Crocheting has been passed down by generation on my Mom’s side of the family.  My mom taught me, her mom taught her, and her mom taught her. 

Last week, we all got to crochet together in St. Louis.  My cousins and I are going to continue to crochet and teach our daughters (when we have them).  We talked about how calm it makes us feel.  That can’t be argued with.

Result? Rosey Cozy neck warmers! Complete with our late great grand mother’s button collection.

Mypicot.com has a great selection of unique Japanese-inspired crochet motifs and stitch patterns for your next crochet project.

All of the instructions are downloadabe pdfs shown in diagram form only (which I  personally love), but they include a key to diagram symbols and a tutorial explaining symbol diagrams right on the site. Browse around for everything from flowers, hearts, and butterflies, to collars, edgings, and filet crochet diagrams. I can’t remember  how I stumbed  upon this, but it’s like having a Japanse Stitch Dictionary right at your fingertips, and new patterns are added periodically.

For most of my life, I had a reduced sense of smell (a condition known ashyposmia).

I could recognize strong odors like orange peels

and gasoline, but most scents were lost on me. But for the past few months–and for unknown reasons–my ability to smell has fully returned. To mark this olfactory upgrade, I crocheted this nose

Last fall, I wanted to crochet something that reflected the slide of the economy. When other projects occupied my late 2008, I thought I missed the opportunity to make something current.

Unfortunately, the economy has continued to worsen. Fortunately, the long downturn has allowed me to make this timely moneybag and piggy bank!

Robbers will be disappointed that these items contain only polyfil stuffing. The piggy bank does accept one real coin in its working coin slot, which was formed by sewing a pocket to a crocheted button hole.

Knit and Crochet Dishcloth Patterns

It is hard to fine ones that are truly classic, but if you look at the ones crafty folks have made for sale at Etsy you will see how colour and size along with a simple classic design, can make the difference between kitsch and stylish.

Simple crochet flower broaches

I think these could be worked up in many different yarns and beads and would make great gift attachments and gifts in themselves. I would take the pattern below as a suggestion and use your imagination with colours and yarns. I like the idea of attaching these to bags and hats or even scarfs for extra interest. I have a friend that laughs every time i suggest that a crochet flower could be a really nice borach or accent. I will prove her wrong!

These crocheted pouches that I posted about as bags for Hanukkah gelt, here, were such a success I just had to make more! A birthday party for my daughter’s friend, no problem, let’s give her a pouch filled with some small gifts! And a few buttons added to the end of the drawstring are cute and functional…the string wont fall out! I think I even made the one on the right in about an hour, and it not only made my daughter happy and set a good example for giving handmade, it also was satisfying for me and fulfilled some of my need to create!

Do you have a friend who has long admired your crocheted projects and recently expressed an interest in learning to crochet? This is the perfect opportunity to introduce them to the crochet community. Purchase your favorite back issue of Interweave Crochet, create fun coupons for special crochet classes with yourself as the teacher, and wrap the package up with a bit of festive yarn. It will be the gift that keeps on giving.

Giving a thoughtful present to a yarn loving friend doesn’t mean you have to give yarn. (Your friend will never say so, but most crafters would rather choose their materials personally.) Add a yarn shop gift certificate to your present if it feels unnatural to leave out the string! What else is there to choose from? Here are some ideas to get you started.