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CATHERINE WILSON DESIGNS

HOOTIE - BLANKET WITH AN OWL MOTIF

DESIGN INSPIRATION :   I needed to make something for a newborn quite quickly.  I wanted to make something simple and effective.  The traditional crochet stitch for the blanket is wonderful to make as it is displayed on the wrong side it has much more texture and bulk to it.  This stitch would be perfect for bigger blankets and afghans too!!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.  If you are a beginner you could always make it plain or buy a ready-made motif.  Have fun.

Catherine xx

Note: Instructions in English, US in brackets.

MATERIALS: 2 x 100g King Cole Comfort Aran (worsted) Shade 332 lemon, 4.5mm (7) Crochet Hook.  Oddments of dk  yarn, brown, white, yellow, pink, strand of grey,  for Hootie,  3mm crochet hook.  2 tiny buttons if required, sewing thread and needle.

SKILLS NEEDED: If you can make a chain, ss (slip stitch), dc (sc) and tr (dc) you can make the shawl. Making the Hootie needs circular skills and basic embroidery.

TENSION: non-specific try to keep work even.

SIZE OF BLANKET: 48cm (19”) wide, 52cm (20.5”) long. This blanket suits a small pram when baby is tiny.  This can obviously be increased as desired, ensure you have enough yarn.  The basic pattern is a multiple of 3sts +1 adding 2 for foundation chain.

BLANKET

Using 4.5mm (7) hook make 72ch. 

Foundation row (note this will be the wrong side of the work) 1 dc (sc) in 6^th ch from hk *2ch, skip 2ch, 1 dc (sc) in next ch, repeat from * to end.

1^st row:  3ch, 1tr (dc) in first dc (sc), * skip 2ch, 3tr (dc) in next dc (sc) repeat from *, ending with skip 2ch, 2tr (dc) in next ch, turn.

2^nd row:  1 ch, skip first tr (dc) *2ch skip 2 tr (dc), 1 dc (sc) in next tr (dc) (the centre tr (dc) of 3), repeat from *, ending with 1 dc (sc) in 3^rd of 3 ch, turn.

Repeat 1^st and 2^nd row until 22 complete patterns have been worked.  Work a row of dc (sc) edging all around the blanket, fasten off darn in ends.

HOOTIE (uses 3mm hook throughout)

BODY:

1^st round  Using 3mm hook and dark yarn make a loop, work 3 ch and 11 tr (dc) into loop join with a s/s

2^nd round  Ch 3 work 1tr (dc) into same st, work 2 tr (dc) into each tr (dc) to end, join with a s/s

3^rd round  ch 3 (counts as 1tr, *2tr (dc) into next tr (dc) and 1tr into next st, repeat from * to end.  Join with a s/s and fasten off.

HEAD AND EARS:

Repeat 1^st and 2^nd row of body using dark yarn join with a s/s.  Do not fasten off yarn.  Work 3ch then 2tr (dc) in the same space, work a s/s into next st. (One ear made),  s/s over next 5 sts, work 3ch then 2tr (dc) into same space, work a s/s into next st and fasten off.

With sewing thread, (I find this works better than yarn for fine work), sew the head to the body, overlapping so the bottom of the head is almost at the centre of the body.

Make eyes in white yarn by making the 1^st round of the body twice.  Join the eyes together with a couple of sewn stitiches.

Make beak by using the lemon worsted doubled.  Make 3ch and work 2tr (dc) into the 3^rd ch, fasten off, sew the beak between the eyes.

Embroider French knots for the pupils.  Darn in all ends neatly. 

Sew facial features to lower part of the head as shown.  If desired sew contrast single chain stitches for feathers.  Sew on to the blanket as desired.