Crochet a Creative Snail to Use as a Pincushion or Toy (Free Pattern)

Kaitlin Cone Crochet June 21, 2017

Looking for a new amigurumi project that doubles as a tool for sewing projects? How about this adorable snail pincushion from Stip & Haak? This tiny cutie (affectionately called “Sofie”) is yours for the making with a free pattern (and a little help from Google Translate) provided for your crafting pleasure.

To make your own Sofie (or multiples for your family, friends, and co-workers who need a little partner for their fibre arts projects), you’ll need the following materials: yarn (the pattern recommends 40 grams of cotton yarn), crochet hook, scissors, 6mm size safety eyes, polyester filling (you can also substitute other materials, such as t-shirt strips, yarn, rice, or pellets), an embroidery needle, and felt.

If you’ve never attempted amigurumi before, the basic idea is that you’ll be crocheting various parts of the project and then assembling them together for the finished project. You’ll add the eyes in as you go, as well as some of the polyester filling. After you’re done creating the body of the snail, you’ll sew on the little polka dots using the embroidery needle.

Since the original pattern is not in English, you may have a little difficulty translating at first, but if you’ve read other amigurumi patterns in the past (or take a peek at some before you start this project), you’ll be able to figure it out – especially since many patterns are mostly stitch numbers.

The end result? An amigurumi that is both exceptionally precious and practical, able to bring a smile to your face while it holds your pins for the next sewing project.

If you need one of these little snuggle buddies in your life, visit Stip & Haak’s site for the free pattern. You might also want to check out their other free patterns (Google Translate does a decent job if you need interpreting).

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Free Beading Patterns from The Craft Chair

Kaitlin Cone Beading June 21, 2017

Summer is the perfect time to take a new craft for a spin, and what’s more summer camp appropriate than beading patterns? These four free beading patterns from The Craft Chair (that’s us!) make excellent projects for quiet summer afternoon activities, with minimal effort and materials.

To make these keychain cuties, you’ll need the following: pony beads (any color – feel free to use your favorite sports team colors, school colors, or be inspired by nature), cord, a keychain, and scissors. You might want to use a plastic yarn needle but it’s optional.

If you want to try out the simplest beading pattern first, we recommend the Beaded Owl, which uses four colors (black, orange, light brown, and dark brown – but remember, these are merely suggestions) and has eight rows of beads. It’s incredibly simple and won’t take too long to complete.

Then, if you’re up for  more of a challenge, you could try the Beaded Crocodile, which has a snout, arms, legs, and a tail, but only uses two colors. This one might take a little longer than the Beaded Owl, but once you master how to add on the arms and legs it’s easy going.

Finally, when you’re ready for the ultimate challenge, you can try something with wings – either the Beaded Bee (two colors and one set of wings) or the Beaded Dragonfly (three colors and two sets of wings). While the bee has standard colors of black and yellow, the dragonfly can be made of any color or special bead (glitter, wood, clear, etc.) you can find.

If these look like a great summer activity for you and your friends, kids, and summer camp counselors, you can print these out and give them a whirl.

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How to join Granny Squares with an invisible seam

Kaitlin Cone Crochet June 21, 2017

Now for something every knitter and crocheter should learn: how to join granny squares with an invisible seam. Why? What’s the point? Well, if you’ve ever seen a blanket made from granny squares, you’ve probably seen a few that aren’t well made…their squares sag, the stitches are loose, and it looks more like a yarn tangle than anything else. If you want to avoid that and make a blanket that looks cozy, chic, and crafty, you’ll want to learn this technique.

It isn’t even that difficult. All you need is a yarn needle, yarn (finer than the yarn you used for the project, but it can be of whatever color you choose, as it won’t show up in the finished product), and some scissors. That’s it. Three ingredients for a professional, pretty project that won’t make people cringe.

You don’t have to use this just for blankets, of course. You can utilize this skill for scarves, pillows, bags, wall hangings, placemats – anything you use granny squares for, really, and with how popular they are right now, your options are wide open with possibility.

Of course, it will take a few tries before you perfect the technique, but you will use it over and over, making it an excellent skill to have in your bag, whether you’re a knitter or crocheter. It’s well worth your time and once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with it on your own.

Intrigued? Want to use it in your next blanket? Head over to We Are Knitters and follow their excellent tutorial, complete with photos for each step.  If you try out this technique for a project, be sure and upload a photo to Instagram and use the hashtag #WeAreKnitters – WAK gives away 70€ worth of products each month and you could be the next lucky winner!

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Crochet a Dumpling Kitty (Free Pattern)

Kaitlin Cone Crochet June 21, 2017

Who doesn’t love a cute little kitten? With the free Dumpling Kitty crochet pattern, you can have a tiny kitten that will never grow up. They’re adorable little bundles of fluff that will make anyone smile. They’d make great party favors, as well as paperweights, keychains, or toys for little ones. With their small size and minimal assembly, you could be a crazy cat lady in no time.

To make each tiny furbaby, you’ll need the following:

• Worsted weight yarn (in two colors – which means you can pair contrasting or complimentary colors or various shades of the same color, or even pick a variegated yarn. The yarn recommended is Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice, and the colors used were Lamb, Duckie, Terracotta, Linen, Silver Grey, White, and Honey. There’s also no need to stick to nature colors. If you want a Lisa Frank inspired kitten, try combining purple and yellow, blue and white, or green and pink)
• Pink embroidery floss
• 9mm safety eyes (2 per kitty)
• Polyester filling (or some other sort of filler, such as dried beans or rice, fabric strips, or catnip)
• Size D crochet hook
• Embroidery Needle
• Yarn Needle
• Stitch Markers
• Scissors

You only need to know two crochet stitches making this an easy pattern for beginners, even with the embroidery and sewing: single crochet and increase. You’ll also need to know how to change colors, but if you haven’t done that before, you can either forego the stripes or look at the photo tutorial provided in the pattern. It’s worth knowing how to do if you ever want to add stripes into other patterns, and won’t take too long to learn, so I recommend putting the time in if you haven’t already.

You’ll be crocheting individual parts (tail, feet, body) and then sewing them together at the end, all of which is covered in detail and includes plenty of close-up photos, so don’t feel too intimidated if this is your first amigurumi project. It’s one of the simpler patterns, and the photos and instructions are very clear and helpful.

During the assembly you’ll also be adding in the eyes and embroidering a little pink nose. Of course, you can leave those parts off and have a faceless kitty, or embroider the eyes as well as the mouth, or you can add googly eyes or buttons (if you want a Coraline-esque kitty). Put your own spin on these kitties with colors, accessories, and sizes.

The dumpling kitty is one of the cutest, easiest amigurumi patterns I’ve seen online, and with a free afternoon you can have one of these little kitties done before dinnertime.

If you do hit a snag, however, the author (Critterbeans on Ravelry) has included her e-mail in case you need to ask a pattern question. You can also view her crochet patterns on Ravelry, which include other adorable amigurumi creations, such as dinosaurs, sloths, pandas, pigs, foxes, dolphins, and even some Animal Crossing critters.

If you’re an animal lover and want to create your own dumpling kitty family, you can find the free pattern from Sarah Sloyer at Ravelry as a free PDF download.

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Surface Crochet – Why Crocheters Need to Try It

Kaitlin Cone Crafts June 13, 2017

Ever finish up a project and feel like it looks a bit dull? What do you do with a project that doesn’t turn out quite like you imagined? How about adding in some decoration after the fact? I’m not talking about detachable decorations like buttons, ribbon, or lace. How about some additional crochet?

With surface crochet, you can add stripes, shapes, edging and letters to scarves, blankets, hats, purses, sweaters, whatever you wish to spruce up with additional stitching. It’s a simple technique that takes the plain and simple to another level.

Surface crochet is basically using slip stitch on top of completed crochet to create additional patterns and textures. While it works best in the round, it works on flat patterns as well, and with just a little practice, you’ll soon be adding extra special stitches to several projects.

Read through the tutorial we found at The Snugglery and look at the photos of surface crochet (there are examples with both in the round and flat patterns) to see how simple this stitch can be – whether you’re adding a stripe or two to a rug, edging to a sweater, or a star to your scarf. It’s up to you how detailed you want to get with the surface crochet additions, but it’s definitely worth trying out on at least a few projects, especially if you have some that you’re not quite satisfied with. There’s always room for improvement, right?

If this technique piques your interest, visit The Snugglery and try some surface crochet to spice up your past and present projects. If you prefer viewing a video on the subject, visit Tamara Kelly’s YouTube channel for some pointers.

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Crochet Hat (Free pattern)

Kaitlin Cone Crafts June 2, 2017

Want the comforting slouch of a beanie without having to make one out of the same old boring pattern as every other beanie? You should try the Go With The Flow Hat, which is made simple by repeating the same four rows, but looks chic and unique due to its special stitches (never fear, there’s a step-by-step photo tutorial for each of them).

The way the hat is made without increasing or decreasing, relying instead on the single crochet and slip stitches to create back and forth rows that are joined together at the end by a (mostly) invisible seam. Sound like something you want to try? You’ll need the following items:

• Chunky yarn (recommended: Red Heart’s Chunky Soft, 1 skein)
• Crochet hook (8mm)
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

The gauge should measure around 4 inches for every 10 single crochet stitches. The pattern is sized to fit most adult women but you might want to read the instructions and measure before committing to the wrong fit. You’ll also need to know the following stitches: chain (ch), back bump of chains (see the included tutorial), single crochet (sc), single crochet in back loop only (sc blo), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc), stitch (st), and back loop only (blo).

If you aren’t familiar with the following stitches, there is help available online: yarn over slip stitch (yo-sl st), yarn over slip stitch back loop only (yo-sl st-blo), back cross double crochet (bcr dc), back cross half double crochet (bcr hdc), front cross double crochet (fcr dc), and front cross half double crochet (fcr hdc).

Once you’re familiar with these variations on the back loop and double crochet stitches, you’ll have an easy time reading through the pattern. Make sure you look through the photo tutorials and that you’ve got a strong understanding of how each of the stitches work prior to jumping into the pattern to avoid confusion and frustration.

The end result, however, is well worth the effort. It’s a soft, breezy, elegant beanie that’s designed to turn heads and keep yours warm! Show off your best stitches and style with the Go With The Flow Hat — and if you’re up for it, you can add an extra challenge and make the Go With The Flow scarf.

Of course, if you find yourself wanting to make more of these delectable hats, you can always find someone else to wear your lovely creations. These make great gifts for friends, aunts, moms, grandmothers, teachers, and caretakers. You can adorn each hat with various additions (such as ribbon, buttons, or beads) to make them extra special. You might want to make a bevy of these beanies and present them as gifts during the holidays or for an upcoming excursion. Have some handy and get creative with a variety of patterns, spots, stripes, and colors.

If you’d like to make your own Go With The Flow Hat, you can find the free pattern at My Hobby Is Crochet. Be sure to share a picture of your finished product on the My Hobby Is Crochet Facebook Page, and if you want to pair the hat with the Go With The Flow Scarf, you can find a link to the free pattern on the hat’s instruction page.

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Beaded Dragonfly (Free Patterns)

Kaitlin Cone Beading May 29, 2017

Looking for an easy craft project with minimal cost and endless variety? How about a beading project that results in something you can use to add sparkle to your clothes, keys, luggage, decor, or holiday decorations? This Beaded Dragonfly is the perfect project to try out beading, and it’s easy to switch color and size, whether you want to make a matching set for napkin holders or whether you want a large one as a luggage tag or one to wrap around your wrist as a bracelet.

The pattern is a diagram available from Hand Made for free, and if you want to try making different shapes and sizes, the pattern is very easy to alter. You could turn the dragonfly into a bee, a butterfly, or a spider and make an array of critters to adorn whatever you wish.

The materials you’ll need are as follows: thread or cord (stretchy plastic, hemp, embroidery thread, etc.), beads (make sure the string and beads are of similar gauge to prevent losing beads or not being able to slide them on – and you can use any type of bead, whether it’s glass, wood, plastic, or other materials like paper mache), scissors, and whatever you want to use as a clip or chain if you’re adding these dazzling dragonflies to something.

Of course if you want more beading opportunities there are free patterns available for other creatures as well – try looking through Pinterest or craft sites for ideas. Once you begin beading it’s easy to pick up new patterns or alter the ones you have to create your own unique projects.

If you’re interested in adding a few of these beauties to your collection (as keychains, luggage tags, or jewelry), you can take a look at the free pattern and photo inspiration at Hand Made, as well as our own pattern below.

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Inspirational Beading Tutorial: Daisy Chevron Chain

Kaitlin Cone Beading May 29, 2017

What looks more summery than a daisy chain? With this Daisy Chevron Beading Tutorial, you can create daisy chains for every summer occasion, whether you’re using them as napkin rings for a dinner party, or a piece of jewelry to wear by the pool (necklace, bracelet, even a ring or anklet), or a host of other options like candle decorations, bookmarks, keychains, etc.

While the chevron pattern is pretty easy to follow and a good beginner project, you might want to practice making the actual daisies for a little while before you jump into the combination of patterns. There are plenty of photos in the tutorial to help you figure out how the daisies are made and once you catch on, adding the chevron is a piece of cake.

To make your daisy chains, you’ll need a similar gauge string (cord, hemp, ribbon, plastic, leather, etc.) and bead (plastic, glass, paper, wood, etc.), plus scissors and some tape to hold the chain while you’re working. You’ll want to clear an area of a table or the floor to put all these things together.

One of the most fun parts of making these daisy chains is, of course, making it unique. You can try different patterns, colors, ombres, bead and string sizes, and textures to make these daisy chains special to you (they also make cute gifts or party favors!).

Want to try making your own daisy chains? Follow along with the free photo tutorial provided by Inspirational Beading. Happy beading!

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Use nylon rope from home depot to crochet outdoor rug

Kaitlin Cone Crafts May 13, 2017

Want a fun, easy, but practical crochet project for the next item in your crafting queue? Look no further than this Nylon Rope Crochet Outdoor Rug. Aesthetic Outburst’s hot pink rug will wear well in the summer, and is hardy enough to even withstand a few winters. Of course, you don’t have to make your own rug hot pink, but wouldn’t a bright color put some pep in your step?

Whatever color you choose, you’ll also need to find some scissors that will cut through the rope (be careful and gentle, especially on the first try. You don’t want any pinched fingers!), as well as a crochet hook that will allow you to crochet without being too unwieldy. You might have to try out a few different sizes before finding the right one, but it shouldn’t take more than few minutes to locate the exact size that will make this project a breeze. Remember, the bigger the nylon rope and hook, the shorter the completion time.

You can add in whatever fancy stitches you like, but if you’d rather just whip it up quick, you need use nothing more than a single crochet (sc). Just make sure the stitches are somewhat tight so the rug retains its shape. You can, of course, also elaborate and create variations on this rug, using other materials (if you want an inside rug, how about using t-shirt yarn? Or you could try nylon cord, plastic, or jute), as well as different colors and patterns. This rug was made for tailoring and tinkering, giving you enough options to create several outdoor rugs and mats for all your outside activities.

Fancy giving this pattern a go? Collect your sturdy, bright colored rope and an appropriately sized crochet hook and get going! You might want to take a peek at Aesthetic Outburst before you begin. If you’d rather have a look at a more rigid pattern, try looking through Craft Gawker and see what you can come up with – there’s bound to be a rug shape and size that fits your needs.

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Crochet Animal Rugs (Free Patterns)

Kaitlin Cone Crafts May 13, 2017

Looking for just the right rug to go with your decor? Having a difficult time finding something that clicks? How about making your own? Sure, there’s plenty of boring old rug patterns to be had, but what about a fun, unique rug that expresses your love for animals? What’s not to love?

The Whoot has compiled a fantastic list of animal rug crochet patterns, some of which are free. There are also patterns available for purchase, patterns that can be translated into English, and photo inspiration if you’re one of the more daring crocheters who decides to make your own patterns (and if you’re so inclined to share, it would be a great idea to note down the pattern and post it at your own website so the rest of us can benefit).

There are several options to choose from, in all different sizes, all different types of yarns, and many, many different colors. You could even pick out a wild color scheme and make an animal rug the likes of which Lisa Frank would envy. With so many choices, you may want to scroll through and save your favorites for later. Who knows when you’ll need a new rug and decide to add another to your collection?

Make sure to read the patterns ahead of time and collect the proper materials – starting a big project can be intimidating but if you take things one step at a time and prepare ahead, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is and how simple it can be to create something on a larger scale.

Want to try making your own crochet animal rug? You can find free patterns, patterns available for purchase, and inspiration all on the same page at The Whoot. There are lots of options (bugs, birds, domesticated and wild animals) available, so be sure and look through them all before you decide!

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