I’m delighted to share with you my second Christmas favor bag, the Santa Sack! (See the other design in the Christmas series, Christmas Ornament Favor Bag). I think this one might just be my favorite yet.

The bag is crocheted in a simple ball shape for the most part, and the black belt is worked in the rounds. The last few rounds are crocheted with a fuzzy white yarn, like Santa’s fur-lined coat, and a yellow buckle is made separate and sewn on the front.

Stuff the Santa Sack Favor Bag with goodies to give to friends and family for Christmas!

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It’s time to put a Christmas twist on our line of favor bags, don’t you think? The Christmas Ornament Favor Bag is designed after the classic frosted glass ornaments we put on our trees.

At first I was going to attempt tapestry crochet for the frosted effect but then the idea came to me to try the spike stitch. It took a few tries to get the right effect with the spikes, along with continuing the shaping of the ball, but I finally made it and I have to say, I like this a lot better than what I was first imagining. Plus, I would venture to add that this method is simpler.

Like the previous favor bag patterns, Carrot Favor Bag, Strawberry Favor Bag, Grape Cluster Favor Bag, and Orange and Blossoms Favor Bag, the Christmas Ornament Favor Bag is large enough for holding candy and other tiny trinkets we might want to give.

Want to give it a try? It’s not as difficult as you might think. You will find the instructions on how to work the spike stitch below. Enjoy!

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These adorable little stockings work up quickly and are a far cry better than the $1 kind you can find in the store, simply because they’re handmade!

If you’ve ever crocheted stockings or socks of any kind you’ll know there are a few different ways to work the heel, some of which are a little complicated. In an effort to keep this pattern simple, I designed it so that you gradually decrease in short rows and then increase back to original length, folding over to rejoin with toe to build the leg. The openings in the sides of the heels are then easily stitched shut.

Choose from either a solid stocking or a white heel. Or get especially creative and add stripes!

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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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When I think of Autumn I naturally imagine pumpkins — and why not? However, those lovely crocheted creations that have swept the creative world are not the only things we can make for the season. Enter Autumn Doily Bunting, crocheted half doilies stitched onto a simple strand of crochet chain.

Each doily takes only a few minutes to work up so that you can have your bunting created in an hour or two, depending on your speed.

As usual, this bunting pattern can be adapted for as long a strand of bunting as you wish. Simply crochet as many doilies as you like and keep attaching them according to the instructions, being sure to end with a chain of 45.

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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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Bags are one of the most exciting things to design, in my opinion. The variety is tremendous! For the Evelyn Drawstring Bag I wanted to do a simple drawstring bag… but with a few special aspects.

The bag is made with a cotton yarn in simple half double crochet stitches up until the middle when the stitch changes to the unique but easy to crochet, trinity stitch.

But what I like most might just be the flat braided straps. Anyone with a general knowledge of braiding will be able to pull it off.

Ready to add the Evelyn Drawstring Bag to your collection? Splendid!

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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 can imagine many reasons for crocheting a set of mini donuts: 1) they make great play food for tea parties and cooking playsets, 2) you can easily make them into keychains with a few jump rings and a lobster clasp, and 3) it’s just so much fun!

In the picture you see one with just sprinkles, one with just frosting, and one with both frosting and sprinkles. The instructions are terribly simple and customizable so don’t hesitate to design your own.
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Have you decorated for fall yet? Sadly, I’ve only just begun. But here is my start, three rustic-styled pumpkins made with Homespun yarn.

These pumpkins are easy to crochet. Because of the uniqueness of Lion Brands Homespun yarn I decided to keep the actual crocheting simple and stick with single crochet.

Have you ever made crocheted pumpkins before? It sounded daunting to me when I first tried it some time ago but it surprisingly isn’t as hard as you might imagine.

However, I’m not sure that I don’t prefer decorating them! I love the rustic elements you can add to these pumpkins: wood, jute, and even scrapbook paper.

Be sure to check out my tips near the bottom on how to more easily shape larger pumpkins! And as usual, have fun, and let me know what you think!

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