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

freebie Monday 11/12/07

Most of you probably know about the "Annie's Attic" site, but I especially liked this one:
_Annie's Hooked on Crochet!: Free Pattern of the Week - Ribbon Candy Afghan_
(http://www.annieshookedoncrochet.com/freepatternoftheweek.html)


I like Stevie Nicks, from Fleetwood Mac to her solo career. Another crocheter likes her so much, a lot of her crocheting has to do with Stevie Nicks:
http://www.theedgeof17.com/crochet/


How about a crocheted earring tutorial? This is really cool.
kardemumma - http://krumbukta.blogspot.com/

For those of you who can't get enough granny squares, here's a picture of a "granny square rec room".
http://pattihaskins.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/mocca_4.jpg


And here's the pattern for the purse you'll need in the "granny square rec room". You might lose it there, but what the heck: http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/mika/mika.html

Wondering want to whip up quickly for a gift exchange? Try this fancy dish cloth:
http://crochet.about.com/od/kitchenpatterns/a/cstfancloth.htm


Priscilla Hewitt has some lovely free patterns for Christmas (and other times as well). Check out her terrific website: http://members.aol.com/lffunt/christmas.htm

Another "quickie" for a gift exchange - you could make them in Christmas colors or maybe to match something else:
http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/11/crochet_coaster_flower_pattern.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954

And now for the winner of the Sylvia Cosh "The Crochet Sweater Book". It's CrochetLassie, I have emailed her for her snail mail address. Thanks to all who participated in the contest.

Knitty Gritty and Hairpin Lace

I do not receive a kickback* from "Knitty Gritty", Jennifer Hansen (or "Stitch Diva") or Ed Jenkins. I just want to share what I thought was a great show on hairpin lace.

Last Friday (April 6) on "Knitty Gritty", Jennifer Hansen from "Stitch Diva" was on the show to give a tutorial about hairpin lace. Vickie Howell, the host, kept referring to hairpin lace as a knitting technique, but M's Hansen told her it was a _crochet_ technique. (woo hoo!) If you ever wondered about how to create hairpin lace or even what you would do with it, I suggest checking out that particular "Knitty Gritty" (if you can). M's Hansen gave clear, concise instructions and showed how to combine hairpin lace and knitting. It was if your friend stopped by and showed you how to do a new skill. But the hat she created could be adapted to a crochet hat.
M's Hansen gave a tip I thought was _very_ helpful - okay, to me it was. She said when you are making hairpin lace, always make it longer than you think you will need. That way, when you match up the two (or three) pieces to crochet together, you will always be able to match the stitches precisely. Whatever hairpin lace you don't need can be eaily unraveled.
I was really impressed with the way she demonstrated the technique. And the hairpin lace tool she used was just _gorgeous_. I have an ancient Boye hairpin lace pin. It does the job, it's practical and it's probably older than I am, but I was quite impressed with the Ed Jenkins beautiful hairpin lace tool.
I'm including the link to the tutorial on the "Stitch Diva" site:
http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=73

I'm thinking of maybe a shawl using hairpin lace....

*but if they offered me a kickback, I would take it.

Cooking with Paula Deen and Crochet

I have to admit when I was standing in line at Joann's ETC or whatever it's called this week, I wasn't looking at Paula Deen holding a plate of brownies, thinking "I bet there's something about crochet in there." Instead, I was thinking "oooh, those brownies look _good_" as if I need more brownies or even another recipe for brownies. But buy it I did...

But there's an article called "Worth Collecting" that is about displaying vintage crochet. Some vintage crochet is displayed in what I consider the "usual way" - edging for shelves. But there are also some displays of the crochet used as curtains. Pretty cool stuff. I did especially like the tea cozy, just beautiful. I have few pieces of vintage crochet, but it is inspiring to see it displayed in the windows. She makes the suggestion of using ribbons to tie the crochet to the curtain rods, so there isn't undue stress of the crochet.

So I got another new recipe for brownies and some photos of vintage crochet - pretty good deal, I think....

www.pauladeenmagazine.com