Crochet Therapy and a Give Away

Crochet Therapy by Betsan Corkhill is a book I contributed to awhile back. The book came out in September and I'm finally getting around to blogging about it. I came up with two patterns for the book; a ripple throw and a small hexi rug.

There are several more designs in the book, here are just a couple

If you're interested in Crochet Therapy you can find it here. I love working on projects for books and magazines, but unfortunately I just don't have the time for too much. Currently I have no commissioned projects scheduled, so I'm working on gifts. A mix of crochet and knit. I'm really liking the fur pom poms right now, so I'm working on a few hats.

 This is a short post, but I do want to offer a copy of Crochet Therapy to a fellow blogger. Since I've been away for so long I feel compelled to give something away. I have a couple extra copies and if you decide you would like to win one, then just leave me a comment. You don't have to do anything else, just comment. I'll randomly select a winner this coming Friday. Good Luck and I'll be back Friday!

And The Winner Is...

I almost forgot that I needed to randomly select the winner of this book

So without making you wait any longer, the winner is...

Emma Haughton

Congrats Emma! I really hope you like the book and find something you would like to crochet.

Just send me your contact information and address and I'll put it in the mail this week.

My preferred email address is sunshine75t@gmail.com

For the next post, I have another pattern book to share, but I haven't taken any photos yet. 

For now, I will share my most recent finished project. It's a Christmas tree skirt. 

I actually made two. Of course Ireland wanted one for her tree. I didn't mind since I messed up the first one and made it small with a tiny opening. That worked well for her artificial 4 ft tree. We have a live 9 ft tree in the living room, so the opening for the stand had to be a lot larger. I was inspired by Cherry Heart blog.

This is Ireland's

Anyway, I'll be back in a few days to tell you about another book. I'm not sure if I'll do a giveaway for that one yet. I only have one copy of it for now. I just might decide to do one though. Kind of like a celebration for each published project.

Have a great week and holiday!

Big Hook Rag Crochet Give away

A few weeks ago I mentioned a give away. I am giving away a copy of this

Big Hook Rag Crochet includes one of my patterns... a basket. Inside you will also find other patterns for projects using different types of fabric. I made the basket using T shirts.

I took a few photos of the contents pages so you could see a little preview of the other patterns included

If you would like to receive this book for free, then just leave me a comment. You don't have to say a whole lot or share on Facebook, Instagram or any other site. Easy!

I'll randomly select the winner in one week (next Sunday). See you then!

August Giveaway

Finally...this month's giveaway. Please forgive me. Things here are stressful right now. We've been house hunting and have just bought a house (scroll down for photos). Trying to round up all of the documentation required is so time consuming. Anyway, here's what's up for grabs this month...

I made these from a pattern that can be found on Etsy. It can be found here. I made a couple of pairs and these turned out too small for my feet. 

I changed the design by not adding the back part which would go around the back of the foot.
This pair would fit a size 5.5 - 7.5 US.
So if you are interested in winning this pair of slippers just leave me a comment. I'll randomly choose a winner in a week or so...probably next Sunday (in about 10 days)

Sorry about the blogging inactivity here lately. The house hunt and negotiating has put everything else on hold.

Here's a little preview of the house and land

9.2 acres

Sunroom...I've always wanted one. (These photos show the side of the house. The front is to the left side of the photo below.)

I love weird and different

Not so much for Ireland...this is how she feels about it all:D

She may not be happy about it, but I am. I sure do hope that all goes well (inspection and all) and we can close with no problems.

I'll keep you posted.

Come back in a few days for the Pink Panda hat pattern. I'll have it soon, I promise:)

Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like to win the slippers.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend:)

A Crochet Resolution...and a Preview of This Month's Giveaway

I've made a crochet resolution...As of now, I am not crocheting for payment any more. I'm sooo over Etsy. I joined in 2009 and have never really enjoyed selling. Don't get me wrong, I love Etsy. I buy most of my bags and jewelry from the talented sellers there.   I love to purchase crochet patterns as well. I appreciate all of the great finds that can be found there.

These are some of my latest purchases

Using Etsy as a buyer is much more satisfying (for me)

I actually sell more outside of Etsy. People email and message me with requests. Some are friends and people I know...that's the toughest. Saying no to all of them. 

Personally, I find no pleasure in selling my crocheted projects any more. I love being able to provide something for someone, but find more joy in giving crocheted gifts, offering patterns for free, and blogging. I haven't really spent much time on my Etsy shop. After getting an order for the Colorful Stripey Mitts, I realized that I would rather spend my time doing other things...

I love my day job much more (it pays more of course) I love blogging much more. I love bartering a heck of a lot more. I found that I love crocheting much more without attaching dollars to it all. It's no fun anymore. So now I hope to regain the love of crochet again. No stress, deadlines, or obligation to get it all done.

I have a new friend, a knitter, who I love to swap with. I really enjoy swapping on Ravelry as well.
If anyone would like to swap, let me know...but for selling, I'm done, mostly. I may make a project here or there for sale. But for the most part, I'm gonna give, swap, and enjoy myself again:D

With all of that being said, I'll announce this month's giveaway soon:D

Here's a hint...it's a finished item or two;)

The Pink Panda pattern will be ready in a couple of days as well. I'm slowly trying to get back to what I love to do.

I will offer more details about the giveaway tomorrow when I have better photos.

Have a great week:D

May Giveaway

It's really close to the end of the month, but still enough time for this month's giveaway.

Yes, I'm giving away another Chunky Crocheted Basket. I used Lion Brand Hometown USA in Portland Wine...this is the super bulky yarn. I used a little over 2 skeins and followed the pattern. Measurements are the same as the original basket. Click on the link above to see the details about the basket.

This purple was a mistake. I made this for someone who wanted blue or green. I don't know what I was thinking:D 

I'm half crazy as usual :) Life can be so overwhelming at times and my brain just doesn't function as it should all the time.

So I went out and bought more yarn in a turquoise shade of blue and decided to give this purple one away. 

For those of you who wanted the basket from the giveaway a few months ago, here you go. Just leave me a comment letting me know you want this one.

Next Saturday I'll randomly choose a winner.

Have a great weekend!

The Winner of the March Giveaway

I hope everyone had a great week and weekend. I finished the last bikini top order that took me a month, and now I'm struggling to finish a pair of fingerless mitts. I guess I'm struggling because I have so much laundry, housework, cooking, and messes that are keeping me busy and away from crocheting.

Anyway, on a brighter note, this post is to announce the winners for the March giveaway. This is the prize:

Ok, I went to Random.org to choose the winners, and here they are...

commenters 9, 22, and 29

If I am not mistaken (if I am, please let me know)

this means Liza, Aimee, and Maureen are the winners.

Congrats and please send me your email so I can send the pattern.

I was hoping to post about the April giveaway, but the details have changed...so I'll have to post about it on another day.

In the meantime, I am working on writing out this shrug pattern...just a little something for free for all of you. Thanks to all of you who commented. I'll have this new one posted in a day or two.

Have a great week!

March Giveaway...A Little Late

Yes...that's right. It's time for another giveaway. I forgot about March. How did I forget to have a giveaway last month? Busy, busy, busy...I guess. I'm so sorry about that. So I have decided to make it up to you by offering two giveaways in April! The first one will be for a pattern.

This has been a favorite... I sold three today. The pattern includes instructions for both the peach style and the taupe style

This is the pattern that keeps me sooooo busy in the spring and summer months.

If you are interested, just leave me a comment. I'll randomly choose three winners next Sunday. Yes, Three!!!

Next Sunday afternoon I will announce the winner and then announce the details for the April giveaway.

Have a great weekend!

Where oh Where...?

Where oh where is my little Principeta? She is the winner of this basket and...no where to be found:(

Can you believe it?

I have tried emailing her twice, with no luck. Has anyone seen her? I really want her to have it...if she still wants it.

I'm sure she forgot all about this giveaway. The basket with the pins, retractable tape measure, and buttons are sitting on a table beside my chair waiting to be shipped out.

So if anyone here in blog land runs across Principeta, please tell her that she won the basket.

I'll try to email her again. Stay tuned to see how this unfolds...this lovely basket and notions may be the object of an upcoming giveaway if not claimed.

Have a great day!

The Winner of the February Giveaway

Yesterday we went back to Beech Mountain to take Ireland skiing, and she got sick last night with a fever. We decided to leave this morning at 7am to come home. So no skiing. Oh well, that's Ok with me, but I feel bad for Ireland. She lost her breakfast on the way home (in the car...that's never good). Now I feel a little under the weather. I'm not sure if I am being paranoid or if I've caught her stomach bug.

The weather was terrible also.

Enough about all of that. I know you want to hear who won the giveaway. So, I just went to Random.org and generated a winner.

True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 78
Result:
44

I took out all of my comments and there were 78 commenters. The 44th commenter is (if I'm not mistaken)

Principeta

So congrats Principeta. Please email me with your contact and shipping information.
I really hope you like the basket.

Thank you all for leaving a comment.

Have a great week!

Chunky Crocheted Basket Pattern

I'm finally posting the pattern for the crocheted basket. Thank you so much for all of the comments and emails. I hope you like the pattern and the finished project as much as I do. (Scroll down to see the pattern for the larger basket)

Materials

3 Skeins super bulky yarn (I used Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in Linen)
Size L (8.0mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle

Just a little note about the materials:
I would recommend using super bulky to create a stiff or sturdy texture. If you use a smaller weight yarn you will have to hold 3 or more strands together.
Do not use a larger hook. The stitches need to be tight so the basket will be stiff and stand up. Crochet pretty tightly (but try not to make your hands too sore) My next basket will be made with hemp doubled (the thick kind you can find at Walmart). That stuff is a real hand killer. But it's the sturdiest stuff you can use.

Measurements

smaller basket
8.5 inches in diameter
5.5 inches in height

larger basket
10 inches in diameter
10 inches in height


Pattern

Note: You will hold two strands of yarn together.
Do not turn when you finish each round. I joined each round. You can work in a continuous spiral if you prefer to get rid of the seam. (If you choose to make the seamless version I would recommend working the bottom with a seam and then work the body in a continuous round or spiral, marking your first st as you go)

Holding 2 strands together

Smaller basket

Ch 2

Rnd 1: 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook

Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each st. Join with sl st. (16 hdc)

Rnd 3: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st, (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st) around. Join with sl st. (24 hdc)

Rnd 4: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts, (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts) around. Join with sl st. (32 hdc)

Rnd 5: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 sts, (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts) around. Join with sl st. (40 hdc)

Rnd 6: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 4 sts, (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts) around. Join with sl st. (48 hdc)

The next round will be the first row of the body of the basket. You will be working into the back of each hdc.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc under the line or ridge on the back of the first st of previous round. (Half double crochet stitches have a line or ridge on the back of the stitch). You will be working under this line or ridge, not into the regular loops.

This will leave the two loops of the stitch

creating a seam separating the bottom and body of the basket

Continue working sc around. Join with a sl st.

Rnd 8: Ch 2, hdc into next st and in each st around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 9: Ch 1, Working in the back loop only, sc in the same st and in each st around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 10: Ch 2, hdc in next st and in each st around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 11: Ch 1. Sc in same st and in each st around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 12: Ch 2, hdc in next st and in each st around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 13: Ch 1, working in back loops only, sc in same st, and in each st around. Join with sl st.

You will create the handles in rnd 14

Rnd 14: Ch 2, hdc in next 8 sts. Ch 7, skip the next 5 sts. Hdc in the next 19 sts. Ch 7, skip the next 5 sts. Hdc in the next 10 sts. Join with sl st

Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in same st and in the next 8 sts. Work 8 sc under the ch 7 space. (Do not work into the sts). Sc in next 19 sts. Work 8 sc under the ch 7 space. Sc in next 10 sts.

Finish off with the no knot finishing method. You can find a photo tutorial on this finishing method here

I have made a larger basket...I prefer the larger size (I'm in the process of adding the photos for the larger basket)

You will increase the bottom by one round.

Rnds 1-6: Refer to the instructions above

Rnd 7: Ch 2, hdc in same st. Hdc in next 5 sts. (2 hdc in next st, 5 hdc in next st) around, join with sl st. (56 hdc)

Rnd 8: Working under the line or ridge on the back of the hdc, sc in each st around. This round creates the seam (described above)

I added 3 rows to the body of the basket for the larger size. (if you need more detailed instructions for beginning and joining each round refer to the details of each round for the smaller basket)

Rnd 9: Hdc round

Rnd 10: Sc round

Rnd 11: Sc round in the back loop only

Rnd 12: Hdc round

Rnd 13: Sc round

Rnd 14: Hdc round

Rnd 15: Sc round

Rnd 16: Sc in the back loop only

Rnd 17: Ch 2, hdc in the next 9 sts, Ch 9, skip 8 sts, hdc in next 20 sts, Ch 9, skip next 8 sts, hdc in next 9 sts. Join with sl st.

Rnd 18: Sc round, working 10 sc under the ch 9 spaces (not into each st). Join and finish off.

Please feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email if you have any questions about the pattern.

Enjoy!

Edit: I have made a correction to rounds 17 and 18 of the large basket. So sorry about that. I hope it works out better now.

February Giveaway

I know I say this every month, but I'm gonna say it again. It's that time again. My favorite time of the month...giveaway time. This month I am giving away a Goodie Basket.

I love this basket. It is made from 2 strands of super bulky weight yarn held together. This makes it very sturdy. It keeps its form and stands up well. I love using these baskets. If you're like me, you have more than one project going on at one time. I have yarn, buttons, hooks, etc lying around everywhere. This basket is not huge, but it's big enough for your hooks and balls of yarn or small projects. I like to keep one on the bookcase near the bed for night time crocheting.

I'm also including some of my favorite must haves. When I crochet I always keep a retractable tape measure close by. Checking gauge is so important, and I use one constantly. You'll also get some colorful buttons (see them in the top photo). I use them for eyes on my animal hats. I'm also throwing in some colorful pins for blocking or sewing. This is truly a goodie basket.

These are all the things that I love to use, and I thought it would be a great idea for a giveaway. The pattern is so easy...I'll write it out soon. I made this basket in two hours.

Just leave me a comment and I'll randomly choose a winner in about a week...next Sunday to be exact:D

Have a great weekend!

A Little Hint

It's almost time to tell you about this month's giveaway. I think I'll do it tomorrow. I haven't taken all of the photos yet. But I will give you a little hint...

Ok...that's all I'm going to show ya for today. Come back tomorrow and I'll give you the details. But for now I want to blog a little about the swap I recently participated in. I have always wanted to be a part of one and finally signed up last month. It is the Whimsical Winter Swap on Ravelry. Today I received my package from my partner. We didn't know who our partners were so it was all fun and mysterious. Here's what I got...I'm soooo happy

I received so many wonderful gifts from Kelly. She is a wonderful knitter and so so generous (click on the photos to see everything close up...the hat is amazing)

I wished I would have taken better, more artistic photos, but I was too excited to set it up

The hat is actually more of a turquoise or teal shade...and look at that beautiful journal behind it

I love all the strawberry goodies and chocolates, the vase, stitch markers, the journal, and the knitted hat. It's all so gorgeous. I love the heart shaped paperweight. I am a glass/paperweight fanatic. I'm so excited right now.

Come back tomorrow and find out about the new giveaway. I'm gonna go play with my new stuff:D