FM 12/15/08

Hello again. I'm not 100% but then again, who is? I've got a lot of links today, mostly Chrismas related - for gifts and some decorations. I have searched for free Hannukah crochet patterns, but the few I found I have listed already. So if you know of any or maybe you have it on your blog, please make a comment and I'll be happy to post it....
on with the show

This is a contest from Berroco Yarns - enter to win a gift basket of yarn from Berroco
http://www.berroco.com/knitbits/html/KB270.html

The new "Crochet Insider" is now available
http://www.crochetinsider.com/

This is a news article about how a woman chose to honor her sister:
http://www.beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/1338

More news - Interweave Press acquires "CrochetMe" site:
http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=97471

You probably have heard of this or maybe seen a photo of it - it's a giant crochet pencil, I tell you!
http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=11858

I don't like gingerbread. I know, it seems a terrible thing to say, but there you are. And though I like to bake, I wouldn't consider baking a gingerbread house. I'd rather crochet a gingerbread house:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75040263.tip.html

This articke says it's about knitting, but I would think the same principles apply to crocheting
http://wikiknitting.com/wiki/How_to_Take_Detailed_Photos_of_your_Knitting

Those of you who are up on things, here's a new project for you - it's the Chinese zodiac amigurumi
http://www.knit1mag.com/patterns/2008/winter/chinese_zodiac.pdf

This would be a cute add-on to a sweatshirt - a crochet snowman applique (yes, even though it says "add to cart",it's a freebie
http://www.thehandmadedress.net/tutorials.htm

How about some crochet thread ornaments from Purple Kitty:
http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/patternbook/plaid7317

The next five patterns are from Caron's "Twelve Days of Christmas" 2008 emailing:
fingerless gloves
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/charleston/charleston_1.html
another pair of fingerless gloves
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/memphis/memphis_1.htm
stuffed lion )
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/pretoria/pretoria_1.html
front door stocking (or to hang up by the chimneyif you've been very, very good)
http://www.caron.com/projects/op/op1_door_stocking.html
rainbow crocheted fish
http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_paints/ssp_big_fish.html

The "Art of Crochet" always has wonderful videos. I sometimes forget stitches I've used in the past....
tutorial on the v stitch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_x5uLTl2oI

All right, lets go to Home Depot and buy some copper wire and start crcoheting....
http://foothillhomecompanion.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-crochet-leaf-with-wire.html

How about a quick pair of crochet slippers:
http://www.stitch-simply.com/FreeCrochetPatterns-Slippers.html

Moonglow has posted some sweet patterns of her site - here's a chocolate truffle hat.
http://www.orble.com/free-girls-chocolate-truffle-hat-crochet-pattern/

You're broke, I'm broke, everybody's broke. And for the vast majority of us, there won't be a bailout from the government. But you can still get a cool handbag - here's a pattern for a Fendi bag - check this site out
http://www.counterfeitcrochet.org/patterns.html

How about a star garland?
http://www.blossomhandmade.com/2008/12/crochet-pattern-stars-and-star-garland.html

This is pretty neat - you got one skein of yarn in a particular color, here's a site that lists one skein crochet projects
http://craftiblog.wordpress.com/crochet-one-skein-projects/

Not really holiday like, but still neat a a star dishcloth pattern
http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2008/08/22/my-star-dishcloth/

I never would have thought of this, but it's a great idea - doilies using sock yarn
http://www.coatsandclark.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=484&page_id=14681856&query=LW1613&hiword=LW1613+

Got Jelly Yarn and wondering what to do with it - check out Jelly Yarn patterns
http://www.jellyyarns.com/patterns.html#freepattern

Granny squares pop up in a granny square Christmas tree
http://hookyarnpattern.blogspot.com/2008/12/granny-square-christmas-tree.html

Star of David hexagon granny - put them together for a scarf?
http://www.chezcrochet.com/page51.html

Here's your listings for this week. As usual, I received no money to list these sites. I'd take it, but nobody's offering me any money;)

_enjoy_

new issue of "Crochet Insider"

Here's the link.
http://www.crochetinsider.com/

I _love_ the Cleopatra wig.....

later

The sea creatures you'll see

I haven't been to the beach in ages. I _like_ the beach, but I also don't like getting sunburnned. I can stay outside for 15 minutes & get a sunburn. As to sunscreens, they do work - but not as well as I think they should. I mean, SPF 45 should allow me to stay outside 45 times longer than what I could without it (that's my reasoning) without getting fried. It doesn't work that way for me. Sometimes I think I should just use Crisco;) When I smeeled the skin burning, I'd know it was time to get out of the sun.
But I do have a deep appreciation of the ocean and the creatures that live in it. I was a volunteer at the National Aquarium in Baltimore for about a year or so and I really liked talking about the displays and doing demonstrations. I don't have any pet fish because I flunked goldfish.

So you're wondering, what does this have to do with crochet? well, here's the link
http://hellejorgensen.typepad.com/photos/artcraft/index.html
M's Jorgensen has made some fantastic looking sea creatures out of crochet. I don't remember seeing any of them at the National Aquarium (or at the beaches I've been to) but they are amazing to look at - the polypod is cool but the sea aneome is really awesome. There's also an interview with her in the April issue of "Crochet Insider"

http://crochetinsider.com/Helle.html

Her work reminds me of something I read, where the crochet artist spoke of using her crochet hook as a sculpturing tool. (Was that "Crocheting in Plain English" by Maggie Righetti or maybe the freeform team of Sylvia Cosh and James Walters - "The Crochet Workbook" ? I'm not sure.)

So if you're limited to beach excursions because of that whole work thing (having to pay the mortgage, feed the bunny and buy yarn), you can see a little ocean beauty in crochet. I don't think there are patterns for the creatures, but you could get inspired enough to try to make them on your own.
_enjoy_

Link

Crochet Insider

The new issue of "Crochet Insider" is up and if you've never taken a look at it, please check it ou. It has wonderful interviews by various crochet folks as well as patterns and reviews of books.
One of my favorite pieces this time was the story of the "Yarn Princess" and her stash. It's a little difficult to feel _that_ sorry for her;)
Plus there are interviews - Margery Winter, Kim Werker, Jean Leinhauser, Adina Klein, Jennifer Hansen, Lily Chin and Doris Chan all have interviews you can read. It's interesting to me to see how a designer thinks and plans the projects.
The Gallery has lovely photos of finished projects - almost any type of project you can think of. I particularly like the tea cozy, but it wouldn't work for me - I drink the tea too fast.
There's also a yarn review, which is pretty cool. Want to find out what Skacel is going to have out for this summer? Check it out.

Here's the link:
http://www.crochetinsider.com/index.html#