Published in Holiday 2014 Issue of Love of Crochet

Photo: Love of Crochet

Photo: Love of Crochet

Published in the Holiday 2014 issue of Love of Crochet Magazine!

We are thrilled to have several patterns in the Holiday issue of Love of Crochet magazine. It should be in stores soon.

Designs include:

  • cute holiday cards,
  • warm winter accessories and
  • fun gift ideas.

We used several several different types of yarn in our designs including, wool, fur, thread, and acrylic.

Check out the designs in the issue:

Twirling Tidings

by Dana

Holiday Spinner Cards

If you really want to impress your friends and family this holiday season, crochet your Seasons Greetings! Shh…don’t tell, but these appliques are quick and easy to whip up. In just a few short rows, you have a cute holiday design.

Which is your favorite? The snowflake was the very first greeting card I, Dana, designed. The bell is distinguished looking. The gingerbread man is just plain fun. But I think the holly is my favorite because of my love of the great outdoors.

Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Thread

Photo: Love of Crochet

Photo: Love of Crochet

Houndstooth Trio

by Deborah

This elegant winter set features a stunning combination of houndstooth print with wool and fun fur yarn.  The houndstooth design is easier to crochet than you might think with the use of the spike stitch.

The muff is reversible since it’s fully lined. The hat and cowl use fur just on the edge so they aren’t overwhelmingly hot (though if you live in a really cold local, you could line them both).

Fur yarn can be tricky to work with since it covers up your stitches, but I think you’ll agree, it’s totally worth it. The fur looks and feels super soft and warm.

Yarn: Trendsetter Merino 8 and La Furla

Houndstooth Trio pattern available on Etsy.

Photo: Love of Crochet

Photo: Love of Crochet

Panda Party Set

by Deborah

Pandas are beary cute! This is a delightful set for baby and sibling.

Baby will look adorable in the panda hat and pants. The face on the hat is dreamy and the tail on the bum will make you smile.

Big brother or sister will love the bean bag chair. It’s fun to run and jump on. This is another cozy that wraps around a 21″ bean bag chair. The panda is holding a delicious piece of bamboo to munch on.

The baby blanket features tall pieces of bamboo and the Chinese character for bamboo. The black and white background really make the Chinese features pop.

Baby will also enjoy playing with the cute miniature panda, too. It’s shaped like a Russian doll.

Yarn: Vanna’s Choice

Panda Set pattern available on Etsy.

Photo: Love of Crochet

Photo: Love of Crochet

Two Wordy – Tile Bag

by Dana

This game bag has been specifically designed for the beginner crocheter. It’s a rectangle sewn up into a bag. It’s quick and easy.

It’s a great gift idea for kids of all ages. I, Dana, designed this for my father-in-law. He and I love playing word games!

Set the timer for two minutes and see who can come up with the most words / points on their own criss-crossed word board.

Yarn: Premier Ever Soft

Wishing you a fun hand-crocheted holiday this year!

Enjoy.

Panda Doorknob Cozy

Panda Doorknob Cozy FREE on RedHeart.com

Photo: Red Heart

Photo: Red Heart

We’ve created a cute panda doorknob cozy for Red Heart and it’s FREE on their website!

This cozy is a fun accent to a child’s room and may act as a child proof cozy for toddlers!

The cozy was designed using Red Heart Soft yarn. This yarn is 100% acrylic and is surprisingly soft! We love using it because of how cozy it feels running through our fingers…and it’s washable!

Get your free Panda Doorknob Cozy at Redheart.com.

 

 

Published in Crochet More 2014

Crochet-More-2014-CoverPublished in Love of Crochet – Crochet More 2014

Love of Crochet magazine has a summer issue called Crochet More where every project in the issue uses 3 skeins of yarn or less. We have several fun items published in this special issue.

This is also the first time we’ve written an article for a publication. I say we, but it was all Deborah. She highlights the half double crochet (hdc) stitch and the myriad of textures that can be created with that stitch. My personal favorite is the hdc in the round in the back bar.

Spinner Greeting Cards

Spinner-Greeting-Cards

Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine

Send smiles across the miles with some fun spinner cards.

Here, I (Dana) have combined my old love of paper crafting with my new love of crochet and created some fun peek-a-boo greeting cards. If you spin the crocheted element before stuffing in an envelope, they will spin when the recipient opens them!

There is a star, heart and moon applique. The simple design of the card really lets the crocheted pieces shine! This is a fabulous project for your scraps of crochet thread.

Cute and Classic Clutch – Heart in Granny Square

Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine

Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine

The heart in this granny square makes this a clutch you’re going to love to use. It’s the perfect size for storing crochet hooks and tools. Deborah added magnetic snaps to the corners of her bag and uses this bag to store her crochet hooks, scissors and sewing needles.

This is a great stash buster project. It looks fun in mono-chromatic color schemes as well as vivid rainbow colors.

Heart Granny Square Clutch pattern available on Etsy.

HDC Sampler Bag

HDC-Sampler-Bag

Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine

This bag is actually a half double crochet (hdc) stitch sampler! Each section is crocheted with a different technique to create a different texture only using the hdc stitch.

Techniques include: crocheting in the round; crocheting in both loops, back loop, and front loop; crocheting in back bar from the front and from the back.

Crocheting in the back bar is sometimes referred to as the 3rd loop or camel crochet (often created using a single crochet).

Deborah crocheted several swatches that showcase the different textures that can be created using just the hdc. The different textures are created by crocheting in rows vs rounds and by inserting your hook in different places on the stitch. It’s a great tutorial.

Coral Blooms: In Love of Crochet Spring 2014

Coral Blooms Scarf – Published in “Love of Crochet” Magazine: Spring 2014

LOC_SP14_Cover_FINAL_200pxCoral Blooms is the latest crocheted piece we have in a publication. You can find the pattern in the Spring 2014 issue of Love of Crochet Magazine.

CoralBlooms_DSC3800_200px

The Coral Blooms scarf is constructed of repeated sections of blooms and lattice. This is a quick and easy project that is made primarily with interconnected chain work.

This  scarf uses yarn from KnitPicks.com. Pictured is Gloss Fingering yarn in Guava. It’s 70% Merino Wool and 30% Silk. It has wonderful drape and blocks really well.

Check news stands for the Spring issue of Love of Crochet to get your copy of this beautiful pattern.

Scarf pattern available on Etsy.

Published in Love of Crochet – Winter 2013

Published in Love of Crochet Winter 2013

Love-of-Crochet-Winter-2014

We have another crochet pattern in Love of Crochet Magazine!

If you’ve been following our blog for any length of time, you know that we love cup cozies. We created a special design for Love of Crochet Winter 2013.  It’s the last pattern in the issue…so if you read from back to front…well, it’s the first pattern you’ll run across!

Have you ever wrapped both your hands around your mug to warm up your fingers? If you have, then you’ll love this mug mitten cozy! This cozy allows you to tuck your fingers inside a pair of mittens…keeping your drink and your fingers toasty warm.

mitten-cozy

We love these mug mittens for soo many reasons.

  • They fit around mugs, cups and mason jars of various sizes (adjust with a pony tail band).
  • Your hands hug the mug and stay toasty warm in these mittens.
  • They are quick and easy to make.
  • The winter design makes them a great gift all season long.

These mug mittens are crocheted in CotLin yarn by Knitpicks.com in Swan and Nightfall.

The Cozy is a great gift idea for the holidays and it would also make wonderful thank you gift, too! We love that the design works for our family and friends of various faiths.

Published in Love of Crochet – Holiday Issue 2013

Published in Love of Crochet – Holiday Issue 2013

love-of-crochet-holiday-issue-2013Once again we’ve got some cute crochet patterns published in the Holiday issue of Love of Crochet available in stores October 14, 2013. We are so thrilled to bring you these fun designs.

We’ve created some beautiful patterns that can be crocheted as gifts for him, for her and for dog lovers!

While all the patterns are easy, the his and hers cowl were specifically designed as beginner projects. With just a little tweak, the masculine gaitor designed for him transforms into a beautiful cowl for her.

If you want to pamper your pet and crochet something for those who love them, then there are a few patterns just for you.

His and Hers Cowls

his-and-hers-cowl

We’ve created a simple cowl design for him and her that’s perfect for beginners. Check out the “Learn to Crochet” section for the “Ice Fishing Gaitor” and the “Grey Lady Cowl”.

We specifically wanted to make a pattern that a beginner could use for masculine and feminine projects. One that would be easily modified so that a new crocheter can get two very different looking garments from one simple design. Reading a pattern can be stressful, particularly for a new crocheter. We’re alleviating the stress this holiday season with this His and Hers design.

Pictured with the “Grey Lady Cowl” is an alternative yarn: Red Heart Boutique.

Pet Lovers Trio

Pet-Lovers

Update 5/15/2014: These patterns are now available in the store as a set or individually!
Dogs Days Trio  –  Dog Bone Pillow  –  Paw Purse  –  Pocket Organizer

Dog Days Trio pattern on Etsy.

Dog Bone Pillow pattern on Etsy.

Paw Purse pattern on Etsy.

Pocket organizer pattern on Etsy.

This set was born out of practicality and my (Dana) love for my dog, Joy – a white lab. The dog toys, treats and medicines were spilling out of one of my kitchen cabinets and it was driving me crazy. So, I created a pocket organizer that hangs by my back door.

Once I started crocheting dog stuff, well, I couldn’t stop. Thus the treat purse and dog bone pillow!

I chose pink to compliment the brown on the set because the dog and I both love pink. (Ok, she’s probably color blind, but it makes me happy.)

Choose Your Color

The great thing about all five of these projects is that they would look great in any color you or the guys in your life prefer. If, for example, you’re making a cowl for a boy…when they pick camo colors, the gaitor will look great! Or if they want team colors, it’ll look even better!

Crimson Cowl in Love of Crochet Fall 2013

Crimson Cowl in Love of Crochet – Fall 2013 Issue

Crimson Cowl Love of CrochetWe have another scarf / cowl featured in Love of Crochet Magazine. The Fall Issue 2013 is available in stores until October 21.

This Crimson Cowl is a great 1 skein project! We’ve used Boutique Changes by Red Heart. There are 6 different yarn fabrics in one skein.

For anyone learning how to do broomstick lace, this is a great first project. This stunning cowl looks more complicated than it is because of the yarn changes.

Update 5-15-2014

We have the rights back on this beautiful cowl pattern. You can now get the free Crimson Cowl pattern in the shop.

Magazine Errata: On Row 3, the ch 1 is only done at the beginning in order to lock your yarn at the top of the loops. Here’s the correction:

Row 3: (broomstick lace row) insert hook in 5 loops, yo, pull through loops, ch 1, work 5 sc in same group of loops. *work 5 sc in each set of 5 loops* across.

Please also note that the tassels are just one strand of yarn folded in half and attached with a lark’s head knot.

Love of Crochet Weekend Projects 2013 – Cover Girl

The cover girl in the Love of Crochet Weekend Crochet Projects 2013 is wearing our scarf design! Woo hoo!

Cover Girl Broomstick Lace Scarf

We knew the scarf was to appear in this issue…but we were totally surprised to see it on the cover! The magazine is shown here with the prototype of the scarf which is a bamboo yarn.

As mentioned in the magazine, this project only takes three stitches: Broomstick Lace, Puff Stitch and Single Crochet. This design will look fabulous in lots of different types of yarns. The yarns we used are:

Prototype:

Kollage Yarn: Temptation in Pacific Blue
Bamboo, Cotton, Nylon

Featured in Magazine:

Kollage Yarn: Milky Whey in Mala Green
Milk, Soy

Check your local craft store or bookstore for this special issue.
See other projects in this issue: Love of Crochet “Crochet Weekend Projects” 2013.

Published in Love of Crochet

Love of Crochet 16 Oct 2012We’ve been published. This is our first publication and we are thrilled.

Check out the two patterns we have in the Fall issue of “Love of Crochet“. This issue has lots of fun stuff including holiday decor, winter accessories, kitchen goodies and more.

“Love of Crochet” is available at your local craft store like Hobby Lobby or Joann. It’s also available online at “Love of Crochet.”

Monkey See Monkey Do

Photo courtesy of Love of Crochet

It’s winter. Dress up baby in this adorable monkey set. It includes monkey hat, mittens and booties.

This makes a delightful photo prop in addition to being a cute winter outfit.

This little monkey outfit is gender neutral and is great for new baby boys and girls. Make in browns like we did or crochet in cute baby colors.

We created this outfit for the newest member of our family. His nursery is decorated in a jungle theme. He’s an adorable little monkey!

UPDATE: This is now available on our website! See Lil Monkey Baby Hat Set in the shop.

Lil Monkey Baby Hat Set pattern on Etsy.

Perfect Purse

Perfect Purse

Photo courtesy of Love of Crochet

What makes this little purse perfect? Is it the petite size? Is it the cute button closure? Or is it the adorable stitching?  We think it’s perfect for all of these little details and more.

The small size is large enough to stow your phone, ID and lipstick! And it makes an awesome stash buster!

We’ve crocheted this in lots of color combinations. We recommend you use yarn with a bit of sheen and colors with lots of contrast.

This little purse can be easily converted into the perfect hiking buddy! Instructions are included to add a belt loop and chapstick cozy!

Mini Purse with Flower Button pattern on Etsy.

We hope you enjoy these fun patterns as much as we did. Pick up your copy of Love of Crochet this holiday season.