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...

March is National Crochet Month! My question to you is how will you "Celebrate"?  Will you try a new, more advanced technique and master it?  Will you buy some luscious yarn reserved for a special pattern?  Will you make and donate some hats or lapghans for veterans or the homeless?  Share your thoughts below!  grin emoticon Happy Crochet Month!

Who else sings that when they read it? Is it just me? This week I wanted to share with you a few of the things I've completed and one of them I've been waiting for TWO MONTHS to post! Why? It's a gift for a friend and I had to wait until she had her baby shower and now I get to show you just how adorable it is!!!! Our friends are a couple of outdoorsy type people. They hunt and fish and generally do things of that nature together. So my husband, when we first found out they were expecting, came to me and excitedly exclaimed, "I know what I want you to make for Robert and Katie! Deer! A baby deer hat!" He knows I usually make blankets for babies so he was specifically requesting a hat. We carried it out even further and I ended up making a hat and diaper cover. I mashed together bits of free patterns I was able to find online (mostly Ravelry) but they were changed significantly from the originals. The ears, tail and antlers I just made up. I know a "g...

Last year, in June, I gave you a pattern for the Cluster Stitch Panel . I went and turned two panels into a sweater! For me! That makes it the first thing I've made for myself to wear that wasn't a hat, scarf or mittens. I'm so excited! And to be honest, I'm a smidge happy that the weather is still cool enough for me to wear it. (I know, I'm sorry. I don't want anymore snow either but I do want to wear this sweater!) As you can see from this shot, the sweater is white and cream in color. It has fitted cuffs for the arms and a waistband that is simple rows of Half Double crochet. This image gives you a better idea of the color work and shape of the sweater. I didn't want anything too tight or bulky so it's very loose and a "floppy" comfortable. It's made with a lightweight yarn but is still cozy and warm on these cool Spring mornings. (I'm wearing it right now!) The collar is lapel style using a Granny stitch Do...

Do you ever take a day off from crochet? Knitting? Crafting of any sort? If this is your hobby sure, you've taken a day off. But what if it's your career, or just something you do to keep from watching that brain-rotting stuff they call daytime television . . . have you ever given yourself permission to take a day off?  Crochet isn't my business, although I'd love to make it that. And it's more than a hobby. Hit up Google search and type in " define hobby ". This is what you'll get: an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure . Well, I do get pleasure out of it but I also feel called to crochet. Kinda weird, right? Most people get " called " into ministry, teaching, nursing, even being an astronaut. But crochet? I don't know. It's something I can't quite explain. My hubby and my kids would call it an " obsession ". Obsession as defined by Google search: " an idea or thought that continually...

So, you may have noticed that I posted earlier this week - which is out of the norm for me. The reason is this: I posted a pic of the snowflake you see on this beanie to a group on Facebook and people were asking for the pattern. So the Star Snowflake Pattern is here . Since we're going to be using it for this weeks' project, go ahead and pop over there and grab it. It's simple and quick. I made this pattern with the month of January in mind. This color of blue just says " January " to me. Of course, you're free to use whatever color you want, just like always. Before we start, here's something you should know: ================================================================= My patterns on this blog will always be free for you to use. Feel free to sell the finished project in person or online. If you do sell online, please link back to the pattern here on my blog. Don't try to sell my free patterns and don't claim my patte...

Did you know that there was a day to celebrate our love of YARN? I didn't know until I ran across a post a couple years ago from CraftYarnCouncil . If I remember correctly, I was looking for some standard sizes for socks and ran across their site in my research. Their site also has free patterns as well as party ideas and tips for teaching others how to Knit and Crochet. By the way, I never got those socks made, it was a last ditch effort in trying to love knitting. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate knitting, I just prefer crochet (and I'm better at it than knitting =D).  Tomorrow, Friday, October 11, 2013, is I LOVE YARN DAY . The following information is from their site at www.craftyarncouncil.com/I-Love-Yarn . "Whether you knit, crochet, craft or just adore fiber, October 11th, 2013 is the day to affirm your passion for yarn. Show it off, tag with it, carry it, gather with friends. Declare your LOVE! Get involved. Create an I Love Yarn Day badge ...

  Hello there! I've been busy working on that crochet challenge and like I said before, with a condition like Crochet Attention Deficit Disorder, I can't work on just one thing! This week I'm posting for your enjoyment a crochet candle luminary made with some recycled material. You guys know how much I love combining recycling and crochet! So, yes, another cro-cycled project for you to try!  Here's how it goes ... Cro-cycled Candle Luminary Materials: cardboard tube (from toilet tissue or paper towels) scissors double-sided tape flameless tealight size E-4 crochet hook yarn (I recommend using a 2/Fine yarn) embroidery needle (for weaving in the ends) stitch marker (optional) Stitches used: (American Terminology) Chain (ch) Slip Stitch (sl st) Single Crochet ( sc ) Half Double Crochet ( hdc ) NOTES : The top of the pattern is worked in rows. After that the body of the candle is worked in the round. The chain 1 step at the beginnin...

So, I've been working on making more bags like this one (I'm on number 4) and making more of these for that blanket I want to complete sometime before the next century rolls around. The problem with the blanket project is that I just need to break down and go buy a cone of the yarn instead of having to run out every 2 or 3 days and get one of the teensy weensy skeins. I'm such a penny pincher. ^_^ Anyway, I made this bracelet a while back and keep getting comments on it so I thought I'd post it again with the newest version in burgundy crochet thread. The thread version is more delicate and has definitely garnered more positive comments than the regular yarn version. With the regular yarn version I got comments like, "How cute" and "Ahh". With this newest thread version it's more of "That's soda tabs? How neat!" and "I could make one to match almost any outfit!". So, yes, I will take the thread version, please. ...