The Shtick I Do

I thought today I'd share some of the cute little crochet Christmas Elf patterns that I've come across in recent weeks! Here goes: 1. This pattern from Heart & Sew is done so well that he should last for years to come and maybe even be able to be handed down to the next shelf lounging Elf lovers out there! Photo by Heart & Sew 2. These gorgeous little guys from AmigurumiBB look like something from a childhood Christmas movie! Who wouldn't want one of these to play with? Photo by AmigurumiBB 3. This cute little elf (or gnome or ...) from Owlishly is perfect for practicing the art of amigurumi. And you can place them as ornaments on the tree! Photo by Owlishly 4. Although this pattern by  Anastasia Eisenberg   is available for purchase via Ravelry, I thought I'd include it because he's just too stinking cute! Those huge ears did it for me and I can't help but grin when I look at him. Photo by Anastasia Eisenberg 5. And f...

As you can tell by the title of the post I have one gift completed and ready for Christmas! Of course, if I keep looking at it I'm going to want to put beads or buttons or something  else on it. But what crafter doesn't do that? This is the Granny Cocoon Shrug that recently went viral in several Facebook groups. I decided I wanted to make one - I also decided that instead of making it for me I was going to gift it! I kinda sorta  followed >> THIS << video but I changed a couple of things - the arms for one. However, I LOVE the way it turned out and I think the recipient will love it too!  Stay safe this Halloween and remember it's all about FUN!  Peace and blessings. ~~Karen~~ 

Are you busy making your gifts already? I am, too! And I want to share one with you today. I've looked at these lovely dishcloths for some time now and I finally decided to make one (well two) for one of my aunts for Christmas. Here's the one that's completed: I just LOVE how it turned out! I used a crochet thread #10 for the eye and embroidered it on and yes, as you can tell, I didn't have any yellow cotton yarn so her beak is made of regular ww acrylic. But it still looks great! Here's a link to the pattern that I (sorta) followed. Hen Potholder/Dishcloth The site is in French but the pattern is a diagram that you can follow. I think I'm going to write out the pattern for myself though, since I had to make some adjustments when I was following the diagram. I am going to ask that if you're the praying sort, to add some prayers for my family in the mix. We've lost another loved one to cancer last night, my cousin Mark. He will be miss...

We make everything in our crochet projects. Items from pot holders and hot pads to warm and cozy sweaters. Not to mention a few weird and unusual things in between! Today I wanted to share some impressive patterns I've come across that are for our floors. Lets start with this beautiful Upcycled Crochet Rug . If you've got wood or laminate flooring and get up barefooted on a cold winter morning you know exactly what I mean when I say "BRRRRR"! These fantastic floor coverings are perfect for keeping tootsies toasty on that morning trek to the potty. Image from  www.kingsoleil.com Plain circles not your style? How about a Mandala Floor Rug done up in Zpagetti t-shirt yarn? It's softness can be seen in the images and I just want to make one for every room in my house! I have carpet but who cares, right? Image from  crafts.tutsplus.com Need something for the dining room or kitchen? How about some socks for the chair legs? Not because they're cold...

Alright, I think I'm ready. I have gifts bought and/or made, wrapped and ready to ship to the family in Florida. I've got everything bought and/or made for the family here. The tree is up. A turkey in the freezer. The front room has evicted the dust bunnies and the clutter (ie: yarn) is under control. *sigh* Finally, a year where I'm not scurrying around at the last minute to get things ready. Christmas is only SEVEN days away.   Star Snowflake against a red granny square. This week I have a pattern for you that is really simple and really quick. It's going to look great hanging on a tree, adorning a gift under the tree or as an applique on the beanie you wear to go cut down that tree. A Star Snowflake. Got your stuff? Good, let's get started. Materials : Yarn Bee Soft Secret in White (good substitute would be Caron Simply Soft) size E/3.5MM hook scissors yarn needle for weaving in ends Stitches used : (American Terminology but here 's a c...

Happy Hanukkah! Since we've stepped into December with both feet, let's get busy with some holiday crochet! I piddled around with some #10 crochet thread and managed to make this adorable Christmas bell. Now here's the pattern for you to do the same. Christmas Bell Ornament Materials: #10 Crochet Thread 2.0 MM Crochet Hook size B 2.25 MM Crochet Hook Yarn needle  Scissors Stitches used: (American Terminology but here is a comparison chart) Chain (ch) Single Crochet (SC) Double Crochet (DC) Slip Stitch (sl st) Notes: This bell is approximately 1.5" by 1.5" without the hanger. And remember this: I've made exactly ONE of these so keep that in mind please. =D Pattern: Using the 2.0MM crochet hook R1 : 12 SC in Magic Circle (OR ch4, join to form a circle, ch1, 12 SC in circle). Join to top of first SC. Tighten and secure the tail. Be sure to leave a small hole for the hanger to go through - we'll make it last.) R2 : Ch4, *sk...

I'm still making and swapping Granny Squares and I received a few in the mail that I'll share with you. But today my main focus is ..... Did you make 5 hats and donate them? Hmmmm?  Well, if you didn't I can understand. Labor Day and back to school are busy, busy times. And the beginning of Christmas Present Making Season is upon us! There are only 110 DAYS until Christmas is upon us! So that makes most of us crafters Busy to the Nth power! But I still encourage you to take the time to help others. I did make hats and donate them, but mine went to the Cancer Center here in town. I'm told they were very excited and appreciative of the gift. Doing something like that brings a satisfaction that's comforting, I like to imagine that's the feeling Christ had when He performed miracles for nothing in return. But I like to imagine a lot of things (like me winning the lottery!). I also managed to get a baby bootie pattern that was quick and easy. Those are m...

As promised here's the pattern for the snowflake! If it's confusing I apologize ahead of time; do what I do - don't question the steps just follow them through. Enjoy! Materials : #10 Crochet Thread in the color of your choice size 4/2.00MM hook (can also use a 3/2.10MM hook) embroidery needle scissors Gauge is not important to this project. Stitches used: chain = ch slip stitch = ss single crochet = sc double crochet = DC half double crochet = HDC Pattern: (words in red have a corresponding pic for clarity) Chain 6; join with a slip stitch to the first chain to form a circle. Ch2, 12 HDC in circle. Join to top of ch2.  Ch12, skip next stitch, sc in next. Repeat around for a total of 6 loops. In the loop, 6sc, ch6, 6sc. Repeat in each loop around. At the last sc in the last loop ss in the sc of Row 2. SS along the next 6sc, ss across the base of the ch6 space to the next sc , **ch8 and join to the top of the next loop in the sc, ss across the b...

Let me start by sharing some news! This blog has had over 3,000 hits! I'm completely floored by that number. A big thanks and a bigger hug to all who have been dropping in to see my craziness! Please feel free to follow this blog by entering your e-mail address in the " Get Updates! " box to the right! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Recently, I've been stressing over Christmas gifts; you know getting them finished and all that. Well around here the nights have been getting colder and the days are getting a definite crisp chill. I try to make a scarf for myself every year, with the scarf from the previous year being sent to Salvation Army, Goodwill, Homeless shelters, etc. This year, I've fallen behind. I sent all my other scarves away already! Let me tell you, I've been missing their warm embrace around my neck. One reason is, you guessed it, the Christmas gifts. Another reason is that I just couldn't come up with so...

Now why would I name this post such a thing? How dare I suggest that we crocheters not know how to follow directions?!? Get real! Most of us pick up a hook and a skein of yarn and we're good to go. We can look at a hat or a scarf and basically tell what stitches have been used and proceed from there to make one very similar for ourselves . But when it comes to a "kit" project we usually take a few liberties with the directions. I've found, through trail and error, that the kit is usually right. So here's what I do when it comes to a project such as this one: Take a moment to make sure the kit itself hasn't been tampered with. If you see signs that the kit you received appears to have been opened, you may be missing important items needed for the completion of the project. Now compare the items in the kit to the necessary list of "what you'll need". Some kits come complete with everything you need, while others will only supply ...

I had the greatest idea for a Christmas gift for one of my sisters! I was gonna crochet her a nylon backpack! She's forever going places (work, Jazzercise, the gym, parties) so I thought this would make the perfect thing for her to toss stuff in and not have to worry about ruining anything.  Have I made that bag? Hmm  . . . nope! What I have done is make a bible cover out of the nylon thread. When you look at the (unfinished) cover you'll see that I was making a granny square (sort of) and did have my thoughts on a bag. I had my bible lying beside me and put down the work for a minute to do something, I forget what it was now. But when I came back and saw it on the beat up cover of my bible I was inspired! Lo and behold a bible cover was born. Do I have any idea how to make a bible/book cover of any kind? Nope. Have I made a few mistakes along the way. Yes! But I love it anyway and I hope you do as well. Peace and love! Front Cover Back Cover

So last week I mentioned I spent some time in Florida. While I was there, my loving and crafty mother gave me some yarn. My husband would argue that she gave me half a store's worth of yarn but what does he know about a crocheters' needs, right? Some of the yarn she gave me is Peaches & Creme cotton. She's been successful in making some rugs and showed me how, so I made my own. I just love the colors and how it turned out. Originally, I was going to have 2 different sets of small Granny's in the center and just do some single crochets around until it got the size I needed. As you can see from the picture, I just went with one set in the center of the rug and used the other set of Granny's as centers for matching pot holders. I still have enough Granny's to make 2 more pot holders . . . but . . . I may hold on to those for now. I can see another rug in my future here soon! 30"x20" Rug with 7" Pot Holders (before blocking) ...

That's the question posed to me by my 14 year old daughter the other day when she saw what I was working on. She automatically knew they were gifts . . . somehow . . . (-.-). "But Mom," she whined, "it's not even May yet!" "I know, but THIS year I'm going to be ready!" I replied.  Yea right. That's what I tell myself every year and inevitably I struggle the week before Christmas to get everyone's items completed. *sigh* Unlike a lot of bloggers and crafters on Facebook , I don't sell my items. I probably could, well, now that I think about it, I've sold ONE item . . . the raccoon . But it wasn't even really a "sell" because I was just reimbursed for materials. ANYway . . . back to my point. I crochet and craft because I enjoy it, it's relaxing and I can make some pretty cool and unique stuff! So when someone gets an item I've crocheted it's not for money, it's because when I'm making it,...