Review: Cafe Press Water Bottle

March 18, 2015 By

Review: Cafe Press Water Bottle

When Deborah and I opened our Cafe Press shop, we selected items that we would want to use. I was excited to see that a 1 liter metal water bottle was an option for plastering fun crochet and knitting sayings on, cause I drink a lot of water. I love it!

Cafe Press Water Bottle

I bring this bottle to my office while I work on crochet patterns. Here’s my review of my new Cafe Press Water Bottle:

Pro:

  • Holds 1 liter
  • Has gasket to prevent leaks
  • Has a hole in lid should I want to tie a string through the lid and around the neck of the bottle
  • Has easy grip bumps on the lid for easy opening
  • Wide mouth for putting ice cubes in
  • Stainless steel, no toxins like BPA

Cons:

  • Hand wash only
  • Bottle takes on the temperature of the liquid inside
  • Can’t tip head back too fast when drinking directly from it because water pours out quickly

My husband and I joke about how I drink. When most people ask for a sip, they are asking for a taste of something. I use the word a bit more loosely. I could want a taste, but more likely I want a good healthy drink…one that makes you say “ahhh” at the end.

With this water bottle, I need to tip it back a bit slower than I’m use to. But I think it’s worth it. I love the convenience of it. It’s the perfect amount of water for short hikes in the park, for taking with me to crochet group or just keeping near me while I work.

Of course, the best part is that it showcases my love of crochet!

Filed Under: Great as Gifts, Review Tagged With: ,

Vote in the Shrug Challenge and Giveaway

March 17, 2015 By

Vote for Your Favorite Shrug and Enter to Win the Giveaway

Crochet hooks are down, now it’s time for you to vote. If you’d like to win the beautiful Red Heart yarn used in these projects and a copy of these sassy crochet patterns, enter after you vote!

Vote and giveaway close at midnight March 23, 2015.

Twins Face Off Shrug Challenge

Left: Houndstooth Shrug vs. Right: Black Cluster with White Stripe

We’ve asked a friend to model these two beautiful designs, so there’s no telling which twin designed which shrug. Don’t worry about hurt feelings; the vote is anonymous. We’re more curious to know which style is your favorite. So go ahead, cast your vote below.

If you’d like to see more photos, visit the Black and White Shrugs Pattern in the shop.

Black and White Shrugs Pattern available on Etsy.

Vote

Which Shrug Design is Your Favorite

  • Left - Houndstooth Design (70%, 117 Votes)
  • Right - Black Cluster with White Stripe (30%, 51 Votes)

Total Voters: 168

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Enter Red Heart Giveaway

 Shipping to US and Canada Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Challenges & Contests, Scarves, Cowls & Shrugs, Twins Face Off Design Challenge Tagged With: , , ,

How to Single Crochet Photo Tutorial

March 16, 2015 By

How to Single Crochet Photo Tutorial – with 7 Easy Crochet Dishcloth Patterns

How to Single Crochet Photo Tutorial

If you or a friend want to learn how to single crochet, this photo tutorial is the perfect guide. It includes step-by-step photos and step-by-step written directions, making it a great reference tool.

Tutorial includes:

  • How to create a slip knot
  • How to Yarn Over (YO)
  • How to Make a Chain
  • How to Single Crochet
  • How to Crochet in Both Loops
  • How to Crochet in Front Loops
  • How to Crochet in Back Loops
  • How to Change Color at the end of a Row
  • Includes 7 Crochet Patterns that Use ONLY Single Crochet and Chain Stitch

This photo tutorial is perfect for people just learning to crochet as well as those wanting to brush up on their skills. When you finish these 7 crochet patterns, you’ll single crochet with confidence…you’ll crochet like a pro!

Yarn pictured is Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton.

Available in the Store

How to Single Crochet Photo Tutorial Available in the Store

7 Dish Clothes in the SetLearn more about this Photo Tutorial on How to Single Crochet in the store.

It includes 7 fun crochet patterns.
Step-by-Step Photos.
Step-by-Step Written Instructions.

Single Crochet like a pro!

Filed Under: Crochet Technique, Home, Kitchen, Patterns for Sale Tagged With: , , ,

Crochet Abbreviations

March 11, 2015 By

Crochet Abbreviations

Sample Abbreviations ChartReading a pattern full of abbreviations can feel a bit overwhelming. It can also be very entertaining. Some girlfriends asked me to teach them how to crochet and I started by having them look through a magazine to show them how diverse the craft is. They started to phonetically read the patterns and we all laughed at how strange it sounded.

It’s easier than you might think to read a pattern. Patterns try to abbreviate wherever possible to keep the instructions short and compact so that the instructions aren’t a bazillion pages long (yes, I exaggerate a bit). If you know the basic stitches (chain, slip stitch, single, half double, double crochet), then reading a pattern will be easier.

Abbreviating Crochet Terminology

Crochet language is abbreviated a couple different ways.

  • The first letter of each word is used. 
    For example: “sc” is the first two letters of “single crochet”
  • The first few letters of a single word are used.
    For example: “beg” is the first three letters of the word “beginning”
    For example: “inc” is the first three letters for the word “increase”
  • There are some instances of compound abbreviations…but again, they use the principles mentioned above.
    For example: “sc2tog” means single crochet 2 stitches together.

Though abbreviations have been standardized, no two designers write the same. It’s up to each designer to choose how much instruction to give and how much to condense. I’ve seen patterns that are nothing more than numbers that look like ratios (i.e. 1:7, 2:14, 3:21). My sister and I tend to write more, not less. We write step-by-step instructions so that you can duplicate our process, using common abbreviations so that our patterns are too lengthy.

Many patterns will also have an abbreviations list. Refer back to that when you get stuck with an abbreviations. Deborah and I include an abbreviations list in all our patterns.

For a list of commonly used abbreviatons, visit our Crochet Abbreviations page.

US vs. UK Terminology

Just when you think you have the language of crochet all figured out…you run into one big snag: US and UK Terminology is not the same! They may sounds the same…but they’re not.

A single crochet in US is called a double crochet in the UK.

Here is a conversion chart for US vs. UK Terminology:

US UK Abbreviations Chart

Deborah and I write all our patterns in US terminology.

Problems Reading a Pattern

If you are having problems reading a pattern, you have a few options:

  1. Ask for help from a knowledgeable crocheter.
    This could be a friend, relative or someone from a yarn shop or crochet group.
  2. Find a different pattern for the same thing.
    It could be that the writing style of the designer doesn’t work for you. See if someone else has a pattern that is easier to understand.
  3. Educate yourself on YouTube.
    You may need help with a specific stitch like the crocodile stitch. Watching videos to learn crochet stitches will make it easier to read your specific pattern.
  4. Ask the designer.
    If you are struggling with a particular spot in a pattern, you may want to touch base with the designer. There could be a problem with the pattern or with the way the instructions were written.

The best way to learn is by doing. Find a pattern for something you want to crochet and give it a try. If you need patterns, we recommend browsing through Ravelry.com.

Filed Under: Crochet, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: ,

Twins Face Off Sneak Peek

March 10, 2015 By

Twins Face Off Design Challenge – Sneak Peek

Last week we announced our first Twins Face Off design challenge. If you missed the announcement, click the link to read about the Red Heart Sponsored Twins Face Off Design Challenge.

Here’s a sneak peek at what we’re working on:

Twins Sneak Peek

We decided to make shrugs with the yarn provided. For those not familiar with shrugs…in essence these are short sweaters. They can be sleeveless, short sleeve or long sleeve. Some people might refer to them as capes or capelets.

Next week we’ll reveal the shrugs and ask you to vote for your favorite. You’ll also get a chance to sign up to win the yarn and patterns used in the challenge. See you next week!

Filed Under: Twins Face Off Design Challenge Tagged With: , ,

Blog Tour with Crochetville

March 9, 2015 By

We’re Part of the Crochetville Blog Tour

CrochetvilleTo celebrate National Crochet Month (NatCroMo), Deborah and I joined the Crochetville Blog Tour! It is a whole lot of fun. We are highlighted on March 9. We answer lots of questions about our journey as crochet designers. You can read more about the us, the Yarn Twins on Crochetville. There are two crochet designers highlighted each day in March. It’s absolutely fascinating to read about so many talented crocheters.

Alternative Uses for to Victorian Lace Gift Card Holder

Victorian Lace Gift Card HolderFor National Crochet Month 2015 we shared a free pattern for a Victorian Lace Gift Card Holder. Today I also want to share with you a alternate uses for the various parts and pieces of the pattern.

The gift card holder itself can be used multiple ways. The friend I made this for is using it as a business card holder!

  • Gift Card Holder
  • Business Card Holder
  • Credit Card Wallet
  • Perks / Reward Cards to various businesses

The flower on the gift card holder is a lot of fun. It’s amazing how different it looks when crocheted with different yarns.

flower gallery

Acrylic Yarns from various companies were used in the flowers above. From left to right:

  1. Bernat Handicrafter Thread
    Bottom flower is single stranded with steel hook – 1″ across.
    Top flower is double stranded with D Hook – 1 1/2″ across.
  2. Caron Simply Soft with H Hook – 2″ across.
  3. Vanna’s Choice with I Hook – 2 1/2″ across.
  4. Red Heart (yellow: Super Saver, pink: Love)
    Bottom flower is single stranded with I Hook – 1 3/4″ across.
    Top flower is double stranded with L Hook – 3 3/4″ across.

Flowers can be used to dress up lots of things, handmade or store bought. Here are a couple of ways we’ve used the flowers:

Mittens dressed with flowers

It’s really fun to pin the flowers to a pair of mittens. Here is a pair of mittens our sister-in-law made for Deborah for Christmas one year.

Headband and flowers

Flowers look adorable on headbands. I’ve attached the thread flowers to a headband Deborah bought for me when living in China.

Want More Flowers

We’ve used flowers in various designs. Here are a few:

Bath-Salts-Jar-Cozy     Hiking-Buddy-Mini-Purse     Red-Heart-Mothers-Day-Bouquet

 

 

Filed Under: Appliques, Flowers, Mittens Tagged With: , ,

Behind the Scenes: Victorian Lace Gift Card Holder

March 6, 2015 By

Behind the Scenes: Victorian Lace Gift Card Holder

Victorian Lace Gift Card HolderWhat was my inspiration? Two things: 1) I needed a gift card holder for a dear friend (she adores Chic Couture), 2) I had been contemplating a lattice and rose design in thread for a while and wanted to try it out on a small project.

Problem? I don’t really like working in thread and I hate changing color in thread!

Solution: Crochet with two strands at once and a size D crochet hook. Use chalk to color the flower. The chalk allows for more subtle coloring with a kind of whitewash look to it. That’s what I was going for. The color won’t last long, but it’s not a wearable item, so that wasn’t a concern for me.

My friend was thankful for the gift card and raved about the gift card holder. She said she loved it so much that she was going to use it as a business card holder. Huh, what do you know…it is the perfect size for that. Awesome!

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Yarnitect Tagged With: ,

Review: Crochet Stitch Directory by Sarah Hazell

March 4, 2015 By

Review: “Crochet Stitch Directory” by Sarah Hazell

Crochet Stitch DictionaryLove this book. I, Dana, just have to say that right up front. Most of the crochet dictionaries in my collection (I only have a few, mind you) leave me uninspired. But not Crochet Stitch Dictionary. This book is the first one I pull out when I’m looking to create something with texture like a baby blanket.

10 Things I Love about “Crochet Stitch Dictionary”

  • 200 Stitches. My hat’s off to Sarah Hazell for fitting 200 designs into a 192 page book.
  • There are no patterns, just swatches. I prefer my dictionaries to be just that…dictionaries. I don’t want valuable pages wasted with random patterns I’m never going to crochet. Thankfully this book is packed with swatches.
  • There are step-by-step photos. For stitches that have multiple steps, there are photos! Very helpful.
  • There are charts for every design. And they are color coded making them easier to read as you move from one row to the next.
  • Colorful yarns are used throughout. The swatches are shown in lots of colors. I like that they aren’t all just crocheted in white yarn. The book feels cheerful as you flip from page to page.
  • Basic stitches are included. I like that standard stitches are included like single and double, and also Star, V and Chevron, etc.
  • Lots of advanced stitches are included. There are lots of patterns with cluster stitches, post work and crossed stitches.
  • Packed full of new stitches. Maybe it’s just me but I’ve never heard of the Berry Stitch or Granule. But I love them now that I see them in the book! I so want to make something with the unique stitches I’ve only seen in this book.
  • Lots of swatches using multiple colors, beads and loop stitch are included. I love that the swatches address other items that change the way a swatch looks such as beads, loops and color changes.
  • Tunisian Crochet is not included. Tunisian is such a different technique, I’m glad it’s not covered in this book. When I want to work Tunisian, I’d rather pull out a book that deals only with that.

So, although I adore this book, it’s not perfect. New crocheters will probably find it challenging because it’s condensed. Although there are step-by-step photos, there aren’t a ton. And if a new crocheter tries an advanced stitch, they’ll be frustrated. I haven’t kept track, but I think I’ve seen a typo or two in some of the written directions. But with the charts being right next to the directions, that takes care of any confusion.

The book doesn’t have any edging, which I find a pro, while others may feel a con. I actually designed a baby blanket using two different stitches from the book, one stitch as the center panel and another I modified and used as edging.

As I said, this is my #1 go to stitch dictionary. If you are looking to buy just one, this has my vote (so far).

Filed Under: Review, Yarnitect Tagged With: ,

Twins Face Off – Red Heart Sponsored

March 3, 2015 By

Twins Face Off – March 2015 Design Challenge Sponsored by Red Heart

Twins Back to Back

Twins: Dana and Deborah

We have a confession to make. We’re a bit competitive. We enjoy how competition stretches our imagination and challenges us to think creatively and strategically. We aren’t sore losers. We are genuinely happy when other people’s skills best our own. But we’re out to win, none the less.

With that said, we are thrilled to bring you our first Twins Face Off design challenge. We will each be given the same yarn and work independently to create a fun design that you will get a chance to vote on. And there will be prizes!

This first challenge is sponsored by Red Heart Yarn.

Red Heart Yarn Prize Package

Red Heart Yarn: Yarn for Challenge and Upcoming Prize Pack

 

We each have received 8 skeins of yarn: 2 skeins each of Red heart Soft in Black and White and 2 skeins each of Red Heart Boutique Sashay Sequins in Caviar and Champagne.

We’ll be getting together over the next week to decide what type of item we’ll crochet for our face off. Could be a toy, a garment or home decor item. We’ll let you know Tuesday next week.

There will be a couple of prizes in this competition, too! Those who vote on our designs will be entered in a drawing to win the yarn pictured above and the patterns we create in this competition. First place wins the yarn and patterns. Second place wins the patterns.

We want to send out a big thank you to Red Heart for sponsoring our first challenge. They have lots of patterns on their website: Soft Yarn Patterns; Sashay Patterns.

 

Filed Under: Challenges & Contests, Twins Face Off Design Challenge Tagged With: , ,

Happy National Crochet Month 2015

March 2, 2015 By

Happy National Crochet Month 2015!

Victorian Lace Gift Card HolderMarch is one of our favorite months of the year…because we are crochet addicts! To celebrate National Crochet Month we are sharing this crochet pattern for a Victorian Lace Gift Card Holder. This is an elegant way to dress up gift cards for your favorite crocheters or those who love all things Victorian.

This pattern first appeared in Love of Crochet magazine Summer 2014 issue. We have the rights back and are happy to share the pattern with you for free to celebrate National Crochet Month this year.

Free Pattern for National Crochet Month 2015

I used some cotton thread I picked up at a garage sale. This project would also be lovely in Aunt Lydia’s, Knit Picks Curio or Bernat Handicrafter threads. You’ll note that I use a D hook and crocheted with 2 strands held at once. This makes the project whip up faster and allowed me to use a larger hook.

SUPPLIES:

  • Bucilla Super Mercerized Wondersheen 100% Cotton: 400 yards/75 g – Color 9
  • US size – D/3/3.25 (mm) crochet hook, or size required for gauge
  • Needle for sewing
  • colored chalk

Gauge: 2 strands held at once – 5 rows and 10 dc = 2″

Victorian Crochet Gift Card Holder

GIFT CARD HOLDER INSTRUCTIONS:

2 strands held together (double stranded)

Ch 21

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (count as 1st 2 sts), dc. *ch 1, skip a ch, 3 dc* across. (19)

Row 2-6: Ch 3 (count as 1st st), turn. 2 dc. *ch 1, skip ch, 3 dc* across. (19)

Row 7: Ch 3 (count as 1st st), turn. Working in the front loop only this Row: 2 dc. *ch 1, skip ch, 3 dc* across. (19)

Row 8-12: Repeat Row 2

Gift-Card-Holder-ProfileFinish off and weave in ends.

Fold gift card holder in half.

Attach thread (double stranded) to bottom right corner.

Rnd 13: Working across the ends of Rows 1-12, join sides together with sl st: work 2 sl st in each Row (12). Turn to back panel, 7 sl st, ch 17, skip 3 sts, sl st across. (27). Turn to Sides of Rows 1-12. Work 2 sl at the end of each Row. (12)

Finish off and weave in ends.

Gift Card Holder OpenROSE INSTRUCTIONS

2 strands held together

Ch 2, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Rnd 1: 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with a sl st. (5)

Rnd 2: Working in the front loop only this Rnd: *In next st work: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc* around. Join with a sl st to the unused loop behind the pedals just worked. (25)

Rnd 3: Work in the unused loop behind Rnd 2. *Ch 3, sl st* around. (20)

Rnd 4: *In the ch-3 sp work: sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc* around. Join with a sl st. (35)

Finish off leaving and weave in ends.

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Chalk Rose as desired.
  • Sew Rose to Row 3 & 4 below the loop made in Rnd 13. Sew just the center of the Rose to the Gift Card Holder so that it acts as a button.
Filed Under: Flowers, Great as Gifts, Patterns for FREE Tagged With: , , ,
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