Vintage Stripe Crochet Blanket

I've had a number of people ask for this vintage pattern, so I thought instead of continuing to send it to people individually, I'll pop it up here.

It is from a vintage Australian crochet book, so it uses English crochet terminology, if you are used to following American patterns, please check the abbreviation chart for the stitches at the end of the pattern.

The pattern is for a scarf, so just increase stitches for a rug, using whatever crochet hook is appropriate for whatever yarn you are using.

Make 70 Chain
1st row - Miss 1ch, 1dc in each ch to end (69 dc)
2nd row - 3ch, 1tr in first dc *miss 3dc, 3tr in next dc, rep from * to last 4dc, miss 3dc, 2tr in last dc
3rd row - (change colour yarn) 2ch, *3tr in centre dc of 3dc missed in previous row (working over previous row), rep from * to end, 1 htr in centre ch of 3ch
4th row - 3ch, 1tr in space between htr and next group of tr, 3tr in each space between groups of tr to end, 2tr in space between last group and turning ch
5th row - (change colour yarn) 2ch, *3tr in centre tr of 3tr group 2 rows below (working over last row), rep from * to end, 1 htr in centre ch of 3 ch
6th row - as 4th row
7th row - as 5th row
8th row - as 4th row
Continue until work is desired length, changing colour of yarn every odd numbered row (5, 7, 9, 11, etc)

Abbreviations:

ch....chain (UK)...............= chain (USA)
dc....double crochet (UK)= single crochet (USA)
htr ..half treble (UK)........= half double crochet (USA)
tr.....treble (UK)...............= double crochet (USA)

DK Cotton Socks - Free Pattern

I knitted these socks for summer motorcycling, nice to have thick socks for under the Doc Martins, but being cotton they are a lot cooler than all my woollen hand knitted socks, even the really fine ones.

These are instructions for using a single circular needle, but you should be able to adjust it to DPN if you prefer.

Yarn - 2 balls of DK cotton yarn (approx 255m needed in total)
Needles - 1 x 3.75mm Circular Needle min 80cm long
Guage - 12sts per 5cm



CUFF
Cast on loosely 64sts.
1st Row *P1, K2, P1, rep from *, to end, turn work
2nd Row *K1, P2, K1, rep from *, to end, turn work
Continue ribbed band for 11 rows in all.
Pull through a loop of needle cable between the 32 and 33rd stitches (half of knitting on either end of needles now) and sew up the ends of the band together. You now have the round to continue knitting up socks.

I use this method because it saves so much time then the getting started on any knitting in the round.

1st Round *K3, P2, K3, rep from * to end
Continue rounds until sock measures 10cm from beginning.

Next Round *K3, P2tog, K3, rep from* to end (56sts)
Next Round *K3, P1, K3, rep from* to end
Rep this last round until sock measures 18cm from beginning.

Next Round *K3, K2tog, K2, rep from * to end (48sts)
Next Round Knit all stitches
Continue rounds of stocking stitch until sock measures 23cm from beginning

Next Round K3, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K22, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K3 (44sts)

HEEL FLAP
1st Row K12, Turn work
2nd Row P24, Turn work (these 24 stitches form heel, continue, turning at the end of each row)
3rd Row *Sl 1, K1, rep to end *
4th Row S1 1, P23
Rep Rows 3 & 4 another 8 times (total 20 rows for heel)

TURN HEEL
1st Row Sl 1, K13, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
2nd Row Sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn
3rd Row Sl 1, K6, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
4th Row Sl 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn
5th Row Sl 1, K8, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
6th Row Sl 1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn
7th Row Sl 1, K10, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
8th Row Sl 1, P11, P2tog, P1, turn
9th Row Sl 1, K14
10th Row Sl 1, P15

Next Row K8, pull through needle to cable (this is now the end of the round)

INSTEP
1st Round K8, Knit up 11sts along Heel Flap, K10 (pull cable twist to this section of round) K10, Knit up 11sts along side Heel Flap, K8 (58sts)
2nd Round Knit all stitches
3rd Round K16, K2tog, K22, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, Knit to end (56sts)
4th Round Knit all stitches
5th Round K15, K2tog, K22, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, Knit to end (54sts)
6th Round Knit all stitches
7th Round K14, K2tog, K22, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, Knit to end (52sts)
Continue decreasing every alt row as in rows 2 to 7 until there are 44sts.
Continue in stocking stitch until instep measures 14.5cm from edge of heel flap.

SHAPE TOE
1st Round K8, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K16, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K8 (40sts)
2nd Round Knit all stitches
3rd Round K7, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K14, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K7 (36sts)
4th Round Knit all stitches
5th Round K6, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K12, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K6 (32sts)
6th Round Knit all stitches
Continue decreasing in alt rows until 24sts remain. Then decrease in every row until 12 sts remain.
Graft final stitches together for toe.

Abbreviations
K - Knit
P - Purl
tog - together
Sl - Slip
tbl - through back loop
psso - pass slipped stitch over
rep - repeat

I have tried to check that this pattern is mistake free, but due to not being perfect and often being interrupted when typing, I apologise if I have missed any errors.

Blythe Dress - Free Pattern

If you cut and paste the below addy, it should take you to the original flickr upload, on the top of the pic, click on "all sizes" then download original size (largest). http://www.flickr.com/photos/fran_e/3156869743/

Instructions:
1. Cut out pieces carefully, and be careful about the 5mm seam allowance to ensure a good fit.
2. Put 2 rows of gather stitches along the top of the skirt piece, the skirt ruffle and the top and the bottom of the sleeve pieces.
3. Sew the shoulder pieces together and press seams open. With right sides facing, sew around the neck seam, clip and trim the seam, then turn in the right way and press.
4. Press cuffs along fold line and then pull up gathering stitches at lower part of sleeve to match cuff, sew right sides together, remove gathering stitches and press seam towards seam.
5. Gather up top of sleeve stitches and sew right sides together along armhole in bodice. Remove gathering stitches and finger press seam towards bodice.
6. With right sides together sew up sides of bodice, sleeve edge and cuff edge all in one seam. Clip seam at underarm. Turn in the right way and press.
7. Sew a narrow hem along ruffle piece. Pull up the gathering stitches of the other edge of ruffle piece and sew right sides together to skirt bottom. Remove gathering stitches and press towards skirt piece.
8. Pull up gathering sitches on top of skirt and pin to bottom of bodice right sides together , making sure to make a 5mm fold along edge of skirt, matching the edge of the bodice, to ensure no raw edges show when finished. Sew and remove gathering stitches and press towards skirt.
9. If you wish now is the time to sew a ribbon or trim around bottom of bodice.
10. Sew up back seam, from bottom of ruffle to about half way up skirt piece.
11. Sew two snaps on back of bodice, one at neck and one at waist.
Note: I always finish each seam as I go with a narrow zig zag stitch and trim any lose threads.