Needlecrafts - Knit,Crochet | Canada Day Accessories

"I am Canadian", a popular Molson beer ad in 2000 starred a man named Joe: an average Canadian, standing in a movie theatre, with a cinema screen behind him showing different images relating to Canadian culture.
This year on July 1st is Canada's 150th birthday and I am a proud Canadian.
The family will be up north at the cottage celebrating my brother-in-law's milestone birthday and a nephew's engagement. Good times!
The project patterns in this post show off the flag and the beautiful maple leaf.
A coffee sleeve for our famous "Timmies" to enjoy with Timbits on the way up to the cottage.
A beanie to wear on boat rides and cooler evenings and an Ipad cover.
Small quick projects to inspire you to stitch some Canadian pride.

Click on images of past posts featuring easy sweater patterns for beginners

Top 20 Posts | Click on image below for posts

Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

Needlecrafts - Crochet Happy Baby Blankets

Canadians love their cottages and the summer trek "up north". Even though my husband and I have never owned a cottage, we are lucky enough to be in a large family and have friends where many opportunities come our way to enjoy the "cottage culture". This is a perfect time to enjoy reading a good mystery novel (I love them) and working on small portable crafts.
Making squares of joyful colors is indeed the life, sitting on a dock, sipping on wine and catching up on news. In the dead of winter these little blasts of color will be cheerful, sunny and welcome.
Pick the brightest shades, kids love them and are instantly attracted to saturated color.
Choose from all the simple shapes. Make a large granny square or eye catching bullseye squares. It's all good!
Read further for ideas, free patterns and tutorials. Helpful videos also will help you to make that happy blanket.

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Needlecrafts - Crochet, Messenger Bag

After six years of solid posting, this break was certainly welcome.
Posting is a joy, exploring the web for new ideas for crafting and being able to provide free patterns to support those designs.
Taking time to recharge one's batteries is also vital for maintaining the creativity involved.
The decision to create a collection of crochet patterns has been on my mind for some time.
Even though I enjoy working and designing knit, crochet and needlepoint, I decided to start with crochet designs.
This undertaking takes time, discipline and energy which is why my posting has been somewhat sporadic.
In the meantime I'm posting a free pattern for a messenger bag, which I find to be one of the most useful bags to own.
You will note the shoulder strap is not crocheted although you could work one up easily.
In previous posts I've mentioned how much I love thrifting so this happens to be a strap from a thrifting expedition. We're lucky in this city to have so many large thrift stores such as Value Village and Talize.
The strap cost me all of 3 bucks, a bargain.
The button is vintage, again part of my vast collection of buttons.

Make your new spring bag out of the suggested yarn or any bulky yarn you like. Enjoy!

Video Tutorial | Front Post Single Crochet Stitch

Click on images of past posts featuring different styles ofbags

Top 20 Posts | Click on image below for posts

Happy Crocheting!

Needlecrafts - Crochet, Modern Fair Isle

Vogue Knitting Magazine, Fall 2016 | available at most news stands and here

Beanie, cowl and mitt set | free patterns available here

Fair Isle is traditionally thought of as knitted sweaters in wonderful stripes of colors either in part or covering the whole garment . The latest fall issue of Vogue Knitting has taken the fair isle technique and given the featured designs a modern twist. This issue is one knitters will be sure to keep in their library. However, as much as I love knitting, I am an avid hooker and find, for the most part, crocheters don't get many designs with this technique. Read on lovers of crochet because I have found designs you will surely approve of and definitely want to try. Remember, this technique is not for beginners and I have included a library of helpful videos and links to teach and help you understand fair isle crochet. In the same vein is intarsia or tapestry crochet which applies to shapes and using bobbins of yarn across the row. If you are unsure of tackling this technique, don't despair. Included are a cardigan, pullover and hat that uses a lovely texture stitch that looks like fair isle. There are lots of helpful videos, articles and lovely, free design patterns to try. Hopefully you will be as inspired as I was putting this post together !

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Needlecrafts - Crochet, Tapestry Technique

Dishcloths | free tutorial available here

Working with different colors in crochet can be easily achieved with stripes, working separate pieces in different colors. Working shapes or geometric patters such as circles, triangles or image shapes is a different story. Much like fair isle or intarsia knitting, you carry yarn in back or work with different color bobbins. Geometric patterns are so much a trend right now in home decor. The simplest circle or triangle can be worked with maximum effect. Retro picture images are also very popular. Think background in color tapestry and making the project 3-dimensional with added embellishment. Hopefully you will be inspired by the many ideas, helpful tutorials and videos to get you started coloring your world!

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Needlecrafts - Crochet, Lover's Knot Stitch

Large image | free pattern available here Inset image | pattern available for purchase here

How many times have you gotten ready for a summer function or you are going out to dinner wishing you had a special shawl you could wrap around you. Something a bit glamorous, definitely feminine in a soft, whisper of color with just enough shimmer or sparkle to make you feel very special. When I saw several examples of these shawls, I thought I would make one for our trip this coming September. Light as a cloud, it would not crease and would provide that finishing touch for our evening dinners and strolls. The turquoise kid mohair with the slight glimmer of sequins, that was the style that caught my eye. Possibly in a rich cream, honey or melon. Even the ribbons look fabulous, the loose stitch allowing the yarn to open up and show off the color in it's entire width. Think about bulky yarns for a more casual, transparent look. Using a large hook makes the project go faster and allows the yarn to "breathe". There are several free patterns, the main shapes being a triangle and a rectangle. Another great weekend project either for your staycation in the backyard or for the cottage!

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Needlecrafts - Crochet, Corner Granny Squares

Mitered Corner Granny Square Vest | Let's Knit Series

Granny squares in any shape or form are fun to look at and try to crochet. The inspiration for this post is a mitered granny square meaning that it starts from a corner and works out diagonally. This particular design has longer straps but I think I would make a bigger square and add just enough for the shoulders. There is a step by step tutorial that I worked out to begin the design in the inspiration. For the tradionalists, I've included a more common mitered pattern, which really starts with a small square. Great way to use up small amounts of yarn and better still, a portable and easy project for my holiday in Halifax!

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Needlecrafts - Crochet, Bagging Scraps of Fabric

Inspirational images | Pinterest

The past three months have been extremely busy with me getting back to designing crochet patterns. Posting has been somewhat erratic as the process of getting creative and educational craft posts ready takes a lot of energy. Happily, this will be corrected as the patterns start to become completed to my satisfaction. It's wonderful when life comes full circle - I am back to designing, which is my first love but (with a big sigh!) there's a learning curve once again to be disciplined in my work. This particular post highlights how I feel about certain designs - Daniela Gregis bags are so creative and colorful, they make you smile. Precious is not a word you would use in describing these bags but make no mistake they are heirlooms. Recycling is definitely something to consider when you decide to make one of these bags- old jean shirts, sheets, fabric you've hoarded. There's no mystery as Gregis uses very basic patterns for these bags. A small crocheted rug or a larger basket can become a special market bag you'll be proud to carry. Read further for inspiration, free patterns for guidance, helpful tutorials and videos to get you started.

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Needlecrafts - Knit, Crochet - Cold Shoulder trend

All images above | style.com and pinterest

Every woman young or old, at least all the ones I've ever encountered and spoken to has some part(s) of their body they are not comfortable exposing. My problem area or at least in my mind has always been my upper arms, right back to my younger days. Cap, elbow length or short sleeves are pretty much what I wear, although sleeveless under shrugs has been my uniform of late. Of course the runway fashion, can appear a little over the top, but really even those are watered down when sold to different boutiques and department stores. Trends are for inspiring and usually trickle down to wearable styles, but the sizzle of the runway is so much fun. This is why the "Cold Shoulder" trend makes so much sense. The upper arm is covered but the peek-a-boo opening in the seam can be sexy or at least feminine. Please be sure to see the free patterns after the jump, knit and crochet patterns, basic "T" shapes with shoulder seams. The lacy knit pattern takes care of two trends- open shoulders and lace effects. The crochet pattern is striped, another spring trend. These are basic shapes if you eliminate the patterning and decide to work with a solid color or color block. Also, think of this as a stash buster, the back worked in one color and the front divided into two or even three colorways. Have fun thinking up ways to design your own spring fashion....the basics are there for you to experiment with.

All images above | style.com and pinterest

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Needlecrafts - Crochet, Wavy Ripple Stitch

Inspirational image | Pinterest

Colorful and stylish is the inspiration above. A basic garment with ripple yoke and hem edgings finish the garment with texture and color. Note the yoke has stripes of color and the hem in the same shade as the main body, bringing the attention to the face and not the hips. In my experience, whenever you thought of crochet ripple or chevron stitch patterns you envisioned afghan or baby blanket patterns. The wavy edge it created became an ideal finishing element for adding tassel fringes. Different stitch patterns such as lacy or granny stitch types were also great for using up different colors and textures of yarn. If it was a rectangle, it was easy but shaping into a garment was another story altogether. So many designs for wraps, ponchos and shrugs are made up of rectangles. It's a shame if you limit working this interesting pattern to blankets. Straightening out the wavy edge is easy (read further for a helpful video which shows you how). Spring into the new season with a colorful poncho. There are several styles from which to choose along with smaller accessories, ideal for a beginner. Read further for patterns, helpful tutorials, ideas and videos to get you started.

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Needlecrafts - Knit, Crochet - Rectangle Ponchos

Garter fringe knit poncho| free pattern available here
Crochet stripe poncho| free pattern available here

At this time of year I feel like cocooning and binging on T.V.programmes I missed or sporadically watched. Case in point, "Mad Men" and now "Downton Abby". It's great to watch each season as one big movie. What a treat! Of course that doesn't interfere with my knitting or crochet but it's always better to have extremely easy projects. As you get involved, patterns get mixed and before you know it you are ripping back a few rows. The featured pattern in this post is perfect - 2 rectangles to knit and/or crochet, a good way to even practise new stitch patterns. There's not much pattern here to think about, thankfully. So get out all the odds and ends or take advantage of the great sales on yarn and start creating!

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Needlecrafts - Crochet, Beginning to Cable

Taupe headband | free pattern available here
Black hat | free pattern available here
Pink hat | free pattern available here
Bow Pattern - be sure to read complete tutorial | here

Cables in crochet can be quite simple and easy to understand. Unfortunately, so many patterns, especially afghan or throw patterns have complex combinations which, quite frankly, can be scary. When you break down the individual patterns, some are less intimidating. Another reason to look at throw patterns for inspiration. The simple bow cable is easy to make and great for embellishing other projects you may have made. Practice makes perfect as they say. Swatches are terrific for trying out a new stitch as you can see by the brown swatch I made taking a simple 4 stitch cable and working it into an uncomplicated pattern. Helpful videos and a step by step tutorial are featured further on to walk you through the front and back post stitches and how to work the front cross of the cable. Gifts for the holidays are the perfect way to perfect your crochet skills with quick to crochet accessories and how to get a new twist on the simple cable.

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Needlecrafts - Knit, Crochet - Head Bumps

All inspirational images above | Pinterest

Talk about standing a head above everybody. These beanies or toques are definitely sky high. What is most interesting are the many shapes you can make with the crown. Pussycat ears are definitely whimsical and fun. Embellish them further with pom poms. The children's version, in some cases, are called gnome hats as they resemble the pointed hats on those magical, humenoid creatures. Whatever you name them, these designs can be very flattering for those who need to wear hats that have some height. An extremely popular past post - Making Headways featured looser, flatter beanies. Look for free patterns there as well. Read further and be inspired by the different styles of knit and crochet hats, free patterns to knit and crochet as well as versions for the small fry. See helpful tutorials and videos on how to duplicate stitch a design onto a plain hat. The sky is the limit with these high hats.

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Needlecraft - Crochet, Inserting Granny Squares

All images | Pinterest

If you love granny square projects but not the idea of joining a whole bunch of squares together, there is a clever solution.
Starting with a simple scarf, you can play with width, length, texture, color combinations and placement.
The design idea is highlighted in the inspiration images above showing that you can space granny squares in between simple double crochet background. A gauge and granny square pattern has been suggested for a chunky weight yarn giving you a 16.5cm (6½ in square) . Make 4 scarves the same width and length, seam them together, fold in half and seam the sides for a shrug as shown here. The concept is easy and definitely allows for being creative in designing your own pattern. Once you've made one, you'll want to try different granny motifs.

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Needlecrafts - Knit, Crochet, Foldover Shrug

Main, bottom inset images | free pattern available here
Top inset image | free pattern available here

Main image | free pattern available here
Inset images | free pattern available here

Putting together past posts featuring shrugs, I came to realize just how much I love shrugs.
From the very first one I made, it was love at first wearing.
Up until then, I owned and loved jackets of every description, not conservative but they were the backbone of my work life wardrobe.
As soon as you slip on a shrug, you realize how easy it is to wear yet they provide the same benefits of a jacket.
Call it softwear, once you try one, you'll never go back.
The jackets I kept still hang in my closet, just in case, but I know eventually they'll be given away.
Read on and find your favorite style. Trust me, you will love them too.

Click on images of past posts featuring easy shrug patterns and ideas

Happy Knitting and Crocheting!