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.

Continue reading...

Needlecrafts | Vintage Inspired Knit Pattern

Inspiration is everywhere...vintage patterns have always been a great source.
Ultimately it's not about reproducing the same shape or overall design but inevitably something catches your eye inspiring you to express what you see in a fresh, new way.
In this instance, the large diamond pattern became my point of interest but not in a heavily repeated design.
Using the pattern as the border along a boat neck allows the lovely line of diamonds to be the focus and flatter the neckline.
Choosing which way to work the lace diamond was another consideration as each method produces a slight variance in the lace.
Everything else in the design is kept simple and easy to knit.
The free pattern is written in one size, ample for a small/medium or a slightly more fitted large in a worsted weight.

They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Enjoy!

Video Tutorial | K2tog - knit 2 together

Video Tutorial | yo, k1, sl1, psso - yarn over, knit 1, slip 1, pass slip stitch over

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

Top 20 Posts | Click on image below for posts

Happy Crocheting!

New | Daria McGuire Crochet Patterns

Design ideas and implementing them has been a way of life for me or rather a life force. Creative stitchery, sewing, knitting, crochet and jewelry were always important outlets for my creativity.
Diary of a Creative Fanatic started as a vehicle to find and curate projects throughout the web that looked at traditional crafts in a fresh way.
All this exploration inspired me to start designing again starting with crochet.
Well here is the first installment of four garments for the summer, but worked in blends or pure wool will take you into the cooler seasons.
Boulevard | a flowy, swing-style cardigan with a generous shawl collar you'll wear with everything.
Brooklyn | a flattering hi-low style with an eyecatching central cable and raised boatneck collar.
Rosegarden | a poncho pullover with feminine roses trailing up the front yet casual enough for t-shirt and jeans.
Reflection | two colors in open, lace patterns in a t-shirt shape makes it easy to wear out for date night or casual.

Links on the images below will take you to the patterns on Etsy .

Purchase patterns by clicking on images below

Happy Crocheting!

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 - Knit,Crochet - Messy Bun Hats

Multicolor crochet bunhat | free pattern available here Grey back seam knit bunhat | Pinterest - inspiration only Blue ponytail crochet bunhat | free pattern available here

There's a new hat fashion in town - The Messy Bun Beanie. Styles have cropped up all over social media in a big way. It's always amusing to see something old become popular again with a sexy new name. Doesn't a "messy bun beanie" sound so much more interesting than an old ponytail hat. As a kid I wore these hats and remember all too well in my teaching days the little girls at recess with "holey hats". Like all fashions, they come and go waiting to be re-invented or as we say today "rebranded". There are 3 styles - a hat without the last few rows on top, a hat with a back seam partially sewn up or a few stitches in a row at the back, cast off or chained over to create a simple hole. But in the end all these styles serve a purpose allowing long hair to swing freely and not be bunched up inside a close-fitting hat. Read further for patterns that may inspire you to knit and/or crochet different versions of this holey hat.

Continue reading...