With All My Heart Photo Prop design for The Battle of the Stitches

Good Morning friends!  I have some VERY exciting news!!!  Round 4 of the Battle of the Stitches crochet challenge has come to  close and the winners have been chosen. 

It was very exciting to be a challenger this round.  I admit that it was hard not knowing every detail going on behind the scenes AND  it was hard not to tell anyone what I designed too!  One of the many great things about the Battle of the Stitches is that all the voting is based on the designs themselves.  I knew before going into the challenge that I would not make any girls dresses because I didn't want it to be a giveaway that it was my design. 

Can you pick which design is mine? Battle of the Stitches Round 4 Sneak Peeks

Well, I can finally breathe!  I'm so excited that I've completed my crochet design for Round 4 of the Battle of the Stitches.  I can't wait to see what everyone thinks and share with you what I've created!

Typically, I'm behind the scenes of the Battle since I created it.  I'm the one who chooses the themes and stitches and sets up who is judging, all the prizes, giveaways and sharing.  It's  a LOT of work but extremely well worth it!  This round, I really wanted to be on the other side of the fence and be a challenger.  I asked Jennifer from Little Luvies Shop and Lisa from Kaleidoscope Art & Gifts to help me out so I could compete fairly.  They have done an wonderful job and this has been quite the experience for me! 

HDC Chainless Foundation

One of the things that I despised the most when first learning to crochet was working stitches into a chain.  It's one of my least favorite things to do along with stitching things like buttons on.

When I first decided to try a chain-less foundation or a foundation chain (whichever you prefer), I watched a video and it confused me.  I left it alone for a while and decided to try it again.  Wowzers!!!!  It's one of my new found loves!
Most of my new designs will begin with chain-less foundations and I will be updating my older patterns to this also.  I Love the way it keeps the stitching more even and it gives a good stretch to the base of your project whereas a regular chain can sometimes be to tight. 
Some people learn better with videos and others with photos. 
If you're a video fan,  here's a link to how to work this foundation:

The Craziest Shopping day of the Year - BlackFriday Sales information

Let's talk shop for a minute.  A few years ago, I decided to try the "Black Friday" 4am store opening madness with my sister and SIL to get something for my mom at a REALLY good price.  While I was a little worried about how people would treat each other, it was a pleasant day and I never witnessed any fights or even people taking things out of other carts as you see so often on the news. That was the 1 and only time I've shopped in the early hours of the morning on Black Friday.

I'm so excited!!! This is what the next month will be filled with for Crafting Friends Designs.

As most of you know, I created the Battle of the Stitches crochet challenge back in February of 2014.  It's a fun crochet competition for designers to share the love of crochet. 10-12 designers create a new design using the same crochet stitch and a theme to focus on.  It's been a wonderful experience to get to know so many other talented ladies and build friendships and strengthen our businesses together. 

Birthday SALE-ABRATION

Happy Halloween everyone!  I hope you all have some fun or relaxing plans for your weekend wherever you are. 

We will be spending time with my family tonight having soup, Trick or Treating with all of the kids and celebrating my 2nd daughter's 6th birthday.  It's not until next week, but it will be fun to have everyone together tonight, so why not add some cake too?
  

Chevron or Ripple, do you know the difference?

It's always fun to pick at the knowledge of other designers around me and see a little difference of opinion on things.  Many things in the crochet world are not "Set in Stone".  I love crochet stitch books and my favorite is this one from Robyn Chachula called Crochet Stitches VISUAL Encyclopedia (**this is an affiliate link**)
I really enjoy looking through it to get ideas and see all the colors she uses and learn the names of the stitches she has worked.  The funny thing is with stitches, sometimes 2 people can see a stitch and call it 2 completely different names.

Reversible Textured Chevron Afghan

Which brings me to my questions...Is it a Ripple afghan or a Chevron afghan?  I was always of the opinion that the designs with the sharper angles are Chevron and those that are softer angles are considered Ripple.  To me, it's like a ripple in the water - more of a wave and that's how I relate them when designing.  Now,  in conversations with other designers, there are some that agree with me and others who consider my opinion backwards   lol, and that's ok! 

Fall into Service 2014 Challenge

Each year, I like to try and find some service projects to work on.  I start thinking about the nights getting colder and snow will be here before we know it. Growing up in Utah, you KNOW that winter will typically be cold and we'll have at least 1 extremely big snow storm, maybe more. 

I have been very fortunate in my life to always have the things necessary to be comfortable whether it's gloves and a hat or blankets to stay warm.   I think we all go through stages in life where finances are tight, but I've never been "without".  It breaks my heart to know that there are so many families who are struggling right now and may not be able to afford warm items for their families this year or maybe they have lost their home for some reason or another and will need to rely on shelters to stay safe and warm in the months to come. 




I invite you to join me for a "Fall into Service" project for the next month.  What am I asking you to do?  It's simple.  Use your talents as a service in your community.  Maybe there is a hospital near you who could use some little blankets for preemie babies.  Maybe a Senior Center could use some handmade items to bring some love to the Senior citizens they care for (many of which may not have family close by or at all and a little service would be so appreciated by them) 
Maybe you have a Women's shelter that could use little dresses for dolls for kids to play with.  A Homeless shelter that could use hats, scarves, blankets, clothes, ets.  OR, maybe you just have an amazing neighbor who you would like to give something handmade to in appreciation of them.





Whatever you choose to do, Service for others can make a HUGE impact on everyone.  So,  Choose how you will serve others in your area, take a photo of your projects and send them to me at craftingfriends4you@yahoo.com by October 31st with "Falling into Service" in your title.In November,  I will share the photos of all your projects on my page and will draw Random winners for Random prizes.  I will be giving away several pattern packs, Snappy Tots and Too Yarn Cute have also joined this cause and will be donating patterns too!

To help give you a head start, ALL individual patterns in my shop are 75% off through Sept 20th using code FALL14
      1.  Visit www.craftingfriendsdesigns.com & select Store
      2. Add any individual patterns to your cart that you think would help you in your service.
      3.  Check out and be sure to enter code FALL14 and select "apply"
      Discount will be given
There are also Many FREE patterns available too!
I would love to hear what other service projects you like to focus on.  Maybe it will help give others some ideas too!

Fun in the Sun Afghan Release and giveaway

It's finally ready!  We began Round 2 of the Battle of the Stitches in June of this year.  The theme was Fun in the Sun and the crochet stitch was the Triangle stitch.  Since that time, I've designed a coaster, granny square, bolero and now an afghan using that stitch. 

Round 3 has just begun, so it seems fitting to end this collection now with the release of the Fun in the Sun Afghan. 

Large Fun in the Sun Afghan

I have always loved deep purple and yellow together, so when I saw this yarn on sale at Hobby Lobby, I HAD to buy it.  It is such a beautiful combo and I Love This Cotton is so soft and flexible, it was great to work with. 

Small Fun in the Sun Afghan

 Pink and grey combos are also really pretty in my opinion and worked well for the infant size afghan.

Fun in the Sun Afghan on Ravelry

Now for the giveaway....

I will give away 5 copies of this pattern before it is released on Monday the 8th.  All you have to do is enter through the Rafflecopter below.  Pretty Simple!  There are a few ways to enter and the entries will be validated. Good luck everyone and thank you for sharing this giveaway. 

Congratulations to the winners!!!  Please send me an email to craftingfriends4you@yahoo.com with your Ravelry ID and I will send your copy of the pattern over today.
Elaine Sumner Rumsey
Jess Ica D
Pamela Emerson
Shelly Turner
Lisa Myszka Hudson

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crocheting in the fall

Fall is a busy time of year around here. I love to crochet and I love gae plant a garden and I bottle and freeze as much fruit and vegetables as I possibly can.  This year, I mrdening and some times - ok, all the time, it's hard to balance my time between the two.  Each year, wxexxxxxxx ay even try canning meat.  When our freezer broke a month or so ago, it was a terrible feeling having to throw things away.  Bottling more this year will give me a little more sense of security that we will have food in our home if anything happens in our area. 

So,  being busy with gardening, I haven't been able to design as much as I'd like to have, but I have been able to design a few things that I've loved so far. 
These patterns are coming soon to www.craftingfriendsdesigns.com 

 

The Fun in the Sun Afghan was made using the Triangle Crochet Stitch that we used for Round 2 of the Battle of the Stithces. I designed the cute Granny Square that was published along with my Bolero in the Too Yarn crochet magazine with the other Battle designs.

 

 After working the circle in the square for the granny square, I thought it would make a fun larger sized afghan. 

I haven't been able to get photos of the infant size yet, but here is the large size.

 Next up are the Side Step Pants.  Do you remember the cute Sassy Side Step Skirt that I made using Sassy Lace?  Crochet by Jennifer designed the Side Step Bonnet and we really needed some pants to go with them - Don't ya think?

 

Watch for the release of the Pants and Afghan over the next week.