Week of 3/18/15: Egg-cellent!

Spring arrives this week on Friday, March 20th, so our challenge this week is to crochet and decorate an egg. While most of us associate decorated eggs with Easter, the early symbolism of the egg relates to fertility, life, and the renewal of life.

Click here to read a great article about the history of eggs from foodtimeline.org. Scroll down to the symbolism section.

I crocheted my egg using yarn that I had dyed with Kool-aid, but there are many ways to decorate your egg. You could add beads, “paint your yarn”, add tiny flowers, make it into an amigurumi chick, whatever you wish.

Below is my egg pattern to get you started. Have fun with it and be creative!


Egg – cellent egg crochet pattern

Materials:
Small amounts of medium weight yarn, size H (5 mm) crochet hook, polyester fiberfill for stuffing, stitch marker.

Special stitch: single crochet decrease (sc dec)
I like to use an invisible sc dec when I am crocheting amigurumi, or anything where you won’t see the wrong side. It is worked over two stitches to form a decrease.
Insert hook in front loop of the first st. Keeping this loop on your hook, insert the hook in the next st through the front loop. You will have 3 loops on your hook. Draw your yarn through 2 of the loops on your hook. Yarn over, and draw through the 2 remaining loops on your hook to complete the stitch.

Notes: this egg is worked from the top down in a continuous spiral. The pattern does not include striping instructions, and I chose to make my sample sample using the continuous spiral because I didn’t want a seam. If you want to crochet stripes and keep them even, you can end each round with a slip stitch in the beginning stitch. To begin the next round, ch 1 and sc in the same stitch.

Instructions:
Rnd 1 (RS): ch 2, work 6 sc into 2nd ch from hook. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc. Rep from * around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4: sc in each sc.

Rnd 5: *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc. Rep from * around. (24 sc)

Rnd 6: sc in each sc.

Rnd 7: *sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next. (30 sc)

Rnd 8 thru 11: sc in each sc.

Rnd 12: *sc in next 3 sc, sc dec. Rep from * around. (24 sc)

Rnd 13: *sc in next 2 sc, sc dec. Rep from * around. Stuff with fiberfill. (18 sc)

Rnd 14: *sc in next sc, sc dec. Rep from * around. (12 sc)

Rnd 15: *sc dec. Rep from * around. (6 sc)

Fasten off leaving a length for sewing, and sew remaining rnd closed.

Abbreviations:
Ch(s) – chain(s)
Rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
Sc – single crochet
Sc dec – single crochet decrease
St - stitch

How will you decorate your egg? Celebrate spring and enjoy!

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Friday Finds - Ergonomic Crochet Hook Holders

Awhile ago I was talking to a co-worker about crochet. She was telling me that her mom used to crochet a lot but had stopped because the arthritis in her hands was making it too uncomfortable and painful. I remembered seeing egg shaped ergonomic holders in the stores and mentioned that it might help her mom. To my delight, my co-worker brought in an afghan that her mom had made for her using an ergonomic holder. Her mother is back crocheting with a vengeance! I am so happy that my suggestion was able to help her mom, and I hope that maybe this blog post will help someone else too.

This handle by Boye will adjust to fit hooks size B (2.25mm) to size K (6.5mm) and is available online through Annie's.

For those who also like to thread crochet, I found this Eleggant Hooks set which includes 3 hook heads for thread and 3 for yarn in the basic kit. Additional hook sizes are also available on their website. 

I have not used these types of handles myself but I would appreciate any comments from those that have. 

Happy crocheting!

The Amigurumi Chickens of Red Berry Farm

Meet the chickens of Red Berry Farm!

Red Rooster has a colorful tail that he likes to flash around the barn yard, and Berry Hen with her gorgeous red comb is the apple of his eye. Baby EggB is a little shy and hasn't decided if he's ready to come completely come out his shell, but he's on his feet and testing the world.

These cute chicken patterns are an easy project for those familiar with working in rounds, and require medium weight yarns and sizes G and H crochet hooks.
Finished sizes of completed chickens will be:
Red Rooster: 5 inches tall including comb, 3 1/2 inches wide
Berry Hen: 4 inches tall including comb, 3 1/4 inches wide
Baby EggB: 2 3/4 inches tall, 2 inches wide

I really enjoyed making these chickens, they are so much fun! It was my first experience creating amigurumi (Japanese word which loosely translated means crocheted small stuffed doll), and I hope to explore the world of amigurumi much more. Enjoy!

The Egg Came Before the Chicken!

As least in my case, lol!
I’ve been working on a set of amigurumi chickens that I haven’t finished yet and in the meantime I came up with the idea for a fried egg potholder. It’s a cute potholder that has a bit of country charm to it.




I designed this potholder from my own drawing and paper pattern that I made. I was very happy with the results and will create more patterns using this technique in the future. It is my goal to design many more patterns and offer them for sale in my shop along with the creations made from them.

I have the fried egg potholder pattern listed for sale in my shop as well as the potholder. I love creating items that are functional as well as fun. This potholder is a whimsical compliment to any kitchen and the double layers keep your hand safe from burns.




So why did the chicken cross the road? To visit my Etsy shop, of course! But you can visit me virtually at RedBerryCrochet.etsy.com
I plan on having the chickens completed by next week, so check back often to see what new and whimsical designs I’ve created!