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_

Freebie Monday 5/5/08

Want a pattern for a daisy square that "pops out" at you? Try this 3D granny square.
http://crochetmaryellen.blogspot.com/2007/06/easy-daisy-granny-square.html

Around Baltimore, it's that weird sort of weather - cool in the mornings and evenings, but warmish during the day. A shawl is the perfect solution for that inbetween weather:
http://www.caron.com/projects/ft/summer_shawl.html

You need to check this site out - she makes amazingly cool amigurimi toys and this pattern shows you how to make a human figure:
http://geekcentralstation.blogspot.com/2008/03/free-pattern-aragorn-and-boromir.html

I have to tell you I never really noticed Bonnie Pierce's name until the 2006 "Crochet Pattern a Day" calendar. I had seen her work before, but that calendar showcased her amazing talent with a roll (bullion) stitch. This site has patterns for a few of her squares and her work is so beautiful, I want to make one of everything. So far, I haven't but I definitely want to work a few of these squares into an afghan:
http://members.aol.com/gandal195/patternpg.html

Need a pattern for a small bag? This is a quick pattern to work up:
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/04/blog-post_30.html

This pattern is from a 1972 "McCall's Needlework". I remember the magazine well....this is "groovy";)
http://web.archive.org/web/20010908163424/www.cei.net/~vchisam/groovy/48-178bag.html


This site is about making "Izzy dolls" to give away. It has both crochet and knit patterns. The story behind the dolls is very powerful, please check it out:
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1007808

I have been working on a crocheted rainbow afghan for my nephew. He put the request in at Easter, I guess to give me lots of time to make it. I had debated on how to make the double bed size afghan. Right now, I'm thinking of going with a quilt sort of look. I really didn't want to do a double bed side ripple or make a ton of little motifs to sew together. I am almost finished the orange section (I already finished red), so that just gives me 5 more sections to finish and put together. At the present rate of work, I think I should be done in about 6 weeks. At least, I'm hoping to have it done in 6 weeks;) I'll see how it goes once I have more of the color sections done.

I love mystery books. I skipped Nancy Drew completely and went straight away to the Agatha Christie novels. I loved "The Cat Who...." books, the P.D. James books and the Diane Mott Davidson's books with the recipes in them. But now I am currently waiting for Amazon to deliver a crochet mystery book to me. It's called " Hooked on Murder" by Betty Hechtman. I don't know anything about it, but since there are quilt and knit mysteries out, it's about time for a crochet mystery book. I'll let you know how I like it after I read it.

As usual, I receive no kickbacks from any of the sites or products mentioned. I can be bought, but apparently no one wants to buy me;)

_enjoy_