Darn it!

I KNEW I spoke too soon when I said all 4 of us were well....


Grrr, making an appt at the orthopedist for Chief.


:(

Spring is finally here!

I don't know about you, but April has been pretty tumultuous. I've had two laptops fail. (one crashed, the other the monitor part died).  We've had too many trips to the Dr. (Thank God that as of this moment all 4 of us are healthy... I'm grateful, I don't want to jinx our good fortune). Of course Tax time is always super stressful and I own my own business, so it's an extra demoralizing whammy to write a check for such a huge percentage of my earnings.

What else has been going on?  Well now that I've complained some about how hard April has been. (I'm leaving out the really gory details...) it's time to talk about the GOOD things that have been happening....

crickets...

I'm just kidding.  The kids are wrapping up the school year in fantastic fashion. I've been training to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) since January and despite a few major stresses that threatened to throw me off course, I did my Half the Saturday before Easter!  I walk at least a little each mile but I finished the whole 13.1 miles in a reasonable time... and I have to say I'm proud of myself. It was a challenge that took 15 weeks to prepare for and I did it.

I filmed another Online Class for Annie's and it is SO AWESOME. I just love it, love it, love it and I can't wait to share it with you.  It should debut this summer and I'll hopefully be signing DVD copies of it at the Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, NH in July.

I'm preparing now to go to TNNA in Indianapolis for the 'Summer Show' this coming weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing many of my crochet and knit friends who I only get to see 1 or 2 times per year.

Minnie the Couch Cat is growing fast and continues to be mischievous and entertaining.

Gwen Reviews Crocheting Clothes Kids Love!

Go see the nice things she has to say!

Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

Listen in on Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski

Today 3:00 pm EST



Listen HERE

Take your daughter to work day!

Well, couple of days...
Chickee came with me to visit Annie's.

It was so fun to share my work life with my girl.

Yarn Giveaway WINNER!

And the winner of the Yarn giveaway...

the yarn to make both sets of mittens from Crocheting Clothes Kids Love....

is....


Denise A (sealed4ever)

Congratulations!

Please either send me a comment with your address (I won't publish it) or email me at Ellen @ GoCrochet.com with your mailing address and I'll get your prize pack sent out!

Thanks to everyone for entering!

Happy Crochet Month!

Please look at yesterday's post for a free pattern for everyone.

Crochet Month FREE pattern! Garden in Winter Hat

As promised, here is a free pattern for you for National Crochet Month!

Also, check out all the other designer blogs that are incorporating FREE patterns and giveaways. Find the whole list of dates and events here.

TODAY is the LAST DAY to enter my yarn giveaway! Go here for details.  

Ok, here's the rules about free patterns... enjoy it! Use it! Make the item again and again as much as you want. Print the pattern out for your own use!  Please do not GIVE away or re-post the pattern. But, you may give away the LINK so that your friends can come HERE and get it for themselves. :)

Thank you.  Here it is: 

Garden in Winter Hat

SKILL LEVEL

Beginner

FINISHED SIZE

Circumference = 19"

Hat stretches to fit 20".

Height (crown to brim) = 7.5"

MATERIALS

•           Schachenmayr Boston (super bulky) (70% acrylic, 30% wool) (1.76oz/122yds/55m)/50g per ball):

2 balls #00281 casual marl (A),1 ball #00151 royal (B).

•           Size K/10.5/6.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

•           Tapestry needle

GAUGE

Rounds 1-2 = 3"

Take time to check gauge.

PATTERN NOTES

Hat is worked from crown to brim in joined rounds with Right Side always facing. Ruffle edging is worked in unworked loops of last rounds. Weave in ends as work progresses.

HAT

Round 1: Ch 4, join with sl st in first ch to form a ring; ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 11 dc in ring; join with sl st in top of beg ch-3. (12 dc)

Round 2: Working in back loop only, ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each rem st around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-3. (24 dc)

Round 3: Working in back loop only, ch 3, 2 dc in in next st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-3. (36 dc)

Round 4: Working in back loop only, ch 3, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-3. (48 dc)

Round 5: Working in back loop only, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in first sc. (60 sc)

Rounds 6-10: Working in back loop only, ch 3, dc in each st around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-3, changing color to B in last st of Round 10. Fasten off A. (60 dc)

Note: Rep Round 6 to add more length to the hat before completing Round 10.

Round 11: With B, working in back loop only, ch 3, dc in each st around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-3. Fasten off B.

Ruffle Edging

Round 1: Beginning at seam on back of Hat, join B in first unworked loop on Round 10, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same loop, sk next 2 unworked loops, *(sc, ch 2, sc) in next loop, sk next 2 loops; rep from * around; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Round 2: Repeat Round 1 working in unworked loops of Round 9. Fasten off.

Round 3: Repeat Round 1 working in unworked loops of Round 8. Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

Book Giveaway!

Designer, Jocelyn is doing a review and giveaway of Crocheting Clothes Kids Love TODAY!

So, read my post yesterday and enter to win yarn for the mittens in the book, then go to Cute Crochet and enter to win the book! Thank you, Jocelyn! You have seen many of the photos of my projects, but Jocelyn also shows many photos of Shelby's projects, which are whimsical and delightful.

Happy Crochet Month! GIVEAWAY!

Did you see Shelby Allaho's awesome post yesterday to kick of Crochet Month?  Go check it out and see what crochet has to do with awesome wrapping paper.... you're going to love it.

My gift to you on this Crochet Month is a GIVEAWAY!  I have a set of YARN to giveaway to make both sets of the kids mittens in my book with Shelby Allaho, Crocheting Clothes Kids Love. 

 

The prize pack includes 5 skeins of Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash (which you are going to love!). It's enough to make both sets of mittens from our book! 

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on THIS post with your first name, last initial and something to identify you, a unique nickname, a town, etc.  This giveaway if for US residents. You may enter between now and March 14th. A winner will be chosen at random from the valid entries.  The winner will be announced on March 15th. The winner needs to contact me by March 30th with your shipping address so I can mail you the yarn! 

I have a FREE PATTERN coming up before St. Patrick's Day (March 17th). So keep checking back here for more Crochet Month fun!

My post today, and Shelby's post yesterday are part of Crochetville's 2014 Blog Tour for National Crochet Month! Crochetville chose Halos of Hope this year as our charity to promote. If you aren't familiar with this wonderful organization, they accept donations of crocheted, knitted, and sewn hats, that they distribute to 450 cancer treatment centers in the US each month. If you are interested in donating hats or money to help get the hats distributed, please visit their website.  The Underground Crafter also has a post up for Crochet Month, go check her out!

Happy National Crochet Month!

National Crochet Month kicks off today!

Go visit Shelby Allaho today or tomorrow for some Crochet Month goodness, then come back here tomorrow for my offerings...  hint hint...

Many, many designers will be doing special posts through out the month so show your favorite blogs some love and go visit some new ones.

Picot Square Cowl Revealed!

Thanks to Red Heart, it's a free pattern!

The Picot Square Cowl is made with Red Heart "With Love" yarn.  Click here to go to Red Heart for more details.

Gratuitous Cat Photo

You haven't seen the cats in a while, and this is the best photo I have gotten so far of the two of them together. Charlie (in the bed) and Minnie the kitten are still not good buddies. Matter of fact I think this photo interrupted Minnie thinking about pouncing on Charlie.  Oh well, There is less hissing going on than there had been. 

FREE Slipper Pattern!

The publisher of Crocheting Clothes Kids Love is offering one of Shelby's patterns for FREE. 
The Crocheted Buckle Bow Slipper Pattern is offered on the Craftside Blog!  Enjoy!

Just in Time

How in the world did it get to be February 20th already?  I've been busy editing Book FIVE... want a sneak peek photo of Book Five?

I know, I know, you're like .... "WHAT?!"

And, I'm excited, it's just in time, that I received all the projects back from Book FOUR.... so I can use them...

Do you want a sneak peek from Book Four too? 

So gorgeous.

Margaret Hubert Reviews "Crocheting Clothes Kids Love"

Check out Margaret's blog where she reviews Crocheting Clothes Kids Love by me and Shelby Allaho!  

Knit and Crochet Now season 5 Debut!

Check it out! Season 5 of Knit and Crochet Now is airing this month and the DVD is ready! Get all the details here.

Pentagon Capelet Revealed! (It's Bruges Lace!)

The Pentagon Capelet is in the new booklet: Crochet Red: Crocheting for Women's Heart Health. Here is the Ravelry page link for the pattern with all the how-to-find-it details.

I stitched it in Premier Serenity Sock yarn. Can you see that it is Bruges motifs with a lovely little edging?  I love Bruges Lace!  See previous posts on Bruges lace here,
and here
and here

Shy about trying Bruges Lace crochet? Try this!


MORE Bruges Lace to come!  :)   Can you find a Bruges style project on the cover of my next book?

Crochet Concupiscence does a review!

Kathryn at Crochet Concupiscence does a great review with an interesting perspective on our new book, Crocheting Clothes Kids Love.

Go see what she has to say. :)

If you are enjoying our new book, please let others know in the Amazon Reviews for the book. Thanks!

Here are the Prim wristers. Made from Spud & Chloe Fine, the yarn is a dream.

My new theme song

Do you remember the tv show Ally McBeal?  It was kind of a wacky law office comedy/soap opera. Anyway Ally always had a theme song. I like the idea of having a theme song.  Just like I have my key words for the year "half" and "Thrive" (see this older post for the explanation...)

Anyway, I think I found my new theme song... just the song/empowerment part, not the anger-you-done-me-wrong part. I love the lines, "I get stronger with every step" and "I got a lot more than a little bit left". 

Do you have a theme song? What is it?

Congratulations! (and more peeks!)

And the winner of the Crocheting Clothes Kids Love Book Giveaway is Hiba Yuki!

I have sent her an email and will be sending out her book shortly.  For the rest of you, thank you very much for entering to win. I'm in the process of adding the patterns from the book to the book page on Ravelry.

Would you like to see a few more photos?

Crocheting Clothes Kids Love