top banana hairbands

In my continued quest for things to sell on my first craft stall I have come up with a number of patterns that don't take too long to make or use up acres of yarn.  I figured these two points would be essential if I want to sell anything and make a bit of a profit - there's not many people at a local craft fair who'd be prepared to pay for an intricately stitched, time consuming thingamibob costing £20, £30, £40.  So I raided my scrap-bag and found this lovely boo sock yarn I bought from babylonglegs last year to make some socks for my son.  I then raided my daughter's room for some unused (because she still doesn't have enough hair for them!) hair elastics and got to work!  These take about 20 minutes to make and can be adjusted in length/width as needed.

You will need a 4mm hook and some left over yarn (this is sock yarn but I've also used aran with a larger hook, works out fine)

1.  Join yarn around hair elastic with a slip stitch, ch1, make 7 sc stitches across, ch1, turn
2. sc across, ch1, turn
3.  Sc in first, 2 sc in next, sc in next 3, 2sc, sc in last, ch1, turn
4 - 65: *sc, ch1, sk 1* across, sc in last, ch1, turn
66: sc, sc2tog, sc in next 3, sc2 tog, sc, ch1, turn
67: sc across, ch1, turn
68: work a final row of sc around hair elastic, bind off and weave in ends.

(For personal use only)

MSF and p/hop

I found out about www.p-hop.co.uk at a local Ravelry event a few years ago and as well as publishing patterns on my blog, it has always been at the back of my mind to donate a pattern or two.
For those who haven't heard about p/hop, it is a brilliant idea :)  Basically you choose a pattern from the site to download and then decide how much you think the pattern is worth and donate the money.  The money goes to MSF to support their fantastic and vital work.
So the plan is to work on an idea I had for a shawl based on a large shell pattern.  Once I am happy with it I will submit it and post about it on here.  Watch This Space!!  (Although not too closely, I'm not the fastest worker!!)

Narrowboat hearts

I came up with these a while ago after my mum asked me to make her something small for her narrowboat.  They are made in worsted cotton with a 4mm hook and can be stuffed with fluff or with lavender or other dried scented herbs.  Although I've not tried it I imagine they'd also work well with a drop or 2 of essential oil (although the oil might affect the colour of the cotton so try it at your own risk!  For my hearts I suffed with fluff and made a pocket within the fluff to fill with lavender.

You will need: 4mm hook, worsted weight cotton and fibrefill to stuff.

Make 2 small and 2 large hearts before binding together and stuffing.

Small Heart (make 2)
1. Ch2, sc in 2nd ch from hook, turn.
2. Ch1, 2sc, turn
3. Ch1, 2sc in each st, turn (4)
4. Ch1, 2sc in 1st st, sc across, 2 sc in last st, turn (6)
5 + 6: Repeat row 4
7: Ch1, sl st in 1st st, sk 1, 5dc in next st, sk1, sl st in next 2 st, sk1, 5 dc in next st, sk1, sl st in last, turn.
8: Ch1, sc, 2hdc in next 4 st, sc, sl st 2tog, sc, 2hdc in next 4 st, sc in last.  Do not turn.
9: Work sl st evenly around edge of heart.  When you get to the gully (centre dip) at the top of the heart work sl st 3tog, sl st to end.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Large Heart (make 2)

1. Ch3, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, turn
2. Ch2, 2hdc, turn
3. Ch2, 2hdc in both st, turn (4)
4. Ch2, 2hdc in 1st, hdc across, 2hdc in last, turn (6)
5 + 6: Repeat row 4
7: Ch1, sl st in 1st st, sk1, 5dc in next, sk1, sl st in next 2, sk1, 5dc in next, sk1, sl st in last st, turn
8. Ch1, sc, 2hdc in next 4, sc, sl st 2tog, sc, 2hdc in next 4, sc in last.  Do not turn.
9: Work sl st evenly around edge of heart. When you get to the gully (centre dip) at the top of the heart work sl st 3tog, sl st to end. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Construction

Starting with the 2 large hearts and beginning at the gully (centre top dip): Sl st in BLO through both hearts around to join together.  When you get to the last section, stop and stuff with fluff/lavender etc, continue in sl st BLO to join hearts.  Do not fasten off!
Work ch3 and holding the 2 smaller hearts together begin sl st BLO at points of bottom of smaller hearts.  Sl st BLO around to gully, work ch 20 and rejoin with a sl st in same st as last one worked to form a hanging loop (this can also be left out or the length of the chain altered depending on what is required), continue in sl st BLO until a small gap remains, stuff with fluff/lavender and continue sl st BLO to starting point on smaller hearts.  Fasten off and weave in ends :)