Pin Your FaveCrafts Favorites & Win a Red Heart Yarn Prize Package!

January 7, 2013 by FaveCrafts

Calling all crafters, FaveCrafts readers, and Pinterest addicts! Do you find yourself wiling away the hours on Pinterest, repinning craft ideas left and right? Do you love all of the cool craft projects featured on FaveCrafts.com? Are you interested in winning a giant prize package from Red Heart Yarns? Then you’ll want to keep reading.

We’re pleased to announce our Pinning and Winning contest, which will be held on Pinterest! If you’ve never used Pinterest before, never fear! You can read all about how to use Pinterest before you enter our Pinning and Winning Contest.

How To Enter:

Follow FaveCrafts on Pinterest.

Create a board titled: Make It Wear It.

Pin at least 10 wearable crafts from FaveCrafts.com like hats, jewelry, clothes, or even costumes to your new board. Add the hashtag #FaveCrafts to each pin.

After you’ve created your board and pinned 10 crafts from FaveCrafts.com, fill out the entry form on FaveCrafts.com. Be sure to add your board URL.

Contest Rules:

Limit one entry per person.
Only pins with the hashtag #FaveCrafts will count toward your ten pins.
Boards with less than ten pins from FaveCrafts.com will not count as an entry.
Winner will be contacted by email and announced on FaveCrafts.
You must be 18 years or older to win, and a resident of the United States or Canada.
Contest ends January 13th at 11:59 pm, only boards created within by end of the contest count as an entry.

Here’s an example of how to get started:

First we created a new board in Pinterest and called it “Make It Wear It”:

Categorize the board as “DIY & Crafts.”

Next, we went to the Blue Button Scarf project page on FaveCrafts and pinned it, making sure to use the #FaveCrafts hashtag.

A pin is an image from the webpage you’re on as well as some text (all pins appear as pop ups on your screen). If you’re new to Pinterest and aren’t sure how to pin a project, check out Pinterest’s helpful About page.

And here’s the board!

Share your favorite craft ideas and tutorials and win a huge prize package – what could be better?

Enter Here

How to Crochet the Bobble Stitch

November 14, 2012 by FaveCrafts

In my recent rendezvous into the world of crochet, I recently learned how to crochet the bobble stitch. Perfect for scarves, purses, and sweaters, this fun stitch is great for adding dimension and texture to your projects.

If you’re unfamiliar with the bobble stitch, here’s an awesome tutorial on how to do it from our friends over at AllFreeCrochet.com:

Once I started crocheting with the bobble stitch, I just couldn’t stop myself! I’ve added it to almost all my open projects and I’m always looking for fun bobble stitch patterns to make for my family and friends.

If you want to venture into creating the bobble stitch, I’ve gathered up some of my favorite patterns to help you on your way. These crochet patterns are easy and fun…and perfect for holiday gift giving.

I love this Shimmering Lacy Bobble Scarf and Wristlets set. This textured crochet pattern is great for Christmas and can be worn by women and men of all ages. The use of Shimmer Yarn gives this winter set a nice sparkle, but you can easily use regular Red Heart yarn as well. This is a perfect pattern if you’re new to the bobble stitch, since you’ll be repeating the stitch several times! If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can create a matching hat to complete the set!

If you’re looking for something nice and warm to cuddle up with during the cold winter months, you just have to check out the Aran Crochet Throw, made with a beautiful bobble stitch accent. This pattern is a little more advanced than the others, so if you’re looking for a challenge, you’ve come to the right place! This lovely crochet afghan can be made in any color, but I love the soft white of this pattern…and it makes it perfect for any room in my house, regardless of the decor scheme.

One of my favorite bobble stitch patterns is this adorable Brain Freeze Ice Cream Sleeve. When you have one of those days that only a small pint of ice cream can cure, use this cozy to keep your fingers from freezing as you dive in for another bite. This wrap can easily be altered to fit a container of any size, and can even be used as a coffee mug wrap as well.

Have you tried crocheting the bobble stitch? What’s your favorite bobble stitch crochet pattern?

332 Easy Crochet Patterns: The Ultimate Guide

October 29, 2012 by FaveCrafts

Love to crochet? We do, too! That’s why we’ve taken the best of the best patterns on FaveCrafts and compiled it all into one humongous conglomeration of crafty awesomeness! In 332 Easy Crochet Patterns: The Ultimate Guide, you’ll find great tutorials on how to make afghans, sweaters, accessories, home decor, scarves, hats, gloves, and so much more!

Great for living rooms and bedrooms, crochet throws are great for crochet fans of all skill levels. The easy, intermediate, and advanced crochet patterns you’ll find in 25 Crocheted Throws, one of the articles featured in our guide, will help you create lovely throws and afghans for your home. Don’t forget, crocheted afghans make great gifts for friends and loved ones, so be sure to make them a lovely blanket as well! You can find lots of awesome crochet afghan patterns in our 332 Easy Crochet Patterns guide!

And it’s no great secret that the holidays are quickly approaching. In 332 Easy Crochet Patterns, you’ll find a great article filled with more than 20 easy crochet Christmas gifts that work up quickly and easily. From adorable crocheted ornaments to decorations and afghans that would make great gifts for anyone, this collection of crochet patterns is just the thing to help you get through the holiday gift buying slump.

Speaking of the holidays…winter is on its way. Get ready for the cold weather by crocheting some fashionable ear warmers! Crochet ear warmers are great projects for beginning crochet fans. They also make great gifts for teens and tweens of all ages. Embellish your ear warmer with flowers, bows, or other colorful accents using the patterns provided in the article titled 13 Crochet Ear Warmers, one of the many great articles you’ll find in 332 Easy Crochet Patterns. The other great thing about crochet ear warmers is that they don’t use up that much yarn…so this is a great way to use up all that leftover yarn that you have lying around the house.

From colorful afghans to easy clothing and accessories perfect for adults and kids alike, 332 Easy Crochet Patterns: The Ultimate Guide is sure to be your newest go-to crochet inspiration station!

Two Months To Go: Time To Start Crocheting & Knitting for Christmas

October 26, 2012 by FaveCrafts

In exactly two months, we’ll be walking in a winter wonderland! Lately, it seems that the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier and the anticipation starts while the weather is still warm. In fact, our friends at AllFreeChristmasCrafts feature holiday tutorials all year long. Embrace your love for the Christmas season now and start celebrating with our brand new eBook, Have a Red Heart Holiday: 20 Knit & Crochet Gifts and Decorating Ideas.

This free eBook features Christmas crochet and knitting patterns from Red Heart Yarns and FaveCrafts. Since these projects can require extra time and care, you might want to start working on a few now. The Christmas season shouldn’t involve any stress, so the sooner you start on your crafts, the better. Handmade gifts and Christmas decor are so much more meaningful than store-bought items, plus they last a lot longer. Every year when you pull out your stash of Christmas items, you’ll be so glad you made your own stockings, ornaments and afghans.

Now is the perfect time to download a copy of Have a Red Heart Holiday: 20 Knit & Crochet Gift and Decorating Ideas! Here are some of the projects you’ll find:

Christmas Crochet Patterns:

Snowflake Hostess Apron – If you spend time in the kitchen during the holiday season, you know how important it is to have a quality apron to protect your clothes. This year, step it up and create your own crochet apron with Christmas motifs. You can also make an apron and give it to your favorite Christmas cook. This intermediate pattern makes a huge impression and adds a festive touch to an otherwise mundane holiday activity.

Holiday Balls Throw – When you’re finished opening gifts and your Christmas meal is complete, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a blanket and catching up with loved ones. Make the day even more special by crocheting an afghan just for this occasion. This green and red crochet pattern is ideal for intermediate crocheters. Best of all, you can take this afghan out all year and get in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Knitting Patterns:

Polar Bear Hat – Plain hats are so last season. This casual winter cap is perfect for kids and adventurous adults. You can wear this knit hat all season long – it’s super warm and toasty. Most importantly, it’s easy enough for beginning knitters. Make one for your favorite kid and watch their face light up on Christmas morning.

Little Knit Stockings – Why make one large stocking when you can decorate your tree with mini ones? This is an easy project for someone who is new to knitting. The pops of color and fun designs make each stocking stand out.

Download a copy today – it’s free!

Christmas Is Coming: Celebrate with 20 New Crochet & Knitting Patterns

October 12, 2012 by FaveCrafts

Believe it or not, the holiday season is right around the corner. It may see a little early to be thinking about Christmas crafts, but if you’re planning to knit or crochet this season, you need to start planning now. Certain patterns like tree skirts and afghans require some added time and effort and you don’t want to wait until the last minute! Luckily, the latest free eBook from FaveCrafts.com is available right now to download and save for years to come.

Have a Red Heart Holiday: 20 Knit & Crochet Gifts and Decorating Ideas features a variety of projects for yarn crafters at all skill levels. The book is broken down into two distinct sections: crochet patterns and knitting patterns. Within each section, you’ll find cute gift ideas and fun decor projects. Grab your yarn and dig up those hooks and needles – you’re sure to find some creative inspiration in the pages of this free eBook!

Included In This eBook:

Noel Knit Sweater Ornaments – Who doesn’t love a warm and cozy Christmas sweater during the holiday season? Translate your love for holiday wearables into an ornament you can hang year after year. This intermediate knitting pattern can be replicated over and over again using different yarn colors and weights. Work the ornaments up as you would a normal sweater – start with the body and add sleeves second.

Holiday Spirits Bottle Bag – Don’t show up to a Christmas party empty handed. One great host or hostess gift is a bottle of wine and a handmade bottle bag that can be reused in the future. The festive design and pom poms make this a great holiday gift idea. Crochet the bag first and then create the tie and pom poms. Make a few and give them to neighbors, colleagues and more.

Holiday Cat Collar – Get ready to say “Awww!” This crochet project is super simple but so adorable. Dress your favorite feline for the holiday season with this handcrafted collar. Create the collar first, add a poinsettia and finish by crafting the holly leaves. Everyone in your family should show off their holiday spirit – even pets!

There are 17 other patterns in our latest free eBook, Have a Red Heart Holiday: 20 Knit & Crochet Gifts and Decorating Ideas and we can’t wait for you to check them out now! To download this eBook, simply head over to FaveCrafts.com. You can also find it in the Christmas crafts category on the site. Discover crochet gifts, knit ornaments and so much more – consider it an early Christmas present from your friends at FaveCrafts.com.

When do you start crafting for Christmas?

Link Love: Crochet in the Round

June 7, 2012 by FaveCrafts

Crocheting is one of the most popular, up-and-coming crafts right now. It’s quick to learn, and crochet patterns are generally quick to complete. You can make a great looking crochet project even if you’re a beginner; what’s not to love? One thing you might not know how to do if you’re just starting out is crocheting in the round. Once you learn how to crochet in the round, you’ll open up a world of crochet possibilities for yourself! There are so many crochet patterns that require you to crochet in the round–round rugs, dishcloths, crochet hats, and many amigurumi patterns are worked in the round. Below I’ve rounded up some cool crochet patterns for you to try once you’ve mastered this technique. Or, use them to practice while you’re still learning. And if you’re an old crochet pro, you’ll enjoy making these patterns too!

Easy Apple Coasters from Jenny and Teddy
Striped Round Pillow from Easy Makes Me Happy
One Round Baby Eggs from Fiber Flux
Crochet Hexagon from creJJtion
Crochet Heart Garland from Skip to My Lou
Crochet Posies from Aesthetic Nest
Round Crochet Coasters from Caprice Creations
Round Rug from Craftbits
Amigurumi Acorn from Planet June

Learn to Crochet with this Easy Beginner’s Tutorial!

June 1, 2012 by FaveCrafts

Have you been meaning to get hooked on crochet? It’s easier than you think! With this super simple tutorial, you can learn how to crochet everything from scarves to bags…not to mention learn a few nifty crochet skills along the way!

A few months ago, we asked our Facebook fans, “What crafting skill would you like to learn?”…and a wide majority said crochet, which I’ve been meaning to learn, too! For the past two weeks, we’ve run a mini crochet lesson in our newsletter to help guide new crochet fans as they learn to chain and slip stitch for the first time.

Just in case you missed the newsletter feature, I’ve decided to post the whole thing here, complete with materials you will need, awesome tutorials and guides, and even a few beginner projects that are easy and fun to make! With these simple lessons and suggestions, you’ll be up to your knees in crochet patterns you can’t wait to try!

Beginner’s Crochet Tutorial

Must Have Materials:

Crochet Hook: Crochet hooks come in various sizes. For beginners your best bet is to use bigger hooks that allow you to better visualize the stitches made in your projects.
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Yarn: There are all kinds of yarns out there to select from…but I recommend going with an average worsted weight yarn. Once you improve your stills, you can use the more elaborate yarns for your projects.
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Stitch Marker: These are great for crocheting in the round…so if you’re looking to make a hat, bowl, doily, or place mat, be sure to grab some stitch markers to help you keep your place.
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Easy Tutorials and Guides for Beginning Crocheters:

Easy Beginner Crochet Projects:

We want to know: What other crafting techniques do you want to learn? Leave a comment below and maybe we’ll feature it in an upcoming mini lesson!

Get Free Crochet Patterns Sent to you Today!

May 21, 2012 by AllFreeCrochet

We all know how much we love to crochet. I always thought I was too young to get into the crochet fad, but little did I know, it’s awesome! You can never be too young or too old to learn how to crochet. All you need is just one simple hook and a skein of yarn and you’re set for life. Who knew you could make so many crochet patterns with just two supplies? I think that’s pretty neat! Although with all those crochet patterns out there, they can be pretty tough to find sometimes. If you’re looking for a specific pattern, not all stores will have it for you. That’s where I come in!
AllFreeCrochet.com provides hundreds and hundreds of free crochet patterns, that’s right. Free! We make finding those patterns easy as pie. All you have to do is sign up for our free newsletter, Hooked on Crochet.

Exclusive Sneak Peek!

What can you expect when you sign up for Hooked on Crochet? If you sign up today, be on the lookout for slippers, crochet edging, afghans, summer bags, quick projects and more! Here is one of the projects being offered in the next newsletter.

Men’s Brimmed Hat – Some men prefer brims on their hats. Consider making that certain guy the Men’s Brimmed Crochet Hat. This is an easy crochet beanie with a brim attached for an oh-so-cool look.

Simply subscribe to the newsletter, and you’ll receive this great project along with other fabulous free crochet patterns. You won’t want to miss out!

Plus, by subscribing to the Hooked on Crochet, 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 patterns newsletter and begin receiving free crochet patterns right to your inbox!

Subscribe Today!

AllFreeChristmasCrafts Fan of the Week: Meet Mary!

May 21, 2012 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts

Recently, we announced our first ever Fan of the Week contest on the AllFreeChristmasCrafts Facebook page! Thank you so much to everyone who replied and told us their favorite project. And now, without further ado, our first fan of the week is – Mary Vaughn!

Mary’s Crafting Tip

My best craft tip is that patterns and instructions are guidelines ONLY! You are the one creating something keep what you like and feel free to change what you don’t. In the end, NO one else will see the pattern or what your project was suppose to look like they will see YOUR creation.

Mary’s Favorite Free Christmas Crafts

Vintage Granny Square Christmas Stocking – This one really helped me because I had a student who wanted to take a crochet class from me at Michaels on how to do a christmas stocking and all the patterns I had were too complex or not cute enough to teach in one class! This pattern however is adorable and very easy! I had her bring in grannys and in the class she put them together and made a cute brim and started making her daughter’s name on it!! I’ve used this pattern at least fifty times!

Little Beaded Angel – This craft is great for children to make (and give) as gifts. I am always on the lookout for easy, cheap, cute and fun crafts for Sunday school and this one fits the bill!! We will be making these this upcoming year and i’m sure the parents will love them. My son and I had fun making some samples last month. 🙂

Clothespin Nativity – This one is really neat too! To me this is just a starting point it’s very easy to expand on idea and do the entire nativity. Not only would this make a cute display but a wonderful playset!

More About Mary!

To get to know Mary a little better, we asked her a few questions, which she was kind enough to take the time to answer!

What crafts do you like to do? I’m a yarn- aholic as one would say. First for crochet, I teach crochet classes at Michaels Arts and Crafts, and I recently start blogging and sharing free pattern. My blog is www.crochetchiq.blogspot.com. I also enjoy looming, tatting and needlepoint. I have done some some quilting, and enjoy playing with my cricket from time to time. My grandma is a major crafter and started me painting when I was in elementary school and taught me to upholster chairs in high school so I dabble in everything. I even made all-natural candles for a while.
How long have you been crafting? About 20 years easily! It’s been a part of most of my life and became my passion in the last few years.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what five craft supplies or tools would you want with you? – 1. My crochet hook it has many uses including a great way to hold your hair up when no hair clip can be found! 2. Sharp scissors to cut up all sort of things so I can crochet place mats, blankets, clothes out of natural materials. 3. My hot glue gun if there is one that exists that doesn’t need to be plugged in… that thing is always useful! 4. A darning needle for sewing anything 5. Glitter- to make me smile and because everything looks better with sparkle!
What craft have you always wanted to try? I love beaded tapestries! I don’t think I could ever stay focused long enough to finish one though!
Have you ever had a craft fail? Tell us about it! HAHAHA YES MANY! I have never been one for following patterns exactly which now that help me create my own pattern but hahah my first few attempts were awful! family thought I would never finish a project and shake their heads as they would see me pull out a crochet hat i spent three hours on because it was shaped wrong or tooo big. I kept trying and trying and eventually got it! The first time I tried quilting, the cutting got me, little did I know that yes you really need to use a ruler and should not eyeball things!!

Thanks to Mary for being our first ever AllFreeChristmasCrafts Fan of the Week!

Meet the Editor: Caitlin

May 5, 2012 by FaveCrafts

Hey everyone, Karisa here with a new Meet the Editor post! Today we’re talking to Caitlin, the editor of AllFreeKnitting.com.

Caitlin was born and raised in Kenosha, Wis., where she developed an incredible adoration for cheese and Italian food – but surprisingly not beer and brats, much to her state’s dismay. When she’s not frequenting antique shops and thrift stores, she loves to read and write, listen to live music and to explain the true meaning of the phrase, “How ’bout them apples?” to her husband (he’s British). She loves dabbling in all sorts of crafts, including knitting, scrapbooking and sewing. Narrowing down her interests is near impossible, but she does have a soft spot for any craft projects that are vintage or vintage inspired. If you don’t find her at Starbucks gleefully sipping tea or coffee, you’ll probably find her waiting in line for a Muse concert, complete with a homemade song lyrics t-shirt. She’s a little obsessed with that band.

Learn some more fun facts about Caitlin:

Are you a crafter? What crafts do you like to do?
Yes, and I’m self-diagnosed with Crafting ADD; I tend to get super excited about hundreds of projects, start them all at the same time, and then only finish about 1/4 of them – if I’m lucky. I’m really up to trying any type of craft, but a few of my favorites are knitting, scrapbooking, sewing and pottery.
How long have you been crafting?
Probably as early as 3. I can still remember braiding and gluing dandelions together into headbands with my grandma. To this day, every time I see those flowers I immediately think of her.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what five craft supplies or tools would you want with you?
I’d definitely want some knitting needles and yarn with me so I could pass the time knitting. Also maybe some thread, sewing needles and Mod Podge – because that stuff is just magic.
What craft have you always wanted to try?
I’d love to do more woodwork! I like the idea of hacking apart pieces of wood to make something artsy. Not sure what that says about me.
Have you ever had a craft fail? Tell us about it!
Yes, you could say that! Let’s see, aside from super-gluing my fingers together and making myself bleed with a needle felting needle, there is one particular time that stands out. A few months ago, I found this gorgeous tutorial for a wall garden on Pinterest, and immediately went out to buy supplies. After spending nearly a week trying to build my own shadowbox (my husband and I had to buy three different types of nails and even broke a power drill in the process), I happily painted it and planted my succulents. It looked stunning! Fast forward to a few weeks and what was once a gorgeous boxed garden became a shadowbox of death; every single plant had died. I guess I didn’t inherit my grandmother’s green thumb after all.

Check out some of Caitlin’s favorite projects from all of our crafty sites:

How To Enter:

Here’s an example of how to get started:

Enter Here

Have you tried crocheting the bobble stitch? What’s your favorite bobble stitch crochet pattern?

Christmas Crochet Patterns:

Christmas Knitting Patterns:

Download a copy today – it’s free!

Included In This eBook:

When do you start crafting for Christmas?

Beginner’s Crochet Tutorial

We want to know: What other crafting techniques do you want to learn? Leave a comment below and maybe we’ll feature it in an upcoming mini lesson!

Exclusive Sneak Peek!

Mary’s Crafting Tip

Mary’s Favorite Free Christmas Crafts

More About Mary!

Sewing Tutorials:

Knitting Tutorials:

Crochet Tutorials:

Holiday Crafts:

Quilt Tutorials:

Crochet Afghan Patterns

Jewelry Making:

Craft Tutorials:

Christmas Craft Tutorials:

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty