Category Archives: Crochet

Cindy the SuperModel Gets in on Our Headband Photo Shoot

Mike Wearing a Crocheted Headband and Holding Cindy the SuperModel Kitten

Mike Wearing a Crocheted Headband and Holding Cindy the SuperModel Kitten

A few days ago, I made Mike a couple of new, guy-friendly crocheted headbands. I asked him if he’d let me post his picture wearing them on various websites online, and of course, he agreed.

The cockpit of our boat was the most convenient location for the photo shoot, so we headed out there.

Cindy, one of our cute little kittens, just would not leave us alone while we were taking the pictures. She kept trying to climb up Mike’s leg during the entire photo shoot. It’s as if she were trying to say, “hey guys, I’m the supermodel in this family!” (Note: We did name her after Cindy Crawford, and we do jokingly refer to her as “Cindy the SuperModel.”) So what could we do but include her in the pics? Cute cats = lots of website clicks! Er, we hope.

Cindy seems to get prettier every day; I think she is really turning out to be a beautiful cat. And of course, Mike is my favorite model when it comes to guys’ crochet projects.

Our kitties used to be scared of the outside world, and in the past they were content to stay inside the boat. Not anymore; nowadays they are playing outside on top of the boat — with supervision only, because we’re worried that the naughty little cuties will end up in the water if they aren’t careful. Every time they see fish jumping, I get nervous that they are going to dive right in and go fishing.

When we were cruising around California, we knew a guy who lived aboard his boat with several fully-grown cats. He told us that the cats enjoyed fishing from his dinghy. Sometimes we’d see them out there, their little eyes intent on the water, watching for fish. It was really cute. He said the cats actually managed to catch some impressive fish from time to time, although most of the time their catch was basically bait material. Maybe our girls could be taught to fish too…someday. We don’t have actual plans to make that happen any time soon.

If any of you are interested in grabbing the free headband pattern, it’s available at the crochet.about.com website. And for those of you who might like to see more pics of the headband (or incidentally, more pics of Mike and Cindy,) those are available too. I posted a new image gallery that shows several different views of the headband plus a couple different colors of the design. I made a green headband first, then made the blue one afterwards to test the pattern.

Hope you’re all well and happy, and enjoying 2013 so far. It’s hard to believe we’re this far into the month of January already!

My Kittens Learn How to Crochet

Here’s what happened at our place today:

Mommy, I'm Gonna Learn How to Crochet!

Cindy: “Mommy, I’m Gonna Learn How to Crochet!”

Can You Pleeze 'Splain to Me What Is This Thing For?

“Can You Pleeze ‘Splain to Me What Is This Thing For?”

I bite it?

“I bite it?”

Mommy This Doesn't Make Any Sense

Gem: “Mommy, this doesn’t make any sense!”

Me: “Honey, you have the book upside down.”

Show me how to crochet mommy

Izzy: “Show me how to crochet, Mommy!”

OK Iz Heres How to Crochet

Me: “OK Iz, this is how you crochet.”

Don't Care About Crochet Mommy. Just Want YARN!

Ginger: “I don’t care about crochet, Mommy. I just want YARN!”

For anyone who really wants to learn how to crochet, the following pages will help:

My Warmest, Softest Scarf

The nights at our place have been chilly lately.

When my kittens were tiny, if the weather was chilly, they’d sleep piled on top of each other for warmth. Now that they can jump, they sometimes like to jump up into our bed and sleep with us. Sometimes they sleep piled on top of Mike and me, and sometimes they sleep piled on top of each other. Several days ago I awoke with four kittens piled on top of my right arm. I couldn’t move it until I woke up enough to figure out how to get them off. I can’t believe how heavy they’re getting.

On several of the last few mornings, I’ve awoken wearing an IzzyScarf. Meaning that, at some point, in the wee hours of the morning, Izzy climbed onto my neck, stretched herself out across it and fell asleep there.

Izzy is the warmest, softest, furriest scarf I’ve ever worn. I wish I could wear her out and about in cold weather.

But, for that, at least I have my crocheted scarves – which are nice, although they are nowhere near as warm or as soft as my IzzyScarf.

I guess I should just be glad she lets me wear her sometimes while I am sleeping.

Yesterday morning, Mike got to experience the IzzyScarf too. Mike isn’t a big scarf fan, although I did make him a matching crocheted scarf and hat set. He wears the hat pretty often, but the scarf, not so much.

But the IzzyScarf? Well, that made his day! You shoulda seen the grin on his face. He loves his little baby Izzy sooooooooo much.

Wishing I had photos of this to show you! It was the cutest thing.

It All Started With Crochet…

Me crocheting; when I crochet using dark-colored yarns, I often use a light-up crochet hook like the one you see pictured. It helps me see my stitches better.



Crochet was the craft that first sparked my interest in textile design.

When I first learned to crochet, it wasn’t because I specifically set out to do so. No, it was because my Aunt Nancy enjoyed crocheting, and she decided to teach me how to crochet too. It was her idea, but I went along with it, and I am glad I did!

In the 1980s, I used to go to the library in search of interesting crochet books. Unfortunately, the library’s selection was limited, and most of the library’s available crochet books did not appeal to me. I am sure that, in hindsight, all those books would now appeal to me. But at the time, I wanted new books, and the available selection consisted mostly of books from the 1970s. I appreciate the 1970s aesthetic more now than I did at the time.

Anyway, the knitting books and crochet books were shelved together, and the library’s selection of knitting books was more up-to-date and appealing than the selection of crochet books. So, I kept taking home knitting books. As a result of that, I taught myself how to knit.

Later, when I decided to make textile design my career, I learned how to machine knit. I later went on to design circular knits – mostly t-shirt weight fabrics – for public consumption through big-box retailers. I also designed prints (many of which were printed on top of my circular knits) and then later wovens.

But it all started with crochet…

It’s interesting that I’ve come full circle as a textile designer. I’ve designed just about every type of fabric there is to design, and I love them all. But crochet was my first love, and I couldn’t be more excited to be focusing my full-time efforts on crocheting, writing about crocheting, and designing free crochet patterns.

Free Crochet Stuff for You


Free Knitting Resources


Free Textile and Fashion Industry Resources

Free Patterns for Crocheting Afghans

Crochet Afghan -- Work-In-Progress Photos of My Latest Crochet Afghan. Free Crochet Patterns Available at Crochet.About.com.It’s amazing what you can find for free on the Internet. Case in point: check out all these free afghan patterns. The list includes patterns for just about any kind of afghan you can think of. I’ve contributed several of the free patterns on this list. I’m hoping to get some more crocheted afghans completed ASAP.

Pictured above: For several months, I’ve been working on designing new afghan squares that will eventually become an afghan. This is my latest WIP photo. I’ve uploaded free patterns for most of these afghan squares, although I still have to create the free charts for several of them. You are invited to subscribe to my free crochet newsletter if you would like to be notified when the rest of them are available.

See Also: How to crochet a blanket

Heart Shapes and Heart Squares You Can Crochet

Hearts to Crochet

Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ve been busy crocheting hearts in pretty Valentine-friendly colors — red, pinks and white. A few of them are pictured here. Free crochet patterns for these designs are posted at crochet.about.com.

Ideas for Football Widows

I am not a football fan. Not even a little bit. Here are my tips for ways to enjoy the Super Bowl Sunday, even if you hate football:

Things to do on Super Bowl Sunday if you hate football

And, for those of you who do like football, check out these football patterns. My favorite: the team spirit hat, which isn’t a football-specific design; you can crochet the hat in any team’s colors (or for that matter, any two colors at all.)

New Craft Projects — Free Crochet Patterns and More

Baby Blanket Pattern -- This Free Pattern is Available at Crochet.About.com

This baby afghan was the best project I crocheted in 2010. I made it for my husband’s cousin’s new baby girl. So excited to have a little one to crochet for! I did post the free crochet pattern for others to use, so if you’d like to make a similar afghan, please be my guest. If you do, I hope you’ll improve on the color combination I chose. Click here to see a few more color ideas.

I also made a few ugly projects, which I’m a bit embarrassed to post. Most of the stuff I crocheted in 2010 was easy no-brainer stuff — potholders, dishcloths, easy scarves, afghan squares, and stuff like that.

Afghan Squares Crocheted in Caron Simply Soft Acrylic Yarn -- Free Crochet Patterns Available at Crochet.About.com


More of My Recent Crafty Accomplishments

Lists

I love making lists — to do lists, lists of free crochet patterns, project lists, shopping lists…Most of my lists are not internet-publication-worthy, but occasionally a few of them are. For example:

  • Checkerboard patterns — As a textile designer, I’m a bit obsessed with repeating patterns. I adore checkerboards. Yes, checkerboards. Please don’t yawn; there are zillions of interesting things you can do with checkerboard designs. If you doubt this, just click here and take a look.



  • Free crochet patterns for mix and match afghan squares — Several months ago I started crocheting a series of afghan squares. Eventually they’ll grow into an afghan. I’ve been publishing the patterns online at About.com. This is a list of all the coordinating squares I’ve posted so far. I keep updating it as I add more.



  • Recycled crafts and green crafts — This list features a whole bunch of ideas for recycling ordinary junk into lovely treasures. Would you like to make handmade paper out of old junk mail? How about turning broken dishes into gorgeous mosaics? There are plenty of other ideas too. A couple of these ideas are posted in this blog in earlier posts, but a bunch of them are published on other web sites.

Crochet Resources:

Craft Resources:

Crochet Conversations

Over at crochet.about.com, I asked crocheters the following question: Do you use knots in your crochet work? The poll was prompted by a reader named Jessica, who knots her crochet work, and can’t understand why knotting is often seen as a no-no. The poll responses have been fascinating!

Another current conversation: What’s the best size for a crocheted scarf?

We’re also talking about the crochet foundation row, left-handed crochet, and crocheting for charity. If you crochet, or would like to learn how to crochet, I hope you’ll join in the chatter.


More Interesting Crochet and Craft Links

Handmade Jewelry Ideas

Handmade Jewelry Idea -- This Beaded Necklace Is Crocheted Using Gold Embroidery Floss and Embellished With a Handcrafted Dichroic Glass Pendant.

I’m feeling so inspired right now! I just took a look through Tammy Powley’s fab list of fiber necklace projects. She has created some amazing designs in a variety of different techniqes; you’ll find beadwork projects and macrame projects, plus some of her pieces incorporate crocheting.

Which reminds me, I never shared my latest bead crochet necklace with y’all.

For a long time, I have been wanting to learn how to make dichroic glass pendants. Several years ago I bought a bunch of them from Dichrohaven, and I’ve been using them for various projects ever since. (Anybody remember my Hanauma Bay scrapbooking layout? I used one of the smaller pendants as an embellishment on it.)

Anyway, Tammy posted a fantastic tutorial for how to make dichroic glass pendants. Thanks, Tammy, for satisfying my curiosity about how that is done; now I have a better understanding of why those pendants are so darned expensive (but worth every penny, IMO.) Maybe I’ll even make my own glass pendant someday.

How to Make the Necklace Pictured Above

More Jewelry Making Ideas: