Woodland Crochet Round-Up - Free Crochet Patterns

While creating my Woodland Afghan, I searched through Pinterest to make sure it was "original" enough to design and share with you guys!  Through my searching, I found a lot more Woodland themed crochet patterns.

I've rounded up my favorite ones and they are all free!

Enjoy!


1. Woodland Afghan Series

Of course, I'm going to share with you in the round-up my Woodland Afghan in case you haven't heard of it. These are all free squares! It's never too late to start a Christmas gift! *hint hint*

Pattern link: http://www.mariasbluecrayon.com/2017/02/woodland-afghan-series.html


2. The Sleep Fox Amigurumi

Pattern: http://eserehtanin.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-sleepy-fox.html?spref=pi


3. Cuddliest Crochet Bear Lovey

Pattern: http://www.sewrella.com/2016/05/the-cuddliest-crochet-bear-lovey.html

4. Toadstool

Pattern: http://annabooshouse.blogspot.co.uk/p/crochet-korknisse-and-toadstool.html


5. Boxy Bear, Fox & Owl

Pattern: http://www.5littlemonsters.com/2015/09/boxy-bear.html


6. Mountain Pillows

Pattern: https://craftyqueens.nl/2015/03/04/mountain-pillows-free-crochet-pattern/


7. Flower Crown Animal Hats

Pattern: http://viewfrommyhook.blogspot.com/2017/02/flower-crown-animal-hats.html


8. Foxy Stash Basket

Pattern: http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/foxy-stash-basket.html?id=197080


9. Little Deer Hat

Pattern: http://www.thefriendlyredfox.com/2017/01/free-crochet-little-deer-hat-pattern.html


10. Baby Bear Hat

Pattern: http://handmedownhobby.blogspot.com/2015/01/baby-bear-hat.html

Do you see something you would love to make? I'm eyeing that Boxy Bear! My son would love him!

The Roxy Bag - Crochet Pattern

**Pattern available on Etsy - click here for an ad-free, PDF formatted printable for your convenience. Thank you for supporting my blog!**

**It is also available on Ravelry!**

I'm not much of a purse type of girl. I'm more of a grab a bag and put in everything I might need type of girl because #momlife, and I'm always expected to have all the things when we are out.  I'm a fan of big spacious bags where I can throw in my wallet, phone, snacks, wipes, small toys, and sometimes even a small blanket. These bags come in handy especially during the summer time when we spend hours at the park or outdoors in nature.

I've had the same bag from H&M years ago when I used it for college and I frequently switch between the large bag and a small backpack that was easy to carry and shove stuff into while running out the door. When I browsed Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton Yarn collection, I picked a combination of colors I liked and decided it was a great palate to make a bag with!

I love the mochila bags I've seen on pinterest and was armed to give it a try, but once I got down to it, I knew it was way too much for me at the moment. I just finished a large project (my Woodland Afghan Series) and wanted some mindless crocheting. I tucked away the mochila bag design and instead, I looked for a stitch that was still edgy, fun, and looked like I put a lot of effort into it without the effort.

I still wanted to keep the overall shape of the mochila bag, so I started with a circle for the base alternating colors as I went. At this point, I knew I wanted to ditch the single crochets and find something that would work up quicker.

After doing a sample of v-stitches, I knew it was the stitch I wanted to use for my bag. This whole bag is comprised of basic stitches: single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet. Once I got the base down and past the first few rows of the bag it was smooth sailing of all double crochets.  How's that for mindless crochet?

Although it has the shape of the mochila bag, it is not rigid or would stand upright on its own. It's frumpy and flowy, which I like because it forms to my side when I wear it.

I'm so happy to share with you the finished project! The colors are far from neutral and I'm loving it! Who doesn't need a little color in their life? I have not lined this bag with fabric, but I do plan on setting aside some time to do so. Do you need to line the bag? No, but if you do want to carry heavy loads, the bag will stretch. I have made market totes that are stretched out to 3x the length and wish I would've lined those.

The bottom of the bag hits right about mid-thigh for me, which is perfect! I've only carried around a small WIP so far, so I was not afraid it would stretch out. Before I really get down to using it full-time, I will line it so it doesn't stretch to below my knee. Being a short girl, I know how awful it is to have a way too long bag full of heavy stuff hit you right smack in the back of the knee while trying to juggle ALL the bags while opening the front door. (See: market totes that stretched out to 3x it's length).

Also, be mindful of how long you make your straps! They may stretch overtime so don't over-do it. I made the straps long enough to be comfortable but kept in mind it may stretch an inch or so overtime from the weight in my bag.

Okay, let's get to it!

Materials I Used:
1 skein each of I Love This Cotton in White, Black, Bright Teal, and Coral
G hook
Tapestry needle for sewing
Scissors

Notes: The base/bottom of the bag is made in rounds, increasing each round. Once the base is completed, the sides will also be worked in the round but without increases.
The chains starting the rounds do not count as a stitch.
I had just the right amount of black for this project, you may or may not need an additional skein depending on your tension. I tend to crochet loosely and had enough.
HDC increase: 2 HDC into same stitch
Starting at Row 19, the V stitch will begin. The V stitch is essentially making 2 DC in between the 2 DC in the previous round, continuing to do that all the way around.

Starting with black

Row 1: Magic ring, HDC 10 into ring, join

Row 2: Chain 1, HDC increase in each stitch, join - change to Coral

Row 3: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next stitch, repeat from* , join

Row 4: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 2 stitches, repeat from* , join - change to Bright Teal

Row 5: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 3 stitches, repeat from* , join

Row 6: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 4 stitches, repeat from* , join - change to White

Row 7: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 5 stitches, repeat from* , join

Row 8: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 6 stitches, repeat from* , join - change to Black

Row 9: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 7 stitches, repeat from* , join

Row 10: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 8 stitches, repeat from* , join - change to Coral

Row 11: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 9 stitches, repeat from* , join 

Row 12: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 10 stitches, repeat from* , join - change to Bright Teal

Row 13: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 11 stitches, repeat from* , join 

Row 14: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 12 stitches, repeat from* , join - change to White

Row 15: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 13 stitches, repeat from* , join

Row 16: Chain 1, *HDC increase, HDC in next 14 stitches, repeat from* , join - change to Black

Row 17: Chain 1, *HDC evenly around in back loops only, join

Row 18: Chain 2, *2 DC into next stitch, skip two stitches, repeat from * , join - change to Coral

Row 19: Chain 2, *2 DC in between the 2 DC in the previous round, repeat from * , join 

Row 20 -46 : Repeat Row 19 changing color after each round in the following pattern: Coral, Bright Teal, White, Black

There are three rows to finish off the top that will hold the pull string:
Chain 2, DC around evenly, join
Chain 2, *DC into next 4 stitches, Chain 2, skip next two stitches, repeat from *, join
Chain 2, HDC around evenly, join
Fasten off.

This completes the body of the bag.


Strap - worked in rows:

Start with black

Row 1: Chain 90
Row 2: SC into second chain from hook and across, turn your work
Row 3: Change color to white, SC across, turn your work
Row 4: Change color to teal, Chain 1, SC across, turn your work
Row 5: Change color to coral, Chain 1, SC across, turn your work
Row 6: Chain 1, SC across, turn your work
Row 7: Change color to teal, SC across, turn your work
Row 8: Change color to white, SC across, turn your work
Row 9: Change color to black, SC across, turn your work
Fasten off and leave tail for sewing onto bag.

*You can make the strap longer or shorter by adding or subtracting from the starting chain. Keep in mind, the strap may stretch a bit over time.

Sew onto bag using a tapestry needle and whip stitch. I went over the area at least 6 times to make it secure and tight.

Pull-string

Cut 6 pieces each of white, teal, and pink yarn around 3 ft long. Tie a knot twice at one end and braid the yarn together. Before you tie the other end, insert the piece into the holes at the tope of the bag, weaving in and out until you get all the way around. I made sure to start at a hole that was in between the straps. Tie two knots at the other end. Trim ends evenly.

As I stated earlier, I suggest lining this bag to keep the shape and so it does not stretch especially when carrying heavy items.


Pin it to your boards!

Crochet Easter Chick Shakers

Find the crochet pattern for these Easter chicks down below! They are the perfect non-candy Easter Basket filler for babies and toddlers!

Ideas for crochet projects usually hit me out of nowhere. I won't be doing anything inspiring or even thinking of anything and they will just come to me.

For example, yesterday right before I woke up from my nap I got this great idea to make something for my son's Easter basket. You know when you're half-dreaming/half-awake? That's when this idea came to me. It was really out of nowhere because to be honest, I haven't thought about my son's Easter basket until that moment.

My idea: some sort of small chick stuffed with poly-fil that would hold an Easter egg filled with something to make noise. A chick shaker! Or a noise maker?

I knew it would be a great addition to my son's Easter basket. Although they may be more suitable for tiny tots, my son loves anything that makes noise so this was the perfect little something for him. I got started as soon as I got up and finished 3 last night!

If you're like me and Easter has popped up out of nowhere, you can definitely whip a few of these up in an evening. They're really easy and you can use what ever scrap yarn you have! I used a cotton yarn for the yellow one and acrylic worsted weight for the blue and pink one.

I have a bunny and unicorn variation of this pattern you can find there! 

I used the scrap yarn I had on hand, and the light pink one happened to be really old scrap yarn. I'm mostly certain it is Red Heart Super Saver.

I remember it being the first yarn I used when I started crocheting at 8 years old. And yes, this yarn was the same yarn I actually worked with 18 years ago.

Long story short - my mom hoards yarn whenever it goes on clearance. There was probably a tote full of this light pink color and I still happened to have some of it. Isn't that crazy?!

To keep it relevant, although it was a worsted weighted yarn it seemed a bit thicker than the blue color I used, which was also Red Heart Super Saver. I actually had to remove a row or two to keep it the same size as the other two. So depending what yarn you use or what you have in your scraps, your chicks may vary in size. If you have bulky or chunky yarn, I encourage you to try that to make a larger chick! Only thing you will have to do is use an H or I hook.

So I started with the yellow guy. I used safety eyes because I had a bunch laying around. If you don't have safety eyes on hand, you can sew on the eyes using a french knot. I wanted to make another with a different face, so next came the blue chick with the happy eyes. I was on a roll and three seemed to be a good number, so I also made a light pink one with eyelashes to add a feminine touch.

These chicks are only made with single crochets. You will also need to know how to increase and invisible decrease, which are simple concepts:

increase - SC twice into the same space

invisible decrease - insert hook into front loop only, yarn over, pull through, insert hook into next front loop, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops.

*If you know how to decrease, the invisible decrease is the same as a decrease except you only work into the front loops. It makes your work look much cleaner!

Here are the materials I used and the basic pattern for the chicks:

Worsted weight yarn

G hook

Safety eyes (optional)

Small plastic easter eggs

Rice, Beans, Beads, etc. to fill the eggs

Tape

Poly-fil 

*If you don't have stuffing on hand or don't want to buy a bag just for this project, you can rip up cotton balls and use that as stuffing or even scrap yarn if you have enough*

Scissors

Tapestry needle for sewing

Pattern - worked in rounds

Row 1: Starting with a magic ring, SC 8 in the ring, join

Row 2: increase in each stitch around, join

Row 3: *SC, increase, repeat from * around, join

Row 4: *SC in next 2 stitches, increase, repeat from * around, join

Row 5: *SC in next 3 stitches, increase, repeat from * around, join

Row 6-16: SC in each stitch around, join

Row 17: *SC in next 3 stitches, invisible decrease, repeat from * around, join

Row 18: SC in each stitch around, join

At this point you will want to sew on your eyes and/or attach the safety eyes onto the chick. For the safety eyes, I placed the eyes between rows 14 and 15. You can add eyelashes if you'd like. 

If you're using the safety eyes with the eyelashes, sew on the eyelashes first! What I did was place my safety eyes where I liked them then stitched a small horizontal line and a small diagonal line coming out from the space where I wanted to place my eyes. Then I attached the safety eyes.

For the happy eyes, I sewed on upside down V's between rows 15 and 17.

You will also need to sew on the beak. I sewed the beak on with a tapestry needle between rows 10 and 13 using a running stitch vertically coming down to one point then horizontally to bring it all together on the top..

You will also want to place your egg and stuffing inside the chick at this point and continue to stuff as you go.

To make the shaker inside, I took an empty plastic Easter egg and filled the bottom portion with rice. I used beans and beads for the other two. You can fill it with what ever you have laying around the house that will make noise when you shake the egg. I used packing tape to make sure the content stayed inside and then placed it in the chick with the poly-fil.

Row 19: *SC in next 2 stitches, invisible decrease, repeat from * around, join

Row 20: SC in each stitch around, join

Row 21: SC in next stitch, invisible decrease, repeat from * around, join

Row 22: Invisible decrease around, join

Fasten off, make sure you have enough poly-fil/stuffing inside and then sew up the hole. I didn't stuff mine too tightly, I wanted to make it soft and squishy.

For the hair, I cut 6-7 pieces of yarn and tied them to the top.  The pieces were about 6 inches so I had to trim them down. I found that using smaller pieces of yarn made it very hard to tie/attach to the top.