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Archive for the ‘Crochet’ Category

Learn How to Crochet With This Crochet Kit

Friday, June 29th, 2012

495062 main Learn How to Crochet With This Crochet Kit Have you always wanted to learn how to crochet? Or perhaps you know how to crochet, but have only made granny squares and simple scarves. Expand your crochet skills today with this helpful book from CutRateCrafts. Leisure Arts presents Learn To Crochet- Purse. This kit is ideal for beginners that are just learning how to crochet.

Included in this crochet kit is one crochet hook (size G), more than 100 yards of yarn, Learn to Crochet instructions, one pattern for a cross-body purse, a pom-pom and tassel maker, one yarn needle, and two bonus patterns. It is recommended for ages 8 and up.

Check out more helpful hints on how to crochet at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns! Find helpful crochet stitch tutorials and beginner crochet afghan patterns.

And head over to AllFreeCrochet for even more crochet bag patterns. Check out a few of our favorites below:

Little Granny Bag: This is an easy crochet pattern to complete, and it’s just the right size to hold all of your daily essentials including car keys, credit cards, and lipstick. The straps of this crochet bag can made whatever length you prefer.

Sturdy Errands Bag: This intermediate pattern is ideal for the more experienced crocheters. If you’re just learning how to crochet, save this pattern in your back pocket for later. It’s a great size, and the straps are sturdy enough for all your errands around town.

If you’re serious about learning how to crochet, buy this book today!

Do you know how to crochet, yes or no? Leave a comment below and tell us!

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Tags: book, book review, CutRateCrafts, easy crochet patterns, free crochet patterns, How Do I Crochet, product review, products
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Crochet Your Way to Unique and Fun Patterns!

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Looking to fine tune your crochet skills? We’ve got just the thing! From the fun crocodile stitch to the more elegant pineapple stitch, 15 Unique Crochet Stitches: The Crocodile Crochet Stitch, Bobble Stitch, Pineapple Stitch, and More is a great article that will help you get on your way to making some of the coolest crochet projects!

Personally, I’m a big fan of the crocodile stitch. I love the look of it on a purse or a scarf and I find it so soothing to do (once I got the hang of it, of course!). Isn’t this Mermaid Tears purse adorable? It’s a great summer project and the use of the crocodile stitch really brings this purse to life.

I also love the look of the pineapple stitch. It’s great for elegant wraps and shawls and also makes great doilies. If you want to learn more about the pineapple stitch, you can find some great patterns in Amazing Crochet Lace. This book takes old lace patterns and makes fashionable wearable projects out of them. This is a great book for all levels of crochet fans, and it will help you master your pineapple stitch in no time!

There are also some great ruffle and bobble patterns in 15 Unique Crochet Stitches: The Crocodile Crochet Stitch, Bobble Stitch, Pineapple Stitch, and More. There are some great bobble baby blankets, ruffled purses and skirts, and even something fun for your dog! These stitches might seem complicated, but with a little practice and with the help of these free patterns, you’ll be making bobbles and ruffles in no time!

To learn more about all the various crochet stitches out there, be sure to check out Beginner’s Guide: Crochet Stitches & Easy Projects. This book covers 19 popular crochet stitches and has lots of projects to help you practice. Once you get the hang of ruffles, bobbles, lace and crocodile stitches, it’s easy to add these kind of embellishments to any crochet pattern you’re working on.

We want to know! What crochet stitch do you want to learn the most?

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Tags: crochet book review, crochet products, easy crochet patterns, Melissa Conner
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5 Great Crochet Books to Buy Today!

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

So you’re taking the big step from needles to hooks and you’re finally going to learn how to crochet. Once you get the hang of it, crocheting is a lot of fun and not as difficult as it may seem! To help you along the way, here are 5 great crochet books that offer simple and fun projects that you can make with ease.

Cute & Easy Crochet

Cute & Easy Crochet is a must have guide for beginners. Filled with 35 patterns, ranging from home decor to fashion accessories, this easy to follow book will help you decorate your closet, kitchen, bathroom, and living room with fun and easy crochet projects.

201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects, and Ideas

This book is filled with great projects for crochet lovers of all skill levels. Create fun home accessories with these easy to follow patterns, and work your way up to crocheting sweaters and detailed afghans. If you’re not hooked on crochet yet, you will be after reading 201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas!

100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet

Flowers are some of the easiest things to crochet, and with 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet by your side, you’ll be able to make beautiful blooms that you can add to hats, purses, hair accessories, jewelry, and much more! Even if you’re somewhat intimitated by crochet, there are also plenty of patterns in this book that are knitter friendly.

Amazing Crochet Lace

These aren’t your grandma’s lace patterns. Amazing Crochet Lace contains 20 fresh designs that satisfy everyone, from beginners to advanced crocheters. These patterns are inspired by vintage textiles and, since all the patterns are designed and worked from top to bottom, there’s little to know finishing or sewing required! Easy breezy lace patterns were never so easy and stylish!

You Can Do It!: 20 Projects with Simple Knit or Crochet Squares

You Can Do It!, a book from Red Heart Yarn, is perfect for beginning knitters and crocheters. In this guide you’ll find 20 projects made from simple knit or crochet squares, one of the easiest things to make in either category. Afghans, scarves, hats, and more are included here…and best of all, they use Red Heart’s Super Saver yarn, which is inexpensive and comes in a bunch of colors!

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Tags: craft book, crochet book review, crochet products
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How Does Your Garden Grow?

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

Are you as anxious to get out into the garden as I am? I’m so excited to start my vegetable garden, plant some flowers outside my windows, and welcome the back the butterflies!

In preparation for all the outdoor work I want to do this year, I’ve decided to create some easy garden crafts to help me out. The best part is that both of them are crocheted, so they’re fun and quick to make and I can wash them with ease if and when they get dirty!

To protect my knees when I’m kneeling down, I decided to make this Kneeling Garden Cushion. I love that this cushion is both sturdy and attractive. I can even use it for picnics and other outdoor events. To create the colors I like, I’ll be using a variety of Sugar’n Cream Yarns. I love the soft colors they have in their collection! I think the “Over the Rainbow” yarn is perfect for my cushions. The bright colors are great for spring and summer!

And there’s nothing worse than having to run back and forth to the garage as I’m gardening. I like to have everything I need in one place in a storage container that makes it easy for me to find exactly what I’m looking for. This Gardening Bag Crochet Pattern, for example, is perfect for that! This crocheted bag is sturdy and attractive and I can use Sugar’n Cream’s “Playtime” yarn to compliment the colors in my garden cushion!

And don’t forget about adding some character to your garden! There are a ton of clay pot crafts that you can make that will help bring your garden to life! I particularly love this Terra Cotta Garden Turtle! I think he would look so cute sitting right outside my vegetable garden.

So before you jump into weed pulling and flower planting this year, do some prep work and make yourself a comfortable kneeling pad or a garden tool organizer. These projects would also make great Mother’s Day gifts for moms who love to garden!

What’s your favorite thing to grow in the warmer months? I love growing basil and cilantro! I put them in everything!

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Tags: crochet bag, crochet products, free crochet patterns, Melissa Conner, storage and organization
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It’s Afghan Season: Are You Ready?

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Imagine this: You’re curled up in front of the fire, sipping hot chocolate and watching your favorite Christmas movie on TV. What could possibly be missing, you might ask? A comfy afghan wrapped around you, of course!

It’s no secret that afghans are a hugely popular project for knitters and crocheters during the winter months, and for good reason. I can’t imagine something much better than the above mentioned scenario, plus a cozy afghan made from warm, soft yarn in my favorite colors. In one word, this would be heaven.

Since I know a bunch of you are probably already working on your winter afghans, and others are looking to get started, I thought I’d share some of my favorite patterns (both crochet and knit) and some of the tools and resources I love to use when making my own afghans. Keep reading if you want to be warm and cozy this winter!

Afghan Pattern Favorites:

6 Hours or Less Throw: This crochet pattern from Lion Brand Yarn is wonderful because even beginners can complete it without too much trouble. Made with super bulky yarn, this afghan is the perfect warm blanket for a cold winter night!

Cheer Up Afghan: This is such a fun afghan to crochet because it features bobble clusters in its strips and squares. The overall look of this blanket is so simple yet so cool, especially when you use a colorful variegated yarn. Seeing this cheerful afghan on your couch when the weather outside is frightful will instantly bring a smile to your face!

Flame Stitch Afghan: What initially interested me about this afghan was its fun name. Even if you’ve never knit the flame stitch before (like me!), this afghan is super simple since all you do is repeat the same stitch over and over again. So once you learn the flame stitch, you’ll be able to whip up this fun afghan in no time! Isn’t it cute?

Tools and Resources:

50 Crocheted Afghan Borders from Leisure Arts: For anyone who’s ever finished an afghan and felt there was just something missing, this is just what you need! This book gives 50 afghan border ideas that will make your blanket complete. Give your afghan the perfect finishing touch with this handy book!

48 Hour Afghans: What could be better than a comfy, cozy blanket that you can finish in just two days? I love this book because I make a lot of afghans to give as gifts and the last thing I want to do is spend all of my free time working on blanket after blanket. Make some quick and easy afghans with the ideas in this fun collection!

Silvalume Flexible Afghan Hook: Anyone who’s made an afghan before knows that it can be tiresome, especially since you have to do so many stitches! This hook is great because it’s specifically designed for crocheting afghans. It has a 22 inch flexible cable which aids in working a large number of stitches. Try it and you’ll see why crocheters love this hook so much. It’s such a handy tool when working on large-scale projects!

Are you working on an afghan this winter? Tell us about it!

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Tags: afghan, afghan patterns, crochet, crochet afghan, knitted afghans, knitting
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Deal of the Week: Crochet Hook Set 44% off

Monday, December 5th, 2011

The Crochet Master Steel & Aluminum Crochet Hook Set from CutRateCrafts.com makes the ideal gift for the crochet enthusiast in your family. The set comes in a classy vinyl case with helpful slots for each of the 16 steel crochet hooks and 8 aluminum crochet hooks inside—a set of 24 total hooks for any imaginable crochet project. Buy these for your crafty family members and friends and they’ll be “hooked” in no time, making projects like this gorgeous In-the-Round Square Navajo Lap Blanket. Take advantage of this one-week special: $20 off the whole set!

Don’t put it off until your last-minute shopping frenzy, though! For this week only, this hook set is $20 cheaper! Normally priced at $44.99, the Crochet Master Steel & Aluminum Crochet Hook Set is now $24.99 until the end of this week. That’s 44% off the original price!

Even if you are more crochet-savvy than the people on your list, this hook set is an excellent tool for making last-minute homemade gifts. With 24 hooks to spur your creativity, you’ll become a crochet queen or king in a snap. A Crochet Santa Hat is bright and festive on Christmas Eve, whole Murray the Merry Reindeer is an adorable gift or decoration. If you’re looking for great ideas for crochet stocking stuffers and gifts, check out these quick projects from FaveCrafts.com and AllFreeCrochet.com:

Cute Crochet Book Bag: Read your books and bring them with you too!
New Year Bell Potholder: Ring in the New Year with a precious pot holder.
Adult Elf Slippers: These house shoes are warm, cozy and cute!
Crochet Scarf and Hat Roving Set: This crochet hat and scarf set will keep your loved ones warm all winter!

You can make all of these projects and more before Christmas if you order the Crochet Master Steel & Aluminum Crochet Hook Set, 44% off this week only. Get your $20 discount while supplies lasts!

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Tags: crochet, crochet hook set, crochet hooks, crochet review, deal of the week
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Hats Off to These Cool Caps

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Recently there’s been a lot of buzz around the office about hats. Yes, you read that right. Hats. Apparently they’re the new hot thing, especially among crafters. Who knew?

As a curly-haired girl, I have to say I haven’t experimented too much with adding hats to my wardrobe. They tend to flatten out my ringlets and my mane never can seem to recover from a dose of “hat hair.”

But just because I personally don’t wear a lot of hats doesn’t mean I don’t admire how cute they look on other people. Honestly I think hats might be the best accessory of them all. They can add so much to an outfit, plus there are so many different styles, materials, colors and shapes to choose from! What’s not to love?

Personally the hats that I think are the coolest are the ones that are crocheted. I love how yarn can be manipulated into so many different kinds of caps, from beanies to ear flop hats to tams and so many more!

That’s why when I came across this Hooked on Crochet! Hats book from Annie’s Attic, I found myself poring over each page and marking down my favorites to make for my family for Christmas. The book has pretty much every type of hat you can think of, which is great because I know each of my relatives is going to want a different style.

Here are some of the styles I’m thinking of making:

For my aunt Jill I’m going to make this Off the Top of My Head Beret. She’s been obsessed with France and Europe in general for years, and even though she’s never been, she loves wearing European fashion. When I saw this beret, I just knew she’d love it.

My cousin Erin is getting this Gumdrop Slouchy Hat because it totally fits her personality. Laid back and always in style. She’s in college so this hat is perfect. Something she can just throw on when she rolls out of bed and heads to class.

And lastly my grandmother is getting the best Christmas present of all: this sophisticated 1950s Style Wide Brimmed Hat. She can wear it when she’s gardening (her favorite hobby) and she’ll definitely pack it when she goes to Florida in February. The wide brim will be great for keeping the sun out of her face!

All in all, I think these are some pretty great hats and I can’t wait for Christmas to come so I can give my family their fashionable gifts!

Question: Have you joined the hat craze? Tell us about the last hat that you made!

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Tags: book review, crochet, crochet book review, crochet hat, gift ideas, hat
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Falling for Lotus Leaf Wraps and More Fall Fashion!

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Isn’t it amazing how the minute Labor Day weekend is over, fall appears, as if out of nowhere? It’s almost as if it’s been lurking around the corner, waiting for you to have your last summer barbeque, to soak in your last rays of sun and then… BAM! Just as you finish your Labor Day hotdog, a chill spreads through the air and you start to feel the first tinges of autumn. Every year this happens, and every year I’m surprised by how quickly the seasons can change.

Even thought fall snuck up on me (yet again) this year, it’s definitely a pleasant surprise. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been exhausting my summer wardrobe to the point where I feel like my coworkers will scream if they see me wear the same capri pants and short sleeved button-down top one more time. There’s only so much you can do with summer clothes and by the end of August I really feel like they’ve worn out their welcome, both to me and to the people who have to look at me!

That’s the main reason I’m super excited about fall. Not only are fall clothes more comfy than summer outfits, there’s also so much more you can do with them. It’s much easier to accessorize when you have layers to play with, when you can put a cute jacket on over a tee, or you can bring a pretty wrap to cover up with in the office when the AC is still on way too high from summer. Cardigans, sweaters, shrugs, shawls… there’s no other season besides fall that has so many wonderful options for fashion!

The other great thing about all of these coverups is that they’re mostly really easy to make yourself! So not only does fall liven up your wardrobe, it also gives you knitting and crochet projects to keep busy with!

One of my absolute favorite fall fashion accessories is this Magic Shevrons wrap. I love that you can wear it so many different ways, and the design just oozes that autumn feel. I made this wrap in the colors pictured, but I’m thinking about making another one in slightly different autumn hues because I love it so much and want to wear it pretty much every day!

I also just bought this awesome book — Lotus Leaf Wraps from Annie’s Attic — that has five cool crochet wrap designs. I’m obsessed with the one pictured on the cover and will definitely make that one first, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up making all of the projects in this book, because really, can you ever have too many wraps?! There are designs for casual wear and ones that can be more dressy, so no matter where I’m going or what I’m doing, I’ll have plenty of options to choose from once I finish making the wraps in this book!

Even though fall doesn’t officially start until later this month, in my mind summer is officially over and I’m ready to wrap myself in comfy and cute fall clothes right now!

Are you excited for autumn? What are you making to wear this season?

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Tags: autumn, crochet, easy crochet patterns, fall, free crochet pattern, wrap
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Creative Pet Projects

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

If you’re anything like me, your four-legged friends have become as much a part of your family as your very own flesh and blood. They sleep in your bed, accompany you to the bathroom, and sometimes even eat right from your plate. There is a reason dogs have been nicknamed “man’s best friend,” and although cats tend to stick to themselves a bit more than their canine counterparts, they still form just as close of a bond with their owners.

After years of coming home to a wagging tail, I am sad to report I am currently without a furry friend keeping me company. This, of course, means I live vicariously through all my friend’s and family’s pets. Being a newbie to the knitting and crocheting worlds, I am blown away at the sheer volume and immense variety of free pet craft projects and patterns available online to create. Between AllFreeCrochet, AllFreeKnitting, and AllFreeHolidayCrafts, there are literally pages and pages of unique homemade pet projects to make. You’ll find homemade sweaters, dog collars, and cat toys, just to name a few. Whether you’re a dog or a cat person, you are sure to find something to create for your favorite furry friend! If you are searching for a free online pet project to make, check out some of my favorites:

Paw Socks: This knit pattern is perfect for small pooches with sensitive paws. This simple pattern is easy to knit, and your puppy will thank you when the temperatures drop and the snow begins to fall.

Pet Candy Corn Sweater: Halloween is just around the corner, and you won’t want to forget about the family pet when you are planning this year’s costumes! This festive sweater would be a perfect weekend crochet project for any animal under 20 pounds, but the pattern can be adjusted for larger breeds, as well.

Crochet Pet Bow Tie Collar: More and more dogs are now being included in family weddings, Bar and Bat-Mitzvahs, and many other important milestones than they ever have been before. Make sure your pooch looks classy and stylish with this homemade Bow Tie Collar. This is an easy free crochet pattern and is perfect for novice crocheters like myself!

Crochet Kitten Cozy: Cats spend a good portion of their day napping, so why shouldn’t they have the most comfortable bed in the house? Your kitty will just love sleeping in this cozy homemade bed. Follow this intermediate crochet pattern to give your furry friend a new spot to spend the entire day in– literally!

All of the above projects are fairly easy to make, and they all use the same weight of yarn, worsted or aran. These two yarns are both medium weight and are the most popular to use, especially for throws. Our friends at CutRateCrafts carries a large selection of both. You can find a wide array of colors of worsted weight yarn, and many different varieties of aran yarn. So what are you waiting for? Pick up some yarn today and get crafting!

Have you made any pet crafts before? Which ones were your favorite? More importantly, which ones did your pet like the most?

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Tags: CutRateCrafts, easy crochet patterns, easy knitting patterns, free crochet pattern, free crochet patterns, knitting, pet crafts, pet projects
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Go Green With These Eco-Friendly Shopping Bags

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Do you have a Saturday morning ritual? Mine is going to my local farmer’s market, smack in the middle of one of the most beautiful parks Chicago has to offer.

cimg3905 Go Green With These Eco Friendly Shopping Bags

I love everything about the farmer’s market: The expanse of green grass dotted with produce stands, the smiley merchants offering samples of their freshest veggies and fruits, the happy customers strolling through the aisles picking out produce for their weekend meals. In a word, the farmer’s market just makes me HAPPY.

Lately I’ve been finding myself buying more and more when I go on my weekly shopping sprees at the farmer’s market. It must be because everything’s in season now and I just have to have one of everything… carrots, rhubarb, strawberries, peaches… you name it, it’s in my bag!

But because of the heavy load I’ve been taking home with me lately, my reusable shopping bag (that I bought for $1 at my local grocery store) broke last week. It was a pretty traumatic event, what with all the produce rolling down the sidewalk after the strap on the bag snapped.

My immediate thought was what would I do next week? I need something to carry all of my groceries home in! So I immediately jumped on the internet and started looking for options. I quickly discovered that not only are there TONS of patterns for eco-friendly bags to knit and crochet, there’s also eco-friendly yarn to make them with! Red Heart makes one that sounds AMAZING. Their Eco-Cotton yarn is made from t-shirt fabric remnants that are blended with acrylic and spun into a super soft yarn. What a cool concept!

Inspired by this eco-friendly yarn, I decided to crochet myself an eco-friendly shopping bag for my weekend farmer’s market excursions. I want something big enough to hold more than just a couple of apples, but not so big that things get lost and/or smooshed. Because there’s nothing worse than a bruised banana!

I finally settled on these two designs, but I’m not sure which one would be best.

I might make the Eco-Friendly Bag for my more delicate items, and then make the Think Green Bag for everything else. And knowing myself and how much I usually take home from the farmer’s market, I’m pretty sure I’m going to need both of these bags for my weekly shopping trips! I might even end up making a third!

I was always one of those girls who carried a plastic reusable grocery bag on shopping trips, but now that I know there are so many cute options for eco-friendly totes, I’m going to crochet my own bags and do my farmer’s market shopping in style from now on!

Would you use one of these eco-friendly bags for your shopping excursions?

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Tags: crochet, crochet bag, eco, free crochet pattern, green crafting, Red Heart
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