A Guest Post by Maria L.

As a mother of four, I’ve dealt with plenty of Halloween costumes over the years. Buying new ones each year for each kid can add up and be a bit pricey. And wearing the same costume, as long as it fits, doesn’t go over so well with the kids. So I started making my children’s costumes a few years ago. Now, I have to admit I’m not a great sewer, and therefore, can not sew those really elaborate costumes that some moms can. But I have learned a neat trick that want to share with all of you!
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A Guest Post by Lolo.

I went to the pet store to buy some food for my cat Mickey. Like always, I go over to the cat adoption area to say “hello” to the cats. I was so surprised to see that the cats had crocheted blankets in their cages. Well, now that I think of it, I don’t think I should have been surprised to see the crocheted blankets. I know that people often crochet blankets and items for animals, especially for those in shelters and non-profit rescue organizations, which is where the pet store got their cats from.
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A Guest Post by Elsa.

If you’ve ever tried to make an afghan or scarf or other crocheted project with motifs, you’ll know that stitching together all the individual pieces can be quite annoying! This tutorial will show you a new way of doing this, with assemble-as-you-go pieces, so there’s no sewing required! This tutorial will show small circular pieces being joined together, but you can also use these techniques on granny squares and other motif shapes.
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A Guest Post by Linda Cee.

Slip stitch crochet is a fantastic way of making a thin stretchy fabric but it can also be used to create thick and heavy hats, scarves, mittens, etc. It can be so durable that the thicker items are waterproof!!!

There are six basic stitches: front loop only slip stitch, inverse front loop only slip stitch, back loop only slip stitch, inverse back loop only slip stitch, inverse slip stitch and of course the regular slip stitch. Now these are only the very basics, there are so many more and it is interesting to note that because you can do these stitches in many different ways (change the yarn over, change the direction of hook entry, etc.) the possibilities are practically endless.
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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?

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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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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A Guest Post by Sarah.

I’m obsessed with crocheting slippers. At the moment. Before that it was scarves, and then shirts, and then cozies. And I never seem to finish them all. I think a new type of crocheter has been discovered: The phase crocheter.

All it takes is for me to look at one type of crocheted item, and I’m ALL over them. Not too long ago, I looked at a pair of crocheted slippers, and now I have a million ideas in my head of slippers that I want to make. Right now, I could probably make 10 pairs of slippers in a week, even though I know only one or two would be worn. As you can tell, I’m stuck in a slipper phase.
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A Guest Post by May Ashley.

Do you know the saying, “an apple a day, keeps the doctors away”? Well I think crocheting has the same effect (or maybe even better). I crochet everyday. It does not matter how long. Sometimes it’s just for 10 minutes other times it’s for a couple hours. I am a busy working woman, so I can not always spend the whole day crocheting. But I do crochet religiously everyday.
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A Guest Post by Linda Cee.

One of my favorite things to do is tapestry crochet. it’s very similar to regular crochet with the exception that 1 or more strands of yarn, either different colors or different shades of the same color, are carried while another is being crocheted so that the finished results look more woven then crocheted. It’s an art form that has gradually been gaining in popularity. Perhaps because it is very versatile a fact that well-known tapestry crocheter Delores Chamblin alludes to when she refers to her work as “Painting with yarn” and just as the design options are limitless so are the items you can make everything from jewelry to toys to shawls and baskets.
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