FM July 27, 2009

Hello again. My tomatoes are just beginning to ripen, the daylilies are still blooming and the roses are (surprise) still blooming. Usually by this time, the heat has caused them to blow out. And speaking of roses.....

Here's a crochet flower pin with button
http://craftapalooza.typepad.com/crafted/2009/07/crochet-button-flowers.html

that is based on Lion Brand crochet roses
http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/faq-search.cgi?store=/stores/eyarn&faqKey=492&language=

and to top it off, Lion Brand's pattern for an Irish lace crochet shawl
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80771AD.html?noImages=
Pretty cool, huh?

There was a list of amigurami toys and tutorials posted here:
http://amilist.blogspot.com/http://amilist.blogspot.com/

I happened upon this blog by accident, but thought the blogger had a great idea - check it out
http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/2009/07/thank-you-crochet.html

I know some people wear hats all the time, so if you're in the middle of summer or winter, this is a lightweight crochet beanie tutorial
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/lightweight_crochet_beanie

Or how about something you can wear anytime - a crochet headband
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/07/craft_pattern_podcast_crochet_4.html


I've posted M's Bailey's beautiful work before, here is more of it (no patterns, just beautiful photos)
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/07/crochet_art_exhibit_from_xenob.html

If you're in the Lauderhill Florida section of the world, you might want to check this out http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/jul/23/star-wars-exhibition
Not quite sure why it's referenced by a British publication, but why not?


Paton has some new free patterns posted
http://www.patonsyarns.com/pattern.php?NEW_PATTERNS=1


Well, that's it for me for today. I hope you have a good week

_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_

shark week & fm July 28/08

It's shark week! Here's an English translation of a German pattern.
http://www.ullrykka.de/iblog/B567792918/C947144548/E20070508153639/Media/shark_english_version.pdf

And if you're waiting for the Olympics to begin, here's a way to join in - 2008 Crochet Games of Ancient Greece Challenge
I decided I'd join in and make Carol Ventura's tapresty kitty bag. *thanks Noreen for poiting this out to me) I've never done tapresty crochet before, so I thought why not give it a shot. It is also a free pattern, not sure if I posted the link before....
http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/KittyBag.htm


Remember peace signs? Sure you do - check out the pease sign battette (it looks like a barrette to me)
http://shala-beads.livejournal.com/218625.html#cutid1

Here's a lovely hairpin lace shawl by the Stitch Diva. Her work is always so beautiful. (Stitch Diva also has tutorials on how to do hairpin lace)
http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=FREE008

Michaels website has some crochet patterns on it, here's a V-neck vest:
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=e06596

It's hot, you don't feel like making anything that's going to lay across your lap, try this pattern. You can customize it with a fancy button, it's a wreath pin.
http://craftside.typepad.com/craftside/2008/07/bullion-stitch.html

I've made a lot of toys in my life, but I have never seen this technique used before. Next time I make a toy, I'm trying this. It's a tutorial on how to make a toy with ears and legs all in one piece.
Click here: http://www.esunbeams.com/knittycat/patterns/knittycatsLoopyLegCrochetTechniquetutorial.pdf

"Woman's Day" also has some crochet patterns - these are a preview from Tamie Snow's "Tiny Yarn Animals"
Cuddly Crochet Creatures

Or maybe you're in the mood to make motifs to put together - here's a flower (daisy like) motif
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa051300.htm?nl=1

Want to make something cute for a child - here's a bear-ghan.....hmm, I wonder if I can make it big enough for an adult....
http://web.archive.org/web/20021009171701/http://home.earthlink.net/~bollandbunch/bearghan.html

Somewhere along the way, I missed the July edition of "Black Purl". Here's the link so you don't....
http://www.black-purl-magazine.com/

I ran into some sites that feature free patterns:
http://www.yarncat.com/crochet.html
http://www.crochetstuff.com/
http://www.grannys-garret.com/pattern/crochetpattern.html

Have you watched the "Tour de France" ? or maybe "The Triplets of Belleville" (a beautiful movie, by the way, great for kids and adults). Perhaps you'd like to know about the "Tour de Fleece"
http://www.tourdefleece.com/TdF_2008_home.ht


FYI, no kickbacks were given for mention on this blog :(

_enjoy_

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_

fm April 14, 2007

I know in some parts of the world it's almost time to ditch the socks and go to sandals - but come on, socks are small and easy to carry with you project, so here's an easy sock pattern.
http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/crochet/ribsox.shtml

Want to see a crocheted swimsuit? This is cute.
http://www.crochetsal.com/summeryswimsuit.htm

Carol Ventura does fantastic tapestry crochet - and if you like cats, this is perfect for you.
http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/KittyBag.htm

A new edition of the Essentia newsletter (Black Purl) for your reading pleasure.
http://www.black-purl-magazine.com/NEWS-041108.htm

This looks like a really cool exhibit if you plan to be in the Pittsburgh area anytime before the end of June, 2008.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_560494.html

Here's a cute pair of earrings from Roxycraft:
http://roxycraft.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/free-pattern-cherry-pickers-crochet-cherry-earrings/

Since in some places it's getting warmer, here's a lovely lace top to crochet.
http://naturallycaron.com/projects/aqua_aloha/aqua_aloha_1.html

Lady Linoleum always has wonderful offbeat handwork on her blog. I love the lobsters on this shawl, but I love how lobsters _look_. They just make me laugh. I have no idea why.
Lobster Bake Shawl

Looking for a new fence for the yard? This is a beautiful fence (not crocheted, but I still thought it was cool). Really cool.
http://www.demakersvan.com/

Lots of free reading this week - a new issue of "Crochet Insider"
http://www.crochetinsider.com/

This looks like a great place to check out crochet toys:
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080329/LIFESTYLES0104/803290305/-1/lifestylesfront

Starch?! I didn't know anyone used liquid starch anymore, I thought my mom used the world's supply on my petticoats and my dad's boxers.....
http://teenhobbies.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/adding-starch-to-your-finished-crochet-projects/
.
Cute little caterpillar pattern:
http://groups.msn.com/CwmEnfysCrochet/rainbowcaterpiller.msnw

As usual, I receive no kickbacks from any of these sites.
_enjoy_

"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.