Some parts of the world are already getting snow! In the Pacific Northwest USA, though, we barely ever get snow. This is good news when it comes to commuting to school and work, but not so nice when you want to build a snowman. So every winter I get the urge to crochet some snowflakes. This one was born after a cozy afternoon experimenting with the cluster stitch, which is one of my favorite crochet stitches. Stay tuned for a variation of this pattern in the weeks to come so you can decorate in winter style!

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I love making mandalas because of their repetitive and calming nature. After acquiring a ball of lovely gray yarn, I thought it would make a pretty mandala, and this is the finished design. Although I chose to make it all in one color, mandalas are an excellent way to experiment with color changing. I’d love to see how this design looks in multiple colors. Or you could make it with crochet thread and a small hook to make a doily.

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My sister and I spotted a cute set of nesting bowls in a home decor magazine. She suggested that I crochet some, and I was happy to oblige. Our version is made in ombre fall colors: cherry red, pumpkin orange, and light yellow. I found some gold buttons that I think complete the look…and I like shiny things. I love how the bowls store so easily, with each fitting perfectly into the other. And they’re so easy to make! All you need to know is the basics of working in a spiral and you can make a set of nesting bowls for your home. They’re lined with needlepoint mesh, which makes them sturdy and capable of holding things.

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It’s back to school season, and cute pencil cases have been catching my eye all over the place. I spotted a plush dinosaur pencil case that I thought was the cutest thing in the world, and I wanted to make my own version. This spotted purple dinosaur is the result. It fits a large amount of pencils, erasers, and anything else you could need. It’s my first time incorporating a zipper into a crochet pattern, and I’m so happy with the result. I love combining plushies with practical items. This pencil case would be a perfect gift for a kid who just started school…or for grown-ups who never grew up. After all, I’m a college student who still uses plush pencil cases!

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I’ve always loved learning about space…and when I love something, I make crochet versions of it! A friend asked me to make a planet, and I was happy to oblige. In order to make it recognizable as a planet, rather than just a crochet ball, I added the rings that are iconic of Saturn. Plenty of other planets outside our solar system sport their own rings, though, so you can invent your own planet. It’s true that the smiling face isn’t exactly scientifically correct, but some things must be sacrificed in the name of cuteness!

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Whenever my poodle Ruby went to her groomer, she came home with a new bandanna. She was adorable with her brightly-colored accessories, and we amassed quite the collection over the 13 years we had with her. I was feeling nostalgic and decided to design a crochet bandanna in her memory. It uses the Corner-to-Corner Crochet method, which is easy to memorize and fun to make. My dog Maisie is modeling it for you. She’s a Chinese Crested Powderpuff, which is a toy breed, meaning she’s quite small…but you can easily make this bandanna to fit any size dog. I’d love to know what dogs you would make this for!

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Have you heard of air plants? I discovered them several months ago and fell in love. These adorable little desert plants don’t have roots, so they don’t need dirt. They just sit around looking cute. The most common type is called Tillandsia, and they’re quite affordable and easy to care for. Macrame plant hangers have been regaining their popularity, and I was inspired to crochet one. All you need is a hook to suspend the nest from. I’m going to make one for each of the plants in my ever-expanding collection; the one in the picture is my very first Tillandsia.

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Recently I found myself in need of a reusable lunch bag. My college classes were scheduled right through lunchtime, which meant I was packing a lot of meals, and I wanted something to carry them in. Reusable lunch bags are great for the environment and easier to carry than a paper bag. I had a lovely ball of cotton yarn in my stash that was waiting for the right project, and the color changes make me think of wild strawberries, hence the name. Perhaps best of all, the cotton yarn means you can toss the bag in the washing machine.

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Sometimes you need a cord to complete a crochet project. Recently I was making a bag that needed a drawstring, and I couldn’t find a stitch that worked. The trouble is that crochet is stretchy by nature and sometimes you need a non-stretchy cord. So I experimented for a while and came up with an easy method to make a stretch-free cord.
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I really enjoy crocheting things I see on TV or in movies. It’s great for inspiration and it’s fun to wear what your favorite characters wear. The main character, Prairie, on Netflix’s original series The OA wears a crochet poncho in one episode, and I wanted to make one for myself. The finished poncho is asymmetrical and made of lacy flower motifs joined together as you go. It’s a perfect layering piece for the changing springtime weather where I live. Because the poncho is meant to be oversize, the pattern is written for one size, but I included directions on how to easily make it larger. I hope you enjoy this pattern, and let me know if you like this show too!

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