StoneGnome

December is calling for cozy crochet projects. I know, I'm looking forward to peace and quiet* and my crochet projects! I've found a few links for free projects you might want to try.

You really don't need that little knot in the beginning of your next crochet project. Here is a video showing how to avoid it.

It works with regular crochet as well as Tunisian and it doesn't matter how you like to hook into your starting chain.

Crochet a heart for Mother's Day.


This one doesn't need blocking, but it is still super cute and easy to do.

The Bumpy hat has now been translated into Danish.


If you need more patterns translated into Danish or German, let me know.

A few of my patterns are already available in more languages and it is possible to have a specific pattern translated by request. I miss talking crochet with my German translator anyway, so just write below or send me a message somewhere.

Here are the links for the Danish version of the Bumpy Hat:

• Lovecrochet  
• Ravelry

I will update the main post about the Bumpy hat pattern and include the links there too.

JFYI. The little girl figured out, that the tube can also be worn as a headband on warmer days. Clever girl.


It is General Prayer Day tomorrow here,
so have a nice weekend!

My latest pattern is now available. The hat and tube are square and are very light, despite the bumpy, fluffy look.


It was my 3 year old daughter, that requested the hat.

Here is a beautiful open Valentines Heart for you. It is a free pattern.


Use it for decoration or as a bookmark.

Here is a free snowflake pattern for you, that can bring bright snow into your life.


Use it for Christmas or use it as decoration, when other Christmas decorations are put away and everything feels a bit empty and dark.

Christmas gets closer every day. All full of love and (Xmas) hearts. Here is a free heart pattern for you.


I'll guide you at the beginning of the diagram as well as at the parts, when new things happen. So even if you are a newbie, you should be able to finalize this.

Have you been told to hold your hook as a pencil or maybe as a knife? This might be wrong for you.


Then, how to hold the hook? And how to avoid pain, if you want to crochet a lot?

Make a nice decoration for your bottle of water. Use it as nice touch or for more practical reasons.


Everybody brings a bottle of water at the fitness center or at a field trip. Some of the bottles look very much alike, and occasionally it can be difficult to find the right one.

Here is a pattern for a bottle decoration, that makes your bottle unique.

Say hello to another happy member of the baby toy family. The Smiley Cloud.


As a gift to everyone on the newsletter list and following on facebook, The crochet pattern is FREE for a few days - but on Ravelry only! Use the coupon code FREECLOUD.

Need boot cuffs - or just want to practice slip stitches? Use the boot cuffs as decoration, to stay warm or to give the boots a nice soft top.

A new pattern is out. A cute little Smiley Moon.


The Smiley Moon has actually existed for quite some time. Now it exists as a written pattern too. Find it at www.lovecrochet.com or Ravelry.

There are many ways to crochet a cord or strap. With or without an eye. And more or less elegant, when it comes to hide and weave in the loose ends.


I like a method, where both yarn ends are easy to hide afterwards. Here is a tutorial of how to do that.

Bymami has this exquisite pattern package with 5 different succulents. I wanted to try one with variegated yarn, and then I made a tuft of (sea)grass as well to create a sea theme. This might be a good way of spending leftover yarn.


Get links and patterns here.

Short 'n long rows. This is special techniques to use with slip stitches. It can be used as increase/decrease or it can be used to make slopes.

Learn about slip stitch foundation row, different slip stitches, stitch markers plus links to patterns.


Last week I wrote about the Forgotten Crochet Stitch - aka the very versatile slip stitch. Since then, I've spent hours chatting about it and got requests for tutorials too - especially for video tutorials. So I've got a lot coming up about slip stitches, that will hopefully be helpful.

Most of us use it frequently. Just a little here and there. Some consider it more of a technique than a stitch. But it IS a stitch.


We tend to forget that this stitch is very versatile and can be used for much more. It can give your work a dense - though soft and drapable - fabric, you can use it for decoration, and it can be used for a stretchy ribbing.

Have you figured out by now, what stitch I'm referring to?

When it is too warm to wear a hat, but your ears get cold, then a headband might be what you need. Here is a free pattern for you.

I've started to collect plastic bottles. I save those that have been used for vinegar. I found out, they are pretty easy to cut into different shapes - and they can be washed.


So hubby, please bear with me!

How do you join yarn for a color change - or if you need to add another yarn ball?



I don't like knots or sewing in ends. If I do amigurumi, I prefer to crochet over the yarn ends whenever possible. In almost every other case I prefer the Russian Join. To my experience, It can be used with most yarns and it blends in very well. I also use the Russian Join, if I suddenly find a knot in the middle of my yarn ball.

Meet Junior Egg. He likes to sit in his nest of yarn - or hang from a twig or a tree. The Junior Egg pattern is free!
About 10 days ago the kids and I played with paper and cardboard and we came up with an egg with legs because it was pretty easy for me to draw and cut out, while the kids put colors on the legs and glued them on the eggs.

Then I thought. Why not make a crochet version? So, her it is :)

This might be the tiniest advice ever, but wouldn't you like to get rid of the knot you get, when you start a new project?


You probably start with a slip knot and pull it tight. Then you have a little hard knot in the corner of your work. It doesn't add anything good to your work and can be difficult to hide - even if making a border - as it is always trying to run away and stick out.

Once in a while I talk to an experienced crocheter, who never did a gauge swatch. Because GAUGE sounds like something difficult. It's not.

Do you need to know your gauge? No. You can certainly crochet without knowing your gauge. But if you want to have just the slightest idea of what size your final work will be, you need it.

Very often the never-did-a-gauge-swatch-chat is followed by a funny story about extremely large or small hats.

It doesn't take long to learn to do a gauge swatch and it might save you hours of frogging for the rest of your life!

The back of the Tunisian Top Stitch has similarities to a chain mail - at least when using a large hook. I made a chain mail costume for our boy. I'll show you how to make one too.

The project is fast and it doesn't matter, if you make a little mistake here and there. So feel free to try even if you just learned to do the Tunisian Top Stitch.

This is a detailed guide, not a make-it-in-5-different-sizes pattern. Grab your yarn, measure tape, a shirt of approximately the right size and your creativity.

A very easy way to make a hat is making it sideways. You simply crochet a long rectangle and sew the ends and the top. And there you have a hat.


I'll show you how to do that and how to figure out the right sizes.

You have already made the base of your hat. Now you want a ribbed brim.

And when your hat is done, you want the hat to look smooth and soft without those edgy corners from your increases. Or maybe you want a little decoration?

This post gives you:

1. Nice tips for doing a ribbed brim
2. Guidelines for blocking
3. Tips for making ears

Everyone is asking for patterns for easy and warm hats.

Even if you are a beginner, you might not need a pattern. At least not if you just want something simple. Here is a guide you can follow and make great rounded hats from.