I LOVE to crochet! I taught myself how to crochet amigurumi about 3 years ago and have grown my craft and loved it ever since! It’s the one thing I can do at the end of an impossible day to just totally relax. Crochet is something that allows me to give back to friends, family and the world, while also getting something for myself in return. I read once that "you will never be cold if you’re friends with a crocheter" and I don't think there is a more true statement out there! I've made so many blankets, lapgahns, baby blankets and even an arm crochet comforter.
I will say that my favorite thing is still when someone comes up with a request for a character from a movie, TV show or book and asks if I can make them one...challenge accepted!
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Not only is crochet a stress reliever, it comes with a wonderful community. Being self-taught came with certain struggles, but I joined Facebook crochet groups which were filled with lovely people willing to help with any problem. I’ve also discovered several local yarn shops that are always there to help and even started a craft group at work where we have people teaching each other!
This year I participated it my first local yarn crawl, where I spent 5 days visiting 24 local yarn shops all over the Seattle area. I did this all with my wonderful mom. We had a blast, spent WAY too much money on yarn and I still have a pile of projects just waiting to be started!
Below are a few of the projects I've made over the years and as much information about the patterns as I have. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about any of my projects or if you want tips on how to get started!
I originally crocheted these cute little safari animals for a family member’s new baby. Before I gifted them, I lent them to my friend to use in a photo shoot at Zulilly.
This was my very first mystery crochet along. It spanned 3 weeks and ended there was a contest. You had to post your finished work and 6 people were selected. I was one of those winners! It was a little bit tricky, but super fun and depending on your yarn it can come out looking so many different ways! The designer is Karen Whooley and you can purchase this pattern on her Ravelry site.
This “Go Away” doormat makes me laugh every time I step over it! I found this pattern during my yarn crawl and as soon as I saw the sample I knew I had to have one of my own. This was also a fun project because I was able to use a yarn I had never used before. It’s called Woodi and it is made from Abaca Pulp and cotton giving it a rope like texture! You can find Divine Debris pattern below.
I have a friend who loves unicorns. For her birthday, I decided to crochet one for her. I found this cute free pattern for a pony online and just altered it slightly to become magical! You can find Stephanie's original pattern below.
While on the yarn crawl this year, one of the stores was giving away this wonderful pattern for a basket. The timing was perfect because I had wanted to make myself a project bag! Since it’s made with bulky yarn it can withstand a little bit of weight and flexible enough that it can travel easily!
Meet Manny the Marketeer! Shortly after learning to crochet I was asked if I could create miniatures of our marketing department mascot. I found this cute pattern on Etsy and just enough mustache charms to make 54 Manny's. Since then, he has been a staple on all of our yearly outing t-shirt designs and is still on most people’s desks! Even though I made these back in 2015, I'm pretty sure I can still crochet him with my eyes closed.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/233713997/elfin-thread-baby-beer-amigurumi
This fun slouchy beanie was made from another pattern that I picked up during the yarn crawl. The crawl helped me find one of my favorite local yarn shops, Tolt Yarn and Wool in Carnation, WA.
This hanging wall basket was super fun and made with the Woody yarn again, allowing it to easily be washed off! You can find the pattern at Yarn Craze's Ravelry page below.
My friend wanted me to teach her how to crochet, and found this super simple pattern online, so I decided to whip mine up for a Mother's Day gift! I also love the effect that two different colored strands of yarn created. You can find the link to Patti's pattern on her Ravelry site linked below.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/customizable-poncho
When I first found out that my cousin was pregnant, I went out and bought my favorite childhood book, Where the Wild Things Are. Then I found a crochet pattern online and knew it was my next project. This was my first time brushing out yarn to look like hair, but I LOVE the effect and have used it in several other projects since. My absolute favorite part of this pattern is the belly button!
You can find Sharon Ojala's pattern below along with a complete how to video!
https://www.amigurumitogo.com/2014/10/fuzzy-head-monster-pattern-free.html
I made this blanket as a Christmas gift for a friend. I just used a simple chevron pattern and randomly decided when to switch yarn colors. I made this with Bernet Blanket yarn, which is nice and warm, so the best part of making this during the cold winter was that shortly after I started, I was kept warm during the project!
