Stitched Heart Valentine's Day Card Tutorial

When I saw all the tiny crochet heart projects out there, I was inspired to make a Stitched Heart Valentine's Day Card. These are the steps to make one.

Step One: Crochet a Heart

Check these links for patterns:
Planet June
Julie-K

I used Paton's Grace in Cardinal and an "F" hook.

Step Two: Prepare the Card.

Take a blank card (I get them in the statioinary aisle at Michaels and Hobby Lobby) and trace the heart on the front lightly with a pencil.

Cut out the heart shape with scissors or a craft knife.

Punch starter holes for your yarn about 1/2 inch apart all the way around the heart. I used an awl but if you have paper punches, use those.

Step Three: Attach the crochet heart to the card

Use a yarn needle to stitch from back to front, through the heart and then the holes in the card.

Weave in the ends.

Step Four: Personalize your card

You can say anything but I like the idea of "My heart ..." "...is yours."

Other message ideas:

Kind heart ... kind friend.
True heart ... true friend.
I love you because ... you keep me in stitches!

I used a thin point marker but if you don't like your handwriting, just run the card through the printer first or cut out words, art journal style.

There's no end to the possibilities!

Add your Stitched Heart Card project photos to the Flickr pool!

Happy Hearting!

Call for Donations - Winter 2011 Special Olympics

Photo courtesy of Susan Valiquette.

This popped up in my reader this morning at Whip Up! You can crochet and donate a scarf for an athlete participating in the 2011 Winter Special Olympics in Minnesota. There will be 1,000 athletes and so far, the organization only has 99 scarves. Yikes! There are official Red Heart Yarn colors to use and general size guidelines but no specific pattern has to be followed. See all the details here:

scarvesforspecialolympics.org

Submissions need to be mailed no later that February 11. So break out those needles and hooks if you can help!

Vintage Craft and Needlework Flickr Pool

Need some inspiration for a new project? Or a good laugh at 1970's crochet fashion? Check out the Vintage Craft and Needlework Flickr Pool on Flickr!

Love some of these styles and am amazed that some of these have come back! My favorites are the granny square skirts, the pill box hats, and the

Sheath Dresses and Mini Dresses

Courtesy of Cemtarian via Flickr

Hats

Courtesy of gytk67 via Flickr

Do you ever just "wing it?"

So I am a very non-conformist when it comes to crochet. I don't like to follow patterns in books unless absolutely necessary. The process of looking at a pattern, deciphering it, buying the right yarn, in a correct quantity, etc. doesn't fit my lifestyle right now. I usually crochet with many things going on at once or while waiting to pick up family members during practices, lessons, etc. So carrying around a complicated stitch pattern that requires concentration is impractical. Plus, it is hard for me to read the small type usually used to set patterns. I have to copy them enlarged.

A hat I made up as I went along at a youth conference we attended last year.

Okay. So. I just wing it. I know when I start I'm making a hat but depending on the yarn and hook I use, I have to check for fit as I go. So I use myself, or my family members or my mannequin. I recently made a baby hat for my nephew and used my daughter's bitty twin doll to check fit. Granted, I went to one of my many books and found a baby hat pattern (too girly for this project) to get the finished size dimensions I would need. Then I just crocheted it.

Do you ever just wing it? Do you write down what you're doing as you go so if it turns out great, you can do it again?

Mega Doily!

Here is another large scale crochet project, made without a hook but hand woven! So lovely and homey. Available at: www.ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com/megadoily

Photo courtesy of ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com

Welcome Baby Nephew

Our family welcomed a sweet little peanut this past weekend. You can bet I'll be photographing him in a baby bear hat and cocoon at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, enjoy his sweet baby toes ...

Cloche Hat with Square Ear Flaps

This nubby, tweedy textured yarn is soft and warm. Created a cloche hat with square ear flaps. The flaps can be tucked inside for extra ear warming.

Leftover ingredients

When I make lasagna, I usually have dribs and drabs of ingredients left over. A bit of sauce, a bit of cheese. This week, I miscounted and made an extra noodle that wouldn't fit in the page. Voila! Instant, mini lasagna for lunch. I'll cook extra noodles next time.

Hairpin Lace Scarf WIP

Surprising to find that my mom has never tried hairpin lace. One of my Christmas gifts, Wrapped in Crochet, contains a pattern for a beautiful hairpin lace crochet scarf. Thank goodness for YouTube where several talented folks have posted their video tutorials. I'm on a roll with about 2/3 of the first strip made.

Rolled Brim Chunky Hat

Chunky yarn projects are so satisfying. I can see quick progress and it's not a huge time or yarn commitment. This hat was made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn. Gauge: 2 stitchs = 1 inch.

Finished size: 22 inches wide by 9 inches tall (brim unrolled.)

Round 1:
Ch 5, join sl in first chair.

Round 2:
Ch 3 (counts as first DC) and DC 9 into center of circle. Join sl in top of first DC.

Round 3:
Ch 3, 2 DC in each chain around. Join sl.

Round 4:
Ch 3, *1 DC in next chain, 2 DC in next chain. Repeat * around. Join sl.

Round 5-7:
Ch 3, 1 DC in each chain around. Join sl.

Round 8-12 (Brim):
Ch 2, 1 SC in each chain around. Join sl.

Fast off; weave in ends.

Giant Crochet

Out of the box thinking thrills me. This stool cover is terrific ... how did they do this? Huge hook and huge yarn! via Design to Inspire