Showing posts with label Handmade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Handmade. Show all posts

Saturday, October 4, 2014

A Few Christmas Patterns I Love...

It's 38 degrees here this morning and now I am getting into the Christmas spirit and looking for fun and easy Christmas patterns. Below are a few I've found around the web...

First we have little Christmas stocking ornaments. I love these! How quick and easy and fun to embellish with your own ribbons, buttons, etc. The pattern is on Ravelry by Zoom Yummy


There are so many easy and cute patterns at Red Heart. This Christmas Tree is so pretty in the sparkle yarn. I think I'll make this one for the office...


These Peppermint Coasters are so festive. They will make great gifts for the girls at work...


Enjoy your weekend and...

Happy Crocheting!


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Rosetta Pattern

Rosetta Pattern

Make a bunch of these Mandala's
and put them on your Kitchen wall for instant Decor!

This beautiful Rosetta Pattern
is from Barbara at Busy Fingers, Busy Life.

Happy Crocheting!



Thursday, June 20, 2013

Crochet Apache Tears: Free Pattern


From Sarah London...


The Apache Tears pattern is so unique I'm going to have to try this. Sarah has some samples to try on her lovely blog using different colors for different effects. Wow! Check it out Here

Monday, June 10, 2013

Crochet Slipper Tutorial



Slipper Tutorial




This cute slipper tutorial is done by Sam at 2 Create Color. The excellent photos make it look so easy!  I'm going to give these a try. She also has a link on how to customize them!  Thank you Sam :)

Happy Crocheting and have a great week!


Monday, April 15, 2013

Overlay Crochet Pillow Tah Dah!

Do you remember this?



That's right! It's my Overlay Crochet Mandala CAL. It was so big and I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it so I made a circle crochet mandala and put the two together to make this nice pillow.



When I stitched the two together I made sure to single crochet in the back loops only so the ruffle would stand up/out.  I think that gives the pillow a nice finished edge. Don't you?



Not the best pictures in the world but that was all I had to work with at the time.

Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog.  I don't always get to reply back to all of you but I do try to visit your blogs and leave a comment when I can.

Happy Crocheting!



Thursday, March 28, 2013

The CGOA Chain Link Conference: Three Days of Crochet!!

Hello fellow crocheters! Are you planning on attending this fun crochet event? Have you ever been before? Do you know someone that has gone in the past?

I think this just sounds like a blast and a dream come true.  The post below is from the CGOA Now! Blog.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Come Join the Fun!

Hello! I’m the new kid on the board, so I’m just figuring out what the CGOA board is all about. I’m excited to be a part of helping to shape crochet in America and, more important, finding out what it is that you want to see in your CGOA, both on the shiny new website and at the Chain Link conference.

As editor of Interweave Crochet, I am all about crochet. All day, every day. How great is that? Maybe you are just as fortunate. Maybe not.

If not, I have the next best thing for you: Close your eyes. Picture yourself in a place filled with people with hooks and yarn. People who don’t ask you if you’re knitting. People whose eyes don’t glaze over when you respond that you’re crocheting. People who don’t say “Huh, an old lady down the street used to do that.” The people in this room come up, touch your sleeve, ask what crochet stitch that is, where you got the pattern, what yarn you used. They ask if you used an inline hook to get the bullions so smooth. They might ask you if you’ve seen Lily Chin or Doris Chan or Tammy Hildebrand roaming around. Because you are that kind of person -- the kind who hangs out with Lily and Doris and Tammy, just crocheting and shootin’ the breeze.

Ok, now open your eyes and fetch your calendar (go ahead -- I’ll wait). Circle these dates: July 17-21 and October 2-6. Now dial up your Google maps. Figure out how far it is from your house to Indianapolis. Now to Charlotte. Go for whichever is closest. Then sign yourself up for the Chain Link Conference. Because you deserve to be in a room filled with crocheters who love crochet.

And, really? These people are serious fun. Don’t believe me? Check this out. (And in case you missed it there at the end, watch the video that was made at the 2010 Chain Link Conference)

You’ll learn, you’ll crochet, you’ll do nothing but breathe this great craft for three full days (and, yeah, you might have to buy a commemorative hook and a skein or two of yarn, to work on in the lobby with Doris and Tammy and Lily. Because you are that kind of person.)

I look forward to seeing you there. Let’s have a coffee and crochet a motif. Can’t wait!

Best,
Marcy

p.s. If you have some swatches and spare yarn lying around looking for a home, why not whip them up into a blanket? Our friends over at Crochetville are gathering blankets and donations for Project Night Night, which is seeking handmade blankets 50” x 60” or smaller. A patchwork blanket will help you clear out your stash and help a homeless child stay warm and feel loved. Win, win!

Let me know what you think!

Happy Crocheting!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Stash-Busting Crochet Cotton: Mandala Crazy

Here's what I've been up to...


Mandala Crazy!!

The two on the right and the cute red/yellow flower dishcloth were already done.  I just added three more to my wall.

The one above is just a regular crochet Granny Mandala. This is from the pattern by Crochet with Raymond. 


Below is my Easter African Flower Mandala front and back.  This pattern is also from Crochet with Raymond.

and one more front and back...



I really enjoy making these and giving them as gifts. They make wonderful potholders or hot pads and cute kitchen decor. I have to warn you... they are very addicting! They work up so fast. I make the front one night in front of the TV and the next night I do the back, and sometimes I work on the back and joining them together in the mornings before work, if I have time.  I am going to make one more African Flower Mandala for the 2013 Ravelry Potholder Swap.  I better hurry, the deadline is April 1st!


Before the Overlayed Crochet Mandala CAL and all the above Mandala's made this week....
to after...


Can you tell the difference? Seriously?? I feel like I've barely made a dent into my cotton stash. I do have to make the back for the Overlayed Mandala because I am going to make it into a pillow. More on that later...I'll be bored with this pretty soon and then I'll have to move on to more fun with 2013 stash-busting challenge!

Happy Crocheting!






Monday, March 18, 2013

Pinterest Crochet Inspiration: Crochet Delights

Happy Monday and another week in front of us and I wonder what it will bring...

My back is improving finally after two weeks of constant pain and missing 1-week at work. Luckily on Thursday the doctor gave me prednisone and it's truly a miracle how quickly it has worked.

Also, it is March Madness time. Of course a lot of you probably don't care or watch the NCAA men's basketball during this tournament time but for me, working at the University of Kansas and living in Lawrence and having a daughter that will graduate in May with a Doctrate in Pharmacy, I'm kind of thrown into the fray.  I really don't mind. It's kind of fun filling out the brackets and watching the games that is all the buzz at work and around town. I have also learned that when KU is playing basketball anywhere it is the best time to go out and run errands. There is hardly any traffic and Walmart is almost empty.

So, I'm hoping for another good week with good health and big wins for the Jayhawks!

Now.. for my Pinterest Crochet Inspiration:  Crochet Delights!

This delightful collection of some of the most unique and beautiful crochet designs on Pinterest this week...



Source: ravelry.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Eileen on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Eileen on Pinterest








Have a great week and Happy Crocheting!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Fun Little Flowers and a New Designer Granny Square

 
Look at these cutie pies! Aren't they the sweetest little flowers ever?

Since I am still Stash-Busting my cotton yarn I thought I would make up some of these Teeny Flowers from Attic24
.



And now I present to you the newest designer granny square...

The Flower Mesh Granny Square




What do you think? Do you like it?  I'm thinking of making a baby blanket with it. This one is done in Cotton Yarn so I'll probably use a sport weight yarn when I make a bunch of these and all different colors.  This will be a fun one to work on and plan for. Not a great picture but sure was fun to make and oh so easy for a beginner.

Happy Crocheting!






Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Overlay Crochet Mandala Tah Dah!


Here it is...

The big reveal...





I have finished this challenging Overlay Crochet Mandala No. 4 by CAROcreated design. So that also means I have finished this fun Crochet-a-long (CAL)

The overlay is really much easier than I expected. I'm pleased with my colors but it desperately needs blocked.  I was going to wait for the big "Tah-Dah" until I blocked but that might be like NEVER, so just in case I took a crappy picture of it but you get the idea right? I was surprised how thick and heavy and durable it is.  It would make a great pillow, (I think that is what I will do, check out the great pillow Casey made her mandala into) or cushion on top of a chair or wooden bar stool. 

The stats are on my Ravelry project page and unfortunately it didn't do much for my cotton stash-busting. It looks like it would be a HUGE yarn eater, but it wasn't. But it did get me started using up some of that cotton.  I have some little projects I am doing with it and I'll show you those later so stay tuned...

I leave you now with some more crappy pictures of my Overlay Crochet Mandala...



Happy Crocheting!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Celebrating National Crochet Month!

Happy National Crochet Month!!

 Five ways I am celebrating my favorite month...
  1. I am taking advantage of all yarn sales.
  2. Stash-busting to make room for all the new yarn.
  3. Following the Crochet country tour on Crochetville.com
  4. Joined the Overlay Crochet Mandala CAL
  5. Learning 3 new stitches.




How are you celebrating National Crochet Month?


Friday, March 8, 2013

Granny Update Crochet Blanket


I saw this pattern at RedHeart.com and I just loved it. I didn't zoom in on it but from the picture it reminded me of a African flower motif. I ordered the yarn and printed the pattern.

When I got the yarn I saw that the blue was much brighter than it appeared in the pattern picture.




So I went ahead and made up a motif.


It doesn't look like the pattern at all. I must have made a mistake.
This pattern is an intermediate and I know why. This one little motif took me a couple of hours and the pattern calls for 98 of them! I'm not so sure I like it now. The blue needs to be darker but then I think it might look good in this bright blue. I think the motif is pretty and looks a little like a flower because it is raised on the Hexagon. So, I'm not sure if I will make this or not. I might try making a few more motifs and joining them to see how it looks or I might just make it an African Flower motif and go with that.

Happy Crocheting!



Thursday, March 7, 2013

Stash-Busting 2013 and Mandala CAL

Well, I am doing double duty here. Not only am I stash-busting some of my cotton yarn stash but I'm also participating in the Overlay Crochet Mandala Crochet along. The overlay mandala is a fun challenge. Each row gives the entire mandala a different look. Not only are the stitches giving it depth but the colors are changing the look with each new color I add on.

Here is my stash...


I know! It's so bad. I pick up a ball of this yarn every time I'm in Wal-mart. It is so affordable and handy to have to make a quick gift, like a potholder, dishcloth, mandala's, etc.

Now for my overlay mandala...


It's coming along. This is through row 11 out of 31. I am so enjoying this CAL. It has been one of my favorites so far. I've visited the forum discussion at this group on Ravelry more than once. If you are stumped on a stitch or a row WinkieFlash is on there to help and answer any questions you have about the pattern. This beautiful technique was well worth buying the pattern. I know it will be so pretty when it is finished. I would like to try this again with a lighter, softer yarn. I'm not sure if it would work or not but mine is getting so thick already! Lol.

More later...

Happy Crocheting!


Friday, March 1, 2013

March is National Crochet Month: Follow the Fun




All month long, crochetville.com is hosting "A tour through crochet country". That is, they are sending us on a trip with 48 of our favorite crochet designers all month long. The complete tour is on their site at the link above.  Every day they will have a summary of the blog(s) you will visit for that day along with a link to the stop the day before and the link for the next day.  Too fun! I can't wait to start the tour.  All of the designers on the tour are Professional or Associate Professional members of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). Please consider joining the organization and help us in our mission to advance the art of crochet and continue crochet skills into the next generation.

So go check out the list of well-known crochet designers participating in the tour.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Overlay Crochet: Mandala CAL

Look what I'm going to try...






This is a 2013 Crochet Overlay Mandala CAL. Isn't it gorgeous? I'm so excited to try the overlay technique. There is a Ravelry group set up and also a flickr group to show off every ones completed mandalas. I'm so excited to try this. If you want to get the pattern and more details visit Winkie Flash over at her blog A Creative Being. It's not too late to join, (I just signed up last night).


Happy Crocheting!!