There wasn’t any link love on my blogs last week because I was too busy dealing with personal life to read blogs. However, I caught up so this week’s filled with two weeks of the best posts from around the web! Enjoy.
Something Special
You’ve probably heard by now that I’m running a fundraiser to support my next book, which is designed to bring creativity and wellness to people through crochet. But did you know that just by donating a skein of yarn to @crochetkitten you can get your name in the acknowledgments of that book? CrochetKitten is going to start teaching crochet to children in a homeless shelter, which I think is amazing and wonderful. She needs yarn to make that happen. For every skein donated, she will donate $1 in your name to my fundraising campaign and that gets your name into the book. Of course, you can always donate directly to the campaign as well.
And Another Something Special
Berroco shared a great post about Yarn Alive, explaining in part:
“There are about 20 women in Yarn Alive who meet each week to knit and crochet together. When they first started in June 2011, they were given needles, hooks and few skeins of yarn. At first, they made blankets that were donated to others worse off than themselves. As their story got out, the yarn kept coming in and the women branched out to all kinds of projects – hats, slippers, sweaters – you name it.”
Smart Crochet Posts
- 5 Useful Articles to Help you Finish your Knit / Crochet Project Beautifully. A roundup of article links on finishing from @lionbrandyarns. This blog also had a post that was fun called 3 Ways to Celebrate Superbowl Sunday with Yarncrafting.
- Hand-Fitted Fingerless Crochet Gloves. @planetjune explains the process behind using hre amigurumi skills to make a crochet glove that supports her hand and helps avoid wrist pain. @planetjune also had a nice post about her crochet bamboo cardigan that explains the whole process of how it is designed.
- Marty Miller’s Rules for Crocheting Hats. @CrochetMe talks about crocheting hats and shares a few of the rules that this designer has offered in A Step-By-Step Guide to Crocheted Hats.
- Is Crochet Art, Craft or Both? @gocrochet discusses this question that I never get tired of hearing people talk about.
- The Crocheted Skirt: Fashion Fact or Fantasy. I loved this post from Doris Chan in which she shares her thoughts on her crochet skirts, for which she is well known (although she’s also known for other things like her crochet shawls, too).
- Smart Crochet Hook Review. I didn’t like the smart crochet hook when I tried it but I’ve seen some positive reviews by people who enjoyed using it so I’m curious about what people think of it. This is a balanced overview of it from Crochet Spot.
- 5 Ways to Modify an Amigurumi Pattern. @freshstitches shows us some easy modifications to make a pattern your own.
- Interview with Crochet Kim. Marie of Underground Crafter talks to crochet designer Kim Guzman.
- Crocheting My Life Back. I think it’s going to be wonderful to follow along with Crochet with Cris as she goes on a weight loss and health improvement journey and includes crochet at the center of the project. Very healing!
Beautiful Crochet Makes
I’m loving the minis recently crocheted by Chez Facile Cecile
I’m also loving the “amigurumi pomme and poire” by Julie Adore (which I assume means apple and pear).
Sew Ritzy Titzy made this great crochet Valentine’s doll
How to Crochet
- How to Crochet the Bullion Stitch. @CrochetMe covers this stitch that I love although I only rarely use it.
- How to Crochet the Reversible V Stitch. A nice open stitch pattern shared by @newstitchaday.
- How to Crochet Popcorn Stitch. A nice Stitch and Unwind video tutorial.
- How to Make a Single Crochet Ball In Any Size. Tutorial from @poetryinyarn.
- How to Crochet a Mandala. @winkieflash is the master of these and has written a tutorial for CraftTuts
Crochet Patterns
New pattern booklet for sale from @CrochetKitten who explains: “A Very Crochet Unbirthday features 6 popular patterns already published on CrochetKitten.com, plus two brand new patterns never seen before, and instructions on how to hook your own party decorations!”
Bunny Mummy shared a free crochet owl tutorial
My Recycled Bags shared a free crochet patttern for a crocodile stitch baby bib
Scalloped Crochet Headband. An easy free crochet pattern from Walker Whimsy, the first in a new series of monthly free patterns on this blog.
CrochetMe did an ebook crochet pattern roundup of mittens and handwarmers. These shown are the Fetching Dog Mittens by Judith L. Swartz.
Crochet Spot shared a free pattern for a crochet mason jar. Cute idea for craft lovers!
CreJJtion shared a free crochet pattern for a hot water bottle cover.
Crochet Books
- AG Mode highlighted an upcoming new book edited by Dora Ohrenstein called The New Tunisian Crochet: Contemporary Designs for Time-Honored Traditions.
- IDA Interior Lifestyle tells us about Jan Eaton’s New Encylopedia of Crochet Stitches.
- Jocelyn Sass did a review of the new Shibaguyz Leisure Arts crochet pattern book called Cool Weather Fashions
Crochet Quote of the Week
“Even I, the Impatient Crafter, have been hooked on crochet, it’s so easy, fun and satisfying to whip up some warm and cozy crochet crafts while watching TV or traveling! If I can do it, anyone can, trust me.” – Margot Potter, the Impatient Crafter
Video
How to Style a Rectangular Wrap by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn
- Knitpicks discussed alternatives to wool for people who like colorwork. Did you see my post on wool last week?
- CHA Yarn Trends Report. Stitch and Unwind shares a roundup of some of the trends in brand name yarns.
- Stacey Trock shares a tip for knitting and crocheting with eyelash yarn.
Other Crafty Stuff
- How to Keep Track of your Hooks and Needles. One of many great posts this month in the @websyarnstore series on getting organized.
- Instagram Tips for Indie Designers and Makers. A post from @becraftsy
- National Crochet Month Blog Tour. National Crochet Month isn’t until March but Crochetville is already getting ready with plans for a big crochet designer blog tour that looks amazing.
Some Special Thanks
- Courtney Bauman reviewed Crochet Saved My Life on her book reviews blog.
- Knitted Art for sharing an excerpt from my article about crochet artist Kate Jenkins.
- Knit Nell for mentioning one of my posts and saying: “If crochet is your passion – with or without maths and science – have a look at her site and blog anyway – all and everything crochet.”
- A Creative Being for allowing me to post a sponsor ad on her blog for my new project Hook to Heal.
- JD @CraftGossip for a great post letting people know why she contributed to Hook to Heal, saying in part: “I think Kathryn has touched on the very essence of all that’s best in crochet. It is creative. It is calming. It is centering. It’s meditative. It’s a peaceful, artistic endeavor that benefits both the crocheter and the recipient of the works of our hands.”
- Alycia of The Curious Pug for allowing me to guest post about Hook to Heal and share one example of my creativity exercises for crocheters.
- Crochet Today for sharing my guest post on crocheting the perfect Valentine’s Day.
- La Maison Bisoux for linking to the photo I shared of Ernesto Neto’s crocheted nets.
- AnastaciaKnits for mentioning that I featured her recently as one of the top crochet shawl designers.
Happy weekend and happy reading! If this isn’t enough creative reading for you then you may also want to check out the “arts and smarts” link love roundup I’ve done over on my personal blog, Diary of a Smart Chick.
