Knitting and Crochet Planning for 2022

It's only January 28th and I'm already falling behind with all the knitting and crochet projects I want to do in 2022 😅.

I think I need to start writing things down in a knitting/crochet diary or planner, not that it's going to help me knit faster, but at least that may help me get my projects more organised even though that may mean I could spend 5 years making what I originally planned to make this year (if only I could afford to retire 20 years earlier 😂).

These are the knitting and crochet projects that are running around in my head right now:

1- Finish knitting the scarf I'm designing while at the moment: because of the special double-purpose it serves, it needs to be of a decent width and length, so I've spent about 3 weeks doing it so far and only have about 80% done:

WIP

2- Knit myself a biker style jacket: I have seen some beautiful celtic aran cables jackets available to buy as finished items from a few Irish gift stores but I would really like to knit my own. The only trouble is I can't find a knitting pattern available to buy so I'll have to use my brain cells and come up with my own pattern.

3- I want to make some crochet coasters for my own use, to give as gifts and if they turn out well also for my Etsy store. I'm thinking the doily type coasters, as I have an idea in mind: another one of my Million Dollar ideas that may or may not work out 😅.

4- I need to knit more socks this year, as I have some nice sock yarn left that is crying out to be used up.

5- Slippers: I've been wanting to crochet some thick boot-like slippers for the past couple of years: in fact I printed a crochet pattern for crochet slippers, only to find the exact same pattern I'd already printed before in one of my pattern stashing places (yes, I'm disorganised like this 😂).

6- I'm planning on knitting myself a sweater using some nice fingering yarn I bought last year, I have a vague idea of what I want but more knitting pattern research needs to be done. 

7- I want to crochet for myself, maybe also for my partner and for my son, Christmas sweaters using a  square that I've seen being used in a blanket crochet pattern for the front motif and plain crochet for the rest of the sweater(s). I need to do more pattern research for this too.

8- I'd like to knit a stole/shawl either for myself or as a gift using some metallic yarn I have in my stash, a Knitting and Stitching show purchase from a few years ago, I hope to have enough to knit something decent.

9- While having lunch sitting outside a restaurant in Cork last year, I spotted someone with a messenger crochet bag, I'm not sure whether it was handmade or not or what stitch it was but I loved the texture so much I can't get it out of my head and I' hoping to be able to reproduce a similar bag for myself.

Well that's only a start as I know more knitting and crochet ideas will pop into my head during the year, realistically I will need more like 5 years to made all of the above and that's only if I don't get distracted by other projects I feel I just have to do. I really need to keep my focus in check and NOT BUY ANY YARN in 2022!

Follow Sophie's Knit Stuff on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get all my updates. 

Alpine Stitch Baby Sleeping Bag: Free Crochet Pattern

I hope you've all had good year-end celebrations and I'm wishing everyone a Happy New Year 2022.

One of my neighbours just had a baby boy so when I learned she was pregnant I decided to crochet a baby sleeping bag for her. I sort of free-handed it while still working on the knitted sweater for my son, as it created a welcome distraction from the sweater's repetitive pattern.

This Crochet Hooded Alpine Baby Sleeping Bag is pretty simple to make and I thought I'd write the pattern while making it so I could share it here 😁.

Crochet Hooded Alpine Baby Sleeping Bag

The yarn I picked is a bulky weight soft acrylic, I wouldn't make this in pure wool as babies' skin can be sensitive to wool, so use soft cotton, acrylic or a mix of both as long as it's soft.

It is an easy crochet pattern as all you need to do is crochet a long rectangle that is then shaped as a hood for the top part and the main sleeping part is folded over. There is no need for button holes as the chosen stitch has large enough gaps to slip the buttons in and out.

Bulky weight is great as this sleeping bag works quickly and will ensure that the baby will be extra cosy in his/her little hooded sleeping bag.

Free Crochet Pattern for the Hooded Alpine Baby Sleeping Bag:

Materials: 

3 balls of James C. Brett Top Value Chunky (100g/150m/163yds per ball) in Blue,

3 balls of James C. Brett Top Value Chunky (100g/150m/163yds per ball) in Beige,

Crochet hook size 6mm (US size K/10.5);

6 large wooden buttons; make sure the buttons you choose are large enough so that they fit securely into the gaps formed by the alpine stitch when closed.

Final dimensions:

40cm (15.5in) width × 66cms (30in) length when finished (folded over).

Gauge:

11 sts x 10 rows in alpine st make a 10cm square.

Abbreviations:

SC: single crochet (double crochet UK);

DC: double crochet (treble crochet UK);

FPTR: treble crochet in the front post (double treble in the front post UK);

Pattern:

(a) Using colour A, ch46;

Row 1: SC in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn (45 sts).

Row 2: ch2, DC in each st across, turn (45 sts).

Row 3: ch1, SC in each DC across (45 sts).

(b) Row 4: ch2, DC in first SC, *FPTR in DC from row below next SC, DC in next SC*, repeat from *to* across, turn (45 sts).

Row 5: ch1, SC in each DC and FPTR across (45 sts).

Row 6: ch2, DC in first SC, *DC in next SC, FPTR in DC from row below next SC*, repeat from *to* across up to the last 2 SC, DC in the last 2 DC, turn (45 sts).

Row 7: ch1, SC in each DC and each FPTR across (45 sts).

Repeat rows 4 to 7 five more times or until your work measures about 23cms from the beginning. This will be the hood.

(c): Using colour B, work rows 4 to 7 twice.

(d): Using colour A, work rows 4 to 7 once.

Repeat (c) and (d) alternatively 5 more times, then repeat (c) once.

Last row: ch1, SC in each DC and FPTR across (45 sts).

Fasten off, weave in loose ends.

Assembling:

Form the hood by folding the top of the hood into 2 halves in order to make a triangle shape and sew or slip stitch both halves together.

Position the buttons: fold the sleeping bag all the way to where the hood finishes (where the baby's shoulders should be) and 3 buttons on each side of the back part, spaced evenly apart; there is no need for buttonholes as the buttons will close into the gaps left by the alpine stitch. 

Congratulations! You have completed your crochet hooded alpine baby sleeping bag! 

You can use this pattern for making your own baby sleeping bags for personal use and selling your own finished products but you cannot give or resell this pattern; If you know anyone who would like this free crochet pattern please give them this link to direct them to Sophie's Knit Stuff's Hooded Alpine Baby Sleeping Bag Free Crochet Pattern.

Follow Sophie's Knit Stuff on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get all my updates.