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.

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

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

Ladybug ghan in Scooby Doo colors

This is my ladybug square pattern. I think it's just so cute. Anyways - the ghan was a gift for a dear friend. She LOVES it! It lives in the living room. That's her couch it's spread out on.

Lots of practice squares getting it just right went with the ghan for coasters or pillows or whatever she'd like to make from them.

Just another shot. I gotta say - it's WAY bright for my taste.

I used my Bates J hook with Red Heart and Caron Pounders.

They work ok together. The Caron yarn is a little thicker
but overall - it's ok together.

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

Baby ghans for Christmas

Yes - I've actually crocheted and took pictures! It's been a while. You guys know that I blog in phases. Unfortunately, I wrapped the other presents before I thought to take pictures but at least I got the baby ghans.

This is your basic 12 point round ripple. The color combos are endless. The edging possibilities are endless. I prefer to make a nice tight edging on baby ghans. This way they can hold up to some abuse. This one has a tri-color rope.



Another one for one of the guys at work. Another basic 12 point RR. This one is done in 2 strands and the shaded 'monet' technique.

My newest baby. The 5-10 point Starburst Round Ripple.
If you like it the pattern can be found on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59553206/5-10-point-starburst-round-ripple

Make paper snowflakes online - share with friends!

It's that time of year again!

Let's make SNOWFLAKES!



If you want to look for mine use the search function for

ROSERED in FL

5-10point STARBURST Round Ripple Pattern up for sale.

Hey guys. I know it's been a very long time since I posted. I haven't been crocheting much lately. I do have a new for sale pattern for ya'll tho. Hope you like it! You can find it @ my Etsy store.

5-10 point STARBURST Round Ripple

~

Hey guys! I know, I know - I've neglected my blog for far too long.

I've also neglected taking pics of my finished projects too. Life's been crazy hectic lately. Anyways - I thought I'd share some of my FOs that I actually remembered to take pictures of.

The Butterfly Hat that turned into
The Pony Tail Hat

The doily I made from a really good picture!

This was a gift for JoBug. It was drying
(didn't want starch on the counter)
Never did get a pic of it after tho.

RR for Mom.
Sensations Boucle & 2 strands of RH
N hook

Serafina Prayer Shawl for a
dear friend from church.

Corrections made to Diamond Ghan Pattern

I just wanted to apologize to anyone who has tried this pattern and found it difficult.

There was a typo brought to my attention this morning and I am happy to tell you that it has been corrected.

Please remember that this is an older pattern of mine and my pattern writing skills have much improved since then.

Diamond Ghan

~

Baby girl round ripple w scallop edging

1 Caron Pounder in Lilac
3 Red Heart Super Savers in Baby Pink (just a little bit more than 2)
J Bamboo Handle Bates Hook (which is more of an I 1/5 than a J)

Ghan measures 42 inches from point to point.

The round ripple.
It's just a round ripple pattern. Use which ever one makes you happy. ( I do 2 rounds of 2dc shell and 1 round of Vst) you can fudge this at the end if you don't have the right counts. I turn every single row until the border.

When I had 10 dc between the ch2 and the valley I switched colors
Starting with 11 dc from ch2 to valley - 1 row pink
1 row purple
3 rows pink
1 row purple
1 row pink

Then I did 3 rounds of purple (17 dcs from ch2 to valley) and did a boring old scallop st with a picot in the points.

Border Round 1
If you can't figure out where to start it where your yarn ends up then start in the point.
-attach w sc in ch2 sp, (sk 1 dc, in next dc work 5dc, sk 1dc, sc in next dc) 4 times,
- 4dc in valley sp, sk 1 dc, sc in next dc, repeat 4 scallops up the other side.
- in ch2 sp work (sc, ch3p, sc)
- at end, sl st in 1st sc to join

Border Round 2 - do not turn
slst into 2nd dc, ch1, sc in same st, 3sc in center dc, sc in next 2 dcs,

- to work scallops - sc in first 2 dc, 3sc in center dc, sc in last 2 dc, slst around sc into previous round
to work valley and make popcorn (you will have slst'd in the last sc on the side) insert hook into front of 1st and back of last dc, yo and draw thru, slst around sc into previous round and continue working next 3 scallops.

- to work point - (last scallop)
sc in 1st 2dc, 3sc in center dc, sc in next dc, ch2, sc in loop of picot, ch3P, sc in loop of picot again, ch2, skip 1st dc, sc in next, 3sc in center dc and continue on as a normal scallop.

... and the winner is ...

... as chosen by Jimbo.

The best name for a hook in production is.....

The HookAwl

dobertoni is the winner!

~~~~~~~~~

Since her entry was sent in by email because of blogger's problem with being viewed in IE on some computers I will be contacting her by reply and letting her know to give jimbo her home address so she can collect her prize!

This was so much fun. I hope I get to run another contest with jimbo again someday.

Hook naming contest is closed!

I'll be working with jimbo,

(if he can tear himself away from
his new pooping apprentice)

to pick the winner.

`

only 3 days left to enter the hook give-away!

Just a quick reminder that there's 3 days left
to enter to win the new Jimbo hook!

~

Problems accessing Blogger

It has been brought to my attention that there some people have been having a problem accessing my blog while using IE. This is a known problem with Blogger and there is nothing that I can do to fix it.

For the Hook Naming Contest, if you know of anyone who is having a problem accessing my blog, please let them know that they can contact me thru my ICD email and make sure you give them the link to the full size picture so they can see what up for the winning. I will post in the comments for them. Their hook name will be entered into the contest.

(Link to full size pic)

I apologize for any inconvenience, I'm doing my best to work around it. I will reply to your email and let you know that your name has been added to comments.

I can be contacted at

inspiredcrochet (at) bellsouth dot net

-

The Naming Contest has begun!!!!!

(click on pic to see it full size)

... and this is the winner's new Pokey Hook,
Jabber the Hook, RoseRed's Pokey?????


Come on guys -
we really need some help picking out
a name for this new style of fabric hook.


It started as an idea and bloomed into reality.
It took a couple tries before we got it just right.
Even took a broken one so we knew what wouldn't work.

This new style of hook has been tested by
yours truly with the 'felt test'.
If it'll go thru a piece of felt and slide
back out in one piece it'll survive
any dishcloth or fleece blanket
that you put in front of it.

Just be careful because you can hurt yourself on that hook.

Hook Stats:

The handle is Padauk and
the hook itself is Bamboo.

It's an H and is 6" long.

Shank (including point) is 3 3/8".

(I'll be posting pics soon of some different styles of hooks
that you can order directly from Jimbo.)

He's even making one from his chopsticks so that
the proceeds go to his FARA fund.


Contest Rules:

Leave your ideas in the comments section.

You can leave up to 5 different name ideas.

Contest will end Midnight, February 19.

The winner will be chosen by Jimbo and me.
Whichever name we like the best will be the winner.

You will need to send Jimbo an email
with your address so that he can
mail out the hook to the
winning name giver.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jimbo can be found on his front porch up
at Deadman's Crick:
Jimbo's Front Porch

~

Crochet Games of Ancient Greece begin Friday!

Amy and Donna are at it again over at
Crochetville.

It's time for the:
2010 Crochet Games
of
Ancient Greece

They begin with the
Opening Ceremonies on Friday 2/12

and end with the
Extinguishing of the Flame
Closing Ceremonies Sunday 2/28

That gives us 16 days to complete a
project that is a personal challenge.
You can compete individually or with a
Team of Awesome Cheerleaders.

Check out the Rules and General Info
for more information and to join.

Last time I took a Silver Medal at the Games. I didn't quite make it. I finished my giant round ripple with points a day and a half late. I did, however win the awesome drawing prize from Coats & Clark which was an awesome Redheart Tote filled with a new pattern book and the
yarn to make my pattern of choice.

So, come on out and join. It's tons of fun, lots of chatting and a great excuse to crochet your heart out without getting grief that everything else is lacking for those 16 days. heehee

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