Free Pattern: Lacy Shells Headwarmer - Kid Size

Adult size here.

This version of the adult lacy shells headwarmer pattern is a little smaller, for toddlers and small kids.  I decorated it with this flower.

Supplies:
Medium weight yarn
Size 5 mm hook
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Abbreviations:
Ch-chain
SC-single crochet
DC-double crochet
Sl st-slip stitch

Space-space between the second and third DCS in cluster.

Free Pattern: Lacy Shells Tie Back - All sizes

This is a tie-back version of the Lacy Shells Headwarmer - adult size here.  I was trying to make it in baby size, since it would be a super cute photo prop, or a headband for a special event.  But I knew the buttons would dig into baby's head, so I switched it to a tie-back.  What came about was different enough that I thought it would be worth doing in adult size, too!  I love tiebacks - they are great gifts, since you don't have to have the exact size.  And they are quick to make, so you can make bunches of them as accessories.

The baby size will stretch enough to work on a little kid - pictured below is my 2yo in the baby size.  Isn't she cute?  And the adult size will work on a bigger kid, the back of the thick part just almost touched on my 4yo's head.

Supplies:
Sport/baby weight yarn
Size 4 mm/G6 hook

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Abbreviations:
Ch-chain
SC-single crochet
DC-double crochet
Sl st-slip stitch

Space-space between the second and third DCS in cluster.

Free Pattern: Earflap Hat - Youth/Adult Small

Premie size is here.
Newborn size is here.
3-month size is here.
6-month size is here.
9-12 month size is here.
Toddler size is here.
Adult Medium/Large sizes are here.

This hat should fit older kids/teens and small adult heads.  This fits my small head perfectly in the youth size!  If the older kid or teen has a smaller head, hop down to the toddler size and add a 13th row if you need it.

Free Crochet Pattern: Stroller Pouch

Since I had my babies, pretty much every year one of my New Year's Resolutions is to exercise more regularly and maybe shed a few of these leftover pounds.  Now that my olders are in school, I can take the babe out during the day for a walk or a run.  But my jogging stroller didn't come with a parent tray, and though the underneath storage is great, I really need some things close while I am running.  So this is what I came up with.  This button-on stroller pocket works great to store my phone, iPod, my keys or garage clicker, some chapstick, whatever I need to be close at hand.

It will probably wobble as you go, but probably won't tip over.  Just in case, though, don't store anything in there that could hurt your kid if it fell out!

If you are making this for your own stroller, measure the distance between the handles.  If it's shorter than mine, you will need to make your starting chain shorter.  Also, if you want to carry a larger phone or a water bottle, add rows to make the pocket deeper.

Join me, and let's keep our stuff close by while we chew up a few miles!

Free Pattern: Lacy Tie-Back Headband - All Sizes

I saw a headband like this for sale on Etsy, and this was my attempt at it.  I love the way it turned out, so sophisticated.  It's lovely alone, and it would be a great base for a flower or other decoration.  Tie-backs make great gifts, since they fit such a range of head-sizes.

Similar Patterns - Polka Dot Tie-Back Headband, Lacy Shells Earwarmer

Free Pattern: Polka-dot Headband - All sizes

I got the idea for this headband from a baby blanket I made for my daughter, but a meander through Etsy helped me perfect it.  I love it alone, and it would also make a great base for a flower or other decoration.  Since tie-backs can fit such a range of head sizes, this would make a lovely gift or item to donate.

Similar patterns - Lacy Tie-Back Headband, Lacy Shells Earwarmer

Free Pattern: Princess Tiara - Toddler/Youth

This year, for #1's fourth birthday, I wanted to make a more delicate crown with some sparkly pink yarn I knew she would love.  This one in sport yarn is super cute, but my yarn is worsted weight.  So I came up with this.  She was such an adorable birthday princess.  :)

Free Pattern: Deeply Textured Hat - Toddler

This is a modification of the pattern from The Laughing Willow.  For adult size, see her original post.

This size hat should fit through youth sizes, just keep adding rounds at the bottom to make it longer.  A helpful measurement when trying to determine how much longer it needs to be is ear-to-ear measurement.  Measure over the top of the hat and it should be long enough to cover the top part of the ear.

Premie size here.
Newborn size here.
3-month size here.
6-month size here.
9-12-month size here.

Free Pattern: Crayon Pouch

When my three-year-old #1 girl colors, she sometimes finishes by throwing on the floor whichever crayons she hadn't dropped.  I wanted a crayon holder to keep the crayons together, giving her options without letting her make a mess.

There are so many ways to make crayon holders - I have seen great ideas all over the place!  I decided on a small, non folding or rolling one, so that she can access them easily all by herself.  I attached each crayon to the pouch with a string.  When the crayon breaks or runs out, I can untie the string and replace it with a new one.

Free Pattern: Three-Flower Tie Headband

Here is #2 sporting the tie headband.  I saw a lacy tie headband on Pinterest, and I was inspired to make a baby-sized one for my girlies.  The tie works well for crochet, since the chain stitch isn't naturally stretchy.  It probably wouldn't work too well for a wiggly baby, but for my almost-two-year-old it worked out well.  She wore it for about half an hour and it didn't slip.

Free Pattern: Bear Boo-Boo Buddy Ice Pack Cover

When I made the original boo-boo buddies for my girls, I thought little animals would be cute, but I hadn't gotten around to revisiting the pattern - until now!  It took only a few simple additions to the original pattern to make a bear boo-boo buddy.  

Free Pattern: Doll Blanket with Special Stitch

This little blanket is a perfect size to cover up or wrap up a girl's baby dolls.  My girls' medium sized doll has a 12" head circumference.  I used a stitch that I accidentally made up while I was learning to crochet.  Even now that I know how to make all the stitches correctly, I go back to this one sometimes when my eyes get tired of straight rows of double crochets, or my hands get tired of long stints of single crochets.  It's easy stitch that creates an interesting texture.

Free Pattern: Girl's Room Wall Decor Letter 'E'

I thought #1 needed something new on her wall, so I whipped up a big letter E for over her bed.  She and I both love how it turned out.

This would also work for any other letter that is all straight sticks (L, T, H, F, I). 

Free Pattern: Toddler Jump Rope

Even though her motor skills aren't there yet, my #1 loves to "jump rope."  She has been using my yarn, the cord from the vacuum - anything she can find - and whipping it around while jumping up and down.  I wanted to get her a jump rope, but I was afraid that the plastic handles would do some damage, with all the whipping.  So, the crochet jump rope was born.

This was made to be a non-functioning toddler toy.  You would have to use a weighted material (thick nylon cord, perhaps?) if you wanted to be able to actually use this as a jump rope.

Saftey Warning - this toy poses a strangulation hazard.  Never leave child unattended with this toy.

Free Pattern: Crown - Size 12 Months

Newborn size here.
2T size here.

I made a crown for an Etsy friend, whose little one is turning one around the same time as my #2!  For these special little guys, I adjusted the crown pattern by scaling it back to five points instead of six.  I used a closed cluster stitch (popcorn stitch?) this time, which resulted in not needing the fifth row in the point.  I also tried out using two colors in the crown, which really made the detail pop.  Using two colors is not for the faint of heart, however, because there were tons of ends to weave in.  I'm really pleased with the way it came out.

Free Pattern: Boo-Boo Buddy Ice Pack Cover

When my #1 gets a bump, she likes a little baggie of ice.  It always has to have a towel, though.  Kitchen towels are hard for a two-year-old to keep around a baggie of ice, so I came up with these cuties to hold her little ice packs.  This would also be good for kids who like to take the ice out of the bag and scatter it.

Free Pattern: Fishing Game Kid's Toy

This was a Christmas present for our little friend Jack.  It turned out to be somewhat more involved than I thought it would be, but it turned out even better than I'd imagined!  It's fun to "fish" the fish, and it can be used to help teach colors and counting.  The storage bag flattens out into a play surface.

Free Pattern: Baby Headband

This is a simple headband I made in about 5 minutes to match #2's legwarmers.  It can be made with this flower, or with any flower, applique or bow.  The idea is, make the flower, chain long enough to go around her head, attach with a slip stitch. 

Free Pattern: Kid-Sized Potholder

My #1 got a play kitchen for her birthday.  Her pan set came with a potholder, but she doesn't have the coordination to pinch the square of fabric around the pan.  I barely do!  So I thought she needed a potholder like mine, with a pocket for her hand.

I saved this from my project graveyard (the bag where I put things I've lost interest in or couldn't figure out.) It started out as a burp cloth, when my #2 was on the way.  When I didn't finish it before she was born, it got stashed.  I was looking for this yarn for the potholder, and I realized that what I had already crocheted of the burp cloth was the exact thing I needed.  The body of the pattern is, therefore, Christina Budd's copyrighted burp cloth pattern.

Free Pattern: Kid's Crown

I made this crown for my #1's birthday. She's a two-year-old princess now!

Newborn size here.
12-month size here.