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TUNISIAN CROCHET TUTORIALS

Happy Making,

Noorain

Pin this Darn Good Yarn Sari Skirt review and styling guide!

Darn Good Yarn is the place to shop if you’re looking for sustainable fashion options. Among other things, Darn Good Yarn focuses on empowering women in India and Nepal by providing fair-trade work. They use sustainable materials to create beautiful skirts and yarns.

This post contains affiliate codes and links for which I get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Styling the skirts is easy since they can be worn in many different ways. I had the honor of receiving these skirts as gifts recently. You can scroll through to see how I styled them. I received two skirts, one mini skirt, and one ankle-length skirt. The best part is that both of these are reversible and the styling possibilities are endless!

Darn Good Yarn – Mini Skirt

I paired the mini skirt with a neutral grey quarter-sleeve top, a boho-style scarf from my wardrobe, and black leggings. I completed the look with a boho clutch (designed by me) and my cognac knee-high boots! Any neutral top/tank top will go with this skirt. For a summer or spring look, you can wear them without leggings. Complete the summer/spring look with a pair of boho-style sandals or flats! For winter, you can pair the skirt with a neutral color turtleneck!

The other side had these beautiful leaf designs that also paired well with my Fall look!

Styling the Ankle Length Skirt

My personal favorite was the long Darn Good Yarn fair trade ankle-length skirt because it took me back to India and all my memories of wearing saris and other traditional outfits anytime I have a wedding in the family! This copper-golden side is so pretty with the sheen. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to pair it with the vest I made earlier this year! I wore the same shirt since it’s such a great neutral piece and paired the look with my rose gold flats!

The grey silk with floral print is so beautiful too, I couldn’t help but dance a little with all the ‘gheyr’ (pleats)!

For every Darn Good Yarn upcycled sari skirt purchased, Darn Good Yarn will donate one skirt to victims of domestic violence. You can shop a variety of sari silk wrap Do Darn Good skirts here and the current deal is BUY 2 GET 3 FREE!

Aside from sustainable fashion, Darn Good Yarn also has lots of beautiful thoughtfully-sourced yarns available in their shop from beaded silk yarn to chiffon ribbon yarn. These yarns are made from scraps of saris to reduce waste. I personally love the chiffon ribbon yarn for making accessories. The chiffon ribbon yarn is perfect for accessories and is what I used for designing the clutch seen in the pictures above (to be released soon)! You can shop a variety of unique and beautiful yarns.

You can also sign up for a monthly subscription box where you’ll receive some amazing yarns to try out!

Save BIG by choosing the annual subscription plan, and join in on the DGY community fun! Monthly Billing costs $20/mo vs Annual Billing costs $10/mo! Sign up by clicking the picture below!

It’s such a great feeling to shop sustainable fashion and ethically sourced yarn and to know you are helping to make the world a better place, one skirt or one yarn skein at a time! If you found this post helpful make sure to pin and share!

Pin this review and styling guide!

Read my bio to learn more about my journey as a fiber artist here. You can also check out more ways to style these skirt wraps over here.

Are you looking for easy crochet animal patterns for beginners? You’re in the right place. I have a cute little guy waiting for you! This little caterpillar is very close to my heart because he is the very first thing I designed for my little one! My son was born in June so typically everything was about my little “June Bug” – from my baby shower theme to the little nursery corner in our room and finally this blog and my brand!

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links for which I may get a commission at no extra cost to you.

Easy Crochet Animal Patterns for Beginners – The Tunisian Samplerpillar (Caterpillar)

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Happy Blog-A-Versary to Noor’s Knits! One year ago, I decided to start designing patterns and start this little blog not knowing what direction it would take. I am so glad I did because now I have a home for all of my creativity in the form of free modern baby knitting patterns and free baby crochet patterns for beginners! I have also met some amazing people along the way. I recently got to do a collab with Clover (a company I have always loved!), you can read my full review of their Tunisian Crochet Hook Set over here. I was also featured on Bluprint (formerly Craftsy) for my Tunisian crochet patterns! You can read more about that here. I am not done yet, there will be more collabs and free knitting and crochet patterns in the near future!

Now, on to the good stuff. In honor of my blog-a-versary, I am sharing the first of my free crochet toy patterns for babies. Yes, there will hopefully be more! There are lots of easy crochet animal patterns for beginners out there but this one is a unique one made especially for my little Bubs. Today I want to share this cutie with you all so you can make it for the little ones in your life too! This is a perfect pattern if you have been wanting to try Tunisian crochet hence the name Tunisian Samplerpillar. The body is made up of some basic Tunisian crochet stitches to get you familiar with them!

Pattern:

About the Pattern:
This beginner-friendly pattern is for a Tunisian crochet sampler caterpillar plushie that is worked up in pieces and sewn together. This is a pattern near and dear to me and is a variation of the first thing I made for my son! 

Yarn: 

• Color A – 20 yards of Bernat Home Decor in Gold 
• Color B –  24 yards of Lily Sugar and Cream in Aqua 
• Color C – 15 yards of Lily Sugar and Cream in Overcast (9 x 24 in. pieces)

Needles & Hooks:

• 5.5 mm Tunisian crochet hook that is at least 6 in. long

Notions: 

• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Stuffing or Scrap Yarn

Gauge:

• Gauge is not crucial for this project. If the pieces are too big, use a smaller hook size and if the pieces are too small, use a bigger hook size. As an approximation: a 1 in. square consists of 3 st. over 5 rows in Tunisian simple stitch using the Bernat Maker Home Decor yarn.

Finished Size:
The finished size of the caterpillar is approximately 4 in. wide (including the legs) and 9 in. long from head to last ball.

Notes:

• This pattern uses a few Tunisian crochet techniques. Use the following video tutorials as needed:
  • Foundation Row and Tunisian Simple Stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MjIqcuYbSY&t=2s  
  • Tunisian Purl Stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7-FgAm_73o&t=23s
  • Tunisian Knit Stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z1SzJhUgfE&t=131s
  • How to seam up a finished crochet piece using slip stitch:
    https://youtu.be/XOg1pAvrHOQ

• Pattern rows are Forward pass instructions.

• The following instructions are implied: 
  • The loop already on the hook at the beginning of the row counts as the first st.
  • Always TSS in the last st of the row, being sure to work under both loops of the st.

• Return Pass: Follow the foundation row and each row with the Return Pass in the same color.
  • Return Pass Instructions: Ch 1, *yarn over, pull through two loops; repeat from * until 1 loop remains on the hook.

Abbreviations:
Tss – Tunisian Simple Stitch
Tps – Tunisian Purl Stitch
Tks – Tunisian Knit Stitch
Sl St – Slip Stitch
St(s) – Stitch(es)
RetP – Return Pass
Ch – Chain

Head:

Using a 5.5 mm Tunisian crochet hook, with Color A Ch 12 – make foundation row. 

Note: Complete a standard RetP after each row.

Row 2: Tss across with Color A for 15 rows.

Bind off leaving a 20 in. tail. Fold piece in half with wrong side facing you. Seam up the sides using sl st. Leave the top open and do not cut remaining yarn tail.

Count to the 5th row from the top and 3rd st from the right and make a french knot with the 24 in. piece of the brown yarn. Count two stitches to the left and make one more french knot. Embroider a smile by weaving yarn through the third row down from the left eye and over and into the mirroring stitch under the right eye as seen in the picture above.

Add stuffing or scrap yarn and seam up the top.

Attach Antennae:

Leaving a 6 in. tail, Sl st. brown yarn into the right side of top of head and ch 5. Leaving a 2 in. tail, cut yarn. Wrap the 6 in. tail around the sl st at the top of the head and tie a knot. Weave remaining yarn through the head. Leaving a space of 1 to 2 stitches, move to the left and repeat for left antenna. Weave in all loose ends into the head.

Body Ball 1:

Ch 12 with Color B and make foundation row.
Note: Complete a standard RetP after each row.

Row 2: (Tss, Tps)* Rep * across.
Row 3: (Tps, Tss)* Rep * across.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you’ve completed 15 rows.

Bind off leaving a 20 in. tail. Fold piece in half with wrong side facing you. Seam up the sides using sl st. Leave the top open and do not cut remaining yarn tail. Add stuffing or scrap yarn and seam up the top. Do not cut remaining yarn tail. Attach legs using the same method as for antennae.

Body Ball 2:

Ch 12 with Color A and make foundation row.
Note: Complete a standard RetP after each row.

Row 2: Tps across.

Repeat Row 2 until you’ve completed 15 rows.

Bind off leaving a 20 in. tail. Fold piece in half with wrong side facing you. Seam up the sides using sl st. Leave the top open and do not cut remaining yarn tail. Add stuffing or scrap yarn and seam up the top. Do not cut remaining yarn tail. Attach legs using the same method as for antennae.

Body Ball 3:

Ch 12 with Color B and make foundation row.
Note: Complete a standard RetP after each row.

Row 2: Tks across.
Repeat Row 2 until you’ve completed 15 rows.

Bind off leaving a 20 in. tail. Fold piece in half with wrong side facing you. Seam up the sides using sl st. Leave the top open and do not cut remaining yarn tail. Add stuffing or scrap yarn and seam up the top. Do not cut remaining yarn tail. Attach legs using the same method as for antennae.

Assembly:

Now assemble the pieces together as shown in the picture with the head placed a little above the rest of the body. The balls of the body should alternate and look like a wave.

You are done! Now just let your little one cuddle with their new friend and snap a picture. I hope you enjoyed making this easy crochet animal pattern for beginners – Tunisian Samplerpillar. Have any questions? The best way to reach me is via email: [email protected]

Share your finished Tunisian Samplerpillar with me on social media using the hashtag #tunisiansamplerpillar for a chance to be featured!
Instagram @noorsknits Facebook @noorsknits1

This is an original pattern from Noor’s Knits, ©2019. Please do not reprint, repost, or sell any parts of this pattern, but feel free to link back to my blog. You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern but please kindly link back to my website. Send questions to [email protected].

Easy Crochet Animal Patterns for Beginners – The Tunisian Samplerpillar (Caterpillar)

Pin it Now and Make Later

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Want to try some more Tunisian crochet, find my Tunisian Crochet Pumpkin Pattern with a full photo tutorial here.

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Crochet and knitting pattern testing is an essential process every designer has to go through in order to publish designs. My biggest concern with designing is making sure my numbers all make sense and the process of making the piece is easy to follow! I plan on publishing more baby and kids patterns and need a group of testers that I can rely on regularly. I rely on feedback and comments from testers to make my pattern the best version before I hit the publish button! In return for your effort, time, and valuable feedback, I will showcase your work on my social media platforms including my Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Hello! Thank you so much for applying to be a tester for my baby/kids patterns. Before reading any further, some major requirements I have are that you: 1.) Have a public Instagram profile, 2.) An available baby or child model to try my patterns on (preferably at home), 3.) Able to take clear and bright pictures (in daylight), 4.) Have a Ravelry profile where you can share a project.

Please answer the questions below and please see the requirements I have of a tester: – To finish and have emailed notes by a given deadline. – Check for mathematical errors – Check for grammatical errors – Convey things that could have been explained better – Contact if there is anything that doesn’t make sense – Time how long it took you to test – Confirm yardage used – Give final measurements – Send a work in progress photo(s), finished photo(s) of your work as a flat lay and on a model – (so I can see how the fit ended up on the baby/child) – Put up a Ravelry project within one week of the pattern release. Testers will be directly e-mailed when testing opportunities become available. Thank you so much for applying to be a regular tester for Noor’s Knits!

Here are the things I am looking for in a knit/crochet pattern tester:

• Has a public Instagram profile
• Can read through a pattern and follow directions
• Knows basic crochet and/or knitting techniques (I usually provide video tutorial links or photo tutorials)
• Communicate with me and other testers via an Instagram direct message group
• Give feedback about sizing, numbers, format, and the general flow of the pattern. Must have a baby or child that can try the finished piece by the deadline!
• Take high-quality pictures (bright and clear) taken in daylight outside or near a window, clear and show details of the project (flat lay pictures and on models)
• Help promote the pattern release by sharing on social media
• Add a project to Ravelry within one week of the pattern release
• Agree to copyright terms: never share or replicate any parts of the design and pass them on as their own.

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Crochet and Knitting Pattern Tester Application

Fill out this form if you are interested and can agree to all of the above!

If you would like an in-depth look into the pattern testing process and how to get chosen to be a pattern tester, check out this detailed post by my friend Elisabeth of Desamour Designs.

Read more about and try my latest free crochet pattern, the Back to School Tunisian Bag pattern here.

Try my latest free knitting pattern and read more about the Cute As a Button Wrap pattern here.

Get to all of my important updates and links here.

Ramadan 2019 is almost here and I have some great products lined up!

Here you can find all of my products together with a brief description and a link to purchase!

If you are looking for decor to go with the purple Ramadan theme or in your Ramadan kid’s corner, I have made these simple crescent moon wall hangings. The smaller one is 8.5 by 6.5 in. and the bigger one us 16 x 9.5 in. including fringe. They each come ready to hang with a wooden dowel. You can purchase these here!

My favorite of my Ramadan 2019 products is this traditional looking colorful vest along with a matching kufi prayer hat with gold trimming. The vest is available in a 2-3 year size and the kufi hats are available in 2 to 4 year and 5 to 7 year sizes. They are both made with a cotton and polyester blend yarn which makes them soft and breathable. You can purchase the kufi hats here and the vest here. It can also be purchased as a set for under $40, just enter the code KUFIANDVEST at checkout.

I also have 100% cotton kufi hats as part of my Ramadan 2019 line up. These are super soft and breathable. They also come in 2 to 4 year and 5 to 7 year sizes. I have limited quantities in this style! You can purchase these here.

If you are looking for a small but meaningful gift, I also have bookmarks available with beautiful tassels for holding your place while doing spiritual readings. The crochet bookmark can be made in various colors! You can purchase these here.

Jewelry for Ramadan 2019 and Eid Parties for Moms!

I also have a couple of Eid products for ladies. If you’re looking for simple Eid jewelry you can get these mini tassel hoops (buy here) or long tassel earrings (buy here) for $12.00 per pair. If you purchase two pairs, you can get them for $10.20 each over here.

Currently I have some great discounts on these products as well as free US shipping and a local Mississauga pick-up option until April 17th! You can shop all items over in my Etsy shop.

Read more about me and my shop here.

The bullying started for me when I was in elementary school. I was the new overtly different kid since I was the only Indian girl in my class. People didn’t sit next to me. They told me “I smelled gross”. They laughed at me and in front of me. Then, the struggle in middle school was to fit in while in that awkward phase of transitioning into my adolescent self. The self that hurt more because I understood more about myself and about life in general. This was the first time I was physically hurt by someone and then it happened again a few times in high school.

Self-Negativity Born from Hateful Speech

But you know what? It’s not the physical assaults that hurt. I survived those because those wounds healed with time but what I was left with were the real scars. I was left with the scars of negativity: negative views about myself, my life, and about who I was. When someone says hurtful things about you, the words imprint on your mind. The more you think about those things, you start internalizing that hateful speech.

Moving On

Eventually, I pulled myself up and out of that cloud of negativity and found true friends who showed me that there is more to life. They taught me that it’s important to process those negative experiences and move on. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always end this way. There are many children who never find these friends. As a result, they experience varying forms of psychological issues such as depression and in some cases, they may even commit suicide. According to studies by Yale University, bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims (http://www.bullyingstatistics.org). Let that sink in and keep reading to see what we can do as parents to prevent this from happening.

Awareness as a Parent

Having my own child, it scares me immensely because he could also be on the receiving end of bullying once he starts school. I pray to God that he isn’t but it is a very real possibility. I remember when I was bullied, I did not want to tell my parents because I was shocked, embarrassed, and confused. That’s why, as a parent, it is so important to be aware and pick up on signs that your child is being bullied. Here’s an article by stopbullying.gov that outlines some of the signs that a child is being bullied. As parents, the best thing we can do is learn these signs and watch for them!

Support the Cause – Anti-Bullying Efforts

Today, on World Day of Bullying Prevention, I stand with Lion Brand Yarn in their support for anti-bullying with their #HatNotHate campaign for the Stomp Out Bullying Campaign. When I heard about this initiative I knew I had to help! I made a few blue hats for donation and I also made some for my own little family. Here we are sporting our #hatnothate hats.

If you’d like to support this cause. You can go donate today and/or wear blue to show your support! But before you head over there, let me know what you are doing now to prevent bullying.