artsy giveaway

Erin at The Humbled Homemaker  is having a giveaway this week. You could win an art print of your choice from HelloAm! Support a small-business etsy seller, and click on this link to see all the beautiful things she has created: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HelloAm

HelloAm Design features high quality handmade digital graphic resources. Digital illustrations, blog graphics, Photoshop brushes, scrapbooking resources, clip art, logos, and much more!  There is even a coupon code to get 30% off your order! (I'm not sure if it's still valid though.)

You can also find HelloAm on facebook, or subscribe to updates and get free weekly digital downloads. 

HelloAm is an online shop offering design services for weddings and printable inspiration quotes, wall art, scrapbooking resources, children’s art and custom works. - See more at: http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2014/05/decorate-your-home-with-helloam.html?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Decorate+Your+Home+with+Beautiful+HelloAm+Art+Prints%21+%7BGiveaway%21%7D+++more%21&utm_campaign=20140529_m120680561_RSS+Feed+for+http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds_feedburner_com%2FTheHumbledHomemaker&utm_term=Read+More#sthash.BrtOkf9N.dpuf

HelloAm is an online shop offering design services for weddings and printable inspiration quotes, wall art, scrapbooking resources, children’s art and custom works. - See more at: http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2014/05/decorate-your-home-with-helloam.html?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Decorate+Your+Home+with+Beautiful+HelloAm+Art+Prints%21+%7BGiveaway%21%7D+++more%21&utm_campaign=20140529_m120680561_RSS+Feed+for+http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds_feedburner_com%2FTheHumbledHomemaker&utm_term=Read+More#sthash.BrtOkf9N.dpuf

HelloAm is an online shop offering design services for weddings and printable inspiration quotes, wall art, scrapbooking resources, children’s art and custom works. - See more at: http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2014/05/decorate-your-home-with-helloam.html?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Decorate+Your+Home+with+Beautiful+HelloAm+Art+Prints%21+%7BGiveaway%21%7D+++more%21&utm_campaign=20140529_m120680561_RSS+Feed+for+http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds_feedburner_com%2FTheHumbledHomemaker&utm_term=Read+More#sthash.BrtOkf9N.dpuf

new project

Hi, crafty friends! How's it going?

Last week I made my first CrochetCrafts sale.... exciting!

And that first customer is referring friends. I can't wait to get more orders.

In the meantime, I'm working on a new project this weekend.
Can you guess what it might be?
Here's a little clue:

New Etsy Shop!

It's HERE!
Hooray! :)

My New Etsy Shop is now open for business. It has the same name as the blog, so hopefully it will be easy for people to remember. I am slowly taking pictures and listing items, so if you don't see what you're looking for right now, check back again soon. https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetCraftsNC

If you do look at the shop, please comment here and tell me which is your favorite item.
Thanks for stopping by!

TWO Free crochet e-books!

Ok, if you ever buy things on Amazon..com, you know that prices change frequently, and they are random price-drops at random days and times. Well, this morning I am excited because something on my wish-list dropped to $0! That's right, FREE! So, I'm sharing the links with you, too.
Hope this blesses your day like it did mine!

Crochet Dynamite: Fancy Schmancy
http://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Dynamite-Jaime-Eads-Maraia-ebook/dp/B009JVOC8M/ref=pd_typ_k_sp_1_4_p?ie=UTF8&refRID=1CWVB6PWDMN1BFZ1XXB5

Crochet Dynamite: Gifts for Besties
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YQ8J6I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OU0IURX5S9IT&coliid=I9EB7WYQ03SPG

Free pattern: Basic Bulky Hat

Hi, crafters and creative people... I've been busy working on some new projects for my still-not-yet-open online shop. Don't worry, it should be here soon.

However, in the meantime I've also been crocheting some projects for my kids (and other people's kids). Yesterday I found myself with just the right amount of leftover bulky yarn to make a small something. I decided to turn it into a child's hat. Here's the pattern I came up with. I love it because it's easily adjustable to fit bigger or smaller sizes, and it takes less than an hour to complete. (See the notes below the pattern for instructions about size adjustment.) It would make a good quick last-minute project or stocking-stuffer kind of gift. It's also easy to embellish.

*Please note: I do not join or ss after each round. Just continue working in a spiral. You will want to use some kind of stitch marker to keep track of where your rounds start and stop. I like to use a piece of scrap yarn that's a different color from the one I'm working with.*

Basic Bulky Hat Pattern:
Using bulky yarn and size J/10 hook: ch 4, join to form ring.
Row 1: 2dc in ea st.
Row 2: (dc, 2dc) rep. around.
Row 3: (dc, dc, 2dc) rep. around.
Row 4: (dc, dc, dc, 2dc) rep. around.
Row 5: dc around, 2dc in every 8th st.
Row 6-10: dc in ea st around.
Row 11: hdc in ea st around.
Row 12: sc in ea st around. ss in last stitch and fasten off.

This should fit a child, ages 4-10 or so.


Size adjustments:
For a toddler/preschooler, eliminate row 5.
For a baby, eliminate rows 4 and 5.
For a teen/adult, add one more increase row between rows 4 and 5.

Hope you have fun crocheting.
Please respond here if you have any
questions or comments about this pattern.

Free thanksgiving crochet pattern: turkey placemat

I just saw the most adorable Thanksgiving crochet idea! It looks pretty easy, like something that wouldn't take more than an hour or so to do. Maybe I can make one for each of our Thanksgiving guests. Tell me what you think of this turkey placemat from AllFreeCrochet:

Click here for the free pattern:  http://ow.ly/q4mXp

I just added it to my Ravelry Queue.  
I love Ravelry, it's such a great resource.

Do you have any fall-themed or Thanksgiving projects in the works?
Write a comment and tell me about them.
I'm always looking for new ideas.

Free crochet pattern: easy six-petal flower

This is the first pattern I ever wrote. I am re-posting it from my original blog.
I created it because I am teaching my 8 year old how to crochet, and it has been really difficult to find patterns that she can understand and do on her own. She knows the terminology, but doesn't understand the abbreviations or instructions very well. So most of the time when she wants to make something, I still have to preview and decipher it for her. I made up this simple six-petal flower pattern because I had a hard time finding a flower pattern that doesn't include the triple crochet stitch (TC) - something that is still difficult for her. When you're just starting out, you need something simple and easy. Well, here it is! As a beginner, you should be able to complete a flower in about 10-15 minutes.
Use your favorite yarn and any size hook to complete this pattern. 

Simple six-petal flower pattern: Row 1. Chain 6. ss to join in ring. (6 stitches total)
Row 2. 2sc in ea st. (12 total)
Row 3. (2sc, 3dc) rep. 6x. ss.
Row 4. (sc, ch4, sk 4, sc) rep. 6x. ss to join.

Congrats, you've made a flower!
You can use any hook size and any yarn.
Experimenting with shape, size, and fabric is half the fun! Enjoy :)