Here are a collection of free patterns that I have come across in my knitting travels or have designed myself and want to share with you!
Knitted Tea Rose and Crocheted Flower
These flowers are really versatile. You can experiment with different size yarns, needles and hooks and even felt them if you feel so inclined!
Knitted Tea Rose
Courtesy of Sarah M. Hughes
CO 10 sts
Row 1 (RS): k to end
Row 2 & foll. alt. rows: p to end
Row 3: k1fb in each stitch (20sts)
Rows 5 & 7: rep. row 3 (80 sts)
Row 9: BO
Twist the knitting into a rose shape, with RS
facing, as pictured, or for a more texture flower,
with the reverse side facing. Fasten into position
using the CO and BO ends. Stitch to leaf, if desired.
Crocheted Flower
Courtesy of Annette Petavy
Ch 8 and join with a slip stitch.
Round 1: ch 3 ( counts as 1 dc), work into the ring 1 dc, *6 ch, 3 dc*, repeat from * to * 5 times, 6 ch, 1 dc, join with a slip stitch in the 3 rd ch of the ch-3 worked in the beginning of the round.
Round 2: * 1 ch, work (1 sc, 1 hdc, 7 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc ) all into the chain arch, 1 ch, skip 1 dc, slip stitch in next dc*, repeat from * to * throughout the round.
Fasten off.
I added a button to the middle of each flower (crocheted and knitted).
Sugar Pie Cupcakes – play food for lil’ sweeties
These sweet little pieces of play food are available through my WAHMania store but since the pattern was provided to me for free, I’d like to offer for free as well 
I’ve made a few changes to the pattern. I’m not sure if they will make it easier or harder for others to understand but I’ll add them (bolded and italicised) in any case. I’m used to knitting patterns and the changes I made just made reading the pattern a little easier for me 
I would suggest using acrylic yarn for this as it makes it more play-friendly and easier to wash. Details of which yarns I used are available in other posts on this blog and on my WAHMania store while the cupcakes stay in stock.
********************************************************
ch = chain
dc= double crochet
hdc = half double crochet (UK: half-treble crochet)
dec = decrease
R = round
sc = single crochet (UK: dc double crochet)
sk = skip
sl st = slip st (UK: sc single crochet)
st(s) = stitch(es)
tr = triple crochet (UK: double treble)
* = repeat directions between * and * as many times as indicated
**********************************************************
Using a G/6 (4 mm) hook and 8 ply yarn:
Cupcake Bottom
I used brown yarn for a chocolate cupake
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook, join 6th sc to 1st sc and ch 2 (acts as first sc in next round)
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts), join round and ch 2
R3- *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts), join round and ch 2
R4- *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts), join round and ch 2
R5- *3 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts), join round and ch 2
R6- Through back loops only: (a quick google search will help with learning how to crochet through the back loops and decrease)
*Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (24 sts) ,join round and ch 2
R7- *3 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts) ,join round and ch 2
R8- *4 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (36 sts),join round and ch 2
R9-12: Sc 36, join round
Bind off, leaving long tail approx. 13 inches long for sewing to top of cupcake
Cupcake Icing
I used pink yarn for strawberry icing
R1– Ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook, join round and ch 2
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts) join round and ch 2
R3- *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts), join round and ch 2
R4- *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts), join round and ch 2
R5- *3 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (30 sts), join round and ch 2
R6- *4 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (36 sts), join round and ch 2
R7-10: Sc 36, join round and ch 2
Continue to make the wavy edge:
R11: *3 hdc in next st, sk 1 sc, 1 sl st in next st*, repeat 6 times, join round
Bind off, weave in loose end.
Assembly:
Place the icing on top of the bottom part, lining up the stitches of the bottom part to the stitches inside the wavy part of the top (so the wavy part won’t be sewed, sew by the part right on top of the waves). Sew around ¾ of the way and fill bottom part with polypellets, beans or rice so the cupcake sits nice, and the top part with fiberfill, cotton balls or stuffing of your choice so it’s nice and soft.
Courtesy of annapaulaoli of etsy and Ravelry
Crocheted pants in the round
I was recently asked to crochet some pants for a 6 month old and to use a particular pattern, which of course I was more than happy to do.
I got the exact yarn and exact hook and of I went. Much to my dismay, the pants were turning out to be the size of a 2 year old!!! So, thinking it was my gauge, I went down a hook size since I needed a gauge of 18 trb to 10cm and at this stage I was doing about 15 trb per 10cm. So off I went with a smaller hook and I STILL couldn’t get 18trb across 10cm.
I really couldn’t use a smaller hook because the smaller the hook the stiffer the crocheted fabric, if you know what I mean.
After much grumping and pouting and huffing I decided that the pattern had a particular formula to it and if I worked it according to my guage, it should (SHOULD!) work as long as I worked with the measurements I’d been given by the person who’s little boy I was making the pants for.
So, as much for my memory as anyone else’s benefit I thought I’d write up the formula I used. Feel free to use it for yourself and if you’d like to create pants to sell, just drop me an email first at jenrenoden@iinet.net.au
Crocheted pants formula (in the round)
Establish your gauge first. My gauge was 15trb across 10cm and 10rows over 10cm using 8ply yarn and a 4mm hook. Make a test square first, DON’T GUESS!
Then you need the measurements. In my case I had a waist measurement of 21cm to work with so I made a chain of 33 sts (a couple of extra chains to spare).
Single crocheted for approximately 2 inches or long enough to make a casing for elastic that you will insert later.
I then had a measurement of 16cm to stitch for before dividing for the legs. So continuing in trb stitch I continued for 16cm (which equated to 16 rows according to my guage).
Dividing for the legs:
Complete 15 trb and then join the 15th trb with the 1st trb of that round. You’ve created the beginning of the first leg. Continue until the leg is the desired length. End off.
For the second leg, pick up 2 stitches from the first leg and trb 15 trb sts. Join this round as you did for the first leg. There will be 3 stitches unworked and these will later be joined to form the crotch. Continue this leg until it is the same length as the first. End off.
Carefully and neatly join the unworked stitches to form the crotch.
Waist casing:
Fold over the single crochet section of the waist and stitch to create a casing that is approximately 2 inches thick, leaving an opening to thread the elastic through.
Cut a piece of elastic approximately an inch wide to the required length. Thread this through the casing and then stitch shut the opening.
All done
Here is a photo of mine. If you make some of your own I’d love to see them!
