Innovative Designs for Yarnivores
Panda Doorknob Cozy FREE on RedHeart.com
Photo: Red Heart
We’ve created a cute panda doorknob cozy for Red Heart and it’s FREE on their website!
This cozy is a fun accent to a child’s room and may act as a child proof cozy for toddlers!
The cozy was designed using Red Heart Soft yarn. This yarn is 100% acrylic and is surprisingly soft! We love using it because of how cozy it feels running through our fingers…and it’s washable!
Get your free Panda Doorknob Cozy at Redheart.com.
Soldier Christmas Wreath – Crochet Pattern
The wait is over. Deborah’s award winning Soldier Christmas Wreath is now available as a crochet pattern!
Crochet your own award winning wreath. It will look adorable on your front door, on the living room wall or even on the front grill of your car (although the poinsettia’s may wilt in the weather – and really, after all the work you put into the wreath…perhaps inside the car would be better)!
This crochet pattern includes all the elements you see including:
The Soldier Christmas Wreath was made with Lion Brand, Vanna’s Choice yarn. The vivid primary colors do a fabulous job of capturing the spirit of the Christmas season.
Soldier Christmas Wreath – In the Store
Get the pattern and learn more about the Soldier Christmas Wreath in the store.
Soldier Christmas Wreath available on Etsy.
Argyle Bean Bag Ottoman / Pouf – Crochet Pattern
Photo: Red Heart
We love to crochet around bean bag chairs…this time we’ve turned the bean bag into an ottoman / pouf!
I, Dana, designed this ottoman for RedHeart.com and it’s a free pattern on their website. I selected Red Heart Soft for a couple of reasons: 1) I love the texture of Red Heart Soft…if feels comfortable to crochet with and 2) I love the sheen of Red Heart Soft…the colors are nice and vibrant.
Here are some of my favorite things about this project:
FREE Argyle Ottoman at Red Heart.
Get the Argyle Ottoman crochet pattern FREE at RedHeart.com.
Turtle Crochet Pattern – Mommy and Baby Turtle Rattle
This turtle family crochet pattern is a whole lot of fun! The little guy is crocheted around a small plastic Easter egg to create a baby rattle! As baby gets a little older, he or she can shake the rattle and dance to some music.
Pattern includes:
This Turtle Crochet Pattern PDF also includes instructions on how to crochet the spike stitch.
Turtle Stuffed Animal and Rattles pattern available on Etsy.
We label this project as intermediate because of the spike stitch. But if you’ve crocheted pentagons and hexagons before, then you should have no problem with this pattern.
When your kids ask you for a pet…crochet them one of these!
Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine
Coordinates with Published Set
These little stuffed animals coordinate with the “Teensy Turtle Baby Set” that was published in “Love of Crochet” magazine Fall 2014! The Teensy Turtle Baby Set in the magazine includes a baby blanket, hat, diaper cover and cape.
Turtle Blanket, Diaper Cover, Hat, Rattle, and Stuffed Animal pattern available on Etsy.
-Winner at the Crochet Guild of America 2014 Design Competition
Congrats to Deborah for her winning entry at the CGOA 2014 Design Competition. That’s two years in a row! (See her owl bean bag chair winning entry from 2013 – on Etsy) I may be a little bias since she’s my sister…but I think she totally ROCKS!
3rd Place in the Afghan and Home Decor Category
Photo: Doris Chan
Title: A Soldier’s Christmas
Soldier’s Christmas Wreath pattern now available on Etsy!
Do you want one of these on your front door this Christmas as much as I do? I (Dana) was blown away with this crocheted Christmas wreath. I really wish you could see it in person it’s so rich in color and texture.
There are a lot of fun details that make this so breathtaking. I love the texture that the crocodile stitch leaves add to the base of the wreath. I’m in love with the soldier (don’t tell my husband) and all the detailing on his jacket. And I adore the scales on the pine cones. I can hardly wait for Deborah to write up this pattern so I can make one of these for my home!
Special Thanks & Links to Other Winners and Entries
A big thank you once again to Doris Chan for organizing a fabulous design competition. We are super thankful for all the work Doris puts into this annual competition. (And I’m sure she’s thanking Deborah for not sending in another bean bag chair like last year!)
And thank you to the judges: Jenny King, Susan Lowman and Karen Manthey. I’m sure it was a challenge to pick just three winners in each category.
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Crochet Guild of America and some of the designers incorporated that theme into their designs which was fun to see.
Visit Doris Chan’s website for all the winners and entries:
Deborah had two more entries in the competition that didn’t place. See if you can spot them in the slide show!
Soldier Christmas Wreath pattern now available on Etsy!
Published in Love of Crochet – Crochet More 2014
Love of Crochet magazine has a summer issue called Crochet More where every project in the issue uses 3 skeins of yarn or less. We have several fun items published in this special issue.
This is also the first time we’ve written an article for a publication. I say we, but it was all Deborah. She highlights the half double crochet (hdc) stitch and the myriad of textures that can be created with that stitch. My personal favorite is the hdc in the round in the back bar.
Spinner Greeting Cards
Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine
Send smiles across the miles with some fun spinner cards.
Here, I (Dana) have combined my old love of paper crafting with my new love of crochet and created some fun peek-a-boo greeting cards. If you spin the crocheted element before stuffing in an envelope, they will spin when the recipient opens them!
There is a star, heart and moon applique. The simple design of the card really lets the crocheted pieces shine! This is a fabulous project for your scraps of crochet thread.
Cute and Classic Clutch – Heart in Granny Square
Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine
The heart in this granny square makes this a clutch you’re going to love to use. It’s the perfect size for storing crochet hooks and tools. Deborah added magnetic snaps to the corners of her bag and uses this bag to store her crochet hooks, scissors and sewing needles.
This is a great stash buster project. It looks fun in mono-chromatic color schemes as well as vivid rainbow colors.
Heart Granny Square Clutch pattern available on Etsy.
HDC Sampler Bag
Photo: Love of Crochet Magazine
This bag is actually a half double crochet (hdc) stitch sampler! Each section is crocheted with a different technique to create a different texture only using the hdc stitch.
Techniques include: crocheting in the round; crocheting in both loops, back loop, and front loop; crocheting in back bar from the front and from the back.
Crocheting in the back bar is sometimes referred to as the 3rd loop or camel crochet (often created using a single crochet).
Deborah crocheted several swatches that showcase the different textures that can be created using just the hdc. The different textures are created by crocheting in rows vs rounds and by inserting your hook in different places on the stitch. It’s a great tutorial.
Bridal Shower Gift – Crochet Handcuffs
Bridal showers are a great time to gift practical items for kitchen and bath to a soon to be wed young couple. It’s also a fun time to embarrass them with items a bit more playful like lingerie and toys.
I crocheted the bride-to-be a pair of handcuffs (using a similar color to one in the upcoming wedding) in addition to getting her something from her registry.
I also stamped a card and wrote a suggestive message inside…which I encouraged the bride-to-be to read to out loud to everyone (we can’t miss the opportunity to embarrass her a little!):
Dear Bride,
I crocheted you something you can use to make him your LOVE SLAVE.
Enjoy!
PS: They are adjustable in case you want to be the slave to his love.
FREE Crochet Patterns for Handcuff and Hearts
The free crochet patterns for these are found in a couple older blog posts:
Enjoy, you young lovers!
Published in Love of Crochet Magazine, Summer 2014
Pattern 1: Mulberry Stitch Sampler – page 51
The cover girl is wearing one of two designs I (Dana) have featured in “Love of Crochet” magazine, Summer 2014. I am thrilled!
The scarf is named “Mulberry Stitch Sampler” because it features several techniques like vertical and horizontal cables, star stitch and the shell stitch.
This was crocheted in Milky Whey by Kollage Yarns. This yarn is super soft, making it a dream to wear. It blocks well and has delightful drape.
We love extra long scarves…and as you can see, this one has been draped around the neck of this slender model several times.
Mulberry Stitch Sampler pattern available on Etsy.
Pattern 2: Victorian Lace Card Holder – page 22
I needed a gift for a friend who loves everything Victorian. So I created this Victorian Lace gift card holder for her, which she raved over, then promptly started using for her business cards.
This design was crocheted with two strands of crochet thread held together allowing the use of a D hook instead of a steel hook.
Color is added to the floral button with colored chalk.
Several patterns we had published in magazines are now available here on the website. Check out what’s here:
As seen in Love of Crochet magazine, Holiday 1013
This Pampered Pet Gift Set is now available in our Shop as the Dog Days Trio.
The three items are available as a set or for purchase individually.
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As seen in Love of Crochet, Fall 2013
This Broomstick Lace Crimson Cowl is now available for free in our shop!
This is a simple broomstick pattern, perfect for those new to the technique.
Get the free Crimson Cowl pattern.
Crochet Flower Yard Picks – Beautiful Mother’s Day Bouquet
Photo by Red Heart
These crochet flowers are bright, cheerful and fun!
The pattern for these lovelies is free at RedHeart.com. This is the first design we’ve created for Red Heart. The flowers use Red Heart Super Saver yarn.
The stems are crocheted as cozies around chopsticks making these perfect as yarn bombs in friends’ gardens or in floral arrangements.
They would be wonderful “Thinking of You” gifts as well as birthday and Mother’s Day gifts. You could also stick a pen in the stem and create a bouquet for your office!
One row of the leaves are crocheted around chenille fuzzy sticks (pipe cleaners) which allow them to be shaped.
Create a bouquet of only one type of flower or create an assortment with this pattern.
The pattern includes several flowers:
Get the Free Pattern at Redheart.com
We’ve taken some photos of each type of flower. Let’s take a closer look:
Carnation – Crochet Flower
The carnation is crocheted in a technique similar to wiggle crochet meaning rows of crochet are worked on top of a grid.
Daffodil – Crochet Flower
The design of the stem allows the flower to face forward like a real daffodil!
Daisy – Crochet Flower
Change the colors and this could be a Black Eyed Susan or Gerber Daisy!
Iris – Crochet Flower
The petals naturally drape like a real iris! Some petals drape down and others up.
All patterns are written in US terms.
*****9/15/23 Great news! We are moving our store to Etsy. Some of our links will redirect you there for your convenience.
Dana (left) with Deborah (right) and her two boys. 
