FM 2/23/09

Hello again. Not too much happening here, just slogging along. I was sorry to hear "Craft" magazine is shutting down. If you are a subscriber, you will get your remaining subscription issues in "Make" magazine or you can request a refund. I can't say I was thrilled about it, but I am happy they made an effort to contact the subscribers by email to let them know what was up. Sometimes you find out the magazine has disappeared (with your money) from word of mouth (Yes, "Crochet Fantasy", I am talking about_you_. My efforts to secure a refund from "Crochet Fantasy" have been fruitless so far. Just polite "someone will get back to you" answers.)
Enough with the whining and complaining already...Here's the freebies

Most of you are familiar with Winnie the Pooh, the bear of very little brain. Here's a crochet pattern for him.
http://arminas-aminals.blogspot.com/2009/02/crocheted-pooh-bear.html

I really do like the star stitch because of the way it looks, so here's a pattern for a star stitch shawl
http://web.archive.org/web/20070703031929/groups.msn.com/TheCarrotPatchCarole/crochetedstarstitchshawl.msnw

This is really cool - how to make your own amigurami eyes
http://mygurumi.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-amigurumi-eyes.html

Another heart, this time a pop heart. Yes, it is after Valentine's day, but love is for every day of the year:
http://mygurumi.blogspot.com/2009/02/pop-heart-pattern.htm

I have been (impatiently) waiting for the daffodils to come up. They are a bit behind previous years as they have just begun to grow. I've had years where they start blooming the end of January. But with this crocheted daffodils pattern, I don't have to wait any longer.
http://wahasweden.blogspot.com/2009/02/crocheted-daffodil-pattern.html

This is called Red Hat society doll but you could modify it to suit your purpose.
http://www.orble.com/free-red-heart-society-doll-crochet-pattern/

Here's some free crochet patterns from Barnes and Noble
http://www.thediscountheroes.com/2009/02/free-knitting-and-crochet-patterns-in.html

I'm not familiar with the video game "Guitar Hero". I've heard of it, that's about as far as it goes. But if you want to make something special for your own guitar hero, here's a pattern for how to make the "Guitar Hero" scarf
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/how-to-make-the-guitar-hero-scarf/

As usual, no fees or goods exchanged hands for the posting of these sites.
_Enjoy_

FM 2/16/09

Hello again - I got a lot of goodies for you today -

Margaret Hubert is a very talented designer. And from Lion Brand, a preview of Margaret Hubert's "Knit or Crochet -Have It Your Way" a pattern for a beautiful purse:
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/knitorcrochet2.html?noImages=

From Amy O'Neil Houck's "The Hook and I", directions on how to make a Valentine's Day hat. Yeah, it's late for Valentine's Day, but it's never to late to share the love.
http://www.thehookandi.com/

You may have seen this pattern on "Knit and Crochet Today". It's also from the very talented author of "The Hook and I" Any On'Neil Houck- crocheted socks
http://www.knitandcrochettoday.com/episodes/show205.html

Just in case you need a little pincushion - here's a cherry tomato pinchushion. Personally, I'd leave off the google eyes and the leaf, but that's me
http://www.orble.com/free-cherry-tomato-pincushion-crochet-pattern/

I don't think this is a repeat. If it is, I apolegize. Here's a list of one skein crochet projects
http://craftiblog.wordpress.com/crochet-one-skein-projects/

Mary Sue's Crochet News is available now:
http://news209.suescrochet.com/

For the threadies, a beautiful bright coaster
http://www.crochetmemories.com/archive/lorettaspattern.html

and a lot of doilies
http://www.momsloveofcrochet.com/doilypatterns.html

Caron scores again with a "Lattice Wrap"
http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_paints/lace_lattice_wrap.html

I crocheted penguins for my weeding topper, but maybe you like bunnies better - here's a bunny wedding couple
http://cache.lionbrand.com/printablePatterns/80306AD.pdf

I have no idea why I am fascinated with sock monkeys. But here's a sock monkey pattern
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41930

This is title a "granny square jacket" but the motifs are flowers, not the traditional squares of the granny square.
http://www.caron.com/projects/br/BR7_granny_jacket.html

This is great - a lovely chevron scarf pattern
http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2006/03/my-chevron-scarf-pattern.html

As usual, I receive no endorsements from the folks listed. I'd take money or whatever, but than I'd have to pay taxes on it and it would be a pain;)

_enjoy_

FM 2/9/09

I'm baaaack....oh, wait, I wasn't gone, was I? Today is a beautiful 65 degrees and it's supposed to be nice all this week. Next week we'll probably have a foot of snow, but we'll worry about that when it gets here....

I love the "Suncatcher Eyes" for toys and I think this "Noggins pattern" is pretty cool. I'm not hip or with it so I don't know if "Noggins" is something on tv or what....It's still cute...
http://www.suncatchereyes.net/Noggins%20Crochet%20Pattern.html

Yes, I know Valentine's Day is this week. I still have no idea what to get for my beloved. Vut this would be a cute gift for a friend - a small heart pattern
http://kcrochet.blogspot.com/

This is one of the cutest dolls I have seen and I'm not really a doll person. I love the way the hair looks and you can customize it to suit whoever you give it to (or yourself) - an amigurumi doll
http://stitch.hellooperator.net/free-patterns/amigurumi-doll/

Lion Brand makes the Valentine's free crochet patterns with two toys - a heartfelt bunny
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80018AD.html?noImages=

and a heartfelt bear:
http://cache.lionbrand.com/printablePatterns/80019AD.pdf

and if you want to get more involved, here's the one stitch adult crochet cardigan from Lion Brand:
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/957.html

I do know this is the name of a children's book - "If You Give A Pig A Pancake".....
http://www.beansproutcreations.com/2009/01/08/pig-and-her-pancake-free-pattern/
wonder how it would translate to a bunny and a pancake;)

I think this is really sweet. At my wedding to my beloved, I crocheted a penguin groom and bride for the cake top....
http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/not-quite-duck-pins/

February is also "Wear Red for Heart Disease" month - here's a pin you can make up quickly:
http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2009/02/suzies-red-dress-pin.html
To find out more about the number one killer of women - heart disease, not breast cancer,
check this link outhttp://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/06/wear.red.heart.irpt/

and also from Suzie's Yarnie stuff, a pattern for a rectangle granny afghan:
http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2006/08/rectangle-granny-afghan-pattern_11.html


"Woman's Day" magazine has some crochet patterns online. I really miss the "old days" when a woman's magazine was about more than what diet to be on & what jeans to wear to make me look 10 years younger. I really liked "Woman's Day" articles around Christmas time about different presents a person could make. I doubt those days will come back, but this is a nice start:
http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Crafts/Crocheting/8-Cozy-Crochet-Crafts.html?cid=5385


This would be cute for a belt...and maybe it will make your jeans look 10 years younger;)
http://www.orble.com/free-scrap-yarn-medallion-crochet-pattern/

I thought this was pretty cool - a tiny crochet angel. You could use it to make angel earrings.
http://www.orble.com/free-tiny-angel-crochet-pattern/

And now for something a bit different - an apple keychain
http://mycrochetstuff.blogspot.com/2009/02/apple-keychain-free-crochet-pattern.html

Roxycraft offers a free pattern for hearts done Roxycraft style:
http://www.roxycraft.com/crochet_hearts.htm

As usual, I get no breaks, special coinsiderations, favors, money, yarn or anything else to post these sites. I'd take a bribe, but than I'd have to pay taxes on it and that would be a mess for my accountant.
_enjoy_

Is it just me or....

I'm sure you've seen this link. Although the article calls it "knitting" (and that ticks me off), it appears to be mostly crochet....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4305406/Knitters-turn-to-graffiti-artists-with-yarnbombing.html

I have to admit, I really don't "get" this. Yeah, it's kind of funny, but I look at all the work and materials that went into creating the covering for the bus and I think "Ahh, isn't there a charity you could be doing that work for?". I admit, I'm an old fuddy duddy. And people have the right to do pretty much what they wish to do with their time, talents and materials. But I just think, for me, if I had all the time, materials and talent, I'd be doing something a bit different.

You can yell at me if you want, I can take it. But keep it to the subject at hand. If you've participated in a yarn bombing or you think it's cool, just tell me why. I can't say you will convince me, but I am willing to hear other points of view. What's the purpose, did it achieve the effect you hoped it would, that kind of thing....
And if it isn't just me, you can tell me that, too

FM February 2, 2009

I'm back - sloshing thru the ice. I got a new brace for my right leg, isn't that thrilling;) Obviously, it's still not healed. Maybe in March....I hope...

Anyway, enough whining, time to get on with the freebies...

This isn't a free pattern, but someting to admire and to look at - a free form baby blanket by Bonnie Prokowicz.
http://www.prokopowicz.org/bonnie/babyAfghan/babyAfghan.htm

This is also something to look at - (stuffed) animals wearing crochet sweaters
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/arts/theater/6225661.html

How about a pattern for a cute little flower bracelet?
http://creativeyarn.blogspot.com/2008/06/lotus-flower-cuff.html

I don't ever think I have seen a sugar-glider, but they look cute. I know somebody who "fosters" sugar gliders, so here's a sugar glider nest
http://knit2.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/sugar-glider-nest-crochet-pattern/

Valentine's Day is coming up and you ate the box of chocolate truffles you bought for that special person. Here's something relatively easy to make up for it - a floral heart motif
http://www.crochet-world.com/newsletters/talkingcrochet/pages/TCNL1309_patt1.html

I'm not sure what the occasion would be for wearing this dress....if you're going to McDonald's fora romantic Valentine's Day dinner? You judge
http://craftastrophe.net/2009/01/proclaim-love-beef/

There are those who love the Harry Potter books and movies and then there's me. This site is great if you have a Harry Potter fan to crochet for or if you want to make something "Harry Potterish" for yourself...
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/crafts/crochet

I thought this was cool though it's geared towards knitting. I think it could work for crochet - a computerized pattern generator
http://www.mattgilbert.net/article/47/crochet-pattern-generator

In my part of the world. I am cold and let my long hair loose. But probably in 4 months, I'll think this hair covering is just the thing....
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2009/01/crochet-hair-accessory-bun-cover.html

It's a goldfish - no, not the kind you eat....
http://www.orble.com/free-goldfish-crochet-pattern/

and how about an octopus to go with that goldfish...
http://www.orble.com/free-octopus-crochet-pattern/

I never thought of this, bout this would be cool if you were showing your crochet work to others - a crochet briefcase
http://grandmotherspatternbook.com/?p=498

I first made a pair of like these about (eeek) 30 years ago - baby mittens (without thumbs)
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/3886179/Crochet-Baby-Mittens

This is a listing of crochet "how to" videos for various flowers:
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-crochet-flower/

as ususal, I get no kickbacks or special considerations for posting these sites.

_enjoy_