Put DOWN the hook, Sue

I admit I've been obsessed lately;

 Whenever we go on a road trip I crochet nonstop. 

I was annoyed the other day in a waiting room when an, ahem, older gentleman looked at me and loudly asked his wife, "What's she doing?". The wife said, "Knitting or crocheting, I don't know." He looked again, sourly, at me and said "Some people just can't sit still." Exactly right! And look what I've been working on! My bugs!!! I'm so happy, I have a little butterfly I think I'll include in this pattern set, too. You'll notice one of the bees has flatter wings which lay flat....there's another option in which the wings sit up and attach to the back (see the bee in the center of the picture. And, of course a ladybug (it still needs some embroidery, something seems to be missing. Hah!) 

Anyhoo, this pattern set, along with the Flower Power flowers which match the bugs, will be put together into a pattern and put on my etsy store in the next couple of days. Hopefully I'll put another free pattern on this blog at the same time. 

In the meantime, check out my store at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com  and my treasury which includes almost all of my Small Project patterns at http://www.etsy.com/listing/71182701/crochet-patterns-248-pages-updated

Today's Pattern Sale! Baby Hats!

Check out my etsy pattern store, susanlinnstudio, to see  this

one-day sale on my complete baby hat collection!! I'm so proud! Two new ones in here, and I think the granny hat is the easiest ever. But the best thing about the set (it's 61 pages, pdf format) is the little collection of baby hat flowers at the end. They dress anything up! I'm about to put a new knit-look ethnic hat on etsy with some snazzy flowers, can't wait! thanks for looking....if you want to see this one day sale item, just click here for the etsy item

Baby Bowler Hat with Flowers, not done yet. Boo Hoo!

I had to show you my baby bowler hat. I can't seem to finish the pattern! There's something wrong, just don't know what it is. I'll figure it out, let me know your ideas if you like. The best thing about the pattern is the little flower pattern that comes with it; every hat needs funky flowers to sew on, and these are simple and jazzy. Nice and tight, lots of edgings with contrast, whew.
Have a wonderful week of fun with crochet AND with real life, ha!


5 for $15 sale  This is the sale of the week...just in case you want to mix and match my patterns. The Treasury (the link is at the bottom of this post) is a better deal if you want absolutely everything. Get all loaded up with crochet projects for the rest of summer vacations!! I can't think of anything better than a week on the beach with my crochet projects next to me and the surf in front of me. Ahhhhhhhh! Wish I were there.

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If you want to see more of my small crochet projects, you can click on some of the links below and check out my own original patterns:

Susan's Small Project Treasury of Crochet Patterns

Susan's Etsy Crochet Pattern Store

ONE DAY sale on Susan's Crochet Pattern Treasury!

Check out my one day sale on my 248-page Treasury of Crochet Patterns! Susan's Treasury on Etsy This price of $14.90 is for virtually all of the crochet patterns I've designed in the last year....and the theme is small and quick. For the person familiar with single crochet and double crochet (and working in the round), these projects will be a delight! There are baby hats, (even a flower bud photo prop baby hat), christmas ornaments, thread crochet jewelry, animal appliques, small purses, plarn projects, and lots of flowers, big and small!

Let me know what you think and GIVE me your ideas for new designs!!
Check out my etsy pattern store

Free Chunky Crocheted Bowl Pattern

CHUNKY CROCHETED BOWL:

I love this little one; not hard, but if you've never worked on heavy textiles in crochet before, it seems mysterious. And I love the tweedy, homey look!! These bowls are flexible but strong! They can hold balls of yarn, keys, toys, whatever you like, just probably not gooshy food items, hah!

Here's the pattern: Work with a quadruple strand of medium weight yarn (four strands held together and used like one!) and WITH A SIZE K HOOK (u.s.) work ch 3, sl st to form a small ring.

I won't state this in rounds because it's really intuitive: 

Work a sc circle in a spiral to your desired bowl diameter:

Your first round will be as many sc as you can fit nicely into the beginning ring. Instead of joining, just start sc's of the second round right on top of your beginning point, working in a spiral.

Your second "round" will be working ( sc, 2sc)  all around the circle, then continue in a spiral instead of joining (you'll need to mark your beginning point with a pin since you are working in a spiral, with no seam and no joining).

Your third "round" will be working sc around, with 2sc in every third sc. 

Your fourth "round" will be working sc around, with 2sc in every fourth sc.

You see where I'm going here....this is simply working sc in the round, increasing as needed to keep your circle flat. You may need to adjust the increases so your stitches don't get too crowded. Use your judgment and make a nice flat circle!

Continue to make a chunky circle to your desired diameter for your bowl. (Actually stop when you're within an inch of your desired diameter, because it will continue to enlarge as you begin on the walls)

To start forming the walls, simply sc in every sc around, continuing to work in a spiral. One tip: Working with the bowl cupped inward (instead of bowing outward like it will be when it's used) makes it much easier to work.

If you wish to make the bowl slope inward, you can do a round or two decreasing every 6th or 7th stitch. Experiment and have fun with it. 

To end your bowl, work 2 or 3 slip stitches instead of sc's and tie off. Tightly pull the end of your work so the last stitch is small and weave the ends through your work for one stitch; then knot your yarns and securely hide and sew down the tail end. 

Enjoy!!

My "thing" is SMALL, DOABLE, quick projects which use a skein of yarn or less....and which don't commit you to a big thing that schlumps around after you in your dreams, taunting you and making you feel bad for not finishing it!! So if you like low-commitment crochet projects, click on the links below and check out my etsy pattern store! All of the patterns are original, by me, Susan!

Ta ta!

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To see more of my original crochet design work, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble

I've finally gotten around to making a listing that lets my customers mix and match their pattern choices: I've designed dozens and dozens of little projects over the last year and it's been a delight. ( I'm a crochet addict!)

This etsy listing lets you choose which ones you like best, and it's a super price, almost 50% off for many of the patterns. You can see it at this etsy page.

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If you want to see more of my small crochet projects, you can click on some of the links below and check out my own original patterns:

Susan's Small Project Treasury of Crochet Patterns

Susan's Etsy Crochet Pattern Store

See my new Baby Hat Pattern Set on Etsy!

I finally put all of my baby hats in one place! Just finished that granny and nubby hat pattern, and have been happily putzing around with all of them-piles and piles of crochet everywhere! I've got yarn in the brain, I think I'd better get my work space organized or things are going to slow down to a crawl just from sheer clutter. Thanks for looking! 

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If you want to see more of my small crochet projects, you can click on some of the links below and check out my own original patterns:

Susan's Small Project Treasury of Crochet Patterns

Susan's Etsy Crochet Pattern Store