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!
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Inspired by my recent trip to Ireland, here is a sheep to crochet! Cute, little, and fluffy, crochet it for yourself, as a toy for a child, or crochet several and make it into a baby mobile. The body of the sheep is crocheted in one piece, then the ears, tail and legs are sewn on. Check out the loop stitch tutorial if you don’t already know this fun, textured stitch.
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Crochet this spa inspired waschcloth as a gift or to keep for yourself! Pair it with a lovely bar of soap or in a basket with relaxing candles and other goodies. The washcloth is easy to crochet and is made with single and double crochet stitches. Adjust the size to make it as big or small as you desire using the instructions within the pattern. Choose cotton yarn for a super soft feel.
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Have you tried crocheting with wire yet? Here’s the perfect pattern for your first wire project! The pattern is a simple circle, made in two rounds. While the pattern is super easy, the tricky part is getting the feel for crocheting with wire. You will make all the stitches the same way you would if you were to crochet with regular yarn or thread. But the stiffness of the wire will give your hands a workout. The large crochet hook will help you crochet with the wire more easily and help to create a lacy look. Once you get the hang of crocheting with wire, try adding beads to your earrings too!

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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.
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This classic style baby bib is crocheted all in one piece with no sewing required. It starts from the bottom of the bib and works its way up, ending with the curved strap. Fasten the strap with pieces of Velcro, which can be attached with fabric adhesive or sewn on with needle and thread, whichever you prefer. The bib features simple, rounded and curved edges for a classic look that’s great for boys and girls. This unisex bib can be customized by adding your own appliques or decorations to the front. Use 100% cotton or any machine washable yarn of your choice.
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Here’s a free crochet pattern to add a string of stars to your home decor or us them for special occasions and parties. The red, white, and blue stars in the sample photo are great for July Fourth. Crochet the stars in any colors that you like and string them together to create the garland. Make the garland as long or short as you want by adding as many stars as you desire!
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If you haven’t heard of hand crocheting, you’re in for a fun surprise! You can crochet an entire project without a crochet hook, simply using your fingers and hands. Grab your yarn and get your hands ready to try out something new!

Before starting, I recommend having a basic knowledge of how to crochet. You can learn to crochet as you go, but the basics of how to chain, and make single crochets will give you a head start with hand crocheting.

Although you do not need a crochet hook for this project, you will need yarn. Use a super bulky weight yarn, and/or multiple strands of yarn held together to create a thick yarn. Your hands will act as a giant crochet hook so you need a yarn that will be proportional to your big hook size. The exact weight of yarn isn’t too important. Feel fee to practice the technique and then adjust the yarn weight and tension to suit your project.
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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!
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“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!

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