Crochet Harvest Cloth and Pumpkin Pouch

 Pumpkin Pouch lays out to a Harvest Cloth Doily 🎃🫐

Harvest Cloth Pumpkin Pouch Pattern

The votes are in and the Harvest Cloth & Pumpkin Pouch Pattern is back!

Etsy's AI might think it's a simple washcloth, but we know better, don't we?  While it's great for storing soap and other goodies, it was just too charming to be scrubbing things.  But if you want to use it as a washcloth, I highly recommend holding two strands of yarn together.

This pattern is a celebration of all things fun and creative, with the coming of Fall. It is perfect for making:

*  Pumpkin Pouch:  The drawstring makes it into a delightful little bag to hold gifts, candy, or other
    Autumn treasures.  The best part, the drawstring is an accent that stays in the cloth where it is supposed
    to when it is lying completely flat.
*  Stitch Learning Project:  This pattern is a great way to learn or practice some new stitches techniques.
    You'll get a fantastic handle on treble crochet (Tr) and front and back post stitches (FP/BP)

So grab your hook and let's make some fun, not-quite-washcloth pumpkin pouches, crocheting in the round!

Thank you for stopping by.
Best wishes and happy crocheting! ♾️🧶➰

Scam Alert! 😭😱🤬 Protect Your Patterns & Projects

Protect Your Patterns & Projects  😭😱🤬 

As if artist don’t starve enough… people have to rip them off! 😡

Scam Alert: Pictured below is a snapshot of a Fraudulent Online Store claiming to sell these items.

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an urgent warning that mine, along with many other fellow designer’s patterns are being stolen and are being sold on a fraudulent website.

This is a heads-up for all of us in the crochet community, from designers to fellow crafters.

The site is using photos from real, legitimate creators and selling what they claim are the patterns. It has a name like "sellsilymk [dot] click" and other similar sites may appear, it came up googling my design.

Based on the reviews, buyers are not even receiving a workable pattern. It’s unclear what, if anything, they are getting for their money, but it is certainly not the beautiful, hand-written patterns they see in the site pictures. And there were 16 people looking at my design alone the last time I was there, along with others.

(You had to clean it? The pattern? 🤨 What?)

This is a double blow:

🪝 For Designsers: Our hard work is being stolen and used to deceive people, and it can harm our reputation when buyers are disappointed by what they receive.

🪝For Crocheters: You could waste your money and end up with nothing, or worse, with a file that could contain viruses or other malicious content.

How You Can Help

1. Buy from Reputable Sources: Always purchase patterns from trusted marketplaces like Ravelry, Etsy, or the designer’s official website.

2. Report Scams: If you see a suspicious site selling patterns, report it. You can inform the designer and the legitimate platforms where the pattern is sold. Your report helps protect others.

Let’s look out for one another and keep our community safe and scam-free. Be careful where you click and where you buy!

SITE BELOW IS A SCAM 👇 THIS PATTERN SOLD IS EXCLUSIVELY SOLD on Etsy, Ravelry and PayHip. These are my photos, and my name. I do not know what you will receive if you buy from this site. BEWARE!!!

Sending a shout out to a recognized designer;

Turtle Trunk (being among my favorites 🐢) appears on this shops site as well. And This is a FREE PATTERN on her blog! For Pete’s sake, they are selling for $41.98

Extensive research had confirmed that this "sellsilymk [dot] click" site as a fraudulent site with NO AFFILIATION To the designers or to RAVELRY.

Sadly this is not the first time that I have found my patterns being fraudulently sold online. In fact here is another NEW site steeling a separate design. (This one says out of stock, so they may just be using it for traffic)

Thank you.

Please Share, and Be Safe!

~ Cathleen 🧶

Free Crochet Treasures Inside 💎🧶🪝

Charting a course through the vast digital seas of the internet, a pirate's greatest treasure isn't gold or jewels, but the sight of a crew thriving on the bounty you've shared.  💎

There's nothing that fills me with more joy than seeing my free patterns come to life in your hands. It's truly a sight to behold your beautiful creations, and I'm always grateful when ye take time to share your loot.

A mighty thank you to all who have featured my designs on your blogs and social media! Your support means the world to this old salt.

I especially want to give shout out to the hearty mates who recently shared my patterns. It is a true compliment to see my work featured, and I appreciate the specific credit given ~ like the 'Cathleen Gorbatenko'.  It warms my barnacled heart to see the care you take in showcasing my work, thank you!

Drop anchor ⚓️  and check out a few of their creations and blogs:

* Hi CROCHET Written by Jeff Tse
*  1001 Patterns Written by Anna

Hi CROCHET featured the Mint Chocolate Chip Doily Pattern at #2 on their list. 🥳

Go to Hi CROCHET to see the rest of this post.

Below 1001 Patterns featured the Tiny Star! ⭐️🥳💎

Paid pattern shares;
Cranberry Pineapple Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern on Reddit, courtesy of  Meh_I_Said

Thank you for all the likes and shares ❤️

Best wishes and happy crocheting!🧶

Come back aboard the Jolly Purl on Doily Design to follow the adventure and hear the latest Pirate tales. 🧶🪝🏴‍☠️
~ Captain Blacklace Doily 🦜

🌊⚓ 🧭 The Captain’s Compass: Charting New Waters Online ⚓🌊

 Hooks & Horizons: A Pirate’s Voyage Through the Net 🧶🪝🛜 Cyber meets Fiber adventure....

🧭Our pirate, Captain Blacklace Doily, has set her sights on new seas — and aye, they’re not waters of salt and tide, but the swirling currents of today’s technology. She surfs the waves of the web, balancing between satellites and space junk, her sails filled with hope as she rides the digital oceans.

Anchoring ship in such ports as; Substack, YouTube, Etsy, and my blog — each a different island along our map. 🗺️

Some shores hold free patterns👇, like a messages in a bottle drifting to you 📜🍾, while others guard new releases, treasures I’ve worked long and hard to uncover🎁, too precious to be given away.

Follow the links as Captain Blacklace Doily shares free treasured secrets in LINKS TO FREE PATTERNS

The tides of technology rise and fall, but our compass points ever toward creativity. This is just the beginning, mates — a fresh pattern release has surfaced, with more charted on the horizon. 

Set sail aboard the waves of Christmas Mandala Doily Pattern Tutorial on 
Hopes are high. If the wind continues to favor us, we’ll carry on into uncharted waters — and you’re welcome aboard for every stitch and every storm.

So raise your hooks, keep your eyes sharp, and sail with me. The web is wide, the adventure grand, and our ship’s only just left port. 🧶🪝

Thank you for stopping by.
Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

~ Pirate Blacklace Doily 🧶

📚✨ Back to School with a Fresh Pattern Update! ✨📚

Celebrating back to school....

Doily Designs just added something new to the Phone Pouch Pattern ~ now it comes with the Apple Tote design!  Perfect for carrying your phone, or a few small essentials, and keeping it all stylish and hands free while you are on the go, or for making that perfect teachers gift.

Make in an assortment of colors!

Whether heading back to school, getting ready for fall, or just looking for a quick and practical crochet project, this updated bundle is a fun and easy bundle put together for you. 🧶💝

✨Included:

     🧶 Original Phone Pouch Pattern

    🧶 New Apple Tote Design with Apple Leaf

    🧶 Cross Charm

🎒 Grab the updated pattern today and start the season with handmade style!

Thank you for stopping by.

Find external links in sidebar.

Best wishes, happy crocheting, and have a great year!

~ Cathleen

Crochet 2 Pattern Bundle! 🥳

New Boho Granny Mini American Flag, 2 pattern Bundle.

You get the new, recently released Mini Boho Granny American Flag, paired with the adorable, tiny American Flag Heart Plush, sold in a 2-pattern set to crochet a few little patriotic treasures.

🇺🇸 Pattern 1; The Boho Granny Mini American Flag 👈

This crochet flag is made in a timeless granny style, resembling the original Boho Granny American Flag Blanket, with beautiful texture and cozy stitch work, but miniaturized. Great as a wall hanging, table display, or decorative accent piece for holiday gatherings, or everyday Americana décor.

Pattern 2; The American Flag Heart Plush Keychain 👈
Carry a little patriotism with you wherever you go! This tiny plush heart is quick and easy, beginner-friendly pattern, for use as a keychain, bag charm, or a small keepsake gift.

 Bundle includes both patterns together at a special value price

• Easy to follow instructions

• Perfect for holiday projects, gifts, or just celebrating your love of country in the form of crochet

Grab the 2 Pattern Bundle and get started on your 🇺🇸 Patriotic crochet journey today.

👇 click Doily Designs Etsy link below to find these patterns and more.

Doily Designs Etsy

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen

We've Set Sail and found our first TREASURE ⛵️ 🥳

Ahoy, mateys! 🌊🏴‍☠️ We’ve set sail, and the wind's are in our favor ~  our grand adventure is officially underway. 

With needle and yarn as our compass, we’re charting a course toward treasures that can be held, hugged, and handed down. 🧶🪝

What be our first discovery, you ask? None other than this Mini Boho Granny American Flag ~  a charming heirloom design that waves with timeless beauty. This tiny treasure carries the spirit of freedom, stitched square by square, stitch by stitch, and it’s waiting to be recreated by your own hands.

With the replicating power of patterns, you too can bring this flag to life ~ a small treasure mighty in meaning. 

Whether you make it to display, gift, or cherish, this little flag will stand as a symbol of creativity, tradition, and the adventures that lie ahead.

⚓️ The voyage has only just begun. Stay tuned, sailors ~ more treasures await on the horizon.

Follow this link ahead to dig up more treasures; Doily Designs Etsy

And yet another to follow us along the shores of SubStack.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, happy sailing, and happy crocheting!

Mini American Flag

 New! 🥳

American flag crochet pattern, with the same charm as the original Boho Granny American Flag Blanket pattern, just ... MINIATURIZED. 🤗

Thank you for stopping by.

Stop by Doily Designs Etsy to see find this pattern and more.

Best wishes, happy crocheting, and God bless!

~ Cathleen

Doily Designs Setting Sail

 

Doily Designs Sets Sail

Doily Designs is beginning a new, unique adventure on SubStack! 

In these shifting seas of creativity, I find myself riding the wild currents of change, perched atop a beast of burden in this vast and unpredictable market. The waters are teeming with fierce and talented makers—each vying for their own glimmering treasures. Yet I hoist my flag with pride, setting my sights on heirloom troves and hidden knowledge, ready to carve out my own place among them.

This voyage won’t be easy. The world of crochet design is full of competition, and every new stitch feels like a battle won. But with hook in hand, imagination as compass, and courage as crew, I press forward—charting a course through storm and sunshine alike.

Why Set Sail Now?

The seas of handmade design are more crowded than ever. There are countless brilliant crafters, each offering their own patterns, techniques, and treasures. It would be easy to feel swallowed by the waves.

But every sailor knows: the sea is vast enough for many ships. My work—my doilies, shawls, ponchos, and playful creations—isn’t just about patterns. It’s about story, memory, and the joy of turning a ball of yarn into something timeless.

This Substack is my logbook, my captain’s journal, a place to share the maps I draw (patterns), the ports I visit (projects), and the treasures I uncover along the way (tips, inspiration, maybe even a few secrets).

What You’ll Find Here

• Patterns & Projects: Some free, some exclusive—woven with care.

• Behind the Scenes: The design process, the challenges, and the triumphs.

• Treasure Maps: Tutorials, tips, and heirloom wisdom passed down through stitches.

• Adventure & Storytelling: Crochet is more than loops of yarn—it’s a journey worth telling in tales of storm and sparkle.

The Pirate Spirit of Making

To crochet is to be part pirate, part poet. We take humble string and steal back time from the endless rush of life. We craft beauty from chaos, treasure from the ordinary. And yes, in a market where competition is fierce and the winds are unpredictable, we need that pirate’s daring spirit to survive and thrive.

I may not have a ship’s wheel or a parrot on my shoulder (though a crochet hook tucked behind the ear feels close enough), but I do have the same hunger for discovery, the same stubborn spark to chase after what’s just beyond the horizon.

---

So come aboard. Grab your yarn, sharpen your hooks, and sail with me into this adventure. The seas are wide, the competition fierce, and the treasures endless. Together, we’ll stitch our own legends.

Fair winds,
Cathleen of Doily Designs 🪝 (a.k.a. Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶

Find me on SubStack in link between ✨'s 👇

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✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, and happy crocheting!

Crochet American Flag Blanket Junior 🇺🇸 🧶

 Junior American Flag Afghan

SubScribe on SubStack for the latest Doily Design's crochet designs, or follow this blog to support Cathleen and her Doily Designs.

Purchases of the American Flag Blanket, all include the Heart Pillow, Medium Plush size, when you purchase the pattern or blanket on Etsy!

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes!

Cross Starching ✝️

Crochet Cross Pattern, and Cross stiffening ✝️

Elegant, lacy, jeweled CROSSES made with various yarn sizes, and various jewels.

...and my cross stiffening adventures on YouTube     

Including this one with John Denver (below).

Crosses where first tested with a half and half glue/water mixture, which works well. 

Secondly tested with 4 cups water to 1/4 cup cornstarch for stiffening, or starching, which also worked very well.

💎 Some were stiffened with jewels others without. When you attach your jewels only seems to matter if you used a water soluble adhesive. There was one cross that it would have been better to apply the jewel before starching. 

When gifting Jeweled Crosses 💎✝️, why not consider letting the recipient choose the jewel, and maybe even yarn colors, and plank ends.

I have had several people prefer them not stiffened, and to attach their own jewels.

Drying times varied, based on yarn, and climate.

These varied from half a day, to a day and a half for bulky acrylic cross.

You can view the entire stiffening process on YouTube

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes, happy crocheting, and God bless.