New Poll at RoseRed Designs

I just wanted to let you all know that there is a new poll
over at RoseRed Designs.

Which Tutorials would you like to see?

I have several ideas for Tutorials and would LOVE your opinions on which ones you would like to see posted there. The poll is set up for multiple answers. Please feel free to check 'Other' and leave your own ideas in the comments section.

All ideas will be taken into consideration.

Thanx for taking the time to check it out.


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Free POD is now hosted at the RoseRed Designs blog

Just a quick reminder that the

free crochet and knitting pattern of the day

is now being hosted at my new blog RoseRed Designs.


Please remember to also 'Follow' or
subscribe to the RSS feed there so
you don't miss any of the new posts.

I have a ton of ideas for great content and
brand new tutorials in the works.

Things are going slowly right now as
I'm recovering from back surgery but this
quiet down time has given me the opportunity
to come up with some great ideas.

I hope to see all of you there.

~Michele
aka RoseRed

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Red Heart 75th Anniversary Sweepstakes

To find out more about

Red Heart's 75th Anniversary Sweepstakes

and how to enter please follow the link to

RoseRed Designs

Jimbo's hosting another hook contest!

Head on over to RoseRed Designs to find out
how to enter Jimbo's contest for this Valentine's hook!

Introducing RoseRed Designs-daily free pattern has moved there

I've been dreading this part but I guess it's time to make the announcement.


I'm sure many of you already know that I'm starting a new endeavor. It's called RoseRed Designs. I've already started my new blog, very soon I'll be opening my new Etsy store and hopefully Ravelry if we can get some *bugs* worked out of the system there.

ICD has been such an amazing learning process for me. I've met some wonderful people, I've learned so much about so many different things - it's going to be quite emotional for me to complete the change over.

Part of the change over includes letting you all know how to find me. So - this will be one of my last postings on Inspired Crochet Design. I do plan on leaving it up and running at least for a while. I've already began copying over the free patterns. Please let me know if there are any posts you would like to see over at RoseRed Designs.

I want to thank all of you for sticking with me over the last several years, not complaining too much about my earliest pattern designs and hope that you'll continue to 'hang out' with me over at RRD.

Not only do I have the crochet pattern of the day there - I also have the knitting pattern of the day there too. Some people just can't get enough yarn - it doesn't matter if it pointy stix or crooked ones.

So - without further ado - I introduce to you:

RoseRed Designs

Thoughts on the Feel the Wuv Heart Coaster

Coming back 2 years later to check over an old pattern that I wrote when I was just starting out designing and writing patterns was like WOW!

Feel the Wuv Heart Coaster

I did find a mistake and fixed it. In Round 4 it had said to 'skip Vst' which I changed to 'skip next 2 dcs'. It was nothing that someone that has experience crocheting couldn't follow but a new crocheter would be like "What Vst? Where?" So - I fixed it.

Looking at this today - it is a difficult pattern to follow. You need to trust in the pattern to tell you where to place your stitches. It does tell you exactly where to put the stitches.. I haven't made this since I wrote the pattern and I just made one up in about 10 minutes. I also think I've come a long way in creating tutorial pictures too.

You also need to know what the stitches are so that you can make them. I went in and labeled this an Intermediate Pattern. I love testing new techniques and learning new things but to be honest - there are easier heart patterns out there. If you're not crocheting at this level then please don't blame it on the pattern. I strongly urge you to try it tho - what's the worst that can happen?

May you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and have many hearts in your future.

Creation takes longer than Destruction

It's much faster to frog than it is to crochet.

It's just a sad, sad fact.


To Frog means to 'rip-it, rip-it, rip-it'

If only I could crochet and create the same
number of stitches that I can rip out in one hour.

Frogging, or ripping out our work, is just a sad fact of our craft. Designing, creating, following a pattern, free-forming - all the different and wonderful ways that we can create simply takes so much longer than destroying that creation.
Creation takes longer than destruction.

I understand the importance of frogging. Of ripping out all the way back to fix a mistake that has bearing on all of the rows or rounds that follow it. I understand the importance of 'doing it right'.
I also understand the importance of
perfection in any pattern I'm designing.

Just because I understand it doesn't mean that I like it!

I'm sure most of you that share in my love of crochet
understand exactly where I'm coming from.

Sadly, I have no eye candy to share today.

I had to frog a very large section of a piece that I thought was finished. Somehow - that's even worse than having to frog while it's still 'under construction.'

It is a learning process. It is part of the nature of designing.
If I want to give all of you the very best patterns that I can -
then this is a very necessary part of the creation of them.

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(ok - end of pity party - back to the crocheting!)