Depression

It's really hard to believe that I haven't crocheted in many months now. Crocheting has always brought joy to my life and as of lately my depression has been at an all time worse. As a result, I don't find joy in crocheting like I used to. It's almost the middle of November and it's been very cold out. I fear that I will never get around to crocheting a cute hat for my daughter to wear this winter and it will result in her wearing the store bought kind. Before, when my daughter would take a nap, I would sit down and crochet. Now I find myself laying in bed when she goes for a nap, possibly even napping myself. I hate feeling this way. I feel like such a big burden on my family. I just don't have the energy to do the things I use to do. Simple every day things have become a struggle but I force myself to keep on going for the sake of my beautiful daughter. I currently see a psychologist and my family doctor for my depression. My doctor acts like I'm making all this up about how I feel and my psychologist... well he has not seemed to help one bit. It would be great to be able to find a doctor that would take me seriously and a psychologist who could actually help me overcome this struggle with depression but unfortunately, medical assistance will only allow me to see who I'm seeing in my area.

Would I say that I hate my life? No, I wouldn't, but there are definitely some things that I wish I could change. I love being a mother and I love my daughter more then anything in this world. Do I wish I could die? Not at all... death is my number one fear in this world. I remain optimistic that one day my ship will sail in, even if I have to swim out to it, and my daughter and I will live happily every after. There's always a rainbow after a storm... and in my case, hopefully an adorable crocheted hat for my daughter.

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Posted in: Opinion

Happy Veterans' Day

Thank you!

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Flower Crochet Quilt Afghan - Free Pattern!!

You may sell your finished product but you may not sell or reproduce this pattern in any way. If you would like to share this pattern with your friends, please do so by sharing the link to this web page only.


Materials

• Worsted Weight Yarn (Approx 1 to 2 skeins of the following colors: white, pastel pink, pastel yellow, pastel purple)
• Tapestry Needle
• H Hook 

Stitches: Chain (ch), Slip Stitch (sl tc), Single Crochet (sc) and Double Crochet (dc)





Solid Square
(Make 108 pastel pink,  38 pastel yellow,  68 pastel purple, 146 white)

• Round 1 - With H Hook, ch 4, sl st in 1st ch to form ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times. Join with slip stitch in top of chain three. (12 dc, 4 chain spaces)
• Round 2 - Slip Stich in next 2 stitches, (sl st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in first chain space, chain 1 *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next chain space, chain 1; repeat from * around. Join. Fasten Off.

Assembly

• Arrange squares according to illustration below. Be sure to use colors to match the edges and sew the squares together in the back loops.

Pattern ©Copyright 2011 Danielle Coviello 

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Posted in: crochet quilt,original crochet patterns

Baby Girl Throw Crochet Quilt Afghan - Free Pattern!

You may sell your finished product but you may not sell or reproduce this pattern in any way. If you would like to share this pattern with your friends, please do so by sharing the link to this web page only.


Materials

• Worsted Weight Yarn (Approx 1 to 2 skeins of the following colors: white, pastel pink, pastel yellow, pastel purple)
• Tapestry Needle
• H Hook 

Stitches: Chain (ch), Slip Stitch (sl tc), Single Crochet (sc) and Double Crochet (dc)

Solid Square
(Make 108 pastel pink,  38 pastel yellow,  68 pastel purple, 146 white)

• Round 1 - With H Hook, ch 4, sl st in 1st ch to form ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times. Join with slip stitch in top of chain three. (12 dc, 4 chain spaces)
• Round 2 - Slip Stich in next 2 stitches, (sl st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in first chain space, chain 1 *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next chain space, chain 1; repeat from * around. Join. Fasten Off.

Two-Color Square
(Make  24 white/pink)

• Round 1 - With H Hook & 1st color, ch 4, sl st in 1st ch to form ring, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook (joining loop made), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ring, chain 1 changing to second color (see picture), ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ring, ch 1, join with slip stitch in joining loop. Fasten off both colors. (12 dc, 4 corner chain spaces)
  
  
  
• Round 2 - Join 1st color with slip stitch in last corner of chain space made, chain 3, slip stitch in 2nd ch from hook (joining loop made), 2 dc in same corner chain space, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner chain space, chain 1, 3 double crochet in next corner space, chain 1 changing to 2nd color, chain 1, 3 dc in space chain space, chain 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner chain space as 1st 3 double crochet, ch 1, join with slip stitch in joining loop. Fasten off both colors.

Assembly

• Arrange squares according to illustration below. Be sure to use colors to match the edges and sew the squares together in the back loops.

Pattern ©Copyright 2011 Danielle Coviello 

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Posted in: original crochet patterns

Santa Crochet Quilt Afghan Free Pattern

Out of boredom today, I decided to create my very own crochet quilt afghan pattern of Santa Claus for the Christmas holiday season. This pattern is untested so please let me know if you come across any errors.

You may sell your finished product but you may not sell or reproduce this pattern in any way. If you would like to share this pattern with your friends, please do so by sharing the link to this web page only.


Materials

• Worsted Weight Yarn (Approx 1 to 2 skeins of the following colors: black, red, navy blue, white, Sage)
• Tapestry Needle
• H Hook 

Stitches: Chain (ch), Slip Stitch (sl tc), Single Crochet (sc) and Double Crochet (dc)

Solid Square
(Make 82 White,  18 Black,  76 Sage, 116 Navy Blue, 58 Red)

• Round 1 - With H Hook, ch 4, sl st in 1st ch to form ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times. Join with slip stitch in top of chain three. (12 dc, 4 chain spaces)
• Round 2 - Slip Stich in next 2 stitches, (sl st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in first chain space, chain 1 *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next chain space, chain 1; repeat from * around. Join. Fasten Off.

Two-Color Square
(Make  14 white/red, 1 white/navy blue, 13 red/navy blue, 4 black/white)

• Round 1 - With H Hook & 1st color, ch 4, sl st in 1st ch to form ring, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook (joining loop made), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ring, chain 1 changing to second color (see picture), ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ring, ch 1, join with slip stitch in joining loop. Fasten off both colors. (12 dc, 4 corner chain spaces)
  
  
  
• Round 2 - Join 1st color with slip stitch in last corner of chain space made, chain 3, slip stitch in 2nd ch from hook (joining loop made), 2 dc in same corner chain space, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner chain space, chain 1, 3 double crochet in next corner space, chain 1 changing to 2nd color, chain 1, 3 dc in space chain space, chain 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in same corner chain space as 1st 3 double crochet, ch 1, join with slip stitch in joining loop. Fasten off both colors.

Assembly

• Arrange squares according to illustration below. Be sure to use colors to match the edges and sew the squares together in the back loops.

• Add a border of your choice if desired.
• Embroader outlines as shown below with black yarn and tapestry needle.

• Crochet a red circle and attach it to afghan to make Santa's nose. Do the same with black to create 2 eyes.

Pattern ©Copyright 2011 Danielle Coviello 

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Posted in: original crochet patterns

Surprise Fall Edition Mystery Crochet Along

It's that time of year again! The temperature is starting to fall and the leaves are changing from their bright green shades to colors of red, orange, and gold. Children have gone back to school. The smell of fresh, crisp apples are in the air. Many people have begun baking apples pies and canning their vegetables from their garden to save as a winter treat. The squirrels are out picking up the nuts off the ground to store away for the bitterly cold winter that is only a couple months away.

I love the fall time. I love the colors, the smells, and the feel of the cool breeze on my skin. Nothing puts me in a better mood then the fall season. As a result, I've decided to hold a special one day mystery crochet along! Grab your crochet hook and some scraps of yarn and lets get crocheting!


Materials:

• I Hook
• F Hook
• Brown Yarn
• Variegated Fall Color Yarn
• Googly Eyes
• Glue
• Magnetic Strip
• Scraps of yellow or gold yarn and red

Part 1

With brown yarn and an I Hook.

Chain 4

Rnd 1 - 14 dbl crochets in 4th ch from hook. Slip stitch to beg.

Row2/ Rnd 2 - Ch 2, 2 hdbl crochets in next 9 stitches

Fasten off & weave in ends.

Part 2

Attach variegated fall color yarn.

Row 3- Ch 3, 1 dbl crochet in 1st stitch, *2 dbl crochet in next stitch* Continue between *'s across row.

Fasten off & weave in ends.

Part 3

Using Brown yarn and F hook

Chain 3

Rnd 1 - 12 Hdbl crochets in 3rd chain from hook. Slip stitch to beg.

Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing on to other piece.

Assemble

Attach part 3 to top center of part 1 in the brown area.

Glue on eyes.

Use yellow or gold to make a beak. Use red to make a waddle.

Use as an applique or attach a magnet to the back to make a fridgie.

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Posted in: free crochet patterns

Creepy Cute Crochet

Creepy Cute Crochet Book Review

If you love amigurumi, you will love this book. It contains 20 unique patterns that are both creepy and cute. The patterns are detailed and very easy to understand for even a crocheter new to amigurumi. These crocheted creations are sure to be a hit with the young and young at heart. 

Creepy Cute Crochet contains patterns for the following amigurumi characters:

• Devil
• Nosferatu
• Queen Vampire
• Chuthlu
• Skeleton Bride & Groom
• Medusa
• Fuzzy Alien
• Cleric
• Amazon
• Corporate Zombie
• Grim Reaper
• Trojan
• Spartan
• Cyber Zombie
• Knight
• Ninja
• Day of the Dead Gal & Fellow
• Monkey
• and lastly a Robot!

The book also contains detail instructions for special stitches, assembly and even includes patterns to create felt accessories for your creepy cute horde! 

Unfortunately right now, this book is not available for Kindle BUT it can be purchased from Amazon for an unbeatable price of $10.17 and is eligible for free super saver shipping!

[Click here] to view more information about this super fun book or to purchase it from Amazon.com!

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Posted in: reviews