Crochet Spot

Crochet Pattern: Wishing Well

Rachel — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:57:01 +0000

The wishing well is a fun yet beautiful home decorative piece! Use it to show off your crochet skills or to store small items. The well is also large enough to fit a small potted plant inside!

To download this pattern, visit the Crochet Spot Store.

Skill Level:

Finished Size: 13 1/2″ (34 cm) tall, 12 1/2″ (32 cm) wide, 7″ (18 cm) deep

Main Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn
500 yards of main color
100 yards of contrasting color
Small amount of bucket, vine and flower colors
Crochet hook E (3.25 mm)
Polyester fiberfill
Small amount of 17 gauge wire (or higher)

To download this pattern, visit: www.crochetspot.com/store
By purchasing this pattern or becoming a Premium Pattern Member, you will be supporting Crochet Spot in creating the tutorials and patterns you love on this site. Thanks in advance for all the support, as it is much appreciated!

If help crocheting the wishing well, let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

Caron Country Yarn Giveaway

Rachel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:09:23 +0000

Caron is giving away a free full skein sample of their new Country yarn (while supplies last). So if you would like to test out the new Caron Country yarn for free, here is your chance! Personally, I haven’t tired it yet, but I am a huge fan of the Caron Simply Soft Yarn.

To receive your free skein of Caron Country yarn, you must send 3 labels of any Caron Simply Soft Yarn, along with your receipt and a 3 x 5 card with your address on it to them. You can find out more information about the giveaway by clicking here.

By the way, I have no affiliation with Caron yarn. I just thought you might like to know about the giveaway they are having.

Free Crochet Pattern: Christmas Ball Ornament

Rachel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:23:35 +0000

Crochet these quick and easy Christmas ball ornaments! You don’t have to worry about these ornaments breaking if you drop them. You can even make them in fun colors and crochet stripes onto them, by changing the color of your yarn after each round in the pattern. You can learn more about: How to Change Colors in Crochet. By the way, these ornaments can also make great pet toys!

Skill Level:

Finished Size: 2″ (5 cm) in diameter

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn (small amount)
Crochet Hook F (3.75 mm)
Polyester Fiberfill

Gauge: Rounds 1 – 5 in pattern measures 2″ in diameter.

Crochet Pattern: Ornament
Round 1: ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook, place marker: 6 sc
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around: 12 sc
Round 3: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc) around: 18 sc
Round 4: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc) around: 24 sc
Round 5: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) around: 30 sc
Round 6 – 10: sc in each sc around: 30 sc
Round 11: (decrease, sc in next 3 sc) around: 24 sc
Round 12: (decrease, sc in next 2 sc) around: 18 sc
Round 13: (decrease, sc in next sc) around: 12 sc
Stuff ornament with fiberfill.
Round 14: decrease around: 6 sc
Round 15: ch 25, skip 2 sc, sl st in next sc: finish off.

Need help? Let me know!

How to Crochet on Opposite Side of Chain

Rachel — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:27:15 +0000

Crocheting in the round is a very useful technique when you want to make bags, hats and other round objects. In this tutorial I will show you how you can crochet around a foundation chain. This method is used a lot in my crochet patterns to prevent having to sew your project together.

This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you.

Start by crocheting a foundation chain. If you are working with a pattern, it will tell you how long to make this chain.

Work your crochet stitches into each chain across. Double crochets are used in this example, but any crochet stitch can be used.

Now, turn your work upside down to work into the remaining loops of the chains stitches.

Work your stitches into each chain across the row. This is what a few stitches look like when it is on the other side of the chain.

When you are done, your last stitch should be next to the first stitch you made. You are essentially working in a circle or round.

The number of stitches you make on one side of the chain should be the same amount on the opposite side of the chain. Depending on what you are making you may join the end of your round to the beginning with a slip stitch, or you may continue crocheting in a spiral fashion.

Need more help? Let me know!

What Are You Crocheting for the Holidays?

Rachel — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:46:39 +0000

I love the holidays, the time of the year for family, food, and giving! No matter what you celebrate you are bound to be crocheting something for the holidays. Maybe you are making gifts for the family and friends, new table cloths for the special dinner, or extra hats and scarfs to donate.

If you are having trouble think up great gifts for your family and friends, check out the list of Fast Crochet Gift Ideas for the Holidays.

Or if you are still on the fence about giving crocheted gifts, see what others have answered to the infamous questions “Do You Give Crocheted Gifts?”

So what are you crocheting for the holidays?

Crochet Pattern: Santa Claus Hat – 5 Sizes

Rachel — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:46:15 +0000

Celebrate the holidays by crocheting a Santa Claus Hat for everyone in the family! This easy to follow pattern contains 5 different sizes: baby, toddler, child, woman and man.

To download this pattern, visit the Crochet Spot Store.

Skill Level:

Finished Sizes: baby, toddler, child, woman and man. (exact measurements and instructions for measuring are included within pattern)

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn (approximately 150 yards of main color, amount varies based on hat size)
Crochet Hook I (5.50 mm)

If you ever need any help crocheting your Santa Claus Hat, let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

5 Tips to Prevent Yarn from Splitting While You Crochet

Rachel — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:15:32 +0000

It is really annoying when you crochet and your yarn splits! You end up with only part of the strand of yarn on your hook instead of the entire strand. Here are some tips to help you prevent your yarn from splitting while you crochet:

Use a bigger hook – The bigger your hook, the less chance that your hook will split your yarn. Smaller hooks are more pointy and tend to “stab” your yarn in half. While bigger hooks obviously have a larger hook to grab you strand of yarn without splitting it.
Take your time – If you take your time, and move extra slow when you crochet, there is no way you can split your yarn. Try working in slow motion for a few stitches and be sure that your yarn is properly under your hook before you pull it. You can speed up, once you get the hang of it.
Work with the opposite end of the yarn – Yarn is made with a bunch of plies of yarn twisted together. Sometimes your yarn splits because you are working against the direction that the yarn is twisted in, so you are basically untwisting it. By working with the opposite end of the yarn you can work into the same direction that the yarn is twisted in, so that it doesn’t split.
Use a different brand – Different hooks made by different companies are shaped differently. There isn’t one hook that is great for everyone, so try out different types of hooks to see which one works best for you. Be sure to try out different brands of yarn as well.
Practice – Practice makes perfect, as the old saying goes, and it is so true. I remember when I first started crocheting, my yarn would split all the time. But now, using the exact same hook and brand of yarn, it doesn’t split anymore because I have practice crocheting. So just be patience and practice, you can do it!

Do you have a tip to prevent yarn from splitting that you would like to share?

Free Crochet Pattern: Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon

Rachel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:44:58 +0000

If you are looking to spread awareness about breast cancer, here is a very fast and easy ribbon that you can crochet. You can use it as a pin or sew it to clothing or blankets as you desire.

Skill Level:

Finished Size: 4″ (10 cm) tall

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn (small amount)
Crochet Hook I (5.50 mm)

Gauge: not very important

Crochet Pattern: Ribbon
Row 1: ch 37, dc in the back ridge only in third ch from hook and in each ch across, finish off.
Using the photo as a guide, sew or pin the ribbon together.

If you need help crocheting the breast cancer awareness ribbon, let me know and I’ll be sure to help!

Watch Knit and Crochet Today Online

Rachel — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:30:39 +0000

PBS has a show called “Knit and Crochet Today” where they do fun crochet and knit projects. Each episode is about a half hour long and is filled with tips and tricks from people in the crochet and knit industry. I was never able to catch it on my PBS station, but now I realize that it’s available to watch online for FREE.

I’m so excited to start watching it! It feels like I’ve been missing out on a great show and now I have some catching up to do.

Here is the link if you would like to catch up on the old episodes too: Watch Knit and Crochet Today Online

Crochet Pattern: Easy Adjustable Mittens

Rachel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:38:23 +0000

The Easy Adjustable Mittens can be made in every size (toddler, child and adult) using this one pattern, with absolutely no sewing required! This tutorial provides 10 step by step photos to walk you through crocheting the mittens and altering them to the size of your choice.

You can download this pattern at the Crochet Spot Store. Also, if you are a Premium Pattern Member, you may download this pattern for free.

Skill Level:

Finished Size: 9” (23 cm) tall, 3 1/2” (9 cm) wide, fits a woman’s small
This pattern can be made to fit any size(s). Instructions include guidelines for taking measurements which are used in the place of conventional sizing guidelines, allowing for the item to be customized for the intended hand size.

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn (approximately 200 yards)
Crochet Hook I (5.50 mm)

By purchasing this pattern, you will be supporting Crochet Spot in creating the tutorials and patterns you love on this site. Visit the Crochet Spot Store to download this pattern and to check out other patterns that you may enjoy!

If you need help crocheting these mittens, let me know and I’ll be glad to help!