FM 2/25/08

okay, so I'm a day late (and a dollar short;))

Do you happen to have a pattern that uses the Bristish sizing for hooks and you're wondering - do I have this hook? Here's the place to go for the conversion:
http://www.grandriveryarns.com/needlechart.htm

Toast is great - it can be breakfast or a little something for the rumbly tummy. Growing up, toast and tea cured almost everything. But I've never seen a toast purse (complete with pat of butter) until now. It's cute.
http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2006/09/05/butter-me-up/

But maybe you prefer cookies - Oreo to be specific. I think these are cool and I don't even like Oreo cookies. Plus you don't have to worry about the "proper" way to eat them (middle first of the whole cookie). Yes, crocheting food is a little silly, but if you can't have fun with your crochet, what can you have fun with? Here you go.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34890489.tip.html

I'm not a tatoo person. I'm not scared of the needle (however, the cost makes me wince) but I'm just not into them for myself. But they are some cool craft tats. No crochet ones, but there's a sewing machine as well as a knitting tat.
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/09/crafty_tats.html
http://flickr.com/photos/theloneknitta/2222634141/in/pool-craft

Do you want to make a little girl (12-24 months) a pretty spring dress? Here's a pattern for you:
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=72570

Or maybe it's time for a new hat? This lovely beret is very impressive, especially with the bow:
http://creativeyarn.blogspot.com/2008/02/puff-stitch-crochet-beret-with-bow.html

Do you need a refresher course in crocheting? Or maybe you just want to watch somebody eles's technique? Check this out
http://sharonb.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/learn-how-to-crochet/#comment-18914


As always, no kickbacks.

"Black Purl"

I purchased the November/December 2007 issue from www.black-purl-magazine.com.
Now before you go "ahh, purl, isn't that a knitting term? isn't this blog about crochet?" Yes and yes.
But "Black Purl" is not just about knitting. The cover has Xenobia Bailey's crocheted mandalas, which are awesome to see in color. The magazine also features an interview with M's Bailey about her work.
There's also a pattern by Carol Ventura for a tapestry crochet hat as well as a pattern for small crocheted stars. There are also knitting patterns in it. (One pattern is for a mohair cat blanket. My cats prefer chenille, particularly the Lion Brand "Thick and Quick") There's a few articles about charity knitting and pricing your work, that you can adapt to your own crochet work.
"Black Purl" also has an online magazine at the same site. And no, I don't get a kickback from them, I had been meaning to write a little something about this magazine for a while and I finally got around to doing it.

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_

FM 2/11/08

Think only women are daring enough to make cool wearables out of crochet? Check this website out and you will change your mind.
http://blog.jengibrewear.com/2007/08/verano-overalls.html

How about something quite different in crochet wearables? No patterns but lots of eye candy. There's a lot of what appears to be freeform work in this site.
http://www.susanobrant.com/


Looking for something quick and easy for Valentine's Day? Or maybe you're planning a Saint Patrick's Day gift for someone. I'm thinking Easter prezzies for the great-nephews.... Check this out:
Click here: "The Gabu" Crochet Amigurumi Creature Free Pattern

Maybe you're looking for some heart shaped crochet, just in time for Valentine's Day? Here's 2 different sites.
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa021099.htm?nl=1

http://thinking.ivalerie.com/
heart bookmarks

I know it's Heart Month, but I couldn't skip over this particular freebie. It's for a chemo cap.
http://byhookorneedles.blogspot.com/2008/01/chemo-hat-with-hdc-brim.html


_enjoy_

not today

I got an eye infection....
maybe Tuesday? I haven't even felt like crocheting....

fm 1/28/08

I can't believe I missed the chance to see this very cool car in person when it was at Artscape. But I did, unfortunately. But here's your chance to check it out and read all about how the yarn card came to be. It's amazingly cool.
http://www.yarncar.com/


It's the end of January and some of you have had a long snowy winter. (Some of us haven't). But if you need some beautiful, colorful crochet to check out, here's the site:
http://www.gusset.net/kip/archives/000479.html
I love the abundance of colors used in the skirt.

Check out this cool frog:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22811120@N06/2199939448/

and now for the free patterns

Did you buy that combination soy/acrylic yarn? Did you know you could dye it with Kool Aid?Here's a site about doing just that:
http://k2sc1.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/dying-soy-acrylic-yarn/

Want to crochet some slippers? Here's a site with a lot of free slipper patterns:
http://fabricfolliestwo.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/crochet-slipper-pattern-links-free-crochet-slipper-patterns/

I would have never thought of this in a million years, but it's so _cool_. I could have really used it when both of my sons were still living at home. I could get 4 to 5 milk bottle caps in a week (or less).
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=69985

Is there such a thing as "too many handbags"? Some people say that could happen, but I say it's just not possible - it's like saying "that's too much yarn". So if you want to make some new purses, check this out:
http://www.freewebs.com/ceciscreations/freepatterns.htm

I love flowers, but it will be a while before I see any in my yard - even the crocuses haven't bloomed yet. But to help tide me over, here's a great flower pattern I want to share with you:
http://mycrochetstuff.blogspot.com/2007/03/loopy-flowers-free-pattern.html

_enjoy_

FM 1/21/08

I didn't know this, but you must label the items you make for sale. I thought just having care instructions with the article would be good enough, but apparently, I am wrong. For more info, check this site out:
http://crochet.about.com/library/bllabel_apparel.htm

I started reading "Woman's Day" a very long time ago, long before marriage and kids, while I was still in high school. I especially liked their craft pages (yes, they did have it back then - I even remember that they would have crafts on a sort of regular basis). I still subscribe to "Woman's Day" tho it seldom has any crafts. This month, however, it does have a link for crochet patterns. I particularly like the last pattern, the bag. Here's the link:
http://www.womansday.com/home/12725/12-crochet-crafts.html

Here's some more free crochet patterns, pretty cool stuff:
http://www.quamut.com/category/crochet

Yes, I know Dr Martin Luther King Jr's birthday was January 15. But the federal celebration of the holiday in January 21, so I'm including this today. Any day is appropriate for peace, in my opinion.
http://crochet.craftgossip.com/martin-luther-king-crochet-for-peace/2008/01/16/


Before you know it, Valentine's Day will be here. Want something quick and cute to crochet for Valentine's Day? Here you go:
http://crochet.craftgossip.com/everywhere-a-valentine/2008/01/14/

I stumbled across this site and thought it was very pretty:
http://designismine.blogspot.com/2008/01/frenchknicker-faux-crochet.html
It is very similiar to Maggie Weldon's porcelain work with doilies, her stuff is _beautiful_.
And since I mentioned it, here's her site. The bowls are lovely, but i have to admit I'd be a little afraid to use them - afraid I might break them. Fortunately for me, she also sells ornaments, that I wouldn't be afraid of breaking. Here's her bowl work and you can check out the ornaments from there:
http://www.lacepottery.com/Pottery_large_bowls_main.htm

Want to see somebody crochet a baby amigurumi penguin - here you go:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Crochet-a-Baby-Penguin-Amigurumi/

I'm not a crochet designer (nor do I play one on tv;)) but here's a blog by one. Just in case you think crochet designers are "rolling in the dough" and that makes it okay to duplicate their patterns for your profit, Kim Guzman's here to point out the error of your ways:
http://kimguzman.bravejournal.com/

What can I say? I love M's Crone-Findlay's stuff. If I had a grandchild, he or she would be wearing this hat - at least long enough for me to take a picture;) I doubt I could get my sons to wear them now....but I could try;)
http://www.modadea.com/patterns/CTFEB07froghat.htm
Noreen Crone-Findlay's froggy hat


I know, I know - everybody thinks bunnies are so cute and so innocent. But on this particular blog, they are evil. You can ust the pattern provided to crochet an evil bunny (or a good bunny, whatever you would prefer):

Click here: Evil Minions « gnat on the windshield

As always, I do not get a kickback from any of these folks. I'd be willing to take a kickback;) but nobody offers any payola to be posted on my blog. oh well.

_enjoy_