Knitted Bells
Worsted weight yarn
Knitting needles, size 5
Jingle Bell
Cast on 14 stitches. Row 1: Knit across row. Row 2: Purl first 4 stitches, knit across rest of row. Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you've got 21 ridges. Bind off. With yarn needle, sew ends together to make a tube. Run yarn through edge loops on top and draw tight and tie to close, making top of bell. Curled edge (curling up on outside) is bottom edge of bell. Tie jingle bell inside bell and secure with a bow (or a hanging loop for an ornament) at the top. Note: Experiment with yarn weights and needle sizes to get the size bell you want, from very small to quite large. These make great Christmas tree ornaments and bridal shower favors or decorations.
KNITTED SNOWMAN CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
With white knitting worsted weight yarn and size 6 needles, cast on 24 sts.
Rows 1 - 8: Stockinette stitch. (Knit one row, purl one row).
Row 9: Knit first 2 stitches together, knit across row, knit last 2 stitches together.
Row 10: Purl across row.
Rows 11 - 14: Stockinette stitch.
HAT: Attach different color for hat.
Rows 1-4: Stockinette stitch.
Row 5: Knit first 2 stitches together, Knit across row, Knit last 2 stitches together.
Row 6: Purl across row.
Row 7: Knit first 2 stitches together, Knit across row, Knit last 2 stitches together. Continue until 2 stitches are left on needle. Bind off.
Finishing: Sew snowman together up the back, gathering the bottom, and stuffing with cotton as you go. Chain (crochet) a scarf in desired color and tie around "neck" or use ribbon for a scarf. Use fabric paints, sequins, or scraps of felt to make face and buttons. Attach string or yarn to hang from Christmas tree. Makes a cute package decoration, too.
KNITTED TRAVEL SLIPPERS
These slippers are great for traveling. They fold flat and fit easily into a purse or overnight bag. They make a nice gift.
Size 6 needles
Knitting worsted weight or Sayelle Yarn
(3 oz. skein is plenty to make a pair)
Cast on 4 stitches. Doing garter stitch, increase one stitch at the beginning of every row until there are 20 stitches. Increase one stitch for every stitch on the needle, for a total of 40 stitches.
Work rib stitch (K2, P2) until piece is long enough to wrap around your foot (approx. 40 rows).
Doing garter stitch decrease one stitch at the beginning of every row until there are 6 stitches left. Knit 2, yo, k2tog, knit 2 (makes buttonhole).
Decrease one stitch at beginning of next two rows. There will be 4 stitches left on needle. Bind off.
Finishing: Fold piece in half, with triangular sections together at the top. The garter stitch portion will go over the instep of the foot. The ribbed portion will cover the foot. Sew up along rib sides, making toe and heel. Sew small button (1/2" - 1") on the the side opposite the buttonhole.
Variation: Instead of a button and buttonhole, knit enough rows (4 stitches) of garter stitch to make tie straps before starting the increasing portion and after finishing the decreasing portion. Sew up the toe and heel as above, and tie the slipper closed over the instep of your foot.
Easy Crocheted "Watch" Cap
Use knitting worsted weight yarn, about 3 oz., and a size F, G, or H crochet hook, depending on whether you want it tight or loose. The tighter the stitch the warmer the hat.
Chain as many stitches as necessary for the length of the hat (measure from crown of head to forehead and add about two inches to turn up as a cuff).
Row 1: Single crochet in each chain across the entire row. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 2: Single crochet in back loop only of each stitch across row but leave the last five stitches unworked. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 3: Single crochet in back loop only of each stitch across row. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 4: Single crochet in back loop only of each stitch across row, picking up the five uworked stitches at the end. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 5: Single crochet in back loop only of each stitch acoss row. Chain 1 and turn.
Repeat rows 2 through 5 until the piece is as long as necessary to go around the head sew the two short edges together to make a tube. (This should fit comfortably on head.) Take a running stitch around small end (top of hat) and pull, gathering and closing the top of the hat. Tie off tightly and weave yarn end into work on underside of the hat. If desired, a pompon may be attached to the center of the top of the hat. Turn up cuff on bottom of hat. This hat covers the ears and is very warm.
Easy Crocheted Bookmark
knitting worsted weight (4-ply) yarn
Crochet hook size G or H
Chain 53 stitches. (Last 3 chains count as 1 double crochet.) Work 3 double crochet (dc) in the fourth chain from hook. Work 3 dc in each of the next 9 chain stitches. (This will make a spiral that will hang out of the book.) Slip stitch in next chain and fasten off, weaving end of yarn into the spiral stitches. Make a small tassle for the other end of the bookmark by winding several loops of yarn around your hand and attaching with a slip knot into the first chain stitch. This gives you a spiral that hangs out of the top of the book, a chain to go inside the book to mark your place, and a small tassle that hangs out of the bottom of the book. I especially like using variegated yarn for these bookmarks. These work up quickly and easily are a good way to use up small amounts of yarn leftover from other projects. They make good Sunday School prizes and Christmas stocking stuffers.
Easy Crocheted Spiral Ponytail Ties
knitting worsted weight (4-ply) yarn
crochet hook size G or H
Chain 13. Work 3 double crochet (dc) in 4th chain from hook. Work 3 dc in each of the rest of the chain stitches. After final 3 dc, close up the spiral with a slip stitch. Chain 73. Work 3 dc in fourth chain from hook. Work 3 dc in each of the next 9 stitches, closing up the spiral with a slip stitch after the final 3 dc. Tie off and weave in yarn end. This gives you a fairly long chain with a spiral on each end. Tie the chain portion in a bow over your regular ponytail elastic. The spirals will fall down on either side of the ponytail.
** NOTE: THE SPIRAL BOOKMARKS AND PONYTAIL TIES MAKE WONDERFUL CAT TOYS!!! The spirals themselves also make cute Christmas tree ornaments, and the ponytail ties make cute gift package decorations. **
Crocheted Christmas Wreath Pins
Materials needed:
Green knitting worsted weight (4-ply) yarn
crochet hook size G or H
1-inch curtain ring
Narrow red ribbon for bow
Small amount of red yarn and
yarn needle (optional)
Small safety pin
Attach green yarn to curtain ring, work single
crochet all around ring, approximately 17 stitches.
Join with slip stitch. This is the front of the
wreath. Chain 1, do not turn. In each single
crochet stitch, work 1 half double crochet and a slip
stitch (this will make a scalloped edge). Join and
tie off, working yarn ends into the back of the
wreath. Thread the narrow red ribbon around one of
the half double crochet stitches and tie a bow. If
desired, use the red yarn and make several French
knots on the front of the wreath to represent holly
berries. Turn the wreath over to the back side.
Open the safety pin and work the large end through
the back of several stitches and back out again so
you can close the pin.
