A Guest Post by Suzann Thompson.

My Oma indulged a teenaged me by buying me German knitting and crochet magazines. (What a wonderful Oma!) I found a cute short-sleeved top with a wavy crochet stitch pattern: sc, hdc, dc, trc, dc, hdc, and repeat. We bought the yarn. I started crocheting.

It was just a small thing, but after the first row, I was bothered by the fact that the treble crochet stitches buckled. The difference in height between the double crochet and the treble was too large. Each treble had to bend to meet the double crochet stitch on each side of it.

See how the tall trc-sts pooch out in these two samples?

Having read all your responses to my Frightened of My Craft Room post, I have had yet another change in the way I do things here.

First of all – what is the 15 minute thing? That is cleaning anything for 15 minutes, it’s that simple! I randomly go to an area of my house that needs cleaning (that’s everywhere so not hard to find somewhere) and then armed with my trusty kitchen timer I start my cleaning. I set it for 15 minutes and just do whatever I can in that 15 minute time span. If it is not finished then it’s ‘who cares’ and then go to another area or do another 15 in that spot. It is funny as it has turned into almost a game trying to see how much I get done in that time span. Things are picking up here. I must confess that my poor craft room is still suffering from a) not enough 15 minute blocks mostly because I am still daunted by it and b) the fact that I am not sure if there is enough 15 minute blocks to ever get it done.

What’s this got to do with crocheting? Well. I have a lot of unfinished crochet things, they range from afghans to scarfs, toys and towels. When I sit down to do a certain crochet item that I actually WANT to do I first pick up one I don’t want to do and work on it for 15 minutes before I am allowed to do the ‘fun’ one. This has proved to be most successful. Firstly my unfinished stuff is being slowly worked on but secondly, once I pick it up I usually do more than the 15 minutes.

Who new that 15 minutes and a $2 kitchen timer could make such a difference to my house, crocheting and attitude.

Thanks to all of you who suggested it.

I received an email a couple days ago from Laura, a Crochet Spot reader, who told me about a charity that she’s involved in called Bundles of Love. Bundles of love is a non-profit organization that collects and sends essential baby items, including crocheted items, to families who need them. What really got my attention wasn’t just the wonderful things that they do, but the tragic incident that recently happened to Bundles of Love. Here’s an excerpt from Laura’s email to tell you all about it:
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A Guest Post by Amanda Kidd.

If you are interested in stiffening your crochet, then you are lucky to have plenty of methods at your disposal. The list of various methods range from commercial to homemade. The most traditional formula is the sugar solution and it works excellently even today. As for you, what you want to do with your crochet will decide the type of solution that will suit your purpose.
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New in the Crochet Spot Store, this beanie is very light weight and airy, great for warm weather days when you still want to wear a hat but not sweat your head off. The lacy, openwork pattern makes the beanie nice and stretchy no matter what yarn you decide to use. It also makes the beanie super quick to crochet. Feel free to dress up your beanie by adding your own flower or applique. Since this pattern is made for baby to adult sizes, you can make one for everyone in the family!

All purchases help to support Crochet Spot and are greatly appreciated! Please log in or create a new account at the Crochet Spot Store to purchase this pattern. Premium Pattern Members may log into the store and download the pattern for free.

A Guest Post by Linda Cee. Have you ever wanted to try tapestry crochet while crocheting in the round? Here’s a neat hot pad pattern to try out! Worked in 2 colors, this pattern creates a unique design. You’ll need a basic knowledge of how to change colors in crochet and how to carry the yarn in your work. For an extra thick and sturdy hot pad, make 2 of the circles and crochet them together when you’re done.

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We’ve all seen those crochet notions or accessories in craft stores. Some make us go, “oohhh,” and others, “how could this possibly help me crochet?” Regardless, most of them really just are what they are called: accessories AKA things you can do without. Some of them really do help with crochet work, and some even regard them as necessities in completing any project. These items can be quite expensive though–and won’t fit in all craft budgets. Don’t dismay, you just might have something around the house to substitute for that store-bought crochet accessory.
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This versatile piece can be worn a number of ways: a traditional headband, a hippie headband, a sash, a scarflette, a hair tie–the possibilities are endless. Plus, the simple repetitive pattern allows you to make it as long or as short as you wish.  Skill Level:

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Time to show off some awesome photos! Thank you to all the readers who’ve sent in photos of their crochet work. It’s always fun to see what everyone crocheted! Have a blast browsing the photos and don’t forget to leave a comment at the end of the post to share your likes. If you’d like to be included in a future roundup feel free to submit your crochet pictures.
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This sock pattern is crocheted from the toe up to the leg in one piece so that no sewing is required! Indeed it is extremely adjustable, since it can be crocheted with any weight of yarn for any foot size you can imagine, from babies to adults, it’s all possible! You can adjust the length of your socks from ankle socks to knee highs. Also feel free to add more ribbing, as I know some folks would like it to start at the ankle. This pattern is not written in a conventional manner since it is extremely adjustable, so there are progressive photos that you can follow as you crochet.

All purchases help to support Crochet Spot and are greatly appreciated! Please log in or create a new account at the Crochet Spot Store to purchase this pattern. Premium Pattern Members may log into the store and download the pattern for free.