FaveCrafts

1000s of free craft projects, home decor ideas and DIY tips

Earth Day Afghan Tutorial

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To celebrate earth week, we thought we would join in on some green crafting! Now for crocheters and knitters, this may seem a little difficult, but there are plenty of ways we can hop on the green crafting challenge. Just by using up your extra yarn scraps, you are recycling yarn that others normally throw away. Another way you can reuse and recycle yarn to to head to your local thrift store and pick up some sweaters, and re-purpose the yarn to crochet or knit something new. To honor the Earth and all that it encompasses, we are challenging you to craft green. This small challenge comes with big reward. Return daily to enter to win one of two exciting Earth Week prizes. Find the contest rules and enter below.

FaveCrafts-Earth-Week-Logo

Today is the second to last day of Earth Week, and we’re pushing through the end of the week with this  Earth Day Afghan from Caron. With this free crochet afghan pattern, you’ll learn how to make an afghan using Caron’s own Simply Soft Eco yarn which is made from recycled plastic bottles. According to Caron,”Every 10 skeins of Simply Soft Eco saves 6 plastic bottles from America’s landfills.” How cool is that?

Earth Day Afghan

Crochet-Eco-Friendly-Afghan

Enjoy crocheting this pattern while knowing that you are helping the environment! It’s always great when you can do something you already love to do and make it “greener” just by changing a few things. You won’t be able to resist this free crochet afghan pattern – so grab the tutorial here!

 

Earth Week Giveaway

Return daily to comment on the blog for your chance to win one of the two Earth Week prizes. One lucky winner will win a Wool Felt Bug Kit and an Art Journal Kit from Arterro, and another lucky winner will win two hanks of At the Bahamas: Multi Colored Recycled Sari Silk Ribbon Yarn from Darn Good Yarn.

Bonus! As a gift to all Earth Week participants, when shopping with Arterro enter the coupon code FAVE20 for 20% off any order through May 1st.

Arterro Art Journal KitArterro Wool Felt Bug Kit

At the Bahamas Yarn

OFFICIAL RULES

  • There is a maximum of one entry per person per day. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied. You can comment once a day on each blog post.
  • Winners will be selected at random from the comments on the Earth Week blog posts.
  • Winners will be announced here on the blog on April 29th as well as contacted by the email address provided.
  • You have until April 28th, 2013 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on any of the Earth Week posts. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
  • Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.

What kinds of green crafting projects have you tried lately?

There’s Still Time! Charity Blanket Drive + Giveaway Prize Package

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On June 1, our friends at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns launched their Charity Blanket Drive with the help of Red Heart Yarn. This is an amazing opportunity that benefits kids in need. All blankets we receive will be donated to the Chicagoland chapter of Project Linus, and then passed along to comfort children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.

To date, we have received 15 homemade blankets! A special thank you goes out to everyone that has participated so far. We’re blown away at the gorgeous afghans we’ve received and we know the kids are going to love them all.

Take a look at the donated afghans that we’ve received so far!

If you have not yet sent in your blankets, there’s still time! The Charity Blanket Drive runs until July 15th. All you need to do is make a blanket and send it in (see our address below); it’s that easy! The blankets must be washable and can be knitted, crocheted, quilted or crafted from fleece. Find additional information and important guidelines here.

Once we receive your blanket (see our address below), you are automatically entered to win this special prize package from Red Heart Yarns.

Included in this prize package is:

  • One (1) large red and black canvas tote bag with the Red Heart Yarn logo.
  • Ten (10) skeins of Red Heart Plush Baby yarn in Kiwi, along with one corresponding crochet baby blanket pattern
  • One (1) package of Susan Bates plastic yarn needles
  • One (1) Susan Bates aluminum crochet hook (size I-9)
  • Six (6) crochet magazines and brochures (including Crochet Today!) full of free tutorials and color photos

Completed blankets can be shipped to us at:

Prime Publishing
Charity Blanket Drive
3400 Dundee Rd #220
Northbrook, IL 60062

The Charity Blanket Drive runs until July 15th. Additional information about Project Linus and AllFreeCrochetAfghan’s Charity Blanket Drive, including important blanket guidelines, can be found here.

Here’s another peek at just some of the wonderful blankets we’ve received so far:

Are you planning on donating a blanket? If so, leave a comment below!

How Do I Crochet? Your Ultimate How-To Guide from AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns

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Our friends at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns have been hard at work! They’ve been busy creating the ultimate guide to learning crochet. If you’ve been meaning to learn how to crochet, head on over to AllFreeCrochetPatterns. You’ll find crochet stitch tutorials, instructions on how to read a crochet pattern, and beginner crochet afghan patterns to get you started. They’ve even published a brand new free eBook, How Do I Crochet? 13 Basic Crochet Stitches and Free Beginner Crochet Afghan Patterns eBook, that is chock full of beginner patterns and tutorials.

For a special sneak-peek of this ultimate crochet guide, check out some of these great tutorials below. If you or someone you know has been wondering “how do I crochet?” then we suggest you check out one (or all) of these super helpful articles. Learning crochet can be difficult if you don’t have the right tools. Lucky for you, all the tools you need to learn how to crochet are literally at your fingertips. You will learn everything there is to know about the basics of crochet. Use these tutorials to teach yourself how to crochet or to teach someone else how to crochet.

Free Crochet Tutorials: Crochet Stitches

Here’s a sneak peek of just a few of our favorite crochet stitches. For our complete collection, check out our new article, How Do I Crochet: 12 Crochet Stitches for Beginners. It will teach you everything you need to know about the most common stitches in crochet. Here are some of our favorites:

Chain Stitch and Single Crochet
Double Crochet Stitch
Basketweave Stitch (above left)
Picot Stitch (above center)
Popcorn Stitch (above right)
Tunisian Stitch

How To Read A Crochet Pattern

You’ve learned how to crochet the basic stitches and now you’re ready to crochet your first crochet afghan! There’s just one problem: the pattern looks like a foreign language! Let us help with this great video tutorial, How Do I Crochet: Learn How to Read a Crochet Pattern.

 

Beginner Crochet Afghan Patterns

Now that you’ve learned a few basic crochet stitches and how to read a crochet pattern, it’s time to make an afghan! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite beginner crochet patterns and easy crochet patterns in our latest collection, “How Do I Crochet?” 14 Free Beginner Crochet Afghan Patterns to Get You Started. Check out our top three picks below:

World’s Easiest Afghan

Rainbow Days Afghan

Beginner’s Round Ripple

 

Find all these patterns and more in our latest eBook, How Do I Crochet? 13 Basic Crochet Stitches and Free Beginner Crochet Afghan Patterns

 

 

 

 

Have you ever taught someone how to crochet, including yourself?
Tell us about it below!

Special Giveaway Announcement from AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns!

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Last week, our friends at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns launched their very first Charity Blanket Drive! Together, with Red Heart Yarn, AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns is collecting new, handmade, washable blankets to be donated to children in need through Project Linus. Once all the blankets have been collected, one random winner will be selected to win this amazing prize package from Red Heart Yarn!


Included in this prize package is:

  • One (1) large red and black canvas tote bag with the Red Heart Yarn logo.
  • Ten (10) skeins of Red Heart Plush Baby yarn in Kiwi, along with one corresponding crochet baby blanket pattern
  • One (1) package of Susan Bates plastic yarn needles
  • One (1) Susan Bates aluminum crochet hook (size I-9)
  • Six (6) crochet magazines and brochures (including Crochet Today!) full of free tutorials and color photos

Enter to win this amazing gift, compliments of Red Heart Yarn, simply by making a blanket for Project Linus! Once your blanket is completed, send it to us and we will take care of the rest!

Completed blankets can be shipped to us at:

Prime Publishing
Charity Blanket Drive
3400 Dundee Rd #220
Northbrook, IL 60062

The Charity Blanket Drive runs until July 15th. Additional information about Project Linus and AllFreeCrochetAfghan’s Charity Blanket Drive, including important blanket guidelines, can be found here.

Meet the Editor: Bridget

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Hi there crafters! My name is Bridget and I’m the editor for AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns. I never thought I’d have such a fondness for crochet until I began working on the site. Though with my love for yarn, it was only a matter of time before I picked up a hook.

Despite my desire to travel, I’ve spent all of my life in the suburbs of Chicago. I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in English after several years of reading novels non-stop. Since then, I’ve been in the publishing industry for over 5 years, but now I’m excited to combine my job with my love for crafts!

My main craft skills include embroidery and knitting, but I also sew, paper craft, and crochet. And I can bake cakes and cookies something fierce. My favorite tools are definitely sewing needles, embroidery floss, knitting needles, and yarn. And if I ever have the opportunity I’d like to learn how to spin yarn.

When it comes to crafting, believe in your creativity and try to learn new skills. Seek out other crafters through community groups, craft fairs, or online communities. You never know what will inspire you next! Here are some projects that I love:

Crochet Afghan Patterns:

Rainbows and Heart Blanket


Knitting Tutorials:

Pincushion Cactus


Crochet Tutorials:

Granny Square Slippers


Sewing Tutorials:

Betty Draper Inspired Apron


Holiday Crafts:

Autumn Bloom Belt


Quilt Tutorials:

Wonky Log Cabin Throw

Craft Tutorials:

Christmas Crafts:

 

Charity Blanket Drive to Benefit Project Linus!

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Our friends at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns have a big announcement! They have teamed up with Red Heart Yarns to sponsor a Charity Blanket Drive to benefit Project Linus!

Crocheting for charity is a great way to put your talents to good use. Project Linus is a nationwide organization whose goal is to comfort children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Just like Charles Schulz’s Linus character from the PEANUTS® comic strip was comforted by his blanket, the idea behind Project Linus is that children who receive donated blankets will be provided with love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort.

The afghan drive will run from June 1, 2012-July 15, 2012. Once you have completed your blanket, please ship it to us at the address below. We will then hand-deliver your blankets to the Chicagoland chapter of Project Linus. Before doing so, however, we will randomly select one (1) winner to be the recipient of Red Heart Yarns prize package! The details of the prize will be revealed at a later date, but we can promise you that it will be a prize package worth winning!

*UPDATE*

Enter to win this amazing prize package from Red Heart Yarn by donating a blanket to AllFreeCrochetAfghan’s Charity Blanket Drive!

Included in this prize package is:

  • One (1) large red and black canvas tote bag with the Red Heart Yarn logo.
  • Ten (10) skeins of Red Heart Plush Baby yarn in Kiwi, along with one corresponding crochet baby blanket pattern
  • One (1) package of Susan Bates plastic yarn needles
  • One (1) Susan Bates aluminum crochet hook (size I-9)
  • Six (6) crochet magazines and brochures (including Crochet Today!) full of free tutorials and color photos

Enter to win this amazing gift, compliments of Red Heart Yarn, by making a blanket for Project Linus! Once your blanket is completed, simply send it to us and we will take care of the rest!

When making your blanket (knit, crochet, or otherwise), please keep in mind these important guidelines:

  • Keep fabric designs age appropriate. For example, yellow ducks would be perfect for a baby blanket while a college sports theme design would be appropriate for an older child.
  • The blankets must be washable and can be knitted, crocheted, quilted or crafted from fleece.
  • There is always a need for large and unisex blankets. Please consider making a blanket that is appropriate for a girl or a boy.

Recommended Sizes:

  • Mended Little Heart (Receiving Blankets) -36″ x 36″
  • Baby/Toddler-36″ X 36″/36″x43″
  • Preteen-40″ X 60″
  • Teen-50″ X 72″

Please ship your completed blankets to:

Prime Publishing
Charity Blanket Drive
3400 Dundee Rd #220
Northbrook, IL 60062

Have any questions? Please visit the Chicagoland Project Linus homepage, or read their Frequently Asked Questions. Please help spread the word about this amazing opportunity to craft a homemade blanket for a great cause.

Will you be making a blanket for our Charity Blanket Drive? If so, leave a comment below and tell us about it!

Help Us Out: Make Crochet Afghan Videos for Us!

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Attention all crocheters! Our friends over at AllFreeCrochet have quite the collection of helpful crochet videos on the AllFreeCrochet YouTube channel, and AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns is jealous! The YouTube channel for AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns needs some serious love. If you’re a visual learner like me, you know how helpful it can be to have a video tutorial that accompanies a written tutorial, especially if you’re new to the world of crochet.

AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns has hundreds of wonderful free tutorials for crocheting afghans, from baby blankets to granny squares, and everything in between; there are ripple stitch patterns, circular patters, and lace patterns, just to name a few. How awesome would it be to have video tutorials that can help teach fellow crocheters how to make all these great projects?!

That’s where YOU come in! If you are interested in helping us out, we would love for you to step up to the plate and make some videos for us! The video doesn’t have to be very long. In fact, we prefer that it be less than 10 minutes to keep the attention of your audience. We also ask that you provide a written tutorial along with one image of the finished project, in addition to your video. In return, not only will you be famous on YouTube, but we we will PAY you for your efforts! We can’t think of anything more exciting 🙂

If you’d like additional information on making videos for AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns, or would like to know how to get started, please email us.  Your message will be passed along to the editor of AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns and someone will be in touch with you to get things rolling!

What are you waiting for, friends? Email us today to get started!

Crochet Video Tutorials

If you’d like a better idea of what we have in mind, check out some great examples below.  Here are just a few of the great videos currently on the AllFreeCrochet YouTube channel.


 

GIVEAWAY
We are giving away a prize a day every day here on our FaveCrafts blog for National Craft Month. It is so easy to enter. Just go to our Project of the Day post and comment to enter! You have 31 chances to win and a new special prize each day. Tune in every day to see if you are the winner!

 

Do you want to make videos for AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns? Please let us know; we’d love to work with you!

 

Project of the Day & Giveaway: Baby Twister Blanket

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It’s hard to believe there’s only a week left of our National Craft Month celebrations! It’s been such a blast sharing a new craft project everyday with you all. From paper crafts to jewelry, and now yarn, we’ve covered pretty much all the craft bases. I hope you’ve had as much fun as we have celebrating National Craft Month!

As a bonus to the fabulous craft tutorials we’ve been featuring, we’ve also been offering prizes each and every day of National Craft Month. If you haven’t been chosen as one of our lucky winners just yet, don’t worry. We still  have plenty of giveaways left so keep staying tuned to the blog for your chance to win!

Today marks Day 24 of National Craft Month, and we’ve got such a fun crochet afghan pattern to share with you all. Today’s  Project of the Day is from our friends at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns. Check it out below!

Baby Twister Blanket


This adorable Baby Twister Blanket looks just like a miniature crocheted version of the classic game, Twister! Isn’t it adorable?  Kids and adults alike will enjoy using this afghan once it’s complete. This easy afghan is made by combining 24 granny squares, but simply include additional squares if you’re looking to make a larger afghan. The variety of colors makes it versatile for both boys and girls. Make this adorable Baby Twister Blanket as a baby shower gift, or keep it for your own baby. Either way, this is a must-do crochet afghan pattern!

Head over to AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns for the full tutorial for this free crochet afghan pattern.

In honor of National Craft Month, we’ve been giving away a prize every single day! Winning is super easy, too! All you have to do is check the blog daily and find the Project of the Day post. Scroll to the bottom for the daily question, and leave your answer in the comments section. After today, there are only 7 more chances to win!

  • Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  • One comment/entry per person.
  • Contest closes March 24, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
  • Please answer the question below in order to be entered.
  • Winners will be posted on this blog and notified by email.

Answer this question below in the Comments Section of this post for a chance to be today’s winner:

Do you have a personal favorite yarn of yours?  If so, what is it and why?

 

Get Free Crochet Afghan Patterns Sent Right to Your Inbox!

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There’s no doubt that afghans are awesome. From granny square afghans, to ripple patterns, baby blankets, and everything in between, there are so many amazing crochet afghan patterns out there. But sometimes tracking them all down can be tricky. Who has time to scour through endless blog archives looking for fun new crochet afghans to make?
That’s where we come in! At AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns, we make creating your own crochet afghans easy by bringing the patterns right to you! All you have to do is sign up for our free eNewsletter to begin receiving the best crochet afghan patterns from around the Web right to your inbox. It’s simple!

Exclusive Sneak Peek!

What can you expect by subscribing to the AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns newsletter? If you sign up today, be on the lookout for a special themed issue full of 42 quickie afghans!

Here’s one of the projects being featured in the next newsletter. The colors of this Happy Ghan are so bright and cheerful, it’s bound to put anyone in a happy mood! This free crochet afghan is super simple to make using worsted weight yarn and a G hook.

Simply subscribe to the free newsletter, and you’ll receive this and many more other free crochet afghan patterns to start creating!

Plus, by subscribing to the AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns newsletter, you’ll have access to fun features not available to non-subscribers! Receive the latest information on new giveaways and contests, free eBooks, Pinterest project picks, and more!

So what are you waiting for? Stop by and sign up for our free crochet afghan patterns newsletter and begin receiving free crochet afghan patterns right to your inbox!

Subscribe today!

 

Tell us, what kinds of patterns would you love to see featured in a crochet afghan patterns newsletter?

How to Crochet Irish Lace

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St. Patrick’s day is officially upon us!  My mother’s side of the family is part Irish, and we’ve been preparing for our annual  St. Patty’s Day party all week. The corned beef and cabbage is done, the house is clean, and the playlist is made. While I was helping get things ready, my mind soon wrapped itself around all things Irish, including Irish crochet. What better time of the year than St. Partrick’s Day to learn about this fascinating crochet method that leaves me breathless.

Irish crochet is a type of lace that dates back to the 19th century in Ireland. It is characterized by separately crocheted motifs that are later assembled onto a mesh background, or connected to each other with thing thread and needle. A very fine steel crochet hook is needed to make Irish Crochet Lace, as well as fine crochet cotton or linen thread.

Although it looks and sounds rather advanced and intricate, mastering Irish crochet is surprisingly easy. In fact, our friends at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns have a free pattern available, compliments of Patons Yarn. Check it out below!

This is a simple afghan pattern that uses Irish crochet. The Irish Crochet Afghan Pattern is so delicate and soft, you won’t be able to put it down. It would make a great family heirloom. Get started on it today!

For more lace crochet afghan patterns, take a look at this great collection of 21 Lace Crochet Designs for Afghans! If you’re looking for a quick way to add an instant touch of elegance and class to your home, a lace crochet afghan is just the thing!

 

Our friends at AllFreeCrochet also have some fabulous free crochet patterns that use Irish Crochet, too! Take a look at some of my favorites:

 

Irish Lace Pillow

 

 

Aran Nosegay Crochet Throw

 

 

 

 

Irish Oranges Stole

 

 

See some more of my favorite free crochet patterns using Irish crochet from around the web:

Lucky Clover Scarf: This light and delicate scarf was inspired by Irish crochet. It’s made with yellow and green Red Heart Super Saver yarn and J and I crochet hooks.

Irish Crochet Lace Collar: If you’re looking for a more traditional Irish crochet pattern, this delicate lace collar is perfect. Add this to any shirt or dress for instant elegance!

Have you ever made anything with Irish crochet lace? Tell us about it below!

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