Flower Motif Applique

I'm pretty sure this is my favorite pattern to date. It's quick, fairly simple, & uses a variety of stitches. You also don't have a lot of counting to do on this one, which makes it nice & far less nerve-wracking.

This is a Skill Level 2 pattern. (from the Cozy Crochet Kit)
Stitches and techniques used
Chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, triple crochet
Working into ring
Working in the round

Materials
Aurora Yarns/Garnstudio's Muskat (sport weight [note that sport weight is also referred to as Double Knit or DK]; 100% Egyptian cotton; each approx 1 3/4 oz/50 g and 100 yd/100 m), 1 ball Mango #51
Crochet hook, size F/5 (3.75 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge


Gauge
In pattern, after Rnd 1, motif measures approx 1" in diameter

Finished size
Approx 2 1/4" diameter

Pattern
Ch 8. Join with slip st to form ring.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, 15 sc into ring. Join with slip st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc into same st as last slip st, *ch 3, skip next 2 sc, sc into next sc. Repeat from * around, ending round with ch 3, slip st to first sc.

Rnd 3: Slip st into next ch-3 sp, *(sc, ch 2, dc, 3 tr, dc, ch 2, sc) into ch-3 sp. Repeat from * around, ending rnd with slip st to first sc. Fasten off.

Variation:     

For a more colorful flower, work Rnd 1 in a contrasting color. The samples shown in the photograph use combinations of Butter #30, Orange #47, and Mango #51.

 My first attempt left much to desire in the way of Flower Motif Appliques. I made the mistake of repeating the entire instruction for Rnd 3 instead of just the details between the asterisks. That basically means that each time I started a new petal, I would slip stitch the last petal to the space made by the Ch-3. Then I would proceed with my *sc, ch 2, etc.*

This is possibly why the FMA looks as sad as it does. The petals are not in the least uniform, which makes the entire piece wonky. Then at the end I've got a big jumbled mess of yarn connecting the last petal to the 1st (see: the area about where my hook is still connected to the piece).

After attempting this once, though, I definitely felt more confident in a second attempt. In fact, I even looked forward to it.

My second attempt is ages better. As you can see, the petals are all uniform in size. None of them are squished together or twisting this way and that. What's that? Why are there 6 petals on this FMA when there are clearly only 5 petals on both the pattern photograph and my first attempt?

Well, to be honest, I don't really know. I suppose I could wager a guess in that the top petal there isn't really attached to a ch-3 sp. In fact, that space is only a ch-2. I'm not sure how it got there, but if I had to guess, I'd say that is the spot where I was supposed to slip st the last sc to the first sc. I'm not positive though.

You should also note that I didn't complete this piece to the pattern. I apparently forgot that I was supposed to do 3 tr in the middle of the petals, and instead only did 1. I realized this as I typed the pattern here.

Ahhh, my 3rd attempt. My attempt which was supposed to blow away all other attempts. It's pretty, isn't it? I used my favorite yarn for this one, as I was sure it was going to be perfect and something I would cherish forever.

This yarn is fingering weight (I know it's really thin, that's about it). It also makes a cute little FMA. In fact, it's a bit smaller than it's supposed to be. I'd like to blame that on the yarn (and it definitely contributes to the FMAs small stature), but sadly I repeated my mistake all over again with this one. You'll notice this one only has 5 petals (hooray for lucking into that one), though it's missing those extra tr in the middle of each petal.

I'm starting to think that maybe I should have paid more attention to my counting.

Fourth time's a charm? Using the same fingering weight yarn as before, I managed to get all my tr chains into 5 petals for a most darling result. I'm sure if I used the recommended sport weight (DK), the flower would be a tad larger, though smaller flowers can also be useful. Looking at this FMA, I can imagine using some thread to attach this to just about anything for a cute flowery embellishment. Right now I'm wondering if I can find hair clips that are round and have a hole in the middle. I think this would make the cutest hair accessory. This might also be the perfect little flower to turn the Beary Cute Hat into a Beary Cute Hat for Girls. There seems to be a plethora of opportunity packed into this simple little flower.




Next up: Boyfriend's Hat

Soft Coaster, Take 2.

This is what I came up with when I tried my hand at the Soft Coaster for a second time. This one is much less wonky (read: more round) but I still have my issues with it. For one, it curls up on the edges. I'm sure this has something to do with my gauge (which I'll learn to check as I go along at some point). I used a 3.75 hook (though the pattern calls for a 4.00) and I still managed to get the coaster to be 4" in diameter, per the pattern. I think this works out because I tend to crochet larger stitches to make it easier for me to pass the hook through. You can also see that this coaster is missing the gaping holes the previous one had, which I'm proud of. I'd still like to try these again with proper yarn and a 4.00 hook and see what I come up with.

I came across one problem with this pattern, though it might just be me. The pattern gives you the number of stitches in each round. I did not manage to count that same amount of stitches in my coaster. Both round 3 & round 4 were 3 less stitches than I should have had. I'm not really sure how this happened, as I followed the directions precisely, and the coaster is the appropriate size. I wonder if my missing stitches are user error or pattern error. I also wonder if this is why my coaster curls up on the sides a bit. Sadly, I'll probably never know, as I can't seem to figure out where I would put those extra 3 stitches.

For now, I think I'll leave it be.

Next up: Flower Motif Applique

Soft Coasters

I purchased the Cozy Crochet Kit, which included this pattern, from Barnes and Noble a few years back for $23. I've attempted to find it online, in case you wanted to buy it, but for some reason people are trying to sell it for over $100. I even found one site which is charging over $200! I have no clue why, but don't buy it. It's so-called "simple instructions" are anything but, and it's barely worth the $23 I paid for it. If you want to learn to crochet, do yourself a favor and go buy a Crochet Magazine. Look in the back and make sure the edition you have has instructions for a Single Crochet and a Double Crochet (at the very least, it will get you started). That is what I did, and I wouldn't be crocheting today if I hadn't.

Now onto the soft coaster. This is what the coaster should look like (according the the picture which accompanied the pattern.)

This is a skill level 1 pattern.
Stitches and techniques used

Chain, double crochet, slip stitch

Increasing

Working in the round

Materials

Elmore-Pisgah's Peaches & Creme (worsted weight; 100% cotton; each approx 2 1/2 oz/71 g and 122 yd/112m), Williamsburg Blue #24 and Chocolate #121; 2 balls will make 4 coasters.

Crochet hook, size G/6 (4.00 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge

In pattern, Rounds 1 and 2 measure 2" in diameter.

Note

Each DC and ch-3 counts as 1 stitch.

Finished size
Approx 4" in diameter


Pattern

Ch 4.

Rnd 1 (RS): 11 dc into fourth ch from hook. Join with slip st to top of ch-3 (12 sts.)


Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc into same st as slip st, *2 dc into next dc. Repeat from * around, ending row with slip st to top of ch-3 (24 sts.)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc into same st ans alip st, *dc into next dc, 2 dc into each of next dc, dc into next dc, 2 dc into next dc. Repeat from * around, ending rnd with dc into next dc, 2 dc into each of the next 2 dc. Slip st to top of ch-3 (39 dc)

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc into same st as slip st, *dc into next dc, 2 dc into next dc. Repeat from * around. Join with slip st to ch-3 (59 sts). Fasten off.

If you're confused, you're not alone. If I figure it out, you'll be the first to know! For the record, I won't be using the suggested yarn or the suggested crochet hook, because I have neither. Instead I'll be attempting it first with my blue practice yarn and either my 3.75 or my 5.00 hook (as that's the closest I have to 4.00). It looks like I might be going hook shopping this weekend!

Wish me luck!