Spring is upon us, although I’m bracing for the Spring showers, which seem to have started early here! Whether you’re looking for a quick Easter make, for that last minute gift or Easter basket filler, I’ve got some patterns to tempt you…and most of them are FREE… Hurrah!
How about this as a sweet Easter basket filler for baby. Using Oeko Tex standard 100 approved 100% cotton in a 4ply; these lovey’s are soft to snuggle and safe to chew on…and are sure to become baby’s best friend.
This luxurious set of reusable soft textured facecloths and squishy scrubbies would make the perfect Easter gift for baby, Mom’s-to-be, or just that special girl in your life. They are quick and easy to make, so are perfect to add that handmade touch to gift baskets.
Why not hook this beautiful baby blanket, ideal for the spring / summer. A beginner’s introduction to filet crochet, the pattern is free and gives instructions on how to size up for a bigger blanket too!
The simplicity and sweetness of this beautiful Spring tea cosy, makes it quick to make. Suitable for a beginner with a little experience of working in the round, this tea cosy is sure to keep your Easter cup of tea as warm as your freshly toasted hot cross bun!
Don’t forget to pop over to my socials to say hi…I would love to see what’s on your hook. @yarnyrobin
Happy Hooking!
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Master the Craft: Crochet Hexagon Made Easy is your ultimate guide to creating beautiful, vintage crochet motifs. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this comprehensive video tutorial is your step by step guide to help you crochet the perfect hexagon.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your crochet hexagon journey right here!
If your stuck for any last minute homemade gifts, I’ve got you! There’s 15% off all patterns in my Etsy shop until Christmas Eve and there’s lots of Christmassy patterns that can be made in an evening, so don’t sweat it! Just use code JINGLEBELLS at the checkout!
They are just the sweetest festive accessory for a little one this Season; with a pretty scalloped edge and whimsical festive foliage. These bibs are not only perfect for Christmas photo’s they are practical too. Made from 100% cotton, these bibs are super absorbent making them ideal for dribblers!
I have really enjoyed designing this bib set and I hope that you love them just as much as I do. The pattern is available for download in both UK and US crochet terminology, so there is no need for any pesky converting and is suitable for intermediate crochet with each bib using less than 50g of Cotton.
I have used DMC Natura Just Cotton which is a 4 ply yarn as I just adored the colour range they offered and felt the colours gave the vintage vibe I was hoping for. Not only is this cotton absorbent, but it is Oeko Tex standard 100 approved; which means the cotton has been certified to be free of harmful chemicals and is safe for human use, as well as being verified as both safe and non irritating to human skin. This element of the design was very important to me as baby will most likely chew on the bib, so this certification gives me peace of mind.
I think these bibs would make ideal festive themed baby gifts or stocking fillers and what’s more you can easily make a bib in an evening, so if you are a last minute gifted these bibs are ideal.
Why not couple them with my FREE teething ring pattern to make the perfect festive handmade gift for that special little someone in your life.
If you like this post, please leave me a like and comment below as this is a great way to support me and don’t forget to tag me in your makes using
With Christmas fast approaching I wanted to share with you a fabulous and practical pattern, perfect for this festive season. These handy baskets can be used to gift or store festive chocolates or just add a little seasonal decor around the home.
These baskets are super versatile. You can swap the colours to suit your own style and add whatever decorations you choose, here I have chosen to add a sweet wooden snowflake, but ribbons, bows and bells would look just as good. The best bit about these baskets is the wooden base.
The wooden base makes this a super quick make and means the basket has a great shape and is sturdy…all good elements for a useful basket to have. You will find bases in all sorts of shapes and sizes on lots of different shopping sites. I got mine from Etsy, as I like to support small business owners when I can. Take a look here to get started
I would just like to talk about your choice of yarn or cord for a moment also. I purchased several versions before I settled on one I was happy with. Some were too splitty, or dull, or just didn’t crochet well. I highly recommend using this 5mm braided recycled cotton cord because it is economical, comes in a great colour range and is easy to work with. I used colourways Candy red and Natural.
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Pattern notes
The pattern that follows can be adapted to any size or shape base. The pattern uses English crochet terminology, but you can find US crochet terminology in brackets just below. Round 3 onwards is worked in continuous rounds, so I strongly advise that you mark the 1st stitch of each round with a stitch marker. Repeats are marked by *
What you will need
5mm braided cotton cord in colour of your choice
wooden base(s)
scissors
hooks – see below
stitch marker
decorations of your choice – bows / bells / small tree ornaments
Stitches used
DC – double crochet ( SC – single crochet)
slst – slip stitch
Ch – chain stitch
Dc: Insert hook into chain or under both loops of stitch, yarn over and pull through so there are 2 loops on hook, yarn over again and pull through both loops on hook.
Hooks used
5mm and 8mm
To start
Start by holding cord underneath the base. Using smaller hook pull up a loop through the first hole in the base.
Yarn over and pull through loop on your hook.
*Pull up next loop from the underside of base through next hole and complete DC* Repeat around base to last hole. Slst in 1st st.
Now turn work so outside of the basket is facing you.
Round 2: Using larger hook. Ch1 (does not count as a st) place marker. DC in same space and in each st around. At end of round place marker.
Round 3: Do not ch 1, continue to place DC in each st for desired height of basket, placing marker in 1st stitch of each round. Change colours as desired.
eg/ large basket pictured had a base with 37 holes / 17cm diameter. I completed rounds 1 – 8 in candy red and rounds 9 – 11 in natural. Final round in natural also. My basket measures 14cms tall.
Final round: Do not ch1, slst in each st around. Fasten off.
With smaller hook weave in loose ends. Weave starting tail at base so that it fills in the gap.
Now decorate your basket as desired.
Next steps
If you have enjoyed this pattern you can help support what I do by
If you are anything like me you will have a crochet to-do list as long as your arm and with Christmas fast approaching you will probably have had several thoughts of what to hand make and gift this December. I can remember more than several occasions, sitting up into the small, wee hours desperately hooking and that deadline looming and it kind of stole the joy.
With that in mind I have put together my top 10 best tips for keeping your crafting time and gifting this Season, super organised and efficient and most importantly stress-free! Leaving you feeling in control and calm in the festive run-up and bossing the hand-made gifting, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the festivities.
What’s more I have put together a FREE editable 10 page Christmas Crochet organiser, so you can keep track of your progress and pattern notes and conquer your hand-made gifting this year. Simply sign up to get your Christmas Crochet Organiser delivered straight to your inbox (offer available until 30th November 2023) Already subscribed? Then check your inbox now (please check your spam folder if you cannot find your email)
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1. Plan Ahead
I can’t state this enough! I am guilty of thinking I can get a project done more quickly than I actually can and this leads to trouble and tears…trust me! It is really worthwhile writing a list of who you are going to make for and what you want to make for them. Sign up for my 10 page Crochet Christmas Organiser to help you plan ahead, you will find the links above and below.
If your list is looking too long, you may have to re-think. Work within your own capacity is the golden rule here. Make a plan and keep track of it for those festive wins. Once you have got your crochet plans finalised get your patterns sorted and order your yarn; making sure you’ve got enough…you don’t want to be losing a game of yarn chicken on Christmas Eve!
2. Start Early
By early, I mean start as early in the year as you can. It is not a great idea to start a blanket for that special someone at the beginning of December, if you are also working full time, running the home and entertaining relatives who have come to visit. On the other hand, if you can dedicate large chunks of time each day, this might work. If you want to make something like a blanket, start well in advance and this is why planning ahead really works.
3. Keep projects small and simple
This is one of my favourite tips. By keeping projects small you will be able to gift hand-made to more people. Keeping projects small also keeps the cost of each gift down and that has to be a win. You will also get that finished feeling buzz and, with smaller projects that bell will get rung more often. Meaning you can tick off that to do list more quickly; giving you that sense of satisfaction and achievement.
4. Choose quality yarn
If you can make your gifts with fabulous yarn, your gift will not only ooze quality and charm but it will give you much joy whilst you make. Think hand dyed yarns, local yarns, supporting small yarn traders and ethical companies when choosing your yarns and keep the recipient in mind when choosing too.
5. Be mindful of wool allergies
Talking of said recipient, be mindful that some folk have allergies to high content wool mixes. It would be highly disappointing if you poured all of your time, love and creativity into your gift if your recipient comes out in hives just unwrapping it!
6. Add brand labels / handmade labels
Where suitable add labels / logo’s or tags to your gifts with your brand name on or if this is not applicable then labels / buttons or tags which say something like ‘Handmade with Love’ or ‘made by…..’ It is really worth investing in these for your finished items as it really levels -up your work and makes it look more professional. There are numerous choices from buttons, leather, cork and metal tags and labels which can be personalised to suit your vibe. Check out Etsy.
7. Quality check your finished piece
It is really worth just inspecting your gift before you excitedly wrap it up and put it under the Christmas tree. Give it the once over for any rogue loose ends which may have been missed and if you have pets make sure it is pet hair / fur free too! If you have made a gift for a little person, just check everything is secure and fit for purpose.
8. Add care labels and wonderfully wrap
Now you can prepare for wrapping. It is a good idea to let your recipient know how to care for their hand-made gift, especially if it will be washed in the future. You could just include the yarn ball band with the washing instructions on or, you could add some pzazz with care labels which advise on how to look after the item. I recommend the latter which you can attach to the item with some pretty ribbon or string before you wrap. Check out my print at home care labels. Now you are almost there choose how you will present your gift. Will you box it or wrap it with pretty paper and a glorious big ribbon or maybe some brown paper and string and a sprig of holly??
With your Christmas gifts all made and wrapped, it’s time to dust yourself down and think about you. Choose something you would like to crochet for yourself, order your yarn and pop it in a project bag ready to pull out on Boxing Day and you can crochet happy between Christmas and New Year (we call this Twixmas here at the Nest). Alternatively, put the yarn on your Christmas List and let someone else splash the cash!
10. Enjoy Christmas
The great thing about crochet is that it is the perfect companion for a Christmas movie or 24, so whilst you are making your way through your handmade list, don’t forget to soak up Advent with the odd mince pie, some carols on the radio, your favourite Christmas movie and a Christmas hot chocolate or two.
So, there you have my best top 10 tips for stress-free Christmas crochet. Don’t forget if you would like my FREE fully editable 10 page Christmas crochet organiser sign up to my email list (offer valid until 30.11.2023)
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It’s my favourite time of the year and to celebrate I’m sharing my crochet pattern for my Twiddly Pumpkins. I just love the Autumn, when the nights draw in and home becomes my sanctuary. There is nothing like drawing the curtains, lighting the candles and settling down in your comfies to watch some good television and crochet the evening away. I love the crisp, cold but sunny mornings and the chill in the air that creeps in, the deeper into Autumn we travel. The renewal of the hot chocolate station in the kitchen and of course lots of lovely celebrations…Harvest, Bonfire night and Christmas. There is just so much sparkle to Autumn…It really is my happy place.
Home decoration really takes on a new meaning in Autumn and can be ramped up without being over the top. These twiddly pumpkins are a cute way to decorate your space and welcome Autumn into you home. Why not adorn your fireside mantle or create a centre table display.
They are a great stash buster and are quick to make. Which makes them ideal to gift or sell as they will cost you pennies to make! You can make them from any weight yarn in varying sizes and the pattern can easily be adapted in terms of size and stitch.
Why not join us at The Nest and get a monthly newsletter straight to your inbox, full of crochet goodness, early access to free patterns and exclusive discount codes.
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You will need to gather some supplies before you start. I recommend having a hunt through your stash to see what you’ve forgotten about and start there. You will also need a hook suitable for the yarn you have selected.
You will also need a pair of scissors, a darning needle, some polyester toy filling (fire safety satndard / EN71), some cinnamon sticks, a hot glue gun and some twiddly bits!
Twiddly bits are anything that you wish to decorate your pumpkin with. I used artificial leaves and berries, but you could use twine, ribbon or what ever else you fancy. Be creative and use what you already have. The cinnamon sticks make whimsical pumpkin stalks and they smell delicious too! Alternative stalks can be made from twigs from the garden to create a more rustic vibe.
This pattern is written using UK crochet terminology and the stitch abbreviations can be found below.
Gauge is not important for this project. You will find instructions for a small, medium and large pumpkin.
This pattern can easily be adapted to make smaller or larger pumpkins by adding or decreasing the number of chains in the starting chain. You can even change the stitch for a different textured pumpkin
Stitch Abbreviations:
Ch- chain
St – stitch
Slst – slip stitch
Dc – double crochet
Htr – half treble
BLO – back loop only
Dc: Insert hook into chain or under both loops of stitch, yarn over and pull through so there are 2 loops on hook, yarn over again and pull through both loops on hook.
Htr: Yarn over before inserting hook into chain or under both loops of stitch, insert hook, yarn over and pull through so there are 3 loops on the hook, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
BLO: Work stitch as stated, but in back loop of stitch only.
click the link above for a short video of working in the back loop
Small Pumpkin
Leave long tail, Ch17
Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook and each st along, turn (16dc)
Row 2 -19: in BLO, ch1, htr in next st and in each st along, turn (16htr)
Row 20: Ch1, dc in next st, and each st along (16dc) Fasten off leaving a long tail
Medium Pumpkin
Leave long tail, Ch22
Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook and each st along, turn (21dc)
Row 2 -24: in BLO, ch1, htr in next st and in each st along, turn (21htr)
Row 25: Ch1,dc in next st, and each st along (21dc) Fasten off leaving a long tail
Large Pumpkin
Leave long tail, Ch27
Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook and each st along, turn (26dc)
Row 2 -29: in BLO, ch1, htr in next st and in each st along, turn (26htr)
Row 30: Ch1,dc in next st, and each st along (26dc) Fasten off leaving a long tail
To assemble.
With ribs running vertically fold edges of pumpkin together and sew edges together using a simple running stitch or whip stitch to create a tube.
With darning needle, weave long tail in and out, around bottom of pumpkin (it does not matter which end this is)
Once completed pull long tail tightly to gather pumpkin and sew across middle in a zig zag to close neatly.
Fill pumpkin generously with toy stuffing.
Now with second long tail weave in and out along top edge and pull tight to gather top of pumpkin. Insert cinnamon stick towards the end of this process and pull the tail tightly. Wrap yarn a couple of times around base of cinnamon stick, take needle through the pumpkin and exit centrally at the bottom of pumpkin. Fasten off and weave in any loose ends.
To create the indentations in the side of the pumpkin you will take yarn through the middle of the pumpkin from top to bottom or vice versa. Always insert needle centrally at the top or the bottom of the pumpkin as indicated.
With new yarn, inset needle into bottom of pumpkin, leaving a tail at the bottom of the pumpkin and pull up through the middle of the pumpkin, so that your needle exits the top of the pumpkin, centrally. Take the yarn on the outside of the pumpkin and insert needle into the bottom of the pumpkin, back through the centre of the pumpkin and exit again at the top of the pumpkin and pull tight to create indentation in the side of the pumpkin.
Repeat this process taking the yarn on the opposite side of the 1st indentation to create a second indentation. Repeat around the pumpkin to create equal indentations all around. As a guide, segment the pumpkin into quarters and then in between each quarter.
Weave in any loose ends
Twiddly Bits
Now with a glue gun add your twiddly bits. If you do not have a glue gun consider tying or sewing twiddly bits into position.
When you make this project don’t forget to tag me in your social media as I would love to see your pumpkin creations Tag me using @yarnyrobin using #twiddlypumpkins
Another brand new pattern just off my hook and just in time for the Autumn. I must give a huge shout to @jenevs1981 on Instagram for this adorable photo above.
Bonnets are just perfect for little ones as the weather gets cooler as they stay on their little heads much better I find. This bonnet is the October Bonnet and has a traditional pixie point which gives the bonnet that instant adorable shape. Coupled with a soft ribbed brim and an oversized flower adding some cuteness and sass for the final look. This bonnet would be perfect to wear this Autumn / fall and ideal for photoshoots at the pumpkin patch or in the woods don’t you think?
This bonnet is easy and quick to hook up and comes in sizes
The pattern uses a pretty little V-cluster stitch which is easy to learn and creates a pretty textured bonnet. I have made a video tutorial of the stitch in case you want to check it out first and you can find that just here.
I chose Stylecraft Special Aran yarn to make my bonnet as they have an amazing colour range at affordable prices. However, the bonnet can also be made from any worsted / aran weight yarn of your choosing…just check your gauge is correct as per pattern instructions and your good to go!
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So, there we have the October Bonnet. I think this pattern would make a lovely baby gift or a new-born photo prop too. It would also be ideal if you are a finished piece crochet seller or of course if you just fancy making it for that special little person in your life.
Look out for my easy peasy pumpkin pattern…I will post it here in the next few days as a FREE pattern or you can get it FREE (Sept 23 only) by joining my email list as it is featured in this months email. I also have a fun Panda Beanie which I still have to tell you about, but if you can’t wait for that pop over to my Instagram and you will find it there. So do pop back won’t you, I love having you here and don’t forget to come and say hi over on Instagram @yarnyrobin or on facebook @baby yarnyrobin…I would love to see what’s on your hook at the moment!
This is my latest pattern fresh of my hook and just in time for the Autumn. I must give a huge shout to @mamma_o_85 on Instagram for this adorable photo above. You can imagine how it made my heart sing when I was tagged into it and then given permission to share as well.
Bonnets are just so timeless and they are one of my favourite patterns to design…I have a few more ideas sketched out, but it takes a lot of time to write them up and edit them, but I will work through them one by one.
This Baby Fox Bonnet was really fun to design and the pattern has been fully pattern tested to. You will find it is easy and quick to hook up and comes in sizes
I chose Brushed Alpaca Silk yarn by Drops in pale rust, rainforest dew and grey for my baby fox bonnet; as it has a slight fuzz, is incredibly lightweight and is soooo soft. However, the bonnet can also be made from any worsted / aran weight yarn of your choosing…just check your gauge is correct as per pattern instructions.
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So, there we have the Baby Fox Bonnet. I think this pattern would make a lovely baby gift or a new-born photo prop. It would also be ideal if you are a finished piece crochet seller or of course if you just fancy making it for that special little person in your life.
I promise I will pop a post for the yarny little bumble bee here as a free pattern, hopefully before the end of August!! I also have plans for pumpkins in the pipe line as well as a beautiful Panda hat too! So do pop back won’t you, I love having you here and don’t forget to come and say hi over on Instagram @yarnyrobin or on facebook @baby yarnyrobin…I would love to see what’s on your hook at the moment!
This beautiful little bumble bee is currently FREE in July’s newsletter which you can sign up to just here…
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These cute little bees have so many uses. I’m currently making lots to send into Forest School for the children to count with, play hide and seek with and to spark conversations about just how important our bees are!
They would also be really great if you sell at markets as they are quick and easy to make. They would be great as magnets, pin badges, class mate gifts, decorations for wreaths and a whole host of other decorations! Let your mind run free!!
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