Snow-Yo Man

I saw a really cute snowman made from fabric yo-yo's the other day. I wondered if I could re-create it in crochet and this is the result.

First you will need to make at least 6 yo-yo's. These are three dimensional, similar to the kind that are made for use in quilts or for embellishing things, rather than the flat circles that I would consider a crocheted yo-yo.

This snowman would work in any size yarn; for example: thread would make a tiny ornament. Once you get the basic idea of how he is constructed you can easily make him taller, shorter, fatter, etc.

You could also make a Santa, by using red yarn for the yo's, maybe with a black center yo-yo for his belt. Add a Santa face and hat, put a buckle on the belt, embellish with some whiskers and you will have Santa Claus. A pumpkin is another idea that would work up really easily this way. I think it would even work to make an angel.

Pattern
Gauge is unimportant.

First make 5 different size yo-yo's. You will need a total of 6, but two of them are the same size.

Materials
-WW yarn in white, (I estimate that I used between 3 and 4 Oz), small amounts of black, orange, and blue
-H and G hooks
-buttons, beads or whatever you would like to use for embellishment
-small amount of white stuffing for head
-Yarn needle
-sewing needle and black thread (used to sew embellishments onto the snowman, you could glue them on instead)

Stitches used:
Ch -chain
SS -slip stitch
DC -double crochet
HDC -half double crochet
SC -single crochet

Special Stitches
These are the way I did these techniques, not necessarily the correct way. You can use whatever method you like. Neatness and accuracy aren't that important here, since this won't show much.

DC 2 tog -Double crochet two together
Yarn over hook, insert into next stitch, Yarn over hook, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over hook, insert into next stitch, yarn over hook, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over, and pull through all loops on hook

HDC 2 tog -Half double crochet two together
Yarn over hook, insert into next stitch, yarn over hook, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over hook, insert in next stitch, yarn over hook, pull through all loops on hook.


Body of Snowman:

The body of the snowman is made up of yo-yos:














Use White yarn and H hook

Note: Start all DC rows with a Ch 3, start all HDC rows with a ch 2, (these count as stitches)
If a row is done in SC, start with a ch 1 and do a SC in the same stitch. In this case the ch 1 does not count as a stitch.

Finish all yo-yo's by gathering as directed in Yo-Yo 1.

Everything except the scarf is worked in rounds.



Yo-Yo 1 (make 2)
Leave a very long tail (say around 24 inches) on one of these to use for sewing the yo-yo's together. If you forget, don't worry about it, you'll just have to weave in an extra end!)

Ch 4 and form into a circle with a ss.

Round 1: Ch3 (counts as first DC( and do 11 more DC in the circle.) Join to top of beginning Ch 3 with SS (12 DC)
Round 2: Ch 3, Dc in same st, 2 DC in each st around Join to top of beginning Ch 3 with SS. (increase a stitch in every stitch) (24 DC)
Round 3: Ch 3, 2 DC in next st, *1 Dc in next st, 2 DC in next st* repeat from * to * around Join to top of Beginning CH 3 with SS (increase a stitch in every second stitch) (36 DC)
Round 4: Ch 3, DC in next st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat from * to * around Join to top of beginning ch 3. (increase a stitch in every third stitch) (48 DC)

Now start decreasing:
Round 5 and 6: Ch 3, DC decrease over next two stitches around, until you get to the last st. Dc in that st, and join to the top of the beginning ch 3

Fasten off, leaving a tail 8 or 10 inches long. Thread this tail into a yarn needle and weave the yarn through the stitches of the last row. Pull together tightly to gather the yo-yo into a fluffy shape. If its not fluffly looking enough for you gather up a few random stitches from the previous row also. The gathered side is the top of the yo-yo.

You should have something that looks like a squashed ball, pretty flat on the bottom and sort of ruffly and wrinkly on the top.

Yo-Yo 2: (make 1)
Made the same as yo-yo 1 with the addition of one more increase row.

After round 4 do a row where you increase in every 4th stitch. (60 DC)

Do two decrease rows, same as rounds 5 and 6 of yo-yo 1.

Yo-Yo 3: (make 1)

Same as yo-yo 1, except use HDC in place of all DC's. Use HDC's to do decrease rows rather than DC decrease.

Yo-Yo 4:
Same as yo-yo I except:
Round 1 and 2: Do HDC's in place of all DC's
Round 3 and 4 : Do SC in place of DC's
do only one row of DC decreases before gathering.

Yo-Yo 5:
Same as y0-yo 1 except:
Do round 1 Same as yo-yo one.
Round 2: Use Sc in place of DC
Do one decrease row using DC stitch.

This should give you 6 yo-yos, in 5 different sizes.

Fasten off and weave in all ends except for the long tail that you left for sewing the yo-yo's together. To assemble the snowman's body from the yo-yo's stack them in this order, starting from the bottom and working up to the snowman's neck:
#1, 2,1,3,4,5. The largest yo-yo is second from the bottom and they get progressively smaller as they go up. If you wanted to, you could make an additional yo-yo #3 and use it as the bottom yo-yo. This would give a more rounded silhouette to the snowman. The bottom yo-yo should have the long tail for joining the yo-yos together.
To join them together, thread the long tail onto your yarn needle. Pull the yarn up through the center of all the yo-yo's. when you get to the top, turn around and go back down to the bottom. Make sure you catch some strands of the top yo-yo before you go back down. You can either fasten off or repeat this step to make the joining a little more secure.
I forgot to leave a long tail, so I just brought a long strand of yarn up through the yo-yo's back down again and then I tied the ends together and tucked them into the bottom yo-yo.
One time up and down seemed secure enough to me, but my snowman is just going to sit on a shelf.

Here's what the snowman should look like so far














HEAD

Use white yarn, and G hook.

Chain 3, join with SS to form circle.
Round 1: Chain 2, 9 HDC's in circle. Join to top of beginning ch 2 with a SS. (10 HDC's)
Round 2: Ch 2, HDC in same st, 2 HDC's in each st around Join to top of beginning ch 2 with a SS. (20 HDC's)

(If you want a larger head do another increase row, increasing in every 2nd stitch as in yo-yo one, before continuing. My snowman's head was too big, when I did this. I actually still think my snowman's head is a little too big, but this is a matter of personal preference. You could make it smaller by doing 10 HDC's in round 1 rather than 12)

Rounds 3 to 7: Ch 2, HDC in each st around, Join to top of beginning ch 2 with a SS.
Round 8: Ch 2, HDc decrease in next 2 stitches around, HDC in last st. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Weave in beginning yarn end. Stuff head with stuffing. To some extent you can control the head size by the amount of stuffing you put in it. Thread tail on yarn needle, and gather bottom of head together to form it into a ball. Leave a tail long enough to use for sewing the head to the body.
Sew head to body.

HAT

Use black yarn and G hook.
Work through round 2 of Yo-yo 3.
(note that if you made a larger head, you may want to work another increase row (possibly in sc) before starting the sides of the hat)

Start sides of hat:
(if you are using very stiff yarn, you may be able to get by with HDC's rather than SC's here and do fewer rows)
Round 3: Ch 1, Sc in same st, sc in the front loop only of each st around. Join to top of beginning ch 2 with a SS. (24 SC)
Round 4and 5: Ch 1, Sc in same st, and in each st around. If you want a taller hat do another row or two.
Last row of sides of hat: Same as row 4 and 5 but increase round by 2 sc (26 sc)

Start Brim:
Round 1:
Chain 2, and turn. Hdc in same st as joining. 2 HDc in front loop only of each st around Join to top of beginning ch 2. (52 HDC)
Round 2: ch, Sc in each st around. Join to first st.

You can make the brim wider by repeating round 2.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Shape hat brim with your fingers.
Sew hat to snowman's head. I used the end tail to do this.


Scarf

Chain 45, (or however long you want the scarf to be,), turn and HDC in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. Fasten off. I added some fringe to the ends of my scarf.
Tie scarf loosely around snowman's neck.

Now that the snowman is assembled, give him some personality with embellishments.
I used beads for eyes, buttons for buttons, and sewed a cardinal button to his hat. I made an orange yarn french knot for a nose, but I haven't managed to give him a mouth yet. I've tried three times to embroider one on, and none of my attempts worked out. I'm going to leave it like this for now and buy some smaller black beads next time I'm out and use those for his mouth.

Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell one or two items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.

Napkin rings

These are very simple. I wanted napkin rings to go with my Christmas dishes. However, it would be really easy to make these to go with any set of dishes.

My rings turned out about 2 inches in diameter, and about 1 1/2 inches high.

I used Lustre-sheen yarn and a F hook. I think size D or E would've been a little better, but I can't find any of my smaller hooks. I also used 1/8 inch wide ribbon.

Chain 26 and join with a slip stitch to make a circle.

Round 1: Being careful not to twist the chain, CH 1, and then SC insame stitch, and in each chain around, joining to the first SC with a SS.

Round 2 and 3: Ch 1 and SC in same stitch and in each stitch around, join with a SS.

round 4: Ch 3, *skip a stitch, HDC in next stitch, ch 1*, repeat around, skip last stitch, join to 2nd chain of beginning ch 3 with a SS. (You are doing a HDC in every other stitch, with a ch 1 between them.) If you wish to use wider ribon, you may need to do DC in place of the HDC's. In that case start the round with a chain 4)

Round 5: Ch I, SC in same ST, and in each St and chain 1 space around. Join with a SS.

Round 6 and 7: repeat rounds 2 and 3.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Weave a short length of ribbon through the spaces of round 4 and tie in a bow.

If you wanted to use WW yarn, you will probably want to begin with a shorter starting chain. Thread would also work with a longer starting chain.

Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.

Dark Chocolate Scarf

This scarf works well for a man, since it isn't at all lacy.

This isn't by any means an original stitch pattern. I've seen it or something very similar in several patterns.

I apologize for the lousy picture. I tried to get a close up picture to show how nice this simple stitch pattern looks. It kind of reminds me of frozen waffles. Eventually I will get a better picture and replace this one, but I don't seem to be able to get one today.

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn (I used one 6 oz skein of TLC Essentials in dark brown, to make a scarf that measures about 7 inches wide by 5 feet long.)
size K hook (6.5 mm)

Gauge; doesn't matter
My scarf came out about 7 inches wide. I worked the scarf quite loosely.

Stitches used:
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
sc2tog - single crochet two together (insert hook in 1st sc, draw up loop, insert hook in next sc, draw up loop, put loop of yarn around hook, and draw through all three loops on hook)

Chain 22 loosely(or any even numberof chains depending on the width you want)

Row 1: sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across (21 sc) (pattern works on any uneven number of stitches)

Row 2: ch 1,* sc2tog in next 2 sc, ch 1*, repeat from *to* until you get to the last stitch, sc in last stitch.

Row 3 and following rows: ch 1, *sc2tog using the sc and the ch 1 loop from the previous row as the two stitches that you sc together, ch 1* repeat from * to * until you get to the last stitch, sc in last stitch.

Continue row 3 until the scarf is as long as you want it to be.

Last row: sc in each stitch and ch 1 loop across. (21 sc.)

This doesn't make a perfectly straight edge, but I like the way it looks, kind of a subtle wavy edge,so I leave it as it is, but if you wanted to you could edge it in sc.


I also like this stitch pattern for dishcloths because it is quite solid, but not too thick to get into small places.
You can also do this stitch by stitching into the chain loop rather than into the ch 1 space. I just think it's easier to go into the space, and it makes the stitch a little more solid.


Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.

Ribbed Dishcloth

Ribbed Dishcloth

This dishcloth has rows of ribbing to give it a little texture, so it works well for scrubbing.

My picture isn't very good, but it gives you an idea of the texture.

Finished size: about 10 inches wide x 11 inches tall

Materials:

Sugar and cream twists or any other WW cotton yarn, about 2 ounces

Size J hook

Stitches used:

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet

Hdc =half double crochet

Fphdc =front post half double crochet

Bphdc =back post half double crochet

Pattern:

Chain 30

Row 1: sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across. (29 sc)

Row 2: ch 2 (does not count as stitch) hdc in each stitch across

Row 3: Repeat row 2

Row 4: ch 1, sc in first 2 stitches, +Fphdc around post of next stitch, Bphdc around post of next stitch+ repeat from + to + ending with FPHDC, until you get to the last two stitches, sc in last two stitches (29 stitches).

Repeat rows 2 to 4, six times. Your dishcloth should measure around 9 ½ inches, and you should have 7 Front post/back post rows.

Last row: ch 1, sc in each st across (29 stitches).

(optional) Work a row of sc around the entire dishcloth, placing 3 sc in each corner.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.

Another Simple snowflake

I tried to block this one with spray starch and it didn't work out very well. the picture is lousy, but I think the general idea is there. This pattern is suitable for a beginner.

I used size 3 thread and a C hook. My flake is about 4 inches from point to point.

Stitches used:

ch chain

ss slip stitch

dc double crochet

tc triple crochet

Ch 5, join with ss to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch 3, dc into ring, ch 2, *2 dc into ring, ch 2*, Repeat from * to* 4 more times, join to top of first ch3. (You should have 12 dc and 6 ch 2 spaces.)

Round 2: Ss to first ch 2 space, ch 3, dc, ch2, tc, ch2, 2 dc all into first ch 2 space, in each of the other ch 2 spaces work the following: 2dc, ch2, 1 tc, ch2, 2dc. Join to top of first ch 3.

Round 3: ss to first ch 2 space, *Ch 7, ss into fourth ch from hook, ch 4, ss into next ch 2 space. Ss in next 2 DC. Ss in space between the next 2 DC and ch 3, join with ss to same space. SS in next 2 dc and into next ch 2 sp.*, repeat from * to* until you get back to the beginning.

Finish off. Stiffen and block.

Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.

Tagged

Marie Anne challenged me to a 6th picture post.
The sixth folder in my picture file only has 5 pictures, so I will post that one. Its a dishcloth that I made recently.
Here is how I made it. This isn't much of a pattern, just a way of makeing a thinner stretchy crochet fabric.
Chain 29. (or any uneven number to get the width you want)
Row 1: Sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across. (28 SC)
Row 2: Ch1, sc in first st, * sc in FLO of next stitch, in BlO of next stitch* repeat from * to * until you get to the last stitch, sc in last st.
Continue with row 2 until you dishcloth is the size you want.
Finish with a row of sc through both loops to make a more solid ending row.

If I was a little more ambitious, I would have added a single crochet border all around.

Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.

Toddler or Small child slippers

Size: can be made to fit from about age 2 to age 4

Materials: Worsted weight yarn

H hook

Stitches used:

Ch (chain)

Hdc (Half double crochet)

Dc (double crochet)

Sc (single crochet)

Ss (slip stitch)

Slippers are made starting at the toe. The first part is made in the round and then you will be turning at the end of each row to form the ankle opening. Beginning chains count as first stitch in all rows. Slippers can be made to fit a longer foot by working row 7 once or twice more. You could also work an extra round 3. The slippers are designed to come up toward the top of the instep, so they will stay on little feet better.

Chain 4, and ss into first ch to form a ring.

Row 1: Ch 2 , 8 hdc in ring, join to top of beginning chain 2 with ss. (9 hdc)

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each stitch around, join to top of beginning ch 3 with ss (18 dc)

Row 3-6: Ch 3, turn, Dc in each stitch around, join to top of beginning chain 3 with ss. (18 DC)

The following rows are no longer worked in rounds.

Row 7-10: Ch 2, turn, DC in next 13 stitches (14 DC)

Form heel shaping:

Row 11: Dc in next 4 st, * dc decrease in next 2 stitches*, repeat from * to * once, DC in last 5 st (12 st)

Row 12: Ch 2, turn, Dc in next 3 stitches, *dc decrease in next 2 stitches * , repeat from * to * once, Dc in last 4 stitches.

Join top two corners of slipper with ss,

Row 13 and 14: Ch 1, sc evenly around ankle of slipper, join to first sc with ss.

You can work an extra round or two of row 13 to make the slipper come up higher on the ankle.

Fasten off leaving enough length to sew back of slipper together. Weave in ends and finish.

To make the slipper a little larger add another repeat or two of row 7.

Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.