FM 2/25/08

okay, so I'm a day late (and a dollar short;))

Do you happen to have a pattern that uses the Bristish sizing for hooks and you're wondering - do I have this hook? Here's the place to go for the conversion:
http://www.grandriveryarns.com/needlechart.htm

Toast is great - it can be breakfast or a little something for the rumbly tummy. Growing up, toast and tea cured almost everything. But I've never seen a toast purse (complete with pat of butter) until now. It's cute.
http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2006/09/05/butter-me-up/

But maybe you prefer cookies - Oreo to be specific. I think these are cool and I don't even like Oreo cookies. Plus you don't have to worry about the "proper" way to eat them (middle first of the whole cookie). Yes, crocheting food is a little silly, but if you can't have fun with your crochet, what can you have fun with? Here you go.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34890489.tip.html

I'm not a tatoo person. I'm not scared of the needle (however, the cost makes me wince) but I'm just not into them for myself. But they are some cool craft tats. No crochet ones, but there's a sewing machine as well as a knitting tat.
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/09/crafty_tats.html
http://flickr.com/photos/theloneknitta/2222634141/in/pool-craft

Do you want to make a little girl (12-24 months) a pretty spring dress? Here's a pattern for you:
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=72570

Or maybe it's time for a new hat? This lovely beret is very impressive, especially with the bow:
http://creativeyarn.blogspot.com/2008/02/puff-stitch-crochet-beret-with-bow.html

Do you need a refresher course in crocheting? Or maybe you just want to watch somebody eles's technique? Check this out
http://sharonb.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/learn-how-to-crochet/#comment-18914


As always, no kickbacks.

"Black Purl"

I purchased the November/December 2007 issue from www.black-purl-magazine.com.
Now before you go "ahh, purl, isn't that a knitting term? isn't this blog about crochet?" Yes and yes.
But "Black Purl" is not just about knitting. The cover has Xenobia Bailey's crocheted mandalas, which are awesome to see in color. The magazine also features an interview with M's Bailey about her work.
There's also a pattern by Carol Ventura for a tapestry crochet hat as well as a pattern for small crocheted stars. There are also knitting patterns in it. (One pattern is for a mohair cat blanket. My cats prefer chenille, particularly the Lion Brand "Thick and Quick") There's a few articles about charity knitting and pricing your work, that you can adapt to your own crochet work.
"Black Purl" also has an online magazine at the same site. And no, I don't get a kickback from them, I had been meaning to write a little something about this magazine for a while and I finally got around to doing it.

FM 2/18/08

I got a little mix of sites for you for Presidents Day


A lot of areas are banning paper and plastic bags. Here's another tutorial on how to make bags out of the plastic grocery bags you already have:
http://hellejorgensen.typepad.com/gooseflesh/how-to-make-plastic-bag-y.html
Apparently there is a lot of call for this bag. Here's an article from a woman who recycles plastic (as well as cloth) for bags and sells them. The article states the plastic bags go for about $100 a bag.

Just because it's February doesn't mean winter is over for the northern hemisphere. (of course, for the sothern hemisphere, it's summer). So just in case you're tired of the hat and scarf you have been wearing or maybe your kids have lost their hats or scarves, here's a site for you:
Click here: Free Hat and Scarf Patterns
Maybe a little more ruffly suits you?
http://wolfandturtle.net/Yarnpath/index.php/Yarnpath/comments/crocheted_ruffle_sided_scarf/


*wow* when I seen this site, I was ready to sign up for a trip in that past of the country. I never was particularly interested in going there before, but the factory outlet of Wrights - maker of my favorite hooks? Oh yes, sign me up. They do sell over the internet, but that can't be as much fun as oohin and ahhing over all the goodies.

Click here: Wrights® Info/Help - Factory Outlet - About the Factory Outlet


I've made 3 round ripples so far, all different patterns. This site has round ripple patterns I have never seen before - various numbers of points, a reall cool one where the points get made into another set of points. (I know it doesn't make any sense, but you really do have to see it to appreciate it.)
http://www.tamemymind.com/blog/2007/03/19/round-afghan-blanket-patterns-crocheted-or-knitted.php

Interested in making a madela in tapestry crochet? Here's a site about it:
http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/blog/?p=328


You've heard this joke before and so have I, but I never heard the crocheted doll variation.
Crochet Doll Collection

This isn't crochet related but if you got a candy heart this year and you're wondering what to do with the package (what, you still have chocolate?), this is a cute idea.
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=12813&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=7877

You've probably made one granny afghan or may one hundred. Here's a way to make a rectangle granny afghan. I haven't tried it yet, but the next time I make a granny afghan, this is the one I am trying.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/angelcrafts/patterns/recgrannyafghan.html

Here are some free crochet patterns for you. The "Suncatcher Eyes" look great and I'll let you know how they are in person when I get my order.
http://www.suncatchereyes.net/Free%20Patterns.html

Are you a fan of Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman? Or maybe Butters or Timmy is your favorite character? Here is a "South Park" homage in yarn:
South Park Tunisian Crochet Afghan

Here are some free crochet patterns from Coats and Clarks, always interesting to check out:
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/

Maybe you'd prefer a one eyed critter to make? My sons would have loved this when they were little.
It's Fun To Crochet A Muno Amigurumi, And That's How You Do It

You've heard about the use of "preformance enhancing drugs" (steroids and human growth hormone) being used in baseball. But steroids and crochet? Say it isn't so;)
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_8265902

If you're thinking about starting a wire crochet project, this appears to be a cool easy one - a crocheted wire pendant. You can do a small project to see how you like it before you commit to a larger project:
http://www.craftypod.com/


As usual, I do not receive kickbacks from these sites or businesses. I'd take them;) but nobody offers them to me.
_enjoy_

FM 2/11/08

Think only women are daring enough to make cool wearables out of crochet? Check this website out and you will change your mind.
http://blog.jengibrewear.com/2007/08/verano-overalls.html

How about something quite different in crochet wearables? No patterns but lots of eye candy. There's a lot of what appears to be freeform work in this site.
http://www.susanobrant.com/


Looking for something quick and easy for Valentine's Day? Or maybe you're planning a Saint Patrick's Day gift for someone. I'm thinking Easter prezzies for the great-nephews.... Check this out:
Click here: "The Gabu" Crochet Amigurumi Creature Free Pattern

Maybe you're looking for some heart shaped crochet, just in time for Valentine's Day? Here's 2 different sites.
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa021099.htm?nl=1

http://thinking.ivalerie.com/
heart bookmarks

I know it's Heart Month, but I couldn't skip over this particular freebie. It's for a chemo cap.
http://byhookorneedles.blogspot.com/2008/01/chemo-hat-with-hdc-brim.html


_enjoy_

not today

I got an eye infection....
maybe Tuesday? I haven't even felt like crocheting....