Winter is finally upon us in the southern hemisphere, and what easier way to warm up with a handmade wrap?
It’s a beginner way to make a warm garment.
If you’d like to give it a try it’s on sale at ravelry.com
Tag Archives: Beginner crochet
Olive’s Legacy
It is with great sorrow I announce that Olive has passed away.
She was a very beautiful soul and brought a lot of joy into this world. She left us 4 weeks ago today (we have been too upset to pass on the news) after battling with a respiratory condition.
As well as teaching beginner crochet for DKO Designs, she taught us a lot about loving, appreciating the little things in life and that you can make a good meal out of just about anything.
She was irreplaceable. And will always remain in our hearts.
Beach Backpack – 5. From Straps to Back
Woof and Welcome,
You’ve come at just the right time to finish off your back pack! Last time we finished the bag, today we’re going to make the straps and assemble the whole thing.
The first thing we do is attach the strap to the bottom corner of the back pack starting with a single crochet (sc) in the corner. I’ve chosen a lovely brown wool for the straps to match my ears.
Next we do 135 chain stitches to make the strap itself.
After that we weave the strap through the eyelets at the top like this.
Then we take the strap out the last eyelet and sc the end back to the beginning.
For the other side you do exactly the same process, starting with a sc in the other corner
And weaving the strap through the eyelets to ensure it is in and out of the SAME holes as the previous strap.
Once you’ve secured your second strap back at its start and sewn in the ends, you have a finished back pack like this!
Isn’t it great!!
This was the last of the DKO designs beginner crochet tutorials.
Woof and thank you!
OLIVE
Beach Backpack – 4. From Mesh to Bag
Woof and Welcome, I hope by now your backpack is coming along nicely. In the last lesson we started the actual crocheting of the backpack. In this lesson we’re going to focus on the middle to the end, including sewing it into a bag… but not including the backpack straps. Ambitious, I know, but let’s see how we go!
When I last left you we were working towards Row 17. I’m there now! Here’s how it looks
The next row is a little different. It starts out the same, with 2 turning ch and a hdc, but then instead of making mesh we’re going to put a hdc in the sc and 2hdc into the space like this
And then we just keep on going that way till the end of the row.
The row after that is plain hdc, as are the next 4, and you can do that standing on your head by now I’m sure!
But make sure you count them carefully. If you look at the picture can you see that every second row of hdc produces a ridge? Also check that the wool ball end is on the same side as the end attached to the first chain, this means it is an odd numbered row.
From here we repeat row 4 like this
Then we repeat row 5 like this
And then you continue to do more Row 5s until we reach the end of row 37. But please remember not only to count your rows but also your mesh spaces across. There should be 10.
As you can see here I forgot to count my spaces and wound up with too many. Ooops.The problem starts around row 5 of mesh on the right. There is no solution but to unravel the rows back to the mistake and start again!
So I did, and this time I got it right!
For Row 38 we repeat Row 18 which is the row we began with in this tutorial- a hdc into each stitch, and 2hdc into each space.
Then it is time for eyelets like we did in the last tutorial… you should have 8. Then for our last row do hdcs, putting one in each stitch and 2 in each eyelet like this.
See how it looks now?
Finish off leaving the thread long enough to reach at least ¾ of the way down. the crochet.
And now it is time to sew! Firstly we’ll fold the bag in half, so you can see how it fits together.
Now what you need to do is line up the two edges – a top and a bottom – like this to sew together and make the top rim of the bag.
Then we sew it – under and over – into each side in turn like this.
Keep going until you get to the top. Then weave the needle through the fabric one way then back the other way to secure the end, and you’re done with that side.
Woof done!
Sew up the other side the same way. If you don’t have enough thread to make it to the end don’t worry. Just finish off as you did above, secure the beginning of a new thread in the same way and carry on sewing!
Now you have the bag! Next lesson is the final lesson where we turn it into a backpack. Happy crocheting and sewing, see you then!
Woof!
Beach Backpack – 3. From Foundation to Mesh
Woof and Welcome in this tutorial we’re starting our terrific beach backpack. This is how it will look when it is done.
Let’s get started!
First comes 32 chain stitches (ch) as a foundation chain. This is quite a big number for me to count, but I have a trick that helps me. I always count my foundation ch out loud and then if I’m not sure where I’m up to I remember what number I last heard… maybe it is a dog thing, but it works!
Oh and make sure you don’t count the loop on your hook as a chain.
Next we do our first row of half double crochets (hdc). Start with 2 turning chain, then make sure you put the hdc into the third ch from the hook.
Then just finish off the row!
So for this next row we’re going to start the eyelets that will go at the top of the bag. Yes this is the top! Trust me it is very clever.
Do 2 turning ch, 1hdc, 2ch and then skip 2 stitches in the row below and do another hdc. Now you’ve created an eyelet
So now you can just repeat this pattern and finish the row. You should have 8 eyelets like this.
The next row is another row of hdc. Just woof along the row putting a hdc in each stitch from the row below. Instead of putting the hdc in the actual ch stitches, just put them into the eyelets themselves like this.
Your finished row should look like this. Don’t forget to count your stitches – there should still be 32!
Next we start the mesh just the same as we did it in Lesson 2. Start with 2 turning ch and the first hdc. Then do 4ch stitches, skip 2 hdc in the row below and put a single crochet (sc) into the top of the next hdc on the previous row like this
Keep repeating 4ch, skip 2 stitches and 1sc until you have 10 mesh spaces and one stitch left. Make this last stitch in the row a hdc. It should now look like this
For your second row of mesh repeat this pattern going back the other way. In other words, 2 turning ch, 1hdc, 4 ch and sc into the mesh space below like this
Then keep going with a 4ch, sc pattern and another hdc into the last stitch in the line
Now you’re going well, keep making mesh spaces until you get to the end of Row 17 and I’ll catch up with you there in the next lesson! Have fun and don’t forget to count!!
Until next time…. Woof!
OLIVE
Beach Backpack – 2. Making a mesh square
Woof and Welcome. I’m Olive the dog, and this is the second tutorial for crocheting a beginner beach backpack.
Most of the Beach Backpack is made of mesh, so today we’re going to make a mesh square. 
This is only a sample, not the actual backpack, so if you feel confident you can skip onto the next lesson. But if you’ve never made mesh before you might like to try this little experiment.
Let’s start by looking at the chart and the finished square side by side:
To start, make a foundation chain of 17 chain (ch) stitches like this.
For the next row do two chain as turning ch and put a half double crochet (hdc) into the third ch from hook.
Now hdc into each of the 16 foundation ch left like this.
Turn your work, and make 2 ch, then 1 hdc into the last hdc in the previous row. Follow this with 4 ch. Skip 2 hdcs on the previous row and single crochet (sc) into the next one like this.
You have now started the mesh pattern. Keep going by crocheting 4 more ch, skipping 2 hdc and sc into next hdc after that, and repeating this pattern until you get to the end of the row. You should have one hdc left over, put a hdc in it. It should look like this.
To do the next line of mesh start with 2 turning ch, 1hdc, 4 ch, 1sc into space.
Then repeat (4 ch, 1 sc into space) 4 more times to make 5 mesh holes in the row.
Work back and forth copying this last line until you have done at least 8 rows, more if you still aren’t confident.
I bet it’s looking woofing marvelous now! Good work. Next lesson we start the backpack itself.
Until next time…. Woof!
OLIVE
Beach Backpack – 1. Understanding the pattern
Woof and Welcome. I’m Olive the dog. In this tutorial we’re going to make a gorgeous beach backpack. This is how it looks like when it is done.
If you’d like to make yourself one you can download the pattern here for free.
We’ll start by reading through the pattern so we understand what to do overall.
Let’s see, we’ll need to know how to make chain stitches, half double crochet stitches and single crochet stitches. If you don’t know how to make these stitches you really should bounce on down to our STITCHES GUIDE and get some lessons from the experts. 
The other two skills are working in rows and a bit of sewing which shouldn’t be too hard woof!
You will also need:
- A 7mm crochet hook
- A 50 g ball of 12ply yarn in a color you like
- A needle to sew with
- A pair of scissors
The trick with this pattern is in putting it together. You make it as one big rectangle then you fold it in half with the middle becoming the bottom, and sew up each side to turn it into a bag.
Basically the pattern has some eyelets at the top, a mesh pattern that expands the bag so it can carry a lot, a few solid rows in the middle which is really the bottom, then repeats itself so both sides are the same.
Then you make the straps, sew them on, weave them through the eyelets and the backpack can be worn and closed. Pretty woof eh!
Sound easy enough? Let’s do it!
Until next time…. Woof!
Beginner Bag Projects
We now have 2 more designs available at DKO designs. To complete our selection of FREE Beginner Projects we have two bag projects.
Beach Backpack which you can download the pattern for here Pattern BEG004 Beach Backpack
and Little Dilly Bag which you can download the pattern for here Pattern BEG005 Little Dilly Bag
Flower Earrings Tutorial – 2. Working in a round
Woof and Welcome to the second Flower Earring lesson. I’m Olive the dog, and today I’m going to show you how to make a foundation ring and crochet in a round. Sound good? Let’s go.
The first step in this pattern is to make 4 chain stitches. I’m making a pair of blue earrings here.
To start you do your foundation chain. Then when you’ve done that you find the first chain you made, and you slip stitch (sl st) into it to form a ring.
Next we move onto Round 1, which just happens to be the only round in this pattern. We do 5 chain stitches to make a petal, and complete it with a single crochet (sc) stitch into the ring.
When doing the sc stitch we put the hook into the centre of the ring and draw the yarn around the whole edge of the ring instead of through a single stitch.
And then we do another 5 ch and a sc!
Once we’ve made 6 petals in this way we cut the yarn and make a knot in the last sc.
Then we use the needle to sew in the ends. (for further instruction on sewing in ends see Eyelet Scarf Tutorial – 6. Finishing off!)
Until next time…. Woof!
OLIVE
Flower Earrings Tutorial – 1. Understanding the pattern
Woof and Welcome to the second beginner tutorial. This duo of lessons is on making Flower Earrings. Here’s one all finished, pretty isn’t it?
Oh, I forgot to mention, I’m Olive the dog, I’m a beginner hooker and I’m sharing my lessons with you as I go.
First of all, if you don’t have a copy of the pattern you can download it for free here.
Pattern BEG002 Flower Earrings
To start with we shall read through the pattern so we understand what is expected of us.
Firstly we need to know how to make chain stitches, single crochet stitches and slip stitches. If you don’t know how to make these stitches run along to our BEGINNER STITCH GUIDE and get some lessons from the experts.
The other two skills are working in a round which will be covered in this tutorial and sewing in ends, which we covered with the Eyelet Scarf Tutorial – 6. Finishing Off!
You will also need:
- A 6mm crochet hook
- Some 8ply yarn in a nice color for flowers
- 2 earring hooks also known as shepherd hooks
- A needle to sew in the ends and attach the earrings to their hooks
- A pair of scissors
This pattern might seem strange, but it is really not hard to understand when you know how to look at it – trust me!
Firstly we’ll read the written pattern then we’ll look at the pattern chart.
There is a foundation chain which creates a ring. Then there is 1 round, which is like a row around that ring.
In the round there is a sequence within brackets (ch 5, sc into ring) and an instruction to do it 6 times. This means that you do 5 chain stitches, a single crochet into ring, ch 5, sc into ring, etc until you have 6 sets.
If we look at the pattern chart, we can see that each of those sets of 5 ch creates a petal of the flower and the sc attaches the petal to the centre ring.
That doesn’t sound too hard to me! What do you think?? Ready to give it a go?
Until next time…. Woof!
OLIVE
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