Crafting Friends Designs

Friday, December 27, 2013

Next pattern up - Why yes, I think so...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you! I hope your holidays have been filled with lots of family, friends and fun. December was not a very productive month as far as patterns go for me. I had some dental surgery at the first of the month and have been filled with orders and trying to get things ready for Christmas.

We have been very blessed this year. While we sure have had some scary moments, the blessings far outweigh it all. My girls are growing so fast and I love watching them and being able to spend time with them. My oldest will graduate from High School this year and turns 18 in January. Wow- Time has just slipped by. My next daughter will start kindergarten next year, so there is a huge gap in age but they all love each other so much!

Now that the orders are almost finished (only 2 requests to go), I have set a goal for the new year. I will be highlighting the many wonderful women I have come to know in the craft community and hope you enjoy getting to know a little about them. I am also getting back to patterns and will continue to design a wide range of sizes. While my girls are little and enjoy dressing their dolls, they think it's fun to dress the same as them, so I will be designing American Girl sized clothes to go with the larger sizes. This is the dress that will be my 1st release for 2014. The doll size is being tested right now while I work on the larger sizes. More exciting things are on their way, so stick around and let's have some fun!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

American Girl Sized Dress Patterns

I am absolutely delighted to share with you my latest endevor. Crochet by Jennifer released a collection of American Girl Doll sized hats based on a few of her other patterns. They are absolutely darling! They are available here: American Girl Doll/Preemie Baby Hat Pattern on Ravelry

Last year for Christmas, my husband's dad gave my 2 toddlers the generic version of the doll and his wife sewed a bunch of clothes for them. I have thought about designing this size dress to match my dress patterns for quite some time, but always seemed busy with other things. I finally slowed down a little and decided it was time to get it done!

I have released my 18" Doll Dress collection that will match 5 of my Basic Infant and Toddler dress patterns. This size is great for American Girl dolls, Generic 18" dolls and Preemie babies.
This set includes the Oh Snap, Snap Dragon, Diamond, Baby Tay and Shell Brook patterns. My girls were so excited for new dresses for their dolls and the best part - they can wear the larger versions of the pattern and it's a perfect "Mommy and Me" deal!

Each pattern works up very quickly and with less than a skein of Caron Simply Soft yarn. I absolutely will be making more to use for gifts and since they fit preemies too - well, I think I will be making some for hospitals in our area also :)

You can get the collection on my website as an instant download here: www.craftingfriendsdesigns.com
The normal price for the collection will be $10.50, but for you wonderful friends, I will leave it on sale for $3.99 until December 15th.
Take a look at all the fun colors that were used in the testing process :)

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Love for Emma Granny Square Free Crochet Pattern

Over the past 2 years, I have had a group of ladies test my patterns. I have come to know them well and consider them my friends. I've seen their ups and I've seen their downs and they have supported me through my struggles.
Recently, one of them passed away. Her name was Emma and she was a sweetheart! She had every one of my patterns and made so many of them in a beautiful array of colors (her favorite colors were red and black). While we were working on the infant dresses, her little girl would ask if I would design some that would fit her...and so I did. She is a doll and I loved seeing her in my designs - but even more happy to see the smile on her face for having something that her mom made her. My heart aches for her family and I tear up every time I see something on my computer that was hers. Though I never met her in person, I miss Emma and her comments about getting a Coke from McDonalds and seeing her photos of crocheting at her daughters softball games.

I am proud to be part of a loving Crochet Community who has come together and is making an 3 afghans in her memory. One for her oldest daughter, young daughter and husband. In honor of Emma, I made this Granny Square pattern to be used and it is available for free here:

You do have permission to sell finished items using my patterns.

You are in no way to alter the pattern and claim it as your own to sell

or give to others. Please give credit to Crafting friends Designs when using this pattern

by sharing a link to my site: www.craftingfriendsdesigns.blogspot.com

Love for Emma Heart Square

Size: 6”
Materials: Small amount 4ww yarn
Hook: G
Gauge: 4 rows & 4 St = 1” (SC)
Stitches:
St(s) - Stitch(es)
Ch - Chain
SC – Single Crochet

HDC – Half Double Crochet
TR – Treble Crochet

Sl St – Slip Stitch

R1: Begin with a SC Chainless Foundation of 21 OR Chain 22 and SC in 2^nd chain from hook and each chain across (21)

R2: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 10 sts, TR in next st, SC in remaining 10 sts

R3: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R4: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 9 sts, TR in next st, SC in next st, TR in next st, SC in remaining 9 sts

R5: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R6: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 8 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st* Repeat *to* 2x, SC in remaining 7 sts

R7: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R8: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 7 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st* Rep *to* 3x, SC in remaining 6 sts

R9: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R10: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 6 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st* Repeat *to* 4x, SC in remaining 5 sts

R11: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R12: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 5 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st* Repeat *to* 5x, SC in remaining 4 sts

R13: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R14: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 4 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st* Repeat *to* 6x, SC in remaining 3 sts

R15: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R16: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 3 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st* Repeat *to* 7x, SC in remaining 2 sts

R17: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R18: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 4 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st* Repeat *to* 2x, SC in next 2 sts, Repeat *to* 3x SC in remaining 3 sts

R19: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

R20: Ch 1, Turn, SC in next 5 sts, *TR in next st, SC in next st, TR in next st* SC in next 5 sts, Repeat *to* 1x SC in remaining 5 sts

R21: Ch 1, Turn, SC in each st across (21)

Border: Ch 4, Turn to work down the side. HDC in side of end st and evenly down side of square (HDC, Ch2, HDC) in corner st, Turn, HDC between each st of bottom foundation, (HDC, Ch 2, HDC) in corner st, HDC evenly up 2^nd side of square, (HDC, Ch2, HDC) in corner st, HDC in each st across top of square. Sl St to beginning ch 4 to connect.
Fasten off and weave in end.

This pattern is available in PDF format which includes 2 Graph's on www.craftingfriendsdesigns.com for $.95
If you are familiar with using graphs, each black square on the graphs on the following page represent a TR and each blank square represents a SC. The written instructions are for the top graph only and for a single color. If a 2^nd color is wanted, you will switch colors for the TR stitch section and switch back for the SC sections. The second graph is an optional square that is the opposite of the first one as far as texture.

Here is some of Emma's beautiful work I wanted to share with you.