So.. I wanted a little tree for my desk at work. After a bit of searching, I found the pattern for Penny the Pine Tree.
I added some ‘tinsel’ – sparkly yarn (crochet chain) and some ‘baubles’ – needle deleted balls (if you’ve been reading – that’s what they were for!)
I’m quite happy with how it turned out, I’m sure it’ll make my desk look Christmassy!
A little while ago, I got an email from Age UK about innocent big knit 2013. Now, I CANNOT knit. I’ve tried. When I was little, my grandma (an excellent knitter), tired to teach me. I suck at it. I recently had another go. It didn’t go well. There are now photos as evidence, as well, not even the cat wanted to play with what I’d managed to create. Anyway.. Back to the big knit! basically, you knit litlle hats for innocent smoothies. In the winter, the little smoothie bottles where hats to keep warm (they’re kept in the fridge, poor things) and everyone which gets sold with a hat means Age UK get 25p. Now.. I like smoothies. Particularly innocent, who use a portion of their profit for charity and general good deeds, and I like making stuff. But not knitting.
So.. I had a look for a crochet pattern, and didn’t find one. I eventually emailed the lovely people at Age UK, who sent me a couple of knitted hats to try and make a pattern from – This is the result:
I was nowhere near as imaginative as a lot of people who make the hats, but I’m hoping someone will buy the poor smoothies which end up wearing them!
So, for anyone else out there who wants to have a go:
Note: This pattern uses US terms, for UK crocheters, please replace SC with DC and DC with TR.
Hook: Use any yarn you like, and hook size 4mm-4.5mm, which gets you the right size hat!
Basic Innocent Smoothie Bottle Hat
 Ch2
6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6sc)
2sc in each stitch (12sc)
2sc in each stitch (24sc)
sc in back loop of each stitch (24sc)
5- 9 sc all round
10. slip stitch round
Fasten off and sew in ends
 You can embellish this basic pattern using stripes, or sewing on googly eyes or ears:
Small Ears:
ch3
6 double crochet in 3rd chain from hook
fasten off
Big Ears:
ch5
sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 3 stitches, chain 1, turn
sc in each st, chain 1, turn
sc in each st, chain 1, turn
2sc in 1st stitch, sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in last stitch, chain 1, turn
sc in each st, chain 1, turn
1 dec sc, sc in next 2 stitches, 1 dec sc, chain 1, turn
2 dec sc
fasten off
Trunk:
ch 11
sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc to end.
Cup holder
Note: This pattern is written in US terms, for UK terms, crochet a dc wherever an sc is mentioned.
ch11
Fasten off!
Find coffee, use to stop hand from burning 🙂
Adjust pattern by reducing or increasing rows for a smaller or larger cup.
Single Crochet
Single Crochet, (abbreviated as sc) – US terms.
Double Crochet (dc) – UK terms
Start with a chain of your desired length (this is however many single crochet stitches you want to make, plus 1 extra chain stitch)
1. Insert hook in the second chain from the hook and yo
2. Pull the loop you just made through the next one, yo again
3. Pull the loop you just made through the other 2 loops.Â
You have completed your first single crochet stitch. Insert your hook in the next chain stitch to continue.
Getting started
Holding the hookÂ
Most people hold the hook like a pencil, as shown below:
Slip knot:
Crochet usually starts with a slip knot. To make one:
Â
Chain Stitch:Â
This is the most simple crochet stitch, but is an essential part of nearly all types of crochet.
Start with a slip knot.
1. Loop the wool over the hook (yo)
You now have 2 loops on your hookÂ
2. Pull the new loop through the original one
You are left with 1 loop, and have made 1 chain stitch
Your finished chain should look similar to ‘finger knitting’ but more consistent, as using a hook means stitches should always be a similar size.
Â
Joining a chain with a slip stitch:
Â
Push the hook through the middle of the first chain made
Â
Make a loop of wool over the hook, and pull through the original loops, leaving the new loop on the hook and joining the start and end of the chain together, creating a circle.
Â
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Abbreviations:
Ch – chain stitch (eg 3ch means 3 chain stitches)
Yo (also written yoh) – Yarn over hook –looping the wool over the hook to create a new loop
Â
Practicing chain and slip stitches – a Little Flower:
Start with a slipknot
Chain 15, and join with a slip stitch
*(chain 7, miss 2 stiches, slip stitch in next stitch)
repeat from * 4 times
 Fasten off
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