I love crocheting but I don't crochet for people on request. Have you ever been told your handmade item was too expensive? Or you gifted someone an item only to hear them say that you could have bought something instead? Well... yeah. ...

Do you like crocheting with fancy yarn? You know… Popcorn yarn, mohair or fuzzy… Yarns that really meant for knitting but you just have got to try and see what happens if you try to crochet them..? If you are half as crazy as me, you've come to the right place.      I got this beautiful popcorn yarn in pink a few months ago and then I fell in love. It gave me so many ideas but more so, it gave me that kick you feel when you discover a fun new texture or color and can't wait to pick up your hook. Do you know that feeling? That 'oooh! This is going to be fun' feeling. I started with the intention of making a cute little jacket for my youngest but soon, I realised I'd need atleast 10 balls if I am to complete what I had in mind. In the middle of it, my daughters were squabbling over the pink crochet bag. So I had to quickly make a fun little bag for my youngest princess. A few lessons learnt about popcorn yarn though.  1. Work with a medium sized steel hook.  ...

I have been in love with a few hearts patterns that are absolutely adorable! They are quick, simple and beginner level. If you are looking for last minute gifts or décor items to make then here are a few heart projects to crochet that you will definitely ::heart heart:: ! Danish heart pattern This is an interweaved pattern that is simple to and yet fun to complete. It looks complicated and a work of art to gift away. Daisy dishcloth pattern . I am absolutely in love with this very pretty heart pattern by Daisy Cottage Designs . I'm thinking more along the lines of using a thicker yarn to even make a rug or place mat out of it. Heart band. This band is very simple to hook up. All you need are three crochet hearts and any simple band that you put together. I am sure you can make atleast a dozen of these in a day! Heart stitch This heart project is a stitch for all those of you looking to make a throw or a blanket. You can use this in a hat or any other way. ...

This is an advanced level crochet pattern. Make a spider web potholder.   I have a new pattern to share with you today! I made a spider web crochet potholder pattern this week. It uses a variegated yarn and I love the color of fall.  Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I have been keeping myself busy with a lot of crochet projects. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to write up many of them but here is this new design for you to try! Spider web Potholder Crochet Pattern   Materials I used: Variegated 100% acrylic yarn  Crochet hook P.S: Edited to add. DON'T use 100% Acrylic if you intend to use it to place hot pots. I made this mistake not realizing that acrylic melts under heat. It didn't matter much to me because I hung it up in my kitchen as a decorative element. You may want to take care though. Use 100% cotton. Notes: Every row starts with ch1 before the first FPDC except for the first row where first dc is ch3   Abbreviation Ch- c...

This week, I have some really fun apple projects for crochet lovers!  With Fall just starting and we all getting Back to School, I have been searching for apple recipes, crafts and activities to do with my little ones. I love these crochet projects and I thought it would be fun to post them here if you are interested too.   These top 10 apple projects are suitable for all skill levels. If you have little tweens or teens, you can let them try these out too. They are quick to hook up and you can use up left over stash from other projects but best of all they are OH-SO cute!!  Check them out below: Apple Projects For Crochet- All Skill Levels    1. This little teacher's treat from Pattern-Paradise  is so adorable! You can make a set of coasters with it or put two together for a little pouch to hold treats in. It makes a perfect tree ornament too.    2. These apple slice key chains  from Repeat Crafter Me  make perfect gifts for not just teachers! They can be made into a Zipper pul...

  I love Rainbows! I love them even more when there is sun shining and a rainbow slowly coming on. I also love to crochet hats. I made  Rainbow in the Sun cloche hat a few years ago and it was everyone's favourite around here.  Unfortunately, we lost it the past week when CuppyCake decided she had had enough of having to wear hats. She threw it off when we were out and nobody noticed till we got home. In loving memory of my favourite hat, I am sharing the pattern. This hat is another Cloche Style hat and it is much similar to 'A Pearl in Summer' Hat .  In fact, it was this hat that made me want to make A Pearl in Summer , actually. My SIL loved it from the moment I showed it to her and I knew, she would love one for her daughter as well. This hat has been done in a variegated yarn from Alize and except for the flower it is much similar. I haven't been able to find a link for you to buy Alize yarn online but it is an acrylic yarn and you can quite easily replace i...

Are you looking for ways to get your crochet basket to hold shape? Or is it a hat that you are struggling with... I know what you mean! I am sharing 10 ways to get your crochet to hold shape and how to stiffen crochet hat brims and lace objects. These are tricks that I have either personally tried or have had students or friends tell me about it. You know, that time when you want the bunny ears to stand tall but they just flop over... Or you want your little girl's hat to have a solid brim but it just keeps looking so lose; Or like when you have a doily and want to use it as a lamp shade but don't know how to get your crochet to hold shape.We see this problem while making crocheted jewellery too. I have used many tricks over the years. I am sharing my experience today. Here are 8 ways to get your crochet to hold shape. Update August 2020: I have added two more ways to stiffen crochet objects! Scroll to the end for the two new tips!  8 Ways to Get Your Croch...

One of our most popular patterns is the very simple but very elegant looking A Pearl in Summer Hat . I had made this hat for my husband's niece last year. It took me a little more than an hour to make it from start to finish.  I had written a brief description of how to make it when I showcased the hat to you last year. This is a beautiful hat and after a reader asked me for a more clear written part, I started on this pattern again this weekend. Here is the free pattern for you!  < It has been almost a year since I had made it and I had almost forgotten the pattern but luckily, after a few tries and testing, I got it right. I am still at the beginning rounds and since we have the kids catching the flu one after the other, the progress on our hat is quite slow.  Before I forget it, I am writing it down here for my readers. If you would like to crochet along with me, I'd love for you to join me! This hat took me not more than two hours the last time I made it. It is...

Welcome to Week 5 of the Crochet Challenge. This week I am sharing a simple little doily flower for you.  Can you believe it is only chains and single crochet? It looks so pretty as coasters and perfect to hang up as ornaments too. I used a finer yarn to make them but you could use crochet cotton too if you want the coasters to be larger in size. If you have nothing but wool... then you could use that too. Here it is Doily Flowers free crochet pattern! First time here?  I have started a series here on Words n Needles for my crochet lovers! The challenge is to make a flower every week.  I will be sharing one simple crochet flower and it's pattern every Wednesday. If you are interested in joining this challenge along with me, all you have to do is   like us on Facebook and comment on the post for the challenge telling us that you want to play along.  You don't have to have a blog or an account and you are more than welcome to share your pictures or success on our page for ou...

Welcome to  Week 4  on the  Crochet Challenge . This week we are making a rose!  We are going to make a very simple rose and then make a hair clip out of it. Come on in and join the fun!  First time here?  I have run a series here on Words n Needles for my crochet lovers! The challenge is to make a flower every week.  I will be sharing one simple crochet flower and it's pattern every Wednesday.  If you are interested in joining this challenge along with me, all you have to do is   like us on Facebook and comment on the post for the challenge telling us that you want to play along. You don't have to have a blog or an account and you are more than welcome to share your pictures or success on our page for our readers. I will share you too. I will also be pinning your image to my new Pinterest board on the topic .  It makes me so happy when people crochet!  If this is your first time here and you are interested in learning to crochet, I'd like to recommend that you hop ove...

Looking for something for free patterns to crochet this Christmas? We have selected for you 15 free patterns that you will love to make. If you don't crochet, enjoy the eye candy! If you are interested in crochet, you can teach yourself online using this post . We also have a list of all the books and tools you will need to get you started .  You can join our Weekly Crochet Challenge and learn along the way too. Here are our favourite crochet patterns this season. Mr Claus Potholder. This is a free downloadable pattern in pdf format. Perfect to display on your holiday table!  Christmas Wreath   This pattern is really so simple. Can you believe that it is just the leaf that you keep repeating to make this wreath?  Make a few leaves and assemble them.  Tree Ornaments by AnooCrochet Designs. Free pattern and oh so cute!  Vintage Granny Square Christmas Tree These are just a couple of granny squares. You have to read the story behind it and how the idea came to her. It is such a ...

Welcome to Week 3 of the Crochet Flower Challenge . This week we are making just the flower from Something Pretty Granny Square.  First time here?  I am starting a new series here on Words n Needles for my crochet lovers! The challenge is to make a flower every week.  I will be sharing one simple crochet flower and it's pattern every Wednesday.  If you are interested in joining this challenge along with me, all you have to do is   like us on Facebook and comment on the post for the challenge telling us that you want to play along. You don't have to have a blog or an account and you are more than welcome to share your pictures or success on our page for our readers. I will share you too. I will also be pinning your image to my new Pinterest board on the topic .  It makes me so happy when people crochet!  Last week, for week 2 of the crochet challenge ,  we took a break to help promote and catch up on the past two flowers. This week we have another very addictive flower. It ...