FaveCrafts

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

No Sew Accent Pillow Pattern with New Michaels Fabric

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In celebration of the new pre-cut fabric line at Michaels Stores, we have a fun and simple new home decor project to share. This is a project you can easily whip up in just a few minutes. The new Michaels fabric comes pre-cut and this project uses just that pre-cut piece to create a simple project to add a personalized touch to any room. You can use a pillow form you can purchase at the store or even jazz up an old pillow to match your new decor.

This is a great project to get the house ready for guests or change out your home decor for the holidays or seasons.No Sew Accent Pillow Pattern

Materials List

  • One yard of pre-cut Michaels fabric
  • 16 inch pillow form
  • Safety Pins
  • Two yards of wide ribbon
  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Lay out your pre-cut Michaels fabric and center your pillow form.
  2. Fold the fabric the long way and secure it with safety pins. No one will see this part of the pillow, the pins are simply there to hold the fabric in place.No-Sew-Pillow-Project-Tutorial
  3. Fold the long ends into somewhat of a point being sure to pull the fabric taut and fold the corners sharply to create an edge on the front of the pillow.No-Sew-Accent-Pillow-Pattern
  4. Pull both ends and tie them in a knot as tightly as you can.No-Sew-Pillow-Project
  5. Add a wide ribbon tied to the pillow for an accent on the front.
    No-Sew-Pattern-Pillow

Voila! It’s just that simple. So, if you are having guests over this summer, add a little personal pizzaz with a new accent pillow. Stay tuned, we have one more fun home decor project idea using the new Michaels Fabrics that you won’t want to miss.

You can also find lots of great ideas on Michaels Pinterest page or by following AllFreeSewing for great fabric ideas.

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?

Meet and Make: Allison Harris

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This week’s Meet and Make designer is Allison Harris. Allison is a quilt designer who blogs at Cluck, Cluck, Sew. She likes designing quilts with influences from both modern and traditional quilting, as long as they are simple and easy enough for beginners to make! Allison is also a dental hygienist and the mother of two boys.

Let’s meet Allison!

10 fun facts about Allison

1. I raised and bred angora rabbits all through my childhood until I left home.  I potty trained a couple of them…it only sort of worked.
2. I really wish I was a runner and enjoyed running…but really I can’t even run a mile without feeling like I’m going to die for a week afterwards.
3. My dream is to own a pumpkin patch.
4. My other dream is to have a miniature donkey…someday someday.
5. I loved boxed Mac and Cheese…I could eat it and nothing else and be a happy camper.
6. I went to school to be a Dental Hygienist.  My Dad told me I should and I couldn’t think of anything else…I’m so glad that I did.
7. I really love having babies because I really love the 2 day vacation in the hospital away from home without anything to do but lay in a bed when they are born.  I could do without the whole labor part and all the IVs…but even with that…totally worth it.  Oh and if it were free that would be good…that is one expensive 2 day vacation.
8.  I met my husband in Sevilla, Spain walking down the sidewalk.  I was doing study abroad…he was a missionary.  Who would’ve known.
9. I speak Spanish…I understand everything but my speaking is getting really rusty (OK its horrible).
10. In high school I played basketball, volleyball, and tennis.  I was pretty bad at all 3 but it sure was fun.  I’m really tall but my coordination didn’t kick in until I was at least 18.

Here’s Allison’s project!

Quilted Camera Strap Cover

Finished Size: to fit any DSLR camera strap

Quilted Camera Strap Cover

MATERIALS:

  • Leftover fabric, at least 27″ long on one side
  • Pellon fusible light fleece interfacing, at least 5.5″ x 27″ (optional)
  • Sewing supplies

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Cut two strips 2.75″ by 27″ long.

2.  Sew the strips right sides together, then press seam open.

3.  I made mine padded with Pellon fusible light fleece interfacing. This is optional of course, I like the feel of the padding, but you can skip this step if you don’t mind the hard strap. Iron on the fusible interfacing according to directions, and trim excess.

4.  Fold one end in about one inch, and then again over one inch to hide the seam and make a clean finish.

5.  Sew edge down for a clean finish. I sewed three lines, 1/4″ apart so the ends will be more sturdy and it looks more polished.

6.  Do the same thing on the other end. The finished strap after the ends are finished will be about 23″ long.

7.  Sew right sides together with a 1/4″ seam allowance. If you think the finished cover will be too big for your strap, you can make a wider seam allowance to make the cover thinner. Keep in mind you want the cover about half an inch or so bigger than the strap, so it’s easy to slide on and off.

8.  Trim the inside edge seam allowance; it makes more room to slide the strap in and out.

9.  Turn inside out (the hardest part), iron, and you’re done! Slide in your camera strap and voila!

 

FaveCrafts Blog Giveaway Contest

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!

Crochet Yarn Painting Project

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Mikey's Bernat Mosaic Yarn Painting

Mikey's Bernat Mosaic Yarn Painting

Doesn’t this look stunning? If I were to ever plan something that would have rocked the crochet world as much as I did with this painting, I probably would not have gotten the attention as this new yarn painting has received.

Watch this HowTo Instructional Video on creating your own. I consider this project free form as you need to create the work to fit the frame. Everyone will have different sizes of frames to work with. This requires you to be a bit imaginative and exercise your crochet skills.

In this frame that is 24″ wide by 30″ high, I’ve created a yarn insert that is basket weave crochet. This video will cover a number of questions such as the following:

  1. How to create the basket weave stitch
  2. Sizing requirements for the insert
  3. How I attached the yarn to the frame
  4. What to look for in a frame due to weight of the project
  5. Materials used and crochet hook size

Over all, I absolutely loved this project. It’s one of my most treasured crochet projects to date. In keeping with the Basket Weave theme, have you seen this Basket Weave Scarf Pattern? It’s the same concept as shown in my project.

Meet and Make: Anastacia Zittel

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Today’s Meet and Make designer is Anastacia Zittel. Anastacia is a knit and crochet designer who regularly posts patterns on her site, AnastaciaKnits.com.

Let’s meet Anastacia!

 

 

10 Fun Facts about Anastacia Zittel:

  1. I’m an only child.
  2. Even though my name & website is called Anastacia Knits, I started crocheting way before I started knitting, & crochet much more then I knit.
  3. I’m addicted to purses of any sort, especially ones with lots of pockets!
  4. I’m a big animal lover, I’m definitely a cat person.
  5. I am a morning person.
  6. I passionately dreamed about being a published writer as a teen, & I think it’s neat as an adult I come close by publishing my own patterns.
  7. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid, & still vividly remember the space ship Challenger blowing up.
  8. I love to watch cartoons, yup I’m a big kid!
  9. I collect crochet & knitting needles, along with vintage patterns, craft kits, sewing supplies (even though I don’t really know how to sew), & have more patterns then a library!
  10. I’m allergic to apples, chicken, eggs, & lots of other things most people aren’t allergic to!

Here’s Anastacia’s Project:

Materials:

  • 7, (14, 28) ounces Red Heart Super Saver yarn, 7 ounces of 100% acrylic yarn, or any worsted weight yarn
  • Size G / 4.5 mm crochet hook

Gauge: 10 dc = 3”. Gauge does not matter, make a fabric that you like

Measurements: 18” by 21” (pet shelter or small baby blanket), 36” by 36” (small lapghan), 60” by 60” (regular sized throw)

Abbreviations:

  • ch: chain
  • beg: beginning
  • rep: repeat
  • sk: skip
  • ea: each
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • dc: double crochet
  • V st: (dc, ch 1, dc) all in same stitch
  • group: (7 dc) all in same ch 1 sp

Instructions:

  1. Ch 63 (123, 203).
  2. Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (turning ch counts as 1st dc now & throughout pattern), * sk 3 ch, ch 2, V st in next ch, sk 3 ch, ch 2, dc in next 3 ch. Rep from * across row 4 (10, 18) more times, sk 3 ch, ch 2, V st in next ch, sk 3 ch, ch 2, dc in last 2 ch.
  3. Row 2: Ch 3, turn. Dc in next dc, * group in next V st, dc in next 3 dc. Rep from * across row 4 (10, 18) more times, group in next V st, dc in last 2 dc.
  4. Row 3: Ch 3, turn. Dc in next dc, * ch 2, sk 3 dc, V st in next dc, ch 2, sk 3 dc, dc in next 3 dc. Rep from * across row 4 (10, 18) more times, ch 2, sk 3 dc, V st in next dc, sk 3 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2.
  5. Row 4: Ch 3, turn. Dc in ea dc & ch across row: 61 (121, 201) dc.
  6. Row 5: Rep row 3.
  7. Rep rows 2-5 7 (14, 22) times. Work rows 2 & 3 once more, then begin edging.
  8. Edging: Ch 3, turn. Dc in ea dc & ch across row, working (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ea corner, along all 4 sides of blanket. Join with a sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
  9. End off. Weave in ends, and enjoy!

Pattern note: Afghan is written for three sizes: numbers for the first size appear first, followed by the next two sizes in parenthesis. Stitch pattern is a multiple of 10 stitches plus 3.

 

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