Black & Tan I

Today's pattern comes from Psych - particularly the episode "Black & Tan".  It's the scarf Sean wears while walking down the street with the fashion models.  It's quite simple and fairly quick to make!

Using light grey worsted-weight yarn and a size H/8 crochet hook,
Foundation chain: Ch 10
Row 1: DC in 3rd ch st, DC across, ch2, turn
Row 2: DC across, ch2, turn.
Repeat row 2 until piece measures 8 feet. 
Cut 16 12" pieces of yarn
attach as tassels (one to each stitch) to each end of the scarf

That's it!  A perfect addition to any Psych fan's wardrobe!

Abbreviations

I thought it would be prudent to make a list of abbreviations I use in my patterns here.  I use pretty standard abbreviations, and an experienced knitter/crocheter should be able to figure out the rest...  I do try to explain any abbreviations I use within the pattern, but sometimes I forget.  I will also try to update this list as I use more abbreviations.

Knitting abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
K2tog or P2tog: Knit or purl two stitches together
Sl: slip stitch
Slp: slip purlwise
AxB ribbing: Work "A" Knit stitches, then "B" Purl stitches, and repeat

Crochet abbreviations:
Ch: Chain stitch
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
DC: Double Crochet
TC: Treble Crochet
inc: Increase (work two stitches in the next stitch)
SC2tog: Single Crochet 2 together
dec: invisible decrease

Power Star!

Ganon loves star shapes.  They might be his favorite, perhaps tied with circles.  He just gets such a kick out of 'em!  Being a geek myself, I know that stars imbue the consumer with the power of invincibility... and have small black eyes just above the center.  That's just the way things are.  So of course, I wanted to make a star toy that Ganon could play with from an early age.  I searched online, but I just couldn't find a pattern I was happy with (all of them had far too many seams to sew and ends to weave in!)  So I made my own.  This is the Seamless Stuffed Super Star pattern - there are no seams at all, and  only 5 ends to weave in (and I just pulled them inside the stuffie instead of any real weaving.  I'll warn you now, though, this pattern isn't very refined - I have a hard time explaining some of the stitches and rounds in any other way, and forego round numbering entirely.  Feedback and suggestions on how to improve this pattern are always welcome!


The final piece measures approximately 6" across with worsted weight yarn and a US size "F" crochet hook.
magic loop 10 stitches.
Side 1:
SC twice in each ST - 20 sts
SC, *SC twice in next ST, SC 3, repeat from * 4 times - 25 sts
*SC 4, SC twice in next ST, repeat from * around - 30 sts
*SC 5, SC twice in next ST, repeat from * around - 35 sts
leave 5yd tail, break yarn

Make another, but don't break off the yarn.
First point:
*SC 7 (last sc should be in the space between the two SC in a single stitch)
CH 3
SC in the space between two SC in one ST on side 1, SC across the side to next two SC in one ST.
CH 3
SC in the space between two SC on side 2 to join.
SC 4, dec, SC 3, dec, SC 4, dec, SC 3, dec
SC 17, PM

DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, MM
SC 14, MM
DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, MM
SC 10, MM
DEC, SC, DEC, DEC, SC, DEC, RM
DEC, DEC, DEC, break off yarn leaving 6” tail
thread tail through front loop of all sts, tie off, thread tail back inside point, remove needle.
Repeat from * with 5yd tail on side 1 to form second point

Point:
SC 8 across one side (from one 2SC space to another), CH 3 (if no STs present, otherwise SC 3 through remaining loop), SC 8 across other side, CH 3 (if no STs present, otherwise SC 3 through remaining loop)
SC to join, be sure not to twist
SC 5, dec, SC 3 through back loop, dec, SC 4, dec, SC 3 through back loop, dec
SC 17, PM
DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2, MM
SC 14, MM
DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, DEC, SC 2, DEC, SC, MM
SC 10, MM
DEC, SC, DEC, DEC, SC, DEC, RM
DEC, DEC, DEC, break off yarn leaving 6” tail
thread tail through front loop of all sts, tie off, thread tail back inside point, remove needle.

Make 4 points (total), stuff
after round 8 (RM) of final point, stuff that point extra firm
after final point is tied off, massage point until stuffing fills it evenly
Using black yarn, embroider oval shaped eyes to one side, the tops of the eyes should be even with the straight edge connecting the upper left and upper right points, and the bottoms of the eyes should be level with the center of the star.

Dumbledore!

I've been enjoying writing amigurumi patterns lately.  Without further ado, here's the first pattern that I've successfully written:

Materials:

small amounts of the following colors of Red Heart Super Saver yarn:
dark orchid (MC)
buff (SC)
country blue (CC)
Caron Super Soft off-white
metallic gold crochet or embroidery thread
size F crochet hook
small amount of poly-fill
yarn needle

Instructions:
NOTE: This pattern is worked in a spiral; do not join rounds

Abbreviations used:
sc – single crochet st - stitch
dec – decrease inc - increase

Body (make one):
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 8 stitches
Round 2: sc twice in each st (16 sts)
Round 3: *sc, sc twice in next st, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 4: *sc, sc, sc twice in next st, repeat from * to end of round (32)
Rounds 5-12: sc around
Round 13: *sc 6, dec, repeat from * to end of round (28)
Round 14: using MC, sc around
Round 15: sc through back loop only to end of round
Round 16: sc around
Round 17: *dec, sc 5, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 18, 19: sc around
Round 20: *sc 4, dec, repeat from * to end of round (20)
Round 21: sc around
Round 22: *dec, sc 3, repeat from * to end of round (16)
Tip: Stuffing before the last decrease round make it easier to stuff!
Round 23: dec around (8)

Robe Bottom:
Round 1: using MC, sc in front loops of Round 15 of body (28)
Round 2: *sc 6, inc, repeat from * to end of round (32)
Rounds 3, 4: sc around
Round 5: *sc 7, inc, repeat from * to end of round (36)
Rounds 6, 7: sc around
Round 8: *sc 8, inc, repeat from * to end of round (40)
Tie off.

Arms (make two):
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 6 stitches
Round 2: sc twice in each st (12)
Rounds 3-5: sc around
Round 6: *dec, sc 4, repeat from * (10)
Round 7: using MC, sc around
Round 8: sc through back loops only to end of round
Stuff
Round 9: dec, sc 3, dec, sc 3 (8)
Rounds 10, 11: sc around
Round 12: dec, sc 2, dec, sc 2 (6)
Stuff
Round 13: sc around, tie off

Sleeves:
Round 1: using MC, sc around front loops of Round 8 of arm (10)
Round 2: sc, *inc, sc 2, repeat from * to end of round (13)
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: sc, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2 (16)
Round 5: sc around, tie off

Head:
Round 1: using SC, magic loop 6 sts
Round 2: sc twice in ea st (12)
Round 3: *sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (18)
Round 4: *sc, sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 5: *sc, sc, sc, inc, repeat from * to end of round (30)
Rounds 6-11: sc around
Round 12: *sc, sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (24)
Round 13: *sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (18)
Round 14: *sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round (12)
stuff
Round 15: dec around (16)
Tie off
Thread yarn tail through all stitches and tie off, draw tail inside head and trim.

Hat:
Pick up 25 sts in a circle around top of head
Sc around twice
Working through back loops only, *sc, sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
Working both loops, *sc, sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
Working both loops, *sc, dec, repeat from * to end of round
dec around last round, tie off
Thread yarn tail through all stitches and tie off, draw tail inside hat and trim.

Assembly:
Flatten top edge of arms and attach to each side of the body
Stitch head to top of body, forming neck
Using CC, sl st or embroider a decorative edge around base of hat, tie a small tassel to center of hat, trim to 1-1/4” in length. Tie around waist, leaving uneven ends. In loose ends, tie a knot approximately 3/4” from trimmed ends and fray.  Embroider eyes.
Using Off-White yarn, attach approximately 70 8” strands (folded in half) to the head to form moustache and beard, and a double line along hair line and hat brim.  Once attached, use a blunt needle to unravel each strand of yarn.  Trim hair and beard evenly, and moustache to approximately 1/2”  Embroider eyebrows.  Embroider a small stitch in each eye as a catch-light.
Using gold thread, tie beard approximately halfway down.  Embroider half-moon glasses under eyes.

Also available as a pdf HERE.