Free Hugs 'N Kisses Scoodie Pattern made with 99 Crochet Post Stitches From Leisure Arts

Hello my crafty readers! I hope you are off to a lovely week. This week I have designed something special for you. Even though I have started to cut my designing teeth, I am by no means a walking stitch encyclopedia and that is why I still turn to my favorite craft book source: Leisure Arts.

I wanted the design to look like X’s and O’s, you know like hugs and kisses, and to do so I needed a bit of help from my newest book 99 Crochet Post Stitches. The stitch I used is called the X stitch, appropriately named because it looks like X’s and the color below reminds me of O’s so it works out perfectly. I am so thrilled with how the pattern came out and excited to share it with you below.

As the title suggests, there are 99 stitches in the book, all written out in easy-to-follow directions that even beginners can accomplish. Post stitches add a fantastic amount of texture to any crochet piece and take your work from one dimensional to an awesome textured look that makes it look way more intricate.  Imagine all the pretties you could make with this book as a resource.

I have always loved basket weave and really only knew how to do it in knitting but now that I have this book I can also crochet a basket weave too and I will be making a basket weave hat very very soon. There are also notes in the back of the book for any ideas or techniques that might be difficult or new and also tips for planning an afghan using the stitches in the book.

Have you ever designed a pattern or worked freehand? What do you think you would design with a great resource like this? No matter what type of craft or pattern you are looking for, take some time to browse Leisure Arts' great selection and make sure you also connect with Leisure Arts on Facebook and Twitter so that you never miss a special or new pattern! Also, if you sign up for their knitting or crochet newsletters, you get a free pattern on Fridays!

HUGS 'N Kisses Scoodie
Hook I 5.5mm
Red Heart Super saver one each Orchid and Light Blue
Special stitch 
To work Front Post double treble crochet (abbreviated FPdtr), YO 3 times, working in front of previous rows, insert hook from front to back around post of dc indicated, YO and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), (YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times.

Scarf Portion
With MC Chain 225
Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (224 sc)
Row 2: CH 3 (counts as first dc, now and throughout), dc in each sc 
Row 3: Ch 3 dc in next dc, ch 1, * skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * across to last 3 dc, skip next dc, dc in last 2 dc; finish off.
Row 4: join CC with dc in first dc; dc in next dc and in each ch-1 sp and each dc across. 
Row 5: Ch 3, turn; dc in next dc and in each dc across; finish off.
Row 6: join MC with sc in first dc * skip next 2 dc, work FPdtr around dc 2 rows below next dc, ch 1, working in front of last FPdtr made, work FPdtr around dc 2 rows below fi rst skipped dc, skip next 3 dc from last sc made, sc in next dc; repeat from * across.
Row 7: Ch 3, turn; dc in next FPdtr, ch 1, skip next ch-1 sp, * dc in next FPdtr, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next
FPdtr, ch 1, skip next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts; finish off.
Row 8-11: Repeat Rows 4-7 
Row 12: DC in each DC and chain space
Row 13: SC un each DC finish

Hood
Row 1 (Right side): Skip 80, and attach with a sc, sc  next 64, leave last 80 unworked
Row 2 Ch 3 dc in each sc across
Row 3: Ch 3 dc in next stitch, ch 1, * skip next, dc in next, ch 1; repeat from * across to last 3 dc, skip next dc, dc in last 2 dc; finish off.
Row 4: With right side facing, join CC with dc in first dc; dc in next dc and in each ch-1 sp and each dc across.
Row5: Ch 3, dc in next dc and in each dc across; finish off.
Row 6: With right side facing, join MC with sc in first dc;*skip next 2 dc, work FPdtr around dc 2 rows below next dc, ch 1, working in front of last FPdtr made, work FPdtr around dc 2 rows below first skipped dc, skip next 3 dc from last sc made, sc in next dc; repeat from * across.
Row 7: Ch 3, dc in next FPdtr, ch 1, skip next ch-1 sp, * dc in next FPdtr, ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next FPdtr, ch 1, skip next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts; finish off.
Row 8 With right side facing, join CC with dc in first dc; dc in next dc and in each ch-1 sp and each dc across.
Row 9: Ch 3, turn; dc in next dc and in each dc across; finish off.
Row 10: repeat row 6
Row 11: Repeat row 7
Row 12: dc in first dc; dc in next dc and in each ch-1 sp and each dc across.
Row 13-14 CH 3, DC in each DC
Joining row  (Back Hood seam): Ch 1, with right side together, matching sts on Row 14,
and working through outside loops of both thicknesses, sc in each st across; finish off

Border

Join in corner with  sc, dc, tc, dc, sc in same space, *sc in next space, dc, tc, dc in next space, sc in next space repeat to corner, sc, dc, tc, dc, sc in corner *repeat from * Note on the ends where you are working in rows not stitches I worked the whole shell in each row.

Please come back next week to see another awesome book that every creative crocheter needs in their stitch library.

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.