Freebie Monday May 18, 2009

Hello again. I finally finished the baby afghan and have to finish the pink and white turtle that goes with it. Actually, all I have to do is embroider a face, stuff it and sew it together, not that big a deal. But it's crunch time at work so I'm not sure if I'll finish it this week...

Let's start out with a few blogs to check out:

This is Prudence Mapstone's blog about a scumble a week
http://prudencemapstone.blogspot.com

In case you are interested in recycling your plastic bags into "plarn" - plastic yarn, here's a blog about that
http://plastiqrecreation.blogspot.com/

Not a pattern, but a cool blog...
http://thisyearsdozen.wordpress.com/

Vickie Howell has a new crochet book out and here's an interview with her
http://naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com/2009/05/crochet-conflab-with-vickie-howell.htm


The next three links are from Vashti Braha's blog - the first two are about crocheting with wire
http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-crochet-pattern-for-mothers-day.html
http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2009/05/using-crochet-jewelry-with-wire-free.html
and this link explains how to keep your crochet inspirations in a reasonable order. I'll write thoughts for patterns on a scrap of paper. I'll lose the scrap and find it much later, when I can't quite remember what I was trying to do. This is a much more formal way to keep track of inspiration, but my informal way isn't helping me.
http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-journal-about-your-crochet-ideas.html


This was a tough winter in many ways. My houseplants got hit hard because it got cold and stayed cold early on. I lost a lot of cacti, unfortunately. But now I can crochet a few to brighten my work area - it's really cute.
http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/2007/11/thank-you-little-cactus.html


If you're old enough, you may remember the ads for the "crazy daisy loom" on tv. You could order an afghan kit that included a flower loom. Now you may be able to pick them up at a yard sale or thrift store (or E-bay). Noreen Crone-Findlay has a tutorial on "vintage" flower looms. ("Vintage"?! I guess that makes me "vintage", too)
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/how-to-make-flowers-on-vintage-flower-looms/

I knew my younger niece was pregnant, but until today I didn't know if she was having a girl or a boy. I suspected she was having a boy and I was right. Now I got to figure out another boy baby afghan (I've made 2 baby boy afghans for her already)...so I'm thinking, maybe this will be the next baby afghan?
http://crochetme.com/patterns/dont-be-square-granny

or this?
http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/projects/animals.html
I don't know yet. I have to think some more about this. I've got until August, so hopefully something will impress me..
I could make a crochet bib, but that would have to be extra because I did make the other 2 boys and afghan.....
http://crochettogo.blogspot.com/2009/03/crocheted-bib.html

That's it for Freebie Monday this week. As usual, I do not get a penny from mentioning any of these people or any of these sites. I'm willing to be bribed, but who has the money for that these days;)

_enjoy_

May Fourth (be with you) FM

I know, I know, it's a terrible pun. But my beloved told it to me, so of course I couldn't resist passing it along. I enjoyed the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Saturday, but somehow I managed not to buy any yarn. I'm not quite sure how that was even possible for me, the yarn was gorgeous but not quite what I was looking for (I guess...). I am working on a pink baby afghan (still) I'm about a third of the way thru it. And of course, making preemie caps.....

Not a pattern, but it's Herrschners (www.herrschners.com)free shipping (with $35 or more purchase) good until May 31, 2009 , Code D25


Here's today's freebie crochet patterns

Here's a crochet box
http://www.crochetspot.com/free-crochet-pattern-box/

That you could use to put in Noreen Crone-Findlay's buillion jewelry creations

Buillion stitch tutorial
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/how-to-crochet-bullion-stitches/

first part of crochet bracelet tutotial
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/crocheted-bullion-stitch-bracelet-1/

how to add findings to crochet jewelry
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/how-to-add-findings-to-a-crocheted-bracelet/

and last but certainly not least, a crochet flower
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/topic/tutorial/

All the above is from Hankering for Yarn, M's Crone-Findlay's blog.

How about another crochet flower - a crochet aster from Lion Brand
http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/faq-search.cgi?store=/stores/eyarn&faqKey=487&language=

This is something new from Leisure Arts - the Crochet Soiree from Leisure Arts
http://www.crochetsoiree.com/


Here's something cute and "retro" a smiley face afghan square
http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2009/04/free-cool-smiley-face-square-7-x-7.html

from Planet June. crochet roses
http://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/120f869cf2b5e42a

How about a crochet cardigan from Berocco
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/aruna/aruna.html


Paton tea cozy
http://www.patonsyarns.com/newsletters/apr2009/ClassicWool_Web_TeaCozy.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=TeaCozyPDF&utm_campaign=PatonsApril2009

Karen D prayer shawl pattern
http://karendcreations.blogspot.com/


octopus key chain tutorial
http://knittingdragonflies.blogspot.com/search/label/Free%20octopus%20pattern%20tutorial

As usual, I receive no bailout from anyone for posting these links. It's okay if somebody wants to offer me one;) but I don't think that's going to happen.

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_

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 June 9. 2008

Hi!
I'd like to start on a serious note this week with a link to Wheat Carr's blog. M's Carr is writing about the Orphan Works Act. How this act is decided upon will determine the future for crochet. Basically, it's to protect the designers of crochet from people ripping off their patterns and claiming it as their own. If crochet designers get ripped off, they can not afford to create crochet designs. If they can't creat crochet designs, that means crocheters will be trying to reinvent the wheel with each new project. I think M's Carr puts it much better than I could. So definitely check it out:
http://wheatcarr.com/blog-a-mentary/orphan-works-now-is-the-time.php



If you have been crocheting for a long time, you may remember the "crazy daisy" maker. They sold it on tv as well as in some 5&10 stores quite some time ago. Sometimes you can come across them in thrift shops or even on Ebay. This is a pattern on how to make a monkey using the "crazy daisy" winder. It makes it sort of like making yo-yos. Pretty cool - plus I bet you can think of some other uses for the daisy winder:
-http://www.knitting-and.com/small-looms/monkey.htm


Need a quick cute necklace for the summertime - here you go:
http://soozs.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-crochet-daisy-chain-necklace.html

Betty Hechtman talking about her upcoming book, "Dead Men Don't Crochet" and the shawl pattern in it: http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com/

This is such a great site - little acorn and strawberry purses to make:
http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/2008/06/little-acorn-pa.html

Here's another pattern for a crocheted bee - very cute
http://crochetalong.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/little-bee-free-pattern/

Need a light weight summer hat so your scalp doesn't get burned? Try this one:
http://mkcarroll.typepad.com/mk_carroll/2008/06/jules-julia-crochet-hat-pattern-set.html


This is cute and quick - a flower ring:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_needle_arts/article/0,2025,DIY_13768_5210759,00.html

Speaking of flowers, how about a flower potholder?
http://www.freecraftunlimited.com/flower-hot-pad.html

Carol Ventura has a video on You Tube showing how to do felted tapestry crochet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoBCdW1WvgI

And here's something handy if you want to do tapestry crochet or maybe filet crochet - different graph paper you can print out:
http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/

The "Celebrate" contest is still on, you must make a comment on the "Celebrate" blog to be in the drawing.

As usual, I do not recive any special considerations from these folks or their sites. I'd take a bribe, but nobody's offering one.
_enjoy_

FM April 7, 2008

I have a lot of plants. This becomes a problem in late October when I have to bring them in the house because the sunroom will be too cold for them. However, this plant sling could be just waht I need to make that transition a little easier:
http://members.aol.com/lffunt/plantsling.htm

Got a cat potholder? Here's your chance for a pattern for one:
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa071297.htm?nl=1

Summer is coming and here's a pattern for a bag. It's made out of granny squares, but it doesn't look like the traditional granny square bags:
http://www.stricksucht.de/anleitungen/crochetedbag.pdf

Speaking of summer, here's a pattern for a beach cover up:
http://www.crochetme.com/June_July_2005/patt_waters_edge.htm

I hope I haven't posted this before, but I love this pattern. It's perfect for people who have an offbeat sense of humor - or to offend somebody, I guess.....
Mouldy Cupcake Crochet Pattern

This says it's a pattern for a pot holder, but I see it more as a trivet kind of thing:
Pattern for Crocheted Sealer Ring Pot Holders...

You've seen or heard of performance art - here's a crocheting piece of performance art:
Radical crocheters plug away on pink project for Ulrich

Do you have cats? Then you have cat fur! Would you like to learn how to spin it into yarn? Check this out: http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/spinning-cat-fur

Want to find out more about crochet designers, particularly Mary Jane Hall, author of "Positively Crochet!"? Here's an interview with her: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2070.asp

How about a crochet necklace? Here's a pattern:
http://creativeyarn.blogspot.com/2008/03/free-patterns-outline-for-crochet.html

You know the normal disclaimer - no kickbacks are given.
_enjoy_

FM 2/18/08

I got a little mix of sites for you for Presidents Day


A lot of areas are banning paper and plastic bags. Here's another tutorial on how to make bags out of the plastic grocery bags you already have:
http://hellejorgensen.typepad.com/gooseflesh/how-to-make-plastic-bag-y.html
Apparently there is a lot of call for this bag. Here's an article from a woman who recycles plastic (as well as cloth) for bags and sells them. The article states the plastic bags go for about $100 a bag.

Just because it's February doesn't mean winter is over for the northern hemisphere. (of course, for the sothern hemisphere, it's summer). So just in case you're tired of the hat and scarf you have been wearing or maybe your kids have lost their hats or scarves, here's a site for you:
Click here: Free Hat and Scarf Patterns
Maybe a little more ruffly suits you?
http://wolfandturtle.net/Yarnpath/index.php/Yarnpath/comments/crocheted_ruffle_sided_scarf/


*wow* when I seen this site, I was ready to sign up for a trip in that past of the country. I never was particularly interested in going there before, but the factory outlet of Wrights - maker of my favorite hooks? Oh yes, sign me up. They do sell over the internet, but that can't be as much fun as oohin and ahhing over all the goodies.

Click here: Wrights® Info/Help - Factory Outlet - About the Factory Outlet


I've made 3 round ripples so far, all different patterns. This site has round ripple patterns I have never seen before - various numbers of points, a reall cool one where the points get made into another set of points. (I know it doesn't make any sense, but you really do have to see it to appreciate it.)
http://www.tamemymind.com/blog/2007/03/19/round-afghan-blanket-patterns-crocheted-or-knitted.php

Interested in making a madela in tapestry crochet? Here's a site about it:
http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/blog/?p=328


You've heard this joke before and so have I, but I never heard the crocheted doll variation.
Crochet Doll Collection

This isn't crochet related but if you got a candy heart this year and you're wondering what to do with the package (what, you still have chocolate?), this is a cute idea.
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=12813&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=7877

You've probably made one granny afghan or may one hundred. Here's a way to make a rectangle granny afghan. I haven't tried it yet, but the next time I make a granny afghan, this is the one I am trying.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/angelcrafts/patterns/recgrannyafghan.html

Here are some free crochet patterns for you. The "Suncatcher Eyes" look great and I'll let you know how they are in person when I get my order.
http://www.suncatchereyes.net/Free%20Patterns.html

Are you a fan of Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman? Or maybe Butters or Timmy is your favorite character? Here is a "South Park" homage in yarn:
South Park Tunisian Crochet Afghan

Here are some free crochet patterns from Coats and Clarks, always interesting to check out:
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/

Maybe you'd prefer a one eyed critter to make? My sons would have loved this when they were little.
It's Fun To Crochet A Muno Amigurumi, And That's How You Do It

You've heard about the use of "preformance enhancing drugs" (steroids and human growth hormone) being used in baseball. But steroids and crochet? Say it isn't so;)
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_8265902

If you're thinking about starting a wire crochet project, this appears to be a cool easy one - a crocheted wire pendant. You can do a small project to see how you like it before you commit to a larger project:
http://www.craftypod.com/


As usual, I do not receive kickbacks from these sites or businesses. I'd take them;) but nobody offers them to me.
_enjoy_

Freebie Monday

Do you like the look of the pinwheel coasters? Here's a pattern you will want to check out:
http://www.kaleidesigns.com/crochet/patterns/archive/coas008.html


Have you ever felt like you need to see somebody do something before you get the hang of it? Sometimes I do. And there's not always another crocheter around when you need him/her. So here's a cool site that actually shows you a video of a scarf being created:
http://www.instructables.com/id/crochet-scarf_1/


One of my favorite sites, Purple Kitty is offering free vintage potholder patterns. These are so cool looking.
http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/patternbook/starbook69.html

Wondering what you can do with all the soda can tabs you've saved? You have to drink 6 sodas (or collect them from other folks) to create a flower:
http://www.escamastudio.com/inspiration/diy.html


This article is interesting about a 3D crochet installation - but sorry, no pix.
http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/fh/free/290719660707982.php

Can your "action style" (from Oprah) determine how to crochet (or anything else for that matter)? you may want to check this out. I think I'm more of a "combination" person myself.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/01/08/o.wildly.successful/
--
As always, Noreen Crone-Findlay always has something exciting going on in her blog. This entry tells you how to crochet a wire mermaid necklace. I like the way it looks, but I think I'll pass until my tendons decide to settle down a bit.
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/crocheted-wire-mermaid-necklace

I was sort of looking for a hat pattern for my older sister. She is losing her hair (nope, I don't know why) and of course, she's cold. She doesn't like a lot of fussiness, so I thought this pattern might be perfect for her cold head - a crocheted skull cap
http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/NEWS01/801040345/1002/NEWS01


If you live in or around Pittsburgh, you might already know about this event. Part of me _really_ wants to go to check out all the cool stuff. The other part of me thinks "Are you _crazy_? They will probably have a snowstorm that weekend!". So I'd have to say right now I'm not planning to go, but it definitely sounds appealing to me.
http://www.pghknitandcrochet.com/

fm 2 weeks worth

*See "shameless plug" at the bottom of this post.

Sorry for disappearing last week. Blogger apparently was not happy and would not post this blog. I tried for a few days but I gave up Wednesday night. I had to worry about putting together a Thanksgiving dinner.

Okay, here's a mixed bag of freebies as well as interesting articles for you:


Want to whip up a quick gift? This dishcloth looks really cool. You could co-ordinate it to match your or someone else's kitchen. Who couldn't use more dishclothes?
Crochet Garterlac Dishcloth
Crochet Patterns Only - http://crochetpatternsonly.blogspot.com/

Want to know what Vickie Howell from "Knitty Gritty" is doing while she's not on tv? I mean, besides writing books and making personal appearances? She's got a blog where you can learn more about the show and Vickie:
http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com

Do you get inspiration from a photograph? This is beautiful, but the site says it can also be used as a wine bag. Would it be proper to put Boones Farm Strawberry wine in a $100 bag;)
check it out:
Christensen & Sigersen Crochet Purse Evening Bag
http://allwomenstalk.com/christensen-sigersen-crochet-purse-evening-bag/

Soap bags - despite the name of the blog, the soap bags are crocheted. They are pretty neat.
Simple Knits - http://simpleknits.blogspot.com/
Despite the name, it's crocheted. It's also beautiful.

If you getting a gift for a child this year, you might want to think about making it instead of buying it due to all the Chinese toys being recalled (and more every day). Check out this site for Caron Rainbow Bear
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=e06095&categoryid=122011

Here's a site that haws a lot of free crochet toy patterns:

Click here: A Crochet Toy Chest: Retro Patterns

Here's something I think is unusual - a Darth Vader Tabasco cover - crocheted. I'm not a Tabasco eater, but I imagine it could be useful for somebody:
http://dayna.tdgservices.com/ShowPattern.aspx?PatternID=31

A brain slug is what I feel like somedays. Apparently, now I can crochet one:

Click here: crochetcrochet: free brain slug pattern

This site has patterns for some of the most amazing crocheted animals I have ever seen. The detail is wonderful - you have to see it.
http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/

Here is the code for free shipping from Herrschners for orders over $35.00 until December 24, 2007: B12
www.herrschners.com

Want to make something a little different for yourself or a loved one? How about bead crocheting? Here's a tutorial from the "Beadwrangler" herself:
Click here: bead crochet dot com



*This is a shameless plug for my own Cafe' Press store:
http://www.cafepress.com/whitelionshop
And yes, if you buy something from this particular Cafe' Press store, I do make money off of it. I d0 _not_ make money off the other sites given. I would take a kickback, but nobody offers me one;)

Scrips & scraps for October

Last weekend I visted the "Stitches" convention in downtown Baltimore. It was geared mostly towards knitting (hey, the ad says "Knitting Universe" on it). But there were lots of crochet items.
For instance, yarn. Yarn doesn't care if you knit or crochet or weave - and it especially doesn't care if it sits in a shopping bag waiting for me to figure out what to do with it. I bought a a _lot_ (okay, too much) cool yarn, but the one that intrigues me the most is the "Jelly" yarn.
You probably know that "Jelly" yarn isn't yarn in the classical sense. It's sort of like plastic lacing, but cooler looking. They had glow-in-the-dark yarn. Of course, I had to buy it. Obviously, I'm not going to make a scarf out of it, but what to do, what to do? I also bought the gold "Jelly" yarn. I don't have a clue what to do with that, either. I'm sure I'll figure out something;) They do have patterns on line and "Adorn" also has a pattern for a "doughnut bracelet". The website showcases the free patterns for knit as well as crochet.
http://www.3dimillus.com/

I happened to see Lily Chin at one of the booths. She was crocheting (amazingly fast) with a pale pink fingering yarn. It looked (to me) as if she was working on a giant granny square, but I didn't see the whole project. A lady with a camera phone tried to get a picture and we laughed. Mis Chin said it would "just be a blur". I would guess M's Chin was teaching a class at the convention. I didn't sign up for any classes because almost all of them were for knitting. M's Chin said what she really needed was a yarn puller. I laughed and said my younger son would have loved that job. There were lots of books at the booth and one knitter was asking M's Chin about learning how to crochet. M's Chin pointed out her book "Couture Crochet"* and offered to sign it. I was wishing I had brought my copy along so she could sign it. And I felt a little too cheap to buy a book I already had just to get it signed. So I didn't.

I found a huge crochet hook(SizeU) at Bagsmith. Yes, they have absolutely gorgeous kits for purses and great yarns, but the lady knitting with what appeared to be broomsticks caught my eye.
(http://www.bagsmith.com/site/index.asp)
She said the knitting needles were a great stash buster and to prove it, she had maybe 7 different types of yarn on her needles. It looked great. Than she show me the size U. Of course, I don't _need_ another hook. I mean, I have a lot of hooks but I didn't have a size U hook. But now I do;) So as I use up my stash, I can buy _more_, right? I got to keep the economy from cooling off;)
I stopped at the Yarn Barn of Kansas booth. (http://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/)
They had a yarn "playpen" with lots of bags of yarns at a very good price. I spotted the yarn I wanted, but the price I was originally quoted was a little too high (for me). I wandered off and looked at some other yarn but found myself drawn back to the yarn playpen. Some enterprising young woman grabbed up the yarn I wanted - for shame. But she got a price of almost half of what I was quoted. Of course, I bought some, too.
Now you may wonder what my darling husband thinks of all this. After all, he attended the "Stitches" market with and obviously I wasn't able to hide the yarn**. Well, Craig _encouraged_ me to buy the yarn and was digging for more yarn for me to buy. I know that sounds crazy, but there you are. He is _definitely_ a _keeper;)

So now you know I spent all my money (well, almost all of it) at "Stitches". Hopefully if you're expecting a gift from me, you're willing to accept yarn or something I make with the yarn. If not, well, there's always a pound cake for you;) Anyway, if you get the chance to attend one of these markets and you can afford it, definitely go....
Next year, it's here on my birthday....I better start plotting now.

* You can look up M's Chin's book on the Amazon button I have on this blog (shameless self promotion).

** I don't hide the yarn anyway, there's no place to hide it. But sometimes I end up hiding from myself, which isn't good.

No, I don't get any kickback from any of these folks (unless you use the Amazon link - I am an Amazon Associate). I would take kickbacks, but nobody offers them to me.

Another freebie Monday

Here's the cure fo the Monday blues - freebies;)


for Halloween, little bats:
http://www.sweaterbabe.com/freepatterndownload.htm

Another Halloween one - ghosts:

Click here: Halloween Ghost Applique Pin or Magnet

more Halloween - a crocheted skull
(wouldn't this be cool in glow-in-the-dark yarn?)
http://www.wonderlandblog.com/wonderland/2007/09/crochet-skull.html

a really cool crocheted bag:
The Amelia Bag - Crochet Pattern

a great looking hat:
http://jessicasuzanne.com/craftypants/category/free-patterns/


a beautiful crocheted bracelet
http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/07/crochet-beaded-bracelet_30.html

These last 2 items aren't really "freebies" but I thought I'd pass them along, anway

and if you remember last week's entry about knitting being hazardous to your health, here's someone else's view of the situation:
http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/barlow/s/1017693_congleton_hospital_dont_do_stitches

And for the marine biologist in you, here's an article about the crocheted Great Barrier Reef
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/ourtown/071004/crochet/


_enjoy_

some more freebies

It's Monday (again) and almost the end of my busiest time of the month at work. So hopefully I will be posting a few more things this week.

However, it's Freebie Monday, so here we go:

You may (or may not) remember the "Blythe" dolls. The most distinctive thing about them (to me) were their large eyes. I vaguely remember one of my younger sisters having one. There's whole communities devoted to them. Here's a link to make a crochet cupcake hat for the doll. It could be adapted for a child or even an adult. Good thing my kids aren't little anymore;) Wait, maybe I'll make one to wear for Halloween at work;)

http://chezmichelle.vox.com/library/post/blythe-cupcake-hat---crochet-instructions.html?_c=feed-atom


You're probably thinking "I'm _way_ more sophisticated than _that_. Show me something I can use." and here's one for you - a tutorial on a beaded crochet bracelet. I think it looks pretty cool but I'm also the one thinking of wearing a cupcake hat.

Jewelry Making - http://jewelrymaking.craftgossip.com


For the more fashionable aware among you, here's something to look at - a pair of tall crocheted boots. Nope, not a pattern, but a finished pair by Ugg. It's about $120 and pretty cool but pricey (to me - especially since I hate wearing boots). I'm not endorsing them, but I'm sure some enterprising designer can figure out hot make a pair of crocheted boots.

Stylehive - Recent Bookmarks - http://www.stylehive.com


No, no kickbacks for me from any of these folks - just letting you know what's out there besides me.