Elemental Scarf

Way back in September, a friend suggested making a scarf to represent the four elements: earth, air, fire, water. I instantly fell in love with the idea and came up with a pattern to go along with the representative colors. Spirit was included as the fifth element tying everything together. After some writing, experimenting, testing, blocking, and photographing, I'm finally ready to share my typed up pattern for the Elemental Scarf!

The pattern is written in sections which are approxiamately the same length and width. Dimensions will vary somewhat with your crochet style and blocking/stretching technique. You can arrange the sections however you please or repeat a section as you would like. Colors are my personal representations of the elements, so change them to whatever fits well with you. As always, feel free to ask questions and leave comments.

Abbreviations
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
dc - doule crochet
fpdc - front post double crochet
bpdc - back post double crochet
tch - turning chain
cluster - group of stitches closed at all once together
shell - group of stitches worked into same space or stitch

Materials:
Hook, I/9 5.5mm (or hook recommended for yarn)
Approximately 100 yards each color of worsted weight yarn
Yarn needle recommended for sewing in ends
 

Earth:
green, solid stitches
1: ch 16, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across (15 sc)
2: turn, ch 1, 15 hdc
3: turn, ch 1, 15 dc
4: turn, ch 1, 15 sc
5-36: Repeat rows 2-4, ending with row 3
36 rows = 12 sets

Air:
white, clusters & shells
1: ch 3, dc across (15 dc)
2: ch 5, cluster in first 3 dc, *ch 2, cluster next 3 dc.* Repeat * to * to end; ch 2, dc in last sc (5 clusters + 2 dc ends)
3: ch 3, *3dc shell in top of cluster, repeat from * across. dc in 3rd ch of previous tch.
4-23: Repeat rows 2&3
Final row: ch 3, dc across
24 rows = 11 pairs + dc rows

Fire:
red, post stitches
1-3: ch 3, dc across (15 dc)
4: ch 3, 3 bpdc, 7 fpdc, 3 bpdc, dc in tch
5: ch 3, 4 fpdc, 5 bpdc, 4 fpdc,  dc in tch
6: 5 bpdc, 3 fpdc, 5 bpdc, dc in tch
7: 6 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc, dc in tch
8-21: repeat rows 1-7.
22-24: ch 3, dc across (15 dc)
24 rows = 3 sets + final 3 rows

Water:
blue, ribbed & wavy
1: 15 sc
2: hdc, hdc, sc, sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, hdc - all front loop only
3-35: repeat row 2
36: 15 sc
36 rows = 12 sets + sc rows

Spirit:
purple border
Single crochet around evenly. Following this general guidline for help placing stitches into the sides of rows: 1 sc into sc row, 3 sc in 2 hdc rows, 2 sc in dc row

Polar Bear Applique

Polar Bear!

I actually worked up this pattern nearly a year ago for a friend who wanted a polar bear to add to her husband's hat. Some slight disorganization and other life stuff had me forget about it until just a short bit ago. I found the pattern and the pictures and decided it was time to share this fun pattern with you! Finished size is about 4in long and 3in tall. As always, feel free to ask questions and leave comments.
P.S. Sorry some of the pictures are a bit fuzzy, but hopefully they'll still help you visualize what's intended.

Polar Bear Applique
 
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn
Hook: 8/H - 5.0mm

Abbreviations:
blo = back loop only
ch = chain
hdc = half double crochet.
sc = single crochet
ss = slipstitch

I. Starting the body.
Foundation: ch 9, turn
Round 1: sc blo into 2nd ch from hook. 7 sc blo, ch 1. Turn work 180° clockwise, so unused loops of foundation chain are up. Sc blo into unused loops of foundation chain (8 sc). Ch 1, turn 180° clockwise, ss into first sc.
Round 2: ch 1, 18 sc (going all the way around the oval). ss and cut yarn.
(I find it helpful to go ahead and weave in the ending tail at this point.)

Round 1

Round 2

II. Starting the head.
Round 1: Make a magic loop (I like this tutorial for the magical loop). ch 1, 7 sc into the loop, ch 1, ss blo into first sc of this round.
Round 2: ch 3, ss blo (makes ear). 3 ss blo, ch 3, sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc into ch, ss blo to head (makes snout). 3 ss blo.

head next to body

III. Attaching to & around body.

1. ss blo to body (on shorter side of oval). ss blo 3.
2. ch 5, sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc 3 into chains, ss blo to body (makes front leg).
3. 3 ss blo, ch 5, sc into 2nd ch from hook. 2 sc, 1 hdc, skip 1 stitch on body, ss blo to body (makes back leg).
4. 10 ss blo, ss blo to head. finish yarn. Weave in remaining ends. 

Head attached

Almost there