Two of the most popular themes this summer has been pineapples, and of course, kawaii!

Though a little late to the pineapple bandwagon, I couldn’t help jumping on after seeing so many adorable designs from fellow crafters. One in particular I saw was a pineapple pot cover with the plants aloe vera leaves making the top of the pineapple. This intrigued me and got me to thinking of an open amigurumi with the leaves poking out of the top, like a drawstring bag with leaves popping out the top.

I wasn’t at all sure how it would turn out, but then whoever is?

The pineapple body is made like a simple drawstring bag and stuffed. The three leaves are crocheted separately, sewn together, and then sewn into the bag. For the kawaii features, meaning “cute” in Japanese, I used simple french knots and a few scraps of felt. I topped it off with a contrasting colored ribbon and am now proud to present my Kawaii Pineapple!

I hope you enjoy this pattern! Let me know what you think!
read more »

Make this bag for summer vacation and be the most stylish person on the beach!

I enjoy making new and unique bags as much as some people like shoes. (Of course, I happen to be one of those people as well). I probably have as many bags as I have notebooks, and that’s saying something because I love pen and paper. Although the tote itself is very much like your average drawstring bag, there are a few little twists that make this bag superior.

For a few years now I have been contemplating an idea for a sturdy summer bag with chunky rope straps. I wanted to choose a stitch pattern that would be dense and give a good stiffness to the project. When I began designing this tote I went searching for a yarn that would highlight the stitch pattern I had chosen. I found Bernat Maker’s Home Dec, a cotton/nylon mix with little fraying I thought to be the perfect choice for a summer project.

The tote is a cylinder, worked in the round with a stitch pattern where one round is worked in single crochet and the next is repeated and worked over the previous round, creating a dense and unique pattern. Holes for the ropes are made in two different rounds with simple techniques. For those who wish to sew a liner in the tote, there are simple instructions with the assumption that one knows the basics of sewing.
read more »

Strawberries on a strand of garland is sure to start a craving. This time I have taken the lovely spring theme of strawberries and added a few similar elements, leaves and blossoms. Each piece is made in one or two rounds with basic crochet techniques and then attached to the garland strand.

I chose cotton yarn for my garland to give it a more natural feeling, and because I like the defined look of cotton, but other fibers will work just as well. The garland is designed to have small rings at both ends to allow for easy hanging.

This garland is light and airy and will make a good compliment to any room for extra spring feeling. Hanging it from an entertainment center or mantle will surely brighten up a living room, as well as garner some attention for your handiwork. Enjoy crocheting this lovely, new pattern! And don’t be surprised if you suddenly begin craving fresh strawberries!
read more »

“At the table, with an iron in her hand, stood a very stout short person… Her little black nose went sniffle, sniffle, sniffle, and her eyes went twinkle, twinkle; underneath her cap — where Lucie had yellow curls — that little person had PRICKLES!”

— From Beatrix Potter’s story, The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle

Though I adore many of her other characters, I think Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle must be my favorite Beatrix Potter character of them all. She is just a simple washerwoman/hedgehog leading a simple life, and her simplicity is just what makes her adorable. However, my love of the little creatures themselves might have something to do with it.

I was so pleased with how well the Bridgette Bunny Pillow turned out that I wanted to make another vintage-inspired pillow. Lately, pillows have been a fad with me and since moving on to shaped pillows, you might say the possibilities are endless!

Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle is made up of two pillow panels with 4 separate colors. Both panels are shaped using simple increases and decreases, embellished with techniques like surface crochet and easy embroidery, and then buttons, and ribbon. My tip: stuff generously for a huggable, squeezable little woodland friend!

read more »

Do you remember the animal shaped pillows that used to be popular some years ago? I vaguely remember my brother having one growing up. They have made a comeback more recently, like everything always does, and you can buy them from various crafters today. While brainstorming a pattern for Easter, following the line of thought where bunnies and eggs were concerned, I began considering a way to adequately create a chocolate bunny. I started designing a 2D bunny form when I recalled these pillows and my design idea took on form.

This bunny-shaped pillow is crocheted just like a normal pillow, with two identical panels, but with extra shaping to create the bunny form. Before the panels are joined, the details like the face and arms are embroidered with simple embroidery and surface crochet. Joining the panels tops off the bunny shape with a few decreases in the indentions and increases at the tips. And for the finishing touch, a lovely floral ribbon bow!

Give a more lasting gift this Easter of homemade quality, and simultaneously bring back a little bit of vintage!

read more »

I love a chance to decorate for another holiday. No sooner is one over before I put up decorations for the next. St. Patrick’s Day is coming soon but rarely do I find any decorations in the stores that I really like. As always, I say, make your own! And I do. Here is a lovely strand of little shamrocks just dying to be hung up in your home. The shamrocks are small and can be made in a matter of minutes. Make them in one color or get creative and use a handful of different greens. The garland string is made with two strands of yarn held together and features little circles at both ends for an easier means of hanging. Make nine shamrocks as suggested or make as many as you like!
read more »

Hello again everyone! It’s so good to be back with Crochet Spot. I wanted to start out with an idea I’ve been nurturing for a long time — a mini pillow that reminds you of Valentine’s candy! This pillow is small and perfect for that extra special Valentine’s touch. Use the soft candy-like pastels as I did or choose your own, personalized palette. The pillow is made with small, square motifs crocheted in the round and joined together for the front and back. The hearts are made separate and then attached afterward. It’s a pattern you can’t say no to!

read more »

I can’t tell you how fond I am of autumn colors. They are so earthy and appealing! When autumn rolls around each year I am sure to find some way of exploiting this love of color. And here’s this years version, a simple, one-skein scarf that takes very little time to crochet. The stitch pattern is easy to work and at the same time lovely, giving the lightweight scarf a little character. I chose Red Heart’s Boutique Unforgettable in Polo and a fairly large size hook and ended up with a scarf perfect for these cool fall days!

read more »

I think I have already mentioned how fond I am of returning to the simple crochet basics of granny squares. This new baby blanket pattern is really just a twist on the old but I couldn’t help making it anyway. First you crochet four large granny squares and then put them together for one large, and fun, blanket. And always remember, there is nothing like a handmade baby blanket. Parents will treasure it for a while but a child will treasure it forever.

read more »

For lack of a better option, growing up I would put my pencils and other accessories in the front slip of my binder. Naturally the plastic slip would stretch and eventually become too lose to hold papers. Now that I am older I can very well see the flaws in that method of carrying supplies, but what else can you do with them? There are many kinds of lovely pencil bags and pouches to choose from at the store, even some with the option of latching into your binder. I liked this idea especially and designed my own. Here is the pattern for you to make also! The stitch is called Shallow Single Crochet and is easy to do while lending an academic look to the piece.

read more »