Free Form Crochet - A Crochet Craft that Anyone Can Do!

I crochet...A LOT. I find it meditative and relaxing. Plus, I can create gifts, home dec and plenty of other unique items for myself, and for friends and family. Since I crochet so much, I always have lots of small balls of leftover yarn. After recently making my colorful and comfy scrapghan, I realized I STILL had lots of bits and pieces just lolling about in my yarn basket. 

Researching "scrap crochet" on the internet had me finding one particular method mentioned several times: free form crochet. Free form crochet is an excellent technique that makes great use of all those yarn leftovers. Why hadn't I heard about this? Hmmm..apparently it's not new, but it was new to me, so I had to give it a try.

I must admit that I struggled a bit at first with where and how the heck to begin. But then I finally decided to just go for it and start. I figured what's the worst that could happen? I'd have to pull out some stitches and start again. I didn't follow any particular tutorial or pattern (there really is no set pattern to follow anyway), preferring to just make it up as I went, using stitches I was already familiar with.

Well I'm happy to say that this was a TON of fun to do. There's no right or wrong way to crochet a free form piece. It has the happy advantage of going off in all sorts of unique and artistic directions and the results are fantastic. I can see a couple of these pieces being put to use as wall art some place in my home.

How about you? Have you ever tried free form crochet? What did you think? Please share your thoughts with me. I'd love to hear all about it!

Scrapghan Lapghan Makes a Great Last Minute Holiday Gift!

If you do a lot of crocheting like me then I'm sure you have tons of bits and leftover pieces of yarn. I knew I could make a bunch of granny square potholders or coasters with those bits and pieces, but I wanted to do something a little different. Could I take all of those little mismatched balls of yarn and turn them into one big something that would pack a crochet punch of color? The answer is YES. I could and I did. 

After searching around online I found several "scrapghan" how-tos as motivation. Using two strands of yarn and a half double crochet stitch throughout, I set to work. When I ran out of yarn I simply tied my working yarn to a new piece using a square knot. Then I made sure I tucked the tails into my work as I crocheted in order to hide them. Simple!

The result was a generous sized lapghan that's colorful and toasty warm. I originally wanted to make this scrapghan just to see how easy it was. It was so awesomely simple to do, and the results were so gorgeous, now I want to make more. It only took me a few hours (working intermittently over two days), so these would make excellent gifts for the holidays or anytime!

I just might have to make a trip to my local thrift store to grab up some of those bags of yarn odds and ends to make a few more scrpaghans for gift giving ;-)

Puff Stitch Hat with Video Tutorial Share

The winters aren't exactly overly cold here in Texas, but I do enjoying wearing hats now and then. I love to crochet and have been making things since grade school. However, for some unknown reason I've never attempted the puff stitch before.

I love the way this pattern looks, so I decided it was about time I learned it. I found an AWESOME video tutorial on YouTube and, with the help of B. Hooked Crochet, I had this gorgeous hat worked up in no time. It's super simple and fast.

I have to say that B. Hooked Crochet's tutorial is one of THE best and one of the most easy-to-follow videos I've found on YouTube so far, so a BIG thank you goes out to this lovely lady!

Do Something Creative Everyday - Crochet Messy Bun/Ponytail Beanies

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Are you like me and you've come to realize that creating art is good therapy? There's no denying that our brains have the ability to relax and regroup when we're lost in an art project. Art can be anything that you take the time to sit down and create. Some people are quick to deny that they're artists, but I say that's just plain nonsense. If you've created something - anything - then you're an artist.

Lately, I've been on a crochet kick. When I spotted messy bun/ponytail hats on Facebook, I was intrigued enough to do a Google search. I found there's a ton of people making these functional, gorgeous accessories. I found a few patterns, but I wasn't quite satisfied with them, so I tweaked them and came up with these.

Like most crochet beanie-style hats, these don't use much yarn. I used Hobby Lobby's "Love this Yarn" because it's easy-care acrylic, super soft and economically priced (just 3.99 per skein). These hats take no time at all to make and are wonderful gifts. I've already made several and gave them to friends and family. 

So, what are you creating today? I'd love to know. Tell me in the comments below. 

Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman is a Valuable Book of Patterns for Crocheters

I had this book on my Wish List for a while and I finally decided to go ahead and purchase it. I’m glad I did! This book contains 144 patterns for making a variety of crocheted motif shapes, which include:

• Circles
• Hexagons
• Triangles
• Squares
• Unusual Shapes 

The book is beautifully illustrated. The full-color photos demonstrate how each motif should look when finished. The patterns are easy to follow, even for the novice crocheter. The glossary of basic crochet stitches is invaluable for anyone learning or brushing up on their crochet skills.

I’m sure crafters will find tons of uses for these motifs. Potholders, blankets, clothing accessories and home décor items come to mind. I do a lot of art journaling and purchasing these kinds of motifs to include in my pages can get expensive. Making your own art journal embellishments is much more economical and can be easily coordinated to a page. I’m even planning to attach some to my canvas art.

At just 12.84, this book is an excellent value. The spiral binding makes it convenient when following patterns. Highly recommended!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

Want to Learn How to Crochet? Crochet For Beginners Has Something for Every Level of Crocheter

I was getting a little tired of downloading how-to books that talk about doing something, but don’t show readers exactly how to do it. Far too many guides don’t include photos or step-by-step instructions. Thank goodness Crochet for Beginners isn’t one of them.

I’m not a beginner at crochet. I’ve been crocheting since the age of ten or so, but I often find that books that are meant for beginners can also be useful for people with plenty of experience. The author starts with the basics, to include the “language” of crochet (abbreviations) and I was surprised that there were a few stitches I’d never heard of. The abbreviations included are definitely extensive. One section deals with a subject I’ve most definitely not mastered yet – Reading Diagrams. I admit this has always been confusing to me and the author has broken the process down beautifully. The crochet hook size and chart is extremely valuable, since they’re broken down into metric, US and UK sizes. In fact, the Materials and Tools Chapter is filled with tons of important information. 

The diagrams are clear and precise. Even the absolute beginner should have no trouble following the basic crochet stitches detailed in Chapter 3. There are plenty of instructional photos included throughout. There are several super easy projects for the beginner and expert alike. While it’s true you can sit and watch YouTube videos that teach you how to crochet, instructional books like this one can be an invaluable help when learning how to master a new craft. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in crochet!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

How To Line a Crochet Tote Bag Tutorial

© While They Play 

If you crochet, you know what a versatile craft it is. You can make practically anything in very little time. You probably also know that some crochet home dec and clothing items are more practical when they're lined with fabric. Fabric lining also allows you to add a touch of whimsy. Christmas stockings, tote bags, book covers, skirts and other items work nicely with coordinated fabric lining. However, there is definitely an art to adding a lining to crochet work. In fact, it can be downright maddening.



Not to worry, however. The While They Play blog has an excellent tutorial for getting the job done here:

TUTORIAL: LINING A CROCHETED BAG

The Ultimate Craft FREE Book

Thanks to Fave Crafts and Michael's Stores for creating another FAB and FREE craft book!

This book is packed with awesome projects and patterns. Something for every crafter, to include:

• Knitting
• Crocheting
• Paper Crafting
• Jewelry Making
• Fabric & Sewing
• Home Decorating
• Seasonal 

Download your copy and start crafting for the holidays now! 

*DIY Mom is not affiliated with Michael's Stores or Fave Crafts. I just love sharing valuable freebies whenever possible :)