Hodge and Podge and Eric want to give one lucky picnicker
a copy of their new crochet story and pattern book, The Big Acorn Race.
Three quick hops and you’ll be entered to win:
1) Hop on over to Instagram and follow @squirrelpicnic.
2) Repost this photo.
3) Tag it @squirrelpicnic #wannawinthebigacornrace
I’ll draw a random winner on June 2. I can’t wait to see who wins!
It was a cold and slushy day in April when several intrepid friends braved their way through treacherous conditions to come together and celebrate the launch of The Big Acorn Race: A Story with Crochet Patterns and Projects.
I’m continuing my year-long salute to crochet socks with a pattern called “Ripple Socks” by Karen Ratto-Whooley in her book I Can’t Believe I’m Crocheting Socks. The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Hand-Painted in Big Top.
Toe-up method
Short-row heel
Stitch for foot: extended single crochet
Stitch for leg: chevron pattern, 3 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-sp, 3 dc, dec Continue reading
After spring snowstorms like the one we had last weekend, we love seeing the snow melt to reveal luscious bright green grass. It really puts Hodge and Podge in the mood for a picnic. How fitting that this Saturday is National Picnic Day! Make your squirrel friend a picnic blanket using this free pattern, pack your basket, and head on out for a day in the sun.
Medium-weight yarn in white
Medium-weight yarn in red
G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle or tapestry needle
Towel and rust-proof pins for blocking
Abbreviations
sc = single crochet
ea = each
ch = chain
FO = fasten off
Special Instructions
To switch colors at the end of the row: Insert your hook into the last stitch (st), yarn over (yo) with the original color and pull through the st as you normally would (2 loops on hook). Yo with the new color and pull through both loops on your hook.
Picnic Blanket
With white, ch 26.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and ea ch across, turn. (25)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc and ea sc until you have 1 sc left. Switch to red. Turn.
Row 3: Continuing with red, ch 1, sc in 1st sc and ea sc across, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc and ea sc across until you have 1 sc left. Switch to white. Turn.
Row 5: Continuing with white, ch 1, sc in 1st sc and ea sc across, turn.
Rows 6-30: Rep rows 2-5. FO and weave in ends.
To help keep your blanket from curling and to help you when it comes to doing the surface slip stitch, I recommend blocking your picnic blanket at this point. Blocking your blanket will prove to be especially useful if you are using a natural fiber like wool or cotton. Acrylic yarn can be wet blocked, but you may not notice much difference.
Block your picnic blanket by immersing it in lukewarm water until it is saturated. Pull it out of the water and roll it up in a towel to get rid of any excess water. Fold up another towel and pin the picnic blanket down using rust-proof pins. Let this sit overnight or until completely dry before continuing with surface slip stitching.
Surface Slip Stitching
Make a slipknot and place it on your hook.
Starting at either end, insert your hook into the 3rd st in from the end.
Hold the working end of your red yarn behind your picnic blanket.
Yarn over and pull through the stitch. Pull through the loop on your hook as well.
Rotate your work so that you can insert your hook in the hole one row up. Pull a loop of red up through this hole and through the loop on your hook.
Continue in this way, making a slip stitch in each row, all the way to the other end of the fabric.
FO and weave in ends.
Insert your hook in the 3rd st over from the last line you made. Surface slip stitch as you did for the first line to create parallel lines across the fabric.
Tell your squirrel friends to grab their picnic baskets. We’re ready for a picnic!
Not only did Sandra Hauser crochet a squirrel friend, she made all these accessories for her too. Now that’s one lucky squirrel. Great work, Sandra!
Many of the patterns for the items you see here can be found for free at the picnic. Because they are small, they whip up in a jiff and require very little yarn. These accessories are a great way to use up leftover yarn.
Dress up your squirrels. They love to accessorize! Be sure to share photos of your dolled-up squirrels at squirrelpicnic{at}gmail{dot}com. We love to give you and your squirrels the spotlight.
Get the free accessory patterns for your squirrel friend (from left of squirrel, going counterclockwise around her):
These patterns can be found in Squirrel Picnic’s very own book, The Big Acorn Race:
What a wild a crazy month March was! The Big Acorn Race is doing well on Amazon. Twelve people give it 5 stars! If you’ve purchased a copy, thank you so very much! If you have a moment and you feel so inclined, would you mind dropping by Amazon to leave a customer review? It would help the book a lot.
Sorry for the self-promotion. Since the release, I’ve been in full-on marketing mode, which is totally not my cup of tea.
One last note about the book: I’m pleased to announce that The Big Acorn Race is now available in all four branches of the Boulder Public Library! If you’d like to check it out from your local library, give your friendly librarians a call or go online and fill out their “Suggest a Title” or similar acquisition form. You never know, they might just decide to carry a copy.
Year of the SockI’ve just begun working on my socks for April. I got a bunch of crochet sock pattern books from the library and now I can’t decide which pattern to try! I’m excited that so many of you are now interested in crocheting socks. I set up a Facebook group and anyone interested in sock crochet is welcome to join. Whether you are new to crocheted socks or a seasoned veteran, we’d love to have you. You don’t even need to be working on a pair to participate. I’m really interested in hearing your tips and tricks, what types of heel construction you have tried, what your favorite patterns are, and what sock yarn you like best. Together we’ll become crochet sock experts!
If you’re following The Big Acorn Race blog, you probably noticed my post this past week inviting crocheters to join the Tall ‘n’ Fast Flower Pillow Crochet Along. This pattern is just one of 15 super cute crochet patterns you’ll find in Squirrel Picnic’s very own The Big Acorn Race. The pattern is a lot easier than it looks and extraordinarily entertaining. Each round takes you on an adventure! And I can’t wait to show you the way.
Starting April 19, follow along as we crochet this unique pillow over the course of 6 weeks. Each week you’ll receive a pdf newsletter right to your inbox with tips and tricks and detailed tutorial photos to guide you step by step.
In addition, when you sign up, you’ll be registered to win 1 of 2 yarn-filled prize bags, each containing over 1000 yards of yarn, which will be given through a random drawing of participants at the end of the 6 weeks. And best of all, you’ll get a personal email from Hodge and Podge, thanking you for your participation.
Sign up by emailing me at squirrelpicnic{at}gmail{dot}com with the words Tall ‘n’ Fast Flower CAL in the subject line. It’s as easy as that!
Then join the Tall ‘n’ Fast Flower Facebook group to share your experiences with the pattern and photos of your progress.
Finally, on April 16 I will be hosting a tea party at Beatrice & Woodsley in Denver to celebrate the release of the book and to thank all the people that helped make it possible. This venue is so perfect for Squirrel Picnic. The décor inside is very woodsy and whimsical. It’s filled with aspen trees and moss-covered walls. The perfect hangout for some squirrel friends. I wish that I could invite you all, but it’s a pretty small space. I’ll be sure to take lots of photos and share them with you here later this month.
Thanks again for all your support. It means so much to me!
Love and hugs,
Jennifer
Squirrel Picnic 
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