Doily Mug Rug and Upcycling Doilies in We Like Sewing Magazine April 2025

For the April 2025 issue of We Like Sewing online magazine, we wrote a sewing pattern and an article about doilies. We’ve grown to appreciate doilies more and more over the last few years. Back in the day, when our grandmother was crocheting them, we didn’t appreciate them, but now we do. There are so many new and exciting ways that people are using doilies, that it’s hard not to get excited about them.

As you can see in the photo above, we wrote a beginner friendly pattern for mug rugs. These are fun and quick upcycle projects that can be made in an hour. The denim is from upcycled denim jeans. The doilies were given to me by my aunt. Some had “Made in China” tags on them, so I felt comfortable upcycling them on the coasters.

Additionally, I, Dana, wrote an article with 11 ideas for upcycling doilies and lace in the article: Reduce, Reuse, Relace! In that I share ideas for decorating your home, updating clothing and creating useful items as well. I also share a few photos from my home where I’ve upcycled doilies and lace.

Check out our latest article and pattern on We Like Sewing April 2025 website.

The article I wrote is just a small sample of the amazing projects I saw online. I didn’t have time or space to share them all. But if you’re looking for a visual inspiration, check out the Pinterest board I created: Upcycle Doilies and Lace.

This article ramped up my appreciation of doilies so much that I sewed a doily on a playing card holder I made for my sister. This was also a denim upcycling project. Check out the doily on the Playing Card Holder Sewing Pattern.

60 Quick Granny Squares

We are thrilled to have 6 granny squares published in this new book: 60 Quick Granny Squares. In addition to the squares, we’ve written a pattern for a Dickie to wear under a shirt or jacket. 2 of our squares kind of made it on the cover…at the bottom left corner…how fun.

The 6 granny squares we’ve written include:

  • Spike Stitch Mosaic Tile – project 8
  • Sunflower – project 26
  • Daisy – project 27
  • Flower Patch – project 28
  • Butterfly – project 29
  • Swirl – project 58
  • Comfort Swirl – granny square project

Above, I’m wearing the prototype of the Comfort Swirl Dickie made from 4 Swirl granny squares.

All of the projects are crocheted using 220 Superwash Sport by Cascade Yarn. I, Dana, am a big fan of this yarn. There are tons of colors and the thinner weight is great for getting lots of detail in smaller projects.

All the granny squares in the book measure 6″ x 6″ so you can mix and match designs to make larger projects like bags, clothes, blankets and more.

The first section of the book includes helpful tips on changing color, joining, etc.

The squares were designed by a handful of crochet designers, their names are listed with their square. Each square also includes charts…for those that like to stitch with those visuals.

60 Quick Granny Squares is published by Get Creative 6, an imprint of Mixed Media Resources. You can buy your copy of 60 Quick Granny Squares in your favorite yarn store or Amazon.

Mini Wallet in Quick to Stitch to Crochet 2025

Keep your cards and money organized with this cute little wallet. There are 2 pockets and a fold over front flap secured with a button. Add a bit of whimsy to this mini wallet by embroidering a rose in the button hole.

This mini wallet is a great project for the confident beginner because it uses basic stitches. The wallet is crocheted flat and folded to make a wallet with 2 pockets.

The yarn is Lion Brand Cotton DK which is really nice to work with. It’s also durable and washable. This wallet measures 4″ wide x 2.5″ tall making a great size for stowing in a purse or grabbing for a quick trip out.

Quick to Stitch Crochet 2025 by Crochet World

Quick to Stitch Crochet by Crochet World has 35+ designs that use a wide variety of yarn weights from sport to super bulky. It includes bags, scarves, shawls, blankets, baskets and more. This issue is available in craft stores until Jun 9, 2025. Learn more about Crochet World magazine at Crochet-World.com.

Granny Square Stork with Baby Bundle

Another last minute addition to Birds of a Feather, Volume 2…a STORK WITH BABY BUNDLE!

Just when I think we’re done making granny square birds…we make another one. We really love this granny square Stork for celebrating new babies. The baby bundle dangling from the stork’s beak can be gender specific or gender neutral.

As with the other granny square birds from Volume 1 and 2, the stork is made with only 2 small granny squares. As illustrated in the photo above, the stork can be all white or have dark grey tipped wings. And the legs look great in yellow or orange.

Stork with Baby Bundle on Etsy

The Stork with Baby Bundle is available in the Birds of a Feather, Volume 2 crochet pattern in our Etsy shop.

Available now on Etsy.

Buy the pattern on etsy

What are others saying about Birds of a Feather, Volume 2?

  • These crocheted birds are so cute. Easy to follow instructions. – Anonymous
  • Love these little birds! Everyone is getting them tied to gifts! – April
  • To put it fowley, i can’t wait to crochet my flock. Lol. – Ruby
  • Love the birds! Thanks for the second volume. – Anonymous

Birds of a Feather, Volume 2

Birds of a Feather, Volume 2 has 10 new birds:

  • Stork with Baby Bundle
  • Flamingo (fluffy or crocodile stitch)
  • European Robin
  • Crow / Raven
  • Black Breasted Red Phoenix Rooster (fluffy or not)
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Rubber Duckie
  • Mallard
  • Goose
  • Seagull

If that list of birds wasn’t exciting enough…Volume 2 includes step-by-step instructions for turning all the granny square birds into fun and practical things such as:

  • Stuffed Animal
  • Lined Zipper Pouch (not flamingo due to neck construction)
  • Cell Phone Holder
  • Bag Charm or Christmas Ornament

And on top of all that, Birds of a Feather, Volume 2 talks about yarn weight and whether you can use cotton thread, super bulky yarn and everything in between.

Birds of a Feather, Volume 2 is available now in our Etsy shop.

Bunny Photo Prop in Crochet World Spring 2025

Crochet your snuggle bunny a cute photo prop this Spring. The crochet pattern is a fun way to capture the joy and love of your new infant.

This bunny photo prop includes:

  • Chin Strap Hat with Bunny Ears
  • Diaper Cover with Pom Pom on the Bum
  • Booties with Pom Poms at the Heel

All three elements are made with Lion Brand Heartland worsted weight acrylic yarn. This yarn is very soft and really enjoyable to crochet with.

Crochet World Spring 2025

Crochet World Spring 2025 includes this pattern for the Bunny Photo Prop crochet pattern as well as 28 dynamic projects for spring stitching. The magazine will be available at craft stores through the end of April 2025. Not familiar with Crochet World? Learn more about the magazine at Crochet-World.com

Granny Square Flamingo

The latest in our granny square birds series is…the Flamingo!

The flamingo is a late arrival to the Birds of a Feather Volume 2 crochet pattern. It was added 2/26/25. Not only that…but both versions of the flamingo have been added to the pattern. Yep, the furry version and the crocodile stitch version.

Granny Square Flamingo Videos

The crochet flamingo is different enough from the other birds in volume 2 that we created a few videos just for it. The crochet pattern has links to the how-to crochet flamingo videos including:

  • How to Stuff / Create the Flamingo Neck
  • How to Crochet a Flamingo Bill
  • How to Crochet Crocodile Stitch Flamingo Wings

Granny Square Flamingo on Etsy

The Granny Square Flamingo is now available in our Etsy shop in the Birds of a Feather Volume 2 collection.

Buy the pattern on etsy

What’s Included in Birds of a Feather Volume 2

Birds of a Feather Volume 2 has 9 granny square birds. Each bird is crocheted with only 2 small granny squares. Volume 2 includes all of these birds:

  • Crow / Raven
  • European Robin
  • Flamingo – 2 versions
  • Black Breasted Red Phoenix Rooster
  • Rubber Duckie
  • Mallard
  • Goose
  • Seagull
  • Red Winged Blackbird

In addition to instructions for making stuffed animals, Volume 2 has a couple of very exciting additions. All of the birds from both Volume 1 & 2 can become useful items like:

  • Cell Phone Holder
  • Lined Zipper Pouch (except Flamingo)
  • Bag Charm

As with the birds, there are step-by-step written instructions for making the cell phone holder, zipper pouch and bag charm. And each of these practical items have a TON of photos so it will be easy to customize your granny square bird.

Buy Birds of a Feather Volume 2 on Etsy in our shop: Yarnovationsshop.

Granny Square Birds of a Feather Vol 2

We are thrilled to introduce Birds of a Feather Volume 2 of our wildly popular Birds of a Feather crochet pattern. This new pattern (written in USA terminology) has 8 more birds and several really awesome features including a lined zipper pouch and a cell phone holder! Each bird is made from 2 granny squares. But now they are so much more than a simple amigurumi pattern. Let me introduce you to the new flock in town.

Granny Square Chicken: Black Breasted Red Phoenix Rooster

Volume 2 has a new granny square chicken crochet pattern: the Black Breasted Red Phoenix Rooster. This rooster is best known for it’s big bushy black tail and long gorgeous red feathers. As you can see from the photo above, we’ve crocheted it in two different styles…a traditional crochet square and a primped and fluffed version. The crochet pattern will teach you how to make both styles.

The tail of the fluffy version pictured above also has a secret. It’s a cell phone holder! WHAT?!

Granny Square Birds: Rubber Duckie, Mallard and Goose

Here’s a fun trio for your desk: duck, duck, goose! A fellow crocheter wrote to asked if we had a rubber duckie pattern in our granny square chicken collection. She is a jeep girl and apparently giving rubber duckies to other jeep lovers is a thing. Well, Melissa, here you go!

After a little trial and error, Deborah created a mallard with the iconic green head and white ringed neck. Not only that, she added the little blue tail feather. It’s amazing how much detail you can get in a small granny square! She did make a note that the mallard is more challenging than the other birds due to all the color changes. There are so many tails, she said she only had to add the tiniest amount of stuffing.

As a last minute addition, we decided we couldn’t have 2 granny square ducks without a goose. So the mother goose was added. As an aside, this would be a cute little bird to gift at a baby shower with a copy of nursery rhymes.

Birds made from 2 granny squares each: black breasted red phoenix, crow / raven, seagull, european robin.

More Granny Square Birds: Crow / Raven, European Robin, and more…

There are 8 birds in this granny square flock. The crow / raven is the easiest bird to make…if you don’t mind working with black yarn! If you’d prefer, you can make it in white to create a white dove. We include yarn colors for that option.

While on a walk one afternoon, we noticed a red-winged blackbird in the cattails along the stream. We love the bright contrast of the red and yellow to the black. If you’re not afraid to crochet in this dark color, this is another really fun and easy bird to make.

We love the little splash of grey that the European Robin has next to it’s chest. This is a gorgeous bird to make with heathered yarns. The flecks in the yarn give the feathers extra depth. And pictured above, this sweet little bird is also a cell phone holder. It’s the one I keep by my desk to hold my phone.

seagull made from two crochet granny squares. One as a zipper pouch with feet attached to zipper pull.

Mine, mine, mine…says the Seagull

The Granny Square Seagull has big personality in this pattern. The knobby knees and dark grey tail really pop next to the white and grey granny squares. We selected the granny square seagull to be a lined zipper pouch and we love how the legs dangle from the zipper pull.

Zipper Pouch and Cell Phone Holder

You’ve met the flock…and we love each and every one. But we are super thrilled to introduce them to you as either a lined zipper pouch or a cell phone holder.

Any of the granny square birds in volume 1 or 2 can be turned into a cell phone holder or a lined zipper pouch. I would venture to say any granny square chicken can be turned into a cell phone holder or zipper pouch so long as it’s the kind of chicken made from 2 granny squares that each measure about 4″ across. However, we recommend our version of the granny square as it has less holes, and will stand up better when stuffed or lined.

Because the lined zipper pouch includes elements of sewing, we turned that into a step-by-step photo tutorial with written instructions. This project is really a lot of fun to make. We sew fabric right to the granny square.

The cell phone holder has lots and lots of photos as well. You’ll be surprised at how simple the design is…yet so practical!

BONUS: Bag Charms and Yarn Weight

If all of that wasn’t enough…we also include instructions for how to turn your granny square birds into bag charms! There are two options in the pattern for securing birds to bags. We have a crochet loop or a strap for a swivel D ring.

Oh, and we talk about different yarn weights and share pictures and pattern adjustments for using various yarn weights from cotton thread to super bulky yarn.

Birds of a Feather, Volume 2 on Etsy

Birds of a Feather, Volume 2 is now available in our Etsy shop.

Available now on Etsy.

Buy the pattern on etsy

Playing Card Holder Sewing Pattern

Our family loves to play games. We recently learned a few games that make Playing Card Holders essential. Super Samba has you holding 30+ cards at a time and Uno No Mercy has a Draw 10 card! So we created a sewing pattern for the playing card holder.

This playing card holder went through trial and error until we developed this version. It features:

  • 5 rows of pockets (without a center seam).
  • Slightly angled so cards are easy to see.
  • Weighted bottom so the card holder won’t fall over.
  • Velcro for easy set-up and fold away (or snap together option).
  • C-fold closed to protect the pockets
  • All cloth design to be light weight and portable.
  • 10.5” wide x 16.5” long – when lying flat open.
  • 5.5” tall x 3.75” deep x 10.5” wide – when assembled for play
  • 10.5” long x 6” wide – when C-folded closed for storing

Playing Card Holder on Etsy

The Playing Card Holder sewing pattern is a fun and easy step-by-step pattern with lots of photos. It’s available in our Etsy Shop: YarnovationsShop.

Available now on Etsy.

Buy the pattern on etsy

Upcycle Fabric to Make Playing Card Holders

This is a great project for using remnants and old clothing or bed linens. We made them from sheets, jeans and fabric remnants. Pictured above is an old bed sheet we picked up at a 2nd hand shop. The denim and doily one above was made from old stretch jeans I was using as paint pants. The doily was handed down to me by my aunt. It’s fun to find a use for the family heirloom!

The Playing Card Holder uses less than a yard of fabric, so it’s a fun and affordable way to make custom card holders for your friends and family. And since the design is all fabric, it’s a safe project for young hands or people with disabilities or limited abilities.

Share to Pinterest

Share the love…pin one or more of these images to Pinterest. We’d love for others to learn about this handy playing card holder.

The Sewing Pattern for the Playing Card Holder

The sewing pattern was specifically designed to be “easy” and is made with straight stitches.

There are little tips and tricks sprinkled throughout the pattern. There are photos of several different designs and information on where fabric was sourced.

The pattern has step-by-step written instructions and lots of color photos along the way.

The pattern gives instructions for two different types of closures…velcro or snap.

When open for play, the card holder is a pyramid. It closes and lays flat for easy portability.

Playing Card Holder Sewing Pattern on Etsy

The Playing Card Holder sewing pattern is a fun and easy step-by-step pattern with lots of photos. It’s available in our Etsy Shop: YarnovationsShop.

Available now on Etsy.

Buy the pattern on etsy

Positive Potato’s Cousin: Sassy Spud with 10 Hats

Positive Potato has a cousin and her name is Sassy Spud. She has lots of hats for various special occasions and several hats just for fun. All total, Sassy Spud has 10 hats and 75+ printable signs. You can attach a permanent sign or create one with elastic so you can change out her greeting.

As an added bonus, there are instructions for putting walking feet on Sassy Spud.

Sassy Spud is quick and easy to make. She measures only 2.75” tall x 1.75” wide x 1.5” deep without a hat. She definitely qualifies as amigurumi…which basically means crochet toy. We designed her with basic stiches and basic techniques. There will be some increases by working 2 single crochet in the same stitch and decreases by single crocheting 2 together. On occasion there will be working in front loop only. The dragon tail has a double crochet cluster. But for the most part, basic crochet skills are all you need to make the crochet potato and hats.

The Sassy Spud Crochet Pattern PDF Download

There are 10 hats for Sassy Spud. And they are all interchangeable. You could sew them on permanently, but they are designed to be changed out. The crochet hats for Sassy Spud include:

  • Birthday Cap
  • Christmas Santa Cap
  • Halloween Witch Hat
  • Easter Bunny Spring Bonnet
  • Pirate / Tricorn Hat
  • Valentine Pom Pom Beanie with Heart
  • Unicorn Beanie
  • Dragon Beanie
  • Straw Hat with Bow
  • Pom Pom Beanie

The pattern for Sassy Spud and her 10 crochet hats are available in our Etsy Shop.

Available now on Etsy.

Buy the pattern on etsy

Materials Needed to Make Sassy Spud the Crochet Potato

The materials needed to make Positive Potato’s cousin, Sassy Spud, are pretty minimal: yarn, crochet hook, safety eyes and stuffing. The hats take a extra colors, of course. And since the unicorn hat has a rainbow of colors for it’s mane, you’ll need even more colors when making that crochet hat.

  • Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Sport, 100% superwash merino wool, 50 g/1.75 oz, 136.5 yds/125 m
    Potato: Extra Crème Café #873, Chocolate #819, Black #815
  • Crochet Hook: F/5/3.75 mm – for 90% of the pattern
  • Crochet Hook: C/2/2.75 mm
  • Crochet Hook: B/1/2.25 mm
  • Navy Beans or Fiber Fill / Stuffing
  • 6 mm safety eyes: 2
  • Stitch Markers: 3
  • 1 mm elastic in white: 12” (optional)
  • Small beads for pirate hat (optional)
  • Fishing wire for beading strand for pirate hat. (optional)
  • Pet comb (optional) for pirate hair
  • Walking Feet Toy (optional) on Amazon

As noted above, we used Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Sport. We love this yarn because it’s thinner than medium worsted weight yarn and it comes in a wide variety of colors. You can usually find this yarn at independent yarn shops across the USA.

Sassy Spud is Nice and Spicy Nice

Sassy Spud has a tendency to reflect our own personality. Sometimes she can be very nice with sayings such as:

  • YUKON Do It.
  • You’re SPUDtacular.
  • I YAM proud of you.
  • Be Kind.

Sometimes Sassy Spud can be spicy nice. You know…a bit more saucy with sayings such as:

  • Watch This, Hold My Beer.
  • It Could Be Worse.
  • No…You…Didn’t.
  • I Don’t Think So.
  • Whatever
  • Per My Last Email

Because Sassy Spud has hats for various special occasions, she also has seasonal greetings such as:

  • They Say It’s Your Birthday.
  • Happy Halloween to My Favorite Ghoul.
  • Merry Christmas.
  • Happy Festivus.

There are over 75 printable greetings in this Sassy Spud crochet pattern. There are also a couple of blank signs so you can write your own greeting. All printable greetings are rated G and are appropriate for all audience.

Pin Pictures to Pinterest

Positive Potato is fairly reserved and shy. But Sassy Spud is full of personality. She loves to show of her hats. Pin her pictures on Pinterest and share her image on Instagram and Facebook so she can have her moment of fame. She’ll love it!

Buy Sassy Spud Crochet Pattern PDF

Sassy Spud Crochet Pattern PDF is only available as an instant downloadable PDF in one place, Etsy. Get your copy today.

Now available on Etsy.

Buy the pattern on etsy

The pattern is for your eyes only but we encourage you to give away or sell your finished work with credit to Yarnovations.com as the designer.

Cinnamon Roll Coasters

Looking for a yummy treat to crochet? Check out our latest design in Crochet World Spring 2024 for Cinnamon Roll Coasters.

This coaster is crocheted as a spiral where stitches from three balls of yarn chase each other around, creating a delicious-looking cinnamon swirl treat sweet enough to rest your beverage upon.

Crochet World is bigger and better than before. There are sooo many patterns in here now. Do you see what it says across the top of the cover? “34 can’t-put-down Spring Crochet Patterns”. 34! Wow.

We are thrilled that our humble little pattern made it into this fun issue. Pick up your copy of Crochet World Spring 2024 today.