• Product Reviews

    Standout Hooded Cardigan Review & Giveaway

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    Woman wearing the Standout Hooded Cardigan Pattern
    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 Standout Hooded Cardigan pattern 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.

    This crochet cardigan pattern was designed by Margaret Hubert. It is a long and cozy looking sweater, made in a solid colour to become a fall and winter wardobe staple.

    Materials used in the Standout Hooded Cardigan Pattern:

    • Yarn: This pattern uses Premier Yarns Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted medium (worsted) weight acrylic yarn.
    • Hooks: 5.5mm and 5.0 mm crochet hooks
    • Tapestry Needle
    • 6 – 1 1/2″ buttons

    Sizes Included:

    The pattern incluses the following sizes:

    • Small (47.5″ Bust measurement)
    • Medium (53.5″ Bust measurement)
    • Large (57.5″ Bust measurement)
    • Extra Large (62.5″ Bust measurement)
    • 2XL (66.5″ Bust measurement)

    The Standout Hooded Cardigan pattern is rated as an intermediate level crochet pattern. The pattern is created useing simple stitches and was very straight forward. Diagrams of the garment pieces are included to show the measurements of each piece which is helpful.

    If you want to purchase a copy of the Standout Hooded Cardigan Pattern by Margaret Hubert, 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:

    Standout Hooded Cardigan Pattern Giveaway

    Thanks to Annie’s Craft Store, I have a PDF copy of the Standout Hooded Cardigan Pattern by Margaret Hubert to giveaway to one lucky winner!

    This pattern giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants and ends Friday, December 11th, 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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  • Product Reviews

    We Crochet Stroll Gradient Yarn Review

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    4 Cakes of We Crochet Stroll Gradient Yarn and a Furls Odyssey Crochet Hook
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    It’s another yarn review Saturday here on the blog and today I’m sharing my review of the Stroll Gradient Yarn from We Crochet. I’ve been absolutely loving working with fingering weight yarns since I tried Hawthorne Fingering Weight yarn also from We Crochet, earlier this year. I found out that it doesn’t take nearly as long as I feared it would to make things with it so I decided that I needed to try all the fingering weight yarns now. Last week we chatted about Muse Hand Painted Fingering Yarn and this week’s yarn, Stroll Gradient Yarn is also a fingering weight yarn.

    This yarn was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

    Pin this for Later Save

    Before we get into our yarn review, let’s go over the yarn label information so we know what we’re talking about here:

    We Crochet Stroll Gradient Weight:

    • Current Number of Colourways Available: 15. Check them out HERE.
    • Fiber Content: 75% Fine Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon
    • Weight: 1 (Fingering)
    • Ball Size: 100g
    • Yardage: 458 yd / 419 m
    • Suggested Hook Size: 2.25 – 3.5 mm (B – E)
    • Suggested Needle Size: 2.25 – 3.5mm (US 1 – 3)
    • Crochet Gauge: 21 – 32 scs = 4″
    • Knitting Gauge: 7 – 8 sts = 1″
    • Care: Machine Wash Gentle Cold and Tumble Dry Low
    If you’re planning on buying some We Crochet Stroll Gradient Yarn, 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 yarn reviews like this one and free crochet patterns.

    Check out the video review of We Crochet Stroll Gradient yarn:

    The vibrant, bold colours of the We Crochet Stroll Gradient is what caught my attention in my first impressions upon opening the box. Stroll Gradient yarn is a gradient yarn with long colour changes. There are 15 different colourways available and they have some really fun names. I got to check out Pet Rock, Camper Van, BFF and FOMO. This is a sock yarn so it is thinner than the Muse Hand Painted Fingering Weight yarn or the Hawthorne Hand Paint Speckle Yarns that I’ve tried previously. I’d probably say this is a light fingering weight yarn.

    4 Cakes of We Crochet Stroll Gradient Yarn and some Clover Tunisian Crochet Hooks
    Moving from left to right (from the top-left): Pet Rock, Camper Van, BFF and FOMO

    According to the We Crochet website, due to the long colour change, you would need 2 cakes of this yarn to make a pair of identical socks. If you don’t mind weaving in ends and you had the right pattern, you could possibly split the colours up and get away with one cake. There are lots of free patterns listed on Ravelry that use betwee 300 – 400 yards of yarns. It just depends on how much work you want to put into it and how you want the socks to turn out.

    The yarn is really soft to the touch and I bet wearing a pair of socks made with this would be dreamy. I’ll level with you. I’ve been scared to try crochet socks but I’m definitely willing to try it to make a pair in the Camper Van colourway I got to try. I don’t know what it is about this colour way that I’m so drawn to but I just love it and really want a pair of socks made with it.

    Two cakes of We Crochet Stroll Gradient next to hands holding Furls Odyssey Crochet Hooks

    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.

    Crocheting with We Crochet Stroll Gradient

    I chose the Camper Van and BFF colourways to do my crochet swatches for testing out the yarn. For the Camper Van sample, I did the basic stitches, starting with single crochet, moving to half double crochet, double crochet and then some tunisian stitches up top. For the BFF sample, I did some tunisian knit stitch and a few rows of Tunisian garter stitch up top.

    Crochet swatch of Camper Van
    Tunisian crochet swatch sample done in BFF colourway of We Crochet Stroll Gradient
    Tunisian Crochet Swatch in BFF

    The samples did take quite a bit of time due to the fact that the yarn is so thin. Once I got a few rows into my swatches, things sped up a bit. The yarn did split a little bit as I was working with it but nothing crazy or overly frustrating. It’s worth mentioning that the colours are not solid. They have a bit of a tonal variation through the colours (at least in the colours I used).

    This yarn would be great to pair with a solid coloured yarn for shawls or on it’s own for socks. I’d personally like to try holding two strands of the same yarn doubled for a project to see how that turns out. I enjoyed the yarn, loved the colours and the name of the colours but I think if it came down to it and I had to choose, I’d go with Muse Hand Painted Fingering Weight or one of the Hawthorne fingering weights instead just because the yarn is a little plumper and works up a bit faster than the stroll gradient.

    Thanks for checking out my yarn review. Have you tried Stroll Gradient Yarn yarn yet? What did you think? What would you make with it? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

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

    While you’re here, you may like checking out some of my other yarn reviews:

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  • Crochet Patterns

    Crochet Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament Pattern

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    Two crochet gnome christmas tree ornaments being held in hands.
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Whether you’re ready or not, the holiday season is upon us and soon we’ll be decorating our trees (if you haven’t already). Adorn your tree with these quick, easy and oh so adorable Gnome Christmas Tree Ornaments.

    For this free crochet pattern, I’ve included two different versions which will help you get similar results using two different materials for the base of the ornament. Version 1 of the pattern includes making a beard for your Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament with faux fur yarn that takes only a few minutes to make. If you’re pressed for time or aren’t comfortable with using faux fur yarns, I have made Version 2. For Version 2, the beard of the Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament is made using a faux fur pom pom. Both versions are quick, easy and (more than) a little addictive. You have have a tree full of them before you know it.

    This Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament Free Pattern has been sponsored by Clover USA. All opinions are my own.

    Pin it for later Save

    If you haven’t used faux yarn to crochet amigurumi before, this Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament pattern is a great pattern to finally give it a try. The beard of Version 1 of this pattern is made with faux fur yarn and is only a few rounds so it isn’t a big committment and will give you some practice working with it. Faux fur yarn is incredibly forgiving so if you don’t have the tidiest seaming when putting your Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament together, 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 Faux Fur Yarn Crochet Patterns Available:

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

    supplies used in this free crochet gnome pattern.

    Supplies for Gnome Crocheted with Faux Fur (Referred to as Version 1):

    crochet gnome ornament made with faux fur yarn

    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.

    Supplies for Gnome with Pom Pom Base (Referred to as Version 2):

    gnome tree ornament made with faux fur pompom

    Abbreviations:

    • CH = Chain
    • MC = Magic Circle
    • ST = Stitch
    • SL ST = Slip Stitch
    • SC = Single Crochet
    • SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease
    • SCINC = Single Crochet Increase
    • FO = Finish Off

    Get an ad-free PDF version of this Crochet Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament pattern HERE on Ravelry or HERE on Etsy.


    Finished size:

    • Approximately 4.5” tall

    Gauge:

    • Faux Fur Gauge: 5 sts x 5 rows = 2 inches
    • Hat Gauge: 12 sts x 12 rows = 2 inches
    • Gauge is not vital to project

    NOTES:

    • Gauge is not vital to the project but it 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 know where to place your stitches.  This may however affect your gauge and therefore, the amount of yarn needed. 
    • This pattern 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. 

    Crochet Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament Free Pattern

    crochet gnome tree ornaments made with a faux fur pom pom and a gnome made with faux fur yarn

    Hat for Both Gnome Versions


    Round 1:     Using 3.5mm hook and Brava Worsted Weight in Red, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Round 2: SC around (6)
    Round 3:     (SCINC) x 6 (12)
    Rounds 4 – 5: SC around (12)
    Round 6: (SC, SCINC) x 6 (18)
    Rounds 7 – 8:     SC around (18)
    Round 9: SC, SCINC, (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC (24)
    Rounds 10 – 11: SC around (24)
    Round 12: (SC 3, SCINC) x 6 (30)
    Round 13: SC around (30)
    Round 14:  SC 2, SCINC, (SC 4, SCINC) x 6, SC 2 (36)
    Round 15: (SC 5, SCINC) x 6 (42)
    Rounds 16 – 18: SC around (42)Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST.
    If using the faux fur yarn base, FO leaving a long tail to sew the hat onto the base.

    If using the pompom as your base (Version 2), FO and weave in ends.


    Creating the Hanger (for both versions):

    Cut a length of yarn that matches your hat colour to approximately 8 – 10” long.  Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and pull the yarn through a stitch near the top of the hat.  Do NOT pull it all the way through.  Thread it through another stitch at the top of the hat and pull it inside the hat.  Take the two ends of your yarn and tie a knot inside the hat, making sure that you leave enough yarn outside of the hat to hang it on the tree. Pull the loop up to finish the hanger. (Need help with this step? Check out my YouTube video below)

    How to Assemble Your Crochet Gnome Christmas Tree Ornament (Version 2)

    trio of crochet gnome tree ornaments made with this free crochet pattern.

    Beard (for Version 1 Only)

    Round 1: Using 5.5mm hook and Fable Fur in Eisbar, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)
    Round 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
    Round 3: (SCINC, SC) x 6 (18)
    Rounds 4 – 6: SC around (18) – Add stuffing.  Continue to add more stuffing as you go.
    Round 7: (SCDEC, SC) x 6 (12)
    Round 8: (SCDEC) x 6 (6)
    FO leaving a long tail to sew the bead onto the Beard.  Finish stuffing. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and feed the needle down through the center hole left from finishing off the beard and out through the side of the beard towards you.  I like to go down approximately 3 rows. 

    needle coming out the side of a faux fur yarn pompom
    bead sewn onto side of faux fur yarn pompom

    Use the tail to sew the nose onto the side of the beard near the top of the beard (make sure the hat will cover the top part of the nose before securing it).  FO and weave in ends.  Alternatively, if you don’t want to sew on the nose, you can use some hot glue to glue it to the side of your beard.  Just make sure you’re confident of your placement before applying the glue.

    Assembly:

    Version 1:

    Stuff your hat with stuffing and place over top of your gnome beard so one edge slightly overhangs the nose.  Sew around the bottom of the hat, securing it to the beard, adding stuffing as you go.  When you get to the bead, pull the yarn through the stitch closest to the end of the bead in the hat and then through the hole in the bead to the other side and then through the stitch closest to the bead’s other side and pull taught(see image below).  Continue sewing the hat to the beard.  FO and weave in ends. Alternatively, if you don’t want to sew the hat on, you could glue it on using the hot glue and glue gun.

    image showing which stitches to use when attaching hat to crochet gnome

    Version 2:

    Use a scrap piece of yarn and thread it through your bead.  Tie the yarn to the elastic on your pompom so the bead hangs slightly against the top/side of the pompom. 

    fur pompom showing it has an elastic attachment
    pompom with bead nose attachment

    Use an elastic to wrap around the pompom to hold the fur down to make adding glue easier and less messy.  Stuff your hat with stuffing and place over top of your pompom to test the placement of your bead.  When satisfied add hot glue around the top of the pompom where the edge of your hat will meet/touch the pompom, making sure to add some to the top of the bead.  Place stuffed hat on top of the pompom and hold in place until glue cools/hat is secure.


    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: http://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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  • Product Reviews

    Cascading Blocks Throw Pattern Review and Giveaway!

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    image of the Cascading Blocks Throw draped over a couch.
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Thanks to our friends at Annie’s Catalogue, I have at copy of the Cascading Blocks Throw pattern 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.

    This crochet throw pattern was designed by Rena V. Stevens. It is a gorgeous throw pattern that will easily become an heirloom piece because it just has that timeless look. This design uses the crochet staple granny square in a unique qay which produces a fun, chevron edge to the blanket. The finished blanket size is 49″ wide x 72″ long (excluding the fringe).

    Pin this for later HERE.

    Materials used in the Cascading Blocks Throw Blanket Pattern:

    • Premier Basix Worsted Weight Acrulic Yarn
      • 6 skeins in the main colour and 3 skeins in the accent colour
    • Size J/6mm Crochet Hook (or whatever size needed to obtain gauge)
    • Size Q/16mm crochet hook
    • Tapestry Needle
    • 20 Stitch Markers

    The pattern is rated as an intermediate level pattern.

    A diagram is included with the pattern to assist with assembling your blanket to ensure you get your granny square placement correct.

    If you want to purchase a copy of the Cascading Blocks Throw Pattern by Rena V. Stevens, 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:

    Cascading Blocks Throw Pattern Giveaway

    Thanks to Annie’s Craft Store, I have a PDF copy of the Cascading Blocks Throw Pattern by Rena V. Stevens to giveaway to one lucky winner!

    This pattern giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants and ends Friday, December 4th, 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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  • Product Reviews

    Muse Hand Painted Fingering Yarn Review

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    Two hanks of Muse Hand Painted Fingering Yarn in a flat lay with Furls Crochet Hooks
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    It’s another yarn review Saturday here on the blog and today I’m sharing my review of the Muse Hand Painted Fingering Yarn from We Crochet. I’ve been absolutely loving working with fingering weight yarns since I tried Hawthorne Fingering Weight yarn also from We Crochet, earlier this year. I found out that it doesn’t take nearly as long as I feared it would to make things with it so I decided that I needed to try all the fingering weight yarns now.

    This yarn was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

    Pin this for Later Save

    Before we get into our yarn review, let’s go over the yarn label information so we know what we’re talking about here:

    We Crochet Muse Hand Painted Fingering Weight:

    • Current Number of Colourways Available: 7. Check them out HERE.
    • Fiber Content: 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon
    • Weight: 1 (Fingering)
    • Ball Size: 50g
    • Yardage: 423 yd / 385 m
    • Suggested Hook Size: 2.5 – 3.5 mm (B – E)
    • Suggested Needle Size: 2.25 – 3.25mm (US 1 – 3)
    • Crochet Gauge: 21 – 32 scs = 4″
    • Knitting Gauge: 7 – 8 sts = 1″
    • Care: Machine Wash Gentle Cold and Tumble Dry Low
    • Other Yarn Weights Available?: Yes! Also available in Aran/Heavy Worsted Weight. Check it out HERE.
    If you’re planning on buying some Muse Hand Painted Fingering Yarn, 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 yarn reviews like this one and free crochet patterns.

    Check out the video review of We Crochet Muse Hand Painted Fingering yarn:

    Muse Hand Painted Fingering yarn cakes in a flat lay with crochet hooks

    The Muse Hand Painted Fingering Yarn has been, as the name suggested, hand painted. The We Crochet site says Muse Hand Painted Fingering is “meticulously dye by Japanese artisans, who blend and apply colors by hand to achieve a range of colors and chromatic explosions. Precis districution of color minimizes the streaking and pooling you might see in other hand-painted yarns.” The colours I am checking out in my review ar ethe Impulse and Exquisite colourways of this yarn. I was immediately drawn to the Impulse colour and Equisite is the absolute perfect match for it. After reading on the site about how the colours are dyed I couldn’t wait to start hooking this up to see how it worked up.

    The yarn in the hanks is gorgeous and soft. Hanking it up on my swift was fun (yes, I am aware that I am a total yarn geek right now) because seeing the beautiful colours in the Impulse hank unwind was stunning. It seriously got me really excited to work with it. In the hank, the yarn looks like a small piece or watercolour art. This yarn was giving me some serious build up to the make.

    Muse Hand Painted Fingering yarn cakes in a flat lay with crochet hooks

    Crocheting with Muse Hand Painted Fingering was a lot of fun. I loved watching the ways the colour changed as I stitched up my sample. The colour changes were really gradual, with the colours blending together in a really beautiful way. By the time my brain registered that a colour change was even happening, I was in the next colour and watching it blend into the next.

    Muse Hand Painted Fingering has a tighter ply so I didn’t experience any issues with splittling while I worked with it. For my sample in the Impulse, I did the three basic stitches as I normally do (single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet) and then I transitioned into some tunisian crochet. I did a few rows of Tunisian Simple Stitch and Tunisian Knit Stitch. Just when I thought that the yarn couldn’t look more beautiful it upped it’s game and looked stunning in the tunisian stitches. The colours blended even nicer in the tunisian stitches and is seriously making me consider making a sweater in this yarn for myself.

    Bright multicoloured yarn in a crochet swatch

    The Exquisite yarn was beautiful and had variations between black, grey and the occassional speck of white. It’s harder to capture a good picture of this swatch due to how dark it is but it makes a fantastic contract to the Impulse which is this gorgeous explosion of colours. Working the two into a project together would no doubt be stunning. For my swatch with the exquisite I did some of the basic stitches and then tried some Thicket Stitch to see how the yarn did with a simple, textured stitch. In person, it’s really pretty and spread over a larger sample, I think you’d be able to pick up that texture much more easily.

    Black Yarn in a crochet swatch

    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.

    Shortly after starting this review it was brought to my attention that you can get Muse Hand Painted Fingering yarn in an Aran/Heavy Worsted weight (find it HERE). I obviously ran over to the We Crochet site to check it out and found out that there are 15 different colourways of this in the worsted weight version. You don’t get as much yardage but now that I’ve fallen in love with the fingering weight Muse I’m drooling over a couple of the worsted weight Muse colours that I’m definitely adding to my wish list.

    Crochet swatches using hand painted yarn from We Crochet

    This yarn can be used for a wide variety of projects like socks, tops, shawls and accessories. The Impulse colours remind me of a gorgeous sweater that I saw in a movie once and I would seriously wear a sweater made with this everyday. Those that know me in real life, will attest that I tend to wear a mix of blacks, greys and blues so it would probably surprise my family to see me sporting something with so much colour but I’d absolutely do it without hesitation. It would be too beautiful not to be worn. Muse Hand Painted Fingering may be close to taking the the place of my beloved Hawthorne Fingering Weight yarn as my favourite fingering weight yarn but shhh.. don’t tell Hawthorne.

    Thanks for checking out my yarn review. Have you tried Muse Hand Paint Fingering yarn yet? What did you think? What would you make with it? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

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

    While you’re here, you may like checking out some of my other yarn reviews:

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  • Crochet Patterns

    Crochet Animal Ears Headband Free Crochet Pattern

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    Mother and daughter smiling wearing crochet animal ears headbands
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Whether it’s for dress-up, Halloween or just because you can, these Crochet Animal Ears Headbands are a quick and easy make that’ll appeal to everyone. I know both my kids absolutely love them and wear them often for dress up. My daughter, who loves cats wears her cat ear headband almost everyday and my son, who’s into bears, wears his a few times a week. They play pretend to be animal friends and it’s just the cutest. Keep reading to find the free crochet pattern to make your own crochet animal ear headbands!

    Pin it for later Save

    When Halloween rolled around this year, I was caught without a Halloween costume. As an adult, that’s normally not a huge deal, but my young children really wanted both Mom & Dad to get into the spirit. So in the eleventh hour, I got an idea: I would make myself a crochet animal ears headband! I could’ve just ran to the dollar store and picked up a quick and cheap pair I guess, but where is the fun in that? I’ve got this skill and I was going to use it. So I grabbed some Fable Fur Yarn, an old headband I haven’t worn in ages and got to work.

    Smiling woman wearing faux fur crochet bear ears

    15 minutes later, I had a crochet bear ears headband and it was irresistable! Fable Fur made the ears so soft to touch and to realistic looking. I was thrilled! Take that dollar store ears! Little did I know that my now beloved crochet bear ear headband was in jeopardy. I went to show my husband my costume for the following evening. Upon walking into the room where my daughter was also sitting, I heard a little squeal. “Mommy’s a bear! I want to be a bear too!”

    She asked to try them on, to which I agreed and that was the last I held my bear ears until she went to bed that night. She wore them the whole afternoon.

    The next day was Halloween and I donned my crochet animal ears headband and my husband went as a lobster. He wore my red oven mitts, a red hoodie and a crochet lobster ear flap hat that I made him (find the free pattern here). We had a great time doing trick-or-treating at grandma’s house and everyone loved the crochet bear ears. I kept thinking I should write up the pattern and share it but I thought it may be too late to do so since Halloween had already passed.

    Smiling girl in a pink shirt wearing a crochet animal ears headband made with fable fur yarn

    Then, my kids wanted more ears. My daughter frequently pretends to be a cat (completed with hissing as people which drives me nuts) so I knew that I would have to make her a crochet cat ears headband as well. Since they play with them so often I figured that I wouldn’t wait to release the pattern because I know that with Christmas coming up, these would make a great Christmas gift for kids that is quick and easy to make.

    If this is your first time ever using faux fur yarn, check out my video below with tips and tricks for working with this yarn. If you’d prefer the written version, you can find that HERE.

    Free Crochet Patterns Using Faux Fur Yarn

    Ready to get started using faux fur yarns? Here are some free crochet patterns that I have available on my site to get you started:

    Crochet Animal Ears Headband Free Crochet Pattern

    Mother and daughter pretending to be bears while wearing crochet bear ears

    Skill Level:

    • Beginner

    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:


    Finished size:

    • One Size

    Gauge:

    • 5 sts x 5 rows = 2 inches – Not vital to project


    NOTES:

    • This pattern 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. 
    • Gauge is not critical to the project but it may affect the amount of yarn needed.
    • Please note that the amount of yarn you use may depending on the thickness of your headband. All of the headbands I’ve used were less than a centimeter wide. The wider the headband you use, the more yarn will be required to cover it.
    • If you are concerned about the bear ears being floppy, you can crochet over a chenille pipe cleaner in Round 4 of the bear ears to help support them.

    Get an ad-free PDF version of this Crochet Animal Ears Headbands Pattern HERE on Ravelry or HERE on Etsy.

    Mother and daughter wearing crochet animal ears headbands

    Crochet Animal Ears Headband Free Crochet Pattern

    Crochet Bear Ears (Make Two)

    crochet bear ears in a flat lay with We Crochet Fable Fur and a Furls Odyssey Crochet Hook

    Round 1:  Using Fable Fur in Kuma and 5.5mm crochet hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC.  (6)
    Round 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
    Round 3: (SC 1, SCINC) x 6 (18)
    Round 4: SC 1, SCINC,(SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC 1 (24)
    Round 5: SL ST in each ST around.  (24)
    FO leaving a long tail to sew onto headband.

    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.

    Crochet Cat Ears (Make Two)

    smiling girl wearing a crochet cat headband made with faux fur yarn

    Round 1:  Using Fable Fur in Corvo and 5.5mm crochet hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC.  (6)
    Round 2: SC in each ST around (6)
    Round 3: (SCINC) x 6 (12)
    Round 4: SC in each ST around (12)
    Round 5: (SC 1, SCINC) x 6 (18)
    Rounds 6 – 7: SC around (18)

    FO leaving a long tail to sew onto the headband.  Do NOT stuff.  Flatten the piece to secure to headband.

    Watch My Video Tutorial for How to Make a Crochet Animal Ears Headband (Bear Version):

    Headbands

    Attach your Fable Fur yarn to one end of the headband with a SL ST.  SC around the headband from one end to the other until the headband is covered and you cannot see the headband through the fur.  If you are concerned about the yarn slipping off the end of your headband, push the stitches on each end up slightly from the end of the headband and place a dab of hot glue on the head band.  Push the yarn back down so the last stitch or two are sitting in the hot glue.  Repeat on the other end and let dry.

    Mother and daughter wearing crochet animal ears headbands

    Assembling your Crochet Animals Ears Headbands

    Thread the tail of one of your ears onto a tapestry needle and sew onto the headband, working through the bottoms of the ears.  When doing the Cat Ears, ensure that you are working through both layers of the bottom of the opening of the ear. Repeat with the other ear on the other side of the headband.  FO and weave in ends.

    Disclaimer:

    Feel free to sell the item created by this crochet animal ears headband pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: http://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

    Lil’ Hipsters Review – Modern Crochet Patterns for Toddlers

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    Collage of images of the crochet patterns for toddlers found in Lil' Hipsters.
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Today we’re taking a look at the new book Lil’ Hipsters: 15 Fashion Favorites to Keep Your Baby Looking Stylish crochet pattern book from designer Kristi Simpson and Leisure Arts. Lil’ Hipsters is a pattern book with modern crochet patterns for toddlers. Thanks to Leisure Arts, I have a PDF copy of the book to giveaway to one lucky reader! Keep reading to learn more about Lil’ Hipsters and how you can enter to win a copy of your own.

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

    Pin it for later Save

    I recently reviewed another pattern book by this same designer recently called Besties: Every Girl Needs a Friend which was a fun amigurumi pattern book so I was interested to see what kind of clothing patterns Kristi Simpson had come up with for toddlers. Having a toddler myself who is particularly picky about her clothing (it starts early friends!), I was particularly drawn to this book to see if there was anything that may appease both daughter and Mommy.

    Toddler wearing a yellow top made using the crochet patterns for toddlers in Lil' Hipsters

    Modern Crochet Patterns for Toddlers Found in the Book

    As stated in the title, this book has 15 modern crochet patterns for toddlers for a variety of different wearables. The patterns included are:

    • Cowl
    • Top Down Sweater
    • Tunic Top
    • Pullover
    • Sweater Cocoon
    • Side Poncho
    • Pants
    • Vest with Pocket
    • Speckled Sweater
    • Cowl Jacket
    • Slouchy Hat
    • Hooded Vest
    • Hooded Sweater
    • Shoulder Tie Dress
    • Seamless Vest
    • Yellow Top
    Crochet cowl being worn by a toddler

    When I first opened the book and saw the pattern for the cowl I was thinking “just stop! That is waayy too cute! I’m totally making one for me!” Seriously. We are getting Mommy and Me matching sets whether she likes it or not. It’s too cute. Some of my other favourites in the book were the Tunic Top, the Pullover (which is a poncho), the Hooded Vest and the Yellow Top. All were really adorable and I’d put my kid in any of them and be thrilled about it.

    Sizes

    The sizing in the book are specically for toddlers in the 1T – 5T size range. The body measurements for each size are included so there’s no worry if you’re not sure what size to choose as long as you’ve got a tape measure handy. It’s also worth nothing that the patterns are for girls and boys alike with many of the patterns being able to used for anyone.

    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.

    Child wearing a crochet poncho, sunglasses and sunhat

    Yarns Used in Lil Hipsters

    As I’m finding with Leisure Arts books, a lot of the important information you’d be looking for is at the back of the book. Stuff like, yarn brands and colours and the reference section. Not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind so you know where to look. I love that they include the yarn brand and colour information in their books because sometimes, you just want to use what the designer used. Most of the yarns used in the book are accesible at your local big box stores and you may already have some of them in your stash. The yarns used in this book are:

    • Sugar Bush Bliss
    • Patons Canadiana
    • Red Heart Soft
    • Patons Alpaca Blend
    • Lion Brand Jeans
    • Patons Classic Wool Worsted
    • Sugar Bush Bold
    • Lion Brand Comfy Cotton Blend
    • Lion Brand Wool-Ease
    • Premier Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted
    Hipster toddler wearing a crochet tunic made from the crochet patterns for toddlers in this book

    I found the patterns to be clear and easy to follow. The garments are made with simple construction and stitches. All the patterns are rated as easy and I agree with that. I wouldn’t give these to an absolute beginner but if you have the basics of crochet down, you shouldn’t have any issues with the patterns.

    This book would be great to have if you find yourself making a lot of baby shower gifts and you want a bunch of crochet patterns for toddlers at hand. I know a lot of people like to make the itty bitty stuff for newborns to give and I get it because I do it too. But since having my own kids, I try to give gifts that are for stages beyond the newborn stage. I don’t give baby blankets, I make lapghans to gift so the kids can keep using that blanket for a long time. And I can personally attest to how thankful a parent can be to find a piece of clothing in the next size up in your closet when you realize your kid has had another growth spurt and nothing fits them anymore. So making some of these patterns as gifts can really make someone’s day and all the more grateful for your lovingly handmade gift.

    Child wearing a black crochet sweater, holding a coffee

    If you’re interested in checking out Lil’ Hipsters: 15 Fashion Favorites to Keep Your Baby Looking Stylish it can be purchased HERE.

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

    Giveaway

    Thanks to Leisure Arts, I have a PDF copy of Lil’ Hipsters by Kristi Simpson to giveaway to one lucky winner!

    The Lil’ Hipsters Giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (void in Quebec and where prohibited by law) and ends Friday, December 4th, 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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  • Product Reviews

    Preciosa Tonal Worsted Weight Yarn

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    Two hanks of Preciosa Tonal Worsted Weight yarn in blue and green
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    I have a new yarn to share with you all this week from our friends at We Crochet (crochet.com). It’s called Preciosa Tonal Worsted and it is currently available on the We Crochet website in worsted weight but you can get this same yarn in bare fingering weight yarn as well. Today we’ll just be talking about the Preciosa Tonal Worsted. While shooting the video for this yarn review, my husband (who kindly edits all my videos) made the connection between the pronouciation of this yarn and a clip from Harry Potter (my fave!). He even put something about it in the video so now I’ll never forget how to say Preciosa.

    This yarn was provided to me free of charge but all opinions are my own.

    Pin this for Later Save

    Before we get into the review, let’s go over the basic info on Preciosa Tonal Worsted so we have a better idea of what we’re chatting about.

    We Crochet Preciosa Tonal Worsted Weight Yarn:

    • Current Number of Colourways Available: 12. Check them out HERE.
    • Fiber Content: 100% Merino Wool
    • Weight: 4 (medium)
    • Ball Size: 100g
    • Yardage: 273 yd / 250m
    • Suggested Hook Size: 5.5 – 6.5 mm (I – K)
    • Suggested Needle Size: 4.5 – 5.5mm (US 7 – 9)
    • Crochet Gauge: 11 – 14 scs = 4″
    • Knitting Gauge: 4.25 – 5 sts = 1″
    • Care: Hand wash and lay flat to dry.
    If you’re planning on buying some Preciosa Tonal Worsted Yarn, 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 yarn reviews like this one and free crochet patterns.
    Two hanks of Preciosa Tonal Worsted Weight Yarn

    Check out the video yarn review of We Crochet Preciosa Tonal Worsted yarn:

    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.

    I have two different colourways of Preciosa Tonal Worsted to review: Cacti (the green one) and Summer Sky (the blue one). The colours in person are bright and beautiful. It’s hard not to fall in love with them. I had a small heartbreak moment when I realized after starting my video review of this yarn that I had accidentally cut through my yarn when I opened the box my yarn arrived in. Blue is my favourite colour and when I realized that the Summer Sky hank had been cut through and left me with a lot of yarn lengths only two arm lengths long, I cried a little inside. It got put on a time out until I figure out something with short rows to use it with or a small project to use the remainder of the intact yarn on.

    Working with Preciosa Tonal was pleasant I thoroughly enjoyed how subtle the colours changes in this yarn happened. I honestly didn’t even notice the yarn changing as I worked. It wasn’t until I stepped away and took a look at my swatch did I notice the colour changes. I loved how they looked and they weren’t abrupt or in your face. They just create this pretty, soft colour change that was great.

    This yarn is very soft and looks like a squishy cloud. I’ve squished this yarn in the hanks more times than I can could. Even my husband who isn’t into yarn or crochet has gone out of his way to give this yarn a squish and comment on how nice it is.

    Preciosa Tonal Worsted in Cacti worked up in a crochet swatch
    Preciosa Tonal Worsted in Cacti worked up in a crochet swatch

    As with most roving yarns, there was a little bit of a halo/fuzz factor but it was really minimal. Because it’s a roving yarn, there were no issues with splitting and despite being a roving yarn, this yarn has great stitch definition. I don’t tend to use a lot of roving yarns because as a designer, I do a lot of frogging (ripping the work out) which isn’t eay or fun with roving yarns. The yarn gets tangled and then I get frustrated. I didn’t have that issue with this yarn when I used it in the tunisian part of my sample. I ended up doing this tunisian sample twice and both times there were no issues with having to rip it out. I suspect this is because you aren’t wrapping the stitches in the same way as normal crochet stitches. So I may be giving roving yarns a second chance at love with me by using them for tunisian crochet.

    My husband is in love with the Cacti colour of the yarn and is begging me to make him something with it so I’ll likely be whipping something up with this yarn in tunisian crochet. What would you like to see made with it?

    Thanks for checking out my yarn review. Have you tried Preciosa Tonal Worsted yarn yet? What did you think? What would you make with it? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

    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
    Instagram:    www.instagram.com/TheLoopyLamb
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    Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: The Loopy Lamb on YouTube
    Newsletter: Sign up for my newsletter!

    While you’re here, you may like checking out some of my other reviews:

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  • Crochet Patterns

    Snowella Crochet Snowman Hat Free Pattern

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    Crochet snowman hat in a flat lay
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    We just had our first snowfall here and although none of it stuck to the ground, my kids are already asking me to go and make a snowman. This inspired me to make a crochet snowman hat pattern to share with you all. This hat is available in children’s sizes.

    While I was making my hat my 3 year old daughter was telling me what she thought a snowman should look like. She said that they would be “wearing a scarf, have a big bow on their head and a cute little carrot nose”. I loved the idea and decided to change what I was making to create her girly version of a snowman. When I asked her what colour the bow was she said “Pink! Of course!” We decided to name the snowman Snowella. I hope you enjoy it.

    Pin this Crochet Snowman Hat Pattern for later SAVE

    This crochet snowman hat is easy to make and perfect for gifting. If you’d prefer a less girly snowman, change up the main accent colour in the hat and omit the bow. Mix and match more than one accent colour for a different look too. You can customize this however you’d like to fit the requests and personality of the little one that will be the lucky recipient of your handmade crochet snowman hat.

    To make your own Snowella Crochet Snowman Hat, you’ll need to know how to do basic crochet stitches and techniques: single crochet, half double crochet, the magic circle as well as how to increase and decrease both single crochet and half double crochet stitches. I’ve included my video tutorial for how to do a magic circle here below in case this is something you haven’t done before or in case you need a refresher.

    The Snowella Crochet Snowman Hat is worked from the top down in a single piece and the ear flaps are crocheted on so they won’t need to be sewn on. I’ve given the amount of chains needed to create ties for the hats (which are added after making the second earflap) but feel free to use as many chains as you would like to make longer or shorter ties to your preference.

    Looking for other free crochet hat patterns? Check some of my other crochet hat patterns here:

    For this projects I’ve used my favourite worsted weight acrylic yarn Brava Worsted Weight from We Crochet. I’ve used this yarn for a wide variety of projects and it has never disappointed me. I’ve used four different colours of Brava for this project: Orange, Black, White and Pink. Pink is the contrasting colour used to create the bow and edging/earflaps and can be substituted for whatever colours you prefer.

    You can substitute your favourite worsted weight yarn for Brava if you prefer but as this is a wearable, it is vital that you make sure that you are able to match the gauge listed in the pattern to ensure the hat will fit its intended recipient.

    Crochet Snowman Hat in a flat lay with Brava Worsted Yarn and Furls Crochet Hook

    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. 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:


    Sizes Available:

    • 0 – 3 months, 3 – 6 months. 6 – 12 months, 1 – 3 years, 3 – 5 years, 6 – 10 years

    Gauge:

    • 14 sts x 10 rounds in HDC = 4 inches


    Notes:

    • This pattern is worked in joined rounds from the top down.  The hat, earflaps and ties are all crocheted on to eliminate sewing.  Then the antennae and eyes are crocheted separately and sewn on. 
    • Gauge is vital to ensuring that your hat will fit as expected.  Do a gauge swatch of HDC stitches done in the round to check your gauge.  Use whatever hook size allows you to match gauge.
    • Always join your rounds in the top of the first HDC of the round, not the CH.
    • The CH 1 at the start of every round does not count as a stitch
    • Always start your rounds in the first stitch of the last round.


    Special Techniques:

    • Invisible Join: FO leaving a tail that is at least 5 – 6 inches in length.  Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle.  Place the tapestry needle through the top of the 2nd ST from front to back and pull through.  Place tip of needle into top of the last ST of the round, under the back loop of the stitch, and pull through to the back of the work.  Weave in the end.

    You can purchase an inexpensive ad-free PDF version of this pattern which includes all sizes for a small fee HERE on Ravelry and HERE on Etsy.


    Snowella Crochet Snowman Hat Pattern

    0 – 3 Months

    Round 1: Using Garnet and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and HDC 8 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST.  (From here on out noted as “Join”). (8)
    Round 2: CH 1, (HDCINC) x 8.  Join. (16)
    Round 3: CH 1, (HDC, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (24)
    Round 4: CH 1, (HDC 2, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (32)
    Round 5: CH 1, (HDC 3, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (40)
    Round 6: CH 1, (HDC 4, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (48)
    Rounds 7 – 12: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (48)
    Change to Rouge
    Rounds 13 – 14: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (48)
    Do not fasten off.  Start first ear flap as written below.


    3 – 6 Months

    Round 1: Using Garnet and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and HDC 8 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST (From here on out noted as “Join”). (8)
    Round 2: CH 1, (HDCINC) x 8.  Join. (16)
    Round 3: CH 1, (HDC, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (24)
    Round 4: CH 1, (HDC 2, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (32)
    Round 5: CH 1, (HDC 3, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (40)
    Round 6: CH 1, (HDC 4, HDCINC) x 8. Join (48)
    Round 7: CH 1, (HDC 11, HDCINC) x 4. Join (52)
    Rounds 8 – 13: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (52)
    Change to Rouge
    Rounds 14 – 15: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (52)
    Do not fasten off.  Start first ear flap as written below.



    6 – 12 Months

    Round 1: Using Garnet and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and HDC 8 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST (From here on out noted as “Join”). (8)
    Round 2: CH 1, (HDCINC) x 8.  Join. (16)
    Round 3: CH 1, (HDC, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (24)
    Round 4: CH 1, (HDC 2, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (32)
    Round 5: CH 1, (HDC 3, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (40)
    Round 6: CH 1, (HDC 4, HDCINC) x 8. Join (48)
    Round 7: CH 1, (HDC 5, HDCINC) x 8. Join (56)
    Rounds 8 – 13: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (56)
    Change to Rouge
    Rounds 14 – 15: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (56)
    Do not fasten off.  Start first ear flap as written below.

    1 – 3 Years

    Round 1: Using Garnet and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and HDC 8 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST (From here on out noted as “Join”). (8)
    Round 2: CH 1, (HDCINC) x 8.  Join. (16)
    Round 3: CH 1, (HDC, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (24)
    Round 4: CH 1, (HDC 2, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (32)
    Round 5: CH 1, (HDC 3, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (40)
    Round 6: CH 1, (HDC 4, HDCINC) x 8. Join (48)
    Round 7: CH 1, (HDC 5, HDCINC) x 8. Join (56)
    Round 8: CH 1, (HDC 13, HDCINC) x 4. Join (60)
    Rounds 9 – 15: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (60)
    Change to Rouge
    Rounds 16 – 17: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (60)
    Do not fasten off.  Start first ear flap as written below.


    3 – 5 years

    Round 1: Using Garnet and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and HDC 8 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST (From here on out noted as “Join”). (8)
    Round 2: CH 1, (HDCINC) x 8.  Join. (16)
    Round 3: CH 1, (HDC, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (24)
    Round 4: CH 1, (HDC 2, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (32)
    Round 5: CH 1, (HDC 3, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (40)
    Round 6: CH 1, (HDC 4, HDCINC) x 8. Join (48)
    Round 7: CH 1, (HDC 5, HDCINC) x 8. Join (56)
    Round 8: CH 1, (HDC 6, HDCINC) x 8. Join (64)
    Rounds 9 – 15: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (64)
    Change to Rouge
    Rounds 16 – 17: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (64)
    Do not fasten off.  Start first ear flap as written below.

    6 – 10 years

    Round 1: Using Garnet and 5.5mm hook, make a MC and HDC 8 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST (From here on out noted as “Join”). (8)
    Round 2: CH 1, (HDCINC) x 8.  Join. (16)
    Round 3: CH 1, (HDC, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (24)
    Round 4: CH 1, (HDC 2, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (32)
    Round 5: CH 1, (HDC 3, HDCINC) x 8. Join. (40)
    Round 6: CH 1, (HDC 4, HDCINC) x 8. Join (48)
    Round 7: CH 1, (HDC 5, HDCINC) x 8. Join (56)
    Round 8: CH 1, (HDC 6, HDCINC) x 8. Join (64)
    Round 9: CH 1, (HDC 15, HDCINC) x 4. Join (68)
    Rounds 10 – 17 : CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (68)
    Change to Rouge
    Rounds 18 – 19: CH 1, HDC in the first stitch and each stitch around. Join. (68)
    Do not fasten off.  Start first ear flap as written below.


    Ear Flaps for 0 – 3 months to 3 Years Old:


    First Ear Flap:

    Row 1: CH 1 and SC in the first stitch.  SC 9.  CH 1 and turn. (10)
    Row 2: SCDEC, SC 6, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 3: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 4: SCDEC, SC 4, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 5: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 6: SCDEC, SC 2, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 7: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 8: (SCDEC) x 2.  CH 1 and turn. (2)
    Row 9: SCDEC. (1)
    FO and weave in ends.

    Crochet Ear Flap Hat lain flat showing ear flap placement

    Second Ear Flap:

    With the right side of the ear flap facing you, fold the hat in half, leaving slightly more stitches towards the front of the hat than the back.  Place the second earflap lined up with the first earflap. Attach Rouge yarn in your starting stitch.
    Row 1: CH 1 and SC in the first stitch.  SC 9.  CH 1 and turn. (10)
    Row 2: SCDEC, SC 6, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 3: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 4: SCDEC, SC 4, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 5: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 6: SCDEC, SC 2, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 7: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 8: (SCDEC) x 2.  CH 1 and turn. (2)
    Row 9: SCDEC. (1)
    DO NOT FASTEN OFF.
    Continue to SC around the entire hat and ear flaps. At the top of each earflap: CH 30. SL ST in 2nd chain from hook and up the rest of the chain back to the body of the hat. Continue to SC around the hat.  Join your last stitch to your first stitch with a SL ST and fasten off.


    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.

    Ear Flaps for 3 – 10 years:


    First Ear Flap:
    Row 1: CH 1 and SC in the first stitch.  SC 11.  CH 1 and turn. (12)
    Row 2: SCDEC, SC 8, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (10)
    Row 3: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (10)
    Row 4: SCDEC, SC 6, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 5: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 6: SCDEC, SC 4, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 7: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 8: SCDEC, SC 2, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 9: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 10: (SCDEC) x 2.  CH 1 and turn. (2)
    Row 11: SCDEC. (1)
    FO and weave in ends.

    Second Ear Flap:
    With the right side of the ear flap facing you, fold the hat in half, leaving slightly more stitches towards the front of the hat than the back.  Place the second earflap lined up with the first earflap. Attach Rouge yarn in your starting stitch.
    Row 1: CH 1 and SC in the first stitch.  SC 11.  CH 1 and turn. (12)
    Row 2: SCDEC, SC 8, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (10)
    Row 3: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (10)
    Row 4: SCDEC, SC 6, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 5: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (8)
    Row 6: SCDEC, SC 4, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 7: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (6)
    Row 8: SCDEC, SC 2, SCDEC.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 9: SC in the first stitch and each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (4)
    Row 10: (SCDEC) x 2.  CH 1 and turn. (2)
    Row 11: SCDEC. (1)
    DO NOT FASTEN OFF.
    Continue to SC around the entire hat and ear flaps. At the top of each earflap: CH 40. SL ST in 2nd chain from hook and up the rest of the chain back to the body of the hat. Continue to SC around the hat.  Join your last stitch to your first stitch with a SL ST and fasten off.

    Close up of eyes, nose and bow on this crochet snowman hat pattern



    Nose – All Sizes (Make One)

    Round 1: Using Orange yarn and 3.5mm crochet hook, make a MC and SC 4 into the MC.  DO NOT JOIN. Continue working in continuous rounds, using a stitch marker to mark the first ST of each round and moving the stitch marker up at the beginning of every round.  (4)
    Round 2: (SCINC) x 4 (8)
    Rounds 3 – 6: SC around (8)
    FO leaving a long tail for securing to the hat.  Add stuffing to nose and sew onto the front of the hat where the bottom of the carrot lines up with the top of your colour change to Rouge on the hat.

    Eyes – All Sizes (Make 2)

    Round 1: Using Black yarn and 3.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST (from here on out referred to as “Join”). CH 1. (6)
    Round 2: (SCINC) x 6. Join. CH 1. (12)
    Round 3: (SC 1, SCINC) x 6. Join. CH 1. (18)
    Round 4: (SCINC, SC 2) x 6. (24)
    FO using invisible join (see notes) and leaving a long tail to secure onto hat.  Using tail, sew the eyes onto the hat, on either side of the nose.


    Eye Reflection – All Sizes (Make 2)

    Round 1: Using White yarn and 3.5mm hook, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST. (6)
    FO using invisible join(see notes) and leaving a long tail.  Sew an eye reflection to each eye in the top right of the eye.  Make sure they’re in the same place on each eye. 

    Bow – All Sizes (Make One)

    Row 1: Using Rouge yarn and 3.5mm hook, CH 15.  SC in the 2nd CH from the hook and each CH across (14)
    Rows 2 – 7: CH 1 and turn.  SC in each ST across. (14)
    FO and weave in ends.  Using a long piece of yarn threaded onto a tapestry needle, weave the yarn through the center of the bow to cinch the middle together.  Pull the ends of the yarn and cinch the center of the bow together and tie a knot to secure it.  Wrap your tail around the center of the bow until you are satisfied with how it looks.  Tie a knot on the back of the bow to secure it. Use the remainder of your tail to sew the bow onto the hat.


    Disclaimer:

    Feel free to sell the crochet snowman hat created with this pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: http://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 Snowella Crochet Snowman Hats!  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

    Modern Tunisian Crochet Book Review

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    Collage of tunisian crochet projects available in Modern Tunisian Book
    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Today we’re taking a look at the new book Modern Tunisian: 15 Easy Projects Along with Technique Tips and Tricks crochet pattern book from designer Mary Beth Temple and Leisure Arts. Thanks to Leisure Arts, I have a PDF copy of the book to giveaway to one lucky reader! Keep reading to learn more about this Modern Tunisian and how you can enter to win a copy of your own.

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

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    As the title states, there are 15 tunisian crochet projects in Modern Tunisian. The projects are beautiful and range from small accessories, decor and wearables and the book gives all the patterns an “Easy” rating. The projects in Modern Tunisian are:

    • A Poncho,
    • A Boomerang Shawl
    • A Cowl,
    • A Harlequin Scarf
    • A Hat & Fingerless Mitten Set
    • A Sweater,
    • A Wall Hanging,
    • A Table Runner,
    • A Floor Pillow,
    • A Throw Pill,
    • A Blanket,
    • Some Placemants,
    • A Storage Basket and,
    • A Tote Bag.
    tunisian crochet jacket featured in Modern Tunisian

    Yarns and Tools Used in Modern Tunisian by Mary Beth Temple

    The yarns used in Modern Tunisian range in weights from 2 (fine) to 5 (bulky). The majority of the projects use size 3 (light) to 4 (medium) weight yarns. The book provides the yarn brands and colours that are used in the book at the back of the book in the resource section. The yarn brands used are accessible in many big box stores like Walmart or Michaels and you may already have many of them in your stash. The yarns are:

    • Red Heart It’s a Wrap Rainbow
    • Premier Everyday
    • Lion Brand Vanna’s Style
    • Caron X Pantone
    • Pantons Classic Wool DK Superwash
    • Lion Brand Hearthland
    • Lily Sugar ‘n Cream
    • Lion Brand Mandala
    • Red Heart Unforgettable
    • Bernat Roving
    • Bernat Handirafter
    • Bernat Softee Baby
    colourful harlequinn tunisian crochet scarf

    The main tools and hooks are used in Modern Tunisian:

    • Tunisian hooks in sizes 5.5 – 10mm
    • Standard crochet hooks in sizes 5 – 9mm
    • Tapestry Needle
    • Bobbins for Colour Work
    • Pillow forms if you’re making the pillows

    The above list is not inclusive list of all the supplies potentially needed. Some smaller, various supplies are needed for some of the projects but the above list should be sufficent to get you started with the majority of the projects in the book.

    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.

    Woman wearing a tunisian crochet cowl

    You’ll need to know the basic Tunisian Crochet Stitches: Tunisian Simple Stitch, Tunisian Knit Stitch, Tunisian Purl Stitch and how to decrease those stitches. In addition to the tunisian stitches, basic crochet stitches like single crochet, double crochet and crab stitch are used in the book. There is a very clearly illustrated reference section that the back of the book that helps with these techniques should you need a reminder or refresher.

    I really liked the jacket pattern in Modern Tunisian and may actually make it for myself. The jacket pattern comes in sizes small to 2XL. I found the patterns clear and easy to understand even as a person that’s relatively new to tunisian crochet. I enjoyed that the patterns illustrate that you can make some beautiful projects using just the absolute basic tunisian crochet stitches as a beginner tunisian crocheter.

    If you’re interested in checking out Modern Tunisian: 15 Easy Projects Along with Technique Tips and Tricks by Mary Beth Temple, it can be purchased HERE.

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

    Cover of Modern Tunisan by Mary Beth Temple

    Giveaway

    Thanks to Leisure Arts, I have a PDF copy of Modern Tunisian: 15 Easy Projects Along with Technique Tips and Tricks by Mary Beth Temple to giveaway to one lucky winner!

    The Modern Tunisian Giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (void in Quebec and where prohibited by law) and ends Friday, November 20th, 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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