FM June 30, 2008

Want to know what an enneagon is? It's the same as a nonagon. I know, that tells you exactly nothing. Both words are used to describe a polygon that has 9 sides. Of course, here's a freebie for such an item.
http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/crochet/mat9side.shtml


In the United States of America, the 4th of July is celebrated with many fireworks and parades - and picnics. If you really have the time to pull it off, these are neat Independence Day patterns. You could make them in any color you want for your own celebration - maybe a summer wedding.
http://www.sugarncream.com/email/summer2008web.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm

Since we are talking about holidays, here's a mini Christmas stocking pattern that also has a tutorial on YouTube.
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_14.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsF-8CD9y14

Judith Prindle has some wonderful patterns on this blog site - check it out.
http://crochetpatternsonly.blogspot.com/2005_09_05_archive.html

More amigurumi? Here's a little tree stump and mushroom pattern for you.
http://www.amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/

There are several different ways to join crochet motifs. This particular site shows the advantages and disadvantages of some of them.
http://www.crochetmagazine.com/newsletters/talkingcrochet/index.html


How about a diagonal shell stitch pattern - looks intriguing.
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa071198.htm?nl=1

This crocheted market bag is really cool looking - I love the photo.
http://turtlegirl76.com/2008/06/29/free-pattern-beginner-crochet-market-bag/


As usual, no fees have been paid to me for pointing out these free patterns. I was trying to get a little crochet "payola" ;) going on but apparently crochet designers don't participate in that sort of thing. oh well.

_enjoy_

fm (a day late)

Here is a fascinating site for those of you who like miniatures. This is a pattern for a miniature bouquet. Absolutely amazing to me....
http://www.artisansinminiature.com/catalog.html

Looking for something a little different in a hotpad? Check this pattern out for a beautiful hotpad pattern, sort of Celtic in looks (at least to me).
http://cityofcrochet.blogspot.com/2008/05/weaved-hotpad.html


Way back in the depths of time, there was a pattern featured that had Marilyn Monroe worked into it. Todd Paschall has the method of taking a photo and working it into an afghan at this site.
http://www.crochetbynumbers.com/

Just in case the airconditioning is a bit colder than you would like, here's a shawl pattern for you.
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Accessories/WM0303+Crochet+Lacy+Shawl.htm

I may have posted this one already, but I'm not sure.....
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/belize/belize_1.html

Noreen Crone-Findlay's pattern for an angel doll for peace. Her work is always great and this is cool.
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/crocheted-angel-of-peace-doll

Doris Chan has a pattern for a wrap. I love M's Chan's patterns of "exploded doilies".
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/cocobay/cocobay_1.html

An article that talks about the benefits of crochet (and knitting).
curlsofsunshine.tipzu.com/people-who-knit-and-crochet-may-be-happier-and-healthier


As usual, no kickbacks for me. I even thought of setting up a separate mail box to accept them but nobody's even offering;)

_enjoy_

all about "Crochet Fantasy"

If you've been reading this blog, you know I have had an ongoing problem trying to find out exactly when/if "Crochet Fantasy" would make good on the balance of my subscription. So here's the latest email to the "Crochet Fantasy" people:

##################################################
I have written and called many times to find out what is supposed to be done about the outstanding balance of my "Crochet Fantasy" subscription. I have been told that another magazine may pick up the balance that was left. I also have been told someone will get back to me. So far, no one has gotten back to me and when I call, I get a pleasant woman saying "I'll pass the message on for you".

Exactly what is going on? I paid for my "Crochet Fantasy" subscription early due to a letter set out soliciting funds to keep "Crochet Fantasy" publishing. Please make good on this some way - send yarn if that works for you. I am a reasonable person but all this time without a response has made me a little peeved.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

For those who want to send an email, here's the info: http://www.inknitters.com/
snail mail:
Fiber Circle Publishing
P. O. Box 552
200 McKinney Street
Farmersville, TX 75442
#########################################################

Because of my mention of "Crochet Fantasy", sometimes this blog pops up when folks are checking for back issues. Here' s my advice on searching for back issues of "Crochet Fantasy"

You can go to Ebay & search for "crochet magazine" or "Crochet Fantasy magazine". It's helpful if you know the particular issue number you are looking for because that's how it's listed on Ebay. I know Ebay's a gamble, but sometimes it does have what you are trying to find. You have to determine how much you're willing to shell out for the magazine. If you just want any back issue, you'll have better luck because some issues are easier to obtain than others.

You can also search Amazon for the particular issue you want. Sometimes they have it, sometimes not. You can register at Amazon and they will notify you if one becomes available. (Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and I do sell books on Amazon. I do not currently have any "Crochet Fantasy" magazines for sale, so I am not going to profit from this advice. )

Sometimes old book stores (not the ones that deal in antiques or first editions - but the more inexpensive ones) sell old magazines. I have never seen any "Crochet Fantasy" in any old book store I have been in (and I do frequent them) but that doesn't mean somebody didn't get to them first. Thrift shops sometimes have old magazines. Again, I've never seen any there, but that doesn't mean they don't show up. Yard sales could work, too.

If you belong to a group like Crochet Partners, you can post you would like to buy an extra copy or somebody's unwanted copy of this particular magazine. You could try the free internet sites (Craig's List, Freecycle) to see if there are any "Crochet Fantasy" magazines out there.

If you belong to the Crochet Guild of America, they have a lending library sent up and they are likely to have a copy of the magazine. People donate magazines and books to them (I have donated a _ton_ to them myself, so I know they have a large selection). This is another good reason to belong to the CGOA.

You could also ask around the folks you know, often they know somebody who did crochet and might want to get rid of their stuff. This happens more frequently than you would think. I have a healthy selection of various crochet tools due to this type of thing.

################################################


If I ever get an answer from the Fiber Circle Publishing people, I will let you know. I'm not sure why this bugs me so much but I think it's because of the solicitation for more funds to keep it going. Or maybe I just need to give it up and cut my losses. But right now, I intend to keep bugging them.

Pat Johnson & Alia

You are the winners, so please contact me so I can get your prize to you.
thanks

FM 6/16/08

Here we go again, a nice little mix....

http://www.black-purl-magazine.com/NEWS-061308.htm
The new "Essentia" magazine is online.

http://www.crochetmemories.com/newsletters/newsletter.html
The new Crochet Corner newsletter is also online.

2nd blogiversary contest
Planet June is having a contest to win one of her patterns or a mouse she has made herself - very cute. If you're like me and can't decide between the mouse and the pattern, don't worry - just post twice to enter both contests.

http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=0&d_id=428&lang=en
It's been a little warm here in the MD area and somehow sewing worsted weight motifs together doesn't seem too appealing. Here's a lighter pattern.

http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Accessories/WR1661+Crochet+Buttonon+Trims+for+Crocs.htm
If you are one of the folks who wear Crocs (or "Croc like" shoes), you can make them a bit fancier by using some of these trims. My beloved won't let me make any for his Crocs;)

http://www.friendshipshawl.org/patterns.html
Since it's vacation time for lots of folks, maybe you'd like a quicker project to work on - this, of course, is a link for a friendship shawl pattern.

http://leisurearts.com/customer_care/download_files/N_06_08_CrochetStole.pdf
Another link for a friendship shawl pattern.

http://www.crochetville.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-2815.html
And another link for a shawl pattern, this one is a butterfly shawl pattern.

http://sofar-sogood.blogspot.com/2008/06/peace-granny.html
Do you want to crochet for peace? Here's a really cool crocheted square. a peace sign.

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80211AD.html?noImages=0
Maybe you are preparing for a wedding at this time and can't figure out what type of wedding favors to have. Lion Brand has a few patterns for a wedding favor sachet. I can't imagine crocheting them for a really large guest list, but I'm sure there are more ambitous people than I am out there.

http://crochet.about.com/od/squaresbysize/a/crksq2clr.htm?nl=1
This is a strange little square and I think I will try this pattern out for a baby afghan...it would definitely be different....

http://crochet.about.com/od/bytype/a/zigzag.htm?nl=1
Okay, so maybe crocheted squares don't float your boat. How about some ripple patterns?

http://web.archive.org/web/20050208122000/http://grandmashookery.com/religious/supper.html
I have seen this "Last Supper" pattern made in filet crochet. (It was hung in a nursing home I visited for my job.) It is absolutely amazing to look at and takes up a ton of time. Check it out.

As always, I receive no payment or special consideration from the sites I have listed.
_enjoy_

drum roll, please;)

Here's the winners for the drawing -
Pat Johnson won the "101 Crochet Squares" - please contact me with your address at
robin/andersen9/@/gmail/.com (please read between the lines;)

Alia, I have already contacted you for your information.

Thank you, one and all for your congratulations and good wishes. I'll be back later with the freebies, I got to go clean up, I've been having a "dirt manicure"

FM June 9. 2008

Hi!
I'd like to start on a serious note this week with a link to Wheat Carr's blog. M's Carr is writing about the Orphan Works Act. How this act is decided upon will determine the future for crochet. Basically, it's to protect the designers of crochet from people ripping off their patterns and claiming it as their own. If crochet designers get ripped off, they can not afford to create crochet designs. If they can't creat crochet designs, that means crocheters will be trying to reinvent the wheel with each new project. I think M's Carr puts it much better than I could. So definitely check it out:
http://wheatcarr.com/blog-a-mentary/orphan-works-now-is-the-time.php



If you have been crocheting for a long time, you may remember the "crazy daisy" maker. They sold it on tv as well as in some 5&10 stores quite some time ago. Sometimes you can come across them in thrift shops or even on Ebay. This is a pattern on how to make a monkey using the "crazy daisy" winder. It makes it sort of like making yo-yos. Pretty cool - plus I bet you can think of some other uses for the daisy winder:
-http://www.knitting-and.com/small-looms/monkey.htm


Need a quick cute necklace for the summertime - here you go:
http://soozs.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-crochet-daisy-chain-necklace.html

Betty Hechtman talking about her upcoming book, "Dead Men Don't Crochet" and the shawl pattern in it: http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com/

This is such a great site - little acorn and strawberry purses to make:
http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/2008/06/little-acorn-pa.html

Here's another pattern for a crocheted bee - very cute
http://crochetalong.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/little-bee-free-pattern/

Need a light weight summer hat so your scalp doesn't get burned? Try this one:
http://mkcarroll.typepad.com/mk_carroll/2008/06/jules-julia-crochet-hat-pattern-set.html


This is cute and quick - a flower ring:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_needle_arts/article/0,2025,DIY_13768_5210759,00.html

Speaking of flowers, how about a flower potholder?
http://www.freecraftunlimited.com/flower-hot-pad.html

Carol Ventura has a video on You Tube showing how to do felted tapestry crochet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoBCdW1WvgI

And here's something handy if you want to do tapestry crochet or maybe filet crochet - different graph paper you can print out:
http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/

The "Celebrate" contest is still on, you must make a comment on the "Celebrate" blog to be in the drawing.

As usual, I do not recive any special considerations from these folks or their sites. I'd take a bribe, but nobody's offering one.
_enjoy_

Celebrate!

I got my "Masters of Basic Crochet Stitches" certificate yesterday in the mail. I am so _thrilled_. My sons made fun of me because "what is it Mom, just crochet a couple little things?"...
But it's a lot more than that - it's swatches and essay type answers. I did learn a lot....

So to celebrate my academic achievement, I will be doing a drawing for 2 books - one each by the lovely crochet women that helped me along the way.
The first one is "Crochet on the Edge" by Belinda "Bendy" Carter. She was the person who went over my swatches and patiently explained what I needed to correct.
The second one is "101 Crocheted Squares" by Jean Leinhauser. She was also extremely helpful to me.
If you want to enter the drawing, leave a comment on this post by June 14, 2008. You can only win _1_ book so if you have a definite preference (maybe you already have 1 and not the other), please state which one you'd prefer. Otherwise it will be up to my discretion. I will announce the winner on June 15, 2008. Enter as often as you like.

FM 6/2/08

There's a neat online publication that's called "Canadian Living". It often has crochet patterns. Here's one for you:
http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/crochet/crocheted_halter_top_and_shawl.php

This link is not a freebie but I really like it. If I can find a few plastic geese, I think I'd have a perfect gift for my sister-in law. (Did I ever post the story about the "drive by scarfing" incident?) Here it is, costumes to dress your goose....
http://collins-ottinger.com/

This is a very pretty afghan pattern. It is the blogger's own and her favorite afghan pattern:
http://pumamouse.com/crochetmyfavorite.html

I know, I know - who wants to think of an afghan (at least in the North America area) when it's warm out. But this is quite pretty, you can work it up a few motifs at a time and you won't sweat to death doing it.
http://www.artoftangle.com/free_patterns.htm

This is an oldie but a goodie - a "hobo bag" by Lion Brand.
http://crochet.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=crochet&cdn=hobbies&tm=30&f=21&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//joann.lionbrand.com/patterns/ckc-tote.html

Purple Kitty has done it again. I find lobsters funny and this potholder is pretty cool. Or you could adapt the lobster pattern and sew it on a bag - maybe the hobo bag?
http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/potholders/lobster.html


A ribbed sock pattern:
http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/crochet/ribsox.shtml

As usual, I don't get any kickbacks from any of these people for listing their sites here. I'd take kickbacks, I'm not proud, but apparently everyone is watching their money;)

By the way, June 14 is "Knitting / Crocheting in Public Day". I'm not sure what my parents' anniversary has to do with public displays of needlework, but there you are. I happened to be watching an Oriole versus Yankee baseball game and saw a few people knitting in the stands.
(Of course, the Orioles lost because_ I _was watching, doing my own version of "Pitch and Stitch" at home.)

_enjoy_