It the spirit of tradition, why not make a 2010 resolution for crochet? You may have already made resolutions to spend more time with family and friends, lose weight, quit smoking, or to spend more time helping others. Now it’s time for you to make a crochet goal! Just leave your 2010 new year’s crochet resolution as a comment on this post. A year from now, you can look back and see if you accomplished it. (Plus, I’ll be rooting you on the whole time!)

Here are some ideas:

• Make a certain number of items (hats, scarves, toys etc.)
• Donate a certain number of items to your favorite crochet charity
• Crochet all of your holiday gifts
• Make a yarn budget and stick to it
• Learn a certain number of new crochet stitches
• Crochet at least once a week
• Improve your crochet business (if your a business owner)

Here are my 2010 New Year’s Crochet Resolutions:

• Design at least 100 more crochet patterns – If I did over 100 in 2009, I’m going to aim for over 100 again in 2010!
• Learn more crochet techniques – There is always something new to learn. I can never stop learning.
• Improve my crochet business – I want my readers (all of you) to enjoy Crochet Spot even more. Plus, a girl needs more yarn to play with!

Now it’s your turn! What are your 2010 New Year’s Crochet Resolutions?
Just leave them as a comment, and check back periodically to remind yourself. At the end of the year, you can see if you accomplished your goals!

Here is a list of the most popular, most commented, most viewed, and most bought patterns of 2009! In no particular order, here they are:

• Crochet Pattern: Rose – this is a classic and beautiful rose pattern. Although it can be a challenge for beginners to crochet, 2 more tutorials where created, including How to Roll Up a Crocheted Rose.
• Crochet Pattern: Amigurumi Animal Coasters – inspired by my first Teddy Bear Coaster Crochet Pattern, this set includes 5 new and cute animals to crochet as coasters.
• Crochet Pattern: Piano Key Scarf – made after a request, the piano scarf became very popular since there are so many piano lovers out there.
• Crochet Pattern: Spider Web Scarf – Who knew that such a simple pattern could be so popular? It must be simpleness that makes it so pretty and elegant.
• Crochet Pattern: Family Beanie Set (6 sizes) – this pattern offers convenience since there are 6 sizes ranging from a preemie baby to a men’s size.
• Crochet Pattern: Slouchy Beanie – Fun and stylish for women, this free pattern has been made by lots of Crochet Spot readers.
• Crochet Pattern: Santa Claus Hat (5 sizes) – one of the best patterns for the holidays! The pattern includes 5 sizes ranging from baby to men’s.
• Crochet Pattern: Easy Adjustable Slippers – this tutorial is can help you make ANY slipper size! Although it may be slightly difficult for beginners to follow, the more experienced, should have no problem.
• Crochet Pattern: Beginner’s Wrist Warmers with Ridges – one if the most made crochet items, this pattern is so easy a beginner can do it. Plus the ridges make the wrist warmers stretch for a nice snug fit.
• Crochet Pattern: Animal Bookmarks – Theses are fun and cute bookmarks that are great for kids and adult to use.

Do you have a favorite Crochet Spot pattern?

After a few request and having to play around with some code yesterday, Crochet Spot now has printer friendly pages!!! If you tried to print a blog post in the past, you may have realized that it’s really messy and you end up printing out a bunch of things that you don’t need. Now, it’s neater and hopefully you’ll be saving money on paper and ink.

To print blog posts or pages from Crochet Spot, simply use the print option in your internet browser’s menu bar.

Granted that you do have a printer, your printing experience here at Crochet Spot should be improved! Let me know what you think of the new printer friendly pages!

This beginner’s crochet pattern set is classic and simple to fit any guy’s style. For the math lovers out there, the stripes on the scarf are arranged using Fibonacci’s sequence! (You do not need to know Fibonacci’s sequence to crochet the scarf.)

To download this pattern, visit the Crochet Spot Store.
This pattern is free to download for all monthly Premium Pattern Members!

Skill Level: Finished Size Hat: 22″ (56 cm) circumference Scarf: 63” (160 cm) long, 8” (20.5 cm) wide Materials: Medium Weight Yarn (approximately 450 yards of main color and 100 yards of contrasting color) Crochet Hook I (5.50 mm)

By purchasing this pattern, you will be supporting Crochet Spot! Your support and encouragement is greatly appreciated!!!
Download this pattern at the Crochet Spot Store.

If you need help crocheting your hat and scarf, let me know and I’ll be sure to help you out!

Here is a simple solution for storing your business cards! This sleeve is fast and easy to crochet. It is designed to fit snugly around your cards so that they do not fall out. There is no flap or button closure to prevent bulkiness. This sleeve can also be used for holding your credit cards or other cards that are of similar size.

Skill Level:

Finished Size: 3 1/2″ (9 cm) wide, 2 1/2″ (6.5 cm) tall
Should fit tightly around standard business cards or credit cards

Materials: Medium Weight Yarn (small amount of main color) Yarn used in photo: Caron Simply Soft Yarn Crochet Hook I (5.50 mm)

Gauge: not that important for this pattern. Just be sure that the chain created at the beginning of row 1 is the width of your cards and that you repeat the second line in the pattern until it covers your cards.

Crochet Pattern: Business Card Sleeve
Round 1: ch 15 (or a chain that is as long as the width of your cards), sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, working into remain loops on opposite side of chain, sc in each ch across, place marker: 28 sc
Round 2 – 12: sc in each sc around: 28 sc
Finish off.

If you would like a taller sleeve, then repeat the last line in the pattern until the sleeve is as long as you desire.

Need help? Let me know by leaving a comment!

No matter where you are in the world, or what holiday you are celebrating, I hope you all have a good one! Be safe and have fun! Oh, and don’t forgot to take some time to crochet 😉

In part 2 of my adventure, I told about the items I decided to crochet for my cousins and my aunt. I even had the chance to finish my aunt’s shawl. Now, I’m proud to announce that I finished all my gifts for the holidays (and I hope you have too)!!!

Although I only chose a select few people to make gifts for, I’m so glad that I was able to finish them in time. Here is a run down of what I was able to accomplish and the crochet pattern and pictures that goes along with them:

Shawl for my aunt – Crochet Pattern: The Yuet Shawl
Headbands for one cousin – Crochet Pattern: Classic Headband Set
Finger puppets for the younger cousin – Crochet Pattern: Animal Finger Puppets

Thanks to you all for your support and helping me stay on track with gift making this year! It sure was fun!!!

What gifts were you able to get done?

Do you find yourself too busy to crochet? Whether you are too busy working, studying in school, or taking care of the kids, here are some good excuses to indulge in your favorite hobby: crochet!

1. Scientifically proven to be healthy. The repetitive action of crocheting helps manage stress, pain, and depression. It can also strengthen the body’s immune system and decrease the chances of memory loss by 50%. You can even watch the CBS video clip for more info here: Studies Show Knitting and Crocheting is Good For Your Health
2. Reduces stress. This is related to the above “excuse” but needs no scientific evidence to prove. Just ask any avid crochet out there, and he or she will tell you how relaxing and stress relieving it is to crochet. It’s great to be stress free!
3. Makes you happy. We all know that life can be a handful. Taking time out for yourself is the best thing you can do. After all, if you are a happier person for it, I bet everyone else will be happy you did it too. (no one wants to be around a grumpy person)
4. Enhances your dexterity. The more you work with your hands, the better you get at it! Ever want to impress someone with how super fast you can crochet? Well, the more you practice, the better you get.
5. It’s for a good cause. Lot of crocheters all around the world enjoy crocheting for a cause. Whether it’s crocheting hats and scarves for the homeless or blankets for babies, you know that your work is making a difference! (check out the crochet charity page, if you would like to find a charity to donate your crochet items to)

Do you have an excuse to crochet more often? Feel free to leave a comment to share!

Hooray!!! CrochetSpot.com now has over 100 FREE crochet patterns! Creating Crochet Spot almost a year ago (January 2009), it is amazing to look back and see how far one little blog has come. All the patterns on this site range in skill level, with most of them geared towards the beginner and easy level.

You can enjoy all of my free crochet patterns by looking in the Free Crochet Patterns section (it may take you a while to go through all the posts). Don’t forgot to check out the free Crochet Tutorials and Help section too!

As requested by many Crochet Spot readers, you can now donate to Crochet Spot if you have enjoyed the free crochet patterns and tutorials on this site. Just use the button below. Your donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and will help to support Crochet Spot in creating more free patterns and tutorials!

THANK YOU for your support and encouragement!!!

Recently, I updated the popular Piano Key Scarf Crochet Pattern. So if you were having trouble with it, please take a look at the newly revised version. Here are the fixes I made:

No more stiffness. Using a much larger hook and a softer type of yarn, your scarf should not turn out to be stiff as cardboard anymore.

Only ONE loose end to weave in. Since the pattern require LOTS of color changes, there used to be a ton of loose ends to weave in when your done the scarf. Now this pattern requires you to carry your loose ends by crocheting over them. Learn more about this technique here: How to Minimize Weaving in Ends in Crochet

Clearer instructions. The first version of this pattern was one of the first patterns I’ve ever written, so of course it was horrible! Now, with more pattern writing experience (over 100 patterns written and counting), it should be crystal clear for you to understand. But if you still need help, I’m always here for questions 🙂

Even though I’ve revised the Piano Key Scarf Crochet Pattern, it still requires a lot of color changing, and for that reason I would not recommend it for beginners. I can tell you that you still need a ton of patience with the color changing and carrying the ends (even if you’re an expert).

Let me know if you need help with the new pattern!