Christmas Tree Filet (small)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Finished size:
Approx. 7.5 inches sq

Materials:
76 yds Size 10 crochet cotton, white
#7 steel hook Boye or
#5 steel hook Bates

Pattern Notes:
Pattern is worked in 4edc blocks.
Entire pattern is worked in Edc.
Follow chart beginning at the bottom right corner of Row 1.
Chart is then followed back and forth until completed.

Pattern Stitches

Edc - Extended Double Crochet - yo and insert hook in specified st. yo and draw through st (3 loops on hook). yo and draw through 1 loop. Complete as you would a normal dc. (Yo and draw through 2 loops, yo and draw through remaining 2 loops).

Mesh Block - Edc, ch2, skip 2st’s, edc in next st. Each mesh block is made up of 4 st’s.
Blocks that are next to each other share the center st. Example - 2Mesh - edc, ch2, edc (shared), ch2, edc.

Solid Block - 4 edc. Each solid block is made up of 4st’s.
Blocks that are next to each other share the center st. Example - 2 Block - 7edc
Instructions:

Chain 83
Row 1 - edc in 9th chain from hook (1st mesh block).
*Ch2, skip next 2 st’s, edc in 3rd st* repeat across ( 25 Mesh Blocks)
Row 2 - ch 5, turn, skip next 2 st’s, edc in next st and across to complete last solid block.
ch2, skip 2 st’s, edc in last st.

Continue following chart through completion.

Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
For personal and charitable use.

Due to a family emergency

I will not be posting for a while.

Prayers are always appreciated.

See ya'll next month!

We have a winner!!!!!

Ladders of Love

named by :
sewmom

S&T Binkie Tethers

Just a couple more things for the baby shower.

New Poll & Results for favorite hook material

NEW POLL - VOTE NOW --->

Aluminum/steel
won with 75% of the vote!

This was our best poll yet with almost 60 votes!
************************************
NEW POLL
Fav things to crochet

ghans
doilies
ami's
wearables

S&T Filet Dragonfly

Don't forget to vote --->
Poll ends today!

That's a 16 x 20 inch frame the dragonfly is sitting in.

I made this for a dear friend of mine as my way of saying 'thank you'. She's in the middle of redecorating her kitchen in red and she put it right over the little breakfast nook table.

S&T Fall Leaves in thread & cotton

Don't forget to vote!!! ---->

Stats

#10 thread & steel hook sizes:
pale yellow - Bates #3 - 4 3/4"h x 4 1/2"w
orange - Bates # 5 - 4"h x 4"w
burgundy - Bates #7 - 3 1/4"h x 2 3/4"w

2 strands #10 thread & Bates #0 hook
multicolor - 5 3/4"h x 5"w

Sugar and Cream Cotton & Bates F hook
yellow hotpad - 10 1/4 "h x 8 1/4"w

***********************
I'll be making these in multicolored sets in cotton yarn for hotpads.
*****************************************************
Please understand that this is not my pattern.
Is is under copyright and as such I am unable to share it.

On the hook...

What's doing today? I finished the white blankie without a name. i went with a scallop border. I've gotten some really cute name suggestions here - it's going to be hard to pick just one! It's being tested as I type and I still need to take a better pic now that it's finished.

Some of you already know that my cousin is having a baby and we all know that babies mean Baby Showers and presents!!!!! YAY!!! Presents.

I'll be working on some baby stuff for a while. I just came up with a really cute Binky Tether and made a bunch of washcloths in different shapes. Right now I'm thinking about bibs - ducks, frogs, something with ears - it'll be interesting to see what I come up with.

I have a few small thread projects just waiting to be starched and some fall hotpads that I've been working on that need to be blocked. Ill be posting lots of new pics really soon.

Don't forget to vote in the poll! I'll be changing it every Monday!

New Poll & Last weeks results

Vote now --->

My favorite hook is made from:

aluminum
wood
plastic
*******************************************

Poll Results
Favorite Yarn to work with:

4ply ww acrylic
won by a landslide!

Toddler Blankie

STATS:
48 x 32 inches
before the border
it follows the 'golden rectangle rule'
*RHSS White and an I hook
Stitches: dc, dc cluster, fpdc, fptrc
*********
It's worked across the width so it can easily be
continued into a full size ghan.
*********
It's not finished or tested yet but I couldn't wait to share. The close-ups show the 'ladder stitch' which runs across both sides and the corner which shows the 'ladder stitch' and the 2 rows of dc which make up the bulk of the
body of the ghan.

This is my first ever pattern playing around with surface stitches for texture and I think I'm hooked.

CONTEST:
I need to come up with a cute and catchy name.
I'll give a free pattern of your choice to whoever comes up with the name that I choose for the blankie as my way of saying thank you.

My sad, sad ami bear

My sad little bear.

Don't get me wrong - I love ami's. I think they are just the cutest little things. My grandmother used to make me crocheted stuffed animals all the time. I still have Jiminy Cricket and Goldilocks & the 3Bears. She made them in dc - so not quite ami animals.

I made this for my DH.
He loves it.
He thinks it's adorable.

I think it's lopsided and falling over.

On the hook today

I'm working on a new blankie. My cousin is having a baby in February and her shower is December 1st. My husband thinks I should submit this pattern. I have to say, it is coming out beautifully. I'll post a pic soon.

I have a burgundy prayer shawl going for church. I found the pattern for this on AA's PoD. Of course, I just can't leave well enough alone - I had to play with it. I used a smaller hook and lots more chains across the bottom. It's really pretty and works up quickly enough.

Just finished a dragonfly filet for my best friend as a thank you. Now I just need to block it.

It seems like my Christmas list is getting longer by the day.

Amber's finally feeling better. Strep throat and 103* fever. That poor baby was miserable. It was hard to get much of anything accomplished this past weekend.

Anyhoo - I'll be posting pics as soon as I find my camera. I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached.

Poll Results for Boye or Bates

New Poll

The poll will be open for 1 week.
What's your favorite type of yarn?

ww acrylic like RH and Caron
designer yarn (fun fur/ribbon)
$$$ lys bought

*********************
Last week's poll:
Favorite Brand of Hook

Bates
wins with 56% of the votes.

Don't forget to vote!!!

There is one day left to vote in the poll --->

BOYE or BATES

What's your favorite hook brand?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you're in the mood for some incredible eye candy and some handmade hook drooling then bop on over to Jimbo's Front Porch and check out the hooks he has up for auction now.

He's also asking for opinions on a new hook style he's come up with. Go check it out and let him know what you think.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just had to share one of my favorite pics of my Pookydog. Yes, that's a tutu he's wearing. Amber loves to play dress up with him and he's always ready to play.

After he get's all dressed up, he'll stand up and dance in circles for his cookie. He kind of reminds me of Scooby Doo - he'll do just about anything for a Scooby Snack lolol.

Camo Babyghan

Camo Babyghan
Measures 42 inches from point to point.
I used a Bates I hook,
Red Heart Camo and Black
Bordered in Crab St.

I made this for a young couple in my church.
They just had their baby a couple weeks ago.
Fortunately, the Daddy was home to see their baby born.
He's on his way back to Iraq next week.

I think baby blankets are a great addition to any Prayer Shawl Ministry.

It may not seem the most 'appropriate baby blankie'. Most people think pastels and dainty things but I'm thinking ahead to the rough and tumble toddler years.

Also - instead of cutting the yarn for the different colored rounds, I carried it behind the st's. I think it gives it a little more strength and sturdiness -
but that's just me.

New Poll

The poll will be open for 1 week.
What's your favorite brand of hook?

Boye or Bates?

*********************
Last week's poll:
Favorite Hook Size

G, H & I
tied for favorites!

Brilliant Cross in 10 & 20

Brilliant Cross
in 8 inch frame

The small cross on the left I made for my husband in size 20 bedspread thread and my #7 Bates (#10 Boye) steel hook.
It measures 5 1/2 inches sq.

The larger cross on the right I made for my father-in-law for his birthday in size 10 bedspread thread and my #5 Bates (#7 Boye) steel hook. It measures 7 1/2 inches sq.

The pattern can be found at my Etsy store:
Inspired Crochet Design

Pocketbooks

Here's a few of the pocket books I've made. I use the small torq. one with the rose brooch every day. The peach and torq. with the elbow handles went to my MIL and her daughter 'stole' them both. The beige went to my Mom and she uses it everyday. It's her fav.

Business Card Holder

Here's my latest. I started it last night and just finished it up with the button.

It's made with #10 thread and my #5 Bates steel hook. It's made in one piece. I worked the bottom in 2 rows and then worked in rounds up to the flap. It's Iris St. on the front, back and flap and dc on the sides. It holds about 30 business cards comfortably.

Woven Bath Set

Here's my Woven look Bath Set. I think it's really neat. It's all made with fpdc & bpdc st's to get the raised effect.

STATS:
Peaches & Cream crochet cotton
G hook
St's: fpdc, bpdc, dc, sc, rev sc and ch.

Washcloth - 8" sq.
Soap Saver 4 x 6 "
Back Scrubber 4 x 13"
4 x 44" with straps

The washcloth and back scrubby have the raised bars on both sides for washing. The soap saver has the bars on the front side only so there is room for the soap on the inside. The straps for the back scrubber are 2 strands chained with an I hook. They're long enough to comfortably hold onto to reach your back.

Gingham WIP

Well, here it is - my first ever gingham!

Each block is 3 inches square.
Gauge is 10 dc's x 5 rows, J hook
It's worked entirely in dc.
It is 45 inches across with 15 color blocks.

RHSS Hunter Green, Light Sage & Soft White

The top half is the front side of the ghan. I did this carrying the strand that was not being used to reduce ends. You can just about see the carried strand on the wrong side
(the bottom of the pic)


Anything to get out weaving in ends, ya know?!?

I'll be getting the pattern written up here soon and I'll be needing a pattern tester or 2 before I publish the pattern. (Ooooh - I just love that word!)

Green/Cream Prayer Shawl

I just finished my latest prayer shawl for my church. It's Hunter Green, Light Sage and Soft White. I used a J hook and a MAM pattern in my favorite shell st. (2dc, ch2, 2dc)


It's from an afghan pattern, I just kept going around until it was 65 inches from point to point and about 17 inches wide.

Finally back to crocheting - YAY!

It's been a very busy and learning intensive few weeks setting up my etsy shop, creating patterns and just too much running around in general.

I started a beautiful shell (2dc, ch2, 2dc) MAM the beginning of this week. I didn't care much for how it was turning out as a ghan so I ended up turning it into a prayer shawl.

It seems to be that I'm the only one crocheting for this at church. That's OK tho - as long as I can keep up on the demand and hopefully have a few extra for those 'just in case' times - it's all good.

Now I'm onto Christmas presents. I started a Gingham Ghan last night. As usual, I couldn't find a pattern that I liked and I dread sewing squares together so I'm attempting to work it in one piece. It's really not that bad since I'm only carrying 1 color and there's only 2 colors in each row. This one is for my SIL in Hunter Green, Light Sage and Soft White.

I can hardly wait to get enough of it done to take some pics and share this. I'm propbably going to post this as a free pattern since there are already so many gingham look ghans free already.

The best part of this pattern is that it can easily be converted to a baby ghan just by stopping halfway thru. :D

Hopefully, I'll have some pics to post later today!

Butterfly & Lighthouse - 2 new patterns!

Here are 2 of my latest patterns. the Butterfly is, of course, in the 16x14 Framed Series, named for the bordered lacet frame that the picture sits in.

The Lighthouse is the 1st in a new series - Framed 8" SQ. It is perfect for these awesome 8 inch square picture frames I found and fell completely in love with!

The stitches included in both of these patterns are solid & mesh blocks, lacet st. and long st.

You can find the patterns listed at my Etsy store
Inspired Crochet Design

My 1st e-boolket Monograms A - Z in Olde English

Monograms A - Z in Old English is a 28 page e-booklet in PDF format. It includes written instructions and 26 filet crochet charts. Each chart is on a separate page for easy printing. We all know ink is expensive.

Stitches included in these patterns are solid & mesh blocks, lacet st. and long st. Stitch instructions are included.

You can also purchase individual Monograms in Olde English.

Rambin Roses - My Wedding Shawl

Many, many thanks to Katchkan, Kathryn White, for letting me pattern test this exquisite shawl for my wedding.

This is the largest thread piece I have ever made. Kathy creates the most incredibly beautiful doilies, shawls, tablecloths - everything thread. Her work is amazing and she is just the sweetest woman!

You can find quite a few of her 'Show & Tells' at
C'ville's Show & Tell Thread.

FREE PATTERN - Chromium Star Blanket (offsite)

This absolutely GORGEOUS

Chromium Star Blanket

is designed by none other than our Laura4200 at C'ville.

Click here for the
FREE PATTERN!

The Chromium Star is the only Starghan I've seen that
does NOT have the standard ripple 'holes' in it!
It's beautiful and SOLID!

*************************************************************************

I was fortunate enough to be one of Laura's pattern testers and I can tell you that this ghan is so EASY to make!
Now, what makes this ghan unique and solid is her use of the ADC, Adjacent Double Crochet, a brand new stitch (as far as I know, I've never seen it used before) that she came up with. The directions for this stitch may look a little confusing at first but it is so simple.

Laura's Tutorial for the ADC
Laura's posted some awesome and helpful pics in her TUT.

* * * * *
In my words:
The adc shell is a point/peak or corner shell.
Instead of using (2dc, ch2, 2dc in ch sp),
you'll work it in this manner:

adc shell - 2dc in *ch sp (or adc) ,
dc in the base of the dc you just made
(where it wraps around the previous row), 2dc.

* In the following rounds,
work the adc shell in the adc of the previous row.
* * * **

The adjacent double crochet takes the place of the ch2 in the shell. It adds enough height to compensate for not using the standard ch2.

*****************************************************************************
So, if you're in the mood to see some beautiful work, and she does lots more than just crochet, then go check out her blog A Whole Load of Craft.
*****************************************************************************

Brilliant Cross in size #20 thread!

Stats:
Aunt Lydia's Crochet Cotton Thread #20
Bates #10 steel hook.

It measures 6 inches sq.

It's matted in an 8 inch square frame.


This was a birthday present for my hubby.

The pattern can be found at

Inspired Crochet Design

My ETSY Store is finally OPEN!

It's taken a few weeks but my Etsy Store
Inspired Crochet Design
is officially open!!!

I am so excited and nervous all at the same time.

Right now there are 30 some listed patterns.
I didn't want to open my store with only a few.
I still have a few patterns that are being tested and when they come in
I'll be adding them to the line up.

At the moment, all the patterns listed are Filet Croche, but with Christmas coming, I'll be going into a gift pattern making frenzy.
I have so many ideas, it's hard to keep them all straight.

I can tell you that there will be another full size afghan pattern coming soon and multiple patterns for personal and bath sets coming up. Beyond that -
I don't know - I'll keep you posted!

It just amazes me how much I love designing!

Christmas is coming!

I cheat every year! I pick one project to make and everybody gets one. This year is going to be bath sets. I'm going to fill a basket with a washcloth, soap-saver, back scrubby and assorted soaps and stuff.

I'll post pics as I make them. I just started a set done in front and back post dc's. It looks really cool so far.


Onto other news - I'll be spending tomorrow putting patterns up at my Etsy store.

FREE PATTERN - Lumberjack Flannelghan

This pattern was originally published at Crochetville in the Lumberjack Flannelghan CAL. You'll find a long list of completed Flannelghans with links in the 1st post. If you're in need of inspiration or color combination ideas - you'll find lots of them here.

For those of you who know Jimbo - our resident hook maker at C'ville - you can check out his flannelghan at his blog, Jimbo's Front Porch. For those of you that don't know Jimbo, please take this opportunity to find out all about him.

Size - 4 1/2 ft x 6 ft
Materials - 2 colors WW yarn - 5-7 pounds, N hook
Gauge - Each strip is 7 blocks of color long.
10" across = 17dc
10" up&down = 13 rows

NOTES: Afghan is made holding 2 strands of yarn together
Afghan is made of 5 strips whipstitched together with a border crocheted around it.

Directions -

Strip 1 - make 3
ch 19, dc in 4th ch from hook,
Rows 1 - 13 - 2 strands blue dc across - (17dc)
Rows 14 - 26 - 1 strand blue, 1 strand orange - dc across
continue alternating colors until strip measures 7 colors blocks long. tie off.

Strip 2 - make 2
Block 1 - varigated
Block 2 - orange
continue alternating colors until strip measures 7 colors blocks long. tie off.

Joining - Whipstitch strips together.
- It may be simpler to sc a round around the strip prior to sewing strips.
- If you tie the corners of the blocks together before you begin stitching it will help keep the rows in line)
-Refer to pic for color placement.

Border -
Round1 - in blue - hdc in each st on top and bottom.
2hdc in each st along the sides. (The dc is a tall stitch so it takes 2 stitches in each for the border)
Corner shell - hdc,ch1, hdc in each corner
R 2 - in white - *V-st (dc,ch1,dc), skip next 2 stiches* repeat around entire afghan.
Corners - Vst, ch1, Vst
R 3-4 - in blue - dc in each st around
Corners - dc,ch1,dc
R 5 - reverse sc (crabstitch) around
or sc around depending on skill level

Copyright 2007
All rights Reserved. For personal and private use only.
Items are never to be sold on the internet.

Just want to say Thank You!

I just wanted to say

THANK YOU

to everyone that has contacted me for my charity patterns.
It is such a beautiful thing to do for others.

It amazes me to think of all the people that are being prayed for and remembered. All of the people that can wrap themselves up in or hold in their hands a tangible reminder that someone cared enough about them are blessed. All of those that make these blessings possible are blessed.
My only hope is that these blessing abound without end.

I want to remind everyone that has received the charity patterns to share them. Print them out and share them with your friends, email them to anyone you know that has a need for them.

Let us share in the joy of
giving without expectation of receiving.

Filet Prayer Cloth (5"sq)

I designed and made this pattern last night. It worked up really fast into a 5 inch square with #10 crochet cotton thread and my handy, dandy Bates #5 steel hook (you can also use your trusty #7 Boye steel hook).

The Prayer Shawl Ministry at church is in it's infancy. So far I've made 3 shawls and they've already been given to those in need. I'm just about finished with the 4th shawl and my fingers are tired! Yes, I've recruited others to help with the crocheting, but until we have a solid foundation and extra shawls already made, we need something for right now.

This pattern can be worked up in an evening instead of the few days it takes for a shawl.

The Pastor's at church already have a Prayer Cloth Ministry in place. For those of you not familiar with this - it corresponds with *Acts 19:12. Anointed/blessed/prayed over pieces of cloth are taken to the sick.

This FREE pattern is available now. You can email me at InspiredCrochet (at) bellsouth.net and I will send it out to you in PDF format.

* 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. ACTS 19:12 NIV

My 1st Custom Piece

This is my first BIG custum piece that I made for my church.

I can't believe how much I LOVE designing!!!!!

It's framed in a 20x30" poster frame with about 1 1/2 " around.

It was made with #10 crochet cotton and my #5 Bates steel hook.

Pink Survivor's Ribbon Shawl

My darling hubby finally uploaded the pics from his camera. This is the Pink Survivor's Shawl I made for a woman in my church. She is doing very well since her surgery.

FREE PATTERN - Survivor's Ribbon Shawl - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Shawl measures approx. 20x60 inches
I or J hook depending on personal tension and preference
w/ 4ply WW acrylic yarn

Shawl can be worked in either dc or edc.

This 6 page pattern is available in PDF format *free*
for anyone who has a need for it.

The pattern includes charts and instructions for both shawls,
Prayer Shawl Ministry Information and
Prayer and Care Instructions
that can be printed out to be given with the Prayer Shawl.

These shawls can be worked in any color.
Awareness Ribbon colors are listed in the pattern
for your convenience.

DOWNLOAD
AVAILABLE
HERE

**********************
Copyright 2007.
This pattern is copyrighted for personal & charitable use only. This pattern may be freely distributed in it's entirety in any format (digital or written). This pattern and it's derivative works are never to be sold for personal profit.

***************************************************************

Some of you may know that I've been working on creating a Pink Ribbon Shawl for a woman in my church. She had her surgery yesterday and is doing great! Her shawl will be delivered to her this morning.

As it turns out, I finished the pattern and the shawl just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a free pattern. It is for personal & charitable use.

Copyright Decision

I've been thinking on this for quite a while. A lot of designers (including me on my first few patterns) will tell you in their Copyright that the pattern is for personal and charitable use, that the finished products are not to be sold.

So I've been thinking about things like -

~ What am I really going to do with my patterns?
~ Do I really care what people do with my patterns after they make them?
~ How many times did I wish that a pattern didn't have that in the copyright?
~ How many patterns did I NOT buy because of that in the copyright?
~ I'm in Florida - is it really going to hurt me if someone in Michigan or Washington State or even Australia makes one of my patterns and makes a few bucks off of it? The answer is no.

I'm designing for the love of it. I love that people love my patterns enough to want to make them. I love that people love my patterns enough that they want to buy them and display them in their homes. Is there really any reason to not share this God given talent? No.

I'll be opening an Etsy store in the near future selling patters, custom made patterns and finished products. I'm also thinking about putting some finished products on Ebay - I'm not really sure if I want to. With the prices that I've seen things going for on Ebay it may not be worth it. I need to think about that some more.

So, for now - the only restriction that I'm going to put on my patterns is *No internet sales*.

I'll be listing free patterns for charitable causes with the stipulation of *For personal and charitable use only*.

Right now I'm working on a Breast Cancer Ribbon Shawl. The ribbons are worked sideways on the narrow side so that when it's worn they'll be upright. I'll be making the pattern with and without Crosses. The woman that I'm making this for is having a mastectomy next week. Inspiration comes from all places. I had a hysterectomy a few years ago and that was horrible enough. At least that was on the inside - I cannot even begin to imagine how awful it is to have your breasts removed. This is the very least that I can do for her.

When the pattern is tested I'll be posting it to share with anyone who has a need to make one. My only hope is that no one decides to make a profit over this horrible misfortune.

I'll also be sharing my Brilliant Cross pattern for free for anyone who loves it enough to want to make it.

A few designs

These are from the software designing program my wonderful hubby bought me. I can't wait to post pics of them made in thread!

The patterns are being tested so when those results come in they'll be available!

I'm really looking forward to getting into Custom Designed Patterns. Tell me what you want and I'll design the pattern for you!

I am just so excited!

All images (and accompanying patterns) are Copyrighted for personal and charitable use.

My 1st Pattern is being tested!!!!!

This is soooooooo exciting! I can hardly wait to see how it comes out. I have just completely fallen in love with filet crochet and designing.

I have so many ideas spinning round and round.

One of my ideas is Custom Pattern Designing. With all the talent I see everyday at Crochetville people don't need me to make the actual crocheted piece for them.

I just finished a big piece for my church. I hope to get it photographed tomorrow.

I'm also just started a name piece for my hubby! (I love saying 'husband'! Must be a newlywed thing!)

Let's not forget about International Crochet Day tomorrow. Check out Jimbo's Front Porch for his post and contest results!

International Crochet Day - September 12

September 12 is
1st Annual International Crochet Day

Thanx to our dear friend and resident hook maker at Crochetville, Jimbo,
we now have our very own holiday!

International Crochet Day will be a special day for all of us to pass on our love of the art.

So many wonderfully talented people are jumping on the bandwagon. Some are starting Crochet Clubs, organizing Crochet-Ins, scheduling lessons, making greeting cards, committing to ROAK's (Random Acts of Kindness), devoting the day to Charity Work for many wonderful causes, and my own contribution - Teach a Kid to Krochet.

Everyone who actively participates in promoting this special new holiday (and remembers to enter the drawing) will be entered into a drawing for a handmade Jimbo Hook. The most incredible handmade hooks I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Personally, I already own 3 but my goal is to have a complete set someday.

Check out Jimbo's hooks at Jimbo's Front Porch.
And while you're visiting -
check out the porch that hooks built!