Crochet Design – Page 11

A Gift for a Sweet Baby

July 1, 2014Crochet Design, Inspiration1 Comment

My favorite design inspirations usually come from crocheting up a gift for a special occasion or event. Just a little under a year ago my niece became a mother for the second time. Makes me feel a bit old having a great-nephew and great-niece, but it is also the celebration of the circle of life. I found inspiration in the arrival of this new baby girl and decided to make her a “heritage” style crocheted blanket.

The first time I would get to see the newest addition to our family was when we went back for Thanksgiving. So I began to work on the blanket in September, about the time all the upheaval of the floods happened, it was a good calming project to work on each day. The body of the blanket is a simple cushy stitch that doesn’t require a great deal of attention, then an elaborate ruffled lace border finished off the edge.

I completed the last bits of the border as we drove across Kansas for our November visit. I didn’t get much in the way of photographs of the finished project, but the photo above is a close-up of the border.

After we returned from our trip my niece posted a photo of her baby with the new blanket on Facebook. Michele Maks, the founder and editor of the online crochet site MainlyCrochet.com saw it and asked me if I would be willing to create a version of it for her site.

After a bit of discussion we came up with the Lila blanket and it is available thru the mainlycrochet.com website. This pattern was designed using Lion Brand Yarn’s “Vanna’s Choice Baby” in 2 colors.

If there is a sweet baby in your life that you want to make a beautiful crocheted blanket for sign up for a subscription (if you haven’t already) and you can get this pattern and many more wonderful patterns to crochet for yourself or others.

The Weeks go Marching By

February 21, 2014February 21, 2014Chain Link, Crochet, Crochet Design, TNNA10 Comments

2014 is proving to be a very busy year for me, March (and National Crochet Month) is just around the corner. I have lots of exciting projects going on that I can’t quite reveal yet. Though I can show your my most recently published design.

My “Convertible Cardigan” can be found in the April 2014 issue of Crochet World Magazine. This was a cardigan that I made for myself to wear last summer at the TNNA show in Columbus, Ohio.

Of course I picked a hot pink colorway, since this was for my own wardrobe. The editors liked the color so much that they used my original cardigan for the photo shoot. Worked in Tahki Cotton Classic Lite it is a great layer for wearing in air-conditioned venues, though right now on my mountain I can’t really envision a need for air-conditioning.

The sweater is back with me now and if you come to TNNA in May or the Knit & Crochet Show in July you may spot me wearing this cardigan.

Be sure to stop by again often in March. I’ll have lots of fun blog posts to share with all my wonderful readers to celebrate NatCroMo, including a post on the 15th as part of the Crochetville’s 2014 National Crochet Month Designer Blog Tour.

Crochet for Your Valentine

January 24, 2014January 24, 2014Celebrating, Crochet, Crochet Design1 Comment

If you haven’t seen these 2 new designs that Red Heart has published on their website now is the perfect time to check them out. Valentine’s Day is just 3 weeks away.

First up is my “Here’s my Heart Gift Bag” which is an ideal size for a small gift of cookies or other goodies. The picture shows it as a fun little tote for a toddler, but it is a great bag for anyone you want to show your love to this Valentine’s Day.

The lace edged heart on the front is actually a little pocket, where a note or small card can be tucked away.

Need a gift that you can stitch up super fast? How about my quick little “Valentine Heart Coaster”. These medium sized hearts are worked in Red Heart Super Saver. They only take about 17 yards of yarn, so you can get approximately 21 hearts from a 7 ounce skein of yarn. You could also work them in Red Heart Soft yarn and use them to embellish the ends of a scarf if you have a bit more time.

So pick up your hook and crochet up some hearts for a special gift for your Valentine.

Getting Twisted

January 10, 2014January 10, 2014Crochet, Crochet DesignLeave a Comment

2014 has had an interesting start for me. My whole family has been down with a nasty cold cough bug, so I am only beginning to come back up for air from our holiday celebrations. Fortunately the crud didn’t get too bad until after all our visitors had left, so we got out and had lots of fun seeing friends and family over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

twisted mobius style title (1) — Photo courtesy of MainlyCrochet.com

If you have a subscription to MainlyCrochet.com you may have already seen my latest published design “Twisted Granny Mobius”.

One of my favorite geometric shapes to crochet is a Mobius. This design approaches that shape a little differently. Instead of making a foundation round that is twisted at the join, you make a strip of little squares that are joined together as you work them. The last square is joined to the first with the required twist. Then rounds are worked off the edges of the strip to create the rest of the fabric for the project.

The finished loop is long and narrow, which gives you some fun fashion options. You can wear it as a long scarf, great option for adding a pop of color to an outfit indoors, then double the end over your head like a cowl for added warmth under your coat when you head outdoors.

Check out MainlyCrochet.com for this pattern and lots of other really great crochet patterns. A subscription to MainlyCrochet.com is only $24 a year and gives you access to lots of marvelous patterns.

A Wedding to Celebrate

November 22, 2013November 22, 2013Celebrating, Crochet DesignLeave a Comment

Tomorrow my very dear friend T’s daughter is getting married. I have known this young woman for most of her life. T and I met when her daughter was only 18 months old. I’ve been privileged to be a part of her and her younger sister ‘s lives as a sort of honorary aunt. So at the wedding I am very likely to be a bit tearful.

This wedding has been, like many weddings, in the planning for awhile. And with weddings on the brain, I was pleased that my bridal thread designs for Red Heart are all available on their website now.

There is my “Bride’s Garter” pattern. This garter is embellished with a layered and beaded flower, similar to the flower on my “Flowered Wedding Favor Box“. And the lace pattern of the garter is a double sided version of the lace edging on my “Something Blue Hanky”.

If there is a wedding in your circle coming up soon, these are some lovely designs to crochet for the bride. And remember you don’t have to stick to the traditional colors. Aunt Lydia’s Size #10 Classic Crochet Thread comes in over 50 different colors.

Time to polish my dancing shoes in preparation of a happy evening of celebrating. And make sure that I have lots of tissues on hand for the tearful moments.

Little Bumpy Bag

November 18, 2013November 17, 2013Crochet, Crochet Design1 Comment

This fun little baglet pattern I designed for Red Heart Yarns is now available as a free pattern on their website.

When I was first coming up with this design I had my own clutzy tendencies in mind. I tend to get distracted and set things down in a spot where they get bumped or knocked onto the floor. So I wanted to use a stitch that would create a fairly “cushy” fabric.

This little squished cluster stitch was ideal. Using a single crochet st on either side of it gives the mini “popcorn” look. It reminds me a bit of the doilies my grandmother had on the kitchen table with bunches of grapes decorating them.

I also used a smaller size hook than I normally do, because I wanted a denser fabric. The fabric is still elastic enough to fit snugly around the phone, but it maintains the “cushion” effect with the tighter stitch work. So if you are substituting yarns, remember to adjust your hook size to get a firm fabric.

I liked how this little bag came out so much that I decided to make a slightly larger version in Red Heart’s Boutique “Unforgettable” for my phone (minus the strap). If you need a larger version of the bag for your phone, just add chain stitches to the beginning foundation in groups of 2 until you reach the width you want your baglet to be. To fit my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone I made my foundation chain 30 and worked 5 extra rows on each side.

A smaller version works great for a business card case. I made the example above in Aunt Lydia’s Size #3 Cotton Crochet Thread using a size E-4/3.5mm hook for the foundation chain and a D-3/3.25mm hook for the baglet. I followed the same instructions for the original baglet just leaving off the chain handle.

You could even make the original baglet in the size it is written for and use it to hold a gift card this holiday season. The baglet is the gift wrap and part of the gift.

I hope you enjoy making this fun little project as much as I did designing it.

Front or Back?

November 14, 2013November 12, 2013Crochet, Crochet Design, HumorLeave a Comment

Back when I first began to sew and crochet my mother and grandmother were my tutors. One thing that was always emphasized was that your work should be finished nicely. The back (or wrong side) of projects needed to look just as nice as the front. I have always tried to continue in this tradition with my work, sewing neatly and tidying up all ends of thread and yarn at the completion of a project.

Photo courtesy of Crochet World/Annie's Publishing — Photo courtesy of Crochet World/Annie’s Publishing

This year I found this habit to be rather a minus instead of a plus, when my “Greek Squares Afghan” was photographed for the August 2013 issue of Crochet World. If you look at the photograph above you wouldn’t notice, unless you knew, that it was photographed from the wrong side. So my take is now that it is a reversible afghan.

If you are wondering what the afghan looks like from the “right” side the above photo shows you. The crocheted joining (in brown) is supposed to create ridges that emphasize the multicolored blocks.

This is a surprisingly speedy project to work up. The afghan is made with 25 rectangles that are then crocheted together. All worked in bulky weight yarn so progress is quick for a generous sized afghan. Could even be made with only 16 blocks as a nice sized “lapghan” or child sized blanket. Each block is approximately 8 x 5″ and are easy to carry with you to work on individually.

My friend and “secret weapon” Val actually crocheted up all the blocks for the sample and I did all the joining and tail weaving. When I got the sample back from Crochet World I spent an afternoon snuggled up in it crocheting in my design office. It is super cuddly.

If you are wanting to make this afghan you may not be able to find the August issue on newsstands any longer. You can get back-issues or subscribe to the digital version of Crochet World at their website. A digital subscription gives you access to 2 year’s of digital back issues as well as the current issue.

Ruffled Rose Pin

November 12, 2013November 12, 2013Crochet, Crochet Design, How Tos2 Comments

So November is zipping along already and that means big holidays just around the corner. I’ve been preparing for our Thanksgiving, ordering our turkey and coordinating with family members for getting together.

Thanksgiving is the usual starting gun for me for my Christmas panic. Suddenly it’s time for Holiday parties, school programs, and family coming to visit. This year Thanksgiving is falling a bit later in the month, so I am trying to get myself motivated early.

I was very excited to be reminded of a design I created for Red Heart Yarns: Ruffled Rose Pin. This fun little pin takes about 4 yards of smooth worsted weight yarn (sample used Red Heart Soft Yarn), and 15 yards of Red Heart’s Boutique “Sassy Fabric” yarn. You can get 2 pins out of one skein of the Sassy Fabric, and it comes in 9 different styles/colors.

You could even substitute their “Sassy Lace” that comes in 7 different colors.

Working with a “yarn” like these is a bit different. I’m always fussing at the raw end of the fabric strip, I like my projects to look tidy and neat when I finish. I discovered some nifty tricks as I developed this design, I hid the ends inside the backing.

As you can see in the above photo the back of the pin looks as nice as the front (my grandmother would be so proud of me).

Even with the finishing work on the back of the pin, this is a quick little project, perfect for a last-minute gift. It took me about 30 minutes from start to finish to make the Lace version of my Ruffled Rose Pin. Granted, I am a very speedy crocheter, but even someone working at half my speed can finish a couple of these in an evening.

Edited to add: You can find the pattern at RedHeart.com in their Free Patterns.

Unforgettable Granny Fans

November 10, 2013September 29, 2015Celebrating, Crochet, Crochet DesignLeave a Comment

It is fall and the trees down in town have been putting on a show with colorful leaves. I couldn’t resist taking some photos this week when I was off my mountain.

With Fall adding a chilly nip to the air (and the snow we have had up here on my mountain) I’m definitely feeling the holiday season just around the corner.

MainlyCrochet Photo — Photo courtesy of MainlyCrochet.com

Which is why I’m so excited to share my design the “Granny Fans Scarf”

It is available thru the MainlyCrochet.com website. If you haven’t had a chance to check out MainlyCrochet.com you will be delighted with all the wonderful patterns you can have access to for a small annual subscription fee.

This is a really fun to stitch scarf that I designed especially to work well with color changing yarns like the lovely “Unforgettable” from the Red Heart Boutique line. The finished scarf looks like painstaking color changes were worked and all those lovely little tails were tidied away. Instead the yarn does all the heavy lifting and you get the accolades.

This is a super fast project to work up for a holiday gift. You can make it as the scarf length in the pattern. Or work fewer “fans”, add a button and you have a lovely neck cozy.

Just be warned though. This is a rather addictive project to crochet. I found myself happily lulled along as I stitched up the sample.

Update September 30, 2015 – The pattern for this scarf is now available thru my Ravelry Shop as “Granny Fans Redux” as well as thru the MainlyCrochet.com website. You can see the pattern page on Ravelry by clicking this link, and you can read a few more details about the new version on my blog post here.

My Secret Weapon

August 14, 2013August 14, 2013Celebrating, Crochet, Crochet DesignLeave a Comment

Anyone who is successful will tell you that they couldn’t have done it alone. This is certainly true for me and my crochet design work. In fact, two of my recently published designs owe their existence to my secret weapon, Val.

At the July 2012 Knit & Crochet Show in Manchester I had a meeting with the lovely Carol Alexander. She is the editor-in-chief for Annie’s “Crochet! Magazine” and “Crochet World”, and a former designer herself. We were discussing all the design ideas I have, but that my time for creating samples was limited. She suggested that I look into finding some contract crocheters that could stitch up samples for me while I work on creating the designs.

So I talked to a number of my designer friends to find out if they used contract crocheters and what was the best way to go about finding someone. Many of them use contractors that live far away from them, this involves shipping yarn and projects back and forth. Some are fortunate to live in an area where they have lots of reliable crocheters nearby to choose from.

But I live on a mountain, a fair distance from most everyone I know of that is interested in doing contract crochet. Then I had the brilliant idea of my friend Val doing some crocheting for me, she lives down the mountain from me so shipping wasn’t an issue.

Val and I have known each other for about 7 years and have been getting together regularly to crochet for the past 3. She helped me teach the Crochet Club at our local elementary school. So all that was left was to ask her if she would be interested in doing contract crochet work. We discussed the details and logistics of her doing this work for me. And thus began a new facet of our relationship.

The first design she worked on was my “Butterfly Days Baby Blanket” published this summer in the June issue of Crochet World.

The second design she worked on was my “Greek Squares Afghan” that just came out in the August issue of Crochet World. Val crocheted all the blocks for me, then I crocheted them together and did the final edging.

The photo was taken by me in my living room before I shipped off the finished afghan. I found myself glad that I had photographed it, as there was some confusion when the photography was shot for the magazine. The picture in the magazine shows the afghan from the backside. Fortunately, I always finish both sides of my work to look good.

Val has worked with me on a couple other projects since that one, but they haven’t been published yet. Because of her work I am able to design more large projects, like afghans and throws. Keep an eye out for more designs from me, now that I have my not so secret weapon.