basic stitches used but it also walks you through crocheting in a spirl, changing colours, attaching limbs, making hair and more. It was really comprehensive and well executed.

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this for free.

    Materials Used in Lovable Amigurumi Toys

    Most of the projects in Lovable Amigurumi Toys use light worsted or worsted weight cotton for the bulk of the project. Fingering weight, sport and super bulky weight. yarns are used for various projects for making hair. The hook size used most often in the book is 3.0mm (C). Most of the yarns used in the book are accessible online or through a local yarn store. I’ve never seen the yarns used in this book at a big box store like Michaels or Walmart so they may be a little harder to source if you aren’t willing to shop online.

    Pattern image of amigurumi toy wearing a hat and glasses

    The patterns themselves were very clear and simple to follow. Each pattern has a little description giving the toys a personality to help bring them to life which I thought was a cute addition. The patterns in the book are given skill levels of easy, intermediate and advanced but personally, I’d recommend this book for intermediate level crocheters or crocheters that have a lot of experience with amigurumi.

    The one thing I found missing in the book is gauge information and yardage. Many of the patterns have hair caps or pieces that fit over the heads of your toys so to have the gauge information or at least a tip about making the hair caps fit was disappointing. I recently made a doll for a friend (from a different book) and I made the head and the hair cap on two separate days. No gauge information was included so I just went with it. Can you guess what happened? The hair cap didn’t fit. My gauge had changed and there was no way it was fitting on that doll so I had to make another one. Not having the yardarge or gauge can potentially leave you disappointed by having something like the hair cap not fitting or not having the right amount of yarn. The doll sizes mean nothing without the gauge information because I have no way of ensuring that my doll will be the exact same size. If that isn’t a big deal to you, then that’s fine. Just something I noticed and wanted to mention.

    Ragdoll amigurumi pattern from Lovable Amigurumi Toys

    Overall this book is a sweet little amigurumi pattern book that has a fun mix of different projects in it. Although it has some things missing that I would consider standard inclusions for a pattern book, the patterns are solid and it comes with a great resource section.

    If you are interested in checking out Lovable Amigurumi Toys by Mari-Liis Lille you can find it HERE.

    Find Mari-Liis Lille on Instagram HERE.

    If you enjoy crochet pattern books, you can check out some more of my crochet book reviews on my blog:

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  • Pattern Round Up

    Free Crochet Shawl with Pockets Pattern Round Up

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    Collage of free crochet shawl with pockets pattern images
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Crochet shawls with pockets have been all the rage lately and it’s easy to understand why. Something that keeps you warm and it has pockets? It’s a no-brainer. Today I’ve gathered up some of the best crochet shawl with pockets patterns that are available for free. I’ve also included some crochet scarves with pockets patterns as well.

    Pin it for later Save

    This Calla Lily Pocket Shawl is available for free from the All About Ami Website. Made with a DK weight yarn, it’s light enough to be worn in all seasons.

    woman modelling a crochet shawl with pockets in the woods.

    The Marjorie Pocket Scarf from Nana’s Crafty Home just screams texture. A combination of bright colours and textured stitches, really make this crochet shawl with pockets pop.

    Textured crochet shawl with pockets being worn by a model

    The Tweedy Pocket Scarf by The Loopy Lamb is a great project for beginners that wants to make a scarf or shawl with pockets. I’ve added zippers to the pockets so you can keep your valueables safe while you’re out and about.

    Close up image of the pockets on the Tweedy Scarf with furls crochet hooks sticking out of the pocket.

    The Harvest Pocket Shawl by Winding Road Crochet is a beautiful pocket shawl made with a bulky weight yarn so it should work up really quickly.

    Quick and easy pocket shawl from winding road crochet

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this for free.

    The Ametrine Hooded Pocket Scarf by Oombawka Design is also made with a bulky weight yarn and makes a quick and easy winter accessory project.

    woman in the forest wearing a pocket scarf made with bulky weight yarn

    The Pine Gap Pocket Shawl from Stitching Together is constructed of large granny squares to make a beautiful, unique crochet shawl with pockets.

    Crochet Shawl with pockets made from granny sqaures being modelled.

    The Alpine Pocket Scarf Pattern from Moogly is made with Red Heart Heat Wave yarn so it’s bound to keep you extra toasty.

    Alpine stitch pocket scarf pattern from Moogly and Yarnspirations

    The Holly Jolly Pocket Shawl from Fiber Flux is a quick and easy make using the C2C technique, adorned with those fabulous tassels.

    C2C Pocket Shawl pattern on a mannequin

    The Simple Pocket Scarf from The Purple Poncho is made with a velvet yarn and has video tutorials to assist you with this make.

    Simple Pocket Scarf from The Purple Poncho

    The Easy Shawl with Pockets from Easy Crochet uses a simple stitch making it perfect for beginners.

    Easy shawl with pocket pattern from Easy Crochet

    I hope you have enjoyed this free crochet poncho pattern round up! Check out some of my other free crochet pattern round ups:

    Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see all my newest content, behind the scenes sneak peeks and be the first to know when I’m hosting giveaways.

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheLoopyLamb
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    Newsletter: Sign up for my newsletter!

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  • Crochet Book Reviews,  Product Reviews

    Winter Warmers Honeycomb Set Pattern Review

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    Woman modelling the Winter Warmers Honeycomb Set being reviewed
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Thanks to our friends at Annie’s Craft Store, I have at copy of the Winter Warmers Honeycomb Set pattern by Britt Schiesing to giveaway to one lucky winner. Before we get to the giveaway, I’ll let you know a bit more about the pattern you can enter to win.

    Pin this for later HERE.

    Materials used in the Winter Warmers Honeycomb Set Pattern:

    • Yarn: This pattern uses 5 balls of Berroco Medina light weight (DK/size 3) cotton/acrylic/vicose yarn (3.5oz/295yds/100g per ball)
    • Hooks: 3.75mm and 3.5 mm crochet hooks
    • Tapestry Needle

    Sizes Included:

    The pattern incluses the following sizes:

    • Hat: 17/5 (19, 20.5)” in circumference x 9.5″ tall (small, medium and large)
    • Mitts: 7.5″ in circumference x 8.5″ tall (one size)
    • Scarf: 6.5″ wide x 72″ long (one size)

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this one skein crochet hat pattern for free.

    This pattern is appropriate for intermediate level crocheters.

    If you want to purchase a copy of the Winter Warmers Honeycomb Set Pattern by Britt Schmiesing, you can check it out HERE.

    If you enjoy crochet pattern books, you can check out some more of my crochet book reviews on my blog:

    Winter Warmers Honeycomb Set Pattern Giveaway

    Thanks to Annie’s Craft Store, I have a PDF copy of the Winter Warmers Honeycomb Set Pattern by Britt Schmiesing to giveaway to one lucky winner!

    This pattern giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (except where void by law) and ends Tuesday, January 5, 2020 at 11:45pm Eastern Standard time.

    To enter, use the King Sumo form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. Only the Email option is mandatory – all other tasks are optional, for bonus entries only. Please note that by entering your email below, you are subscribing to The Loopy Lamb email list. We will not send you spam, just notifications about new free crochet patterns, news and giveaways.

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  • Crochet Patterns

    One Skein Crochet Hat Pattern – Into the Fade

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    Two hats in a flat lay that were made with this free one skein crochet hat pattern
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    I love a good one skein crochet hat pattern. They’re generally quick, easy and only one skein of yarn is needed which means I can sometimes use up that stray ball of yarn just hanging out in my stash that I’m not sure what to do with. When I figured out that I could get a hat in two different sizes from a single skein of Chroma Twist Worsted, I had to go for it. This week I’m sharing a new one skein crochet hat pattern which I’ve named Into the Fade. It’s a quick and simple project to work up and each size uses a single skein of We Crochet’s Chroma Twist Worsted Weight yarn. It’s available in two different sizes: Adult Medium and Adult Large. This is a gender neutral hat, meaning that it can be worn by anyone. Add a pom-pom or not, whatever your preference is.

    Don’t Forget to Pin this Free One Skein Crochet Pattern for Later Save

    I’ve named this project Into the Fade because of the beautiful way that the Chroma Twist Worsted yarn fades from one colour to the next throughout the pattern. It gives it a gorgeous ombre effect that’s to die for. I didn’t cut my yarn or make deliberate colour changes like I do in my Timeless Teal Chevron Blanket or my Tranquil Tides Anniversary Cake Blanket patterns. I just let the colour changes happen. They were so subtle I didn’t feel the need to make those extra cuts to get a prefect finish. I did a full review of We Crochet’s Chroma Twist Worsted yarn not long ago. Check out the full review of it HERE.

    I used two different colourways for my samples: Narwal (the teal) and Wednesday (the black/grey combo). Both colourways had great colour changes and although teals are my favourite colours, Wednesday absolutely stole my heart on this one. Wednesday had the most subtle colour changes of the two colourways and I am beyond pleased with how it worked up. That fade from black to light grey is ombre perfection. I would love to get this colour way in a giant-sized ball with super long colour changes and make a duster sweater. I think that would be incredible.

    Here are some other free crochet hat patterns available here on my blog:

    Adult small version of a hat made with this One Skein Crochet Hat Pattern

    Skill Level:

    • Intermediate


    Terminology:

    • U.S. Terminology

    Supplies:

    If you’re planning on buying the materials for this project, please consider doing so through this affiliate link. It helps to support the blog at zero cost to you and allows me to continue to bring you great free crochet patterns like this one.

    Abbreviations:

    • CH = Chain
    • ST = Stitch
    • SL ST = Slip Stitch
    • SK = Skip
    • SC = Single Crochet
    • SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease
    • HDC = Half Double Crochet
    • HDCDEC = Half Double Crochet Decrease
    • DC = Double Crochet
    • DC2TOG = Double Crochet Two Stitches Together in the Same Stitch
    • FO = Finish Off


    Special Stitches:

    • Half Double Crochet in the third loop (of a Half Double Crochet Stitch)/Camel Stitch:  Yarn over and insert your hook into the third loop on the back of the indicated HDC stitch.  Yarn over, pull up a loop.  Three loops on hook.  Yarn over and pull through all three loops.  Stitch completed. 

    • Single Crochet in the third loop (of a Half Double Crochet Stitch): Insert hook into the third loop of the indicated stitch.  Yarn over and pull up a loop.  Two loops on hook.  Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.  Stitch completed.


    Finished Size:

    • Adult Medium: 8.5” tall by 9” wide to fit 20 – 22” head circumference.
    • Adult Large: 8.75” tall by 9.5” wide to fit 22 – 24” head circumference.


    Gauge:

    • Hat Body: 18 sts x 16.5 rows = 4 inches in pattern stitch (Rows 1 – 4)
    • Band: 6 sts x 7 rows = 1.25 inches


    Notes:

    • This beanie is designed to fit snuggly against the head.
    • CH 3’s count as the first DC of the round unless otherwise noted.

    Get an ad-free PDF version of the Into the Fade One Skein Crochet Hat Pattern HERE on Ravelry or HERE on Etsy.

    Band (For Both Sizes)


    Using 5.0mm hook, CH 7. 
    Row 1: SC in 2nd CH from hook. SC 4. SC in last ST, under both loops. CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 2:  SC in same ST.  SC 4 in BLO.  SC in last ST, under both loops.  CH 1 and turn. (6)

    Repeat row two until your band is approximately 18.5” long (Adult Medium Size) and 19.5” long (Adult Large Size) when slightly stretched.  You can make the band a little shorter or longer than that as needed.  When completed, fold the band in half and SL ST the two sides together.  Turn the piece so the seam is on the inside and the right side is facing you.  Do NOT finish off.  Continue on with Hat Body.

    Woman modelling the hat made with this One Skein Crochet Hat Pattern in Narwhal


    Hat Body     (For Adult Medium): 


    Using 5.5mm hook
    Row 1:     CH 1.  SC 72 evenly around the top of the band.  Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST. (From here on out referred to as “join”.) (72)
    Row 2: CH 3 (Counts as first DC, here and throughout), DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row. Join last ST to the top of the CH 3 with a SL ST (From here on out referred to as “join”). (72)
    Row 3: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 4: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (For a cleaner join, remove hook from working loop and insert from back to front through the first HDC of the round.  Grab the working loop and pull it through to the back of the first ST.) (72)
    Row 5: CH 1. SC in the 3rd loop of the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 6: CH 3, DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row. Join. (72)
    Row 7: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 8: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 9: CH 1. SC in the 3rd loop of the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 10: CH 3, DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row.  Join. (72)
    Row 11: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 12: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 13: CH 1. SC in the 3rd loop of the first ST and each ST around. Join.  (72)
    Row 14: CH 3, DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row.  Join. (72)
    Row 15: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around.  Join. (72)
    Row 16: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (72)
    Row 17: CH 1. Working in the third loop, (SCDEC, SC 10) x 6.  Join. (66)
    Row 18: CH 3, DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat until end of row. Join. (66)

    If you would like to support my blog, you can do so by doing your regular shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through my Amazon link, which in turn helps to support the blog so I can keep bringing you patterns and great content like this one skein crochet hat pattern for free.


    Row 19: CH 1. (SCDEC, SC 9) x 6. Join. (60)
    Row 20: CH 1. (HDCDEC, HDC 8) x 6. Join. (54)
    Row 21: CH 1. Working in the third loop, (SCDEC, SC 7) x 6.  Join. (48)
    Row 22: CH 3, (SK 1, DC 2 in the next ST) x 3, *SK 1, DC2TOG in the next ST, (SK 1, DC 2 in the next ST) x 3*   repeat instructions in ** until end of row. Join. (42)
    Row 23: CH 1. (SCDEC, SC 5) x 6.  Join.  (36)
    Row 24: CH 1. (HDCDEC, HDC 4) x 6. Join.  (30)
    Row 25: CH 1. Working in the third loop, (SCDEC, SC 3) x 6.  Join. (24)
    Row 26: CH 1. (SCDEC, SC 2) x 6. Join.  (18)
    Row 27: CH 1. (SCDEC, SC) x 6. Join.  (12)
    Row 28: CH 1. (SCDEC) x 6. Join.  (6)
    FO leaving a long tail.  Weave the tail through the FLO of each ST in the last round to close the hole.  Weave in ends. 

    Hat Body (For Adult Large): 

    Using 5.5mm hook
    Row 1:     CH 1.  SC 78 evenly around the top of the band.  Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST. (From here on out referred to as “join”.)  (78)
    Row 2: CH 3 (Counts as first DC, here and throughout), DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row. Join last ST to the top of the CH 3 with a SL ST (From here on out referred to as “join”). (78)
    Row 3: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 4: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (For a cleaner join, remove hook from working loop and insert from back to front into the first HDC of the round.  Grab the working loop and pull it through the first ST.) (78)
    Row 5: CH 1. SC in the 3rd loop of the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 6: CH 3 (Counts as first DC), DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row. Join. (78)
    Row 7: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 8: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 9: CH 1. SC in the 3rd loop of the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 10: CH 3 (Counts as first DC), DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row. Join. (78)
    Row 11: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 12: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join.  (78)

    Two Into the Fade Hats in a flay lay with a Furls Odyssey Crochet hook


    Row 13: CH 1. SC in the 3rd loop of the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 14: CH 3 (Counts as first DC), DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat instructions in ** until end of row. Join. (78)
    Row 15: CH 1.  SC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 16: CH 1.  HDC in the first ST and each ST around. Join. (78)
    Row 17: CH 1. Working in the third loop, (SCDEC, SC 11) x 6.  Join. (72)
    Row 18: CH 3 (Counts as first DC), DC in the first ST, SK 1, *DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1* repeat until end of row. Join. (72)
    Row 19: Ch 1. (SCDEC, SC 10) x 6. Join. (66)
    Row 20: Ch 1. (HDCDEC, HDC 9) x 6. Join. (60)
    Row 21: CH 1. Working in the third loop, (SCDEC, SC 8) x 6.  Join.  (54)
    Row 22: CH 3 (Counts as first DC), DC in the first ST, (SK 1, DC 2 in the next ST) x 3, *SK 1, DC2TOG in the next ST, (SK 1, DC 2 in the next ST) x 3 *   repeat instructions in ** 5 times.  DC2TOG, SK 1, (DC 2 in the next ST, SK 1) x 2.  Join. (48)
    Row 23: Ch 1. (SCDEC, SC 6) x 6. Join. (42)
    Row 24: Ch 1. (HDCDEC, HDC 5) x 6. Join. (36)
    Row 25: CH 1. Working in the third loop, (SCDEC, SC 4) x 6.  Join. (30)
    Row 26: Ch 1. (SCDEC, SC 3) x 6. Join. (24)
    Row 27: Ch 1. (SCDEC, SC 2) x 6. Join. (18)
    Row 28: Ch 1. (SCDEC, SC) x 6. Join.  (12)
    Row 29: Ch 1. (SCDEC) x 6. Join. (6)
    FO leaving a long tail.  Weave the tail through the FLO of each ST in the last round to close the hole.  Weave in ends. 

    That’s it! I hope you enjoyed the Into the Fade One Skein Crochet Hat Pattern. You can check our some of the other free crochet patterns available on my blog HERE.

    Disclaimer:

    Feel free to sell the item created by this one skein crochet hat pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://www.theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

    I’d love to see your finished items!  Please share your finished makes by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 

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  • Crochet Book Reviews

    Crochet Foundry Magazine – Winter 2020 Edition Review

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    Collage of women wearing crochet garments featured in the Crochet Foundry Magazine Review
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    I was recently offered the opportunity to review the Crochet Foundry Magazine Winter 2020 Edition and I was excited to take a look inside. Today, I’ll share my review with you as well as some information about some of the time sensitive bonuses they are offering to those that purchase the magazine and my review of those bonuses as well. They have also given me an exclusive discount code to share and a copy of the magazine to giveaway as well. Keep reading to find out more about the magazine and how you can enter to win.

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    What is Crochet Foundry Magazine?

    In case you aren’t familiar with Crochet Foundry Magazine, it’s a quarterly, online, inclusive sizing crochet magazine. This means that the designs included in the magazine have been graded to include the largest range of sizes possible. The winter edition of Crochet Foundry has seven different winter garments, all available in sizes extra-small to 5XL. This is one of the features that drew me to be interested in this magazine in the first place.

    Woman wearing a deep red crochet turtle neck featured inthe Crochet Foundry Magazine

    From the Plus Size Perspective

    The contributors don’t just stop at saying that they are size-inclusive or just including the plus sizes in their patterns – they take it one step further. They include actual, real life plus size models in their magazine wearing some of the designs. I say real life plus models because they are models that actually wear a size 3xl and not the size 12 “plus models” we typically see in the media.

    As a woman that wears a plus size, I love this! I want to see real women that are really, genuinely plus size women. Seeing these designs on a real plus size model helps me know whether the designs I’m looking at are genuinely flattering to a plus size body (in addition to those that wear regular sizes) or if they just threw in the extra plus sizes to draw in a wider audience. In this particular edition, there was only one design worn by a plus size model but she looked pretty in the design she modelled and it looked like it fit her well. There is a bonus extra pattern that was also modelled by the same plus size model as well (see below for the picture).

    Plus size woman wearing a crochet cardigan

    The Designers

    Crochet Foundry Magazine currently has four (4) different indie designer contributors: Pam Stark from Sincerely, Pam, Lorene Eppolite from Cre8tion Crochet, Michelle Moore from MJ’s Off the Hook Designs/Sentry Box Designs and Briana Kepner from Briana K Designs.

    The Designs

    The Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition comes with seven (7) different winter garment patterns, all available in sizes extra-small to 5xl. The designs included in this edition are:

    • Cranberry Biscotti Turtleneck by Michelle Moore
    • Striped Shortbread Duster by Briana Kepner
    • Bredele Cropped Vest by Pam Stark
    • Pizzelle Hooded Cardigan by Lorene Eppolite
    • Coconut Macaroon Sweater Dress by Michelle Moore
    • Gingersnap Pullover by Briana Kepner
    • Amaretti Boyfriend Cardigan by Lorene Eppolite
    Collage of woman wearing crochet garments from the Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition

    I enjoyed that there are different garment styles included in the magazine. There’s a bit of something for everyone and should you buy within the first 5 days of the launch and get the added extras (which I’ll discuss momentarily), the Style Guide gives some handy recommendations to make alterations to further fit your personal style.

    The designs in the Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition are crocheted using worsted weight yarns available from WeCrochet. One thing that I really loved is that each design has yarn substitution suggestions listed with the pattern and those suggestions are broken down into Splurge, Spend and Save categories so you can find a yarn that will fit with your budget for each project. Some of the designs also include links to YouTube tutorials to assist with some techniques, like cabling or using a Furls Lucet Fork, used in the designs, which was helpful as well.

    The patterns were well-written and easy to understand. The patterns are rated for skill levels from skilled beginner to intermediate.

    I would absolutely wear many of the designs included in the Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition. Michelle Moore really knocked it out of the park with the Coconut Maccaroon Sweater Dress on the front cover. I just love it! My personal body confidence wouldn’t allow me to wear something of this length and fit without a very healthy dose of Spandex support. We’re talking industrial grade support here lol. But if you’re with me in that feeling, don’t worry. Michelle’s got your back in the Style Guide extra – giving instructions on how you can adjust the length to make it a shorter dress or a sweater. Since a sweater is something I’d be more confident wearing, I’m so excited that this was included. Excuse me while I go find my hooks.

    Cranberry Biscotti Turtleneck by Michelle Moore being modelled by a blonde woman

    The Extras

    For the Winter 2020 Edition, each pattern includes a different cookie recipe from the designer which is a fun addition. So while you’re blocking your new project, you can make a yummy batch of cookies to pass the time.

    If you purchase the magazine in the first five (5) days of the launch, you also receive some pretty cool extras:

    • A bonus, exlusive – The Maple Toffee Pullover Sweater by Pam Stark,
    • A Style Guide which has tips from each of the designers on different ways to style your garment so from work to play, you can wear it your way.
    • Gauge Matters! which is a thorough guide on all things related to gauge and gauge swatching
    • Crochet Foundry Custom Fit Guide – tips and recommendations from the designers on changes that can be made to the patterns to get a fit/style that works for you. I would have loved to see something included in this about getting accurate body measurements to ensure you’re making the right size as I know this is something many people struggle with.
    plus size garment model showing the bonus pattern from the crochet foundry magazine extra bundle

    The contributors of Crochet Foundry have given me an exclusive discount code to share with my readers. If you purchase through this link and use the code loopy20, they’ll give you a 20% discount off your purchase.

    The Experience

    The Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition is a beautiful magazine. Chock full of gorgeous patterns and gorgeous photos of those projects, the yarn and the Furls Crochet hooks that were used to make them. This is clearly a project full of passion from some very talented designers. If you’re interested in checking it out, you can find it HERE and be sure the coupon code loopy20 to save 20% off your purchase. There is also a yearly subscription option to get all 4 issues for just $40 (reg. $50) through this link, using the loopy20 coupon code at the check out.

    Crochet Foundry annual subscription advertisement image

    If you enjoy crochet pattern books, you can check out some more of my crochet book reviews on my blog:

    Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition Giveaway

    Thanks to Crochet Foundry, I have a PDF copy of the Winter 2020 Edition to giveaway to one lucky winner!

    This pattern giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (except where void by law) and ends Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:45pm Eastern Standard time. The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, December 22nd and notified by email. If you have already purchased your copy or yearly subscription then you will be refunded your purchase price of $12.

    To enter, use the King Sumo form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. Only the Email option is mandatory – all other tasks are optional, for bonus entries only. Please note that by entering your email below, you are subscribing to The Loopy Lamb email list. We will not send you spam, just notifications about new free crochet patterns, news and giveaways.

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