Curly Scarf, Ruffly Scarf, Ginkgo Leaf Scarf...

I've been going nuts with new ideas and can't get them down on paper...or on a Word document, actually. It's like when you're thinking things so fast, and your words can't keep up. I have to finish a bunch of prototypes, and I do need testers, so let me know if you can test drive one of these upcoming ideas!

Above, yet another iteration of the curly scarfette I was showing you in the previous post...I need a name for it! It's curly, it's like seaweed, it is inspired by nature, but yet it can look like guts. Hm. "Seaweed scarf" and "Pile of Guts" scarf are NOT in the running, and here I am ruining your impression of this FAVE scarfette of mine! Ruffly, wavy, gentle curls, auuuuughhhh!!! Help me, momma!

BTW, like me on facebook, I'm probably going to talk more there than here, eventually. : ) www.facebook.com/susanscrochet

If you'd like to see my kindle ebook version of lots of my patterns for sale on Amazon,

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Curly Seaweed Crochet pattern - statement scarf, coming up soon!

I am utterly obsessed with designing this pattern. LOVE LOVE LOVE the texture, and can't stop making them long enough to perfect the pattern. What the scarf most reminds me of is ruffly strips of seaweed, graceful and curly. Just wanted to show you what I've been working on; I'll post a link to it after I get the pattern finished, so if you'd like to be a tester, let me know!

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SUPER EASY 4 ingredient cobbler or crisp

Okay, I know this is a different post for a crochet blog, but, I'm SURE that anyone who likes yarn also likes comfort food and cobbler in particular. And my thinking is that anyone who is addicted to yarn and design like I am has no time for complicated recipes. I should probably call this a "crisp" but I like the word cobbler more, ha!

The cool thing about these cobbler directions is  1) That you use whatever fresh or frozen fruit you have: sliced apples, sliced peaches, frozen cherries, etc.
                                                                         2) That you are NOT to MEASURE anything!! That's how I teach my kids to make muffins, pancakes, white sauces, etc. That's how my mom taught me to make a white sauce or gravy, that's how my dad taught me to make pancakes and cornbread, and that's how I'm going to teach you!!!  You just make a good guess about amounts, it works fine, and you end up getting a feel for what a batter or dough will look like.  Important in all this (for me) is to use self-rising flour when you make all of your non-measured batters and doughs, because this simplifies.

Here goes:

SUSAN'S EASY 4 ingredient FRUIT COBBLER 

1. Place a layer of fruit pieces (fresh or frozen peaches, apples, cherries, etc) in the bottom of a glass dish (any size - what you see above is an individual dish; however a glass pie pan is great, too.

2. Use flour, sugar and butter for a crumbly mix which will be used both as a thickener and a topping. If you must have an idea of amounts, here goes: for a pie dish, use approximately a cup each of flour and sugar; for a single individual dish, use a couple of tablespoons of each.

Mix together in a bowl equal parts of self-rising flour and sugar. To this mixture add about half as much soft butter or shortening. Cream the mixture, mixing it till it is crumbly. (In other words, you could use about a cup of self-rising flour, a cup of sugar, and half a cup of soft butter).

3. Toss half the crumbly mix with the fruit to thicken it during baking, and use the other half to top it. If desired, sprinkle a little granola on the topping.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Enjoy!!!

Now you have more time for crocheting, like me! I'm working on scarf patterns, hopefully you'll see them soon on this blog!

If you're interested in my original crochet designs (as in patterns), check out my various pattern stores below! Thanks for looking and happy summer!!

___________________________________________________________________
Check out my latest designs at My Etsy Pattern Store or at My Ravelry Pattern Store!
My 4-Chapter Mini Treasury

is also on Ravelry right now for $9.99!

If you'd like to see my kindle ebook version of lots of my patterns for sale on Amazon,

click here

A New Chameleon Pattern inspired by Pascal!

This little guy is my tribute to little Pascal, even though it's a bit different. What fun, this little applique takes only 20 or 30 minutes to make, tops, and the flowers are even faster. I'm about to publish one of the flower patterns for free, but for today, I'm just introducing the New Pattern for Chameleon and Flowers Wall Hanging on etsy . We were driving back from the beach, and true to form, I was doodling with a crochet hook. I didn't think Scott was looking, but when I was done with the shape of the little guy, he said "Make him with an eye that sticks out." Genius!

Oh, and my Shannon said, "Make a tongue! Make a tongue! With a fly!" "aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!" That's her squealing. I must admit that was a darn good idea. So, it's really a collaborative effort, as you see. But truly a delight to make for your favorite chameleon fan, young or old. 

Actually I need to put these on a child's purse or pencil case, that's really what they're begging for. 

For lots of darling, easy, fast crochet designs...

Check out my latest at My Etsy Pattern Store or at My Ravelry Pattern Store! I'm also I'm also on Amazon's Kindle store with many of my patterns, if you prefer your patterns on a Kindle.
My 4-Chapter Mini Treasury

is also on Ravelry right now for $9.99!

Little Crocheted Jug project from the 70's! Free Crochet Pattern

Remember These? I remember my big sis making a milk jug bag in Camp Fire Girls...I think it was a lot like this! So much fun!! Here's how you make it (these are my only instructions, for now...this one doesn't exist as a pattern by me - yet) :

Materials you will need: 

• plastic milk jug or 2 liter bottle (to cut in half)
• single hole hole punch
• size For G (3.75 or 4.00 mm) crochet hook
• scraps of yarn in medium weights
• heavy scissors for trimming jug and yarn

Instructions:
1) Cut a small milk jug or a 2-liter soda bottle in half; wash out and trim carefully so your edge is smooth. You'll be using the bottom for the base of your drawstring bag.

2) Using a single-hole hole punch, punch regular holes approximately 1/4" from the edge, 1/4" apart, all around the edge.

Now the fun part:

3) Single crochet around the jug, using the holes to work in instead of chains. When you get back to the beginning, just continue on in a spiral, so your work has no seam. Change colors a few times for an exciting design!

4) When you've reached a cylindrical shape approximately 5-6" high, work a round which will serve as a drawstring casing: work (dc, skip 1 sc, ch 1) around and join.

5) Finish off by chaining or braiding a 20 to 22" long drawstring and weaving it through your casing. Knot its two ends together and you're done!

You have to fill your little drawstring jug with marbles, or shells, or treasures!! Delightful! I'm so happy!!!!!

To see more of my cheery patterns, read on:

Thanks for checking out my patterns! To see more, you can visit my Etsy store, check out my crochet blog or facebook page to find free tips, small patterns and inspiration, or see my Amazon Author Central page to see my patterns on the Kindle ebook store. Have a great time with your crochet!

Susan

Free Picnic Table Decor Idea, Fun Cutlery Holder!

My New Picnic Table Cutlery Holder Project Sheet is on Etsy!..it's so simple I'm going to describe it for you here so you really don't need the pattern unless you'd like to buy it for the photos and details. Fun! It's intended as a way to use scrap yarn and items you have lying around to make a sweet container or gift box.

Here's what you do, for those of you who don't need the details and have flower and star patterns you can already use: 


Choose a straight walled container to use, like a coffee pot or an empty plastic ice cream bucket.


Then make a crocheted dc and chain sleeve for it:


In medium weight yarn crochet a length of chains which circles your container of choice and just touches. Work rows of dc-and chain lattices *(dc, ch 1, skip next st) , joining at the end of each round and stepping up with a ch-4 for each new round. 


Top it off with a row of sc and use it to encircle your bandana-wrapped container. Tuck any extra bandana fabric to the interior of small pots, or let the extra fabric hang down for larger pots/buckets.


I like to crochet little motifs like stars and add them to these picnic pots for a decoration.

If you'd like the actual pattern for this, with materials, details, lots of photos, the star pattern, etc, you can click here to buy it for $2.20 on etsy but if you just want to duplicate it from my instructions above, be my guest! It's also available instantly as a download on Ravelry .And check out my various pattern stores below! Thanks for looking and happy summer!!

___________________________________________________________________

Check out my latest designs at My Etsy Pattern Store or at My Ravelry Pattern Store!
My 4-Chapter Mini Treasury

is also on Ravelry right now for $9.99!

Super Fast Summer Bandana Bag Pattern!

My New Easy Bandana Bag Project is on Etsy today...it's so simple I'm going to describe it for you here so your really don't need the pattern unless you'd like to buy it for the details. Fun! P.S. Use "SUMMER2015" on Etsy to save 25% for the rest of THIS SUMMER!!!!!

Here's how it goes: Use a yarn needle and medium weight yarn to work a running stitch in a circle which almost touches the edges of your bandana. 

Next work a "casing" of sorts of (ch,dc) all the way around, worked on the yarn stitches.

Then form a drawstring strap or length of chains which is about 45" long and weave it through your dc casing to pull your bandana purse shut. Tie the ends of the chained length together and you're ready to add a crocheted flower, buttons, whatever you want.

Perfect for summer, for the beach, for use as a gift bag, a child's present, whatever you can think!! I'm going to hang them on the end of a picnic table to hold plastic forks, YAY!!

If you'd like the actual pattern for this, with dimensions, details, photos, the flower pattern, etc, you can click here to buy it for $2.20 on Etsy. But if you just want to duplicate it from my instructions above, be my guest! And check out my various pattern stores below! Thanks for looking and happy summer!!

Check out my latest designs at My Etsy Pattern Store or at My Ravelry Pattern Store!
My 4-Chapter Mini Treasury

is also on Ravelry right now for $9.99!