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New Design Publication! Cozy Nights Scarf & Hat Set

By Nicki Byrnes

August 16, 2023

A brisk chill in the air, the warm glow of logs burning in an outdoor fire, and a star shooting across the dark night sky. These are all classic Fall moments my latest design embodies, now on stands and in stores in the Autumn 2023 issue of Crochet World!

When I saw the theme would be Cool Nights, I thought about what I want to wear on an idyllic Fall night – sitting by a bonfire in chilly temperatures, looking up at bright stars in a dark sky, and staying warm wrapped up in something cozy. I knew I wanted to design a hat and scarf set made of soft wool yarn for warmth and texture, vintage-inspired stripes and tassels reminiscent of the 70s, and a combination of dark and light like stars in the night.

I chose a winter white color to reflect the warmth the season brings and a dark hue to symbolize the shift in daylight hours and increasingly dark days. An oversized construction was a must because it is as comforting as a favorite blanket wrapped around your shoulders and lends to a casual look that is both cute and effortless. The scarf is designed to be wrapped twice around the neck and tied, or left open for the tassels to hang. It can also be wrapped just once with the ends left to hang long.

A coordinating hat with a fun, oversized pom pom completes the look. It is based off my pattern for the perfect chunky beanie. It is a winter staple that I love to make, because it is a fun pattern repeat, takes very little time, and looks great in a multitude of color combinations. I love it solid and striped, and use different color combinations for the oversized pom pom to create various effects. For example, I’ve made it solid for everyday wear, a white/red/pink combo for Valentine’s Day, and Bengals-themed for game days.

The coziness and versatility of this set are my favorite part. They feel hygge with their oversized design, warm wool blend, and pronounced texture, and can be styled so many ways. I mentioned the different look wrapping the scarf once vs. twice, tied or left open creates, but it also can look significantly different depending on what it is paired with. I like it worn with a basic, such as a trench coat for city-chic look, a casual plaid shirt, or a chunky sweater for the ultimate cozy girl aesthetic.

This is a great project for beginners just learning to follow a pattern and put their skills into practice, as well as experienced crocheters who will find it satisfyingly quick and fun. It’s a pattern to save and use time and again, changing colors to give it a new look. The scarf takes less than two skeins of yarn per color, which leaves plenty of yarn left over to make the coordinating hat with its cute, big pom pom.

Both patterns are provided in the issue. Let me know what you think of my latest design and enjoy some behind-the-scenes photos below!

See my Daisy Summer Socks in Simply Crochet Today

By Nicki Byrnes

May 1, 2023

I was beyond excited when Simply Crochet asked me to participate in their Hook to Hook Challenge. It is a contest they feature in their magazine where they challenge two crochet designers to come up with a design, no guidance or limitations other than they must use the same yarn and write a pattern for the object they requested. For their May issue, they wanted a sock pattern for the summer. The yarn provided was Socks Yeah! in Citrine and Ruby, which I LOVED and immediately felt inspired.

Socks are a great crochet project for the summer, when temperatures rise but you still want to make something wearable. It’s hard to be in a sweater or scarf frame of mind when it’s warm out, seeing as how you won’t be able to wear them for months and you overheat if you work on them outside. Small projects like socks are ideal because they can fit in your hands or bag without weighing you down or heating you up!

Thinking about the timing of the magazine and the reader, I decided to make a pattern that felt light, whimsical, and had a summery vibe. After creating the mood board below, I designed my pair to be airy and breathable for warmer months, reminiscent of daisies blooming throughout the summer, and quick to make so they can be completed during a road trip or weekend at the beach. They feature a pattern repeat of half double crochet and skipped stitches, with 3-D puff stitch flowers adorning the outside of the leg. They’re topped off with a classic heel and cuff, like a trendy pair of tube socks.

I love the color combination, breathable stitch pattern, sweet little flowers that provide dimension in a practical and wearable way, and perfect fit. I’m pleased with how they turned out and look forward to making more pairs. Crochet socks were not on my radar before – I had only made a pair of slippers once with chunky yarn. But now my mind is thinking of endless design options to add flair to my wardrobe through unique socks you can’t find anywhere else.

So, who was the winner of the design challenge? According to the rules, that would be the design whose Instagram post had the most likes. Was that mine? No, it was not. I do have significantly less followers than my talented competitor does (not that I’m making excuses or anything!). I still consider myself a winner for all the wonderful comments and likes my design received on the post, the relationship I gained with the magazine, and the awesome experience. Thank you, Simply Crochet, for giving me this opportunity!

See my Summer Daisy Socks over on Instagram.

Free Beginner Crochet Pattern: Bow Coffee Sleeve

By Nicki Byrnes

May 17, 2023

Are you a beginner or someone looking to learn how to crochet? You can view my tutorials here if you’re just looking to get started. Follow the videos in order according to their title, repeat as needed, and PRACTICE! Don’t give up – there’s a hurdle with crochet, but once you’re over it, you’ll realize it was a smaller hurdle than you thought and you’ll be set up for a lifetime of crocheting!

If you’ve completed the video series or already know some crochet basics, you may be looking for the ideal first project. Boy do I have one for you. This project checks all the boxes for the ideal first project – it uses basic stitches, has a repetitive pattern, takes your foundational knowledge and puts it into an actual application, and teaches you how to read a quick and simple pattern.

If you’re not satisfied with your end result, make another one. It’s the best way to work through any issues you may have, like tension inconsistencies. Practicing and repeating crochet is the best way to improve. Trouble shoot anything you can’t solve on your own by searching online or YouTube.

So without further ado, here’s the pattern! It is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face when you whip it out at Starbucks (very sustainable!), and would make an adorable gift.

Cake-Inspired Tissue Box Crochet Cover

By Nicki Byrnes

December 4, 2025

Tissue box covers: do they instantly make you think of your grandma’s living room? Same here… until I got a never-ending cold and a box of Puffs became a permanent fixture in my living room. Staring at that plain, generic box day after day, I thought: if this box is going to live in my space, it deserves some personality.

Cue crochet.

I’m guessing you get as much joy from making things as I do. So naturally, I turned to crochet patterns, and then inspiration struck: cake as a tissue box? Yes, please.

I scoured a few free patterns online to understand the basic construction, but I wanted mine to feel playful, modern, and minimal—think soft colors, subtle decorations, and, of course, sprinkles. Here’s a peek at my Pinterest inspiration before I started:

How I Made It

I started with a square top in the frosting color, added a slit for tissues, and worked the sides in continuous rows. The cake layers were built with alternating stripes of cake and frosting, and I added a faux fur yarn border to give it that kitschy, frosting-like texture. Sprinkles were made with a single skein by cutting sections of the different colors. I like the sprinkles tutorial in this video.

After assembly, I blocked the cover to help it hold its cube shape. The result? A cheerful, modern tissue box cover that livens up any space. My son loved it so much, he requested one for each of his teachers for Valentine’s Day. How cute is that?

Materials & Tools

Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love (Pastel Green & White)
Yarn for frosting border: Lion Brand Go for Faux in Baked Alaska
Yarn for sprinkles: Lion Brand Ice Cream in Tutti Frutti
Size G / 4.0 mm crochet hook (or your gauge hook)
Tapestry needle & scissors

Skill Level: Easy
Finished Size: 5″ x 5″

Yarn Update & Substitutions

My prototype, which needed one more row!

Note: In the image at the top, you will notice the sides depicting the inside of the cake looks fluffy. I used this yarn because it reminded me of Funfetti. Sadly, that Loops & Threads Cozy Boucle is discontinued. You can still find skeins on eBay or Etsy, or just use Lion Brand Pound of Love as shown in the video below.

Have you ever seen a cuter Kleenex?

Get the Full Pattern

If you’d like to make your own Cake-Inspired Tissue Box Cover, I’ve got the full pattern available on Etsy, with step-by-step instructions.

View Pattern on Etsy

This is the easiest way to get the finished product looking exactly like my design, without guessing on gauge or color combinations.

Share Your Creations

I love seeing your projects! Tag me on Instagram @nickibyrnescrochet with your tissue box covers so I can celebrate your work.

All images copyright Nicki Byrnes Crochet. This blog is for inspiration and pattern promotion only. Please purchase the pattern on Etsy if you’d like to make this design.

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How to Show Someone You Care on Valentine’s Day

Nicki Byrnes

February 2, 2023

There’s a lot to love about Valentine’s Day. A dozen roses, a big box of chocolates, an oversized teddy bear, and a handwritten love note all sound great, but when you cut through all the noise, February 14th is just a day to tell someone you’re grateful they’re in your life. Whether in a relationship or single, young or old, near family or far away, we all have someone we should acknowledge our love, friendship, or appreciation for.

So how do you show someone what they mean to you without a big, grand gesture? There are plenty of ways that don’t cost much – a Valentine’s Day card sent in the mail with a quick handwritten note, bringing in a neighbor’s garbage cans, a little box of chocolates left on a friend’s porch, or a quick text saying, “Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️.” Research calls these “random acts of kindness” and they are proven to elicit the release of serotonin, or the happiness hormone, in both the giver and recipient. At a minimum, just smiling has been proven to boost the mood of you and those who see you.

Another way to spread happiness on Valentine’s Day is a homemade gift. Not a crafter? How about baking cute cookies like any of these and putting a few in cute bags? Write “Happy Valentine’s Day” with a permanent marker on the outside, include your name, drop a few cookies in a bag, and seal it up. Leave them on the porch, at the door, or in the mailbox of a few people who mean something to you.

How cute are these cookies? Find the recipe here.

If you are a crafter, Pinterest will give a million suggestions that range from easy to complex. This stapled paper heart wreath left on someone’s door handle would be sure to bring a smile. This list has 70 (!!) creative ideas. And if you’re a crocheter like me, there is no shortage of seriously cute Valentine’s Day patterns on Etsy, Ravelry, and Pinterest.

The crochet project I recommend the most for Valentine’s Day is this hat shown above. It is a quick and simple hat construction that is one of my favorite things to make. Adding pink and red instantly makes it festive and uses up scrap yarn you probably already have on hand. It makes a great gift and is really fun to wear around town in the month of February.

It’s fun, easy, and doesn’t cost much, yet leaves a big impact on the receiver. One skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick yarn will make two hats, and if you have scrap worsted weight yarn, you won’t have to buy any yarn for the pompom and heart. Not a crocheter but love the look? I have a few listed for sale on Etsy here.

You don’t have to be grand or mushy to show the people in your life you care. Small acts of kindness go a long way, and who couldn’t use a little shot of the happiness hormone these days. What are some of your favorite ways you show others you care?

How to Cheer on Your Team: Make Your Own Spiritwear

By Nicki Byrnes

January 26, 2023

My local team, the Cincinnati Bengals, went to the Super Bowl last year. The city was abuzz with excitement and swathed in orange and black. I didn’t have Bengals spiritwear, so I decided to create an elevated hat design that didn’t look anything like the mass-produced gear sold in stores or at the little stands at the corner of every gas station.

Unlike all of the generic merchandise available, I created a hat with striking features like bold stripes and an oversized pompom. The line of scrimmage in football might be an imaginary line, but the lines or stripes on this hat are anything but invisible. In fact, they are its most prominent feature. Dramatic and distinct with a sporty-meets-stylish vibe, they’re reminiscent of the elastic bands on a vintage letterman’s jacket. Cute, right?

Where the stripes end is where the pompom begins, which is intentionally oversized, eye-catching, and full of fun. With soft, chunky yarn, it’s the ideal hat to wear when you’re attending a chilly football game, tailgating outside in the parking lot, and just for everyday wear.

Not a Bengals fan? The colors of this hat are completely customizable. In fact, I’m making one for my cousin in Cleveland by swapping out the black in the pompom for brown. It can be made in any color combination, be it your favorite team’s colors or just your personal preference. What better way to cheer on your team than to look cute doing it?

I sell a limited quantity of finished Bengals hats on my Etsy page here and the pattern is on Ravelry here if you’d like to make your own. It’s a fun make if you have a foundational knowledge of crochet. Share your creation on Instagram by tagging @nickibyrnescrochet and let me know if you have any questions here. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Why You Should Make Mini Crochet Elves Using Scrap Yarn and Old Wine Corks

By Nicki Byrnes

December 16, 2022

Do you have a stash of old wine corks you’ve saved “just in case?” How about a collection of yarn scraps, because, “you never know?” Good news – I have the perfect project to use them up and create timely gifts, festive winter decor, or cute little handmade toys.

Enter Mini Cork Elves. At just 4″, they use a wine cork for the body, about 5 yards of yarn for the sweater and trim, and about 8 yards for the hat and trim. They look adorable in winter colors like grey and white, Christmas colors of red and green, or any fun combinations of your choosing. For example, I depleted a small stash of mint yarn I had on hand, and combined it with grey and white to look modern and wintery. See some of my color ideas here.

Simple crafts supplies can be used for embellishments, like small buttons and bells for their sweaters, and a tiny pom pom for their hat. See what you have on hand before you run out. You can draw on a face, just eyes, or my favorite, eyes and a little nose, and the result is undeniably adorable.

If you’re familiar with amigurumi, you are comfortable working in the round on a small scale and assembling the parts to create your little elf. If the term is new to you, amigurumi is a form of Japanese crocheting or knitting small objects out of yarn. It is typically done in the round and uses stuffing to create the 3D form. For this project, we are using up the old wine corks you’ve been holding onto instead of stuffing. Or in my case, a giant bag of old corks my sister-in-law gave me! If you’re making a collection of elves and the corks are different sizes, that just gives them personality.

If you’re looking for a unique gift this winter or a sweet little addition to your house, give these elves a try! They can be used if you’re starting the tradition of Kindness Elves instead of an Elf on the Shelf. They’re a wonderful surprise in the mail and are easy to ship due to their small size and light weight. They look adorable as a little army of Santa’s helpers on your shelf. And, they can be packaged up in creative ways and sold at markets. I can only imagine the different characters that will be dreamed up!

How to Make Pompoms with Only a Crochet Hook & Faux Fur Yarn

By Nicki Byrnes

November 2, 2022

If this basket was a person, she would be loads of fun with a touch of glam! But unlike her persona, she is actually very low maintenance. The most distinctive part of this basket is the faux fur, which is used to add trim and create the pompoms. I developed a method to make these pompoms that uses only a crochet hook and the faux fur yarn – no making multiple pompoms with a maker or fork, cutting all those strands, and attaching them individually. With my technique, one long strand of yarn is used and runs all the way around. This means no weaving in a million ends – yay!

She only looks high maintenance

To create the look of pompoms, I use a variation of surface crochet. Surface crochet is a technique that uses slip stitches on top of an already-made piece to create designs on the surface of the work. I used surface crochet to add a “B” to my Bengals hat last winter, pictured below. You can see the individual slip stitches that run along just the surface of the hat. It creates an embellishment on the front that provides depth and texture, while not being visible from the other side of the piece.

The “B” here was created with surface crochet

Clearly, the pompoms appear very different from the “B” above. The fuzziness and texture of the faux fur yarn certainly contribute to the pompom effect, but it really comes down to a couple of key additional steps. Namely, pulling the yarn out to puff it up and pulling the yarn end all the way out and back through as the last step. I will explain this in detail below. For the trim of the basket featured in the video, the process is standard surface crochet all the way around.

Two supplies are needed to create the pompom affect – a crochet hook and faux fur yarn. Any hook will work as long as it can pull the fluffy yarn through, so I recommend size L/8.00mm or larger. I used an N/10.00mm in the video because that is the hook I had out after making the basket. (The yarn I used for the basket is Lion Brand Re-Spun in Sepia Rose.) The faux fur yarn I used is Lion Brand Go For Faux in Baked Alaska. I bought it at Joann, but I have seen it on Amazon, Walmart, and in a set of three on Michaels’ website.

If you’d like to mimic the look of pompoms with just a crochet hook and faux fur yarn, be it for embellishing crochet, knitting, weaving, or any other fiber art, read on for the full instructions. Read them once, watch the video a few times, and then practice for yourself! Let me know if you have any questions.

Faux Fur Pom Pom Instructions

• Hold the faux fur yarn on back side of work (inside the basket in my case)

• Insert hook from the front into the space you’d like the pompom and grab yarn with hook

• Pull yarn through space so 1 loop is on hook

• Insert hook into the space directly to the left

• Grab yarn, pull through space

• 2 loops are on hook

• Pull front loop through second loop on your hook (this is a slip stitch in crochet); you can use your hand to help complete this process, as shown below

Pull the front loop (closest to the hook tip) through the second loop (closest to the hook handle)

• Cut yarn so it has a 64” tail and pull yarn all the way through your stitch

• Insert hook into a nearby space or the same space you worked in and pull yarn end all the way back through so it is now on the back side of your work (inside the basket in my case)

• Insert hook into next space (from the front) for next pompom; I like to alternate pompoms up and down about 1-2” apart

• Repeat steps, beginning with first step above

• Yarn will run along back of work, so no weaving in a million ends!

• Once pompoms are complete, weave ends in

This yarn is slippery, so either weave it back further than you typically would, or tie it off. In the case of the basket in the video or other round projects, the last pompom meets up with the first pompom, so tie the two ends together twice and cut the ends.

That’s it! It takes a lot of words to explain the process, but I assure you, the actual creation is simple. Now watch the video a couple of times, give it a try, and you’ll be pleased with how easy it is, especially if you know how to slip stitch. Let me know what application you use them for – I can only imagine all the possibilities!

How to Make a Puff Stitch Crochet Cowl – Free Pattern

By Nicki Byrnes

October 17, 2022

I’m sharing a crochet pattern that is one of my favorite things to make! It is a stitch repeat that is fun and so cute. Just look at those puff stitches! They look like little hearts as you make it, which is adorable. I recommend you wear it upside down, though, since your beginning row is usually tighter than your end row and looks better worn close to your face.

I adapted this pattern from the Medora Cowl Pattern from Lion Brand. That original pattern is here. I first used the Medora pattern with a skein of Homespun yarn as recommended, and really like it. The yarn is highly textured and gives a lot of personality to the scarf, but it also makes the stitches hard to see versus standard yarn. This can make it difficult for beginners, so if that is you, read on for the better path for you.

Yarn Recommendation

I found two skeins of Malabrigo Mecha yarn at a local yarn shop and wanted to use it to make a puff stitch cowl. I knew the puff stitches would look amazing in the hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn. The Medora pattern didn’t work perfectly with this yarn, so I modified it to work with the Malabrigo yarn, which is a chunky yarn that is on the thin side. I added rows of single crochet at the top and bottom to get it to stand up more and altered the stitch and row counts. It turned out so pretty. The stitches are highly visible, the colors in the yarn pop, and it lays nicely.

Then, I got the idea to make this cowl in Lion Brand Scarfie yarn. I love the color variation, soft texture, and thickness of this yarn. Like Malabrigo, it is a wool yarn that is on the thinner side of the chunky scale. Unlike Malabrigo, it is on the economical side. Malabrigo Mecha is not outrageous for a premium, hand-dyed yarn at $16 a skein, but this pattern required 1.5 skeins. Lion Brand Scarf retails for $11 and can often be found on sale at stores like Michael’s and Joann Fabrics. There are also 312 yards per skein versus 130 yards in a Malabrigo skein (or hank). I found mine at a Joann’s in Atlanta for around $8 a skein and chose the color Sea Foam/Clay.

The pattern in Scarfie yarn worked up quickly and looks great, just like the Malabrigo version. If you have a basic knowledge of how to crochet, you can make this cowl. Just take your time and trouble shoot online when you need it. If you are an experienced crocheter, you will make this in a snap! It’s great for gifting because it is such a fast make and looks intricate with all the puff stitches. The self-striping ombre effect of Scarfie yarn makes it so easy to add more visual interest and really sets it all off.

Enjoy the free pattern below!

Puff Stitch Crochet Cowl Pattern

Gauge: 4 pattern reps (1 rep = puff st, ch 1, puff st) = 4” (10.2 cm)

Puff stitch explanation: Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st, yarn over and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), *yarn over, insert hook in same st, yarn over and draw up a loop; rep from * once more, yarn over, draw through all 7 loops on hook. Make generous sized loops.

Abbreviations:

Beg = begin(s)(ning)

Ch-space = space previously made

Rnd(s) = round(s)

Sl st = slip stitch

Ch(s) = chain(s)

Rep = repeat(s)(ing)

Sk = skip

St(s) = stitch(es)

Sc = single crochet

Skill Level: Easy

Size: One size

Finished circumference: ~22” (56 cm)

Finished height: ~9” (23 cm)

Materials:

1 skein of Lion Brand Scarfie yarn (312 yds each)

Size K (6.5 mm) crochet hook

Yarn needle

Scissors

Pattern:

Loosely ch 60; join with sl st in first ch to make a ring, taking care not to twist ch.

Rnd 1: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (does not count as st), (Puff st, ch 1, puff st) in same ch as joining, *sk next 2 ch, (puff st, ch 1, puff st) in next ch; rep from * to last 2 ch; join with sl st in top of beg ch (40 puff sts).

Rnds 3-14: Ch 3 (does not count as a st), turn, (puff st, ch 1, puff st) in each ch-1 sp to end of rnd; join with sl st in top of beg ch.

Rnd 15: Sc in each st around.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Wear so the first row is closer to the chin and the last row is at the neck.

Where to Start When Learning to Crochet

If you want to learn to crochet, a huge unknown is where to begin. There is an overwhelming amount of videos and articles online to reference, so how do you choose? What step is the first to learn? What exactly are you supposed to be doing with your hands? Is that teacher demonstrating a proper technique? And then what step is next?

This confusion was a big barrier for me. I put off learning to crochet because books with simple images confused me and I didn’t know where to start online. When I finally committed to learning, I spent far too much time sifting through YouTube to find the right videos.

Well, forget all that, because I’m simplifying the process and telling you what exactly you need to do. I created basic, easy to follow videos for you with my teaching techniques. They are a combination of my instructor training from the Craft Yarn Council and my in-class experience. I developed different tips and tricks based on how I observed people learn best, common sticking points people most often fumble with, and different anecdotes that I found most helpful for my students. Those videos can be found here.

The Process

You will start with Part 2. I’m working on Part 1, which is an intro with crochet background information that I share in my classes to set my students. It is on my to-do list! The critical parts to learning how to crochet start with Part 2, so start there and work your way through to Part 6. Spend as much time as you need on each video. Watch, rewind, try for yourself, pause, rewind, and practice again.

The key to learning crochet is to maintain a level of patience and persistence. Learning to crochet will most likely feel awkward and unnatural at first. This is completely normal. But keep at it! Things will click before you know it.

Your First Project

Once you’ve mastered parts 2-6, you’re ready for your first project. This is arguably the most critical step. You have a foundational knowledge at this point of how to properly hold the yarn and hook and complete the crochet basic stitches, so now you need to put them into practice. This forces you to understand how to turn to make even rows, improve your tension, change colors or yarn if needed, and finish off. In the meantime, you will be learning how to read a pattern.

I recommend practicing row after row of single crochet until you reach about 60″. You will then have your first scarf! If you read my first blog post (here), then you know the importance of that first perfectly imperfect project. No matter how ugly your scarf turns out, you will be proud of it and treasure it as you continue on your crochet journey. It might sound repetitive to do row after row of the same stitch, but that repetition is what helps you learn and grow.

Another reason this is the ideal first project is that you don’t need to know how to read a pattern to make that first scarf. Reading a pattern is another skill you must learn. Once you understand how to read a pattern, there are “Beginner” patterns that are great to try. For a list of suggested patterns to try by difficulty level, click here: https://nickibyrnescrochet.com/crochet-patterns.