Pattern Previews for Crochet Crush by Molla Mills
Timeless fashion and modern practicality are at the core of Crochet Crush, the book from Molla Mills. The 23 crochet patterns include both ideas for home decor and accessories to brighten up your everyday life. The patterns in the book form a cohesive collection, making it easy for the reader to combine different patterns and change colours to fit their own personal taste.
The book uses U.S. abbreviations and all abbreviations are listed at the beginning of the book. You can find crochet conversion tables on our website.
You will find all the patterns in Molla Mills' book Crochet Crush.
AALTO
When Molla was crocheting the Aalto rug, she imagined herself sitting by one of the fjords in the village of Sørvágur in the Faroe Islands at low tide. The water in the harbour disappears so quickly it leaves behind wavy sand ridges, similar to the asymmetric pattern in this rug. The rug is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work.
Featured yarn: Frotee loopy craft yarn by Lankava.
AITA
The pattern of the Aita blanket reminds Molla of the streets of Manhattan – they form a simple grid. The edges of the blanket are more like Brooklyn: a twisting and sprawling mix of streets that is mimicked by a similar border of chain stitches. Crocheted with woollen yarn, the Aita blanket is sure to keep you warm. The blanket is worked back and forth in double crochet stitches, carrying the other yarns inside the stitches throughout the work.
Featured yarn: Highland Yarn by Kit Couture.
DAISY
When Molla took part in her friends’ knit graffiti project in São Paulo, they talked and laughed for hours, and the table started to fill up with crocheted flowers designed to make people happy. This bag, decorated with daisies, is also sure to put a smile on your face. The bag is made in pixel crochet technique around a leather base. The daisies are made separately and sewn into the bag.
Featured yarns: Liina and Molla twine, 12-ply, by Suomen Lanka.
KAARI
When the night gets colder and Janis Joplin takes the stage at Woodstock, this is the shawl Molla wants to wrap around her shoulders. The colours are taken straight from the Woodstock festival poster: purple and amber on a base of natural white. The Kaari shawl is worked in double crochet stitches from right to left on all rows. Cut the yarns after each row leaving yarn tails for the tassels.
Featured yarn: Highland Yarn by Kit Couture.
KANNU
You can find vases, jugs and other domestic ceramics on the shelves of numerous museums, where we often pass by these mundane-looking clay objects. If we would take time to examine them more closely, we could find traces of our ancestors’ craftsmanship. The curvy Kannu container was inspired by these kinds of beautiful everyday objects. Work the container in rounds starting from the bottom using two different stitches: single crochet stitches and knit stitches.
Featured yarn: Moppari twisted mop yarn by Suomen Lanka.
KAUNOKKI
Colours have a huge effect on our energy levels and mood. In the Kaunokki rug, Molla has combined two bright colours, pink and orange, and you can instantly feel their energising effect when crocheting. The rug is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work. By modifying the pattern, you can crochet a poster and a pouch as well as the rug.
Featured yarn: Frotee loopy craft yarn by Lankava.
KERHO
If you are longing for a change, you do not need to travel far – just a couple of days outside of your everyday life gives so much new energy. The Kerho duffel bag is the perfect choice for a trip like this. You can carry it either over your shoulder or on your back. The bag is worked in single crochet stitches. Work a big bag piece and two round side pieces and then join the pieces together with a slip stitch seam.
Featured yarn: Mini tube yarn by Lankava.
KETO
Molla’s memory of this nostalgic floral pattern comes from a bathroom in Laihia, Finland. The vinyl-covered walls made such an impression on this young maker, that even many years later, the memory demanded to be turned into a crochet pattern. The Keto blanket is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work. The pattern can also be used to create a cushion or a bag.
Featured yarn: Alpaca Brush by Bettaknit.
KONTTI
Many makers are faced with the same problem – where to fit all those balls of yarn and twine? One option is to crochet these big Kontti boxes! They are worked in rounds around the foundation chain in single crochet stitches. Stitches are added in all four corners on each round to make the work grow seamlessly. A lid is crocheted separately.
Featured yarn: Filona jute cord, Lankava.
LEINIKKI
There are two things you can never have too many of: flowers and cushions. The floral Leinikki cushion is made from two hexagonal pieces that are joined together with a single crochet stitch seam. In Molla’s book, the cushion has been worked using black and white yarn, but you should definitely test how the pattern would look crocheted with the bright yellow of a meadow buttercup (“leinikki” in Finnish).
Featured yarn: Varppi twine by Suomen Lanka.
LINJA
Molla wanted to create a crocheted shopper that would have a similar shape to a plastic shopping bag. The crocheted version is a more sustainable and durable solution, and it is also much nicer to look at. The Linja shopper is worked back and forth in double crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work.
Featured yarn: Liina and Molla cotton twine, 18-ply, by Suomen Lanka.
LOIVA
It is important to take the time to take care of your mind and body. But even when you know this, it is always challenging to crawl out from under your warm blanket and on to the draughty floor to do your morning yoga asanas. This problem is easily fixed with a crocheted, warm yoga mattress. It is worked in closed rounds in double crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work. You can also crochet a cushion with the same pattern.
Featured yarn: Muhku Wool by Lankava.
MANSIKKA
Molla’s mother has been growing strawberries in her garden for as long as Molla can remember, making strawberry juice and jam with the berries. Strawberry plants have beautiful flowers with white petals and those are also crocheted onto the Mansikka pocket. The pocket is worked in closed rounds in double crochet, popcorn and bobble stitches, carrying the other yarns inside the stitches throughout the work. You can also make a cushion with the same pattern.
POLKU
This twisty, graffiti-like pattern is like something straight from the sunny streets of Wynwood, Miami. The only way to walk across the Polku rug is with your woollen socks on, following each curve of the winding path. The rug is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work.
Featured yarn: Matilda yarn by Lankava.
POTTA
Molla always goes for natural materials for her crochet projects – just like the coarse and beautiful linen cord used in this Potta basket. When you go through kilometre after kilometre of yarn, it makes sense to choose something that feels good between your fingers.The basket and the separate lid are made in a spiral in single crochet stitches. Reinforce the work by crocheting along a metal ring in the last rounds.
Featured yarn: Filona linen cord, Lankava.
PUOLIKAS
The Puolikas shoulder bag feels like travelling back in time to Swinging Sixties London, but looks equally stunning in today’s setting as well. The bag is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work. Work a separate bag and a lid and then join them together with a slip stitch seam. You can also make a big tote bag with the shoulder bag pattern.
Featured yarn: Liina twine, 12-ply, by Suomen Lanka.
RAITA
It might look like a tiny Fiat, but the inside matches a family-size Volvo. The Raita shoulder bag is a great example of good planning that allows you to fit a lot into a small space. Here the secret is the rounded sides, which allow for more space as well as create a beautiful shape. The bag is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, with one color at a time. Make one big bag piece and two small side pieces.
Featured yarn: Varppi twine by Suomen Lanka.
RUUTU
You can spot this square pattern everywhere: in the window frames of old houses, in those 1980s chequered pants, on the pages of your school notebook. This time, Molla has used this classic pattern to make a table mat. It is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work. You can also make a mattress with the same pattern.
Featured yarn: Varppi twine by Suomen Lanka and Filona flat paper ribbon, Lankava
SMILE
The iconic yellow smiley face that we use every day on social media was originally designed as a logo for an insurance company in the 1960s. The Smile shoulder bag is worked in squares, and a smiling face is embroidered in the middle of each square. While it takes some time, all the hours spent crocheting will definitely be worth it when you throw the bag over your shoulder. With this bag, you will brighten the day of every passer-by.
Featured yarns: Liina and Molla cotton twine, 12-ply, by Suomen Lanka.
SOL
Everything looks better seen through an orange sun visor! The bright colour radiates warmth and the shade will protect your eyes from damaging sun rays, but most importantly the visor will make you cool. The text on the strap says: “Here comes the sun”. The strap is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work.
Featured yarn: Liina twine, 12-ply, by Suomen Lanka.
VASU
The Vasu basket reminds Molla of the pottery with impressions of textile fabrics that she saw at the Smithsonian museum in New York. The basket is crocheted in rounds in a thick yarn, with robust knit stitches in a burnt terracotta colour. The top edge features a curvy pattern inspired by Portuguese tile designs.
Featured yarn: Moppari mop yarn by Suomen Lanka.
VESKA
Veska bum bag is the perfect choice for a traveller – you can place all your valuables there, because the bag is almost impossible to lose. The bum bag is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches. Add stitches in two corners in each row and the work grows seamlessly. Make a separate front piece and back piece, a lid, and a pocket. Join the pieces together with a slip stitch seam.
VUOKKO
The Vuokko pattern is like a beautiful band of plumeria flowers. The wallet is worked back and forth in single crochet stitches, carrying the other yarn inside the stitches throughout the work. See how the Vuokko pattern looks when worked with three colours, by crocheting the round centre of the flower with a yellow yarn. You can also make a beach rug with the same pattern.
Featured yarns: Liina and Molla cotton twine, 12-ply, by Suomen Lanka.
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