Go beyond the granny square

Knitters and crocheters are such a creative bunch. It’s amazing how the world around us can inspire such create fiber creations. So I wasn’t least bit surprised when I first saw these patterns that are based on TV shows, movies, or video games.

This Super Mario piranha plant is the perfect office plant as it never needs water and can frighten any would be pen thief away.

How about crocheting Nibbler from ‘Futurama’? That’s seriously one of the cutest things I’ve seen in a while.

Here is another character from the ‘Futurama” universe - Bender. It makes me miss the show. I’m so glad at least the new ‘movies’ are being released. It’s so nice to watch new Futurama episodes again.

Gauge is very important when it comes to crochet and knitting. The problem is I hate measuring gauge. Making those swatches just seems like a waste of energy especially when it calls for seventeen rows to measure it. But gauge is important to check. I made a cradle purse for my daughter and want to make some for Christmas gifts. Here’s how it turned out -

It turned out really cute and I see where I made some mistakes that I will fix when I do the next one. I will also use a smaller hook as I believe this is just a tad bit bigger than it should be. The cradle part might not be so bad but the skirt definitely turned out a little poofy. I might have read the directions wrong. The cradle hood also needs a little more pizazz. The next one I will do in different colors. Hopefully with a smaller hook it will be a smaller project as the cradle turned out ok but the sides are definitely too large.

I think from now on that I will just use a smaller hook than the project calls for. That way maybe the first attempt will come right. Oh wouldn’t that be a nice change.

Apparently these crocheted cradle purses were popular in the 1970s. Now they are making a comeback. This pattern is easy to do and is pretty straightforward. I have been wanting to try to do one since I think it would make a cute Christmas gift.

These sell well at bazaars and craft shows. Just add a small doll to it for a really neat purse/toy. You can find them on Etsy for sale. If you decide to crochet one, it shouldn’t take but a few hours to complete it.

I was hoping to make enough to give each girl in our family one for Christmas. The pattern calls for Caron yarn but I might try a cotton for the cradle since it is a stiffer yarn. Hopefully it will hold the shape better than my first attempt.

The cradle purse is an easy enough pattern for the beginner to tackle since it only uses single crochet and double crochet. Use two colors to add more interest to the cradle. You will have to either purchase a small doll, make one, or use a small stuff animal with the cradle.

I-cord is crochet chain that is then single stitched to the end. It creates a cord that you can use in a variety of ways for your crochet projects. You can make letters and create your own monogram.

Simply chain as long as you need it to be. Then through each chain do a slip stitch. It’s very simple and can create a very versatile item. This would be an easy way to add a real personal touch to that afghan or baby blanket that you want to give as a gift.

I-cord is easy to do and can really dress up a crochet project.

Congratulations to Kelly who was chosen at random to win a copy of Crochet! magazine.

Thanks for the comments and hope to bring more contests to Crochet Crafts in the future.

It’s International Talk like a Pirate Day. It’s the one day of the year where it’s perfectly ok to use words like avast, aye, scurvy, me hearty, and more. In fact it’s encouraged. Today’s pattern is one I whipped up yesterday. Some pirates have an eye patch, so here is a crochet pattern to make your little matey one.

Crochet Eye Patch

Needed - black yarn, I used cotton
Hook size - 3.5
Gauge is not important since you will work in rounds until the patch it big enough to cover eye.

Start with an adjustable ring
Work six sc into ring, join together, and then close the ring
Ch 1 and do 2 sc into each sc, sl st to join - 12
Ch 1 and do 2 sc, then 1 sc in this round, sl st to join - 18

Check to see if the patch is large enough to cover the eye. If not do another round of 2 sc into sc, 2 sc for a total of 24.

To make the band, ch until it fits around the head. It should be a tight fit to stay on and since the yarn will stretch a little bit. Then join with the other side of the eye patch.

Notes - Join the band to the patch a little higher from the middle of the other side as this will help to prevent it from going right across the eye. I learned this the hard way.

Halloween is still over a month away but it’s the perfect time to start doing those cute Halloween crochet crafts.

Here is a Halloween treat bag that I published on eHow.

Look at this cute Puffy Pumpkin that would be fun decoration.

This Little Spider would be cute just hanging around any Halloween decor.

Those are just a few Halloween crochet links as I’m sure there are countless free Halloween patterns available. Feel free to share any that you have found by leaving a comment.

This piece of crochet was inspired by my daughter. This week she’s been playing with one of her stuffed animals and using a piece of yarn as a leash. So I decided to make a toy animal leash that would actually stay on the stuffed animal.

I jotted down the pattern as I made it. It’s not tested, so if you have any questions, just leave a comment and I’ll try to help.

Needed - worsted yarn
Hook size - doesn’t matter as gauge really isn’t that important.
Additional - 8 inch elastic band
Notes - This size fits a stuffed animal a little bigger than a beanie baby(about 8 inches) but would probably fit a bigger one since it does stretch.
Abbreviations used - ch - Chain, DC - Double chain

Ch 40
DC across beginning in third stitch from hook. ch 2 and turn.
DC 38 and ch 2, turn
DC 38 and ch 2, turn
Place elastic onto crocheted piece to see if it will wrap around it. If not, then crochet another row.
Once crochet will fit around elastic, fold the crocheted piece over the elastic and sc around the edges to join.
Next join the very ends of the crocheted collar to form a circle. This will also stitch up the one open end of the collar, too.
Once the two ends are joined, it’s time to work on the leash. DC 4 across, ch 2, and turn. Keep repeating until you have your leash the length to your liking.

I made a teardrop for the dog tag that was a pattern from the Visually Teach Yourself Crocheting book. You could add beads or even real dog tags to the collar to dress it up a little bit.

Crocheting for charity is a win-win situation. First you can make someone’s day by creating something just for them while at the same time have a reason to crochet.

One project that I learned about through the latest Crochet Today! magazine was the Special Olympics scarves project. For the 2009 winter games, they want to present each athlete with a crochet or knitted scarf done in the official Special Olympic colors - Red Heart’s delft blue(0885) and white(311). They even have a pattern that you can use to make a scarf -

You are not limited to just do this scarf as you can do any pattern that you like. Here are more details on the scarf project from the official website.

Here are some links to Special Olympics scarves patterns -

Coats and Clark Special Olympic scarf

Crochet Today! scarf

Crochet Dude’s Special Olympics scarf

You can use one of these or really any scarf pattern as long as it is done with both delft blue and white. Scarves should be placed in a Ziploc bag and have to be received by January 15, 2009.

One of my many projects I have planned to attempt is an amigurumi elephant. There is a cute, free pattern at Lion Brand that I’m going to use. You have to register at the Lion Brand website to download patterns. Registration is free.

My sister-in-law is a huge Alabama Crimson Tide fan, so I’m going to make her one for her birthday with either an A on it or some other Crimson Tide embellishment.

This will be my second amigurumi pattern to try from Lion Brand. The pig I did a few weeks ago was my first, and it turned out pretty well. I have a few weeks until her birthday, so maybe the elephant will go as smoothly as the pig.