Holi Hai! Headband and Cowl : Free pattern

 

As the Indian festival of Holi is approaching I am thinking back to my childhood. I have not really played with colors on Holi for more than 20 years now but seeing pictures of friends every year fills my heart with joy and my mind with memories. Holi was always proceeded by my mom and grandma making traditional sweets and savories which were only made on this special occasion. Gujiyas and mathris and namak paras would be made in advance and stored to be served to guests when they came over to play Holi. We would get up early in the morning wear some old clothes and be ready with our pichkaris (small water cannons) and colors.

 I got inspired by the colors of Holi to make this set of headband and cowl. The pink,purple,maroon and olive green splash into one another and every time I wear this it reminds me of the splashes of colors on my face and loads of Holi fun.

For people who have no idea what the festival looks like here is an image from a Bollywood film:

    A still from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani image courtesy Dharma Productions

Materials:
 Aran Yarn 100 grams
Yarn Needle
Scissors

Abbreviations(UK Terminology):
hdc half double crochet
st stitch
sts stitches
ch chain

Pattern:
Headband

Row 1: ch 55
Row 2: hdc in second ch from hook,  hdc in each of the next 54 sts turn
Row 3: ch 1, hdc in each st till end of row, turn
Rows 4-14: repeat row 3
Fasten off


Cowl
Row 1: ch 21
Row 2: hdc in second ch from hook, hdc in each of the next 20 sts turn
Row 3: ch 1, hdc in each st till end
Rows 4-55: repeat row 3
Fasten off

Desi Girl Kolahpuri Style Slippers :Free Crochet Pattern

 This is one of my favorite original designs so far. I absolutely love it because it defines perfectly what I want to do with my DesiMakes designs. It is a quintessentially Indian look and it is a fairly simple crochet pattern as well. I used some really bright colors which attract me immediately. The Kolahpuri chappals are something which I have worn a lot in India growing up. The weather in London is not that practical for wearing these outside for most of the year but they are perfect for house slippers. I will definitely make these again and probably add a sole of some kind so that I can wear these outside in the summer. I just used a pink DK yarn for this and it turned out perfectly well.


Desi Girl Kolahpuri Style Slippers Crochet Pattern:
Materials:
DK Yarn 100 grams Pink
Pompoms: 2 yellow,2 orange, 2 green
4 Stitch Markers
Yarn Needle
Scissors

Abbreviations(UK Terminology):
dc double crochet
st stitch
sts stitches
ch chain

Pattern:
Sole
ch 21
round 1 : (dc on one loop of each chain)19 times,place marker,2dc in next st,place marker,(dc on other loop of each chain)19 times,place marker, 2dc in next st,place marker
round 2: (dc on one loop of each chain)19 times,move marker,( 2dc in each st) 2 times,move marker,
(dc on one loop of each chain)19 times,move marker,( 2dc in each st) 2 times,move marker
round 3: (dc on one loop of each chain)19 times,move marker,( 2dc in each st) 4 times,move marker,
(dc on one loop of each chain)19 times,move marker,( 2dc in each st) 4 times,move marker
round 4: (dc on one loop of each chain)19 times,move marker,( 1dc,2dc ) 4 times,move marker,
(dc on one loop of each chain)19 times,move marker,( 1dc,2dc ) 4 times,move marker
round 5-7: dc in each st all around.
 Thumb Rest:
At the end of round 7, start thumb
1: dc,dc,dc turn
2: ch 1, dc,dc,dc turn
Repeat step 2 , 9 times. Slip Stitch the thumb to the sole 4 sts across from the edge. Fasten off.
Ankle Rest:
From thumb rest, count 6 stitches down.
1. Join yarn, dc 6 sts on the edge turn
2. ch 1, dc in the next 6 sts turn
Repeat step 2, 20 times or as per the fit of your feet. I actually put the slipper on my foot at this time and checked for the fit.
Slip stitch to the other edge across to complete the slippers. Fasten off.

Attach 3 pompoms of different bright colors in the middle of the strap. Now strut around in your colorful slippers!

Indian Amigurumi Series : Meena Doll

 Last week was Basant Panchami and I got really nostalgic about my childhood. My sweet dad was great at flying kites and me and my brother were happy helpers. He used to get us kites made in delicate colorful paper held together by thin sticks and threads. They looked so colourful and delicate. Flying the kite was such a special thing and made us so aware of nature and how the wind literally swept it up! All you had to do was hang on. My mom had one rule. We need to wear yellow to signify the start of Basant (Spring). Being away from home I really miss these Indian festivals and traditions. Meena is inspired by Basant and she wears yellow. She also wears Sindoor (vermillion) which is a sign of being a happily married woman. This is my first attempt at doing a pattern for the Sari. I will probably try this again with a bigger sized doll and maybe try to get a better Sari look. Although I am happy with the way this turned out.

Abbreviations:

Materials:



Pattern:
Head and Body
Color Beige
Round 1:Make a magic ring and 6 dc into the ring (6sts)
Round 2:2 dc in each st. (12sts)
Round 3:(dc,2dc) repeat in the round (18sts)
Round 4:(dc,dc,2dc) repeat in the round (24sts)
Round 5:(dc,dc,dc,2dc) repeat in the round (30sts)
Round 6:(dc,dc,dc,dc,2dc) repeat in the round (36sts)
Round 7: dc in each st
Round 8: dc in each st
Round 9: dc in each st

Insert Safety Eyes

Round 10: dc in each st

Round 11:(dc,dc,dc,dc,dc2tog) repeat in the round (30sts)
Round 12:(dc,dc,dc,dc2tog) repeat in the round (24sts)
Round 13:(dc,dc,dc2tog) repeat in the round (18sts)
 Round 14:(dc,dc2tog) repeat in the round (12sts)
 Round 15:dc2tog repeat in the round (6sts)
Round 16:(dc,2dc) repeat in the round (18sts)

Change Color to Red

Round 17: dc in each st
Round 18: dc in each st
Round 19: (dc,dc2tog) repeat in the round (12sts)

Change Color to Yellow

Round 20: dc in each st
Round 21: dc in each st
Round 22:(dc,dc,2dc) repeat in the round(16 sts)
Round 23: 2 dc in each st (32 sts)

Change Color to Red

Round 24:  dc in each st
Round 25:  (dc,dc,dc,dc2tog) repeat in the round (28 sts)
Round 26:  dc2tog in the round (14 sts)
Round 27:  dc2tog in the round (7 sts)
Round 28: dc2tog in the round 3 sts fasten off.




Arms (Makes 2)
Red 
make a magic circle
Round 1: 4dc in the ring
Round 2:dc in the round
Change color to Beige
Round 3:dc in the round
Round 4:dc in the round
Round 5:dc in the round
Round 6:dc in the round


Sari Pallu
Yellow
Chain 23
dc in second chain from hook. dc in each stitch till end

Hair:
Cut 50 pieces each 8inches
Sew them from the middle top of the head till the back of head.
Make two ponytails and tie them with red yarn.

Combining it:
attach the arms on either side just above the red circle on the body under the neck.
Attach the yellow piece (pallu) at the back from the yellow round on the body and bring it forward and attach over the shoulder leaving the end loose. This makes it look like a sari.