FM 1/19/09

It's been _cold_ here in my neck of the woods. And my leg still hurts, boo hoo. But here you go,
I do have the free patterns this week, if you can tear yourself away from the Inaguration and football....

You have to see this - it's amazing. I think Teresa should partner with a yarn company to sell this as a kit:
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2009/01/barack-obama-crochet-painting-with-yarn.html

Cjeck out this gallery of great crochet
http://crochetinsider.com/gallery6.html

I do recycle, but this is taking recycling to a higher level
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123180107217975103.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Is this the year you submit your crochet pattern to a magazine -
here's some info
http://www.thisiscrochet.com/2009/01/12/8-ways-to-create-an-attractive-crochet-submission-package-pt-1/

Here's a job I never would have thought of - crocheting for the movies:
http://www.granttribune.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=211:woman-creating-blankets-for-movie-has-family-in-grant&catid=37:lifestyle&Itemid=57

Here's a lovely scarf pattern from Australia
http://crochetroo.blogspot.com/2008/09/stingey-neck-warmer-and-fluffy-scarf.html

And how about a crochet purse?
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/purse.shtml

The next 4 are from Moomglow:
scarf stitch
http://www.orble.com/scarf-stitch/

a open motif
http://www.orble.com/free-rose-and-white-motif-crochet-pattern/

a crochet carrot bag
http://www.orble.com/free-carrot-carryall-crochet-pattern/

and a demonstration of one type of shell stitch
http://www.orble.com/free-large-shells-scarf-stitch-crochet-pattern/

And if you're like me, you got plenty of t-shirts that may be a little, well, sad. Here's how to make a rug out of t-shirts:
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/39345/how-to-crochet-a-rug-out-of-t-shirts

Here's a neat motif - a circle square
http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/circle%20of%20friends%20square.html

If you got a boy to crochet for, chances are he will love this - a gross eye patch
http://kellyskraftystuff.blogspot.com/2008/11/mad-eye-patch-free-pattern.html

How about a cute little beaver pattern
http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/01/damed_beaver/

You can't use it to hold hot water, but it's still cute - a crochet tea pot
http://knottsend.blogspot.com/

And there's a moose on the loose
http://yanaknits.com/projects/crocheted-toy-moose/

And here's a charity even coming up - V-Day. They are accepting donations for scarves for auction at Frostburg State University, but there are other events going on - www.vday.org
If you want to donate to the scarf sale, here's the info:

Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement

Attn: Dawn Lucas - V-Day Committee

20 Braddock Road

Frostburg, MD 21532

As usual, I get no payola from the sites listed. That's probably a good thing because otherwise I'd have to declare it as income on my income taxes and it would bump me to a much higher bracket;)

_enjoy_ (and stay warm!)

Going for the Gold

As I have written before, I joined Crochetville's Olympic 2008 challenge. I had originally wanted to do Carol Ventura's kitty tapestry bag, but didn't have the materials at hand. So I decided I would do 50 preemie hats (using my pattern) for the University of Maryland NICU. I joined "Team Baby". It doesn't seem like much of a challenge, I know, but I figure the late start would give me the challenge. So far, I have 16 preemie hats crocheted and delivered. That gives me a bit over a week to make 34 more (_eeek_).
If I make it to 50, I get a gold medal from Crochetville. I think it's just a button to put on my blog, but that would be cool. We'll see how this goes...

here's a repost of the pattern: (from July 2007)
I keep my 2007 "Crochet Pattern a Day" calendar at my desk. I sort of forgot that July 12 was the date my pattern would appear. So I thought I'd post it here, for anyone and everyone. Please do not claim this pattern as yours, I hold the copyright. If you want to make the hats and donate them, that's fine by me. Please do not repost this pattern to your website, just send any inquiries you might have to this website. I thank you in advance for your co-operation and I hope many of you will be making preemie hats to donate.

##########################################################
Here's the pattern:

Skill level: C3 - intermediate
Fiber: Red Heart - Baby Sport Pompadour (I also use Lion Brand "Jamie", but this happened to be done in the Red Heart Baby Sport)
Color #1046 Carousel Print
Gauge: 5 stitches x 2 rows = 1 inch/2.5cm in dc
Hook size: steel E US/3.5mm
Notions: Yarn Needle
Stitches used: chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet

Round 1: Chain 6, join with a slip stitch, chain 2. Double crochet 11 double crochets into the ring, counting the chain 2 as a double crochet, equals 12 stitches. Join at top of chain 2 with a slip stitch.
Round 2: Chain 2, double crochet in round 1's chain 2 stitch, 2 double crochets in each stitch around, counting the starting chain 2 stitch as a double crochet equals 24 double crochets. Join with a slip stitch to top of the chain 2 stitch.
Round 3: Chain 2, double crochet in round 2's chain 2 stitch, *1 double crochet in next stitch, 2 double crochets in next stitch all the way around, counting the starting chain 2 stitch as a double crochet equals 36 stitches. Join with a slip stitch to top of the chain 2 stitch.
Round 4: Chain 2, double crochet in round3's chain 2 stitch, *1 double crochet in next 2 stitches, 2 double crochets in next stitch, all the way around, counting the starting chain 2 stitch as a double crochet equals 48 stitches. Join with a slip stitch to top of the chain 2 stitch.
Round 5-9: Chain 2, double crochet in each double crochet around. Join with a slip stitch to top of the chain 2 stitch.
Round 10: Chain 5, double crochet in second double crochet from hook from joining chain, *chain 1, skip 1 double crochet, double crochet in the next double crochet all the way around. Join with a slip stitch to top of the chain 2 stitch.
Round 11: Chain 4, single crochet in second chain from hook, single crochet in next 2 chains, attach to round 10 by slip stitching to chain 1 space *working in back loops only, single crochet in each of the 3 single crochets, chain 1, turn, single crochet in each of the 3 single crochets, attach to round 10 by slip stitching to chain 1 space all the way around, total 48 rows. Slip stitch the ribbing together by working thru the back loop of row 48 and the bottom of the chain for the first row of single crochets.

Break off and weave in ends.

Chain stitch 90, fasten off, weave in ends. Thread the chain 90 thru round 10. Make a small bow.

fm 4/21/08

This is a really cool pattern for crocheted socks:
http://loveyarn1984.blogspot.com/2008/04/small-shell-socks.html

Yes, it is Earth Day this week. Although some media outlets are calling Earth Day a "national holiday", it's not really - the post office and the banks remain open. But I never need a holiday to post a link to Noreen Crone-Findlay's site for some cool crochet. Here's a crocheted market bag as M's Crone-Findlay's contribution to Earth Day
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/crocheted-market-bag

Do you ever dream about crochet? Sometimes I think about a pattern before I go to sleep, it seems to help me fall asleep faster. But this woman dreams of crochet and creates hats with her dreams:
http://tapestrycrochet.blogspot.com/

Not a pattern site, but something totally different in the land of crochet. Here's a crochet crab and a frog (among other animals) by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos.

http://casasugar.com/1549938

This pattern combines 2 of my favorite things - crochet and buttons.
http://crochetroo.blogspot.com/2008/04/button-blossom-brooch-free-crochet.html

This is a character from the "Dr Who" tv seiries:

http://community.livejournal.com/starrs_crodream/13453.html

Did you ever have a Blythe doll? I was a little too old for dolls when she became popular. But my younger sisters had one. They would have asked me to make this hat for their doll.
http://www.knitchat.com/2008/03/28/freebie-friday-blythe-crocheted-hat/


Many, many years ago, I was married to a guitarist. The band would usually practice at my house. I wish there was something like this pattern then.
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/04/rock_band_drum_kit_crochet_covers_prevent_eviction-2.html


Looking for a springtime centerpiece - check out Berroco's pattern for pussywillow and hydrangea.

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/centerpiece/centerpiece.htm



as usual, no payoffs.
_enjoy_

fm April 14, 2007

I know in some parts of the world it's almost time to ditch the socks and go to sandals - but come on, socks are small and easy to carry with you project, so here's an easy sock pattern.
http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/crochet/ribsox.shtml

Want to see a crocheted swimsuit? This is cute.
http://www.crochetsal.com/summeryswimsuit.htm

Carol Ventura does fantastic tapestry crochet - and if you like cats, this is perfect for you.
http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/KittyBag.htm

A new edition of the Essentia newsletter (Black Purl) for your reading pleasure.
http://www.black-purl-magazine.com/NEWS-041108.htm

This looks like a really cool exhibit if you plan to be in the Pittsburgh area anytime before the end of June, 2008.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_560494.html

Here's a cute pair of earrings from Roxycraft:
http://roxycraft.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/free-pattern-cherry-pickers-crochet-cherry-earrings/

Since in some places it's getting warmer, here's a lovely lace top to crochet.
http://naturallycaron.com/projects/aqua_aloha/aqua_aloha_1.html

Lady Linoleum always has wonderful offbeat handwork on her blog. I love the lobsters on this shawl, but I love how lobsters _look_. They just make me laugh. I have no idea why.
Lobster Bake Shawl

Looking for a new fence for the yard? This is a beautiful fence (not crocheted, but I still thought it was cool). Really cool.
http://www.demakersvan.com/

Lots of free reading this week - a new issue of "Crochet Insider"
http://www.crochetinsider.com/

This looks like a great place to check out crochet toys:
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080329/LIFESTYLES0104/803290305/-1/lifestylesfront

Starch?! I didn't know anyone used liquid starch anymore, I thought my mom used the world's supply on my petticoats and my dad's boxers.....
http://teenhobbies.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/adding-starch-to-your-finished-crochet-projects/
.
Cute little caterpillar pattern:
http://groups.msn.com/CwmEnfysCrochet/rainbowcaterpiller.msnw

As usual, I receive no kickbacks from any of these sites.
_enjoy_