It’s a gift…

Hello everyone… how are you all? ☺️❤️

I’m popping in with a free little crochet pattern which some of you might like to make ahead of the coming Christmas days… scroll down for the pattern.

It’s a little present ornament that can be hung on the tree, given as a little gift, attached to a present or even used to create a nice greeting card at anytime of year… it’s not just for Christmas time!

I designed this present 5 years ago when I created a set of 12 decorations for a supplement in Simply Crochet Magazine.

This was one of the designs and I’m really happy to offer it here for you all… scroll down for the pattern, but first a little catch up!

Crochet has yet again been a comforting constant in my life these last few weeks. I’m always crocheting… you all know that! 😀 But when it feels like it’s helping me through a difficult time then I really do appreciate it even more, if that’s even possible! 😊

My mum has been in hospital and although she is now slowly recovering after major surgery, we’re still not sure when she might be able to return home. Thank goodness for my crochet to be a welcome focus as well as a distraction while spending many hours sitting with my mum. My mum too has been interested in seeing the projects grow, although she hasn’t felt able to pick up her own crochet hooks yet.

I’ve been crocheting a couple of big blanket commissions due for release next year… so I can’t show you what it is I’ve actually been crocheting for all these hours, but the stitches, colours and design processes have been a wonderful thing, amongst darker moments, for me these last few weeks. I’m really looking forward to showing you all what’s been on my hooks!

So Christmas time will be different for us again this year… it can be different for all of us at different times in our life, and it certainly changes through the years… This will be our second Christmas without my dear Dad, our first without sweet little Salty and now with my mum in hospital, we’re not sure what our days will be like. My new favourite saying which I’m currently finding myself saying out loud many times per day is “day by day…”

(I feel a crochet design in there somewhere!! 😉)

Day by day is how I’m living my life right now, with all the ups and downs. Yes, there are downs but there are also golden moments in there too… and these are the moments I cherish, the ones that make me smile… a smile always feels good.

One golden moment was receiving my Golden Moments Blanket back in the post from Simply Crochet Magazine. I sent this off to the magazine team about a year ago so it’s really lovely to have it back in my hands… I love it so much and will certainly enjoy cosying under it this Christmas time!

I really want to wish each and every one of you a cosy, relaxing and love filled week ahead…

With some happy crocheting in there somewhere too! 🙂

Here’s the pattern for the little present… enjoy!

Abbreviations in UK Crochet Terms (For US terms you are simply working single crochet (sc) stitches instead of a UK dc)

ch: chain

ch-sp(s): chain space(s) 

dc: double crochet

RS: right side 

ss: slip stitch 

st(s): stitch(es) 

WS: wrong side

Present

Make 2 squares which will be joined together to give structure and rigidity.

Make 12 ch.

Row 1 (RS) 1dc (US single crochet) in 2^nd ch from hook and each ch to end, turn. [11 sts]

Rows 2 – 10 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in each st, turn.

Row 11 1ch, 1dc in each st, fasten off. On second present piece do not fasten off and continue as below.

To Make Up

Place pieces on top of each other, continue with yarn and work 1dc through both layers of each row end and st, joining the corresponding sides together evenly around edges and working 3dc into each corner, fasten off.

Bow and Hanger

Using photo as a guide, complete simple surface crochet chains in a contrasting colour across the present from left to right, fasten off.

Re-join yarn to central bottom point of present and complete simple surface crochet chains from bottom to top, do not fasten off.

Continue with 7ch, ss in second ch from hook and each ch to end, ss to top of present, *10ch, ss to top of present, 13dc in 10-ch-sp, ss to top of present, repeat from * once more, 7ch, ss in second ch from hook and each ch to end, ss to top of present, fasten off leaving a 20cm tail of yarn. Use this yarn to wrap around centre of bow a few times.

Attach original colour yarn to top of present behind bow, make 30 ch, ss to top of present, fasten off and weave in ends.