Stay Gold Scarf-A free pattern

I don’t know if you are like me, but sometimes I need a little kick in the pants to stop procrastinating when it comes to gifts, especially around the holidays. The Holiday Stashdown CAL that Underground Crafter runs every year might come as such a relief to some of you. No having to search through dozens of patterns on Ravelry looking for the perfect gift for someone you love. No having to run to the store to buy a bunch of yarn (unless you want to!!) since most of these patterns made available to you in this CAL take less than a skein of yarn or at least can be made from scraps in your stash leftover from other projects. It makes it a tad easier to have things all set up and ready for you, and sometimes just that tiny bit of guidance goes a long way to relieve stress. Crocheting is meant to be fun, not stressful!

Crochet Cancer Challenge 2020

This year is the 7th annual Crochet Cancer Challenge hosted by Christine of Sweet Potato 3. I’m honored to be a part of this wonderful event again this year. As October is almost to an end, I hope that you all have enjoyed participating in this challenge, found some new-to-you designers along with the hat patterns you have downloaded, and have started a nice stack of hats to donate to a local cancer center, patient, or survivor. 

Stay Gold Earwarmer-A Free Crochet Pattern

My Stay Gold Beanie was so much fun to design and work up that I knew I would have to design some matching patterns to go with it! My first matching pattern (or patterns) is the Stay Gold Earwarmer. I designed 2 different versions of this earwarmer (because who doesn’t like to mix things up?) You can find the round regular version here for FREE on my blog.

Stay Gold Beanie-SP3 Cancer Challenge 2019

Another year and another Cancer Challenge hosted by Christine of Sweet Potato 3!! This year, we’ve decided to change it up a bit and have each designer choose a certain ribbon color to represent with their hat patterns. I designed the Stay Gold Beanie for Day 25 of the SP3 Crochet Cancer Challenge.

Why I chose Gold

Gold represents Childhood Cancer. I know that there are many types of Cancer, but I believe the possibility of getting diagnosed with cancer while only a child hits me the hardest. Having 2 (almost 3) kids at home I can’t imagine as a parent how I would handle the situation, let alone how my child would handle it. Having to struggle through and understand something like this at such a young age when you have so little experience under your belt and a life you haven’t fully lived yet is crazy to think about.

Another reason is that I have a friend that I went to college with whose youngest son is only about a year younger than my own. A few years ago he was diagnosed with Leukemia and has been battling it on and off ever since. I see pictures of her family in my newsfeed every now and then and just think of how strong they are. Seriously, this kid is the epitome of strength and perseverance. He’s not letting the big C stop him any time soon. I wish that all kids that are diagnosed with cancer had the strength that this little boy does. It isn’t always the case but it is something that I can hope for. ❤

Why I chose the name Stay Gold Beanie

Besides the color of the ribbon that I chose, “stay gold” also alludes to a heart wrenching part in S.E Hinton’s book “The Outsiders.” In the story Ponyboy refers to a poem by Robert Frost (see below) that says that something gold is always the new beginning of something, something innocent, something young; however, it can never stay. It has to progress into the natural next step in life. While dying in the hospital, one of the characters, Johnny, tells Ponyboy to stay gold. Unlike the other Greasers, Ponyboy has a different perspective on life, has a sensitive nature, and can sympathize with others, even if they are from an opposing part of town. Johnny hopes that Ponyboy will keep these qualities and not get sucked into the Greaser mentality that the others have.

I thought that the phrase “stay gold” really resonated with the childhood part that the gold ribbon represents.

 

Nothing Gold Can Stay

By Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

 

 

The Stay Gold Beanie

 

How to Get This Pattern For Free:

As part of the 2019 Crochet Cancer Challenge you can get a copy of the Stay Gold Beanie pattern for FREE. However, if you download a copy of the pattern, it is your PLEDGE to make a hat to donate to a local Cancer Center and/or patient. Grab your copy of the Stay Gold Beanie pattern for FREE from 10/25 through 10/27 on Ravelry. You must use the code “CC2019” at checkout. Please be sure that the price comes up as free before you order. Remember your FREE download is your PLEDGE to donate a minimum of 1 hat from the pattern by the end of 2019. To make a Pledge, get your copy of the pattern, HERE.

Use #CrochetCancerChallenge

To help spread the word about the Crochet Cancer Challenge we need your help. Please make your hats from the designs and post to your social media outlets. Use #CrochetCancerChallenge when posting on facebook, instagram, pinterest, twitter or anything else. Also, tag the designers who gave you the pattern to use. We all love a little love on social media and may even share your project on our page.

 

MORE LINKS ABOUT THE CANCER CHALLENGE

1. Cancer Challenge Introduction, what is it, click HERE.
2. What type of hat should I make, what sizes and where should I get the patterns, click HERE
3. What type of yarn is recommended for the hats, click HERE
4. Where should I donate my hats, click HERE
5. A fun “start early” project you can add to your hats, click HERE
6. Challenge others to join and more fun information, click HERE

 

Hoogah Slouchy Beanie-A Free Crochet Pattern

Sometimes the moment you see a yarn, you know exactly what you should make with it. This is what happened when I saw the Red Heart Hygge yarn in my local walmart. I’ll admit I was stalking the aisles for a few weeks after seeing others post about their stores getting new yarn. The thing about when you get this certain predetermined project idea, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is. The temperature here in North Carolina is showing no signs of the upcoming Fall, but that wasn’t going to stop me from making the comfiest fall/winter hat ever! I know for sure I will be wearing my Hoogah Slouchy Beanie often when the cooler weather hits! The fun thing about this hat is that it can be worn as a slouch or if you fold the bottom of the hat up, you can also wear it as a beanie, allowing you to change things up a bit depending on your mood!

Divine Lotus Shawl-A Free Crochet Pattern

I’ve been having so much fun using this stitch combination that I used for both my Divine Lotus Wall Hanging and my Divine Lotus Triangle Cowl that I decided to make my very first shawl as well! I love how mindless this project can be once you get past the first couple of repeats. It actually goes pretty quickly despite it being a larger project. This shawl was designed using Dreamers yarn just like the Triangle Cowl, but any weight 1 or 2 yarn would work if you meet gauge! I had one tester even use a couple of Mandala cakes for hers. The stitches weren’t as open as with the lighter weight yarn, but the results were still gorgeous!

Divine Lotus Shawl

Materials Needed: 

• 1000 yards weight #2 yarn
• H 5.0 mm hook
• Yarn needle
• Measuring tape
• Scissors

 

Gauge: 4 inches high x 6.5 inches wide after 10 rows.

Note: can be measured while working the pattern.

 

Project difficulty: Intermediate

 

Stitch Glossary: ch-chain, st-stich, sl st-slip stitch, sc-single crochet, hdc-half double crochet, dc-double crochet, tr- treble crochet, v-st-v stitch, RS-right side, WS-wrong side

 

Special Stitches:

Shell- (hdc, dc, dc, tr, dc, dc, hdc) in the same st or chain space.

V-stitch- (dc, ch 3, dc)

 

Finished Size: 33 inches from center point at bottom to the top, 57 inches across.

Notes:

• Project is worked from bottom point of shawl upward.
• Ch 1 does not count as a stitch 
• Ch 6 counts as a (dc, ch 3)

Pattern Instructions:

 

Row 1: Ch 7 (counts as dc, ch 3. Plus 1 ch to work into). Dc in the 7th ch from the hook. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1. Shell in the ch 3 space. Turn. (1 shell)

Row 3: Ch 6. Dc in the same st as the ch 6. Sk 2 st. Sc in the next tr. Sk 2 st. V-st in the next hdc. Turn. (2 v-st, 1 sc) 

Row 4: Ch 1. Shell in the next ch 3 space. Sc in the next sc. Shell in the next ch 3 space. Turn. (2 shells,1 sc)

Row 5: Ch 6. Dc in the same st as the ch 6. Sk 2 st. Sc in the next tr. *Sk 3 st. V-st in the next sc. Sk 3 st. Sc in the next tr.* Repeat across until 3 st remain. Sk 2 st. (Dc, ch 3, dc) in the next st. (3 v-st, 2 sc)

Row 6-83: Repeat Rows 4-5 (or until desired size). Fasten off and weave in ends.

I hope that you enjoyed this easy and fun shawl pattern!

Divine Lotus Triangle Cowl-A Free Pattern

 

It’s Christmas in July! Underground Crafter has organized another amazing Make Along with many other designers and crafters! What’s great about this Make Along is that not all project are crochet. There are a few knitting and sewing projects thrown in there as well for all you multicrafturals! 31 days and 31 free patterns to get you started on those holiday gifts.

Divine Lotus Wall Hanging-A Free Crochet Pattern

I’m so excited to be part of the MMCAL hosted by Jennifer of A Crocheted Simplicity. I love the idea of CALS but don’t participate in many because of how long they last. Sometimes the time I have doesn’t match up with the timeline of the CAL, or I end up getting distracted by another project. What I love about these Mini-Mystery Crochet Alongs that Jennifer has started is that they are QUICK! A little bit of yarn and small pieces over 2-3 days and you’ve got yourself a nice little completed projected. I also believe that smaller projects help keep your crojo in check when you’ve been working on other projects, so if you ever feel like you are in a bit of crochet funk, go through one of her MMCALs on her blog and work your way through it! ❤

Valentine’s Day Countdown

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! Myself and 14 others designers have gotten together to bring you 15 free crochet patterns perfect for Valentine’s Day! From 1/28 through 2/11, you will find a code for a free pdf version of a pattern from one of the designers. Follow the link to Nicki’s Homemade Crafts’  Blog to find the code each day. She will be updating her blog every day at midnight with the code for the newest pattern!

Enlaced Underbrush Shrug-A Free Women’s Garment Pattern

I know that the holiday time can be stressful, especially for us crafters. We spend the last few months (or weeks if you are a procrastinator like I am) of the year cramming in last minute projects and gifts for others. I know that oftentimes projects that we want to make for ourselves get put on the back burner, sometimes never getting touched again. Let’s put ourselves first for a change, and start this year with making an item for US!