FM June 29, 2009

It's been hot and humid, but what else can you expect from Baltimore in the summer? I had some plans to work on some crochet, it just didn't pan out. You know how life is, sometimes a few days attack you at once;)

I thought this was weird - and no, it's _not_ Lady Linoleum's crocheted eyeball
http://www.instructables.com/id/Crocheted-Eyeball/

here's a crochet class being given online by Planet June at Crochetville. I don't know if there's a chanrge but I'm sure it's worth checking out if you can.
http://www.planetjune.com/blog/crochet-class-african-violets/

I know in this section of the country, it's too warm to wear a hat. But Olivia's butterfly hat is great, check out the pattern.
http://vallieskids.blogspot.com/2009/06/olivias-butterfly.html


And since we're looking at hats, how about a baby hat?
http://chickenstitches.blogspot.com/2009/05/baby-in-bloom-hat.html

I thought this flower motif square was pretty cool.
http://craftybegonia.blogspot.com/2009/06/flowerful-crochet-motif-and-sumer-shell.html

And this one is a majestic flower motif by Teresa
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2009/06/majestic-crochet-flower-motif-bullion.html

Noreen Crone-Findlay discusses clutter
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/surrendering-to-the-joys-of-studio-clutter/

Here's a pattern for a Granny's attic afghan
http://www.crochetmagazine.com/newsletters/pages/TCNL2009_patt1.html

Here's Mr/Ms chubby bunny really cute
http://zoriami.blogspot.com/2008/07/first-free-pattern.html

Yeah, it is too warm to wear a scarf, I agree. But it's a crochet ice cream cone scarf
http://cats-rockin-crochet.blogspot.com/2008/04/crochet-ice-cream-cone-scarf.html

This seems unbelievable to me, but apparently there is a pattern for a hat for a cat. I thought it was for a pattern of a hat that looks like a cat. if you make this, I hope you have a very tolerant cat or very good health insurance
http://www.wikihow.com/Crochet-a-Cat-Hat

As usual, no special consideration is received for the mention of any of these sites. The local emergency rooms would probably prefer I don't mention the cat hat site, but your cat might be more co-operative than mine.
By the way, Happy Canada Day as well as Happy 4th of July!
_enjoy_

FM 3/16/09

I was underwhelmed by the response to the contest I had last week. No one entered, no one won. So if you just are the first one to drop me a line about the Annie's Attic kit of the month (see last week's post for more info), I will snail mail it to you. Otherwise, it's onward and upward.

This isn't crocheted, but still fascinating - a knitted digestive system
http://www.strangebuttrewe.com/knitGI.htm

I've seen illusion knitting and I have seen an example or two of illusion crochet - but I thought this was the best example I've seen so far - it's a heart illusion square
http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2009/03/smoothfoxs-crochetshadow-illusion-large.html

I don't really know who or what a sack boy is, but I think he's popular with the younger set. But you may know who he is or you might just want to check him out:
http://moonscreations.blogspot.com/2009/03/sack-boy-amigurumi-pattern.html

This is from the book by Christen Haden, "Creepy Cute Crochet" - it's a mini monkey
http://www.mylifetime.com/lifestyle/home-crafts/craft-ideas/needle-arts/crochet-mini-monkey

Have you ever seen the Japanese flick "My Neighbor Turturo" ? If not, see it - it's a beautiful movie suitable for all ages. This is the makurokurosuke-soot pattern from that movie.
http://moonscreations.blogspot.com/2008/01/makurokurosuke-soot-pattern.html

I thought this was pretty cool - a crop circles square
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=96360


These are really wild ripple socks - I want to crochet these in some weird colors - a ripple afghan for your feet:
http://loveyarn1984.blogspot.com/

This is a very pretty "blue Jeans" shawl pattern.
http://www.techchick.lunarpages.com/knottie/hobbies/patterns.php?pattern=blueshawl&display=1

I have to admit, I love bunnies - so here's a bunny fridgie pattern (or you could make it into a pin)
http://www.crochetmemories.com/archive/lorettaspattern.html

Or how about a bunny basket
http://www.e-patternscentral.com/detail.html?code=EC00163&cat_id=328

Or what all bunny lovers need - a snuggle bunny
http://stormyzcrochet.weebly.com/snuggle-bunny.html

And to round out this week's edition of FM, two preemie hat patterns - here's a preemie ribbed beanie
http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2007/07/my-preemie-ribbed-beanie.html

And a textured preemie hat
http://debscrafts55.blogspot.com/2008/04/bumpy-preemie-hat-crochet-pattern.html

As usual, I receive no special considerations for posting these links. I just think they are cool and I'm presenting them to you.
_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 August 4, 2008

On the recovery front, things have gotten a bit, ahh, worse for wear. My surgical incision popped open about 4 inches long and 1 ince deep. I swear, I was only embroidering at the time. (I was embroidering around crocheted flowers I put on a pair of jeans.) It bled a lot but wasn't too serious, I guess. The incision got repacked and now my poor husband has another task, clean and pack the incision twice a day. It is down to 3 inches long and about 1/2 inch deep, so it is healing.
The other thing hindering recovery is I missed a step at my youngest sister's house and brought my (considerable) weight on my right foot, which folded up under me. I thought it was merely a sprain, but the lovely purple bruises have me thinking otherwise. So I have been under "house arrest" ;) since last Tuesday, after that accident happened. Luckily, the incision did not pop open again. I plan to have the foot checked out at my doctor's appointment.....
On the plus side, I have made about 4 bags, 1 bunny and 2 pairs of adult booties (the Carolyn Christmas "Gourmet Crochet" ones) so far. I'm not too sure about the Yarn Olympics thing, I can't "shop my stash" with a bum foot. *sigh*
Now on with the show.


"Years of Yarncraft", a Sluggy Freelance production. This is not a pattern but hilarious all the same. I have a few Sluggy Freelance items (t-shirts, Bun-Bun) that I was lucky enough to have my sons get me as gifts. Check it out:
http://www.sluggy.com/images/comics/080728y.gif

This is a crochet caliometry pattern, but I can't tell you what a caliometry is because I don't know. But it looks interesting.
http://homegrownrose.typepad.com/reclaimingthehome/2008/07/the-one-hundredth-in-which-she-shares-a-crochet-calorimetry-pattern.html

This is one of those neck pillows, shaped like a cat and it's for kids. Why do kids have all the fun?
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/BabyChild/WR1679+Cat+Neck+Pillow.htm

Another geometric afghan pattern for you:
http://www.happyyellowhouse.com/htm/geo101.html

Of course, this is the Olympic challenge I spoke of earlier. I don't know if I will make this, maybe I'll substitute something else for the taprestry kitty pattern....
2008 Crochet Games of Ancient Greece Challenge

I can't tell you how long ago I learned to make a granny square, maybe when dinosaurs roamed the earth;) But if you don't know how to crochet a granny square, here's a site for you:
http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-crochet-granny-square-even-if.html

I've made a lot of scrunchies, but never a "curly" one. Check it out:
http://crochet.about.com/od/scrunchies/a/curlyqscrunch.htm

Want to know what to do with all those useless cds you got from AOL and the rest? Here's a site to guide you on using your cds with crochet.
http://www.akupara.com/turtleknitta/?p=50

Manitiu's crochet beehive shawl pattern, absolutely beautiful.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080712/OPINION03/807120400

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream - that seems rather rude, doesn't it? You can make a little ice cream cone purse to keep your ice cream money in:
http://www.ecrochetpatterns.com/crochetpatterns/freeicecreamconenecklacepursecrochetpattern.htm

And this scrunchie pattern is from the same spot.
http://www.ecrochetpatterns.com/crochetpatterns/fancyyarncrochetedponytailholdersfreepattern.htm

Want to try your hand at filet crochet? Here's a neat pattern for a filet teapot chart:
http://stylish-crochet.blogspot.com/2008/07/filet-crochet-teapot-chart-2.htmlfilewt

Here's advice on how to use your stash up and a new (to me) acronym, SABLE - Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy....hmmm
http://knittingcrochet.suite101.com/article.cfm/using_up_your_yarn_stash

This is a bunny hat for adults. Lady Linoleum calls it "inebriated bunny hat" which since she's the designer, she has the right to do.... I love it, inebriated or not.
http://monstercrochet.blogspot.com/2007/01/inebriated-bunny-hat.html

Have rags, make butterfly rug. Or maybe you could just use thick yarn, it would be a different look but I bet it would still be pretty cool.
http://www.craftown.com/crochet/cropat54.htm

Yes, here's another Christmas pattern for a towel this time. Yeah, I know not everybody celebrates Christmas and it's only August, but here it is anyway.....
http://www.crochetmemories.com/archive/lorettaspattern.html

This is a Maneki Neko crochet pattern and if you are wondering what a "Maneki Neko" is, I can tell you "neko" means cat in Japanese, but I don't know what "maneki" means. Perhaps happy or lucky? You'll recognize this cat if you frequent Chinese restaurants as they always seem to have a huge pink statue of this in the restaurants.
http://www.mountainweaver.com/blog/

As usual, I do not receive a kickback or payoff from any of the sites listed here. I'd accept the bribes, but apparently there's none being offered;)

_Enjoy_ :)

FM 5/12/08

This ia a pattern for crocehting the Lorenzo manifold. I know, you're thinking "what is the Lorenzo manifold?" You've most likely have seen it but don't know that name for it:
http://www.enm.bris.ac.uk/anm/preprints/2004r03.pdf


Remember Bjork, with her crocheted outfits and of course the famous swan dress. Bjork is back now with pompoms, apparently the new cool thing. I hardly make pompoms, to be honest with you.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Pompoms-can-save-the-planet.4051774.jp
http://debscrafts55.blogspot.com/2008/04/baby-bumpy-booties.html


I know, it's too late for Mother's Day but maybe you can squeeze it in for graduation day or a birthday:
http://rsislandcrafts.blogspot.com/2008/02/crocheted-long-stem-roses-free-pattern.html


This isn't a pattern, but it is a Stella McCartney crochet purse. It is quite expensive, perhaps M's McCartney crocheted it herself? Take a look at this purse and see if you think it's worth over a thousand dollars:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod53230003&ecid=NMCIGoogleBaseFeed&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=V03TW
Stella McCartney's crocheted bag

I haven't seen a new "Knit and Crochet Today" lately, though I think I heard they are going to change the hostess (Kassie Depaiva....I think...) at any rate, here's the site with the crochet patterns from the show: http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/TV+Projects/Crafts+Project+List.htm


As usual, I get no kickbacks from any of these folks or companies. Sure, I'd take a kickback (I'd tell you that I was taking a kickback first.) But nobody's offering. Must be the economy.....

Sorry for the relatively low amount of sites, I am quite heart broken because I had to put my bunny, Cadbury, to sleep on Saturday. He broke his back and there's nothing the vet could do for him. Bunnies have very fragile backs. I will miss him terribly

FM 3/17/08

You have to remember that I worked as a volunteer for a little over a year at ther National Aquarium in Baltimore to hunderstand my obsession with a hyperbolic crochet reef project:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/arts/design/04crochet.html?_r=1&ref=environment&oref=slogin

This site has a lot of answers to your crochet questions and can direct you where to find tutorials on various techniques:
http://www.crochet911.com/home.html

Carolyn Christmas' website, free as well as pay patterns. These are terrific:
http://www.gourmetcrochet.com/

I was looking for a frog pattern and I came across this particular gem - a tree frog pattern. If you got a frog lover in your life, here you go:
http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/tutorial-tree-frog.html

Want to learn more about fair use? Check out this website
http://hookandi.blogspot.com/2008/03/fair-use.html

It's not quite clear to me what counterfeit crochet is, but this certainly_sounds_ interesting:
http://stephaniesyjuco.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/wanted-counterfeiters-for-live-bootlegging-event-328/


This is a cool thing to crochet with sock yarn (or any other yarn for that matter). I can't quite explain what it is except a sort of pointy ball thing:
Click here: Berroco® Free Pattern | Celestine Crochet

If you need comfort or somebody you know needs some comfort, check out Noreen Crone-Findlay's bear pattern. Who couldn't use some comfort?
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/crocheted-comfort-bear-by-noreen-crone-findlayc

Do you remember the Leggs pantyhose that came in an egg? I do. Here's some free patterns that use the egg - or you could just use some stuffing.
http://www.sarahanns.com/crochetworks/cwhome.html

Easter is almost here and the stores are filled with yummy chocolate. But if you want to give your waist (or hips) a break, this site has a zero calorie "Cadbury Creme Egg".
http://mama24boyz.blogspot.com/

I have never worked with lace weight yarn, but this shawl pattern makes me want to buy some and test the pattern.
http://milobo.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/evas-shawl-pattern/


Have you ever crocheted socks? Or a Christmas stocking? How about a crochet (and knit) sock contest? Read the rules and regulations here and_good_ luck_!
http://thinkoutsidethesox.com/SOX/Categories_Text.html


This is a really cool idea - wildlife rescue nests.
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/nest.html

I'm a fool for pansies and this afghan is lovely:
http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/crochet-afghan-patternsie.html


This is a really cool looking square.
http://www.heartmadeblessings.org/patterns/BobbysSquare.asp

And this isn't free and it's only marginally about crochet but here it is:
http://www.petitiononline.com/1234lulu/petition.html
This is a petition to get Vickie Howell and "Knitty Gritty" back for another season. I think M's Howell is a terrific hostess and I do watch "Knitty Gritty" every chance I get. I don't knit, but I like to see the techniques because they do translate to crochet and I like the guests as well as M's Howell. So if you want to sign the petition, that's the site for it.

Before I sign off for this post, I'd like to thank all of you who have sent condolences to me regarding the death of my grandmother. It really means a lot to me.

Happy Boxing Day......

well, it's the day after Christmas & time to "box" things for the service folk in your life - if you're the type of person that does that sort of thing.....I guess I'm not as I haven't done it.

I got some great Christmas gifts, 2 killer gifts from my sons (who were also good enough to fix Christmas dinner at their place and clean up afterwards - themselves. Excellent turkey dinner)
One is "Crochet Embellishments" by Jean Leinhauser and the other book is "Everyday Crochet" by Doris Chan. Pretty cool books.

But I thought I'd take a poll and publish the results on January 15, 2008. If you're interested in participating, here's the questions:

1) Top crochet books of 2007. If you give the title of an e-book, please give the website. For a book to qualify as a "top crochet book", at least 50% of the patterns have to be crochet. Why? Because I said so;)

2) How many projects do you estimate you made this year? How many were gifts? How many for charity? And did you really make something for yourself this year and if so, what was it?

3) Christmas gifts - a _lot_ of people crochet Christmas gifts. Did you? Did you finish in time? My youngest sister offered to give me a new hobby this year - cross stitch;) She's making a cute bunny picture but didn't quite finish it. I said no, I have enough hobbies;)

4) What project are you looking forward to doing in 2008? Any crcochet challenges or crochet alongs? Maybe trying a new technique?

5) Your blogs or your favorite blogs or both. I'm always curious to see what other folks are writing about.


That's it, inquiring minds want to know;)

Please just put the answers in the "comments" section or you can email me at blazelaflame at g m a i l (.) c o m (you know the proper way, just trying to avoid spambots).
Thanks!

_enjoy_

amigurami bunny film

This was posted in another group and I just wanted to share it with it. It's cute and it's cool. And you may think you recognize the song, despite the fact it's sung in Japanese. You may know it if you are familiar with John Sebastian's work. The song is "Magical Connection" and it's on one of his older albums (or cds, I guess). It's a neat blending of the artist's crocheting and film making.
_enjoy_

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLu9aN35eRk


I don't get a kickback from any of the particpants, but that bunny sure is cute.



Payton update:
He's still having some difficulty but they are hoping he will be out in time for his birthday (the 26th).