Tag: crochet

Crochet Project Bags in 3 sizes: Free Crochet Pattern

Posted on by melissa

I started these crochet project bags on a whim. Looking over at my shelves of acrylic yarn, it occurred to me that I should use some of it up. We were thinking about the possibility of moving and it seemed easier to move a project bag than a skein of yarn. I doubt that’s the case, but it seemed logical when I grabbed the soft blue and green yarn and started on the medium sized one. My idea was to hang these from command hooks on the wall by the craft room door. I’m still in love with this idea, but now we’re packing and taking things down from the walls. Pictures of my cute crochet project bags hanging from their hooks will have to wait until the move is complete! Whether you hang them up or carry them around, you need these project bags!

Crochet scarf fastened with buttons into a cowl

Scarf versatility: The convertible crochet scarf and infinity scarf

Posted on by melissa

The convertible crochet scarf came to be because I couldn’t make up my mind whether to make a scarf or a cowl. This scarf is both! You can wear this scarf long or like an infinity scarf by fastening buttons to puff stitch flower buttonholes. Made with Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball yarn, the scarf has lacy, drapey cable-like tall crochet stitches. The chunky puff stitch flowers in Lion Brand Hometown USA offer a nice texture contrast to the rest of the scarf. Wrap it around twice and button the flowers and you have a cozy cowl.

Puffed Waves Crochet Scarf: Free crochet pattern

Posted on by melissa

This puffed waves crochet scarf ticks all my boxes for a perfect crochet project. I love projects you can complete sooner rather than later. Projects with easily memorizable pattern repeats make Netflix + crochet way easier. A stitch pattern that shows off swoon-worthy colors of my yarn? Yes, please! As I’ve mentioned before, crocheting scarves (and more scarves) is the best. Scarves allow you to try things out without a huge commitment AND you get a finished object out of the deal. Further, you don’t have to figure out increases and decreases like you do with a hat. When my sister gave me some Red Heart Unforgettable, I dove into showing off its gorgeous color changes with the puffed waves crochet scarf.

Crocheted Bracelets made from Edging Patterns

Posted on by melissa

In the mid 1980s I was in grade school. Talk about a fun fashion period for a kid! Neon colors, ruffles, big hair, and massive amounts of jewelry. Somewhere around 1984 I had loads of jelly bracelets and wore them halfway up my forearm. If I recall, most of them came out of machines you put a quarter into at the pizza parlor. While I don’t think I saved any of those high-fashion accessories, I didn’t lose the urge to wear a lot of bracelets. But here’s the thing about bracelets: they get in the way. The beaded bracelets I wear now either hurt my wrist while writing and typing or scratch up my watch crystal. But what if you could wear bracelets halfway to your elbow (or just one) and not have any watch scratching or uncomfortable wrist positioning? What if they were crocheted bracelets?

Crochet hydrangea brooch

Posted on by melissa

This might be one of my favorite things I’ve ever made. I had an idea in my head and the finished product actually came out to be almost exactly what I had envisioned. Made to resemble hydrangea flowers, I fashioned this thread crochet brooch from size 30 cotton crochet thread and colored the flowers with Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol. Using wire and beads, I assembled the flowers onto a crocheted hydrangea leaf and actually had it ready in time for Mother’s Day.

Waves on Rocks Scarf: Free crochet pattern

Posted on by melissa

It might sound silly, but some of what drives my choice of stitches in scarf patterns is what I will name the pattern. Sometimes the stitches drive the name. The honey buzzzz scarf contained honeycomb trellis and a honeycomb stitch. Also, I made the sample in yellow. Sometimes the name comes from a feeling I get about the piece. The winter picnic hat has a rather random name, but the fun texture of the warm hat just kept making me think I’d like to wear it to eat lunch outside in the cold. With this project, I knew I wanted to use a wave-like pattern stitch and then the name popped into my head. I’d been playing around with rows of puff stitches in a couple of other projects, so I plopped them between sections of waves in this pattern. Boom: The Waves on Rocks Scarf.

Chunky Crochet Rug: Stashbuster!

Posted on by melissa

We have many needs for rugs and mats around our house. We need some in the garage, in the kitchen, on the balcony, on the patio, and in the craft room. I have a few rug craft projects going right now and I hope to cover all of our rug needs through the clever use of various kinds of yarns and fabric scraps. This chunky crochet rug currently resides in the doorway of the craft room, but will eventually help decorate the patio. The project has so many possible variations and presents many opportunities to make use of your yarn stash!

Winter Picnic Hat: Textured Crochet Hat Pattern

Posted on by melissa

I’ve made several hats in the past six months. In fact, I added it up and I’ve made 16 hats since September 15. But a woman can never have make too many hats. While looking at Pinterest, I convinced myself I needed to make a textured crochet hat. I wanted one with some braid-looking rows and maybe some puff stitches! After playing around with post stitches and increases, I made this: the Winter Picnic Hat! Eating and BBQing outdoors in the winter requires proper attire. Hence the winter picnic hat! I’m excited to share this free crochet pattern in two sizes!

Coloring Crochet Flowers: Break out the Sharpies!

Posted on by melissa

I love dyeing things. I’m taken by the idea that something can start off one color and you can transform it by making it the color you want it to be. Have a sweater you wish was darker? Dye it! Unfortunately, dyeing is a messy, time consuming, and sometimes unpredictable process. I do not do it as much as I would like to. When I made these cotton crochet flowers, I thought about how I could dye them and hit upon the idea to use Sharpies and rubbing alcohol. After playing around with it, I am thrilled to share my technique and results of coloring crochet flowers!

Crochet Handle Covers for Skillets: Free crochet pattern

Posted on by melissa

I recently ordered fajitas while having dinner out at a restaurant. The sizzling cast iron skillet had a cute quilted handle cover. At the end of the meal, my husband Stephen pretended to put it in my leftovers box telling me he needed it so he wouldn’t burn himself at home. I said, “put that back, I can crochet you some.” He seemed skeptical, but now that the crochet handle covers are done, he’s sold on them.