I’ve seem some really cute travel tissue covers for those mini packs of tissues. All of the patterns have been for sewing, though, so I wanted to try adapting it to crochet. And I’m pleased with the finished result! These travel tissue packs are useful for carrying in a purse or backpack, especially for those of us who have springtime allergies (those pretty flowers are worth it though). This was a quick and easy project that offers lots of opportunities for customization.

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Here we are again, another Spring and I’m dreaming of strawberries. For some reason, though I have never been overly obsessed with strawberries, I always start adding them to my designs when Spring comes around. Perhaps it’s because the splash of red against the pleasing green is always a delight.

Not surprisingly then, I have a new design for you completely centered on the beautiful fruit: the Strawberry Favor Bag. Recently I designed the Carrot Favor Bag and had a great time visualizing how the natural greenery would look in a crocheted fashion. Then I thought, why not try the cinch bag idea with other fruit and vegetable designs?

The Strawberry Favor Bag is very easy to make. The bag is worked from the bottom up in simple crochet increases while the greenery is worked in a simple but unique stitch pattern to create the pointed leaves of the strawberry plant. Add little stitches of light green or yellow for the seeds and you’re ready to fill the bag with candy or trinkets to give as a gift!

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I absolutely love watching pigeons and I’ve wanted to crochet one for what seems like forever. But the colorwork is tricky, so I went with a solid color to start, and the finished bird ended up looking like a dove. While researching for this pattern, I learned that doves and pigeons are both part of the Columbidae family, which explains why they look so similar. So this pattern is really a two-in-one, depending on the colors you choose. The bird can stand on its own and is about the size of a real dove or pigeon, but much more cuddly. I hope you have as much fun with this pattern as I did designing it.

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Everyone has a little hippie in them, am I right?

At least, that’s what I tell not-so-hippie-inclined people. However, whether you go for the hippie/boho style or not, this headband is the perfect choice. Wear it either way you like: across the forehead, for an eclectic look, or over the head, for a more traditional look (see picture below).

What is great about this pattern is that it utilizes taller crochet stitches. (See post, How to Crochet Tall Stitches) The headband is worked in separate circle motifs, from large to medium and small, and then sewn together. A light border is worked over the band of sewn circles to bring it all together and simple ties are attached to the ends for easy wearing.

Ready to give it a try?

(Kudos to my sister for looking smashing in the headband! Doesn’t her long, thick hair just fit perfectly?)

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A few months ago my dad asked if I could crochet juggling balls, and I was happy to oblige. They were easy and fun to make especially with this colorful sock yarn I had in my stash. I filled them with rice to make them heavy enough for juggling balls. Since juggling balls are easy to misplace I made a mesh bag to keep track of them. My dad was delighted with his Christmas present, which now lives on his desk at work much to the amusement of his coworkers, who sometimes stop by to juggle. Why not make a set for someone you know who could use a new hobby?

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For many kids, the most fun part of playing dolls is dressing them up. This mermaid tail is an especially fun outfit that can be enjoyed by both kids and older doll collectors. It uses the cobble stitch, a pattern of alternating single and double crochet that’s much easier than it looks. The stitch makes the tail durable for many afternoons of play, and you can use any color combination you like for a variety of looks. You could even include a mermaid tail along with a Barbie doll for a unique gift.
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This carrot cinch bag is made in one piece, starting from the point of the carrot and increasing. The carrot greenery is even simpler, made with a mesh stitch pattern of single crochet and chain 1 intervals, and topped with a lovely round of shells. Whip a few of these bags up in no time and fill with any little treat to give as gifts for Easter!

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I’ve always loved wearing flower crowns because they have such a fairytale feeling. A boring day gets much more exciting when you feel like a princess. But daisy chains wilt and flower crowns aren’t always that comfortable to wear, so I crocheted an alternative. This flower crown is quick and easy to make if you know the basics of Tunisian crochet, and the headband is easily adjustable to fit any size head. Try mixing up the colors to make something that will brighten your winter days!

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Scrunchies are regaining their popularity, which makes me happy because they’re such a fun accessory. It’s a great way to spice up a plain ponytail or bun, and it’s a perfect stash-buster for those tiny balls of yarn. I made this scrunchie with some leftover purple yarn and the finished result reminds me of a sea anemone. Try it out and add some ruffly flair to your hair!

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I’m not going to lie, I frogged this design so many times. The theory was sound, I kept telling myself, and I did not want to give up, but the uniqueness of the stitch I had chosen caused me a great deal of question. I first had to find how to count rows of slip stitch, where the turning chain was, whether I wanted to work into the turning chain for a finer edge, and etc. However, once I had it figured out, the going was a breeze!

If you’ve ever worked from corner to corner then this pattern should be easy as pie for you. If you haven’t, then just know you will be increasing on both ends until you have the width of the pillow, working even by increasing on one end and decreasing on the other, and then decreasing on both ends to finish. Sound complicated? It really isn’t, trust me.

The only thing you need to know is how to increase while working a slip stitch pattern. Don’t miss the instructions below on how to do this!

This was really an exciting pattern to design. I hope you like it. Let me know if you give it a try!

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