Free Christmas Pudding Crochet Pattern

My last post has generated a lot of attention which is great! This has been my busiest month since I started my blog and we're barely into December!

This is a pattern for a christmas pudding, about a month ago a lady in my work asked me to make her a christmas pudding to decorate her desk in the office, I have since crocheted two others as so many people want them!

 

Materials:
3.5 mm/E crochet hook
2.75 mm/C crochet hook
Wide eyed needle
Brown DK yarn
White DK yarn
Small amount of red DK yarn
Small amount of green DK yarn
Stuffing

Stitch Abbreviation:
Ch - Chain stitch
Sc - single crochet
ScInc - two single crochet in one stitch
Sc2Tog - single crochet two stitches together (decrease)
Ss - slip stitch
Picot - chain three, slip stitch in the first chain loop.


The Pattern:

using your 3.5mm / E hook

In Brown

Make a magic loop
Round 1: Sc6
Round 2: ScInc in each stitch
Round 3: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc next stitch. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 4: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 1. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 5: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 2. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 6: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 3. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 7: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 4. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 8: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 5. Repeat to the end of the round 
Round 9: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 6. Repeat to the end of the round  
Round 10: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 7. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 11: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 8. Repeat to the end of the round  
Round 12: Sc in each stitch.
Round 13: Sc in each stitch.
Round 14: Sc in each stitch.
Round 15: Sc in each stitch.
Round 16: Sc in each stitch.

In white:

Round 17: Sc in each stitch. In this round I used spike stitch around in no particular order, making clusters of spikes in some areas and more sparce in other areas, not limiting to the row imediately below the current but also two rows and someties even three rows below the current.

Round 18: Sc in each stitch.
Round 19: Sc in each stitch.
Round 20: Sc2Tog, Sc 8. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 21: Sc2Tog, Sc 7. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 22: Sc2Tog, Sc 6. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 23: Sc2Tog, Sc 5. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 24: Sc2Tog, Sc 4. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 25: Sc2Tog, Sc 3. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 26: Sc2Tog, Sc 2. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 27: Sc2Tog, Sc 1. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 28: Sc2Tog to the end of the round.

Make sure your pudding is firmly stuffed and sew up :)

using your 2.75mm / C hook

Berries: (make 2)

In Red

Make a magic ring

Round 1: Sc 6 in the ring

Round 2: Sc around.

sew up and sew very close to each other near the centre of the top of the pudding

using your 2.75mm / C hook

Leaves:

Ch 12, sc in the second loop for the hook, sc 6, picot, sc2, picot, sc2, picot.

Now you'll be turning to the other side of the leaf.

Sc 2, Picot, Sc 2, Picot, Sc 6.  finish off, and sew in any loose ends.

Now once you've sewn everything together your christmas pudding is finished!

As always If you come accross any issues or errors in this pattern please let me know!

you can contact me:

Here!

www.facebook.com/kimurakraft  

www.twitter.com/markuskimura

Crocheted Poppy Appeal Update.

A few post back I mentioned I was crocheting poppies for Remembrance Day. I just wanted to let those who are interested that I raised £65. Instead of donating it to the poppy appeal charity, we decided to donate it to the Erskine Charity which has been caring for veterans since 1916.

For more information on the Erskine charity please visit www.erskine.org.uk

Free Crochet Christmas Tree Pattern.

This will be the first free pattern I've posted in a long time. I've been so excited for christmas this year, but more for getting to decorate things! I feel this pattern totally blows any pattern I've ever posted before out of the water.

I decided I wanted to put a tree on my desk in work and came up with this little cutie!

Materials: 

3.5 mm/E crochet hook
2.75 mm/C crochet hook
Red DK yarn
Black DK yarn
Brown DK yarn
Green DK yarn
Green thread
Yellow DK yarn
Various coloured beads (you'll need about 40 - 50)
Something to weight the bottom with.

Stitch translation:

BLO - Back loop only
FLO - Front Loop Only
SC - Single Crochet
SCDEC - single crochet decrease

Using your 3.5 mm hook

In red.

make a magic ring 

Round 1: sc6

Round 2: 2sc in each stitch

Round 3: 2sc in first stitch sc next, repeat to the end of the row

Round 4: 2sc in first stitch sc next 2, repeat to the end of the row

Round 5: 2sc in first stitch sc next 3, repeat to the end of the row

Round 6: sc blo around

Round 7: sc around

Round 8: sc around

Round 9: sc around

Round 10: 2sc in first stitch 14sc, 2sc next stitch, 14 sc

Round 11: sc around 

Round 12: 6sc, 2sc next stitch, 15sc, 2sc next stitch, 9 sc

Round 13: sc around

Round 14: 12sc 2,2sc next stitch, 16sc, 2sc next stitch, 4sc

Round 15: sc around FLO
At this point weigh down the pot and stuff, and stuff as you go along the pattern.

In black

Round 16: scdec 4sc, repeat to the end of the row

Round 17: scdec 3sc, repeat to the end of the row

Round 18: scdec 2sc, repeat to the end of the row

In brown

Round 19: sc around

Round 20: sc around

Round 21: sc around

In green

Round 22: 2sc in first stitch sc next 2, repeat to the end of the row

Round 23:  2sc in first stitch sc next 3, repeat to the end of the row

Round 24: 2sc in first stitch sc next 4, repeat to the end of the row

Round 25: 2sc in first stitch sc next 5, repeat to the end of the row

Round 26: 2sc in first stitch sc next 6, repeat to the end of the row

Round 27: 2sc in first stitch sc next 7, repeat to the end of the row

Round 28: 2sc first stitch, sc next 8, repeat to the end of the row

Round 29: sc around 

Round 30: BLO, scdec, sc 28, scdec, sc 28

Round 31: BLO sc 9, scdec, sc 27, scdec, sc 18. 

Round 32: BLO sc 18, scdec, sc 26, scdec, sc8.

Round 33: BLO, scdec, sc 25, scdec, sc 25.

Round 34: BLO sc 8, scdec, sc 24, scdec, sc 16.

Round 36: BLO sc 16, scdec, sc 23, scdec, sc 7.

Round 35: BLO sc around

Round 37: BLO scdec, sc 22, scdec, sc 22.

Round 38: BLO sc 7, scdec, sc 21, scdec, sc 14.

Round 39: BLO sc 14, scdec, sc 20, scdec, sc 6.

Round 40: BLO scdec, sc 19, scdec, sc 19.

Round 41: BLO sc 6, scdec, sc18, scdec, sc12.

Round 42: BLO sc12, scdec, sc17, scdec, sc5.

Round 43: BLO sc around

Round 44: BLO scdec, sc 16, scdec, sc 16.

Round 45: BLO sc 5,scdec, sc 15, scdec, sc 10.

Round 46: BLO sc 10, scdec, sc 14, scdec, sc 4.

Round 47: BLO scdec, sc 13, scdec, sc 13.

Round 48: BLO sc 4, scdec, sc 12, scdec, sc 8.

Round 49: BLO sc 8, scdec, sc 11, scdec, sc 3.

Round 50: BLO scdec, sc 10, scdec, sc 10.

Round 51: BLO sc 3, scdec, sc 9, scdec, sc 6.

Round 52: BLO sc 6, scdec, sc 8, scdec, sc 2.

Round 53: BLO scdec, sc 7, scdec, sc 7, scdec.

Round 54: BLO sc 2, scdec, sc 6, scdec, sc4.

Round 55: BLO sc 4, scdec, sc 5, scdec, sc 1.

Round 56: BLO scdec, sc 4, scdec, sc 4.

Round 57: BLO sc 1, scdec, sc 3, scdec, sc 2.

Round 58: BLO sc 2, scdec, sc 2, scdec.

Branches:
 
For the branches I threaded my beads onto the green thread and then formed a slipknot with the thread and green yarn together. I then worked slip stitches (SS) into the loops left by working in BLO in the main body of the tree, and made the branches by using a picot stitch. To work the picot stitch:

 Chain 3, and slip stitch into the third chain from the hook, to add a bead to a branch bring a bead up and work it into the second chain.


To make the star I used the smaller crochet hook and a pattern from Inner Child Crochet which can be found HERE. The pattern shows three different sizes, I used the smallest size.

Now that your'e finished crocheting, take a few minutes to sew in any loose ends and show off your new decoration with pride!

I'm still new to writing up my patterns so if you encounter any problems please let me know!

Crocheted poppy appeal

Recently in work I have been asked to crochet things for various charities, which I love! I've been thinking to myelf for a while that I'd like to do something craft related for charity, but I've been struggling for ideas.
 I'm very happy and proud of these opportunities for two main reasons; It's for  great causes, I'm using my skills to help people in need, I can do what I love but with a greater purpose. The other reason is being requested to do this gives me a a huge sense of approval and validation, a lot of people are amazed at my skills (even more so due to my age and sex.) It feels great to get some gratitude and appreciation every now and then , and these projects give me just that, the sense that, my work is good enough.

The latest charity project I've been working on is The Poppy Appeal, which is a annual campaign held on the run up to November the 11th, Remembrance Day, or as it is known in the USA, Veterans Day.
 Here in Britain every year poppy pins are sold everywhere and all money raised goes to The Royal British Legion charity. The Royal British Legion is a leading UK charity providing support to the serving and ex-Service community and their families.
 So this year instead of the usual paper poppies bought I've been crocheting as many as I possibly can and selling them in work for the The Poppy Appeal and so far I can't make enough they're a real hit!

I'll post the two patterns I have been using shortly, should you wish to get in on the action for if you just want to make poppies.

The Basic Guide To crocheting Stuffed Toys (Amigurumi)

Here is my basic to guide to creating crocheted stuffies. In this guice I will aim to teach you how the create the magic ring (magic loop, amigurumi ring etc.) and go on to tell you how to crochet a stuffed ball.

To begin you will need only three things;

Yarn - you can use any yarn you want, for this I'm using robins DK

A crochet hook - For this I'm using a 4.5mm (US G/H) though I would normally use 3.5 mm or 2.5mm (US C or E)

Stuffing - I'm using a synthetic fiber to stuff you could use anything fluffy really, though polyfil gets the job done and is cheap too :)

 First off you'll want to learn how to create the magic ring (there is other ways to start but as I said this is my guide :P)

I've found a quick video showing how to do so:

Basically you just wrap your arn around your two fingers twice,

place your hook under the two loops,

wrap the yarn over the hook pull through the two loops in your fingers,

wrap the yarn over the hook and and pull through,

this is your magic ring:

From here you will then proceed to make 6 Single Crochet stitches into the magic ring and pull the end of the yarn, not attatched to the ball tight, resulting in this:

From here we shall continue to make the ball:

you should currently have 6 stitches in the ring, amigurumi is normally worked in a spiral, so no stopping at the end of rounds, thus after finishing the last stitch of a round you would then just stitch into the next.

round 2: work 2 sc into each of the 6 sc in the starting ring, making 12 stitches

Round 3: Work 1 sc into the first stitch, work 2 sc into the next stitch repeat in this pattern to the end of the round making 18 stitches.

Round 4: Work 1 sc into the first 2 stitches, work 2 sc into the next stitch, repeat in the pattern to the end of the round, making 24 stitches.

Round 5: SC into each stitch around

Round 6: SC into each stitch around

Round 7: SC into each stitch around

Round 8: SC into each stitch around

Round 9: SC into each stitch around

Round 10: work 1 SC into the first two stitches, work one SCDEC over the next 2 stitches, repeat in this pattern until the end of the round making 18 stitches

Round 11: work 1 SC into the first stitch, work one SCDEC over the next 2 stitches, repeat in this pattern until the end of the round making 12 stitches

Round 12: SCDEC into every stitch making 6 stitches

Now cut the yarn and tie off leaving a long tail of yarn, sew the final 6 stitches together to close the hole, poke the yarn through the middle of the ball, trim the excess and you're done! you've completed a crocheted ball.

What you do with this ball is up to you, you could sew a face on it, glue felt to it , make ears or legs.

This is the first thing I think anybody should learn whilst learning to create amigurumi.

I hope this helped a lot! if you have any questions or suggestions leave a comment or email me at kimurakraftmail@gmail.com