Little Christmas Stocking Pattern

Hello friends!

It's been a little while since I've posted on my blog…I have been super busy! Just like everyone else, the build up to the festive season is very busy for me too! I have been making LOTS of crochet Christmas Ornaments, for friends, for myself, for various swaps, and for the shop :-) I have also been making lots of crochet toys destined  for Christmas presents (this is a really fun part of the festive preparations :-)

I though I would share one of my ornament patterns. I had been looking for a simple crochet Christmas Stocking ornament pattern and hadn't found quite what I was looking for, so I decided to write my own pattern :-)
You might also like my other free Christmas ornament pattern LITTLE STAR PATTERN

Little Christmas Stocking

As this is a decoration, it's doesn't really matter what size it is (well not too much anyway), so you can really use whatever yarn you like and a suitable size hook. It's a good idea to think about using a hook that is one or two sizes smaller than the recommended size for the yarn you're using, this gives the stocking a little bit of stability so it will keep it's shape while hanging on your tree or mantel :-)

The pink and green stocking in the photo was made using 8 ply (Dk) weight cotton yarn and I used a 3.75mm (F) hook and it's quite sturdy and measures 10.5cm (4") from toe to heel, and 9cm (3.75") from the bottom of the heel to the top of the cuff. This should give you some idea of the sizing of the finished stocking.

Have fun with it, use up some scraps, mix colours you might not think of combining, and Christmas decorations don't necessarily need to be red, white and green :-)

The stocking takes approximately 35-40m of yarn to complete. To get the contrasting toe heel and cuff you'll need at least two colours, but theres not reason you couldn't use a different colour for each section :-)

Abbreviations (Please note that this pattern is written using standard British/Australian crochet terms, with U.S. crochet terms in parenthesis below :-) )

ch: chain stitch

sl st: slip stitch

dc: double crochet (U.S. single crochet)

dc3tog: double crochet (U.S. sc) 3 stitches together as follows: insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, draw up loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, draw up loop, (3 loops on hook), insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, draw up loop, yarn over, draw through all 4 loops on hook.

**NOTE** The 1ch at the beginning of each round does not count as a stitch unless stated otherwise.

Pattern

Toe - ch3, join using sl st to form a small ring.

Round 1: 1ch, 6dc into ring, join in first dc using a sl st (6sts)

Round 2: 1ch, 2dc in same st as ch, 2dc in each st to end, join in first dc using a sl st (12sts)

Round 3: 1ch, 1dc in same st as ch, 2dc in next st, (1dc in next st, 2dc in next st) repeat to end, join in first dc using a sl st (18st)

Round 4: 1ch, 1dc in same st as ch, 1dc in each of the next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, (1dc in each of next 5sts, 2dc in next st) twice, join in first dc using a sl st (21sts)

Round 5: 1ch, 1dc in same st as ch, 1 dc in each st until 1 st remains unworked, 2dc in last st, join in first dc using a sl st (22sts)

Round 6: 1ch, 1dc in same st as ch, 1dc in each st to end, join in first dc using a sl st (22sts) Fasten off.

Join new colour for Foot:

Rounds 7-14: 1ch, 1dc in same st as ch, 1dc in each st to end, join in first dc using a sl st. (22sts)

Fasten off after Round 14 is complete.

Join new colour for Heel (the heel is worked back and forth in Rows instead of in the round like the rest of the stocking):

Row 1: 1ch (counts as 1st, here and throughout heel section), 1dc in each of next 10sts (11sts), turn.

Rows 2-7: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end, turn. (11sts)

Row 8: 1ch, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, dc3tog, 1dc in each st to end. (9sts). 

To join the back heel seam, working on the wrong side (or inside) of your stocking, fold the heel in half so the first st and last st of Row 8 are together, sl st join the edges together, by inserting the hook into a st from both sides at the same time, yarn over, draw through everything on the hook (like a normal slip stitch), continue with this slip stitch join until the heel seam is closed. Fasten off.

Join new colour of Leg section in the centre of the back of the heel (top of the seam):

Round 1: 1ch (once again the 1ch at the beginning of each remaining round does not count as a stitch), 1dc into same place as 1ch, work 4 more dc along the edge of the heel, 1dc in each of next 11 foot sts, work 6dc along the remain edge of heel, join in first dc using a sl st (22sts)

Rounds 2-10: 1ch, 1dc is same st as ch, 1dc in each st to end, join in first dc using a sl st (22sts)

Fasten off after Round 10 is complete.

Join new colour for Cuff section.

Work 3 Rounds as Round 2 of leg section. After the 3rd cuff Round has been completed, and after joining  in first dc using a slip st, ch25 (or desired length) for hanging loop, join using sl st in first ch. Fasten off. Weave in ends and enjoy your little Christmas Stocking!

 © Copyright Shara Lambeth Designs. Copyright remains that of the author at all times. The pattern is for personal use only. Reproduction of this pattern in anyway (electronic, email, photocopying, transcribing etc) is strictly prohibited, except with the explicit permission of the author. Please do not sell the pattern or the finished product that is made using this pattern without permission of the author, as this is a direct infringement of the copyright laws protecting this pattern. Also please be aware that copyright laws vary from country to country (sometimes even from state to state), I am Australian, in Australia, therefore my patterns are protected by Australian copyright laws. This copyright protection still stands no matter what country the item is made in or who makes it. Thank you :-)

If you do want to sell the Little Christmas Stocking Ornaments you make using this pattern at a market, craft fair or in your online store please do ask, as in most cases I will give permission :-)

And please feel free to make as many Little Christmas Stocking Ornaments as you like for yourself, your friends and family :-)

Sparrow Hat Pattern

Hello friends!
I have been busy writing some new patterns for you! Yes, that's right, more knitty fun for everyone :-)
A collection of four little hats is ready for release. I'm so happy to finally have the patterns ready after all the designing, playing and testing.
The first pattern to be released is the Sparrow Hat. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you would have been seeing this hat design for quite some time now. It's one of my most popular designs, so I was pretty excited to be able to share the pattern too :-)
You've probably figured out by now that the "Fishtail" lace used in the Sparrow Hat is my favourite lace stitch. I use it a LOT. It's easy to remember and very effective :-)
Knit all-in-one, in the round, with a seamless construction, which means now seams to sew! And as you can see from the pictures above, the ear flaps and ties are optional, with instructions given for both styles in the pattern.
The sizing goes all the way from newborn to 5 years, so all the little Sparrows in your life can be warm and cosy :-)
This hat uses only a small amount of yarn, approximately 55m-120m (depending on the size you're making), so it's a great stash buster and you can use up all the little bits of delicious yarn that have been languishing in your knitting basket.
A quick and surprisingly easy knit, you can have one finished in a few hours, making it the perfect last minute gift for a new arrival or special birthday girl :-)
This hat is part of a collection of four little hats, so stay tuned for the release of the other designs. You can look forward to the Mio Hat, which is a plain and simple hat, perfect for both a little boy or girl, great for playing with stripes or a lovely hand dyed yarn :-) The Pip Hat is also lovely for a little boy or girl, with a deceptively simply textured stitch in 2 colours :-) And the Miel Hat, lovely for a boy or a girl with a simple, but effective eyelet pattern!
All 4 patterns will be available separately and as part of an E-book via Etsy, Ravelry & Craftsy :-)

Little Pixie Bonnet

Hello friends!
I knows it's been a little while since my last post! Sorry! but I have been very busy making lots of fun new things and writing a bunch of new patterns, due for release in the coming weeks! (Yes, exciting times!)
Here is a little bonnet I made yesterday :-) it is crocheted using a combination of Australian alpaca, cashmere and organic Australian wool!
Even though this one is for a baby, I am a little bit tempted to make one big enough for me :-)
This hat is available in my store HERE
Have a wonderfully crafty weekend!

SEAGULL Self Striping Sock Yarn

Hello friends!

Well, here is ANOTHER skein of self striping sock yarn that I have dyed. The colours of this skein were inspired by the beautiful colours of the seagull. I know that seagulls can be annoying at times, like when you're trying to enjoy a picnic by the sea, for example, but have you ever really looked at one? They're quite beautiful! I really love their bright, vibrant orange beaks and legs and I REALLY love their magnificently smooth feathers and the way the grey graduates into the white. it almost looks as if they've been painted :-)

The sample photographed is a 60 stitch sock knit on 2.5mm needles, so you can get an idea of what it looks like when it's knit up into socks :-) 

The skein is 100g & 420m and is enough for a pair of socks :-) With 75% soft squishy wool for comfort and warmth and 25% nylon for durability :-)

You can find this yarn in my online store HERE along with a few other skeins :-)

What sorts of things inspire you in your crafty pursuits? Do you see colours in nature/the city/your garden that you love and try to recreate? Tell us in the comments! :-)

COAST Self Patterning Sock Yarn

Hello friends!

Here is another sock yarn that I have hand dyed, this time in a colour way called "Coast". The special way that this yarn has been dyed means that when it's knit in the round into socks it creates a "spiral" pattern around the sock, and the best part is all you have to do is knit! 

The sample photographed is a 60 stitch sock, knit on 2.75mm needles, so you can get an idea of what it looks like when it's knit up into socks :-) 

The skein is 100g & 420m and is enough for a pair of socks :-) With 75% soft squishy wool for comfort and warmth and 25% nylon for durability :-)

You can find this yarn in my online store HERE along with a few other skeins :-)

Do you knit socks? Did you find yourself addicted to knitting socks once you had started?? I did!

Watermelon Hand Dyed Sock Yarn

Hello friends!

I have been busy dyeing up a storm... well, some sock yarn really :-)

I've been experimenting with the dyeing process for self-striping sock yarn. I really LOVE knitting with any sort of self striping yarn, it adds an extra dimension to your knitting, and it's fun waiting to see what the next colour will be. Another thing is that you get a lot of bang for your buck, if you know what I mean, you get a lot of fun and colour etc in your knitting with very little effort: you knit and the stripes happen!

You might remember a pair of socks I made last year using some other yarn I dyed so that it would knit up in a "Watermelon" effect. I used a similar method to dye this yarn :-)

The sample photographed is a 60 stitch sock knit on 2.75mm needles, so you can get an idea of what it looks like when it's knit up into socks :-) 

The skein is 100g & 420m and is enough for a pair of socks :-) With 75% soft squishy wool for comfort and warmth and 25% nylon for durability :-)

You can find this yarn in my online store HERE along with a few other skeins :-)

Wordless Wednesday 22nd May 2013

Crochet Jacket Extraordinaire!

Hello friends!
Well, here it is! Remember when I posted a few little pics of some mysterious crochet recently? A little while ago a lovely friend of mine sent me an email with a photograph a crochet jacket that she'd stumbled upon on the internet. She really wanted it... so I obliged...and made this! There was no pattern for the jacket available, so I improvised the design, construction and a pattern of sorts from the photograph my friend had sent me.
I had a lot of fun working with my friend choosing the colours :-)
Some of the yarn is 100% pure wool yarn and 100% Alpaca yarn from the Bendigo Woollen Mills, some is 100% wool that I hand dyed, some is a random alpaca that had been languishing in my yarn stash for a little while and some is a Cleckheaton 100% wool :-) I think the colours look pretty amazing together :-)
Just in case you are curious the yarns are as follows:
-Dark green is Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 8ply/DK in Pine colour way.
-Bright green is Bendigo Classic 8ply/DK which was originally in Magnolia colour way that I dyed a neon/Granny Smith Apple colour using a Wiltons food dye in Kelly Green (using vinegar and heat to set the colour)
-Coral is a Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply/DK that was originally Magnolia colour way that I dyed Coral using a Landscape Dye in Coral colour way (these dyes are available from KraftKolour)
-Deep Red is Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8ply/DK in Cranberry colour way.
-Deep Purple is Bendigo Woollen Mills Persian 8ply/DK in Eggplant colour way.
-Rust wool is Cleckheaton Country Colours Naturals in #1832 colour way.
-Bright Blue is The Rare Yarns Company Rare Essentials alpaca/merino in Lapis colour way.

I worked on it for 4 days, crocheting, measuring, stitching and weaving in ALL THOSE YARN ENDS!! Oh, then yarns ends! In the end the jacket weighed just over 1 kilogram!
As I said, I didn't have a pattern to work from, so a lot of "designing" and planning was involved, but it worked very well :-)
After making this one, I'm pretty tempted to make myself one as well :-)

If you already follow me on Facebook at Shara Lambeth Designs or on Instagram at shara_made 
 you may have already seen some little sneak peeks of this jacket. If you would like to see more images of the things I make, or what I get up to on my travels, you can follow me on Facebook and Instagram too :-)
P.S. It was a little tricky to find the origins of the original images of the jacket that my friend emailed me that inspired this jacket, however after a bit of searching we discovered that it was from a blog post that now no longer exists, which is a shame as the jacket in that blog post, that was such an inspiration, is quite spectacular and I would have loved to have included a link here :-)

Hmmm, what could it be?

Hello friends!

I hope you've all been well and happy and productive with your creative pursuits :-)

I have been very busy!

I went on a mini holiday (I'll show you some pictures soon!), I have been cooking up a storm and I have begun working on a big commission piece for someone :-)

 I'm going to keep a little quiet about the commission piece until it's completely finished... but these photographs are little pieces of it. I'm really loving the ways it's all coming together. It's not something I have made before, and it's using all my powers of mathematics, but I'm loving every minute of it.... Well, actually that's not entirely true, you should see all the little yarn ends I have to weave in!!!! Insanity, LOL!

 I'm looking forward to showing you more pictures soon!
xo Shara

Wordless Wednesday 24th April 2013

Wordless Wednesday 17th April 2013

Wordless Wednesday - 10th of April 2013

Autumn...At last!

Hello friends!

Finally... after a very long wait, Autumn has finally arrived! Summer seemed to have missed the memo that it was over at the end of February in my part of the world :-)

The weather has finally started to cool down. The mornings are crisp, the days have been really beautiful and the nights are chilly... just the way I like it!

because the weather has been so unseasonably warm here none of the trees had started to change colour when normally at this time of year the leaves have turned and have almost all fallen to the ground... but in the last couple of days I have noticed the trees have caught up and the leaves are slowly changing colour and a few have fallen... 

march is normally when i would be finding all sorts of marvellous fungi when I'm out walking... but I only JUST saw my first one today! I wonder if this might mean the mushroom season will last a little longer than usual?

We even got some rain yesterday!! I was excited enough to take a picture out the window of my bus :-)
This kind of gloomy weather is even more beautiful when you know you're on your way home and there will be someone lovely waiting there for you with a hot cup of tea :-)
But, alas, I can't get too used to this cooler weather because the forecast is for some more unseasonably hot weather over the weekend... Come on weather, make up your mind :-)
xo Shara

Pieces of Gold

Hello friends!

So today is the last day of my "March Marathon" where I managed to write something on my blog everyday during March! I have loved the interaction with you all and i think I've been inspired to continue updating my blog a lot more regularly :-) And I think it keep me busier than usual because I wanted to have something interesting to write about and show you. That can only be a good thing! 

 I have been very busy indeed, making lots of new necklaces :-) I've been experimenting with using more than one colour in each bead and I'm really happy with the results :-)
I'm a huge fan of red, turquoise and gold together.

 The classic black and gold together has also become a new favourite :-)
Even though I wear a LOT of black clothes I realised that I didn't really have much black jewellery... so I thought I ought to remedy this!
I hope you're enjoying your weekend and I'll be back in April with lots more to write about and lots more to show you :-)
xo Shara

Owl Necklace

Hello friends!
I hope you're enjoying your Easter Good Friday today :-) And if Easter is not your thing, then I hope you're enjoying the fact that it's Friday!
Today I thought I would show you one of the necklaces I have been working on recently. As well as the round beads I usually make I have added a little owl bead as well :-) He was lots of fun to make :-) I almost felt like he should have name, hehehe...
Enjoy your weekend!!
xo Shara

Colour Block Mittens

Hello friends!
It's been a productive week here at at SLD HQ :-) I've released another pattern for everyone to enjoy :-)

The Colour Block Mittens are fast and easy to make and only use a small amount of each yarn colour. Perfect for using up all those little bits of beautiful left over yarn from other projects :-) 
You can easily make a pair in a few evenings, so they are a perfect last minute gift :-) 
Knit in the round on double pointed means in one piece, so there are no seams to sew to finish the project :-)Yippee! 
Easily customisable too! 
These mittens will quickly become a favourite “go to” pattern.

And you don't even have to have matching colour blocks on each mitten, you could simply use all the little bits of left over yarns hanging around in your stash!

Materials: 
Set of 4mm double pointed needles 
50-55m DK/8 ply yarn in Colour A (Cuff & Thumb Tip) 
50-55m DK/8 ply yarn in Colour B (Palm & Thumb Gusset) 
50-55m DK/8 ply yarn in Colour C (Finger Section) 
3 stitch markers 
Tapestry Needle for Weaving in yarn ends

Size: Designed to fit an average women’s hand. The mitten is quite stretchy & will accommodate a variety of sizes. The length is easily customisable.

Tension/Gauge: 22 stitches & 30 rows = 10cm (4”)

The pattern is available via Ravelry, Etsy and Craftsy!

You can also find finished mittens in my store HERE :-)

xo Shara

src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" border="0"/>

Wordless Wednesday

The Ricefield Collective! Wow!

Hello friends!
Do you remember me writing about the Ricefield Collective last week? Yes? Good!
Check this out! Just a week after they launched their crowd funding project on Kickstarter they have reach more than 200% of their goal!!! Whoa! That is amazing!
So they are putting the extra funds towards other essential things that the women they are helping need to make their plan possible and more importantly, sustainable, so they can keep it going :-) if you haven't already had a look at the Ricefield Collective, do yourself a favour and check it out :-)
xo Shara
P.S. Just in case you were wondering... pictured is Buddy the Guinea Pig :-) Cute, yes?

Walking the Dog

Hello friends!
I hope the weather is as glorious at your place at the moment as it is here :-) It may be Autumn, but it's a tiny but warmer than usual which just makes it even more delightful :-) I think the unseasonably warm weather has tricked the trees and none of them have started to change colour yet...and it's almost April!!

Because the weather was so wonderful today we decided to take the dog for a walk at Maroondah Dam, in Healesville, Victoria, Australia :-) Pictured above is the path across the top of the dam wall.

It's one of my most favourite places to visit :-) I love wandering around there for hours :-) It's a beautiful combination of European style gardens, native Australian Mountain Ash forest, little creeks, ponds, a waterfall and of course the huge beautiful dam :-) Pictured above is one of the old pump houses.

 We saw lots of interesting and unusual birds, such as Fairy Wrens (my favourite), Fantails, various parrots and even several pairs of courting Bower Birds!!

 I hope I can get back there again very soon, and I think the dog enjoyed herself as well :-)
xo Shara

Stormy Weather

Hello friends!
I hope you've enjoyed your weekend :-) I have!
I took these two pictures while waiting for my sweetheart to finish work. We were about to head out for the evening and I wasn't holding out much hope for the weather being kind to us with clouds like this... But, lo and behold, we got a few drops of rain and that was it! Phew!

I really adore the colours in these pictures and think they might just have inspired a new yarn dyeing adventure. Graduating grey, with the pale, sea green :-)
xo
Shara

Glorieux Mitts

Hello friends!
Today I can show you one of the patterns I have been working on recently, introducing the Glorieux Mitts!
There is a 4ply/Fingering weight version and an 8ply/DK weight version. They use hardly any yarn, so they are the perfect stash buster. And the 4ply/Fingering weight ones are excellent for using up that little bit of gorgeous left over sock yarn :-)
They're quick and easy to crochet and you could EASILY make a pair in an evening :-)
The yellow pair above are made using Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply that I have hand dyed using Landscape dye in Sulphur Yellow.
The colourful pair pictured next to them is made using some leftover Regia Random Stripe by Kaffe Fassett. And the grey DK version pictured below are made using a Loyal Dk by Naturally. They're very soft and squishy :-)

The patterns are available on Etsy, Ravelry and Craftsy. You can buy each pattern individually or they can be bought together as a pair :-)

Folk Heart Dress

Hello friends!
I have been rather busy this week :-) And it's all been the good kind of busy! Yay!
One of the things I have been busy doing is making this dress :-) I'm pretty pleased with it (and pretty proud of myself). I made it entirely from scratch, including drafting the pattern myself :-)
The bodice and sleeves are made using a cotton sateen with a little bit of elastine in the blend so that it is a tiny bit stretchy, and the skirt section is made using a really lovely cotton duck cloth that is just the right weight for a skirt/dress. Below is a close up of the skirt fabric. Sweet, yes? I have quite a bit of this fabric left... I wonder what else I will make with it? Perhaps a bag??

I actually made this dress to wear to the races tonight. We're going to see Black Caviar run again!! We're pretty excited! I'll try and take a few pics to show you (but it is a night race, so photography might be a bit challenging... but I'll still try! :-)
xo Shara

Ricefield Collective

Hello friends!
I hope you're having a wonderful day and enjoying some sunshine :-)
In todays post have a really great project to tell you about. Do you know about crowd funding? It's pretty cool :-) Basically someone (or a group of folks) have a project they want to get off the ground, but they need help with funding their project, so they ask strangers to donate what they can so they can get their project up and running. Sometimes if you run your crowd funding through a site such as Pozible or Kickstarter you can offer the folks that donate to your project a "gift" for their donation. I took part in a a crowd funding project last year where a very dedicated and clever lady from Melbourne organised to have a TONNE of Australian wool, processed and spun wholly in Australia and depending on how much you donated or pledged you got to choose to have some of the delicious yarn sent to you at the conclusion of the project (I still have my deliciously soft Cormo yarn patiently waiting in my stash, I'm trying to decide on the perfect project for it :-)
I also had some friends in a band who were trying to record and distribute their first album, they couldn't due to lack of funding... so they started a crowd funding project and the folks that donated/pledged were sent one of the albums when it was released :-)
SO you get the idea about crowd funding, yes?
Well here is a project that I am really passionate about. It was launched yesterday. It's the Ricefield Collective. A young woman from New York, Meredith, came up with a very clever idea to help women living in Ifugao, Philippines, to earn an income by hand-knitting beanies and other knitwear to sell around the world. You can read all about it on the website and keep up to date via the Facebook page too.
The Ricefield Collective is running their crowd funding project through Kickstarter. When you pledge money to the project, depending on the amount you pledge, you can choose a "reward". The rewards include various beanies and cowls made by the women you're helping :-) Watch this short video to get a really good overview of the project and how the idea came about :-)
I've made my pledge and look forward to my beanie arriving in a little while :-)
Even if you don't want to get involved in this project by pledging some funds I recommend you check out crowd funding, and take a look at the other projects you can get involved in via Kickstarter or Pozible, as you might come across a project that you want to get behind :-)
Have a great day!
xo Shara
P.S. Just in case you were wondering, I took the photograph shown above whilst taking my dog Rosie for a walk earlier this week. The weather was so glorious and the sky was so blue!

Wordless Wednesday 20th March 2013

Zigo Zago in Castlemaine

Hello friends!

Over the weekend I was lucky enough to go to Castlemaine to visit friends and enjoy the local Arts festival :-) And I was even luckier when my lovely friends took me to the their local yarn shop! Zigo Zago is opened in February 2013, so it's still reasonably new. They had the most glorious collection of artisan yarns I've ever seen in one room :-)

I managed to control myself and only bought 2 skeins of delicious yarn :-) The yellow one is from The Fibre Company and is a Baby Alpaca, Merino, Bamboo blend and is so buttery and soft :-)

The deep, dark green one is from Cascade and is the 220 from the Heather range :-)

And this is a picture I took out of the window of the train on our way to Castlemaine :-)
xo Shara

Primary Aztec Necklace

Hello friends!
I hope you had a lovely weekend! I did! :-) I went on a little trip to visit friends in the countryside with my sweetheart :-) Lots of good music, good food, good wine and most importantly, good company :-)
Anyway, it's back to the real world now, hehe...
So here is a new necklace I have been working on recently. One of my favourite things about working with polymer clay is all the textures and designs you can play with. It's very simple, but I love it! :-)
The photo doesn't really do it justice, because there are actually little specks of glitter in these beads, which is really fun... but they don't really show in the pic... never mind :-)
You can see some of my other necklaces HERE and HERE :-)
xo Shara