The Crochet Link Love of the Week!

Of all of the crochet-related posts I read this week, these were the ones I thought you shouldn’t miss!

Something Special

Do you have a crochet project that was a total failure? Don’t let it go to waste! There’s a book coming out in 2014 called CraftFail and they’re seeking submissions. The author (@craftfail) says:

“I am seeking submissions for CraftFail, an upcoming book by me, Heather Mann, of CraftFail.com, which will feature ugly crafts, Pinterest projects gone wrong, epic cooking fails, Not-quite-ready-for-Martha crafts, and unfortunate yet hilarious DIY fails. I invite beginning crafters, Pinterest enthusiasts, craft bloggers, professional crafters and makers of all stripes to submit their work worst work for possible publication in this book.”

Smart Crochet Posts

• The Story of a Granny Square Blanket. @molliemakes shares some tips on how to pull together the colors of different squares to make a cohesive crochet blanket.
• Let’s Talk About Selling your Crochet. JD @Craftgossip has kicked off an interesting conversation about pricing your crochet items for sale.
• Learn to Crochet Hats. A basic primer from @crochetme.
• Knit and Crochet for American Heart Month. Stitch and Unwind reminds us that it’s Heart Health Month and talks about how we can recognize that with crafting.
• 6 Tips for Writing Crochet Patterns. From Crochetology.
• Crochet Stiffener Recipes. @crochetkitten explains why you might want to stiffen your crochet and gives recipes to help you do it.

Beautiful Crochet Makes

Lucy of Attic 24 shared her newly-completed granny patchwork blanket. Click through to see all of her terrific photos of the colorful richness.

Adorable crochet swingcoat that Thornberry made for her little girl

Colorful crochet rainbow tree by Vendulka via Knithacker

Las Teje y Maneje shared the funky crochet eggs of Donkey Creative Lab

BaleaRaitz has created a new Romanian Point necklace for her Etsy shop; it was inspired by a cup of coffee!

I’m also adoring the new crochet necklace design from Double Crochets (@masxalitsa)

How to Crochet

• How to Crochet the Star Stitch. Each week there is always at least one stitch tutorial from @newstitchaday that I just have to share; this is this week’s!
• How to Crochet a Ruffle on a Completed Amigurumi. From @freshstitches.
• How to Attach Amigurumi Limbs with No Sewing. From @poetryinyarn.
• How to Crochet a Hearts Wall Hanging for your Home. Great tutorial for a cute idea via @creativejmom.

Crochet Reviews

• Eleggant Crochet Hook Review. Marie of Underground Crafter actually did this review last year but I became aware of it this week when we were commenting back and forth on a post here on this blog. She says it’s a hook option that takes a little getting used to but has helped her a lot with crochet-related hand cramping.
• Crochet Noro. @lindamade talks about her two projects that are in this popular crochet book.
• 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares. Sew I See shares thoughts on this crochet book by by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss.
• Granny Squares: 20 Crochet Projects with a Vintage Vibe. Suz Place shares a preview of this new book coming out in the spring/ summer.

Crochet Patterns

Quick and Chunky Crochet Ear Warmer Pattern via @projectsathouse (free crochet pattern)

This one is more of a basic tutorial or recipe but you can get the gist of how to make the crochet triangle granny scarf using the directions from It’s Time to Create (@sohappyinred); found this one via a Craft School link from @creativejmom

Aja of (craft)LOVE shared a free crochet pattern for felted bowls

@lastejeymaneje shared the Bru Bear, which is not just a pattern but a full crochet kit being sold to raise money and awareness about an endangered bear species.

@elevenhandmade has a beautiful new Tunisian crochet sweater pattern for sale

Interweave has put together a collection of 10 popular afghans, blankets, and throws called Craft Tree: Crocheted Afghans spotted via This is Crochet

Crochet Quote of the Week

“Crochet is really a kind of life-and-death situation for me. I am crocheting to survive in the future.” – Crochetology

Video

This week’s video is knit, not crochet, but so worth seeing.

Yarn

New yarn from Berocco, via @websyarnstore

• Pickles (@eatpickles) has a new wool yarn, available in nearly two dozen colors, that they describe as a versatile, durable yarn in a harmonic, melanged palette. Lovely.
  

Other Crafty Stuff

• Science Says Knitting Burns More Calories Than Sex. I’ll just leave this with no comment.
• Doily Free Zone, the 1st International Symposium of Young Lace Makers, takes place in Pavia, just south of Milan, coinciding with Milan Design Week. Info via @stitchlily
• Congrats to Twinkie Chan who got her crochet work featured in the amazing Nylon magazine.

Some Special Thanks

• Paula Moliver for giving a positive review to Crochet Saved My Life
• Stacey of Fresh Stitches for interviewing me about my current fundraising project Hook to Heal
• Elisabeth Andree for also writing about Hook to Heal.
• The Hook to Heal fundraiser was also supported by TracyAnn of Crochet Happy
• Knitted Art for linking to the crochet gun store art project I’d shared previously by Monte Smith
• Morgen Bailey for sharing an interview with the author about me on the new site dedicated to such interviews.
• Inspired Crochet for doing an interview with me for the February issue of the digital magazine.

I also want to make sure to thank all of the amazing people who are supporting Hook to Heal with their contributions. I’ve done a shoutout post on my professional website. Thanks all!

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.