Marly Bird, Author at Marly Bird

A Crochet Wrap Pattern You Don’t Want To Miss

June 24, 2022 By Marly Bird Leave a Comment

I have a crochet wrap pattern for you today! You might have seen it before if you’re a devoted Marly Bird fan. However, it’s a really old pattern, so it’s okay if you’re unfamiliar. That’s why I’m pulling it out again today. The Alpaca Clouds Wrap is the first pattern I ever put up for sale when I decided to start selling my patterns in 2008. It’s the crochet pattern that makes knitters want to learn to crochet. So, in case you aren’t familiar with it, I just wanted to bring your attention to it today.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a percentage of sales made from those links.

Alpaca Clouds crochet wrap pattern - Marly Bird

A Crochet Wrap In The Right Size

One of the things that I most liked about this crochet wrap pattern when I first designed it is that it’s just the perfect size. It’s large enough to offer warmth to people of different body sizes. In fact, unlike with most crochet accessories patterns, I’ve designed this in two sizes: average and plus size. (To make them, you use 4-5 hanks and 7 hanks of yarn, respectively.) So, you have options!

And yet, it isn’t a blanket scarf. It’s not going to swallow you up. It’s lightweight, but it has full coverage. So, if you’re looking for a rectangular crochet shawl that might be just the right size, I recommend checking out this oldie-but-goodie.

Cozy Alpaca Yarn

I designed this crochet wrap pattern for use with Berroco Ultra Alpaca yarn. It’s a great worsted weight yarn that’s a blend of alpaca and wool. Alpaca is a soft lightweight yarn that works really well for wraps. If you like the touch of it on your skin, then you’ll like this wrap.

Other Yarn Options

Here are some alternatives to the yarn above that you might want to try when working with this pattern:

City Tweed DK. This is also an alpaca-wool blend. However, instead of a 50/50 blend, it combines 55% merino wool with 25% super fine alpaca fiber. The rest is Donegal Tweed, giving you a beautiful tweed coloring that makes for a unique wrap. Note that this yarn is a slightly lighter yarn weight than what’s called for in the original pattern; luckily, wraps are versatile in terms of gauge (and you can always make it wider or longer if you want to!)
Alpaca Cloud DK. This is also a DK weight yarn. In this case, though, it’s 100% baby alpaca fiber. If you want a wrap that is soft, soft, soft, then try yarn like this.
Wonderfluff. Do you want a bulkier yarn instead of a little finer? Try Wonderfluff. It’s 70% baby alpaca, just 7% merino wool, and the rest is nylon for some stretch. It’s another great option.
Patons Alpaca Blend. This is another bulky yarn option. This is only 8% alpaca, and the rest is wool and acrylic. If you want the softness of natural fiber but it makes you a little bit itchy, then a blend like this can be a great happy medium.

Get The Crochet Wrap Pattern

Are you ready to crochet this alpaca wrap? Get the pattern on Ravelry.

Throw On The Go: Hexi-Quilt Crochet Blanket Pattern

June 23, 2022 By Marly Bird Leave a Comment

Yarnspirations recently did a roundup of their best “throw on the go” blanket patterns. These are blankets that you can knit or crochet in small pieces. Obviously, these are great for summer because you don’t want the heat of a huge blanket growing on your lap. They have tons of great designs to choose from, of course. Today, though, we wanted to draw your attention to a unique one: The Red Heart Hexi-Quilt Crochet Blanket.

Why Choose Throw on the Go In Summer

The Throw On The Go route is perfect for summer. If you’re looking for a summer-long project to keep you busy, a blanket is always a good choice. Or a series of blankets, depending on how fast you knit or crochet.

And yet, as aforementioned, most people don’t like to crochet blankets in the summer because it gets so hot. We love having all that yarn grow into a bundle on our laps in the winter. In the summer, it’s just stifling. So, instead, we choose motif-based throws. We can quickly and easily make those motifs without getting warm.

Additionally, many of us travel more in the summer. Whether getting on a plane or just waiting to pick kids up from swim practice, you want easy projects to take along. The motifs that make up a Throw on the Go are just that. Make a motif while you wait. Work a few on a plane or during a road trip.

Reminder: Take Flat Marly on Your Trips This Summer!

Red Heart Hexi-Quilt Crochet Blanket

There are so many knit and crochet blankets in that motif-based blanket roundup. However, we wanted to draw your attention to the Red Heart Hexi-Quilt Crochet Blanket. It’s a great option for crocheters.

Cute Hexagon Motifs

Knit and crochet hexagons were trending a few years ago. Then they seemed to drop out of style. However, they’re so fun to crochet. You get to make something that’s different from your typical old granny square. It’s still small, easy, and fun to make. And yet, it’s slightly different from the usual shapes you often work with.

Cute Finished Blanket Shape

There are plenty of ways to combine hexagons to create a traditional rectangular or square blanket. However, you don’t have to make all of your blankets square! It’s okay to go on a non-traditional route when you crochet a blanket. This one ends up as a big hexagon itself. It’s a unique design and one that really catches the eye. It’s perfect for your own decor or gifting.

A Colorful Blanket Without Lots of Color Changes

Each crochet hexagon in this blanket consists of a single color. Therefore, you don’t have to change colors in each motif round. You often don’t want to deal with frequent color changes when you’re on the go, so this is perfect. However, you’ll make motifs in various colors, so you’ll still have a colorful quilt-inspired blanket at the end. Best of both worlds. You can bring Color A with you, crochet all of the hexagons you want in that color, and then move on to the next color.

Because you use many different colors in the project, though, this is a great stashbuster!

Throw On The Go: Get The Pattern

Hexi-quilt free crochet hexagon blanket pattern

Where Do You Stand On These 6 Crochet Trends?

June 22, 2022 By Marly Bird 1 Comment

Every spring and summer, fashion blogs start talking about crochet trends. Of course, these don’t necessarily reflect what’s happening in the world of craft, where actual people crochet actual items. Instead, they reflect what’s showing up on the runways, on celebrities, and in the stores.

There’s a correlation, though, because crocheters and designers ultimately start making those items if they see a customer demand. And since crochet fashion is trending on TikTok right now, the demand is bigger than usual. So, we’re curious what you think about some of the crochet trends the big fashion blogs are discussing this summer.

Bodiless Crochet Sweaters

We recently did a blog post about the new trend of bodiless crochet sweaters. (There are knit ones, as well, of course.) We knew this would be one of the most controversial crochet trends. Indeed, when we posted about it on Instagram, asking for your opinions, you all had a lot to say! Some people outright hate this trend and can’t see why anyone would even bother. Others think the shirts work great as a top layer, an alternative to a shrug or shawl. So, what do you think? Where do you land on this trend?

Crochet Trends: Bucket Hats

We recently rounded up some of our favorite patterns for crochet bucket hats. As we noted, they’re super popular this summer. Whenever a fashion blog or magazine mentions crochet trends, they highlight this. As we also noted, these are a regularly recurring trend – we saw them in the 1960s and the 1990s, and they’re back again. They’ve got a unique sensibility that seems to come around strong once every generation or so. Let us know in the comments if you’re on board with this trend or ready for it to go away again.

The Crochet Swimsuits Trend

Here’s another one that you’ll see many fashion magazines mention every single summer. This isn’t so much a trend anymore as just a seasonal expectation. If it’s summer, fashion blogs will have swimsuits. And it’s where crochet shows up the most in the fashion world. It’s kind of funny because if you take an informal survey of all the people you know who crochet, most will say that they’ve never crocheted a swimsuit or rarely do. And yet, it’s considered a high fashion trend each summer. What are your thoughts?

Crochet Tops

We were thrilled to see Marie Claire name crochet tops among the year’s most wearable summer fashion trends. Crochet tops are actually functional, fun to make, and come in a variety of styles that flatter different bodies … and yet, they almost never show up on predictions for fashion trends. 2022 is the year! Although not specifically mentioned by Marie Claire, we’ve noticed that crochet crop tops and crochet vests are trending this year.

Crochet Dresses

Marie Claire also highlighted crochet dresses as trending this year. They tend to go in and out of fashion on the runways and celebrities. We see them most often during Coachella/music festival season. When a celebrity wears one to a big event, they trend for a while again. What do you think? Are crochet dresses trending? Should they be? Have you made one recently?

Crochet Trends: Bags

Finally, Marie Claire mentioned that crochet bags are trending this summer. We love this one. Crochet purses, market bags, beach bags, totes, clutches, and bags in general are great accessories for all occasions.

Crochet Bucket Hat Patterns

June 19, 2022 By Marly Bird Leave a Comment

Bucket hats are trending hard this summer. They’re cute. They’re easy to make. And they keep the sun off of your face. So, no wonder people are enjoying this trend. If you want to get in on the fun, we decided to round up some of the best crochet bucket hat patterns for you.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I can offer you free content partly because of the commission I make from these links. Buying from these links doesn’t change your price. THANK YOU.

What Is a Bucket Hat?

If you aren’t someone who stays up on the trends, which is absolutely okay, then you might not be quite sure what a bucket hat is. You’ve surely seen them, though. If you can picture a “fisherman’s hat,” then you have a good sense of what a bucket hat usually looks like. They’re basically a hat with a wide brim that slopes downward, protecting you from the sun. And since the brim is such a key design component, you can do fun things with it to enhance your personal style.

Bucket hats are usually, but not always, made of cotton. They’re a little bit floppy but they also have a little bit of structure, which makes crochet a perfect technique to craft them. Making small projects like hats during the warmer summer is always great fun, and cotton crochet projects are even better.

The Best Yarn For Crochet Bucket Hats

Although you can make bucket hats from various materials, they’re often crocheted with cotton yarn. Each of the crochet patterns below comes with its own yarn recommendations. Several of them are featured in our recent roundup of the best cotton yarns in every yarn weight. Be sure to check that out!

Best Crochet Bucket Hat Patterns

The bucket hat tren d, much like the trend for bodiless knit and crochet sweaters, is a bit controversial. People seem to either love them or hate them! If you’re in the camp that’s all for them; here are some of the best crochet bucket hat patterns to try.

Lily Sun Swirl Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

This is one of the most classic crochet bucket hat patterns in terms of the shale of the hat itself. It’s got that sort of beanie-but-squared-off-a-little top combined with the wide downward-sloping brim. And yet, it’s got a really original, eye-catching look because it uses color changes to create the swirling, curving design. The fact that the long swirls come from the top of the hat down to the brim in a vertical fashion emphasizes the elongated style of the bucket hat.

You might also want to check out the Lily Summer Stripes crochet bucket hat pattern. It’s got horizontal stripes rather than vertical swirls. It also has a slightly shorter brim, which you may or may not prefer in these hats.

Lily Flower Power Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

floral crochet granny bucket hat pattern

Crochet bucket hat patterns lend themselves really well to incorporating motifs, particularly granny squares and variations, therefore. You essentially create a row of motifs that you stitch into a circle to create the main body of the hat. You add the crown of the hat and the brim, which makes for a bucket hat style. In the case of this pattern, we have a floral granny square at the center of the design.

If you like this style, you might also want to check out the Red Heart Crochet Granny Bucket Hat. The brim on this one is shorter than most bucket hats, but the style is similar.

Gabby Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

This is one of several crochet bucket hat patterns available through WeCrochet. It has a super chic design. They point out that bucket hats were trending in the 1960’s and the 1990’s. Of course, they’re also trending again now. In a sense, they have a timeless design. And with the neutral colors but detailed texture, this one (which you can also wear with the brim rolled up) is a great choice.

Pollinator Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

This is one of the easiest crochet bucket hat patterns. You use simple stitches worked seamlessly in a circle from the top down. You’ll end with a slip stitch round to make the brim look nice and polished. This one has a slightly less dramatic brim than many other bucket hats. However, you could always elongate it if you wanted to do so. Add appliques of your choosing.

The Line Up Bucket Hat Customizable Crochet Patterns

If you’re interested in learning how to make bucket hats that you can customize to different lengths, head sizes, and style preferences, then it’s worth checking out The Line Up Bucket Hats. Make one for you, then make a matching one for your child. Make a simple one, or make one like that pictured here, decorated with fancy fringe. You can have a lot of fun with these hats, and this pattern gives you ideas for how.

Cat Ears Bucket Hat Crochet Pattern

Just because they’re trendy doesn’t mean we must take bucket hats too seriously. They actually make a great hat base for animal hats and other costumes. Add ears and a face, and you’ve got something really fun. For example, here’s a cat ears bucket hat.

The Best Cotton Yarn in Every Yarn Weight

June 19, 2022 By Marly Bird Leave a Comment

Cotton yarn is one of the best yarn options for summer crafting. It’s lightweight and much cooler to work with than wool. It’s a breathable fiber that also feels comfortable to wear in the summer. Cotton is a great choice for making washcloths and dishcloths. It’s a good choice, one that most of us have somewhere in our stashes, yet sometimes we overlook how great it can be. So today, we wanted to give you some options for the best cotton yarn in each weight category.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission from sales made via those links. Your price doesn’t increase. Thanks for supporting my work this way if you’re ready to buy some yarn!

Have You Seen Our Yarn Weight Chart?

We have a yarn weight chart outlining all the different yarn weights, what crochet hooks and knitting needle sizes you’d typically use with each, and some of the best yarn options for each weight. The post with that chart gives you options for yarn weights for different fibers. Today, we’ll look at the cotton options for each weight we like most.

#0 Lace Weight Cotton Thread/Yarn

Lace weight yarn is really also crochet thread. Of course, there are many different thread weights as well. Some are much finer than the #0 lace weight yarn. But, generally speaking, if you’re buying a common cotton thread off the shelf at your local yarn store, it will fall into this category. #10 Weight is the most common.

For example, one of the most popular choices would be Aunt Lydia’s #10 Classic Crochet Thread. That’s a great choice. However, we’d like to recommend that you check out Curio #10. This is 100% mercerized cotton in #0 lace weight. It takes dye really well, so you get truly beautiful, vibrant colors. Use this 2-ply thread to knit or crochet lace details, ornate tablecloths, simple coasters, super lightweight accessories, and more.

Curio #10 for lace weight thread projects

#1 Super Fine Cotton Yarn

While most cotton thread would fall into the #0 lace weight category, the thickest cotton thread is actually a #1 super fine weight.

Crochet Thread Weights vs. Knit and Crochet Yarn Weights

Fun fact: the higher the number on the crochet thread, the thinner the thread. In contrast, the higher the number of yarn, the thicker the yarn.

So, a #3 thread is thicker than a #10 thread. However, a #1 yarn is thicker than a #0 yarn.

A #3 cotton crochet thread like Aunt Lydia’s Fashion 3 thread is a #1 super fine weight yarn.

Cotton Yarns for #1 Super Fine Weight

Although #3 cotton thread falls into this category, so does sock yarn and fingering weight yarn. Instead of a 100% cotton yarn in this weight, we think the best options are cotton blends. For example, Red Heart It’s a Wrap is a really popular acrylic-cotton blend in this yarn weight. Our favorite, instead, is a cotton-linen blend called Lindy Chain. It offers the perfect drape for this lightweight yarn class.

However, if you prefer a cotton-acrylic blend to a cotton-linen blend, check out Comfy Fingering Yarn.

#2 Fine Weight Cotton Yarn

This is also called baby weight yarn or sport weight yarn. Some variations on the classic It’s a Wrap yarn are in this weight category. For example, It’s a Wrap Rainbow is the #2 weight yarn. And again, that’s a great choice for a cotton-acrylic blend.

However, we have a really special blend to recommend to you in this weight category. We think the best cotton yarn for sport weight is Shine Sport. It’s 60% Pima Cotton yarn, which is always a great cotton choice. And the other 40% is something you might not ever have heard of: “Modal natural beech wood fiber.” What does that feel like? A lot like silk! Silk cotton blends in this weight are luxurious and beautiful, so check it out!

Shine Sport cotton blend yarn with modal (beech wood fiber)

#3 DK or Lightweight Cotton Yarn

Many beautiful cotton accessories are knit or crocheted with #3 DK weight yarn. It’s not as slow going as a thread or sport weight yarn. And yet, it’s a little thinner than the classic worsted weight, so you get lightness, breeziness, and great drape.

If you were part of BiCrafty Bootcamp, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that our favorite cotton yarn in this weight is a cotton-linen blend called CotLin. We used it to make Marly’s Colorful Crochet Market Bag.

If you’re looking for a 100% mercerized cotton yarn in DK weight, we recommend Patons Grace. And if you want a cotton-acrylic blend, look at Bernat Softee Cotton.

Cotton Yarn for #4 Worsted Weight

Worsted weight is by far the most popular yarn weight, regardless of what fiber we’re talking about. So, of course, you do have a lot of options here. For example, one of the most popular cotton yarns ever is Lily Sugar ‘n Cream. It’s a 100% cotton yarn made with US-grown cotton. There are lots of knit and crochet patterns designed using this yarn. Plus, it has many variations like ombre colors or the changing textures in Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Scrub Off. All good solid choices.

But we want to give you more unique choices for the best cotton yarn in the worsted weight category. If you head to KnitPicks, you’ll see that Dishie, Comfy, and Shine are good #4 cotton or cotton blend options. We love Dishie, which is 100% cotton. At BiCrafty Bootcamp, we used it for our Beginner Crochet Facecloth Pattern. We also enjoy Comfy Color Mist’s unique colorways, a cotton-acrylic blend.

But for something really unique, try Snuggle Puff. This is cotton that’s been blown into mesh tubing. You get some stretch and tons of soft lightness. It’s really an original yarn. Note that it’s considered “heavy worsted,” so it’s a #4, but with the thickness and yet lightness, it may feel different to you than another worsted weight cotton.

#5 Bulky Weight Cotton Yarn

Did you join the Classic Cable Collection CAL I did in collaboration with HanJan Crochet, MJ’s Off The Hook, and Briana K Designs? If so, you’ve already worked with our favorite bulky weight cotton yarn: Billow. I used it in the design of my Bonny Billow Crochet Pillow pattern as well. It’s a great cotton yarn with a terrific stitch definition that works up quickly for home decor projects like this.

Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn is a cotton-acrylic blend that also falls into the bulky weight category, although note that it’s a tubular yarn, so it looks different in terms of stitch definition.

#6 Super Bulky #7 Jumbo Weight Cotton Yarn

The two thickest yarn weights aren’t very conducive to the cotton yarn design, so you won’t find many options for super bulky and jumbo yarns in these fibers. Mostly these are going to be wool and some acrylics. However, we found what looks to be a good source: Hoooked Yarn. They offer recycled and plant-based yarn and even have recycled cotton yarn. Their Spesso Chunky is 100% recycled cotton in super bulky weight. Their Ribbon XL and Zpagetti are also bulky weight cotton yarns.

Note that if you’re looking for super bulky and jumbo weight cotton, you might want to search instead for Macrame Cord. You can find this in cotton, and it has the thickness you would be looking for.

20 Free Canada Day Patterns

June 13, 2022 By Marly Bird Leave a Comment

If you didn’t know, Yarnspirations is based in Canada, so they have many Canadian-themed patterns! Canada has a special day of celebration annually on July 1st. So, if you’re a native, an ex-pat, or just love the north, check out the Canada Day patterns below.

Decorate with a banner or show your patriotic spirit with hats and gloves in winter. Or check out our many other pattern selections in honor of our northern neighbor.

Canadian Decorations

Some well-known symbols of Canada include maple leaves, moose, and the super popular, crazy fast, icy game of hockey! Stay warm under a Canada Goose blanket, or scrub your dishes with a maple leaf dishcloth. Show your Canadian love year-round with scrubbers, banners, pillows, and even a maple leaf cup cozy!

Croch-eh Throw Pillow Free Crochet Pattern

Canada Day Patterns For Clothing & Accessories

Heading north at the Canadian border, you know you’ll need something to keep you cozy and warm! Here we have a selection of hats (with or without earflaps), mittens, scarves, jackets, and sweaters. Wear your Canada gear with pride.

Once you’re done with your Canada Day patterns, check out the other links below for more novel ideas.

A Crochet Wrap Pattern You Don’t Want To Miss

A Crochet Wrap In The Right Size