These adorable coasters are so easy to make up! The coasters featured in the photos are made of one solid color, but they would also look great in multiple colors, or with Round 4 done in an alternate complimentary color. These would also be a great Christmas gift (or kids Christmas project) in Red, Green and White!

This third installment of Stitches for Your Crocheting Arsenal (check out Part 1 and Part 2 for even more special stitches!) contains the instructions for two more special stitches, photos of those stitches and some general uses for them.

Basketweave Stitch
The Basketweave Stitch is one of my favorite stitches in crochet. It seems difficult at the onset, but once you have mastered Back Post and Front Post Double Crochet Stitches, textured stitches like this are a breeze. Great for heavier scarfs and blankets, the basketweave stitch is often used for textured kitchen and bathroom cloths.

Super fun and super simple, this pirate’s eye patch works up in minutes and is good for hours of play or for a quick ‘costume’ while handing out candy this Trick or Treat.

100% wool yarn isn’t recommended for this pattern because it can irritate the eye. Acrylic, acrylic mix, cotton or cotton mix yarns are recommended to prevent eye irritation and also to keep the eye patches strap from stretching too much!

Need a hat to match? Check out the Pirate Hat Crochet Pattern!

This flower is much like the darling posy applique but is larger and can also be used as a motif for afghans, scarfs, table runners, jewelry and more. Motifs like this are also great ways to get rid of scrap yarn! Make up a bunch to decorate a blanket, one to add the cute element to a baby beanie or make a dozen or so and whip stitch them together for a belt or a bracelet.

Pictured are three of these simple six-petal flowers, the grey one was done in DK weight yarn with an H hook, the red one in sport weight yarn with a G hook and the black one in fingerweight yarn with a E hook.

Crocheted accessories are usually versatile and this wrist cuff pattern is no different. Wrist cuffs can be worn as sweat bands, as jewelry, or simply as a winter accessory to help keep warm. Keep in mind that different yarns would be preferable for the different uses of the cuff. Cotton, linen or bamboo would be better for a sports type sweat band and acrylic or wool-mix yarn would be better for a winter weather cuff.
Four motifs of the same color are whip-stitched (see Whip Stitching in Crochet for more info. on this technique) together to form the cuff in this photo, but feel free to experiment with different colors and textures of sportweight yarn (any heavier yarn will make a larger cuff) while making your unique cuff.

A crocheted case is a very simple solution to screen scratches and purse dialing on smart phones and newer non-flip cell phones. This pattern is for a case that can be easily changed to fit your cell by simply changing the beginning number of chains in the first row to measure the same as the width of your cell and the number of total rows to measure the same as the length. Keep in mind that each person crochets differently, so measuring your phone and the case as you’re working will ensure for a better fitting case.

This pattern also includes instructions for an open at the top case for phones with headphones and charging jacks at the top of the phone, and instructions for an open at the side case, for phones with jacks on the side. Embellish your case with a bunch of darling poseys as a perfect girly gift for a teenager’s first cell phone or make a black and orange case with some Halloween appliques!

A cold weather accessory that is quickly becoming popular is the ear-warmer headband. This accessory is versatile and modern, is often used in place of a winter beanie and is very popular with runners. The pattern calls for three colors but have fun with this pattern and add more or less colors to suit your own taste. This headband would be great in Halloween colors with one of these Halloween Appliques sewn right on!

This pattern calls for sport weight cotton yarn to prevent the headband from stretching and to be easy to clean if used by a runner. You can use any weight or type of yarn for this pattern, just keep in mind your finished size will be different than the one listed in the pattern.

Adding Trim to a crocheted project can give it a more finished appeal. The uses for these trims seem fairly endless; crocheted scarfs, blankets, washcloths, belts and table runners are just a few examples of projects just waiting for an interesting trim.

This trim is great for washcloths (imagine it as the ‘fins’ on a aquatic bath set!). It’s also known as ‘Diagonal Box’ trim and is traditionally used as edging for clothing.

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Shawls aren’t just for old ladies anymore! This pattern is for a shawl that definitely warms up a brisk fall walk or a chilly winter morning, but can also be worn as a cowl (flipped around backwards and tied behind head, as pictured in the second photo). In this pattern you use two strands of DK weight yarn held together throughout, but if you wanted a lighter version you could use one strand of yarn and the same N hook.

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Chunky cowls in muted colors might just be one of the coolest (no pun intended) winter accessories this year! This pattern is very quick to make up and is the perfect Christmas gift. It’s never too early to start crocheting Christmas presents!

Never worked with clusters before? You could practice these stitches first before attempting the pattern: V-Clusters and Clustered Chevrons

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