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AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns Giveaway: Two Skeins of Red Heart With Love Yarn

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Shopping for yarn is so exciting, isn’t it? I don’t know about you, but I can’t even remember how many times I have gone to the craft store for “just one” skein and have left with waaaay more. The only downside? Paying for all that yarn!! My pocketbook can’t always handle my cravings for new yarn, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

We at AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns understand that the costs of yarn can, believe it or not, add up, and we want to help! We are giving away two skeins of fabulous Red Heart With Love Yarn! That’s right, everyone… free yarn, no strings attached!

Red Heart With Love Yarn  is one of my favorite acrylic worsted weight yarns to work with. It’s thick and sturdy without being too scratchy. Plus, it’s machine washable and is engineered to maintain it’s shape and stay soft even after washing. This soft and sturdy yarn is enjoyable to work with (no burned fingers!), and even more enjoyable to cuddle up with once your crocheted afghan is complete. Plus, it comes in almost every color imaginable; there are 28 different hues to choose from! The lucky winner of this giveaway will receive one skein of yarn in Hot Pink and one in Pewter. Don’t they look so pretty together?

The deadline to enter is March 6, 2012. You can enter once daily, so return often to improve your chances of winning! Start entering today!

CHA 2012 Recap: Yarn is Art

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While we know it’s not true, some people still think that knitting and crocheting is still just an old-fashioned hobby reserved for grandmas in rocking chairs.  Now there’s not anything wrong with knitting in a rocking chair (that sounds amazing right now, actually), but as a hobby, knitting and crocheting have moved so far beyond that point, that it’s not right to limit it to a stereotype.  Yarn is more than just something our grandma’s used to work with; it’s a bold medium that everyone – at any age – can use to express themselves artistically.

At the Craft & Hobby Association Winter 2012 Conference and Trade Show  in Anaheim, Calif., which I had the pleasure of attending, it seemed that yarn companies were adamant on showing just how artistic and fashionable yarn can be!  Not sure what I mean?  Read on – and don’t miss our special surprise at the end of this post!

Lion Brand Yarn sign from CHA. “Yarn is Art.”

One of my favorite booths, and I must admit they have an amazing setup every year, was Lion Brand Yarn’s booth.  Aside from the adorable sign that proudly claimed, “Yarn is art,” they had several standout pieces all designed from the talented Lion Brand Yarn team that I couldn’t wait to share with you.  If these pictures don’t scream modern art, I don’t know what does:

Lion Brand Yarn exhibit at CHA
Lion Brand Yarn exhibit at CHA

I wish I could hang that last one on my wall in my apartment.  If your house needs a dose of edgy decor, this trendy afghan should do the trick – just hang it up on a plain wall for an instant piece of modern art.   Love it. I might have to get my hands on more Lion Brand Yarn and try to make one for myself!

And just in case the first two innovative pieces from above didn’t prove their point, the Lion Brand team also concocted this incredible sculpture-like dress below made out of felted knit leaves.  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves:

Lion Brand Yarn exhibit at CHA

Before we move on to other yarn goodies, another really cool thing that Lion Brand did this year was reach out to design schools from all over the world.  The challenge? Make a stunning piece of wearable art using Lion Brand products.  The result?  Twenty two modern designs were featured throughout Lion Brand’s booth and during their annual fashion show.  I don’t have room to show them all, but here are a few of my favorite designs:

Dress designed by emerging designer, Heater Orr, with Cotton-Ease from Lion Brand Yarn
Designed by emerging designer, Gretchen Kreutz, using Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn by Lion Brand
Another thing I completely fell in love with at the show were these gorgeous yarn flowers at Simplicity’s booth (below).  Whether you use these easy-to-make flowers to dress up a blazer or add more color to an afghan, it’s a simple way to make an artsy statement with everything, from home decor to your wardrobe.   Want to make your own pretty flowers?  Just get your hands on a Bloom Loom. 
Yarn flowers made with Simplicity Bloom Loom

If you’re not a big fan of wearing flowers, Bernat’s booth showed a great example of how crochet flowers can be used as colorful accents in home decor.  Don’t you love this chair:

Chair covered with crocheted flowers at Bernat’s booth

For those fashionistas out there who can’t get enough of ruffles, I’m pleased to tell you that ruffles and ribbon yarn is the new trend with many yarn companies!  Going along with the yarn is art theme, Red Heart has plenty of gorgeous artisan-like products coming out in the next few months.  One of my favorites was the light, airy and shimmery yarn called Sashay which will be available in new colors in April 2012.  The yarn itself is made out of ribbon-like material, making it ruffle.  Here’s what it looks like all knitted up:

 

Pretty stylish, right?  Remember, yarn can be used as an artistic way to dress up our wardrobe, as well as the walls!  Love that scarf and want to make it now?  Learn how to create your own similar scarf on FaveCrafts.

 

So tell us, have you ever used yarn to decorate your home?

 

P.S. Want to win a swag bag of crafty goodies from CHA?  Enter our contest before February 10!

AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns’s Giveaway: Red Heart With Love Yarn

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I have a feeling you’re going to love this yarn. Get it? But seriously, AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns is giving away four skeins of Red Heart With Love yarn and this product is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

You’ve probably come across acrylic worsted yarn before, but Red Heart with Love yarn really stands out from the crowd. First of all, it’s extremely soft – perfect for crocheted wearables, accessories and, of course, afghans. Though it’s soft to the touch, it’s still extremely durable. In fact, you can launder without any worries! Red Heart With Love Yarn is engineered to maintain its softness and shape after washing, so you don’t have to worry about laying it out to dry or handling it with care. That’s my kind of yarn.

This yarn comes in 28 distinct, stand-out colors. We’re giving away four of our absolute favorites – Violet, True Blue, Bluebell and Boysenberry. These shades of blue and red are perfect for all seasons and are completely gender-neutral, making them ideal yarns for an afghan. Though the colors aren’t bright and in your face, they still make a distinct impression and present a serene sense of calm.

Before you head to your local craft store or e-commerce site, enter to to win four skeins of this awesome, American-made yarn. Just be careful – you might find yourself falling for these soft and cuddly skeins.

 

Learn more about this product.

Contest ends February 7, 2012. You can enter once daily, so return often to improve your chances of winning!

 

AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns’s Giveaway: Red Heart Yarn Lover’s Tote Bag

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I have a confession to make: I store my yarn and crochet hooks in plastic grocery bags. The yarn is always falling out of the bags and the hooks are constantly ending up behind a drawer. And when I hit the road, those plastic bags come with me – not the cutest look.

Organization is key when keeping track of crochet supplies. That’s why this Red Heart Yarn Lover’s Tote Bag is essential for every crocheter – it’s big enough to store everything from yarn to hooks to patterns. You’ll never have to worry about losing a hook or skein of yarn again!

This tote is big – really big. In fact, it holds up to 80 ounces of yarn! That’s yarn to create an afghan! Grab your tote when you have to sit in a waiting room or in the back of a car – it’s never been easier to crochet on the go! This bag is lightweight and extremely durable – you can store in a suitcase and use it for added storage later on since it’s completely collapsible. Also, the Red Heart Yarn Lover’s Tote is completely waterproof, so you can brave all of the elements without worry about soggy yarn and wet patterns!

My favorite feature of this tote is the clear panel in the front, where you can store patterns and hooks. This way, you’ll always be prepared to grab your bag and go. And the clear plastic panel keeps dirt, water and other undesirables from soiling your patterns. Keep a few in this spot in case you finish an afghan and want to start on something new.

As an added bonus, the winner of this Red Heart Yarn Lover’s Tote Bag will receive a free Tracery afghan pattern from Marilyn Coleman. Does it get any better?

In the new year, get organized and make more crochet patterns with help from this oversized, easy-to-spot tote bag!

Learn more about this product.

Contest ends January 10, 2012. You can enter once daily, so return often to improve your chances of winning!

 

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas with New eBook from FaveCrafts and Red Heart

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Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season is now officially here.  Bright lights, red bows, gift-giving and smiling people – the holidays seem to bring the best in us.  This year, FaveCrafts and Red Heart Yarn hope to make your holiday celebrations even more special with their new eBook:  Jolly Holidays: 15 Free Knit and Crochet Gifts and Holiday Projects.

Download your copy of Jolly Holidays: 15 Knit and Crochet Gifts and Holiday Projects free eBook from Red Heart Yarns today.

Thanks to Red Heart, free patterns for Christmas projects fill the Jolly Holidays eBook. This fabulous free eBook contains crochet Christmas ornaments, patterns for easy crochet Christmas gifts, free knit Christmas ornament patterns, and more. In addition to great knitting patterns for Christmas tree ornaments and crochet patterns for Christmas ornaments, the Jolly Holidays eBook includes knitting pattern for fingerless gloves and easy crochet projects like crochet hat and crochet scarf patterns.

You’ll love making your holiday celebration as unique and special as those who take part in it.  Get all of your decorations and gifts made well before December 25, using the Jolly Holidays: 15 Knit and Crochet Gifts and Holiday Projects eBook free from FaveCrafts and Red Heart Yarn as your source of inspiration.

 

Red Heart Yarn’s 75th Anniversary Giveaway!

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Red heart Yarn Anniversary Giveaway

 

 

 

Red Heart Yarn is 75 years old this year, and in true celebratory fashion, they’re giving away huge prizes!  So knitters and crocheters get ready to be excited because from Sept. 1 – Oct. 11, 2011 you can enter to win one of 12 prizes.  What are these fabulous prizes you might ask – I’ll tell you, but make sure you’re sitting down first.  Ready?  Each prize includes $75 worth of your favorite Red Heart Yarn as well as a free one-year subscription to either Knitting Today! or Crochet Today! magazine.

Did I mention that there’s also a grand prize?  In addition to the 12 prizes above you’ll also be entered into a drawing for the grand prize: an all-expense paid trip to see how Red Heart yarn is made in its mill in Albany, GA (that’s a $1,500 value).  This includes $75 worth of your favorite yarn, a free one-year magazine subscription, two round-trip airfare tickets and more.  See more details below:

For six weeks (between Sept. 1 – Oct. 11, 2011) Red Heart will announce two winners every Thursday on its blog and its Facebook page, plus on October 13, one lucky winner will receive the grand prize.  Excited?  Enter now on Red Heart Yarn’s site for your chance to win these great prizes.

Make Scarves for the Special Olympics

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The colors for the 2012 Special Olympics Scarf Project have been announced!   If you didn’t get to participate in last year’s event, now is a great time to start.  Haven’t heard of the Scarf Project before?  Every year, Red Heart Yarn reaches out to knitters and crocheters in an effort to collect scarves for participating Olympians. Why scarves? The Vice President of Marketing at Coats & Clark, Alyson Bell, explains, “The Scarf Project is an opportunity to create a handmade gift for the athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and supporters who can wear with pride knowing that it is crafted with love.”


Ready to get involved?  Crocheters and knitters are invited to make a scarf (or several) to donate to their states’ participants  in order to show their support for the Special Olympics. Here’s how you can participate:

 

  • You can use any knitting or crochet scarf pattern you want, but scarves must be 54-60 inches long and 6 inches wide.  Fringe or other adornments should be included within these measurements.  Please read the full project guidelines for complete details.

 

When you visit the official site, choose your state from the drop-down menu to find out which sports your state participates in, how many scarves they need donated, where to mail completed scarves to, and what the deadline to send scarves in is.  Participating programs will be announced May 23, 2011. Check back to their site for more information.

Happy knitting and crocheting!

75 Days of Giveaways from Red Heart

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If you’re like us, you can never have enough yarn.  Luckily, we recently discovered an awesome contest that gives you the chance to win some yarn for free!  To celebrate their 75th anniversary, Red Heart Yarn is offering 75 days of free giveaways.  All you have to do is go to their website and fill out the form.  There’s a drawing every day, and the winners take home a prize pack that includes yarn, patterns, needles, hooks and magazine subscriptions.  What could be better than that?  Well, winning the grand prize, that’s what!  The grand prize pack includes 75 skeins of Super Saver yarn, 5 Super Saver booklets, and magazine subscriptions to Crochet Today! and Knitting Today!  The contest runs through April 28th, and winners will be posted on Red Heart’s blog and the Red Heart Yarn’s Facebook page every few days.  The grand prize winner will be announced on May 2nd.  Good luck to all you loyal FaveCrafts followers!

For all of the lucky winners — or anyone else with some extra yarn on their hands — here are some of our favorite projects using Red Heart yarn for you to try out.

And don’t forget to let us know which ones are your favorites!

Crochet:

Adorable Pink Poodle

Blue Tie Front Cardigan

Crochet Baby Birdie Mobile

Knitting:

Knit Mittens as Ornaments

Radiance Knit Throw

Garter Lace Cardigan

Red Heart Yarn Launches New iPhone App

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Red Heart Yarn is getting ahead of the game. What more would you want but to check your favorite yarns and patterns on your iPhone? The iPhone app is now available providing mobile access to YouTube videos, Facebook, Twitter, patterns and more. You can now check all these fabulous things on the go.

“We developed this app to help our customers find inspiration and stay connected while on the go!” said Alyson Bell, Vice President of Marketing at Coats & Clark. “Now it is easy to access the pattern information while at the store, and you will know if you are buying the right yarn and supplies to complete the project.”

Just in time for Valentine’s Day you can make this Heart Shaped Sachet from Red Heart Yarn. Easy crochet patterns are fun to make when you’re on the go with your new app.

AFC Facebook Photo Winner

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A few weeks ago we had mentioned in the Hooked on Crochet newsletter as well as the AllFreeCrochet Facebook fan page about a simple contest. All we asked you to do was post pictures of your Christmas patterns on the photo tab. In doing so, we would pick a winner who had a beautiful detailed pattern.

The winner was chosen today! Corinne Munger was the lucky winner who posted photos of the Poinsettia Scarf, just beautiful. She has won two skeins of yarn from Red Heart Yarn, Boutique Changes. It’s six yarns in one, a ruby red color and an aquamarine. Corinne can make a whole scarf with just this one ball of yarn, so essentially she has two Christmas gifts ready to go.

Congratulations Corinne and thanks Red Heart for supplying this yarn!

This Crochet Holly Stocking is a great holiday pattern  you can put together in no time. And don’t forget about the crochet wreaths eBook.

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