Christmas Crochet Ideas & Crochet Donations

Silver Santa 💙

Are you in need of some crochet inspiration? Maybe you are wanting someone to crochet for and your kids have enough crochet hats and scarves and you are feeling generous. Please consider donating your wonderful crochet items to Silver Santa. 

Silver Santa is a non profit senior citizen program providing care packages and a day of joy during the holiday season to low-income senior citizens, veterans, and persons with disabilities living in assisted living and nursing home communities or home-bound. 

                         

Find Silver Santa on Facebook

 

Let's not forget Red Santa

So proud of my MOM! 💗🌸  

Mr & Mrs Claus have been helping people and enriching lives for over 20 years and I couldn't be prouder!

Crochet ideas and inspiration;

Great free pattern for this nifty walker bag.

 Sweet Potato 3 has created this beautiful crochet blanket pattern for the music lover. The guitar blanket is among many other instrumental blankets, including piano and violin.

Sweet Potato 3 also shares this cute crochet beanie pattern, available at Sweet Potato 3.

Thank you for stopping by.

Hope that you find joy and inspiration!

Happy crocheting!!

Summertime Watermelon Mandala Doily

 Fun, summertime watermelon mandala doily.

Summertime Watermelon Mandala Doily made with Mint Chocolate Chip Mandala Doily Pattern and using Hobby Lobby, I love this Cotton, Red, Apple Green and Forest, 

with K hook, measures approx. 13 in.

Changing colors of last 2 rounds and using 10 Dc.

Pattern can also be found in Doily Designs Etsy shop.

Make a Watermelon, patriotic, or other color combo doily. Mandala doily works up quickly to make them all.

Thank you for stopping by.

Hope that you find joy and inspiration!

Happy crocheting!!

Free Patriotic Mandala Doily

Free Crochet Pattern
Patriotic Mandala Doily

Written by Doily Designs ~ Cathleen Wake Gorbatenko ©2014

Free crochet pattern for this decorative mandala doily.

Printable pattern available on Google Docs.

Pdf downloadable pattern also available in Doily Designs Etsy shop.

Written in US crochet terms

Skill:  Beginner, Easy

Hook:  Size L (11 - 8 mm) and/or K (10 - 6.5)

Yarn:  Small amount of size 4 ww/worsted weight yarn. 

            Pictured doilies use, Hobby Lobby, "I Love This Cotton!", red, white and blue, 

            Watermelon/I love this cotton, burnt sienna, apple green and forest.

Measures:  Approximately 13 inches across (K hook/11 inch)

Note:  Try different yarns and different hooks for different sizes and feels. 

            

Stitch Key

Ch = chain stitch                        Pic = picot

Sc = single crochet                    lp = loop

Dc = double crochet                  mr = magic ring

Sl st = slip stitch                        Vst = v stitch

sp = space                                 Sh = shell

Special Stitches

Vst/Vstitch:  (Dc, Ch sp, Dc) in same space.

Sh/Shell:  (2 Dc, Ch sp, 2 Dc) in same space.

Pic/Picot:  Ch 2, sc in 2nd Ch from the hook, continue as instructed.

mr/magic ring:  please see instructions *mr* following end of pattern.

  

Beg with *mr* 

Rnd 1:  Ch 3 = Dc, do 19 Dc in lp, join in 3rd Ch of beg Ch 3 (20 Dc)

Rnd 2:  Ch 4 = Dc + Ch 1, (Dc, Ch 1) in each Dc around, join in 3rd Ch of beg Ch 4 

             (20 Dc , 20 - Ch 1 sps)

Rnd 3:  Sl st into Ch 1 sp, Ch 4 = Dc + Ch 1, Dc in same sp, (Dc, Ch 1, Dc = Vst) in

             each Ch 1 sp around, join in 3rd Ch of beg Ch 4, fasten off and change color

             here. (20 Vsts)

Rnd 4:  Join with next color in Ch 1 sp of previous Rnd, Ch 5 = Dc + Ch 2, Dc in

             same sp, (Dc, Ch 2, Dc) in each Ch 1 sp around, join in 3rd Ch of beg Ch 5 

             (20 Vsts)

Rnd 5:  Sl st into Ch 2 sp, Ch 3 = Dc, (Dc, Ch 1, 2 Dc) in same sp, (2 Dc, Ch 1, 2 Dc 

             = Sh) in each sp around, join in 3rd Ch of beg Ch 5 (20 Shs)

Rnd 6:  Sl st into next Dc, Sl st into Ch 2 sp, Ch 3 = Dc, (Dc, Ch 2, 2 Dc) in same sp,

             (2 Dc, Ch 2, 2 Dc) in each Ch 1 sp around, fasten off, change colors here

             (20 Shs)

Rnd 7:  Join with next color in Ch 2 sp, Ch 3 = Dc, (Dc, Ch 3, 2 Dc) in same sp, 

            (2 Dc, Ch 3, 2 Dc) in each Ch 2 sp around, join in 3rd Ch of beg Ch 3 (20 Shs)

Rnd 8:  Sl st in Dc, Sl st in Ch 3 sp, Ch 3 = Dc, Dc 8 x's in same sp, *(2 Dc, Ch 2,

             2 Dc) in next Ch 3 sp, 9 Dc in next Ch 3 sp*, repeat from * to * around,

             ending with Sh, fasten off, change colors (10 Shs, 10 groups of 9 Dc)

Rnd 9:  Join with starting color in 1st Dc of 9 Dc, Ch 3 = Dc, Dc in each of next 8 Dc

             *(2 Dc, Pic, 2 Dc) in next Ch 3 sp, Dc in each of next 9 Dc*, repeat * to *

             around, ending with Sh/Pic, join in 3rd Ch of beg Ch 3, fasten off. Weave

             ends. Wash and block.

*Mr/Magic Ring:

Holding the yarn with your thumb, wrap yarn around your first 2 fingers on your left

hand, leave the tail so that yarn falls to the back and furthest away from you. Insert your hook between these 2 fingers and under the top strand, grab the yarn with your hook and pull yarn through the loop. Make a chain, according to pattern. To close, unwind the tail from around the center loop (if twisted), pull the tail gently but tightly, closing the circle, follow the pattern as instructed.

Please write with questions, or if you would like to share.

Visit Ravelry and share your project!

Printable pattern available on Google Docs.

Pdf downloadable pattern also available in Doily Designs Etsy shop.

Thank you for stopping by.

May you find joy and inspiration!

Best wishes and happy crocheting!!

Crochet American Flag Pillow

 Crochet Boho Granny, I Love America Heart Throw Pillow 

Celebrate your patriotic spirit with this one of a kind American Flag heart plush pillow.

Pillows come in multiple sizes, including, Large and snuggly, Medium squeeze-able, and Small plushie size. Find all 3 sizes in Doily Designs Etsy shop.

A size for everyone.

Large heart can be made with crochet stars (seen above), or embroidered stars (seen below).

Choose from multiple edge designs to give you just the right look to accent your pillow and home with your love for America.  (Plain Blue Edge, pictured above)

Red, White & Blue Fringe.

Gold Tassel Edge among others.

New Tiny American Flag Heart Pattern, now available!

For more details and to purchase, please visit 

Doily Designs Etsy shop, where Crochet America Heart pillows are now available.

Thank you for stopping by.

May you find joy and inspiration!

Happy Crocheting!!

Crochet Market Bag

This is still one of my favorite bags.  Functional with classic pineapple motif.

With the arrival of Spring comes outdoor activities, and while gearing up for fun, I came across this great market bag that I made quite a while back. Even through the years, it is still a favorite. These are great for poolside, as well as a trip to the store or market. Heartmade Crafts has a paid pattern for the Pineapple Market Bag on Ravelry.

Thank you for stopping by.

Hope that you find joy and inspiration!

Happy crocheting!!

 🌸🐇🐰 Crochet Easter Bunny🐰🐇🌸

2014

This cute little bunny is made with this Easy Easter Bunny Pattern by Janette Williams. 

This fun easy project works up quickly and is a favorite with all the kids. Warning, with its adorable round belly and fluffy pompom tail, along with all the endless color choices, you probably can not make just one!

🐰🐇🌸🌸🐇🐰

Thank you for stopping by.

Hope that you find inspiration and joy!

Happy crocheting!!

Easter Trees

Cranberry Pineapple Tree Skirt

for

🌲🐇🐰 Easter Trees 🐰🐇🌲 

Making Christmas tree skirts year round, I will sometimes still have the Christmas tree up until after Easter. So what better way to have it blend in than to make it an Easter tree!

You can find out more about the Cranberry Pineapple Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern here on Doily Designs.

The kids and me had made several different crafty Easter trees through the years, and I thought, why not deck out the Christmas tree for Easter?  I think it looks cute with all the eggs. You could even add more decorations to make it even more festive!

Easter tree inspiration 

🐇🌲

These two trees are great for toddlers. You can draw egg shapes on cardboard and have the children paint them, then cut out the eggs, trace their arm on brown construction paper and glue the trunk and eggs on paper. Super easy and fun!

Or hand trees are always fun for the kids. Then the children used stickers to decorate.

🌲🐇🐰 Happy Easter 🐰🐇🌲

Thank you for stopping by.

Hope that you find inspiration and joy!

Best wishes, happy crocheting, & Happy Easter!!

Tiny Crochet Easter Baskets

   🐰🐤🌼🌸Happy Easter🌸🌼🐤🐰

Usually I make these in neutral colors for e.o.s. holders, but they are also great as tiny Easter baskets! Done with this colorful multicolor cotton yarn, they're so festive. 

The kids use their lip balm all the time, and loved having a case to carry it around with them. As well as being the perfect size for this bunny and Yoshi to have their own Easter basket and new e.o.s. for Easter 😃 🐇.

Pattern coming soon. Please, contact me if interested.

As always if you would like one made for you, you may visit my Etsy shop and make a request for a custom order.

Happy Easter!

 🐰🐤🌼🌸 🌸🌼🐤🐰

Thank you for stopping by.

Hope that you find inspiration and joy!

Happy crocheting!!

Tiny Crochet Flower Pattern

🌸 Quick and easy, tiny Crochet Flowers🌸

Quick and Easy Tiny Crochet Flower Pattern

Written in US terms

Easy project

E hook

Light, Worsted weight yarn

(I like to use Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" for the great colors and softness.)

Begin with a magic ring.

Rnd 1: ch 1, 6 sc in magic ring, close magic ring loosely, join with sl st in 1st sc, then tighten magic ring circle.

Rnd 2: *ch 2, 3 dc in same sp, ch 2, sl st into next sp, * repeat * to * around for 6 petals, join with sl st in 1st sc. Fasten off and weave ends. 

Embellish if you would like with beads or leaves.

For a slightly smaller flower; do *ch 1, 3 hdc, ch 1,  in place of the *ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2.

I like to use these on lots of different items, including on product tags.

#Tags

#Tags

Cute crochet gift or product tag embellishments.

Whether you are in need of a product tag or gift tags, these can be a nice quick and easy addition to your crochet items. Personally, I like handmade items to have handmade tags and this is a fun and interesting way to add that personal touch.

 Selling ponchos one spring, I got the idea to put the flowers on a tag and give them with the poncho. You could detach the flower and add it to the poncho if you liked. Just a little added something.

You can get dozens of the tags at the dollar store, or have them printed up for you. Then crochet something small to suit your theme. Like holly berries for Christmas tags.

I have even used them as business cards on occasion.

Any small crochet item that looks good alone would work for this. 

Be sure to round any sharp edges on the tags, as to not snag the crochet.

You can find my Quick and Easy Tiny Crochet Flower Pattern here.

Thank you for stopping by.

Happy crocheting!

Russian Diagram Pattern 

〜〜〜

This was made from an intricate Russian diagram. I seem to recall that it was in Мод around 2010.

This was my first graph pattern to read and make. With minimal translation help from my hubby, who does not speak 'crochet', this ended up being a great starter pattern for me to jump right into reading graphs! If you are intimidated by graphs, they really are easier than you might think to read and actually kind of fun.

This was in 2010 and I really liked the Caron Simply Soft yarn back then. But the Simply Soft was a bit too large of a weight for this and I should have used a lighter weight thread, because it turned out better as a skirt, due to how large a shawl it is on me.

While I was creating this, I started looking for the pattern to give credit to the designer, when I stumbled upon some interesting history instead.  Searching around, I ended up back on Ravelry, and it appears that in 2009 people were taking noticing of this shawl pattern.  Looks like a lot of other people also wanted a translation for this beautiful graph. Turns out that it was published in MOD, a Russian crochet magazine. One lady, Copper Scale Dragon, did her research on the pattern and found that it originated back in the 80's as a doily pattern in a Japanese book of doilies, Fine Crochet Lace, Doily #13 pattern by Mayumi Sato. Later to find its way to Russia and turned into a shawl. She credits this Cape Shawl pattern to Olga Litvina. You can read Copper Scale Dragon's post on Ravelry, from 2009. Many others talk about it as well. There are over 164 projects finished on Ravelry for this Cape Shawl. But, sorry, sadly, the publication is out of print and I have not had any luck finding the pattern. Hope you at least find inspiration for giving graphs a try.

Pictures from 2011

Thank you for stopping by!