If you like to add small bits of crochet to garments, totes, and accessories, this book has plenty of material for you.  This book contains groupings of appliques that will please you and others.  There are seasonal appliques, those from the farm, from sea and shore, from the garden, and from wildlife.  You’ll find yourself falling in love with those little appliques from a lavender octopus, to a sandcastle, a ‘john deere’, a candle-embellished birthday cake, an apple core complete with seeds, and a cute, cute penguin.

Each project has yarn and hook specifications, a well written pattern, and a chart.  And, with 100 designs, you’ll find yourself returning again and again to this book for all your applique needs.  There is truly something here for every occasion.

A note.  One of my favorite ways to use cute little appliques is to cover up small tears and stains on the knees, elbows, and fronts of kids’ clothing.  It’s amazing how much more wear one can get out of a kid’s sweat suit or how appealing to him or her you can make a humble sweat suit when you embellish it with their favorite animal or image.  No way to fail here!

Book Specs:

How To Make 100 Crochet Appliques by Deborah Burger

Creative Publishing International, April, 2013

Hard back, spiral, with satin finish (my favorite way for a book to be made!)

126 pages with color photos and charts

ISBN:  9781589237520

$24.99 USD

Have you been seeing crochet all over the fashion world like I have?  I guess Margaret Hubert had too as she’s collected a ravishing bunch of patterns in this book entitled Runway Crochet.  I took the book to my local crochet club to get input from crocheters who are more fashion adept than I am (can you say ‘walking clothes’?) since they actually dress up for work.  We have a nice range of ages, sizes, and skill levels among our group all of whom dress quite nicely.  I think I’m the fashion ‘slacker’ of the group.  I don’t shop, but I do walk at the mall frequently so I see what’s in the windows of all the shops from the big box chain stores to the boutiques.  There has been a lot of crochet from garments to accessories, including crochet edgings on purses and boots, scarves and shawls, skirt, dresses, and jackets.  Something for everyone.

There are some smashing designs in this book!  I think the ‘show stopper’ is the front and center one on the cover – the flouncy skirt and shell in tones of apricot.  Almost anyone would look great in that skirt.  I am also fond of the assymetrical hem on the sweater on the left.  That’s a flattering look.  The Antonia Peplum Jacket is another exceptionally lovely topper, with lots of attention to detail.

There are 21 designs in this book.  Five are skirts – one of those with a matching pullover, 2 dresses, 10 tops (from halters to sweaters), 2 necklaces, 2 purses, and 1 rockin’ scarf.  I really do like the designs in this book and  see several that I’d love to have in my closet.  You will too!

Now for the bad news.  It is a bit disappointing to me that the vast majority of garments in this book are sized for S, M, and L with L being size 43 inches.  With the average dress size in the USA being size 14 to 16, the sizing here is not realistic.  But – and that’s a big BUT – that’s pretty much the reality in the world of Runway Fashion.  If you’re a fashion forward crocheter, you are certain to find lots of goodies in this book.  If you like to crochet for a fashionable loved one, this book will be a winner for you too.

Book Specs:

Runway Crochet by Margaret Hubert

Creative Publishing International, March 2013

128 pages, soft binding, numerous color photos, drawings, and charts

ISBN:  9781589237490

$24.99 USD

http://www.squidoo.com/angelwingpotholder

Sometimes the most humble crochet project can really make a difference in the quality of one’s life.  That’s crochet genius!  In this case, Sheila has invented a potholder we weren’t smart enough to know we needed, but will not find it impossible to live without!  Check it out.  You’ll be as impressed as I was with Sheila’s crochet genius – as usual.

Then, Stef over at Craftside is offering this cute pattern as a sample of the goodies in her latest book.  What little girl wouldn’t love to have this to cast a spell on Daddy or Mommy?  So cute!

http://craftside.typepad.com/craftside/2013/05/crochet-magic-wand-pattern-from-the-new-book-how-to-make-100-crochet-appliques.html

I’m sure you’ll find someone to crochet a wand for.  How about me??

http://solocrochet-manualista.blogspot.com.ar/2010/08/animales-ii.html

This stunning pattern appears on a Spanish language blog, but you can make it for yourself because it contains a very clear diagram to accompany the pattern.  So, head over there and print off the pattern so you can make one of these very popular owls for yourself.  It’ll look really pretty hanging in your front window!

Then, go one simple click farther to the ‘animales’ link to see all the other animals this artist offers, all with diagrams.  I love the butterfly (mariposa).

Dig around there and you’ll find more links to click on.  Beware!  You’ll find lots of goodies to add to your To-Do List.

NOTE:  It took a few minutes for this site to load for me.  Be patient.

http://pure-craft.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/animal-pencil-toppers.html

These cute little pencil toppers will be just the right thing as a small gift to celebrate the last day of school.  Get a coloring book and a few work books to keep the kiddies busy (and prevent backsliding) for the Summer and give them these little cuties.  I always liked to celebrate the first and last day of school in some small way.  These can be important days for our kids and we can make them special.

You can obtain the pattern for these and other goodies at Purecraft’s Etsy store here.  Have fun browsing!

http://lacycrochet.blogspot.com/2013/02/lacy-baby-blanket-free-pattern.html

This site has become one of my go-to blogs for crochet inspiration.  Olga does such exquisite work and has a nice selection of free patterns offered.  This particular afghan is crocheted using a stitch pattern invented by her mother.  I find the stitch pattern to be intriguing, creating a stunning afghan for baby – or to be made larger for a full size afghan.  Increasing the starting chain to the size you want will give you a stunning afghan made with any size yarn of any fiber content.  The drape is exceptional.  No way you can go wrong with this one!

If/When you need inspiration, check out Olga’s blog and browse through pictures of her work.  She has doilies, baby patterns, and flower patterns as well as a ‘simple lace stitch’ stitch pattern you’ll find yourself wanting to use for a scarf or an afghan.  Olga adds pictures of her new work and new tutorials from time to time.  These are not to be missed!

This book would make an excellent addition to your crochet library.  Now, you can win it!  Just find me a great crochet or mixed media (crochet and ……) project online that makes use of crocheted flowers.  Post a link to the project in the Comment Section below including your zipcode for verification. 

At the end of May, I’ll go through all the projects and choose the one I like the best.  The person who posted that entry (first) will become the winner.  It may be an afghan, a wearable, an accessory, etc.  It may be a sewn project, a knit project, or other project – but it must contain crocheted flowers as part of the design.  It may be your original design or you may find the work of another artist online and post a link to it here.  Just be sure the link clearly leads back to the original designer – so no Pinterest links please as those are difficult to source.  One entry per person please!  If you have won a contest on my blog in the past 12 months, please share a great project with us, but you will not be eligible to win.

Remember that the entry is not official unless it contains both a viable link AND your zipcode.  Entries that do not contain both of these items will be not be considered in the judging.

I will be the final judge of he winning entry and I have my prejudices – that’s just the way it is.  The contest is open from today until midnight CDST May 31, 2013.  So get those fingers surfing and post me your best find.

I don’t know if all 50 of these are technically sunflowers, but I do know they are all lovely!  Kristin Nicholas has created so many flower patterns in so many colors and textures that you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this book.  Plus, I love to felt!  However, I will admit to being put off by book titles that indicate they contain both knit and crochet patterns.  Usually, the crochet gets shorted and that makes me angry.  Not with this book.  There are lots of crocheted flowers, some leaves, and a few cute bugs (a teeny lady bug and a monarch butterfly – both of which are also shown in knit).

In addition to the flowers (and bugs), there is a section showing ideas for using your lovely creations – to embellish hats and pillows, to hang on the wall, to display in a vase or on a lampshade.  I love the wall hangings!  This is an idea I had not thought of.  Plus, you’ll find all the information you need to felt the projects too.  That’s more than half the fun IMO.

Each pattern has a detailed color photographs, a written pattern, and a black and white chart.  There is also information on blocking, stuffing, and even adding wires for antennae and information on choosing the right yarns for felting.  Takes out the guess work and gives the crocheter (or knitter) the best chance for success in creating her or  his own flower garden.

Book Specs

50 Sunflowers to Knit, Crochet, and Felt by Kristin Nicholas

St Martin’s Griffin Press, 2013

8X8 inch soft cover with numerous color photographs in its 128 pages

ISBN 9781250025135

$21.99 USD

http://www.petalstopicots.com/2013/04/crochet-flower-face-cleansing-pads-pattern/

Kara always comes up with good ideas – and tutorials for them.  In this case, as a follow up to my recent article showing a tutorial for flower-making (from another crochet artist), we can make some more pretty flowers to use as facial exfoliation.  These simple but attractive flowers will be a hit with everyone from teens to grannies.  Who won’t enjoy washing her face with these sweet flowers?

I like the idea of making them in a variety of colors.  If you have more than one lady in the house, each can have her own color.  It wouldn’t hurt a guy to use them either!  Or a baby’s bottom.  I’d like to see them made with double strands of size 10 cotton, too.  In my climate, the size 10 cotton will dry out more thoroughly than the worsted weight cotton yarn.  Also, don’t hesitate to make them with acrylic yarn.  Acrylic yarn makes a really good scrubber – if you don’t apply too much pressure, they’ll work fine on skin.  Get the free pattern here.

http://tenceremiz.blogspot.com/2013/02/tigla-cicek-yapimi.html

I have no idea what language this tutorial is written in, but you’ll have no trouble following along with the detailed photos.  I like the way she creates these pretty flowers.  Is there such a thing as too many flowers?  You can use them to embellish a bag like this one!

PS – tiny update.  Thanks to the readers who have identified the language of the blog as Turkish.  Now I know!

The winner of this wonderful new book by Kim Guzman is Kathy G with this entry (selected at random):

This book is truly colorful   and is full of wonderful granny squares that will inspire you to organize all your partial skeins of yarn to create many, many squares.

There are oodles of free granny square patterns online, so why buy a book of them?  One really useful reason is that Leonie Morgan has included information on how much yarn of each color you’ll need to complete enough of any particular square to make an afghan in a variety of sizes.  For instance, for a traditional granny square composed of five colors, you’ll need 2 yards of the central color (A), 3 yards of the next color (B), 6 yards of the next one (C), 8 yards of the next color (D), and 9 yards of the edging color (E), resulting in a total of 72 yards of color A,  and so forth to make an entire baby afghan.  No more running out of yarn when you’re three fourths of the way through the baby afghan the weekend before the shower!

Also, Morgan has included some truly outstanding squares that I have not seen elsewhere.  The Bobble Heart on Page 54, shown worked up into a colorful and sweet baby afghan on the next page is a stunner.  I’m not much for popcorns and bobbles, but I’ll be making this afghan.  Other appealing squares includes a mitered square with a star called Stars and Stripes, the Mitered Flower which reminds me of a sunrise, and the Frilly Circle shown in three presentations are all spectacular.  There are also cross stitched squares, ripple squares, 3D squares, and lots of flowers  The color play alone makes the book a good read!

Each of the 100 patterns has a clear, color photograph, written instructions, and a chart in addition to the detailed yardage information.  Since I’m not a fan of joining squares (although I will do it), there are plenty of these patterns that could simply be worked into larger, one block afghans.

Book Specs:

100 Colorful Granny Squares to Crochet by Leonie Morgan

St Martin’s Griffin Press, 2013

8X8 inch soft cover with 144 pages and hundreds of color photos

ISBN 9781250025128

$21.99 USD

http://littleprojects.blogspot.com/2008/05/purse-organizer.html

I’m a practical person.  You knew that, right?  I am NOT a well organized person.  You knew that, right?  So, when I ran across this, I knew, just KNEW, that this would be the best Mother’s Day present ever.  It’s crocheted.  It’s simple.  It’s fast.  It’s easy.  It’s useful.  It will be a hit!

You’ll need some good feltable wool (check out some of these if you don’t have any in your stash), a few hours, and the pattern that’s free here.

http://littleprojects.blogspot.com/2008/05/purse-organizer.html

If you’ve never seen one of these organizers in action (well, sorta), this will give you an idea of how to use it and how useful it is.  The design is completely customizable.  You will find a slot for each of your most important items (aside from your wallet).  You put all your necessities in their place then you can move the entire organizer from purse to purse.  If you’re more creative, you can even add a coin purse by adding a zippered compartment.

I pretty much guarantee you that the recipient of this piece of crochet will be very pleased.  While it may not be the fanciest piece of crochet she’s ever been given, it will perhaps be the most used piece.  Rather than the bland gray pictured above, why not make it more personal by working it up in the recipient’s favorite color – something bright and easy to see?

Should you have no experience with felting (fulling), this would be a great first project.  However, using the same idea, you can work this up in a tight single crochet and no felting will be required.  In that event, you can use acrylic or cotton yarn rather than the wool.  The benefit of wool in this application is that the felt can be cut and sewn (if desired) without worrying about any raveling.  Felting also creates a very durable fabric that will last for years and can take a zipper, snap, grommet, or button with no difficulty.  Scraps of wool yarn will work fine too.  No need to make it in all one color unless you want to.  I like the idea of edging it in a bright color if you use a basic black, brown, or gray for the body of the organizer.

In any event, with only a few hours of work and a skein or so of yarn, you can create a smashing Mother’s Day gift that will be appreciated and enjoyed for years to come!

http://crochetjewel.com/

Crocheted hats/caps for babes and tots are always popular.  They typically work up quickly, are practical, and just add to the overall cuteness factor for the kiddies.  I’ve rounded up a few that are especially adorable.  The dinosaur hat has ‘googly’ eyes that will be hit with little guys.

http://monkeyseemonkeydo-jennifer.blogspot.com/2013/04/baby-boy-aviator-hat-crochet-pattern.html

This teeny Aviator hat will be a hit!

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/hats-hats-hats.html

Bev always has cute baby patterns on her site.  This batch of hats start from a very basic pattern which you can ‘doll up’ however you want.  Look at the impact the yarn choice makes in each cute little hat.

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/childs-crochet-earflap-hat

Finally, one of my favorite hats for baby is an earflap hat.  These are simple to make, can use up a lot of scraps or be worked up in fancy yarns.  Plus, you can personalize each hat with the addition of small flowers, baseball motifs, or other appliques you can make from any fridgie pattern.  And, the best thing is that they keep those sweet little ears very warm.  Can’t go wrong with that!  This free pattern from Redheart is very customizable.  Have fun and make a bunch for your kids or for charity.  These make great summer projects since they are small, work up quickly, and easily portable.  You can find some other free patterns for earflap hats here.

Well, maybe the little motifs you have on hand are not flowers.  But, the idea remains the same.  You have an ugly bag, you add some pretty crocheted motifs onto it (either with glue or by sewing) and you instantly have a stunning upcycled bag that you’ll be excited to carry!

You can get the super simple instructions for creating this cute tote from Elise’s blog here.

This idea would work well for those small granny squares you’ve made, for a few fridgies you’ve experimented with, or even for some swatches you’ve worked up.  In Elise’s example, she’s glued the flowers to the bag.  That works well most of the time.  You just need to use the right glue for the project.  I’d stay away from hot glue, although it can be used in small quantities to anchor the crocheted motifs.  But I’d also use a more durable (and perhaps flexible) glue, using a few dots of hot glue to hold the motifs in place while the fabric glue or E6000 or something similar takes time to dry.  I am a huge fan of Aleene’s Flexible Stretchable Glue, but others should work fine.