FM 11/10/09

November 11 is Veteran's Day, which is so much more than buying carpet or mattresses. The poppy is for rememberance and here is a link for a crocheted poppy: http://crochetroo.blogspot.com/2007/04/anzac-poppy-free-crochet-pattern.ht
And here's part of the haunting poem.....
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

For the complete text of the poem: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm
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Now to go on to our normal Monday visit. I'm still limping around, but I had a grand time at Stitches East. Today (Sunday, November 9) is my birthday and my sons and my beloved gave me some wonderful gifts, some books, a cd, and even a tiny silver crochet hook. I could probably crochet with it, but I can't imagine working in thread that small. Here's your freebies.

Making a bag for yourself or as a gift and wondering if it's just too hard to line it? Check out this tutorial - sewing a lining in a crochet bag. http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2008/10/tutorial-sew-a-lining-into-a-crocheted-bag.aspx

This could be a quick gift idea - lovely wristlets.
http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/doral/doral_1.html

For those upcoming holiday parties, make an spectacular entrance with this sequin heart shawl
http://donnascrochetdesignstheblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/sequin-hearts-wrap-free-crochet-pattern.html

I have 3 things from Teresa, from "The Art of Crochet"
First, a new (to me) granny square - a checkerboard square granny
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/checkerboard-crochet-square.html

For the threadies in the audience, here's a beautiful crochet thread angel
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/10/crochet-thread-angel.html

And last but certainly not least, Teresa doing a drawing to celbrate her 200th blog entry
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/contest-drawing-2-this-is-in.html

I can't really imagine this, the local newspaper here smells like oily rags. But hopefully the yarn from old newspapers doesn't
http://www.dezeen.com/2007/10/21/yarn-from-old-newspapers-by-greetje-van-tiem/

Want something cute and furry - how about some slippers? I think they are cute, but my kittens would tear them up quickly...
http://www.christinascrochethaven.com/furry_girl.htm

Here's a beautiful pineapple shawl
http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_eco/sseco_pineapple_shawl.html

A free crochet e-book from Interwaeve Press -
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/patterns/archive/2008/11/07/IWC_2D00_gift_2D00_book.aspx

Amd now, a brief introduction to tapestry crochet by Carol Ventura
http://www.knitonthenet.com/issue7/features/tapestrycrochet/

There's a brand new online crochet magazine - "Crochet Uncut"
http://crochetuncut.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=88


Looking for a different potholder for the Christmas holiday - here's a Christmas tree light bulb potholder http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/4054/cldcph.htm


As usual, I have received no payment of any kind for any of these mentions. (Okay, except the Stitches East and I already explained that one) but I do accept bribes;) Just everybody is so honest, they don't offer bribes. Shame, I would take them.....

_enjoy_

FM 6/2/08

There's a neat online publication that's called "Canadian Living". It often has crochet patterns. Here's one for you:
http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/crochet/crocheted_halter_top_and_shawl.php

This link is not a freebie but I really like it. If I can find a few plastic geese, I think I'd have a perfect gift for my sister-in law. (Did I ever post the story about the "drive by scarfing" incident?) Here it is, costumes to dress your goose....
http://collins-ottinger.com/

This is a very pretty afghan pattern. It is the blogger's own and her favorite afghan pattern:
http://pumamouse.com/crochetmyfavorite.html

I know, I know - who wants to think of an afghan (at least in the North America area) when it's warm out. But this is quite pretty, you can work it up a few motifs at a time and you won't sweat to death doing it.
http://www.artoftangle.com/free_patterns.htm

This is an oldie but a goodie - a "hobo bag" by Lion Brand.
http://crochet.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=crochet&cdn=hobbies&tm=30&f=21&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//joann.lionbrand.com/patterns/ckc-tote.html

Purple Kitty has done it again. I find lobsters funny and this potholder is pretty cool. Or you could adapt the lobster pattern and sew it on a bag - maybe the hobo bag?
http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/potholders/lobster.html


A ribbed sock pattern:
http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/crochet/ribsox.shtml

As usual, I don't get any kickbacks from any of these people for listing their sites here. I'd take kickbacks, I'm not proud, but apparently everyone is watching their money;)

By the way, June 14 is "Knitting / Crocheting in Public Day". I'm not sure what my parents' anniversary has to do with public displays of needlework, but there you are. I happened to be watching an Oriole versus Yankee baseball game and saw a few people knitting in the stands.
(Of course, the Orioles lost because_ I _was watching, doing my own version of "Pitch and Stitch" at home.)

_enjoy_

FM 3/24/08

If you want to try crocheting with beads, this site has a cool beaded crochet bag.
http://promotions.drgnetwork.com/newsletters/talkingcrochet/pages/TCNL1608_patt1.html

In Chicago, the crocheters decided to do something slightly differnet than make hats and mittens - they decided to "artistically litter" the area, with, of course crochet on the trees.
http://www.neatorama.com/index.php?s=crochet+graffiti&Submit=Go

It's not too late to enter this contest. I really can't think of a heart design I haven't seen someone else do (and better, I might add) but hopefully you have more imagination than I do. Good luck!
http://www.crochettoday.com/pdfs/heartcontest.pdf

These are some Japanese crochet patterns. I don't know Japanese but my sons and my beloved know the language. But you can probably suss it out by the diagrams.
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/gosyo/437212/870755/

I have often though of running a bakery, with vintage crocheted potholders hung up as a kind of decoration. I haven't made a business plan or found a location, but I _can_ make these cool potholders.
http://tipnut.com/more-vintage-crochet-potholder-patterns-free-download/

Not free patterns, but a fashion show and some inspiration for you:
http://www.saralytle.com/

These are _book_ thongs, folks, not people thongs. Although what you do with them after you make them is entirely up to you. Check out the owl and fish _book_ thongs.
http://yarnigras.blogspot.com/2008/03/little-hoot-bookthong.html

Not a free pattern, but an interesting story of how crochet leads to higher education:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4447039a6497.html

It's sad but true - sometimes you don't get along with your crochet hook. It might split the yarn or decide to get lost at a crucial point in crocheting. Or you might be using it for something you shouldn't have been doing (killing the squeaker box on an annoying toy - Boye steel hook #7, I'm talking about _you_)) and the tip breaks off. Here's another use for it:
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Mar212008/sesame2008032058519.asp

I love sunflowers. I was especially disappointed last year that _no_ sunflowers grew in my yard. That's unusual for me because we usually have at least 5 growing tall (and sometimes more). This lapghan has the bright colors of sunflowers:
http://debscrafts55.blogspot.com/2008/03/sunflower-lap-ghan.html

This is a filet teddy bear square. It's pretty cool looking:
http://crochetpatternsonly.blogspot.com/2005_09_05_archive.html

This is the birds and the bees of crocheting;) When a "mommy yarn" and a "daddy yarn"... no, it's really a cute pattern for crocheted birds and bees:
http://kristieskids.weebly.com/patterns2.html


There was a pattern for a shawl called "Seraphina" (I'm not quite sure where it was originally published, to be truthful). Apparently, the pattern needed to be teaked and here it is, a seraphina shawl adaptation:
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/donisfuff/croshawl.html

Wonder about shelling out the cash for the ergonomic hooks? Here's a great review of the Provo brand of ergonomic crochet hooks:
http://crochet.craftgossip.com/hook-review-provo-ergonomic-hooks/2008/03/13/

Did I mention this Spider-Man afghan before? If I did. sorry, I just happened to remember it again. If not, well, hooray for me;)
http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/angelcrafts/patterns/spidermanroundrippleafghan.html


As usual, I receive no kickbacks from any site I have mentioned. I'd take them, but nobody's offering;)
Enjoy