Tag Archives | stitches west

Easy to Crochet Baskets – Adjust sizes to fit your needs

Learn to Crochet Baskets

Easy Crochet Baskets

Easy Crochet Baskets

These crochet baskets are so fun and easy to make.  The best part is that you can adjust the size according to your needs.  You can even make several to rest inside of each other.   The crochet baskets I made measured about 12 1/2 inches in circumference and about 8 inches tall.  It is surprising how much fits inside of it.  What is also nice is that when not in use you can just fold it flat and out of the way.   I think crocheting your own baskets is a great way to eliminate landfill waste.  How many times have we seen throw away containers which end up in the landfill since they tear or break so easily.  These Easy to Crochet Baskets are so pretty and you can use them for all types of things.  I filled mine with yarn.  You can use your in kids room to store toys, shoes, etc.  They work great in a baby nursery.

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Announcing Yarnspirations Yarn Giveaway Winners!

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This is a short post to announce the winners of the Yarnspirations Yarn Giveaway.   This giveaway is a way to thank all of my blog members.   The winners will be able to select 10 skeins of their choice from among the yarns sold by Yarnspirations.   The 3 winners have been notified to the email they used when they become members of this blog.  They will have until next Thursday, April 21 at 5pm (PST) to claim their prize.

The mail contains all instructions to claim prizes.  If they do not respond within that time to claim their prize a new winner will be chosen to take their place.   Remember only those people living in the USA and Canada are eligible to enter and win.

The first winner is:   Saundra Shackelford 

 

The second winner is:   Margaret Ellis

 

The third winner is:   Ivette Gutierrez

 

If you didn’t win don’t despair, I have man more giveaways and some contests planned for the rest of 2016.  To be eligible you simply need to be a member of this blog.  It is free and your information is always kept confidential.  The sign up box is along the right hand side of this blog.    Be sure to become a member today if you haven’t already done so.

I want to thank my friends are Yarnspirations for their generosity and support.   Please help me in Congratulating all the winners.  Thank you all for your support.   I love you all so much.    Please be sure to follow me on all my other social media sites.  The icons are here at the bottom.

 

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How to make a simple Heart Graphs without fancy software

Heart Graph for C2C (Corner to Corner) square

Heart Graph

Learn how to make simple graphs without fancy software.  First a disclaimer:  I am not a professional artist.  As if that wasn’t obvious.  However I can draw some basic things.  I love seeing all the crochet and knit projects using graphs.  I used to do some cross stitch needlepoint back in the day so I am familiar with following a graph.  Making your own simple graphs is not difficult.  I am technology challenged.  I still do so much stuff the other fashioned way.. using a pen and paper.   Here is how I made the heart graph to use in my Valentines Day square.

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Online Courses coming soon!

I can’t believe it’s actually happening.  Thanks to everyones support and encouragement I have taken a giant leap.  (OK, it’s giant for me)  As many of you may know I’m not exactly what you would call a “techy”.  As a matter of fact I really struggle with this aspect of sharing my content with everyone.  You see I don’t come from a technology background and sometime I feel totally out of it.   There are times when I listen to people speaking about their sites and use terms like SEO traffic optimization, shopping-cart,  updates,  SSL, etc… to me it might as well be Greek.   I must admit that technology has always kinda scared me.

I don’t know if it’s part of getting older and being used to old school methods.  For example I still actually mail people letters.  Seriously, I love getting a letter in the mail.  Greeting cards are even better.  So, when technology has been a difficult transition.  However, you know what they say innovate or die.  I don’t want to die…… so I have done it.   I have joined the platform called “New Kajabi”    This has been a huge investment for me.   So far it seem easy enough for even me to use it.  What it will allow me to do is something that I have been working on for a very long time.  Create courses that are more detailed, better organized and easily accessible.  I have been searching for a platform that would allow me to do this and reach more people.  This is something that I am really excited about.   This is how it will work:  (OK, this is how I want it to work, fingers crossed.)   I create courses and projects you have requested and upload them to the platform.   I can organize them as single projects of complete courses with several modules.   The modules can include written patterns,  video tutorials,  user feedback, and tons of other great features such as subscriptions/memberships.

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Product Review Time- Kristin Omdahl’s new Book and yarn

This is a product review of Kristin Omdahl’s new book “Crochet So Lovely” and her yarn ” Be so Fine”

 

kristin book

This past weekend I was so blessed to be able to attend Stitches West.  I posted about it here.  The experience was really great and the best part was all the people I got to meet.  It was so nice to finally put a face to these people’s names.  Oh sure, I had seen their videos, read their books etc., but finally meeting someone in person makes it real.   One person who I have long admired is the fabulous Kristin Omdahl.  If you haven’t heard of her she is a fantastic designer.  She designs both knit and crochet items.  I have purchased previous books and have really enjoyed making shawls (I made 3 so far) and so it was a real treat to meet her.   Guess what?  She is as nice and gracious in person.   You see Kristin has always been my friend…. let me explain what I mean by that… She has been my friend in my head only, hahaha.  I’m sure we all have those people we think if we met we would be friends.   I’m so happy to report that yes, now I think we will be friends.

Anyway, back to the review.  Kristin Omdahl had a booth at Stitches West 2015 held in Santa Clara, California.  Her booth was so serene and lovely.   What I really liked about her booth was that she had displayed finished garments to give you an idea of what could be made with the yarn.   She sells her yarn which is 100% bamboo.  It is spun, milled and hand dyed right here in the USA.   She had the yarn organized in little bags.  Either silver or gold bags.  Depending on which bag you chose that yarn would be enough to complete the projects that were displayed above them.  Silver would give you enough to complete shawls and other items and the gold bags had enough for smaller items such as cowls. The colors were so rich and luscious.  The yarn is super soft.   Kristin has personally selected each yarn color and type to ensure they meet her strict standards.  I would totally recommend this yarn.    I purchased the Amyethst.  If you follow me on youtube and facebook you will know that my favorite colors is Purple (and shades of purple) and Pink (and shades of pink, including Magenta).  I would have bought the bag just for the yarn but she also included along with the yarn a little package of “wrapture” which is her no rinse delicate wash.  The fragrance is jasmine.  With the purchase she also includes a pattern e-book which normally retails for $6.99.   You can find instructions (and coupon) code for download on the back of the label.  She also includes washing instructions on the label.  To purchase yarn you can either go to her site  styledbykristin.com  (lots of other goodies available on the site) Click here for yarn purchase.     She also has an etsy store  Kristin’s Etsy store where she also sells the yarn and project bags.  (P.S.- the project bags are made with fabric that has the drawings/art done by Kristin).

Not only was she selling her yarns,project bags and other goodies  she also had her new book available for purchase.  The title of the book is “Crochet so Lovely”.   It retails for $24.99 which is a great value when you consider it contains instructions, diagrams and photos for 21 beautiful lace designs.   That’s just a little over $1 per pattern.  That’s a bargain.  The book has very clear easy to understand written instructions along with diagrams and beautiful color photos.  If you purchase thru her etsy store she will sign each copy and ship internationally.  The book isn’t available in the UK yet thru amazon so this is a great way to order and get a signed book.

I highly recommend both the book and the yarn.  This is quality stuff and I love to share with everyone when I find a good deal and good products.   Please visit her sites and take a look at all of the goodies.  I’m sure you are going to love them.

Once again her are the links:     Etsy store                Styledbykristin Website    

 

kristin yarn label

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