New crochet pattern releases for November 2018
**This post contains Affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the links (at no extra cost to you)**
I am SO excited I can finally show you what I've been working on over the summer! It's been a while since I've released any major crochet patterns and this is why. If you've followed me for at least the past year, you know that I've enjoyed creating crochet pattern collections for the home. Since I learned to crochet 30+ years ago, making afghans has been my passion. I just love everything about them! I love that you can give them to family and friends and they can wrap up in warmth knowing you put your heart and soul into making them something special. The past 2 years, I wanted more than just the afghans though. I love seeing throws nicely set over couches or placed across beds. But then what? How do you coordinate it with everything else? What goes better with a beautiful crocheted throw than pillows?  Queen of Hearts crochet pattern collection
What do you think? The Queen of Hearts Afghan is nice, but doesn't it just look complete now with the pillows?
I'm in LOVE! Purchase the collection HERE What you get in the Queen of Hearts
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One of my favorite stitches to work is the Tarfaya stitch which I came across in my Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia book. I call it the "Loop the Loop" stitch. It gives such a cool look to projects and the texture is fun to play with!
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I used this stitch to design the Loop the Loop Boot Cuff crochet pattern back in February of 2013. Wow, I didn't realize it was that long ago! At first glance, this stitch may be intimidating but once you get the stitch placement down, it's a breeze! I decided to update the pattern and create a few video tutorials to help those who learn better through video.
New Loop the Loop Cowl Crochet Pattern
| When I designed the Loop the Loop Boot Cuff crochet pattern, I knew I wanted a cowl to coordinate with them. I actually designed the cowl not long after, worked up the sample and shipped it off to a photographer. She ended up moving to another state and it must have been misplaced in the move. The pattern was pushed aside until now. I love how it turned out and that it can easily be worked to the length and width that each of us enjoy! |   |
Take a look at this first video to see how the actual stitch is worked.
Loop the Loop Crochet Video Tutorial #1 (Loop stitch)
The 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hop
Welcome to a new week in the 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hop! I'm excited you've joined us and hope that you've had fun whipping up some great crochet projects for holiday (or any occasion) gifting.
***This post contains Affiliate Links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through the links (at no extra cost to you)***
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When I joined this event, I asked all of you what you would like to see designed for quick gifts to crochet. Many of you mentioned these events focus a lot on cold weather projects and it makes it harder for those of you in warmer weather climates. I decided to take a slightly different approach to my design and I hope you'll enjoy it!
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First, if you're just joining this event, you can find a list of all designers and links to their projects HERE on my blog. This will give you easy access to each pattern as it is released and you can quickly find those you've missed. Be sure to check them all out! There really are some great designs.
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Why I chose this crochet project
If you've followed me for a while, you know that I love to make candy and my girls LOVE taking homemade gifts to neighbors and friends. When I'm in the kitchen for hours making old fashioned Boston Cream, Fudge, Penuche and Carmels, it's nice to have a kitchen towel hanging from my stove, fridge or drawers for easy access. They are a MUST have in my kitchen and it's fun to gift them in a little basket with a bunch of homemade cookies or treats!
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Materials & Details
Skill Level: Easy
Materials: 63 yards Vanna’s Choice 4ww yarn or similar, 1 stitch marker or safety pin, 1” Button or barrell button, Kitchen Towel, Sewing machine or needle and thread to hem towel, needle and thread to stitch button Finished Size: 9” at widest section, 13 ½” height (9” height when buttoned) Hook: sizes D & H Gauge:(H hook) 14 hdc & 11 rows = 4” |
Stitches/Abbreviations:
st(s) - stitch(es), sl st - slip stitch, ch - chain, yo - yarn over, sc - single crochet, hdc - half double crochet, dc - double crochet, tr - treble crochet
Special Stitches:
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc): Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook, yo, pull through remaining 2 loops on hook
Half Double Crochet 2 Together (hdc2tog): [Yo, insert hook in next indicated stitch, yo, pull up a loop]2x, yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook
Note: This design uses standing stitches to begin rows unless otherwise stated. If you are unfamiliar with how to begin a row with standing stitches, you can use the following: ch 1, turn, sc in very first st; ch 2 and skip very first st to be counted as a hdc; ch 3 and skip very first st to be counted as a dc
If you would like to learn how to work standing stitches, you can find a great tutorial here: http://jessieathome.com/crochet-techniques-chainless-row-turns-sc-hdc-dc/
st(s) - stitch(es), sl st - slip stitch, ch - chain, yo - yarn over, sc - single crochet, hdc - half double crochet, dc - double crochet, tr - treble crochet
Special Stitches:
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc): Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook, yo, pull through remaining 2 loops on hook
Half Double Crochet 2 Together (hdc2tog): [Yo, insert hook in next indicated stitch, yo, pull up a loop]2x, yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook
Note: This design uses standing stitches to begin rows unless otherwise stated. If you are unfamiliar with how to begin a row with standing stitches, you can use the following: ch 1, turn, sc in very first st; ch 2 and skip very first st to be counted as a hdc; ch 3 and skip very first st to be counted as a dc
If you would like to learn how to work standing stitches, you can find a great tutorial here: http://jessieathome.com/crochet-techniques-chainless-row-turns-sc-hdc-dc/
Star Kitchen Towel Top Crochet Pattern
One of the things I like to make for quick neighbor, teacher and friend gifts is crocheted towels. They are a great way to let someone know you're thinking about them and that they're worth your time since it's handmade. Typically, a batch of homemade treats accompany the towels in a small gift basket along with a little note of appreciation. Another cute and useful addition to the gift basket is a Recipe Card Holder. I recently posted about how I make the recipe card holders HERE on my blog.
Quick, easy and made with love!
Quick, easy and made with love!
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This post contains Affiliate Links through which I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase
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I HAVE to have towels hanging in my kitchen for easy access and staying organized. If I know my towel is hanging on the stove, I don't have to worry about it being knocked on the floor or getting something on it that I don't want. It's easier to keep clean. This is also a simple way to switch out kitchen decor for various holidays or seasons.
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This Star Towel Top crochet pattern is free to view below or you can purchase the ad free PDF Instant Download by clicking the photo to the right -->
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 Crochet Pattern, Star Towel Top |
Star stitch crochet video tutorial
DIY Recipe Card Holder
When you're in the kitchen cooking up a storm, sometimes it's hard to keep your recipe cards clean. Accidents happen and things can get messy, especially when little kids are helping out! When my girls were little, I had SO many empty baby food bottles and I didn't want to throw them away. There HAD to be something we could use them for! I started buying baby food in those little plastic containers with the lids and they came in handy to store a variety of small things such as beads, safety pins, buttons and much more. The question still remained....What do you do with the left over glass bottles?
**This post contains Affiliate links**
**This post contains Affiliate links**
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My daughter and I came up with a fun idea. Turn them into card holders! We got out all our craft supplies (and purchased TONS more!) and went to work.
We had a BLAST coming up with as many different looks as we could possibly think of. I wish I had photos of the gift baskets we created but that's been so many years ago that I either didn't take photos or they're in the stacks of memory cards that I have. I hope that you'll enjoy creating some card holders of your own! |
Recipe Card Holder Supplies
1. Regular sized baby food bottle cleaned out and with a lid
2. Paint
3. 6" Dowls (I bought the 12" dowls and cut them in 1/2)
4. Hot glue gun
5. Cement
6. 2" Craft Clothespins
7. Scissors and wire cutters
8. Small craft supplies of your choice (wood shapes, miniature hats, flowers, ropes, birds, butterflies, etc)
2. Paint
3. 6" Dowls (I bought the 12" dowls and cut them in 1/2)
4. Hot glue gun
5. Cement
6. 2" Craft Clothespins
7. Scissors and wire cutters
8. Small craft supplies of your choice (wood shapes, miniature hats, flowers, ropes, birds, butterflies, etc)
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Classic Cable Chevron Afghan
4 years ago, my youngest sister asked me to make an afghan that she could give her mother in law for Christmas. I had designed the Ribbon Candy Afghan for her son a year or so before and she wanted me to make another one.
Here's the thing... I rarely make the same thing more than once. I have so many ideas in my head for new designs that I'm afraid if I started making something a 2nd time, I'd drag my feet wishing I could be creating something new. I think she actually laughed at me when I told her I'd design her a new afghan but wouldn't make the one she wanted.
Here's the thing... I rarely make the same thing more than once. I have so many ideas in my head for new designs that I'm afraid if I started making something a 2nd time, I'd drag my feet wishing I could be creating something new. I think she actually laughed at me when I told her I'd design her a new afghan but wouldn't make the one she wanted.
Little did I know... this new afghan I'd be designing would become one of my best selling crochet patterns. Hundreds and hundreds of crocheters have already enjoyed this pattern and I hope you'll enjoy it too! Grab your copy of the Classic Cable Chevron Afghan pattern below.
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Kate Wagstaff
Hey there! Thank you for joining my blog here at Crafting Friends Designs. Grab your hook, some yarn and get comfy as we crochet some fun, unique and beautiful projects together.
I'm Kate and crochet is my passion. I've been crocheting for 30+ years and as you can see from the selection of designs on my site, blankets are my obsession. I absolutely love creating something that will wrap my love around friends and family when they're in need of comfort.
Having 4 beautiful girls of my own has also inspired many infant, toddler and child size dresses. They are my biggest cheerleaders and have enjoyed wearing the things I've made them.
If you love what you see, please leave a comment and let me know!
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