Here is a video from ABC that talks about “new” crochet fashion for the fall/winter. The pull tab bags remind me of my City Hat with Brim Crochet Pattern, since it uses pull tabs as well. The jewelery is pretty neat and gets me thinking about starting to crochet jewelery!

Take a peak at the video for yourself:

What do you think?

Lots of skeins of yarn these days are rolled up so that one end of the yarn runs through the middle of the skein. Although it is sometimes easier to find the end of the yarn that is on the outside of the skein, using the end on the inside has its advantages. Using the center end will not cause your skein to roll all over the place when you crochet or knit and you will not have to put down your work to unravel the yarn.

However, the middle end of the yarn maybe be hard to find! Here are 3 easy steps to find the center strand of the pull skein:

1. Insert your thumb and index finger of one hand into the center of the skein. Do the same with your other hand, entering it into the opposite side of the skein.
2. Squish the skein so that your fingers can touch. Feel around to find the very center of the skein.
3. Pull the center of the skein out with one hand. (you will pull out extra yarn with it, but the end of the skein should be there too)

Before you begin crocheting with the center end of your skein, make sure that the outside end of the yarn is visible too. Sometimes the outside end is tucked into the skein, but this can cause it knot up if you don’t pull it out before your start working.

Keeping your yarn clean and traveling with it can be a hassle without a proper container or bag to put your work in. There are some clever containers that you can make at home by reusing / recycling materials.

The basic idea is to use a container and poke a hole at the top so that your strand of yarn can go through it. You can use any container you like, such as an old storage container, food container, or small canister. If your container is big enough you can also store your hooks and pattern sheet in it too!

Here are some examples of yarn containers:

These containers I found at instructables.com. They have a tutorial there for making these yarn containers as well. Looks like they just used good old food containers.

This container I found at Drenka’s Blog. She used an old plastic container that used to hold spices and even decided to decorate the container with a ribbon.

There are also yarn containers that you can buy in the store if you’re not into doing it yourself. They are nicely designed in different sizes and come with a handy handle. (Err..that should be a crochet hook in the picture)

Do you have a yarn container idea you would like to share?

This set includes 5 flower patterns and 3 leaf patterns! Embellish you clothing, bags or hats with these easy to crochet flowers and leaves. The flowers include a carnation, daisy, frilly flower, loopy flower and rose bud. Each flower can be adorned with 3 different leaf sizes. To download this pattern, visit the Crochet Spot Store. Free to download for all Premium Pattern Members, just log into your account for access. Skill Level:

Finished Size: appliques range from 1″ (2.5 cm) – 3″ (7.5 cm) wide

Materials: Medium Weight Yarn (small amount of each color) Crochet Hook G (4.00 mm) Yarn needle

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! Visit the Crochet Spot Store to download this pattern and to check out other crochet patterns you may like.

If you need help crocheting the flower appliques, let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

HAHA! I found these comic strips, the “Pickles” by Brian Crane, and they were talking about crochet! They gave me a little giggle so I thought you might like to read them too!

This makes me wonder if a crochet pattern for a jock strap exist…

This mesh dishcloth is fast and easy to crochet! It can be used to clean your dishes and so much more! Make one for your sink, stove and counter top clean up. Plus use another one for bathroom cleaning or even for your car. Use cotton yarn for extra absorbency. The mesh texture helps lather soap and reduce the weight of the cloth as water is being absorbed.

Skill Level:

Finished Size: 5″ (12.5 cm) square

Materials: Medium Weight Yarn (approximately 50 yards – use cotton yarn for good absorbency) Crochet Hook J (6.00 mm)

Gauge: not that important

Crochet Pattern: Dishcloth
Row 1: ch 24, dc in sixth ch from hook, (ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch) across: 10 dc
Row 2 – 9: ch 4, turn, (skip 1 ch, dc in next dc, ch 1) across, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch: 10 dc
Finish off.

Want more dishcloths patterns? Check out 5 Absolutely Fast Dishcloth Crochet Patterns. Download this pattern at the Crochet Spot Store. Need help? Let me know and I’ll be glad to help!

No matter how much you love something, including crochet, there is always something about it that can make you tick. Whether it’s just something that makes you roll your eyes, annoy the heck out of you, or even make you pull your hair out, they are all pet peeves and I want to know about them!

Here are some of my all time crochet pet peeves:

Knots in my skein – I’m pretty good at taking out knots, but just because I’m good at it doesn’t mean I want knots! I’m pretty sure that the whole point of buying skeins of yarn is to avoid having knots in the yarn. But sometimes there’s that surprising knot in the skein that always makes me put down whatever I’m making and untangle it.

Running out of yarn – I’m not talking about running out in the middle of a project, because if I’m that far off in my yarn estimate that’s just my fault. But if I run out of yarn on the last row, that’s qualified as a rip your hair out situation! Who would want to go out and buy an entire skein of yarn just to finish the last row?

Distractions – Sometimes I’m caught in a deep concentration not wanting to lose my place or idea. Then someone comes along and starts chatting with me. I don’t mean to be rude when I ignore them, but they just don’t get it…I’m crocheting here!

Counting – 1…2…3… I can count that, no problem. But when I have to count over and over again and for a very long time, it drives me nuts! Probably because I get bored counting, or my mind wonders elsewhere and then I have to start over again.

Weaving in end – I just wish that the ends of yarn would weave themselves in. It seems so tedious when I finish making something to tuck the ends in nice and neatly.

What are your crochet pet peeves? Come on, you can let it out…