I Heart Crochet Blogs! This Week’s Link Love!

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

Before we dig in, though, just a reminder that sponsorship / advertising opportunities are now available on Crochet Concupiscence.

Something Special

I want to draw your attention to one of my crochet blog sponsors today.

Knitting in Recovery – One Stitch at a Time is a 501(c)3 non profit outreach program dedicated to teaching knitting to those recovering from substance abuse or other self destructive behaviors. 

This group knits and crochet items for others in need to help not only those people but also to help themselves!

Something Else Special

I also wanted to remind you that Crochetville is doing a huge blog tour for (Inter)National Crochet Month with stops on at least one, and sometimes two, crochet blogs daily. Worth checking out; you can see the full schedule here.

Smart Crochet Posts

• Holding the Thread Together. This beautiful post from The Courageous Creative shows how crochet helps us through the toughest times of our lives.
• Crocheter Interview. @UCrafter interviews @poetryinyarn about crochet design.
• How to Block a Crochet Mandala. Blocking advice from @winkieflash.

Beautiful Crochet Makes

@lastejeymaneje shared the crochet cloud brooches by Xau Xau

I love what Creative Carmelina (@crea8ivegirl) is doing with crochet and text.

Just Do shared the crochet star pillows she recently finished

Cosetes Petites shares photos of three crochet squares blankets sent to SIBOL

Crochet artist Gwen Blakley Kinsler is working on Crochet Buffet, a CGOA chapter exhibit

Speaking of food, I’m adoring this limited edition art print of crocheted food from artist Kate Jenkins of Cardigan

Crochet Reviews

• Marie (@UCrafter) of Underground Crafter reviewed Crochet With Color: 25 Contemporary Projects for the Yarn Lover by Kazuko Ryokai. She’s doing a giveaway of the book but it ends tomorrow so you’ve gotta hurry if you want to try to get it! 
• @CraftGossip had a guest post by Dora Ohrenstein about her new Tunisian Crochet book that’s been making the rounds on the blogs. Interested in Tunisian Crochet? Marie (@UCrafter) shared some suggestions for books to help you learn Tunisian crochet cables.

How to Crochet

• How to Crab Stitch (also known as reverse single crochet). Via @crochettoday. This blog also showed us how to do the long dc stitch this week.
• How to Crochet Bruges Lace. Via @crochetme. This site also offered a great tutorial this week on how to crochet yarn into ribbon yarn. And a really cool instructional on creating crochet flowers using broomstick lace.
• How to Begin and End Rows While Double Crocheting Between Stitches. That’s a mouthful for a fairly easy process! Tutorial from @crochetspot.
• How to Work in Vertical Bars in Tunisian Simple Stitch. Photo-rich tutorial from @shephredsusie who is working on the Berzelius Tunisian Crochet Scarf for a CAL.
• How to Crochet the Close Chevron Stitch. Tutorial with video for ripple stitch variation from @newstitchaday.
• How to Crochet a Neater and More Elastic Edge. Thanks @websyarnstore for this great Tuesday Crochet Tip.

Crochet Patterns

@sheepishknit shared the simple but smart free crochet pattern for making scissor grips

365 Crochet shared the free pattern for this St. Patty’s Day masquerade mask

Daisy Cottage Designs shared this free crochet Easter hat pattern

Crochet Hipster Hat, a free crochet pattern from Cre8tion Crochet

@vickiehowell has spotted a trend that foxes are back in home decor; if you agree then you might want to check out the free crochet pattern for this Fox Pajama Bag

Easy Crochet Bedcover Pattern, free from Boocoos

@mooglyblog did a creative roundup of 14 free crochet and knit patterns featuring polka dots!

Stitch and Unwind has updated their collection of free crochet ripple patterns

How to Crochet a Scarf With Red Heart Rigoletto Novelty Yarn. Video by @kristinomdahl, via @crochetattic

Quote of the Week

“I cannot say how much my art has helped me personally in this journey. Even if I’m just rewinding yarn, the effects of creating something (even if it’s a crap doll or a new ball of yarn) is soothing. Life’s stress of whatever is going on quells, and the sad/mad/angry/overwhelmed feelings lessen their hold a little. The more I think about it, the more I am sure that I would not be in this stage of my life without my craft. Busy hands really do shush busy minds.” – Crocheter Knot by Gran’ma said this in a really beautiful post about how life gets tough and yarn / art/ craft can help.

Yarn

• 7 Ways to Organize Your Yarn Stash. Via @lionbrandyarn. Some other crochet organizing ideas.

Other Crafty Stuff

• Heavyweight Help: Getting Started on Pinterest. A good guide for crafty bloggers who want to get better with this social site. Via @problogger.

Some Special Thanks

• Thanks to The Stitch Fixer for including a brief crochet interview with me alongside some other amazing crocheters in a roundup of Questions from an Aspiring Blogger.
• Thanks to @CrochetToday for sharing my guest post on March Fiber Events.
• Thanks to Irene (@yarnclasses) for mentioning Crochet Concupiscence as a great resource for (Inter)National Crochet Month.
• Thanks to Boocoos for mentioning Hook to Heal last week (which I forgot to highlight in the link love then!) and for a beautiful review of Crochet Saved My Life on Amazon.
• Thanks to @mustbethrifty for sharing a link to my roundup of Crochet Wedding Cake Toppers.

Happy weekend and happy reading! If you love these weekly roundups and don’t want to miss any then make sure you’re signed up to get my RSS feed!