Had a very unique special order just prior to Christmas. I had a coworker request to take several of my hats home with her for the evening. Not a problem. She returned the following day with some special orders. One was easy: a particular style in a different color. Cool. Easy enough. Now for the whopper...We really like the earflap hats, but could you possible do a fireman's helmet? My nephew wants a helmet like his dad's... Wow. My wheels started turning, ideas started churning and what you see below is 2 versions of what I came up with. The first, I challenged myself to do it all in one piece. I used 2 strands and worked in the round, using front-post-doubles for the ridges on the front of the helmet. I frogged this version at least 5 times before getting the top result.(Please excuse the photo quality.)

My second attempt was a frogging good time as well, but I new I needed a rounder and smaller shape. This version is to the bottom.

Please feel free to give me a constructive critique and offer suggestions if you have any. (Please note that OKC firefighters have different colored helmets depending on what their job is. This little boy's dad has a yellow helmet, so he wanted one like Daddy's.)

 

I just finished up a custom order for some Christmas Stockings. Husband, wife and puppy. I just couldn't use someone elses pattern. So I designed and wrote my own. I can't guarantee that this pattern doesn't have flaws. BTW, most of my numbers are approximate. I used a diagram to write this and counted it like 4 times, but I am sure I missed something or added stitches. Good Luck.

 

This stocking is worked from the toe up. It is thick and heavy and can be used for those small gifts to tuck away till Christmas morning. 

 

Worked with 2 strands of yarn, in the round, using an I or J hook.

 

I used I Love This Yarn and Ribbon Effects from Hobby Rob-Me for the base of the stocking and 2 strands of I Love This Yarn in green.

 

With 2 strands of yarn, chain 6 turn.

 

Round 1: 3sc in 2nd loop from the hook. sc in next 3 loops. 3 sc in the next loop, which should be the first chain made. Turn your chain, so you can crochet back down the opposite side of the original chain 6. Sc in the next 3 loops. 12 sc made. Do not join, here or through out. Use a stitch marker to keep your place. I needed to. 

 

Round 2: 2 sc in next 3 stitches on the end of the chain. sc in the next 3 stitches, back down the other side of the original chain. 2 Sc in the next 3 stitches. 18 sc made. You should be back at the stitch marker.  You should have approximately a 3" oval at this point.

 

Round 3:this is where it gets tricky. With this row, I only increased the 4 stitches on the curve of the round. At the stitch marker, sc in the stitch, and 2 sc in each of the next 4 stitches, then sc down the opposite side of your oval in the next 4 stitches. 2 sc in the next stitches. 26 sc made.

 

Round 4: at the stitch marker, sc in the next 4 stitches. 2 sc in the next 4 stitches on the curve of your oval. sc in the next 5 sc. 2 sc in the next 4 stitches. sc in the next st. 34 sc made.

 

Round 5: sc in each stitch around. Keep replacing your stitch marker at the beginning of each round.

 

Rounds 6-12: repeat round 5.

 

I continued for 16 rows. You might stop at 12 or 13 for a more proportionate stocking than mine. I like the ones that look like the toe is maybe 1/4th or 1/3rd of the whole stocking.

 

Round 13: Sc in  the next 3 stitches. Hdc in each of the next 14 stitches. sc in each of the next 3 stitches. slip stitch in each of the next 14 stitches. sc in the next 3 stitches. (3 sc, 14 hdc, 3 sc, 14 slip stiches; 34 sc total.)

 

Rounds 14-20: Repeat row 13, taking care to loosly as possible work slst into both loops of the previous rows slips stiches. These rows will contract on one side and expand on the other forming the curve and the gusset of the stocking. 

 

Rounds 21 - 36: Repeat round 5. At the end of round 36, slip stitch in the same stitch with the marker. Fasten off.

 

Cuff:

 

Round 37: With 2 strands of contrasting color, join in ending stitch, chain 1, sc in each stitch around. Join with slip stitch in top of first sc. 34 sc made.

 

Round 38: Chain 2 counts as first hdc, now and through out. Turn. In back loops only, this row only, *hdc in the next 3 sc. 2 hdc in the next stitch. repeat from* around. Join with slip stitch into the top loops of the first hdc of previous row. Join with slip stitch in top of first hdc of the round. 43 hdc made. This row in the back loops only will help the cuff turn downward and turning it to work in the opposite direction will leave a more attractive right side

 

Round 39-44 or desired length: Chain 2, hdc in each hdc around. Join with slip stitch in top of first hdc. 34 hdc made.

 

Final round is optional:

Final round:  Chain 2. *hdc2tog the next 2 hdc. hcd in each of the next 3 stitches. Repeat from *. Approximately 34 hdc made. This row, if you choose to include it, will make the cuff turn under it self giving fullness to the cuff.

 

I braided 6 strands together for a hanging loop. You could use ribbon, or crochet a few rows to form a strip to attach to the last row of your first color.

 

Thanks for reading and being patient with a this, quick write up of a new pattern. Feel free to leave a comment with errors in the pattern. Also note, the smaller stocking is made with 2 strands of I love this yarn and I modified the numbers by only increasing until I had a smaller toe width that I was satisfied with.

Dana

 

 

 

Wow. So I finally picked up the gray nylon I had run out of while trying to finish my daughter's shoulder bag. The nearest Hobby RobMe didn't have the color and it took me several weeks to get to another location. I'm so glad I had to wait. It was clearanced at 3.59, which freed up a few bucks and a coupon to get a book I'd had my eye on. Add my employee discount and I got the yarn, the book and some scrapbook brads for a friend for $13 and some change. Wahoo. Something sacreligious happens if I try to spend less than $10 there. Something evil in a single digit total. IMO. I wonder what's up with that.

Anyway, this is the finished project. The strap ended up a little longer than I'd measured for, but the knot at the top gives it some character.  It is about 13" wide and around 15" tall before the strap. It holds 2, 1 pound skeins of Caron yarn. I won't tell you how long the strap is. My daughter insisted that I had it too short, so I added some rows. She wants to be able to wear it over her head and across her chest as opposed to just on one shoulder. Well, it hung to her knees easily. I like the knot. Very 80s. Hope you like it. 

Yarn: 3 strands of your favorite girly or fluffy yarns; for example, elvish eyelash, featherwisps, ribbon effects, fun fur... (I used something called Mosaic Twist, I got it at Hobby RobMe. It is a little thicker than a worsted weight yarn. I also used some Paton's Cha Cha which is relatively thin, but fuzzy and also some Bernat stuff. It was a soft pink, thick, fluffy yarn.) A boucle can be lots of fun as well!)

Hook: Q or S
Start with a slip knot as with most projects and try to crochet over your tail on your 2nd row.

Row 1: chain 7. Turn, DC in the 3rd chain from the hook and across. Turn.
5 DC made.
Row 2: Chain 2, counts as first DC here and through out. DC in each space between the stitches across. 5 DC made.
Row 3 +: Repeat Row 2 until you reach your desired length. At the end of your last row, fasten off and weave in ends.

Tips/Tricks/Specs for my type of scarves:

Mine is about 72" long and 5" wide. It 'skinnies' up a bit more if you tug on it a bit after you wrap it around your neck a time or two.

I measure by stretching my scarf from the tip of my nose to the tips of my fingers on my left hand. If I can do that twice, I'm done.

Just for a solid working foundation, I try to use a thick/smooth yarn when I'm working on fluffy or unique specialty yarns. RHSS or ILTY is perfect. You can really dress those yarns up with a carrier yarn or something frilly and fluffy.

If you're new to crochet, you might practice with some worsted weight yarns. Be sure to relax, tell yourself to crochet loosely and enjoy it!

*Create at your own risk, this pattern has not been tested. But if you have questions, feel free to send me a message via artfire.