Friday, 7/02/10 July Crochet Along: “Christmas in July”

For the month of July, we decided to have a Christmas in July Celebration for all those crocheters who start their gift making early. We have chosen 10 temporarily-free patterns for the CAL: a couple of toys, some scarves, hats, a doily, several angels, some slippers, dishcloths, and baby items. I think you will find something for just about everyone on your list. These patterns will be available free for the month of July and will revert back to for-purchase downloads after July. In place of the once a week, Free Friday Patterns during the month of July, I will be showing you the progress I'm making with my Christmas gifts.

Here are the 10 patterns:

Dodge Ball Set=5
Bulky Ski Mask=2
Angel Ornaments=5
Starlight Doily=5
So-Simple Slippers=2
Pocket Scarves to Crochet or Knit=2
Helmet & Mitts=5
Winter White Bear=5
Quick Kitchen Helpers=2
Cluster Stitch Cloche=2

The rules for July are:
1. Make your gifts from the patterns we have chosen.
2. Use any weight or kind of yarn and hook.
3. Embellishments are welcome.
4. If the pattern has more than one item to make on it, you have to make all items. The only exception is the Pocket Scarf pattern—you only have to make either knit or crochet.

I’m sure by now you have noticed some numbers beside each pattern. The catch to winning this time is:

Each pattern is worth a certain number of points!

For instance:
Mary Ann makes 1 of each of the 10 Patterns = 35 points, therefore 35 chances to win!
Debbie makes 10 Cluster Stitch Cloche hats = 20 points, therefore 20 chances to win!

I have a special doily surprise for first place this time, second place wins a Mimi Crafters Handbag, and third place wins two great books from Leisure Arts: Dressing Up Baby and Fair Isle to Crochet.

Good luck, have fun, and have a wonderful 4th of July!

Wednesday, 6/30/10 Tooting My Own Horn

Have you found it yet? On the Crochet Soiree toolbar, there’s a tab called Videos and More. At the very bottom of this tab is an item called Coming Soon. Here’s where Crochet Soiree gives you a sneak peek of some of the new books coming out. I was scrolling through and noticed that I’ll be ordering a lot of these books.

Much to my surprise, I also came upon the Crochet Prayer Shawls book coming in July and guess whose design is shown last?

Yes, that would be my design and pattern. I really can’t wait to order this book!

Tell me what you think.

Monday, 6/28/10 Celebrity Slouchy Beanies for the Family

When I first saw the Celebrity Slouchy Beanies book here on CrochetSoiree and discovered that the designs were by Lisa Gentry, I couldn’t stand it; I had to have it.

Before I could place my order, I found the brand-new Soft Dreams and Sophisticated Baby & Toddlers. I’ve been making a lot of baby gifts lately and decided I needed a few more patterns to choose from. Plus, I don’t think you can have enough toddler patterns either.

Then, my eye caught a glimpse of this new book called Grannies Gone Wild. Oh my gosh, if you don’t already know by now, I’m a granny square lover, so I had to order it, too. Plus I don’t think you can have too many granny square patterns either. Ha! Ha!

Anyway, when my new books came, I could hardly wait to open them up and look at all the neat designs. Before I knew it, my son, Joshua, had the Celebrity Slouchy Beanies book and had started on the Lacy Beanie. He told me he was making it for his girlfriend, Riley.

Then, before I knew it, he had finished Riley’s beanie and had started another one, but this time he was making one of the guy’s beanies for himself—unless someone else comes along and wants it. I don’t know when I’ll get the book back to make my own versions of the beanies. Ha! Ha!

Here’s a cute picture of Joshua and Riley when she was trying on her hat.

If you want to join in on the June Crochet Along, you can have a chance to win both the knit and crochet version of Celebrity Slouchy Beanies for your own—or if you can’t wait, just order them here at CrochetSoiree like I did.

6/25/10 Free Pattern Friday: Dog Mat Crochet Pattern

I decided to choose another temporarily free crochet pattern for this Free Friday. Since I had some yarn left over from the New Years Cap, and the fun fur was flying already, I decided to make this Dog Mat crochet pattern. The pattern was very easy to follow, and it went very fast. I used the rest of the Lion Brand Cotton Ease and Fun Fur that I had left over from the cap, and I love how the mat feels. It’s so soft.

Here’s my version. This mat would be suitable for any dog or cat, and if you don’t have a four-legged friend of your own, it would make the perfect gift for that special friend or relative in your life that has a pet.

Have fun making this mat and let me know what kind of yarn you use on yours. This design came from a Leisure Arts leaflet called Crochet Essentials. This publication invites crocheters to enjoy creativity, relaxation, and success—all at once—by crocheting these 19 essential designs with Lion Brand® Yarn. These projects are great for anyone to create, but are especially suitable for beginners.

Remember to download the pattern right away, since it’s free for only a short amount of time.

Wednesday, 6/23/10 June CAL Doily Prize

Take a look at the June CAL Doily Prize!

I’m really getting a kick out of making all these doilies for the CALs because having a purpose and a deadline pushes me into actually making them. I have been looking at this particular doily for over a year now, and I thought it would be perfect for the June Crochet Along since it has flowers in it, and all my flowers are blooming now.

The cool thing about the patterns that I’ve been using is that they are made from simple charts and symbols. I really do like making doilies from charts. All the outside motifs are made first and separately. Then on the last row of the second motif, you join it to the first motif and so on and so on. Then you are left with an open place right in the middle for your center doily to fit. Then you make the center doily and attach it to the outside motifs while making your last row. It’s so cool how when you get done attaching the center doily, the whole thing is done because the edging is already done with the last row of your motifs and center doily. The June doily measures 25½" across.

This is the fourth doily that I’ve made with this big spool of thread, and it still looks like it I have enough for several more. I’ll keep you posted on that. Anyway, I hope the person who wins this doily loves it as much as I loved making it. Good Luck to everyone! The June CAL ends June 30, so get busy posting your red, white, and blue!

Monday, 6/21/10 Finished My Butterfly Doily

I was finally able to get back to my butterfly doily. I had to put down this doily and finish something else many times, then go back to it again and again. The last time I put it down, I was already over half way done. It didn’t take long after hitting the halfway mark because the pattern repeats. I just placed stitch markers at each end of the row that I was to repeat. That way I didn’t need to carry the pattern book around with me. When I finished the filet work of the doily, I decided to add a single crochet edging all the way around. I’m glad that I took the time to do the edging because I think it gives it a more finished look.

I can’t believe I still have this much thread on this giant spool of thread. I’m going to keep track of how many doilies I can get from this one spool of thread. This is Number 3.

6/18/10 Free Pattern Friday: Daddy’s Baby Afghan Crochet Pattern (and a Diaper Bag Idea)

When I saw this cute picture of a young man with a baby and the afghan (and with Father's Day coming up), I thought about the new daddys in my life and thought this afghan crochet pattern would be a cool Free Pattern Friday giveaway.

I have just the right colors of yarns in my stash: Bernat Softee Baby and Patons Bamboo Baby—which you can purchase right here on Crochet Soiree.

Then, I started thinking about the new daddys carrying diaper bags. I saw another really cute picture of a daddy and his baby. Daddy was carrying a cloth diaper bag with a long strap that went across his chest with the bag hanging in the back. I thought hmmmm… I wonder if I could find a crocheted bag pattern that I could crochet into a more masculine looking bag for a daddy to carry. I didn’t have to look far.

I found this pattern called Shoulder Sack Purse that you can purchase for just $2.99 on Crochet Soiree. I purchased it and downloaded it right away. I was anxious to Tamarify this purse into a diaper bag that a daddy who had a baby girl wouldn’t mind carrying.

So here’s my version of the Shoulder Sack Purse made with Moda Dea Tweedle Dee, Bernat Softee Chunky, and Patons Shetland Chunky. I love the way the bag turned out, and it was so fast and easy. If you know me, you know I’m not quite finished with this as I think it needs to be lined with many pockets for all those special things that babies need.

Of course, it was so fast and easy I had to use some more of my stash of cotton/acrylic blend yarns and the colors that I love and make one for myself, too. Now, I have to get my fabric stash out and choose a fabric for the lining for this bag.

Anyway, I want to wish all the daddys in the world a Happy Fathers Day on Sunday and a very special Happy Fathers Day to my Daddy!