Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

DE-STASHING CONTEST

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I’ve found another batch of books from my stash that I want to GIVE AWAY.  Hot Diggity!  Another contest is born.

annies-pattern-club-number-43This is Annie’s Pattern Club #43.  In this batch, there are 5 other Annie’s Pattern Club books and a digest sized Red Heart ‘Super Simple Fashions to Knit and Crochet’.  These are all in great condition and in need of a good home.  Could that home be yours??

To win this stash batch, you gotta jump through a hoop or two.  Here’s the contest:

Planning ahead to Christmas.  We have to start now if we want to crochet some great Christmas gifts.  What I want you to do is find a special Christmas themed doily that’s a free pattern somewhere on the internet.  Post a LINK  and the NAME of the doily (if it has a name) in the comment section of this blog article.  In addition, send an email to me ([email protected]) containing your name, snail mail address, and the link to the doily pattern.

ONE ENTRY PER PERSON please!  Any skill level, size, or shape doily is fine so long as it’s Christmas themed.  That would include things like angels and snowmen in addition to Christmas trees, stars, Santa, reindeer, elves, etc.  So, while the category is flexible, it needs to be clearly linked in some manner to Christmas.

Further, I’d LOVE for you to find a doily that is special to YOU and some tradition or heritage shared in your home.  Please include that information – say, you’re of Swedish heritage and you find a doily that contains a traditional Swedish Christmas theme.  Briefly explain the reason the design is special to you so that we’ll all understand.  No need to write a book, here.  Just a brief explanation should suffice.

REMEMBER THAT THE WINNING ENTRY WILL BE DETERMINED BY ME ALONE.  I have my prejudices.  That’s just the way it is. DO NOT SEND THE LINK OR PHOTO IN AN ATTACHMENT.  BE SURE TO PUT ‘CROCHET CONTEST’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE, PLEASE!

Hope I’m not making this too complicated.  It should be FUN rather than work.  I’m looking forward to seeing what you send me.  BTW – a link to an original design of your own is fine.  Does not have to have been previously published on the web.

PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR EMAIL TO ME!

PLEASE honor design copyright guidelines (laws) and do not link a pattern from a page depicting a published work appearing in a book or magazine – the kind that one can find easily on Russian sites (and others too).  These will be deleted, rendering your entry ineligible. Entries linked from other free pattern sites are fine as are entries from blogs, other websites, and other online sources offering free crochet patterns.

The contest will run from today through Saturday, August 15, 2009.  Winner will be announced shortly thereafter.

Comments

  1. My mother taught me to crochet when I was 10. I used to watch her crochet doilies for family & friends. She always said there was nothing more special then a gift that would be treated with special care. To her doilies fit that bill. I was never able to master her skill with fine thread and now my hands make sure that I never will.
    This pattern reminds me of the gifts my mother made from the past down patterns of family members I will never meet.
    http://www.karensvariety.com/CHRISTMAS/FreePatterns/Doily.htm
    My mother died when I was 16 and I keep this pattern link in my favorites folder thinking that one day I may push past the pain in my hands and make it in her honor.

  12. the pattern i have chosen is named madonna and child oval filet:
    there is no direct link so first
    http://web.archive.org/web/20031019180746/http://www.denisecrochets.com/

    then click on:
    [filet charts index] at the top

    the page that comes up is difficult to read but it’s the fifth box down on the left.
    highlighting the page makes it a lot easier to read.

    clicking on the box will take you to the picture and pattern.

    i learned to crochet before i started school, probably around 5. i can remember my mother crocheting whenever she found time.
    the rose, ruffeled, and pineapple doilies she would mostly make to sell, but filet doilies was what she used to protect our furniture at
    home. amazingly my mother never used a printed pattern.
    go mom!!, this one’s for you!

  13. hi karen,
    how do i get the pattern for your Snowman Filet Runner?
    it’s very pretty.
    regards,
    nikki

Have you read?

The Forest Valley Shawl – Crochet Pattern

This is one of those shawl patterns that feels instantly calming, even before you pick up a hook. The Forest Valley Shawl (After Party Pattern 23) by Scheepjes, available through Jimmy Beans Wool, has a very gentle, nature-inspired feel that really lives up to its name.

What I love about this design is how wearable it is. Some shawls are beautiful but awkward to style; this one feels practical in the best way. It drapes naturally, sits nicely on the shoulders, and works just as well for everyday wear as it does for something a little dressier. It’s the sort of piece you grab when the air cools in the evening and you don’t want anything heavy.

From a crochet perspective, this is a lovely “slow and steady” project. The stitch pattern has enough variation to keep your interest, but it’s not overly complicated. It’s very much the kind of crochet you can sink into — the sort that lets your mind wander while your hands keep moving. Perfect for quiet afternoons or evening crochet sessions.

Skill-wise, this one is best suited to confident beginners moving into intermediate territory. If you’re comfortable following a pattern and keeping your stitch count in check, you’ll enjoy this a lot. It’s also a great pattern for appreciating beautiful yarn — especially colourways that shift and flow, as the shawl really lets them shine.

Overall, the Forest Valley Shawl is one of those free crochet patterns that feels thoughtful and soothing. It’s wearable, relaxing to make, and finished with a look that feels timeless rather than trendy. If you enjoy shawls that are as comforting to crochet as they are to wear, this one is definitely worth bookmarking.