Free Crochet Afghan Pattern: Flowers In The Snow

Flowers In The Snow afghan is my latest free pattern.

It was one of the first afghans I ever tried to design. I wanted this large flower surrounded by lace. I think I got the lace bit right, but maybe the flower could be bigger.

I used a soft and fuzzy yarn called Jiffy. Not so sure it's still out there, but any worsted weight yarn will work equally as well.


I hope you enjoy my Flowers In The Snow!

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Free Vintage Crochet Pattern Blue Diamonds Afghan

The afghan is called Blue Diamonds. It is crochet into blocks and then sewn together.

This is my first free vintage pattern. It's from my own collection of patterns, leaflets, booklets, etc. I'm just a sucker for all that old stuff!

This pattern is now in the public domain which is why I'm posting it.

The vintage patterns I have are now on their own section on my free pattern site. I've copied the pages and turned them into a pdf for you to download and use.

Right now there are 4 on the site and I'm hoping to post a new one every week.

Hope you like some of the golden oldies as much as I do!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Here is a great photo tutorial on how to make a "fabric" with pop tabs and chain stitch in crochet. It's fairly easy to do.


I used this tecnique when I make the Pop Tab Envelope Purse. As you can see from the photo the purse needed to be linned but you can still see clearly the pop tab "fabric".

I also used it to make part of this Pop Tab Monkey.
It would be great to use in other totes and purse styles as well as maybe in a vest or scarf.

As soon as I get the video posted for the tutorial I'll let you know!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Free Pop Tab Crochet Patterns

There are three new free patterns at Donna's Crochet Designs and all three have pop tabs incorporated into them.

The first is a lovely layered Round Hot Pad. The pop tabs are added as you crochet. They are layered into this great circle pattern.

I think it may be may favorite of all I've done recently!

Next is yet another pot holder, but this one features pop tabs worked into a check pattern.

You see, you really can do just about anything with pop tabs and crochet!

The last pattern is for a place mat. Along each side are four rows of pop tabs!

I also have a great new tutorial on how to do all the stitched needed to make all three projects!

I hope you enjoy them!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

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Vintage Crochet Patterns

I've only recently discovered vintage crochet patterns.

I had never really looked at them before thinking they were all doilies and pillow cases, you know old lady/grandma stuff, but I was wrong!

There are a lot of great purse patterns out there that work very well for today.


Here is my first attempt. I got the pattern out of a really old book I had. I had always liked the texture or look of the stitches on the purse and intended on using it for inspiration. (I've got book cases and folders full of inspiration photos)

I used an all cotton yarn I got on clearance and never really found a use for. (Sound familiar?) It's a sugar 'n cream yarn in off white.

The crochet is done in continuous crochet where you don't stop and start each round but just keep going around and around..

It's basically you are making at large rectangle that you then fold in at the sides and then fold over at the corners.


You need to line the purse, but if using a magnetic fastener you would have to do that anyway.

I like how it came out and plan on doing more.

The only real disadvantage to vintage purse patterns that I have ran into is the lack of gauge and size of the finished item. But that can work to your advantage. Basically you just substitute any yarn you'd like to work with and then use a hook you're comfortable with and go! Yarn weight is really what your size is dependant on.

Happy Crocheting!
Donna
www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Now on All Free Holiday Crafts

All Free Holiday Crafts
Is this great site for everything holiday and the crafts are all free!
I don't know about you, but I love it when its free!
I just found out they have one of my crochet patterns there.
It's Peppermint Candy Ornaments.
Very fast and east project to crochet!
Check It Out!
You may find your next project there!

Super Simple Camisole Free Crochet Pattern

Super Simple Camisole Free Crochet Pattern

I just posted the pattern for this simple to make camisole!

Hope you all enjoy it!

Toy Organizer Link Fixed

Link Fixed!

Toy Organizer

Free Crochet Pattern Ice Blue Hat & Scarf

Just posted this Free Crochet Pattern:
Ice Blue Hat
&
Ice Blue Scarf
They go great with last week's
Ice Blue Purse!

If you ever have a problem with a pattern of mine or you'd like to suggest something you'd like to see in a pattern, email me!
contact@donnascrochetdesigns.com

Can't wait to hear from you!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Evening Star Most Popular Pattern For July!

I just found out my free crochet pattern Evening Star was one of All Free Crochet's most popular patterns!

Check it out!

While you're there check out the other free crochet patterns they list! It's a great site!

3 Halloween Inspired Purses Crochet Pattern by Donna's Crochet Designs

3 Halloween Inspired Purses!

Boo with Ghost made with sport weight yarn and is 8" X 8"

EEk with Spider also made with sport weight yarn and is 8" X 8"

Kitty Kat is 7" X 13" and is made with worsted weight yarn.

All 3 purses use eyelash yarn to edge them.

Instructions also include how to make each purses unique handles out of craft wire, beads, bells, etc!

Come check them out!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Ice Blue Purse Free Crochet Pattern

This weeks free pattern is: Ice Blue Purse
It has silver flower accents and silver handles.
The flowers and handles are made from size 5 DMC Metallic thread. You can find this in the needlework isle of most craft stores. Its usually close to where the embroidery floss is kept.
Easy to work with once you get it rolled into a ball. I found if you try to work from the skein you end up with a lot of knots to un-knot!

Next week I will post the instructions on how to make a matching scarf and hat!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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What To Do?

Recently I was told that they loved my patterns but never used one because they are on many pages and could I change this.
I rely on the ad revnue generated on my free pattern site to keep it up and running.
With that said I have tried putting a pdf option on the site, but when I did my ad revnue crashed to less than 10 cents a day.
If there is another option I'd love to hear it!
Did I yank the pdfs too soon?
Donna

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Evolution Of A Design

I'm always being asked where do I get my ideas and how to design.

Recently I was asked to make a Pansy Hot Pad crochet pattern and I thought this would be a good project to show just how my design process works.

How I went from this


To This

To This


To finally this.
The article is here.

The pattern for the finished Pansy Pot Pad is here.

Keep those hooks busy!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Magnet Bugs Free Crochet Pattern

Magnet Bugs Free Crochet Pattern!

This week's free pattern are these cute little bugs. They range in size from 4-3\4" for the tallest. 4" for the medium bug and 3" for that smallest bug.

The bug's heads are interchangeable!

Take the head from one bug and place it on another bug's body!

All done with the use of magnets!

Every magnet is safely sewn inside the head or body so no accidents can happen!

This is a great project to use all those odds and ends left from other projects!

Make an entire bug city!


Go crazy and have a little fun with the guys!

Just keep those hooks going!

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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New Free E-Book: Crochet Flower Rugs

New Free E-Book from Donna's Crochet Designs!

Crochet Flower Rugs!

Just posted a new free E-book!

6 crochet rug patterns (two are pictured here), each rug features a flower in its design.

Bonus tutorial on how to do the chain loop stitch needed to make Loop Flower rug.

Also a bonus pattern: Flower Bath Pillow-Pad!

You can see the patterns on the web before downloading the book which is in PDF format!

I hope you enjoy the patterns!


www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Free Pansy Doily Patterns

I recently asked if any one had any suggestions on what I should design next.
Truvely L. asked for a Pansy Doily.
Doilies aren't my thing, but I did a quick search and found theses.

This one is from Maggie Weldon
I guess it's apropreiate for me to find her free pattern first considering I do some design work for her.

This one is very much like Maggie's but the flowers are fuller.

Still on the traditional side, but with a center I like better than the other two is this doily.

Here is a pansy doily that is very different from the above.

Now this doily I really like. It's very different from any I've found and I really like the addition of lace around the outer edges of the pansies.

Vintage patterns have been a passion of mine of late so I just had to include an antique one from a site that has older pattern.

Like I said, I'm not very into doilies, but if you are this is a site for you. They boost 300 doily patterns! But if you are looking for a pansy doily here you'll be disappointed. The only one I found here was the second on my list. But they have enough doily patterns to keep anyone entertained for a very long time.

I hope this helps a few of you out there in need of doily patterns.

Keep Crocheting!
Donna

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
www.freepatternsdonnascrochetdesigns.com
www.livingplastic.com

Blue Button Necklace Free Crochet Pattern

Here is one of my latest:
Blue Button Necklace.

I was playing around with some left over gold DMC and regular size 10 crochet thread. I wanted to do something that looked like a bead, but had more to it. I added the blue background and then layered all the finished "buttons" for this necklace.

What I really like about this necklace is that you don't have to purchase anything. Any size 10 thread you have on had will work, plus a crochet loop acts as the fastener so you don't need to take a trip to the craft store to get the fastener.


I love projects like this one. You can sit down with some odds and ends and create this beautiful necklace in one sitting!

I hope you enjoy it.
The pattern can be found here.

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com
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Missy Kissy Slinky Stair Walking Toy

Missy Kissy: I've no real reason for naming this creation Missy Kissy. It's just that the lips are in the shape of a heart which make me think of puckering up for a kiss and with the wiggle eyes and ring on her feet...well, it just has to me a miss and not a Mr doesn't it?

Anyway, as you can see I took a jumbo plastic Slinky and crochet around it with fun fur eyelash yarn. It's not as hard as it sounds. Once you get started it goes fairly fast.

I only used one skein of yarn and then stretched it out to cover as much of the Slinky as possible and removed the remaining Slinky spring. I was able to cut it with scissors, but don't use your best pair!

Next I added felt feet, eyes and mouth and even a ring for one of her toes!

Wiggle eyes made the look complete. There is a slit from the bottom of the eyes to about the wiggle eye. When split apart it is glued to either side of a spring.

And you are done.

Best of all, if you stretched your yarn out enough and only ended up clipping off a few of the springs it will still walk down the stairs much like a Slinky of old, but funnier!

I made two, this jumbo one and a smaller one. You can find the pattern on my site along with the patterns for the felt.

Oh yea, about what I did with the left over springs.

Now you know I couldn't leave them alone, right?

I made this belt. It reminds me of a 1960's brass ring belt. I cut the rings apart so that I had continuous circles and then crochet the connectors.

Each connector was then sewn around a ring until I had enough for a belt.

I haven't had the nerve to wear it though!


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I Love Slinkies!

I Love Slinkies!

I love the way they feel in your hands.

I love the way they make noise when you let them slink (slink?) from hand to hand.

I especially love how when I was a kid they would drive my brother nuts from the noise they made.

Sure, I didn't HAVE to slink my Slinky constantly, but what else could I do? It's addicting!

At least to me anyway.

Anyone else feel that way?

www.donnascrochetdesigns.com

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