Crochet

Gingham Check Baby Blanket Crocheted in Blue, White and Green - Photo © Michael Solovay

I just updated our list of crochet baby blanket patterns with a new link to this boy-friendly gingham check baby blanket. This easy-to-adapt design is available in three different sizes: receiving blanket size, crib size and twin size.

If you haven't yet learned the tapestry crochet technique, this is a great starter pattern for learning it. If you're familiar with it already, this pattern will be a piece o' cake for you to work on.

Related Resources:

• Free crochet baby patterns
• Free checkerboard patterns
• Free tapestry crochet patterns

Simple Crocheted Flower Motif - Photo © Erica Jackofsky

Crocheted flowers don't need to be frilly, fancy or challenging to make. This easy flower reminds me of a lovely child's drawing; the design is so simple, yet so beautiful. This is a pattern you'll be able to use over and over for embellishing a variety of delightful craft projects.

If you need an idea for how to use this flower motif, be sure to check out Erica Jackofsky's January wedding stole, a design which coordinates well with these flowers. Both free crochet patterns are available on our website.

More Free Flower Patterns

• Easy crochet flower patterns
• Beaded rosette pattern
• Crochet flower applique pattern
• More free patterns for crocheted flowers

Jovonne emailed the following question to me:

Amy,

I am cross-stitching a large pattern on a crocheted blanket. It is a baby blanket. I would like to know if there is a product that could be brushed onto the back or sprayed on the back of the cross-stitching to secure the ends. Even with the ends of the yarn woven thru the back of the pattern, it still has small scraggly ends. I want to make sure the pattern doesn't unravel when the blanket is laundered. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jovonne

My response:

Hi Jovonne,

Thanks for getting in touch, and thanks for your interest.

Usually, I just leave really long ends at each end of my cross stitch and either crochet over top of them (if possible) or weave them in as usual. But that doesn't help you if you are already finished with the cross stitching?

Off the top of my head, I am not aware of any such product, but that doesn't mean one doesn't exist. I will post your question in my crochet blog and invite comments from others; Perhaps someone out there knows of a solution that would work for you.

So, does anyone have any suggestions for Jovonne? I am sure she isn't the only one wondering about this. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Crochet a Granny Square With a Flower in the Center - Photo © Lori Jean Karluk

This granny square features a lovely aster flower as the focal point. You could crochet either part separately, but together they are stunning!

This granny square design was created by Lori Jean Karluk, guest author for crochet. We've shared the free pattern here on our website, and we hope you'll enjoy it!

• Get the flower granny square pattern
• See a detailed photo of the embroidery
• Learn how to crochet a granny square
• Look at different crochet granny square patterns
• Learn how to sew granny squares together
• Find more free patterns for crocheted flowers

Learn How to Whip Stitch - Photo © Michael Solovay

Whip stitch is a hand sewing technique that's popular with crocheters. If you're crocheting anything that utilizes seams, whip stitch is an easy way to sew them up and finish your project. It works particularly well for joining granny squares or crochet motifs together.

• How to join granny squares
• Finishing techniques for crochet and knitting
• Sewing techniques for crochet
• All about sewing
• Free crochet patterns for afghan squares
• Crochet stitches
• Free patterns for crochet granny squares
• Free crochet patterns
• More posts from my crochet blog

Crochet this charming bracelet using metallic floss and round glass beads. This design is suitable for several upcoming occasions:

Red and Blue Beaded Crochet Bracelet - Photo circ;© Amy Solovay

• Give it as a Mother's Day gift
• Make it for wearing on the Fourth of July
• It's a great everyday accessory as well.

Related Crochet Resources:

• Get the free bracelet pattern
• See more free crocheted jewelry patterns

Pretty Beaded Rosette - Photo © Erica Jackofsky

Happy May! You know the old saying..."April showers bring May flowers." Whether or not April brought rain your way, we're hoping you'll enjoy a garden of beautiful flowers this May -- especially flowers of the crocheted variety.

Pictured here: Erica Jackofsky's stunning beaded rosette design. Erica originally designed this flower to wear to a friend's wedding. If you're attending any weddings this spring, feel free to whip up a few to adorn your own hair, or the craft project of your choice.

More Free Patterns for Crocheting With Beads:

• Trellis lace stole with beaded edge
• Beaded heart motif
• Beaded crochet cell phone pouch
• More free bead crochet patterns

More About Crocheting Flowers:

• Free flower applique pattern
• Frost flower tutorial
• More free patterns for crocheting flowers

Fashion Accessories:

• Beaded crochet necklace tutorial and pattern
• Slouch hat pattern
• More free crochet patterns for accessories

Some people say that freeform crochet has no rules. I'll go along with that up to a point, but not entirely -- for all the reasons I discuss in this article: Does freeform crochet have rules?

What's your opinion? You're invited to tell us how you feel about it in either the poll or the comments section below, (or both!) Whichever you feel like using to express your opinion.

My new favorite cotton yarn is "Simply Cotton" by Knitpicks. I learned about this yarn from Erica Jackofsky of Fiddle Knits Designs; Erica used it to crochet her beautiful updated market bag, a design I have admired but never quite got around to crocheting (although I would still like to make one...hopefully someday.)

The yarn is available in both worsted weight and sport weight. I'm lovin' both of them; I used the sport weight to crochet this easy dishcloth, and the worsted weight to crochet these colorful potholders, among other things.

I posted a product review of Knitpicks Simply Cotton worsted. The short version of the review: five stars. Want more details? Be sure to take a peek at the product review page.

Just FYI, I love the sport weight version just as much as I love the worsted weight version. Both are delightful yarns to crochet with.

Crocheting Flowers - Photo © Amy Solovay

Hey, that rhymes!

Any time is a good time to crochet a flower, but in May, when the real-life flowers are blooming, there's always plenty of extra inspiration around. I hope you'll join me in crocheting some beautiful flowers this month!

Pictured here: Some flowers crocheted using our free crochet flower patterns.

• Top right: a multicolored flower made from scrap yarn
• Top left: a variation of the same flower, with an extra layer of petals added
• Bottom: An abstract flower motif, which I embellished with scrapbooking supplies.
• Easy crochet flower patterns
• More free crochet patterns