Crochet Sweater for Rescue Chickens (Jumper if you are English !)

Yesterday I collected 6 wee little ladies who had been rescued from slaughter at 15 months old.  All battery farm caged (and free range & organic) hens, are killed at that age as their egg production starts to drop.

Many thanks to LittleHill Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Co Kildare, who over the last 2 weekends saved almost 8,000 little hens from death.  These poor wee things have had a life of hell.  NO real sunlight ever, no darkness ever, perpetual light, stuffed in tiny cages with many others, no solid floor, never seen the sky or grass and so on. So sad and so cruel, all for a profit.

Ok, enough campaigning against battery farming !  When these little hens arrive, they have to varying degrees, very few feathers.  So they are going to feel the cold as they have been used to a constant temperature.  Little cold ladies need cute little jumpers to wear don't they ?

I didn't have time to design my own pattern, as they needed the jumpers right now.  Hence I looked on Etsy and found this very simple and very fast chicken jumper crochet pattern for a reasonable price, in a shop called CreativeCrochetbyBAS. (Links below to shop and pattern)

Chicken Sweater crochet pattern from CreativeCrochetbyBAS on Etsy (link below) 

Once I have finished my sweaters and get them on the hens, I'll take a photo of my own and add it to this post.

Links:
Crochet Chicken Sweater Pattern on Etsy (CreativeCrochetbyBAS)
LittleHill Animal Rescue & Sanctuary - Facebook page
LittleHill Animal Rescue & Sanctuary - Website
The Hogsprickle Wildlife Rescue - Facebook page
The Hogsprickle Wildlife Rescue - Website
CreativeCrochetbyBAS shop on Etsy

Simple Crochet Pattern for Washcloth

Simple Crochet Washcloth Pattern

If you are new to crochet and want to start using crochet patterns making something simple, but useful, then this pattern is perfect for you.

It's a practical washcloth, or facecloth, or it can even be used as a dishcloth, and it is easy to make.

I wrote this basic crochet pattern in especially simple language, to help the beginner crochet addict to learn the special terms used in crochet patterns.  It uses 'Chain', 'Half Double Crochet' and 'Single Crochet' stitches (all USA terms).  In UK terms it's 'Chain', 'Half Treble Crochet' and 'Double Crochet' stitches.  See how confusing they are ?!!

This pattern is written using USA crochet terms, but is also available in UK terms.  Be aware that they are different, and yet unfortunately very similar, so make sure you learn the terms for the area you live in.  You can always learn the alternate terms at a later date, when you are more confident and proficient.

I am always happy to help anyone who is using my patterns, so feel free to contact me for help.

The pattern is for sale on Etsy

Buy here on Etsy

Learn to Crochet Video for USA / Australian Complete Beginners

Many people ask me how to start off in crochet as a total beginner, right from the very start.  It is something that is very hard to explain in pictures alone, and so I found this video which is extremely clear and sensible.  It is for USA/Australian stitch terms/names only, however.  The video is courtesy of 'Nastazia' on YouTube.

Important for UK/European Readers
If you are in the UK or Europe, you will find the stitch names and terms in this video very confusing, and so I suggest that you do not try to learn with this video.  If you do, the patterns you can buy in the UK and European shops will not fit with what you have learned, but you will be able to follow USA/Australian patterns.
As a beginner, it would be much better to learn the UK crochet terms first (if you live in the UK/Europe) and progress to learning to read US/Aus patterns once you have mastered the UK ones.

(I will post a video for UK crochet stitches (same stitches, different names) soon.)

Video for an absolute beginner in USA Crochet terms CLICK HERE (courtesy of 'Nastazia')