Milanese Lace Topper

This is a great pattern that's perfect for fall and reminds me of falling leaves, especially in the burnt orange color yarn.

Materials:
Size 11 circular needle
Size 11 double pointed needles
1 skein Lion Brans Vanna's Choice in Rust - I only used about half of the skein for one hat so I made two and gave one to a friend

Instructions:
Pattern available here. This pattern was brought to my attention by the reddit knit along last year sometimes. I just got around to making it now.

I made the brim shorter than the pattern called for, then even shorter on the second hat I made (not pictured). In the pictured hat, I knit only 10 rows for the brim after the first K1, P1 round. In the second hat, I made the brim even shorter and only knit 4 rows for the brim. I tried it with the brim that the pattern called for and I found the brim curled too much and did not lay flat, even with blocking.

Use the circular needle for most of the hat, then switch to the double pointed needles as you decrease and the circular needle cord becomes too long to hold such few stitches.

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Pattern: Hamburger Nook Case

Finished Measurements:

Fits a Nook HD tablet, measuring 7.65" x 5"

Materials:
Size H crochet hook
Less than 1 skein of worsted weight yarn each in Light Brown, Dark Brown, Red, Green, Mustard Yellow, and White

Instructions:
Using Light Brown yarn, ch 18

Round 1: 1 dc in second ch from hook, 1 dc in each ch across until the last ch, 2 dc in last ch, turn and work in the bottom loops of the beginning chs, 2 dc in first ch bottom, 1 dc in each ch bottom across until the last ch bottom, 2 dc in last ch bottom. Do not join - continue working in the round.

Rounds 2-5: 1 dc in each dc across.
Rounds 6-8: Using Dark Brown, 1 dc in each dc across.
Round 9: Using Mustard Yellow, 1 dc in each dc across.
Round 10: Using Red, 1 dc in each dc across until 3/4 of the way across the front side. Change to Green, 1 puff st in each dc until the end of the first side. Change to Red, 1 dc in each dc across.

Round 11: Using Green, 1 puff st in each dc/puff st across.
Rounds 12-17: Using Light Brown, 1 dc in each puff st/dc across.

Finishing:
To add seeds to the top of the bun, cut 2 inch strips of White yarn and wrap them around a dc, tying it in the back. Space the seeds out evenly.

Tips:
To seamlessly change colors, do the following for the last dc in the round:
Yo, insert hook in the next st, yo, pull yarn through stitch, yo, pull yarn through 2 loops on the hook, yo in the new color, pull yarn through last 2 loops on the hook.

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Crochet Market Bag

Make this cute market bag with a sturdy handle to hold all of your goodies.

Materials:
1 skein Dawn Sayelle in Fisherman - worsted weight yarn (I think it's an old yarn brand. I got it at a tag sale)
Size H crochet hook
Size J crochet hook

Instructions:
Pattern available here.

I made the first round with the size H crochet hook to make the stitches in the center part of the circle smaller than the rest of the work. This allows the bottom of the bag to lay flat and prevents it from poking out at an odd angle.

After the first round, I switched to the size J crochet hook and finished the rest of the piece.

Also, I wanted a bag that was longer and skinner so I skipped Round 6, making the bottom circle smaller.

I instantly filled mine with lots of yarn skeins just for kicks  and they fit perfectly.

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Star Crossed Slouchy Beret

This is one of my favorite hats to make and it comes out looking differently depending upon the yarn thickness you use. If you use a worsted weight yarn, it comes out with the perfect slouchiness.

Materials:
Size 11 circular needle (or double pointed needles)
Size 10 circular needle (or double pointed needles)
Cable needle
1 skein any worsted weight yarn
      I used various yarns from tag sales to make the hats in different colors, using less than one skein each time.

Instructions:
Pattern available here.

The red yarn was a bit thicker than the pattern called for, but I just skipped the last "work rows 1-6 one time" before beginning the decrease.

Also, for all hat colors, I switched to the size 10 needles when working this decrease round and all rounds following: "*K10, K2tog, repeat from * to the end of the round." This makes sure the hat is slouchy, but not too slouchy.

Tips:
This is a great pattern to try knitting cables without cable needles. A great tutorial video is available here (all Knitting Help videos are super helpful). Once you get the hang of it, the project goes much quicker because you don't need to pick up and drop a cable needle to make the cable.

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Ocean Tranquility Afghan

This is a great repetitive pattern that makes a light and snuggly throw for those cooler fall nights.

 

Materials:

2 skeins Special by Stylecraft in Pebbles (892 yards per skein - it's pretty large!)

Size G crochet hook

Instructions:

Pattern available here

 

I considered making this blanket without the edging to increase the length of the blanket a bit, but I decided to do the edging and I'm so happy I did. The edging really makes the piece.

I hate when I have too much extra yarn leftover that could have made the afghan longer, but I also don't want to tear some of it out if I don't have enough for the edging. I started the edging before I finished the blanket by pulling yarn from the other end and starting on the side immediately perpendicular to the row I just crocheted on the blanket. Once I edged three sides, I went back to increasing the blanket length and had very little yarn leftover.

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