Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

CROCHET LITERATURE OVERLOAD??

by

So, I’m home recuperating from my knee replacement (doing well, thank you) and a bit fuzzy because of the pain meds. First, Saturday’s mail held the latest copy of Crochet Today! Yippee! Something to stare at that requires no attention span. Lots of pretty pictures. Monday, TWO boxes of books arrived. I had ordered several new books from Overstock, timing their arrival for my recuperation period so I would have some pretty pictures to enjoy. But, I also received TWO MORE Interweave Press books to preview!!! I’m in a blurry Crochet Heaven!!

So, stay tuned for several reviews of books and patterns.

Crochet Today! Magazine

Comments

  1. The issue Crochet Today from Jan/Feb ‘08 as shown above contains my new favorite pattern, the Pineapple Shell. With its classic lines shifts easily from day to a night easily. Another great aspect of the pattern is it is flattering on a multiplicity of body types, as our family has discovered.

    The July/Aug issue of Crochet Today is on the news stands and it is filled with fun and nautical themes The hardest thing to do is to deciding which item to make first. Should it be the whale of a Beachy Blanket or the Sea Side Cushions. Which do you think should be made first? Hmmm…perhaps both will have to get made.

    Wishing you well on your recovery.

  2. Hi, JD. Glad to hear you are doing better! I just bought the new issue of Crochet Today for July/August and I am still going through it, but it is interesting so far. I am thinking about doing the Beach Blanket…I like the pattern.

    Continued best wishes on your recovery!

    Sandy

  3. Glad you are home and able to post. Looking forward to the book reviews. I love browsing crochet books. Mama used to do that with recipe books. She always said if she didn’t ever cook a single recipe she enjoyed reading the recipes. I’m that way with crochet books!

    Wanda
    WANDA, thanks for your kind words. I agree with your mama. Browsing through crochet books (and cook books) is very enjoyable and relaxing to me. I’ve stopped browsing cookbooks tho’ because it just makes me hungry! That’s incompatible with my attempts to keep off the 65 lbs I lost almost 9 years ago!
    jd

  4. Glad to hear you’re feeling better.

    My mom was like that with circulars.
    she used to say “You never know, I might know somebody that lives nearby!”

    I’d laugh, cause, I used to work in the mailroom of a bank, and I’d get circulars from all over our tri-state area…

    Didn’t matter, in fact, she like them better, cause they had different things!

    HEY KEN,
    Always good to hear from you. Circulars are fun! My husband has a true addiction to keeping all circulars, magazines, and many newspaper articles that enter our house. Two of us with Acquisition Syndrome creates quite an accumulation of stuff.
    jd

Have you read?

Free Christmas Worry Worm Crochet Pattern With a Printable Gift Card

There’s something rather lovely about a handmade gift that says, “I was thinking of you,” without needing a large box, expensive supplies or three weeks of frantic crocheting.

Our Christmas worry worm is a sweet little example. It has a curly body, a smiling embroidered face and a pointed Santa hat, plus a decorative printable gift card that turns a small crochet project into a thoughtful festive present.

And yes, those little leftover balls of Christmas yarn finally have a job. Apparently, keeping them all was entirely reasonable.

A Christmas Twist on the Crochet Worry Worm

If you’ve enjoyed our original crochet worry worm project, this Christmas version offers a different construction and a festive finish.

The body is a narrow crochet corkscrew, while the head is a separate, lightly stuffed ball worked in continuous rounds. A small hat with a contrasting brim completes the character.

What I particularly like about this design is that the Christmas detail comes from the colours and that tiny hat. There are no fiddly fingers, miniature boots or elaborate accessories to sew together. The curly body gives it plenty of personality all by itself.

What Skills Will You Need?

This free Christmas worry worm crochet pattern uses chains, single crochet, increases, decreases and slip stitches. You’ll also need to work a magic ring, embroider a simple face and sew the three components together.

I’d describe it as an easy project for someone comfortable with basic crochet stitches and ready to try small amigurumi pieces. The tiny hat rounds may require a little patience, especially if you usually make blankets with a lovely big hook.

The materials are straightforward: DK or 8-ply yarn, a 3 mm hook, a little stuffing, black embroidery thread and a yarn needle.

Choose smooth yarn so you can see your stitches clearly. Fluffy yarn might look festive in the ball, but finding four tiny stitches in a magic ring is quite enough excitement without hiding them under eyelash fibres.

Make Santa, Elf or Snowy Christmas Versions

The same construction works in several Christmas colour combinations:

  • Traditional Santa: A red curly body, cream head and red hat with a white brim.
  • Christmas elf: A green body and green hat with a contrasting red brim.
  • Snowy Christmas friend: A white body and head, finished with a red-and-white Santa hat.

The faces are embroidered, and the hat tip has a few white stitches rather than a separate pompom. Keep those details simple and let the colour combinations do the decorating.

If seasonal variations are your weakness, our Easter bunny worry worm pattern is another idea to save for your next round of small handmade gifts.

The Printable Christmas Gift Card Makes It Feel Special

The accompanying printable card is the detail that brings this project together.

Watercolour-style poinsettias, holly, red bows and gold accents frame a short verse, with To and From lines for your message. A pale green space on the right holds