FM 9/29/08

Here it is, Monday again (and so quickly). I am still walking sround with my lovely boot;) I did do something I thought was neat crochet wise this weekend - I used an old cd to make a coaster for my tea mug at work. It wasn't that hard to do, especially if you count your stitches correctly, which I seemed to have trouble doing last night;) Anyway, on with the show....

I thought this was pretty cool, a cheat sheet on how many chains & how many wraps you use for various stitches: http://crochet.about.com/od/filetcrochetcharts/ss/leaves011203.htm

For those of you who want to get an early start, here's Christmas Stocking pattern. It's for a crochet (and knit) Christmas stockings. (By the way, does anyone else notice how fast the special Christmas yarn disappears from the stores? It seems if you don't get it way before Halloween, you don't get it)
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/magi/magi.html

For the filet lovers out there, here's a lovely filet leaves chart:
http://crochet.about.com/od/filetcrochetcharts/ss/leaves011203.htm


Amy O'Neil Houck has found the time, between moving from Maryland to Alaska, to create some crochet instructional videos - you got to check them out:
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/10393-crochet-chainless-foundations

I thought this is a very interesting textured wristband - prehaps would be good for a watchband.
http://crochet.about.com/od/wristbands/a/aa09202008.htm?nl=1

"Crocheting with Dee"'s Dee Stanziano has posted her pattern for preemie caps and info on the "Caps to the Capital" project.

Click here: Tulip Preemie Pattern

"Hankering for Yarn"'s Noreen Crone-Findlay has also posted a preemie cap pattern, along with info for the same project.
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/crocheted-baby-earflap-style-cap-by-noreen-crone-findlay

Need something to hold the door open? How about a crochet door stop wizard?
http://www.pattern-making.com/crochet/crochet-door-stop-wizard/


This isn't a freebie, this is for a kit - but you can find inspiration in it - it's gorgeous. You could use your favorite flower motif in your favorite colors (or somebody else's favorite colors) to make a lovely gift.
http://www.loopknits.com/2008/09/22/kaleidoscope-crochet-scarf/


For Rosh HaShanah:
How to crochet a yarmulke
http://www.ehow.com/how_2319506_crochet-yarmulke.html
and another yarmulke
http://homes.aol.com/kpsbox/kippah.html
Happy New Year 5769!

_enjoy_

As usual, I get no kickback from anyone for listing these sites. I'd take a bribe, but that's not oging to happen;)

FM 9/22/08

It's almost fall (in my neck of the woods) as I write this, so I think some scarf patterns are in order:


Here's something that you don't see everyday - unique and beautiful - a spiral scarf
http://kierakrafts.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/spiral-scarf/

What if you, like me, get a cold neck very easily? or maybe you just don't want the scarf to hang down where it could get tangles in something? Here's the perfect scarf pattern for you, the unisex neck scarf.
http://wendydoescrochet.blogspot.com/2008/09/unisex-neck-sock.html

If you're interested, the "Red Scarf Project" has begun again and is looking for donations. Here's the info on it
http://orphan.org/index.php?id=40


Or maybe you're looking for something to decorate your home? How about a filet crochet heart pattern?
http://thecrochetstudio.com/blog/2008/09/15/filet-crochet-heart-pattern-now-available/


You've probably seen curly fringe on various items - here's a tutorial to help you learn how to make itl
http://yarnkrazy.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/curly-fringe-tutorial-with-pics/

This is quite lovely, it's a crochet butterfly motif - check it out.
http://crochet-mania-grannysquare.blogspot.com/2008/09/crochet-butterfly-motif-variation-b.html
I have 2 new kittens, bringing the total number of cats in my house up to four (again). Since Heidi and Braveheart (the newbies) are stealing my scrunchies to play with, I should probably make this for them, some crochet sardine cat toys
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80061AD.html?noImages=

or maybe a cute mouse for them to play with? Hopefully with four cats, I wouldn't have a mouse problem....
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80060AD.html?noImages=


As ususal, no bribes were given to me to post this info. I wish somebody would try to bribe me, but so far, nobody has;)
_enjoy_

FM 9/15/08

What a week! I celebrated (?) International Crochet Day by going to the leg doctor's and wearing my capris with the crocheted flowers on them. I crocheted preemie hats while waiting for the appointment. I even wore one of my t-shirts from my Cafe' Press shop. But that didn't have anything to do with the outcome - I _still_ have to wear the boot for another 5 weeks (too bad it's not a pirate boot). But on the bright side, at least it's my leg and not my hand.\

Some important news for pet owners - there has been (another) pet food recall. This includes pet food from Wal-Mart as well as Wegman's store brand. Some brands are Old Roy, Special Kitty, Pedigree and Buju and Ziggie. This petfood can cause Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund in your pets. Please check this site: http://www.petcare.mars.com/

On a sad note, "Essentia" will no longer be publishing a newsletter. L'Tanya Durante is part of "the sandwich generation" (as many folks are) and is not able to keep up with it. I wish M's Durante the best of luck in her future endeavors and I am happy to see that M's Durante does have a new craft blog. Here it is: http://www.craftnicity.com/

On with the show
If you have ever listened to "Dr Demento" on the radio, you'll know that September 19th of every year is "Talk Like a Pirate Day". To find out a little more about it, here's a link
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

What's that got to do with Freebie Monday? Well, there's a bit of a theme going on here...

These 2 patterns are for _sale_ not for free, but you might feel compelled to buy them to celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day
Interweave Press Crochet Dread Pirate Sam (unless you have the edition with this pattern in it) http://shop.interweave.com/Crochet-Dread-Pirate-Sam-P202C59.aspx
and Scurvy Pirate pattern for sale
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6355011

This one is a freebie pattern from Lion Brand, a crochet pirate pal.
http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/70445AD.html

Or how about a Crochet Captain Teddy?
http://crochetme.com/patterns/captain-cute-pirate-teddy

here's a few links that aren't related to pirates.

This is a beautiful beaded crochet collar pattern.
http://www.pattern-making.com/crochet/beaded-crochet-collar

And at the same site, a crochet butterfly doily pattern.
http://www.pattern-making.com/crochet/crochet-butterfly-doily/

Here's a little something to dress up your little black dress:
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/liza/liza.html

This is an incredibly cute scarf pattern - all hearts
http://pepperberry.typepad.com/my_weblog/conversation-hearts-scarf.html


I can't remember if I posted this or not - if I did, sorry, but here it is again, a crochet along with Lion Brand
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/20124AD.html


As usual, I receive no booty for listing these sites. I'd take some, but nobody's offering;)
_enjoy_

FM 9/8/08

Here I am, a little later than I like to be, but that's the problem at work - they don't let you surf the internet;) or crochet, *sheesh* what a rotten place;) I definitely miss being home and crocheting whenever I want. But while patterns may come free, yarn doesn't. (Neither does cat food.) So here we go:

Dee of "Crocheting with Dee" is doing her "60 scarves in 60 days" campaign again (she has extended the time). So check this out:

Click here: Fifth Annual "60 Scarves in 60 Days" Challenge Kickoff!

Yes, it's not quite fall, but almost. Here are some pumpkin patterns for you.
http://crochet.about.com/od/pumpkins/Pumpkin_Free_Crochet_Patterns.htm?nl=1

I thought this was pretty cool - a "flower power" slide show of beautiful crochet.
http://www.myspace.com/gonerustic

Remember the 10 year old girl crocheting doilies? Her mom posted more of her doilies to her blog site. (By the way, Lynn's blogsite is interesting in it's own right, but it doesn't have anything to do with crochet. It does, however, have a brownie mix recipe posted.)

lynnskitchenadventures.blogspot.com
and the daughter's blogsite:

http://briannascreativecrochet.blogspot.com/

Wondering about amigurumi? Here's a cool tutorial on it:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Crochet_tutorial_Amigurumi_Part_1/

And once you check out the tutorial, you can make this alien amigurumi alien- wouldn't the eye be cool in glow-in-the-dark yarn or if not for a child, a flow-in-the dark device/button?
http://pepperberry.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/amigurumi-alien-pattern.html

And if you're looking to buy yarn, Herrschner's is doing their free shipping for orders $35 or more until September 30, 2008. The code is CC2. Could save money just by not driving around to find exactly what you want. I know sometimes I _need_ to pet the yarn, but it's great to be able to see all the colors in a particular line of yarn if I'm looking for specifics for a project.
http://herrschners.com/

September 12, 2008 is International Crochet Day. Crochet in public, wear or use something crocheted or something crochet related. Spread the good word. You can find out more about it here: http://yarnkrazy.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/september-12-2008-international-crochet-day/#comment-11

You may recognize this jacket - I did. Here's a pattern for a crochet and denim jacket.
http://www.pattern-making.com/crochet/crochet-denim-jacket/

And last but certainly not least, bat curtains. I'm hoping my younger son does not see these because he'd probably want them for his room. Than he would be unhappy because they didn't block out the sun. Oh, well, can't please everyone.
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8710/filet-crochet-goes-to-the-bats

As usual, I get no payments from anyone for listing these sites. These are just things that are interesting to me and I hope are interesting to whoever is reading this blog. If not, poke around, there's bound to be something in these blogs you might want to crochet.

_enjoy_

fm 9/1/08

I have been released (yay!) from the surgeon, but am still waiting to hear from the leg doc (boo). The incision still hurts, but it is finally healed. But on to the real star of the show today - freebie patterns and such.

I always love Noreen Crone-Findlay's work. Here is a lovely crocheted baby cardigan and hat on the Caron site. http://www.caron.com/projects/ss/ss_around_world.html

Baby girls grow to be toddlers and here's a cute toddler skirt pattern.
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/sedona/sedona_1.html

I'm not trying to rush the season, but the stores have had Halloween stuff out for a few weeks, so here's some crochet patterns: a crochet ghost, cat and jack'o'lantern
http://crochet-patterns-techniques.suite101.com/article.cfm/halloween_crochet_patternsfree_easy

Do you ever think about a designer's life - read this first:
http://www.corsavoo.com/crafts/0,2577,388828,00.html

I like the star stitch but I remember having a hard time understanding it from the book I was usinf to learn it. Now there's a star stitch tutorial to make it easier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inUleg__vaU

Need to collect your plastic bags until you got enough to make a bag or just to reuse? Well, here's something useful for you - a plastic bag holder pattern.
http://kollegiatehooker.blogspot.com/

A few years ago, I made my older son a scarf. It wasn't long enough and instead of telling me, he told his aunt, my youngest sister. Of course she told me. I made it longer but not this long - here's a photo of the 115 foot crocheted scarf that was a group effort:
http://fancytiger.blogspot.com/2008/06/longest-crocheted-scarf-and-visit-from.html

I forgot about and I'd forgotten about how to do this stitch:
Crab Stitch Reverse Single Crochet Edging
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_DPQw2Dykg

Want to learn how to do mitered crochet? Here's a site for you.
http://www.innerchildcrochet.com/resources/how_to_design/mitered_square.html

Got plenty of scraps but can't face a granny square afghan? how about a crochet scrap hat pattern?
http://laughingpurplegoldfish.blogspot.com/2008/01/accidental-hat.html

As usual, I am not making any money off of posting these sites, I just thought I'd pass them along for you enjoyment. Hopefully you'll find something that will tickle your fancy:)

_enjoy_