The details:

• 10% off every purchase, including sale items
• Eligible if: a reseller, member of sewing or crafting guild, or a non-profit
• Must show tax exempt license or proof of 501(c)3 status
• Sign up at joann.com/vip.  It’ll take 3-5 weeks for your card to arrive

So simple, right?  If you qualify for JoAnn’s new VIP card, sign up and start saving 10% off your purchases.  You never know, those dimes might add up after a while.  Happy crafting!

Congratulations to the following winners:

1. Coral Headband with Buttons: Chelsea Hosler
2. Teal Bamboo Flower Headband: Stephen Johnson
3.  Open Coral Beret: Kjersten Whiting

Winners were selected using a random number generator.

1. Coral Headband

2. Teal Bamboo Headband

3. Coral Summer Beret

• Be the first to view new products
• Know which craft shows JJCrochet will be attending
• Be able to submit your feedback
• Oh, and did we mention WIN FREE CROCHET STUFF?!

Yep, that’s right.  “Like” JJCrochet on Facebook and you can start getting all these benefits, plus you can enter JJCrochet’s free crochet giveaway.  From July 28 – August 4th, you can enter to win three of these beautiful prizes:

Coral Summer Crochet Beret. Retail Value: $25

Teal Bamboo Flower Headband with Button. Retail Value: $9.00

Crocheted Coral Headband with Buttons

How do you enter?  It’s as easy as posting a comment on Facebook.  No, really.  To enter, simply leave a comment on any/ all items you like and you’ll be entered to win those hand-crocheted items from JJCrochet.  No strings attached.  Winners will be randomly selected and notified on August 4th.

It’s our way of saying thanks to YOU for your support of all things JJCrochet.  So spread the word, tell your grandma (who might go into shock when she hears about the marriage of “that Face-book thingy” and her time-honored art of crochet), tell your friends, tell your sister, and like JJCrochet!

I woke up this morning and was brainstorming what I could make and offer as a free crochet pattern for FPF.  I wanted something quick for summer, something useful, something practical.  Something people could make that would work crochet into their everyday routines.  A couple months ago one of my good friends, C.J., suggested I made crochet coffee cozies.  I instantly loved the idea, but hadn’t gotten around to crocheting up a prototype until today.  So thank you, C.J. for your inspiration!

C.J.’s Crochet Coffee Cup Cozy

Materials

• Size E (3.5mm) crochet hook
• Size F (4.0mm) crochet hook
• Small amount Worsted Weight Yarn.  I used Vanna’s Choice Solids.

Directions

With smaller hook (size E), Chain 25.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc now and throughout), hdc in each st around (25 st).  Join to first hdc with sl st.

Round 2: Ch 2.  *Ch 1, skip 1 st, 2 hdc in next st*  Repeat around until beginning.  Ch 1, 1 hdc in same last st.  Join to first hdc with sl st.

Round 3: Ch 2.  1 hdc in first ch-1 space.  *2 hdc in next ch-1*  Repeat around until beginning.  Join to first hdc with sl st.  (Note: Do NOT ch-1 between each hdc cluster.)

Round 4: Ch 2, hdc in each st across (25 st).

Round 5: Repeat Round 2

Round 6: Repeat Round 3

Round 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st across (25 st).

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Choose different colors for each round or alternate a striping pattern.  Below is the color scheme for the two coffee cozies pictures:

Crochet Coffee Cozy 1

• Round 1: Bright Coral
• Round 2: Gray
• Round 3: Purple
• Round 4: Bright Coral
• Round 5: Purple
• Round 6: Gray
• Round 7: Bright Coral

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Crochet Coffee Cozy 2

• Round 1: Olive Green
• Round 2: Grass Green
• Round 3: Grass Green
• Round 4: Olive Green
• Round 5: Grass Green
• Round 6:  Grass Green
• Round 7: Olive Green

Experiment with your own colors to create your very own crochet coffee cozies to match your style.  They’re reusable, easy to wash, and a greener alternative to paper covers.  Happy crocheting!

( If you’d like to get a little kicky flavor of her witting writing, check out a sample of her book her on Google Books).  I promise if you’re a knitting or crocheter, you won’t be disappointed.  And coming from me, a big non-reader, consider this a glowing recommendation.

Granted, I’m only 40 pages through, but I just got the book  from a lady at my knitting group (thanks, Helen!) and am so pleased with it, I can only show my appreciation through blogging.  Future note to self:  finish reading a book in its entirety before sharing your opinions.

If you eat, breathe, and sleep knitting or crocheting you have to check out this book.  Reading Stephanie’s stories will make you realize you’re not alone and not as crazy of a knitter as you realized.  You’re just like the rest of us yarn harlots.  There is hope.

In the tiny pages of Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter, you’ll find:

• Notes left by UFOs (unfinished objects, for all you non-knitters), begging to be finished
• Panic-laden moments of stretching sweaters and blocking blunders
• Ambitious, soul-stealing knitting projects shoved in closets
• Family vacation money spent at local yarn stores
• Sock knitting ramblings, etc, etc, etc.

My favorite paragraph from the book (so far) has been this,

“Knitting is magic.  Knitting is an act of creation and a simple transformation each and every time. Each knitted gift holds hours of my life.  I know it looks just like a hat, but really, it’s four hours at the hospital, six hours on the bus, two hours alone at four in the morning when I couldn’t sleep because I tend to worry.  It’s all those hours when I chose to spend time warming another person.  It’s giving them my time – time that I could have spent on anything, or anyone, else.  Knitting is love, looped and warm.“

If that blurb doesn’t incentivize you to put down your needles and pick up a copy of Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter by Stephanie Pearl McPhee, I don’t know what will.  Happy reading!

Today, I’m giving you two different crochet flower patterns to try out.  The perfect accent for your summer project!  One pattern is a basic, 5-petal flower crocheted in the round and the other is a crochet rosette that’s rolled and sewn at the end.  Different techniques create two different looks, but equally beautiful crocheted flowers.  Of the two, which one’s your favorite?

Crochet Flower Pattern 1: 5-Petal Puff Stitch

Materials

• Small bit of any yarn.  I used Vanna’s Choice, worsted weight yarn.
• Any crochet hook you’d like.  I used a size H (5.0mm).

Special Stitches

Puff Stitch (PS): *Yo, insert hook in loop.  Yo, draw up a loop.  Yo, draw through 2 loops.* (<– I like to think of this as the first part of a regular dc if that helps.  Just leave off the last “yo, pull through 2 loops” you’d normally do when crocheting a dc.)  Repeat from * to * twice more.  4 loops on hook.  Yo, pull through all 4 loops.

Directions

Ch 3, join with sl st to form loop.

Round 1: ch 2, PS, ch 4.  *PS, ch 4*  Repeat from * to * 4 more times.  5 Puff Stitches total.  Join to first PS with sl st.

Round 2: Into each ch-4 space work, *sc, 5 dc, sc*.  To join, sl st in top of first ch.

Fasten off, leaving a 10 inch tail to weave onto a hat, pin, purse, sweater… whatever you’d like!

Crochet Flower Pattern 2: Rolled Rosette

Materials

• Small bit of any yarn.  I used Vanna’s Choice, worsted weight yarn.
• Any crochet hook you’d like.  I used a size F (4.0mm) to form a tighter rosette.
• Darning needle

Note: Flower is worked horizontally, then rolled and sewn to create a bud.  If it sounds confusing, don’t worry, it’s not – pictures below so you know just what to do!

Directions

Ch 20 +1 (counts as first sc)

Row 1: Sc in 2nd chain from hook and each st across (21 sc).

Row 2: Ch 1.  *Skip next st, [hdc, ch 1, hdc, ch 1, hdc, ch1] into next st. *  Repeat from * to * until two sts remain.  Ch 1, sc in last st.

Fasten off, leaving a 12 inch tail.

You should now how a curved piece that looks a little something like this:

On the side opposite your long 12-inch tail, tightly roll the rose along the bottom chain.  Like this:

All rolled?  You should have a budding rosette that’s ready to be sewn up.  Using a darning needle, weave long tail back and forth through the flower to anchor everything down.

Confused by the puff stitch or not sure how to sew up the rosette?  Leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail and I’d be happy to help.  Happy Crocheting!

1. As stated before, I DON’T crochet afghans
2. This wasn’t one of those quickie 5 hours patterns; this afghan required crochet and sewing together 33 individual motifs
3. Used a size G crochet hook.  Not the ideal hook size when looking to bang out an afghan in a day

I was up to the challenge and finished this afghan in 25 hours.  Yes, one hour longer than my original goal of completing it in a day.  One measly little hour.  BUT, I will say that I didn’t try all that hard, either.  Sure I crocheted a ton more than I typically do during the day, but I had a leisurely dinner with a friend, got 8 hours of sleep…. so, ya know. I could have finished the afghan in one day if I really *tried*.  At least that’s what I tell myself.

Pros of the project:

• Finished in almost a day
• Used up scrap yarn
• Ignited a new love of working with bright colors
• Instant Baby Gift

In love with this baby blanket?  This crocheted baby blanket is available for sale in my Etsy store OR make your own  using the free crochet baby blanket pattern found here.

When you think knitting patterns – classic, fitted, exquisite stitch detail – who do you think of?  Just one name comes to mind, really: Debbie Bliss.

Debbie Bliss is an international designer from the UK who is famous for her classy knitting patterns, mostly for women.  I had the opportunity to hear her speak at an event sponsored by Wolf Creek Yarns in Grove City, PA.  She spoke about her designs and creative process.  Here are some highlights from her talk:

• Listen to yarn and let its texture speak to you; create with it what you it wants you to make
• Don’t make garments that are too big – fitted clothing will fit better in the long run
• Plain yarn can better showcase stitch detail than novelty yarn
• Her yarn line, Debbie Bliss, was designed to be true to the knitter she was.  Plain, simple, classic.
• She visits Italy twice a year to select yarn for her summer and fall lines
• If she doesn’t like the “hot” color for the season, she’ll hold out and wait to see if it catches on before adding it to her yarn line
• She prefers classic silhouettes so people can personalize them
• Her publisher didn’t think her first book of baby knitting patterns would be profitable.  He was wrong
• She worked as a nurse for two year before gradually building her knitting empire; It’s never too late, she encourage the audience, to pursue your dreams.

While I was the youngest member in attendance (nothing new to me, though, because of my 65-year old knitting group) I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.  Her accept was lovable, her demeanor calming, and her knitting insight a true reflection of the knitting prowess she is.  And as an added bonus, everyone in attendance will get a new copy of her book… can’t wait!

Materials

Size G crochet hook

25 yards of any worsted weight yarn

Directions

Round 1: Ch 90.  Join to beginning ch with sl st.

Round 2: Ch 95, twist chain 6-7 times around Round 1.  Join to beginning ch with sl st.

Round 3: Ch 100, twist chain 6-7 times around Rounds 1 & 2.  Join to beginning ch with sl st.

Fast off, weave in ends.

Enjoy!

I don’t crochet afghans.

They take too long, give me visions of creap-o acrylic, and I can’t understand why someone would choose a blanket made from yarn over am-in-a-spa? squishy fabric.  I don’t even like saying the word.  Afff-ghan.  af-GHAN.  af-a-gan.  Ew.

I can’t control my fingers, though, and when they see something they like, they must crochet it.

I’ve modified the pattern a bit so I only do 5 rounds in each hexagon (the pattern calls for 7) because I noticed it was after the 5th round that I would start to get bored.  See, I was serious about this whole hating afghans things.

But I’ve been working since around 11am and 5 hours later, here’s my progress.  I must say that I’m really enjoying this pattern.  In fact, I’ve kinda been addicted to it.

I’ve made it my goal to get it finished by tonight.  Ambitious?  Maybe, but we’ll see.  I have 22 hexagons finished and figure I only have 11 more to go.  Average in at 9 minutes/ square, that’ll take me around 2 hours + seaming… might be a late night.