Tag: post stitch

Patterns

Gemstone Bag Crochet Pattern

Nicole

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The Gemstone pattern collection now has a new addition – a bag! When I got the idea to make a bag in this style, I knew the Gemstone stitch combination would be a perfect fit. I absolutely love the texture and look of this bag from the fun “gemstones” in the body, to the shape of the straps, and finishing with the bunny ear ties at the top. And the best part? This bag works up fairly quickly once you get the hang of the stitch. I gave my testers a two week testing window and some of them made 3 (or more!) bags in that timeframe! Wow!


This pattern has instructions for 2 sizes – a small bag (approximately 8″ across when laid flat) and a large bag (approximately 11″ across). However, the bag is really easy to tailor to whatever size you want. Plus, the straps are completely customizable to your desired length. Wear it as a shoulder bag, a beach bag, or make a fun Mommy & Me set with the two different sizes!

This pattern is worked from the bottom up, first in the round to form the base and body of the bag, then in turned rows to work each strap individually. The bag straps are finished off with bunny ears at the top and then a slip stitch edging is made around the straps to make a nice clean finish. I personally find cotton yarn the best to use for making bags, although some people find success with acrylic. I used Bernat Handicrafter cotton when I designed it, but Lily Sugar ‘n Cream, Peaches & Cream, WeCrochet Dishie, or other mid-weight worsted cotton would also be great alternatives.


Get the full pattern as an ad-free PDF in my Ravelry Shop or Etsy Shop.
Through July 3rd, 2022, you can get ALL of the Gemstone patterns, including this one, for 20% off (no code needed)! Those on my email list often get extra perks, so make sure to sign up before my next pattern releases! Sign up here!

Click HERE to pin it for later!

Pattern Details

Pattern Difficulty: Advanced Beginner

Materials:
*Crochet Hook: H/5.0mm, or what is required to match gauge
*Yarn: Approximately 200-375 yards of #4/worsted weight yarn
*Yarn needle for weaving in ends
*Scissors
*Measuring tape
*Stitch markers (optional)

Stitches Used:
st(s): stitch(es)
ch: chain
slst: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
sc2tog: single crochet 2 together/sc decrease
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
dfpdc: double front post double crochet (click here to see how to make this stitch!)

Be sure to check out my Instagram page to see all of the versions my testers made or check out my Gemstone Bag pattern Instagram Guide for color inspiration!

When you make one, be sure to share a photo of your finished product with me! When posting on social media be sure to tag @fromnicolescreations and use hashtags #crochetgemstonebag, #crochetgemstonecollection, and #fromnicolescreations! I can’t wait to see when you make!

Accessories, Free Patterns

Bonfire Ice Cream Cozie: Free Crochet Pattern

Nicole

Today I bring to you the Bonfire Ice Cream Cozie for #FreePatternFriday! (Is that a thing? If not, I’m making it a thing! Who doesn’t love a free pattern?)

I have to admit, when I first saw an ice cream pint cozie, I thought that it was a really novel idea, but also kind of a novelty item – something that seems really awesome in concept so you buy it but then you never really use it and it ends up living in a forgotten corner of some drawer, never to be seen again (you know what drawer I’m talking about). But then a few weeks later I was eating ice cream straight from the pint (because bowls are for armatures) and I realized just how cold my hands were getting. Suddenly the idea didn’t seem so silly.

This cozie features two different post stitches – the front post double crochet and the double front post double crochet stitch – to give it a fun texture that looks a bit like rising smoke (hence the name “Bonfire”). The finished cozie is approximately 4.5 inches wide x 3.5 inches tall when laid flat and fits most pint-sized ice cream containers.

For a cold cozie like this, either cotton or acrylic worsted weight yarn work well. I chose to use Bernat Handicrafter Cotton and Lily Sugar ‘n Cream cotton for mine. If you use a soft cotton yarn or acrylic, you may need to go down a hook size to get your cozie to grip the cup appropriately because softer yarns can have a lot more stretch to them. They work up fast, so play with it and see what works best for you. At only 30-40 yards of yarn, this is a great stash buster!

Bonfire Ice Cream Cozie Pattern

Click here to Pin this pattern for later!

An ad-free PDF of this pattern is also available on Ravelry and Etsy for a small fee. The paid pattern additionally includes a section about how to make the cozie larger or smaller!

Pattern Difficulty: Advanced Beginner

Materials:
*Crochet Hook: H/5.0mm, or what is required to match gauge
*Yarn: Approximately 30-40 yards of #4/worsted weight yarn
*Yarn needle for weaving in ends
*Scissors
*Measuring tape
*Stitch markers (optional)

Stitch Abbreviations:
st(s): stitch(es)
ch: chain
slst: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
fsc: foundation single crochet (optional)
dc: double crochet
fpdc: front post double crochet
dfpdc: double front post double crochet (click here to see how to make this stitch!)

Techniques:
Invisible slst to join: After you complete the last st of the round, remove your hook from the loop, insert your hook from back to front through the first st of the round (make sure the working yarn is under your hook), put the loop you dropped back on your hook, and pull it through to the back. Chain and work the next row as written. This pulls the seam to the inside of your work.

Gauge: Approximately 13.5 dc sts by 7 rows = 4 inches x 4 inches
NOTE: If you are having trouble matching gauge in both width and height, match width (number of stitches) because that determines the circumference. You can always add or subtract rows to get the desired height, if needed.

Notes:
* This pattern is written using US terminology.

* The starting chain at the beginning of the round does NOT count as a stitch, so the first stitch will go in the same stitch as the chain. When you close each round, you will slip stitch to the top of the first stitch, NOT the starting chain.

Pattern:
Round 1: To start, you can either crochet 30 fsc OR ch 31 and then sc across starting in the 2nd ch from the hook. Crocheter’s choice. Making sure your row hasn’t twisted, invisible slst to the first stitch to join, forming a circle. (30)
NOTE: You will have a small gap at the bottom of this row. When you finish your cozie, use your tail to sew the gap closed.

Round 2: ch 1, dc in each st around, invisible slst to first st to join (30)

Round 3: ch 2, *fpdc, dc, dc, dfpdc, dc**, repeat from * to ** around, invisible slst to first st to join (30)

Round 4: ch 2, *fpdc, dc, dfpdc, dc, dc**, repeat from * to ** around, invisible slst to first st to join (30)
Helpful Hint: The fpdc will always stack on top of the previous fpdc and the first and last dc of the repeat will stack on top of dc sts. The only thing that changes is the 2nd dc and the dfpdc.

Round 5-7: Repeat Rounds 3 and 4
Helpful Hint: The height of your finished piece can vary a lot depending on the yarn you use and how much you lift up your loops when making the dfpdc. Use your measuring tape before moving to the last round to ensure you will get the height you want (should be about 3.25” tall).

Round 8: ch 1, sc in each st around, slst to first st to join (30)

Fasten off, sew the gap closed in your starting band using your tail, and weave in your ends.

A big THANK YOU to a few of my favorite crochet people who helped me test this pattern. Check out their work below and then go check out their Instagram pages!

Credit: Carrie @crazy.cat.lady.creations
Credit: Rosie @knitexpressions
Credit: Leeah @one_in_custody
Credit: Caitlyn @mcaitlyn

Posting on social media? Please give pattern credit to @FromNicolesCreations and use hashtags #bonfireicecreamcozie, #thebonfirecollection, and #fromnicolescreations. I want to see what you make!

Stitch Turorial

Stitch Tutorial: Double Front Post Double Crochet

Nicole

The “double front post double crochet” (abbreviated: dfpdc) is not a stitch you may have heard of before, but it’s one I’ve been loving a lot lately. Three of my collections this past fall – Drifting Leaves, Bonfire, and Gemstone – featured this stitch and I’m not done with it yet! In fact, I have at least two upcoming patterns that will use it and one is going to be offered free here on the blog, so I thought I’d teach you how to do the stitch before those patterns release.

Drifting Leaves
Bonfire
Gemstone

If you are familiar with the front post double crochet or the alpine stitch, then you should have no problem picking this one up. It’s basically a front post double crochet, but you go around the post twice to draw up loops instead of once to create the extra squishiness of the stitch. Easy, right? So let’s get into it!

To start, you need a base row of stitches (most commonly double crochet stitches) so you have posts to work around. To work the stitch, yarn over and insert your hook around the post of the dc from the row below (A)

Yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Pull up on the loop until it’s about even with your working row (B), then yarn over and insert your hook around the same dc post and pull up another loop, (5 loops on hook) (C)

Yarn over and pull through 4 loops (2 loops left on hook) (D)

Yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops (E)

Working around the post takes the place of working in the stitch, so make sure you skip the stitch behind the post stitch.

And that’s it! Depending on what you plan to do with the stitch, you need to make sure to have at least one regular double crochet between the dfpdc stitches so they don’t become too crowded. They look great spaced out, like in my Drifting Leaves patterns, or clustered together, like patterns in my Gemstone collection. Also, pro tip: if you use this stitch in turned rows, put a row of single crochet stitches after each dfpdc row so the stitches all pop out on the same side of your work! If you are working in the round, you can use the row of single crochet or not, it works both ways.

Go ahead and practice this stitch so you are ready when my new patterns release! If you are interested in any of my existing patterns using this stitch, you can find them here:

Drifting Leaves:
Beanie Etsy Ravelry
Headband/Cowl Bundle Etsy Ravelry

Bonfire:
Beanie Etsy Ravelry
Headband Etsy Ravelry
Cowl Etsy Ravelry

Gemstone:
Beanie Etsy Ravelry
Headband Etsy Ravelry
Cowl Etsy Ravelry
Cup Cozies Etsy Ravelry

Sunstar Scrubbie Etsy Ravelry

Until next time!